For such a short month, February is living large this year. It kicked off with today’s observation of Freedom Day, which commemorates President Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the 13th Amendment, outlawing slavery. A wreath was laid on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia to acknowledge this historical American watermark.
A troupe of top-hatted men will congregate tomorrow, Feb. 2nd, in Punxsytawney, Pa., to get the weather prediction from Punxsy Phil, the famous weather-savvy Groundhog Day woodchuck. The burg of Punxsytawney was not far from where I grew up, so my family always paid close attention to whether this chubby little rodent saw his shadow or not.
Then there’s Valentine’s Day on the 14th, Presidents’ Day on the 20th, Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras on Feb. 21st, and John Gandolfi’s Leap Day birthday on the 29th. It’s unlikely that most of you know Mr. Gandolfi . He was the ultra-gregarious kid who sat four seats in front of me in homeroom from seventh grade through twelfth. “…Gandolfi, Gaston, Glasser, Golinsky, Granata….” He was a Leap Year baby, so I think he celebrates his 13th birthday this year.
I see these holidays as gateway ops – perfect avenues to promote literacy and chase away the winter doldrums. I suppose it depends on whether you’re an optimist or a pessimist and whether you’re “a natural” when it comes to integrating seasonal activities into the classroom. Whether you use a Valentine’s Day word search sheet or read a biography about a U.S. president on BigUniverse.com, you will be adding “snap, crackle and pop” to your classroom and advance the cause of literacy.
Josh Schneider wins the coveted 2012 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award.
An announcement in Dallas this week made Josh Schneider a very happy man. The author and illustrator is the recipient of the 2012 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for his children’s book, “Tales for Very Picky Eaters.”
The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is given to the author and illustrator of the book deemed as the “most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year.” The Association Library Service to Children (ALSC) – a division of the American Library Association (ALA) – administers the award annually. This year the award was announced in Dallas during ALA’s mid-winter meeting, Jan. 20-24.
The award is given in memory of Theodor Geisel, the renowned children’s author known as “Dr. Seuss,” and to recognize contemporary winners for “their literary and artistic achievements that demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading.” The first Theodor Seuss Geisel Award was presented in 2006 to author Cynthia Rylant and illustrator Suçie Stevenson for their book “Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas.”
Schneider and other honorees will receive their awards in June in Anaheim, Ca., during the ALA’s annual conference.
“Tales for Very Picky Eaters” is a five-chapter book about a boy named James, who refuses to eat foods he considers disgusting, smelly, repulsive, lumpy or slimy. His clever dad plays a big role in the storyline, offering outrageous suggestions and rationale to get his son to be more daring with his dining. The text is paired with cartoon-like illustrations executed in watercolor, colored pencil, and pen and ink.
“The dialogue presents some preposterous situations but even the most challenging words are presented in context so beginning readers can easily discern their meaning,” said Carole Fiore, head of the Geisel Award Committee. “The touches of humor make this book an engaging page turner.”
Three additional Geisel Honor Books were named:
“I Broke My Trunk,” the story of an elephant, written and illustrated by Mo Willems and published by Hyperion Books for Children.
“I Want My Hat Back,” a story about honesty and loss, written and illustrated by Jon Klassen and published by Candlewick Press.
“See Me Run,” a dog-infused story, written and illustrated by Paul Meisel and published by Holiday House.
With more than 4,000 children’s librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty in its network, ALSC is dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children to create a better future for the next generation. Big Universe Learning also is a champion of children’s education and literacy. At last count, the online learning community had:
272,389 members from 166 countries
3,506 publishing company books, read 2,384,653 times
673,494 books stored on members’ personal bookshelves
172,575 bookshelves followed by members
42,500 books created by members
***NOTE: Humor is a great way to engage readers, both young and old. Check out “Humor: Be Still My ‘Beeting’ Heart,” a blog I wrote about another children’s book that deals with eating issues. It’s on Big Universe, and it’s one of my favs!
Wildlife Conservation Society photo of the colorful Matilda viper.
Mention the “S” word and you’ll usually get polar reactions. Some people express revulsion, while others indicate fascination for all things viper. But, it’s safe to bet that everyone has a snake story to tell.
My oldest daughter stepped on a copperhead in her bare feet while playing in our yard. My geologist father stared a few rattlesnakes down in his day while doing field study, and I found a sizeable black snake nesting under the pine shavings in a horse stall a few years back. There was a snake in our church gym’s rafters at a girls’ youth group sleepover, and my mom found “Mr. Thin Lips” lounging on the grill on her porch. Similar anecdotes by students could be the launching pad for writing stories on Big Universe – ones full of sequence words, action verbs and descriptive adjectives!
