Infographic

 

Teen Cell Phone Use
Infogram

Schaeffer, K. (2019, August 23). Most U.S. teens who use cellphones do it to pass time, connect with others, learn new things. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/08/23/most-u-s-teens-who-use-cellphones-do-it-to-pass-time-connect-with-others-learn-new-things/

Infographics are a great, user-friendly way to convey information. There are several online tools to choose from when creating interesting infographics. Easelly, Piktochart and Infogram all seem similar. All three websites provide colorful templates for the novice creator. Each of them have different dashboards and different tools to include. Infogram is the one I chose. I was able to figure out how to manipulate the elements pretty quickly. I think infographics will be an easy, but meaningful way to share library data and statistics with both students and staff at my school.  

The Frog Princess-- Betty White style

Sorry- I couldn't help it!  The Proposal is one of my very favorite movies!  And every time I hear the word "Tlingit"- I think of Betty White's character in that movie, who supposedly was part Tlingit! God bless her! 

-from Titlewave.com

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kimmel, Erik A. 1994. THE FROG PRINCESS: A TLINGIT LEGEND FROM ALASKA. Ill. by Rosanne Litzinger. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 978-0-8234-1618-9.

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

This retelling of the princess and the frog is set in the tribal life of Alaska. This high-brow village princess cannot be satisfied by any suitor. She runs away to the lake and joins the frog people. She marries a frog husband and has frog babies. The princess is happy in her new tribe, but her parents miss her terribly.  The headman and his wife mourn their daughter, thinking she is dead. One day a traveler hears the princess singing with her frog family and passes the news onto the village headman. The headman summons the frog chief and begs for his daughter back. He even threatens to dry up the lake. To avoid war, the princess rejoins her human family.  Although her parents are happy, the princess is sad.  Even after a shaman de-frogs her, the princess still longs for her frog family. She eventually sneaks off to rejoin them to live happily ever after.  

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The Alaskan Tlingit story is a delightful variation to the traditional princess and frog tale. Instead of being deceived or disgusted by the frog, the princess knowingly and willingly joins the frog tribe. The ‘prince’ figure presents himself as a man first, and then becomes a frog. It’s as if the animal version of the individual is greater or even more superior than the human version. 

Another distinguishing difference in this princess tale is that the story does not focus on a romantic love between a princess and a prince, but instead it highlights the love the princess has for her frog family. The frog people are described as handsome and welcoming. 

The respectful perspective on the frogs seems to be a relevant reflection of the way the native Alaskans view and treat nature. 

4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist, May 2006- “The story… is gracefully told, and preschoolers will enjoy the shape-shifting magic and cultural details, which are extended in the uncluttered paintings of villagers in Tlingit costume.”

Kirkus Reviews, 2006

School Library Journal, 

5. CONNECTIONS

*This story can be combined with other native tales like Totem Tale by Deb Vanasse or The Hungry Giant of the Tundra by Teri Sloat for a unit on Alaska.

*Other Princess and Frog stories to compare/contrast:

Princess Frog: a Burmese folktale by Olivia Thetgyi

The Frog Princess by J. Patrick Lewis set in Russia, ISBN 9780803716230

 and The Frog Princess by Jan Ormerod, ISBN 9780340873724

Swamp Angel

 

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Isaacs, Anne. 1994. SWAMP ANGEL. Ill. by Paul O. Zelinsky.  New York: Dutton. ISBN 978-0-525-45271-3

2. PLOT SUMMARY

This is the story of Angelica Longrider, an exceptional girl from birth.  Angel, as she’s called, was a true Tennessee outdoorswoman. As an unusually large lady, she had many unique skills and talents that she used to help her fellow folk.  Thundering Tarnation was a big bear who was terrorizing the Tennessee countryside.  Many country gentlemen attempted to trap Tarnation, but they all failed.  Then Angel went head to head with him.  The two wrestled and fought and struggled until they absolutely wore each other out.  After they fell asleep, they snored so loud that they brought the pine trees down. One tree landed on the Thundering Tarnation, and that was his end. Angel won the battle and won his pelt. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This feminist folktale is very entertaining. There is nothing the red-headed swamp angel can’t do. Isaacs creates Angel to be a humble hillbilly heroine. Setting the story in the yesteryear, in the backwoods of Tennessee gives the background characters some hilarity and provides opportunity for some fun Southern lingo. The illustrations are exceptional and fun. They provide much of the comedy in this colorful picture book. 

