Reading Rumpus: February 2009

Serendipitous Friday Finds

Who wants a Coraline cupcake?

(Death By Cupcake's Flickr pool via Cupcakes Take The Cake)

More on my 21st Century rethinking of what reading/writing means soapbox:

Some great quotes all educators need to consider and remember: Ten 21st Century Education Quotes (via The Innovative Educator). Two examples? "Teachers need to stop saying, “Hand it in,” and start saying “Publish It.” and "We have moved from “know what” learning to “know where” learning."

Parenting Award: A parent who makes the most of 21st Century Skills/ Literacy! Give the man a parenting award for turning a violent video game (boys love these damned things) into a learning experience. Sooooo much better than banning the thing from the house (IMHO) (via Boing Boing)

Both of my sons should be doctors. No one can read either of their handwriting. The linked article asks: Does it really matter? One is a successful sound engineer, the other graduates university a year early (May 09') with a B.S. in anthropology. (via The Christian Science Monitor)

Coming to your computer screen: The best of the best university lectures. I hope you know about this, but in case you don't: iTunes U (via Cult of Mac)

I should devote a whole post to this topic as I think it's so important, but in the mean time, watch this parenting video from about.com discussing reading to your children. It says a few things plainly that all parents need to consider.

Speaking of plain talk, I'm absolutely enthralled with the idea of teaching parents to teach kids. What teachers do, what reading teachers know, isn't rocket science, but it's darn close. When teachers take the time to offer tips for developing reading abilities they not only help students, they also forge a bond of respect with parents. Like I said .... this one needs a whole post! (via Glendale News Press - which I'm sure I linked to from somewhere else - forgive me)

Review that sent me straight to buy the book: After The Moment on Jen Robinson's Book Page.

Free poetry poster from the Academy of American Poets. (via Chicken Spaghetti). This one's inspired by T. S. Eliot's poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."

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Giveaway Reminder

Reminder: Giveaway on March 2nd.

In the meantime, check out author Micah Linton's website HERE.
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Weebeasts by Micah Linton - Book Review & Giveaway

When the three volume Weebeastology arrived in my mailbox bearing this critter:

I was a bit surprised.

No, I didn’t mind his cute, little tushy; I was taken aback by the fact that I was a reading teacher being asked to evaluate books without any words. Many moons ago, before I took up the cause of the secondary struggling reader, I used wordless books for teaching story-telling and writing. Wordless books are especially helpful with language acquisition students and pre-operational children. For older children, wordless books offer a natural look at story structure (story mapping), elements (dialogue, sequencing) and development (character, plot). Many English-Language Arts teachers love wordless books.

But I digress….

The Weebeastology that arrived with the little, captured, yellow beast is a colorful and lucidly drawn three-volume set that easily engages the imagination. It’s part of the larger Weebeasts series chronicling the anthropological discovery of mythic, surrealistic, and naked (of course – how else would beasts be?) creatures. Mr. Yellow Weebeasts' tag says, “ An ancient species has been discovered by explorer Micah Linton. Follow the weebeasts with the book series as their epic journey unfolds with adventure around every corner.”

Micah Linton probably didn’t know that he’d be sending his big idea off to a woman with a vested interest in anthropology. Oh, he probably thought, “here’s this reading blogger who might like my little tale about the discovery of the weebeasts,” but he had no idea that in a brief two months she’d be watching her son, who has changed his major five million times, graduate with the intent to go chase weebeasts of his own.

Darn, digressing again ….

Still, even though I love, love, loved the anthropological slant, I wanted something tangible to say here other than, “colorful, lucid, sparks the imagination.” So imagine my surprise when, two days later, another book arrived. And it had words!

Weebeasts: Plight is the second in the weebeasts series. And though I wished I’d seen the Weebeasts exile (which I presume happens in book one), I enjoyed watching the weebeasts find a new home and learn from past mistakes. Weebeasts: Plight offered the same vivid illustrations and a nice story with many opportunities for discussions on friendship and tolerance. The story also manages to pull off the target lesson without too much preachiness, a deal killer for this reader.