We all escaped unscathed, except for a few heart palpitations. Our inquisitive chocolate Labrador Retrieverwas the only family member to ever be bitten. She had a run-in with a copperhead. Her nose swelled, but the vet said she would recover quickly. And, she did.
I’m not particularly fond of being startled by snakes. I’d much rather observe them from behind a nice thick pane of glass or read about them. Big Universe Learning has numerous children’s books about snakes and reptiles that make this possible. These online books are pretty interesting and are the perfect supplement to science units about reptiles or the environment. (See list below.)
Why did I pick this topic for my blog? Well, it’s not because I really enjoy scaly things, but I do love zoology, scientific discovery and current events. An Associated Press (AP) article today heralded a new green-horned snake named after a little British girl called “Matilda.” The rare lemon-colored snake was found in Tanzania and was introduced to the world in the December issue of the scientific journal Zootaxa.
“Only three new vipers have been discovered across Africa the last three decades, making the find rare and important,” according to the AP article.
“My daughter, who was 5 at the time, became fascinated by it and used to love spending time watching it and helping us look after it,” said Tim Davenport, the director of the Wildlife Conservation Society in Tanzania, who – along with two teammates – discovered the highly endangered snake two years ago. The find was kept under wraps until a conservation plan could be initiated.
It’s been a joy to be part of the blogging team for this unique educational website, a global online reading and writing community for teachers and pre-K-Grade 8 students. I’ve watched its library shelves fill with high-quality children’s books, its membership grow, and its focus evolve to meet the needs of educators and parents devoted to raising the next generation of readers. What a privilege!
As we put 2011 to bed and welcome in 2012 and its possibilities, I leave you with a RESOLUTION – an acrostic set of tips to maximize your interaction with Big Universe Learning and promote literacy in the new year.
BIG UNIVERSE ACROSTIC for 2012
R is for Reading Levels. Use them to find “just right” books.
E is for Edit. Our Authoring Tool lets you write stories. Don’t forget to proofread.
S is for Share. Message others about favorite Big Universe books on our safe network.
O is for Online. Get online and stimulate dialogue about literacy on our Facebook page.
L is for learning something new every day. Log on and READ!
U is for Unclutter. Remove former pupils’ names from accounts and streamline bookshelves.
Read 'Penguin's Special Christmas Tree' on BigUniverse.com.
This is the latest we’ve ever put up a Christmas tree. It’s also the first year that both of my daughters have been away at college.
“Please wait until we get home, so we can get the tree together,” they begged.
Traditions are important to us – especially at Christmas time. It’s always been a family activity, so my husband and I waited for them to finish final exams and return home before getting a tree.
Eager to put equations, theories and philosophical debates behind them, they donned their scarves and gloves, and we loaded into our 1993 Ford pickup with the tired shock absorbers and the window that doesn’t seal properly. The only things louder than the wind whistling in the window, were the Christmas tunes on the radio – that, and the laughter.
It was dark when we got to the farm, but the white board fencing told us we had arrived. It was a few minutes past closing time, but the strings of overhead Christmas lights in the lot were still on. We piled out of the truck. It was not as cold as in past years – what with global warming and all. And, the selections were rather sparse, but we headed over to the stand of pines leaning against a support rail.
We poked and prodded. Was it tall enough? Was the tip going to support our angel tree topper? Did the branches leave enough room for our treasure of ornaments (each with its own unique story)? Was the trunk nice and straight, so our tree would stay securely in the stand…not like that one year?
Finally, a selection was made. Cash exchanged hands and the Fraser fir was deposited in the back of our Ford. We headed for home, stopping in at a local joint for enchiladas, tamales and way too many chips. The salsa was so hot, it made our voices hoarse when we laughed.
Had we found the ultimate shapely specimen? Not really. The tree had a sizeable dent in one side, resembling a boy with a bad haircut. Its trunk was a little off kilter, and all its needles would probably not stay intact until Jan. 1, the day we usually take down our Christmas decorations.
No, it wasn’t a picture perfect, Southern Living kind of tree. The excursion was, however, perfect. We were celebrating a season very important to us, we were together, and we’d made another deposit in our collective memory bank.
Joy to the world!