The main conflict and action of the story proves girls can do anything, even when the fellows fail! The match between Angel and Thundering Tarnation, the bear, reads more like a battle between gods or titans. The defeat and accidental nature of the bear’s death softens the violent end.  

4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

ALA Notable Children’s Books, 1995

Caldecott Honor, 1995

Kirkus Starred Review, 1995 “...It is impossible to convey the sheer pleasure, the exaggerated loopiness, of newcomer Isaacs's wonderful story. Matching the superb text stride for stride are Zelinsky's altered-state, American primitive paintings -- gems that provide new pleasures, reading after reading. To say that you are entering Caldecott land doesn't begin to do this book justice.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*This story can be paired with other gentle giants, like 

Dona Flor: a tall tale about a giant woman with a big heart, by Pat Mora or Wilfred by Ryan T. Higgins. 

*Other well-written Tall Tales to compare/contrast:

Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett: a tall tale by Steven Kellogg and Thunder Rose by Jerdine Nolen. 

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair...

 

-from https://www.paulozelinsky.com/rapunzel.html

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Retold and Illustrated by Zelinsky, Paul O. 1997. RAPUNZEL. New York: Puffin Books. ISBN  0-14-230193-0.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

RAPUNZEL is a retelling of a story that has been around for centuries. It begins with a loving couple that longs for a child.  When the young wife becomes pregnant, she begins to crave an herb from a nearby garden that belongs to a sorceress. The appeasing husband steals the herb, rapunzel, for his pregnant wife, but he is caught by the sorceress and threatened. The sorceress demands to have the child, in exchange for not harming the wife. After the sweet baby girl is born, she is taken from the couple and raised by the sorceress.  

Eventually the sorceress decides to hide the young princess in a tall tower. The only entrance into the tower is through a window high above the ground.  The only way to get to the entrance is to climb up the Princess’s beautiful, long, golden hair. 

One day, a handsome prince rides by the tower and hears some lovely singing.  He learns to call for Rapunzel’s hair, in order to get into the tower. When he meets Rapunzel, he falls instantly in love with her, and in a private ceremony, the two are wed. 

Their secret marriage stays hidden from the sorceress until Rapunzel becomes pregnant.  Once the sorceress learns of this, she cuts Rapunzel’s long locks and banishes her to the wilderness. The prince has a horrible accident that results in him being blind. He wanders around in his grief, until one day, he hears Rapunzel’s voice again!  When they reunite, the tears from Rapunzel’s eyes magically heal the Prince’s eyes. 

They return to the Prince’s kingdom, with their twins, to live happily ever after. 

 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The story of the stolen princess with the luscious locks is a familiar one. This version is delicately told, by diminishing the evil of the sorceress and tempering the romance between Rapunzel and the prince. The shining element of this book is the artwork.  Zelinksky’s illustrations are incredibly detailed and artful.  They establish a beautiful, renaissance-like setting.  There is a slight touch of magic at the end, just enough to ensure the perfect happily ever after.  This elegance of this picture book may be more appreciated by adults than young children, but both will thoroughly enjoy it. 

4. AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

ALA NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOKS, 1998

CALDECOTT MEDAL, 1998

HORN BOOK MAGAZINE, STARRED REVIEW (Mar. 1998)- “It takes a scholar's mind and an artist's insight to endow the familiar with unexpected nuances--which Zelinsky does with passion and dazzling technique.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (Dec. 1997): “An elegant and sophisticated retelling that draws on early French and Italian versions of the tale. Masterful oil paintings capture the Renaissance setting and flesh out the tragic figures.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*In a unit on fairy tales, this book could be read alongside Rapunzel:

Grimm, Jacob. Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs ISBN 978-0-329-56249-6 

Claflin, Willy. Rapunzel and the seven dwarfs : a Maynard Moose tale ISBN 978-0-87483-914-2, is a fractured fairy tale with elements of Rapunzel and Snow White mixed together, and nothing ends “the way it is supposed to!”