I enjoyed Weebeats and could easily see it growing into something big. But, despite its extremely well done self promoting, I couldn’t help but wish Mr. Linton had secured a book deal with a major publisher. I can see the weebeasts idea going the way of Christopher Paolini's fairytale ending, if just for just the right publication house. The weebeasts idea is so clever, it deserves bigger promotion and I’m happy to do my small, small part.

-------------------- Resources & Giveaway --------------------

Genre: Fantasy Age: 4-8. Pages: Origins 3 volume 166/ Plight 32.

Themes: Tolerance, Friendship, Social Science
Thank you Mr. Linton for the great books!
Publisher: Beast Stew. Date: October 2008 / March 2009.
ISBN-10: 0980188857 / ISBN-13: 978-0980188851 and ISBN-10: 0982173407 / ISBN-13: 978-0982173404

Buy Weebeastology Here
Buy Weebeasts: Plight Here

GIVEAWAY:
On March 2nd, in celebration of Read Across America, I'll be giving away my first edition copy of Weebeasts: Plight, the three volume Weebeastolgy and naked, yellow, butt-tattooed weebeast in his little brown bag. ☺

For one entry, leave me a comment about your involvement with children's literature. Are you a teacher? a librarian? a parent? Or someone who loves kid lit?

For an extra entry, you can twitter or blog about it. Just leave me the link from the tweet or post in your comment.

On March 2nd at 10PM EST, I'll use random.org to pick a winner!

Micah Linton is a video game designer/artist and writer. You can find out more on the weebeats website or on his personal page.

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Skeleton Creek Webcast Event

Jeffrey Townsend, Hollywood filmmaker and director of Patrick Carman's 'Skeleton Creek,' will be hosting a Live webcast event Monday, Feb 23rd - 4:30 PM (PST). I sang the praises of this unique novel a few days back and thought some readers might be interested in this event.

The promo states that Mr. Townsend "will give an interview about the making of this groundbreaking multimedia experience and answer your questions live!"
You can watch live and ask questions via Skeleton Creek TV.
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Serendipitous Finds

On The Reading Is Awesome Front:

Fantastic video of Eric Carle discussing his technique from Scholastic (via Omnivoracious)

Library usage is up! (From The National Children's Book & Literacy Alliance

By now, we've all seen the wonderful work of the Cybils committe. Jen Robinson has made a request that we buy some books through the Cybils site to show our support of these important kidlitosphere awards.

Wonderful discussion on Magical Realism (my very favorite genre!) over on The Spectacle.

On The Education Front:

Got a teen in your life looking to earn some scholarship money? Check out this cool opportunity! From the site: "The Lexus Eco Challenge is a life-changing opportunity for teens across the nation to make a difference in the environmental health of our planet, one community at a time."

Teachers! Got a great idea, but no money to get it off the ground?
Here's a couple grant opportunities for you: ING Unsung Heroes and the especially cool Music Is Revolution site. Even though the latter is a music grant, it looks like they'd be open to innovative ideas incorporating reading and music skills (FYI: very similar skills).

Also check out the National Center For Family Literacy/Dollar General grant opportunities for adult & family literacy initiatives.

Another neat reading initiative aimed at encouraging community volunteerism, the Cracker Barrel Rockin' Readers program is worth look-see (both via The Reading Tub).

Excellent Washington Post article on nationalizing educational standards. Read toward the bottom to see the difference between completely nationalized everything and a consensus of knowledge we all must know. Many people are surprised to learn that the U.S. doesn't already have nationalized standards (though voluntary guides do exist).

However, before I start singing praises to The Washington Post, I want to lead you to an article questioning 21st Century Literacies HERE and the follow-up HERE from The Partnership for 21st Century Skills. The article questioning the need for 21st Centruy Skills makes some good points about teachers not being trained and students lagging behind in basics without adding more curriculum. However, as a mouthy proponent of 21st Century Skills & Literacies, I say we must begin somewhere at sometime.

The University of Chicago published an impressive report on early gesturing and school readiness.