Penguin's Special Christmas Tree on Big Universe Learning
Note: Traditions play a big role in the fabric of holidays. Our family always made reading part of our Christmas season traditions: the Christmas story in the second chapter of Luke in the Bible, “The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey,” “The Christmas Kitten,” “The Night Before Christmas” and many more. BigUniverse.com offers several Christmas-themed selections, including “Penguin’s Special Christmas Tree”.Read about Penguin’s quirky tree-trimming efforts, as he tries to find the perfect tree topper before Santa’s arrival. The Christmas children’s book is written by Jeannie St. John Taylor, illustrated by Molly Idle and published by Lobster Press. The book is leveled for first-graders, but will be of interest to those 8 and younger. Click on this link for other bedtime stories at Big Universe Learning.
Original John Leech illustration for 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens.
BigUniverse.com serves up a holiday classic, a tale by English writer Charles Dickens, that’s been reworked to appeal to children and reluctant readers of all ages. Saddleback Educational Publishing, one of Big Universe Learning’s education partners, has published an illustrated comics-style version of “A Christmas Carol.”
While typically loyal to literature in its original form, I appreciate the effort to draw in new readers. The educators who reworked this Victorian Christmas story retained key phrases and some of the more quotable parts. The stingy Ebenezer Scrooge is there in all his grumpy glory, as well as Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, nephew Fred, and the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come, who help sway Scrooge’s cold wintery heart and restore it to one overflowing with good will and compassion for others.
Although first published in December 1843, the story is timeless, making it a great catalyst for discussion and creative writing. Many kids want to right the wrongs of the world, so “A Christmas Carol” is a good model for students to write their own modern-day story. The online writing tool on BigUniverse.com will make such an assignment even more appealing.
I served as a children’s writing contest judge for a number of years and read many submissions that naturally addressed societies’ ills. The entrants were like little primary and middle school Dickenses, who used their words to speak about cultures’ problems and to work through feelings about everything from the 911 attacks and tsunamis to bullying and the death of pets and loved ones. Just like Mr. Dickens, they used various intervention tools to render ethical and emotional transformation in their main characters. Nine times out of 10, they ended their narratives with words of hope.
“…God bless us, everyone.”
Saddleback’s A Christmas Carol (Illustrated Classic) uses vocabulary from the Dale-Chall model, (F&P GR: V Lexile: 500). To acquire additional materials, the publishing company provides a study guide and activities for the interactive whiteboard. According to the Saddleback website, “IWB activities feature 19-24 lessons in 168 screens (per title average) and include an introductory audio clip from the novel; words and meanings puzzle; words and meanings antonym pairs; word search; figurative language; cause and effect; and more.”
Big Universe: Celebrate Christmas with children's books!
The Mazza Museum: International Art from Picture Books in Findlay, Ohio, received an early Christmas present. They just got 150 signed copies of “The Magical Christmas Horse,” a brand-new, beautifully illustrated picture book for children.
The holiday book is a collaboration between best-selling suspense author Mary Higgins Clark and noted artist Wendell Minor. The museum’s copies will be passed on as holiday gifts to patrons of “the world’s largest museum devoted to literacy and the art of children’s picture books.” The Mazza Museum – “where art from children’s picture books is taken seriously” – has more than 2,300 original illustrations. (The museum’s earliest piece dates from 1884.)
I love giving books as gifts too. They always have been my go-to present for birthdays, baby showers, teachers and holidays. The fact that “The Magical Christmas Horse” is wonderfully illustrated and celebrates the beauty of rural America, family time, traditions and redemption makes it a sure thing.
See the video clip below of a two-minute interview with Ms. Higgins Clark and Mr. Minor.
BigUniverse.com also is a champion of beautiful children’s picture books. This online treasure houses a growing library of digital fiction and non-fiction books in many languages, making it a valuable resource for classroom teachers, parents and homeschoolers. To date, Big Universe Learning has more than 3460 premium publisher books that have been read more than 2 million times. The number of member-created books grows daily.
The books showcase great narrative and stunning artwork, making them perfect for white board use or at computer stations in the classroom. There also are 1800-plus books that can be read on iPad, using the Safari web browser.
Here are 10 books from Big Universe with some of my favorite illustrations. The first two are Christmas books, so happy holidays!
NOTE:To learn more about “The Magical Christmas Horse,” its author and illustrator, or about Mazza Museum, read Douglas P. Clement’s very thorough article in Connecticut’s Litchfield County Times on Nov. 29. “The Magical Christmas Horse” is published by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books and is available at your local book store or online. Click the following link to go to a page where you can listen to an excerpt read from the book.
'Hands Off, Harry' addresses common social skills issue.
Teaching children social skills is very important to their success in life. Unfortunately, many children come to school with few manners, and the etiquette training falls in the lap of school teachers.