*Other great picture book versions of the Rapunzel story to compare/contrast:

Isadora, Rachel. RAPUNZEL. ISBN 978-0-399-24772-9

Roberts, Lynn. RAPUNZEL: A GROOVY 1970s FAIRY TALE. ISBN 978-1-53792-122-8

Woolvin, Bethan. RAPUNZEL. ISBN 978-1-71374-851-9

Laissez les bons temps rouler, with Three Little Cajun Pigs

 1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Artell, Mike. 2006. THREE LITTLE CAJUN PIGS.  Ill. by Jim Harris.  New York:  Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN  0-8037-2815-8 

2. PLOT SUMMARY

THREE LITTLE CAJUN PIGS is a hilarious retelling of the traditional tale of the three little pigs. The setting of this story is South Louisiana, down by the bayou. Three young Cajun pigs are kicked out of their mama’s house, and they are forced to build houses for themselves. Trosclair quickly builds his house from straw.  Thibodeaux soon follows and builds his home from sticks. Then of course, the oldest, Ulysse takes his time and builds his house from bricks. Ol’ Claude, the local gator, soon sees an opportunity for some delicious “couchon de lait.” He uses his big, strong tail to “whack” down the straw house and the stick house.  

When Claude comes to Ulysse’s brick home, he climbs up on the roof and tries to shimmy down the chimney.  The wise, patient pig is cooking a big pot of roux in the fireplace, so the gator burns his tail on the fire and runs off in pain. The big brother pig is hailed as the smartest builder, and Ol’ Claude goes back to the bayou and leaves those Cajun pigs alone.  

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The colorful Cajun culture brings this folk story to another level of entertainment!”  The language is somewhat difficult, if the reader is not accustomed to the Cajun dialect.  The words are written phonetically to convey the accent- like “dem two udder pigs,” instead of those two other pigs. 

The characterization is light, with the emphasis being on the age-old plot line. The violence in the conflict between the gator and the pigs is very mild and comical, and therefore, appropriate for a very young audience. 

The lesson and warning against impetuosity is still present, along with the value of family. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

KIRKUS review (9/06): “This retelling of the traditional story is Cajun both in language and lesson. Emphasizing devotion to family and extending others the benefit of the doubt, it also conveys the very Cajun notion that there are few situations that cannot be improved with a big pot of gumbo among friends.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (12/06): “Harris's amusing watercolor-and-pencil illustrations mirror the text with élan; they are full of funny details that beg to be looked at again and again…”

5. CONNECTIONS

*This story can be paired with other Cajun culture pieces, such as: 

Petite Rouge: a Cajun Red Riding Hood or Jacques and De Beanstalk also by Mike Artell or Trosclair and the Alligator by Peter Huggins. 

*Other fun versions of the three little pigs to compare/contrast:

Rubin, Vicky. THE THREE SWINGIN’ PIGS. ISBN 978-0-8050-7335-5

Laverde, Arlene. ALASKA’S THREE PIGS. ISBN 978-1-57061-272-5

Facebook and Twitter and Insta....oh my!

Social Media Accounts!  Just like everything else- there is the good, the bad, and the ugly!  For our assignment, we were charged to find accounts that were applicable to the work of a librarian.

I am had a hard time finding school library pages on Facebook.  I don’t think there are very many of them.  According to my own teenagers, Facebook is “only for old people.”  Most of the results for ‘school library’ were universities or community colleges.  So I finally searched ‘middle school library,’ and I was more successful with that search.

I found several Texas middle school library pages, like South Belton Middle, Mendez Middle, and Spring Forest Middle.  Their follower numbers ranged from 21 to 340.  Some pages only boasted a few posts per semester, but there was one that seemed regularly engaged.  South Belton Middle Library seems to post several times per week.  It has some great posts about contests and projects the library was hosting. This page has 143 followers, but when I looked through the individual posts to see how many “likes” they received, it was not good!  The most likes a post had was three, and the vast majority had no likes at all. There were no comments on any of the posts from the past few months. 

Twitter is new terrain for me. My new librarian Twitter handle is @LivelyLibraryN. Colby Sharp is my new favorite person to follow on Twitter. Most of Sharp’s tweets are about the books that his 5th graders are reading! He manages much more than just a Twitter account; he also has a YouTube channel, a regular podcast and a his own website! He is a classroom teacher in Michigan. Needless to say, this man has a lot going on! He does a great job with quick blurbs about a lot of different types of books. His YouTube videos are cute and charming– he has a lot of enthusiasm! 

The Ed Tech Twitter accounts vary. Many of the tweets of Schrock have been about FETC, which I found out is Future of Education Technology Conference. (I would love to attend this conference some day!) But the November and Braun accounts are not active currently. Gywneth Jones’s Twitter talks about gay night clubs, British baking shows and castles! I have not found much I can use in my library role there yet. 