Exactly what I've been preaching about in regards to 21st Century Literacies: Why Librarians Are Better Than Rock Gods(via Reading Rockets)

Like many folks, I've been catching parts of the 'Scholastic is a sellout for selling toys argument.' I've used Scholastic book flyers, frequently visit the Scholastic store and LOVE their website. Librarilly Blonde said it best: HERE

LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea. Parent Information Resource Centers in schools. (via Reading Rockets)

On A Personal Note:

I want to win Something Maybe by Elizabeth Scott from Abby (the) Librarian!

The Millions sent me back to my college English minor days with their diagramming of Obama's sentence structure. I tremble at the very thought!

OH! The Longstockings reminded me of a book I'd been looking for and then forgot all about...

I saved the most important for last:

A great blogger, who also happens to like books though she blogs about personal writer stuff, has started a new site near and dear to her heart: Violence Unsilenced. From Maggie's about page: "... Domestic violence and sexual assault affect everyone they touch in myriad ways. The idea here is to enlighten the blogosphere on just how pervasive this problem is. It is all around us, and it is my sincere belief that we can conquer domestic violence and sexual assault by dragging them out of the shadows and into the light." Since most of us have either known someone or been a victim ourselves, you might want to go check it out.
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The Future Is Knocking.... Cybils, Blogs and New Media

So the Cybils winners are finally announced and they easily illustrate the influence the blogging world has on literature. Not just kid lit, but all forms of print media are feeling the pressure. Newspapers and magazines are closing their doors, more and more people are getting their news and information from the www.

See, there is both a place for high-brow Harold Blooms and a place for us lowly M.S. in Reading folks who simply love books. We don't want to be Maud Newton (well, maybe a little). We just want to spread our love of children's literature. We don't mind getting some free swag, but we'd write and talk about books no matter.

It's just another rung in the changing media world, but when I look at the quality of literature epitomized in the Cybils choices, I can't help but feel a small victory for kidlitospheredom. I remember when cable TV trespassed on the big three. Everyone said cable would be the end of public television, but we simply have more choices now. We can watch PBS (Harold & Maud's channel) or we can watch HBO (who says the Sopranos were low-brow?).

And when I look at the Cybils winners, I see dedicated children's literature lovers changing world media. One post at a time.

(Photo Credit: LOLcats, of course)
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Lincoln Through The Lens: How Photography Revealed and Shaped an Extraordinary Life by Martin W. Sandler - Book Review

As I read Lincoln Through the Lens: How Photography Revealed and Shaped an Extraordinary Life, I vacillated between personally loving the story of Lincoln and educator evaluating the book’s efforts. There is no doubt the story of Lincoln is engaging and now, between President Obama’s respect of the man and Lincoln’s looming 200th birthday, books seem to be springing forth like weeds. With limited funding, how do we tell the flowers from the weeds?

The slant Lincoln Through the Lens takes is that Abraham Lincoln was savvy enough to manipulate the media through the technology of his time: the photograph. For the most part, this premise is believable, but history is a speculative art and the extent of Lincoln’s vision can only be known through his accomplishments. The photographs are the stars of this book, but the text holds some interesting tidbits that are sure to please even those who think they know Lincoln. My Lincoln appreciating self really enjoyed Lincoln Through the Lens.

But my reading educator self is always present, especially when evaluating nonfiction text, and since my background is peppered with struggling readers, I am especially critical of texts lacking in support devices. While I read Lincoln Through the Lens I kept asking myself if it would be engage a secondary student and I’m not certain that I got a clear answer.

The text is nonlinear, but the purpose is to discuss the importance in the photographs, not the tale. The illustrations, coloring and font all seem to be carefully chosen, but textual clues in the form of graphs or charts might have enhanced the experience. Foremost, it’s always unfair to evaluate a book about Lincoln because no book will ever fill the shoes of the man’s own language.

For the most part, Lincoln Through the Lens is a good source for research reports and I suspect photography buffs would especially enjoy Lincoln Through the Lens.

Recommended for secondary libraries, but not necessarily classroom purchases.

Others reviews around the Kidlitosphere:
Lori Calabrese Writes
Jacksonville.com
Carol's Corner
OMS Book Blog
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