Yes, a primary or middle school teacher has to wear many hats: educator, role model, communicator, manager, party planner, referee and even surrogate parent. In order to accomplish these duties, setting a minimum standard of behavior is crucial. It’s in the best interest of each individual child, as well as the health and happiness of a classroom community.
As teachers, you know that nurturing respect for people, property and principle is foundational for a child. Character development is a big goal, and parents and teachers need all the help they can get.
That’s why Rosemary Wells’ new book struck a chord with me. “Hands Off, Harry!” is an adorable, humor-filled children’s picture book with a message. You see, “Harry” has a problem with respecting other classmates’ personal space. See how his teacher, Miss Harmony, and his peers help Harry resolve the discord.
“Hands Off, Harry!” is the first in a new 10-book “Kindergators” series, in which the author and illustrator addresses common social problems that teachers face in the classroom. (See video clip below.)
“The series is about the 10 most persistent problems teachers have told me about over the years,” said Wells in an Authors Revealed interview by Becky Anderson of Anderson’s Bookshop.
“I love teachers, and I try to advocate for them…because not many people do,” she says. “Most teachers are stuck between a rock and a hard place, because there are a lot of parents out there who don’t fully participate in their children’s education and socialization. And, that always becomes a problem for the teachers.
“I don’t believe in judging teachers by the results of tests. I think it is the worst thing that could happen in this country. I know teachers who have been judged in that way and judged ‘inferior’ when they have a classroom full of kids who are almost impossible to teach. So…we need to have different standards. And, I just raise the flag for teachers,” she adds. “I think they are our (country’s) most important professionals.”
Illustrator Rosemary Wells’ career spans more than 40 years and 120 books, including “Noisy Nora,” “Read to Your Bunny,” “Yoko Writes Her Name,” “Max and Ruby’s Christmas Tree,” “Lincoln and His Sons” and many others.
“We had a houseful of wonderful books” while growing up, says Wells. “Reading stories aloud was as much a part of my childhood as the air I breathed.”
* NOTE:BigUniverse.com offers a whole category of books about social development and the dilemmas kids face. Simply go to the “Read” section and look for the “Browse or Search for Books” drop-down list on the right-hand side of the page. Click the “Categories” tab. An expanded list will appear. Then, click the “Character Education” tab.
BigUniverse.com picture book offers turkey trivia just in time for Thanksgiving.
I picked up two turkeys today. One was a frozen 23-pounder from Publix, and the other was roosted nicely on BigUniverse.com.
I’ll have to wait a couple of weeks for the first one, but I got to consume the other in one short sitting. The big guy will take hours to roast, but should suffice when it’s time to feed my 22 Thanksgiving dinner guests. The other one is a year-round treat – a particularly tasty morsel for the younger set just learning to read.
“Turkeys” is a Bellwetherbeauty, written and illustrated for K-2nd Graders (F&P GR: G ATOS: 1.5 AR Points: 0.5.) It’s a Level 1 Blastoff! Reader with particularly crisp and colorful photographs, a handful of good vocabulary stretchers and an online reading quiz (AR Quiz: 118106). I think I will share it with a niece and nephew, whom I get to meet for the first time this Thanksgiving! Family time and reading go together like mashed potatoes and gravy.
For the older kid in all of us, I put together a turkey trivia quiz, plus a list of turkey-themed activity links. If those don’t get your gobble on, there’s always turkey bowling….frozen of course.
Turkey Trivia Quiz
1.) What do you call a grownup male turkey?
A Tom Turkey
A Coattail Turkey
A Turkey Cob
Answer: No tricks here! A male turkey is called a “Tom Turkey.”
2.) What is a baby turkey called?
A pullet
A poult
A turklet
Answer: Juvenile male turkeys are sometimes called “jakes,” and juvenile females turkeys are sometimes referred to as “jennies,” but very young baby turkeys are called “poults,” so the answer is B.
3.) Male tom turkeys have these anatomical features:
Spurs, beard and horn
Beard, wattle and crest
Snood, caruncles, spurs
Answer: Male turkeys have lots of interesting features, especially their beautiful tail plumage. They also have spike-like spurs on their heels, a beard of skinny feathers dangling from their chests, a flap of skin called a “snood,” hanging over their beaks; “caruncles” – very bumpy wart-like skin – on their “bald” heads; and floppy skin under their necks, called “wattles” or “dewlaps.” So, the best answer is C.
4.) How many turkeys were raised in the United States in 2011?