Kathy Schrock

@kathyschrock

Jan 6

Comprehensive and practical overview of ChatGPT and its role in the classroom for both teaching and learning by @torreytrust in this open source slide deck. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Vo9w4ftPx-rizdWyaYoB-pQ3DzK1n325OgDgXsnt0X0/edit#slide=id.p… #edtech #edchat

On Instagram, I have found several accounts from which I am learning! The first is myedtechlife by Espinoza. One of his posts had some great pointers on creating podcasts.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by My EdTech Life (@myedtechlife)

 

I have also enjoyed tannenbaumtech.  Here is a video she posted about allowing younger students the opportunity to create with technology- 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cdg6Z7tDU_r/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Debbie Tannenbaum (@tannenbaumtech)

Because

 

-from pigeonpresents.com

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY: 

Willems, Mo. 2019. BECAUSE. Ill. by Amber Ren. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 978-136801901-9.

2. PLOT SUMMARY: 

It begins with Franz Schubert being inspired to write great music because of the greatness that has become before him. Then the story follows a path of causes and effects that many years later, lead to an orchestra concert of Schubert’s music. A loving aunt has brought along her young niece, who becomes inspired by the music. We watch how the new spark leads to more causes and effects, as she grows up and makes more great music of her own.  The end is only the beginning, of another and another to come. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS: 

This is a story about the power of music and creativity.  It speaks to how beauty begets beauty.  The plot is chronological, but it comes together more like a puzzle. It isn’t just about the arts, but also about the role each person plays for greatness to be accomplished.  For example, Willems is intentional to include the workers who swept the hall and the ushers who led people to their seats.  They all play a part in bringing the art to the people.  

The music is illustrated in an alluring, magical way. It is shaded in bright colors, and it flows across the page, leading the story onto the next step.  

This children’s book beautifully portrays how music connects people through space and time.  

4. REVIEWS

Starred reviews from Booklist (12/18) and Publishers Weekly (11/18)- “While many books celebrate the arts and creativity, this one stands out for recognizing the importance of community support; from the orchestra librarian to the music lovers who purchase tickets, everyone contributes to the culture of creativity.”- Kirkus

5. CONNECTIONS

*Age range, according to publisher-PK-3rd

*New York Times Best Seller

*Pairs well with Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle, ISBN 978-1-51811-211-9- “The text and illustrations work together beautifully here, creating a story that will imbue readers with inspiration and a yearning to make music of their own.” - Booklist, Feb. 1, 2015

*Other picture books for children about the Arts, Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin, The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, and John’s Turn by Mac Barnett.

*More resources by Mo Willems at pigeonpresents.com and by Amber Ren at amber-ren.com.

Last Stop on Market Street review

-from mattdelapena.com

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

de la Pena, Matt. 2015. LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET.  Ill. by Christian Robinson. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin group. ISBN 978-0-399-25774-2.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

What a beautiful story!  This is a story of a grandmother and her grandson and their Sunday routine.  After getting out of church, the two of them board the city bus. The bus is filled with an eclectic group of people. The grandmother, ‘Nana,’ challenges the observations and desires of her grandson by continually offering a different perspective. When CJ asks Nana ‘why’ and ‘how come’ questions, Nana gives him answers from a different perspective than his own.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

De La Pena makes a beautiful connection between faith and works.  He gives the world an example of what our church-going should result in.  Through Nana’s thoughtful and beautiful answers to CJ’s questions, Pena offers the reader a different lens to see the world through.  Instead of lack of want, Nana points out the provision and blessing of their circumstances. 

It is also a very different way to tell the story of doing good works in the world.  Instead of the book centering on their community service, it is included as just another step in their Sunday afternoon routine.  There isn’t an over-glorification or emphasis placed on the soup kitchen.  It is presented simply and matter-of-factly.  This allows there to be no distinction between the people on either side of the counter at the soup kitchen. This book does a beautiful job of presenting all people equal in the eyes of Nana and CJ.   

This book is inspirational and refreshing. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Caldecott Honor Book

2016 Newbery Medal winner

Coretta Scott King Award

Booklist, February 1, 2015 “The celebratory warmth is irresistible, offering a picture of community that resonates with harmony and diversity.”

Horn Book starred review: “Nana has bottomless look-on-the-sunny-side answers, but she isn't dispensing bromides; the exquisitely composed collage illustrations showing a glamour-free urban setting forbid a glib reading. A quietly remarkable book.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*May pair well with Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo, ISBN 978-1-48986-242-6 or Dusk by Uri Shulevitz, ISBN 978-0-374-31903-8, stories centered around community, with grandparents as guides

*Other children’s picture books by Matt de la Pena: Milo Imagines the World, Love, and Carmela full of wishes, all of which received starred reviews from Horn Book and Kirkus.