32 million
248 million
152 million
Answer: Turkey production was up 2 percent this year compared to the 2010 season. In 2011, 248 million turkeys were raised, according to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). So, the answer is B.
5.) Which state produces the most turkeys?
Arkansas
New York
Minnesota
Answer: The top turkey producer in the United States is Minnesota – with 46.5 million gobblers raised this year, says the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The five other top turkey-farming states are North Carolina and Arkansas (both with 30 million), Missouri (18 million), Virginia (17.5 million) and Indiana (16 million).
6.) What month is the official Turkey Lovers’ Month?
November
April
June
Answer: Most people would assume that November is Turkey Lovers’ Month, but it’s June. Although 95 percent of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving, June is the official month to promote turkey consumption.
7.) How long does a wild hen turkey sit on a clutch of eggs before they hatch?
60 days
43 days
26 days
Answer: The average incubation period is between three and four weeks, or 26 days, but may range from 25-29 days, according to the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game. This depends on the number of eggs in the clutch, how long it took the hen turkey to lay her eggs, and when she decides to abandon her nest after her first eggs hatch.
8.) Which of the following statements is false?
Wild turkeys are too heavy to fly.
Wild turkeys can fly as fast as cars on a highway.
Wild turkeys can fly by the time they are 10 days old.
Answer: Wild turkeys prefer to run when startled, but learn to fly into trees to roost when just over a week old. They are best at gliding downhill, but can fly up to a mile when necessary. So, Answer A is false. Even though some adults reach 25 pounds at their heaviest, they can fly 50-60 miles per hour over short distances. Domestic turkeys, however, no longer have the capacity to fly.
9.) The turkey’s natural eating habits make it a/an:
Vegetarian
Carnivore
Omnivore
Answer: The wild turkey loves to eat seeds, insects, acorns, salamanders and grasses, making it an “omnivore,” so Answer 3 is the best choice.
10.) How long does it take to thaw a 12-pound frozen turkey in the refrigerator?
Overnight
3 days
6 days
Answer: Your frozen turkey should go in the refrigerator on Monday, three days before it goes in the oven. The Butterball Company recommends that you “allow one day of thawing for each 4 pounds of turkey. (12 divided by 4 is 3.) A thawed turkey may remain in the refrigerator for four days before cooking.” (This means my 23-pound turkey needs to come out of the freezer and go into my refrigerator about six days before Thanksgiving.)
BigUniverse.com book touts the inventions of Thomas Edison.
I’ve been thinking a lot about Thomas Edison this year – not because I am a great history buff, but because I like my comfort. We live in a rural setting, but have all the urban amenities – that is, until the wind picks up, the rain pours …or a butterfly goes by and the power goes out!
We live amid the trees. Apparently trees and power lines don’t mix. The boom of an exploding transformer is something that shakes a house – even a home on a solid foundation. The sound of a wailing woman shakes the house too, especially when there are writing deadlines on the line!
I don’t need fancy clothes, or TiVo, or even fine jewelry. Just give me one working power outlet for my computer modem and I’ll muddle through the rest. I’ve learned to find my toothbrush in the dark, locate matching shoes by feel, and light a kerosene lamp with one hand tied behind my back, but…been there, done that. Sixteen times this year, in fact!
I like the convenience of electrical lighting. In-home power is truly remarkable. It’s made my life quite comfortable, and it and the Internet have made my work as a freelance writer possible. So thank you, Thomas Edison.
It’s been more than 130 years since Edison filed Patent No. 223,898 for his incandescent light bulb on that day in early November. Never one to sit on his laurels, he and his inventive cohorts forged ahead, designing generators, fuses, batteries, a prototype of today’s power grid and hundreds of other inventions like the phonograph and the motion picture camera. Edison was an incredible thinker – the “Genius of Menlo Park” – with 1093 patents to his name.
Mr. Edison was not only scientifically minded, but was also a wise man that knew his way around language. To read a collection of his pithy quotes, visit the BrainyQuote.com website.
Thomas Edison said, “There is no substitute for hard work.” My WASP upbringing has me nodding my head in agreement. And so, Duke Energy, I implore you to keep searching for the bug-a-boo in the power lines that is making it hard to write, but easy to wail (and rail). There are no more trees for your workers to trim, so perhaps it’s time to put on your thinking caps and channel your forefather, Edison, who said: “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
*NOTE: To read more about the great thinkers, who invented the modern conveniences that are part of our everyday lives, read Saddleback Publishing’s “Machines and Inventions,” a book in the “Science” section on Big Universe.
