June: some days it's as difficult for us to stay focused as it is for our students. To hold their attention (and that of your colleagues), share a fascinating story about a unique rescue team in Iraq, introduce some exciting multimedia resources or an author's thoughts on inspiration, or pose some thought-provoking ethical questions. And if, despite these efforts, everyone's thoughts keep drifting to the World Cup, road trips, or the beach, we have heaps of book recommendations on those topics as well. Enjoy.
Sincerely,
Daryl Grabarek,
Editor, Curriculum Connections
dgrabarek@mediasourceinc.com
P.S. Once again, we've asked some of our favorite authors what's on their summer reading lists. This year, Lois Lowry, Scott Westerfeld, Kimberly Willis Holt, and Gordon Korman, among others, tell us what they're packing in their vacation bags.
Interview
The Beauty of the Beasts: Restoring the Baghdad Zoo
When U.S. Army Major William Sumner (who has a master's degree in archaeology) was deployed to Baghdad, he thought he would be working to help recover and archive the contents of the Iraq Museum International--and he did do this for his first few months in Iraq. But as a civil affairs officer, his job was also to relieve soldiers of non-combative duties, and he soon found himself at the Baghdad Zoo, helping to save the undernourished and neglected animals--a task that would become his sole mission. The care and feeding of these creatures would ultimately unite people from all backgrounds in Iraq and from all over the world.
After Major Sumner spoke of his experiences on CBS Sunday Morning, Kelly Milner Halls approached him about telling his story, and their conversations, plus his letters and photographs, form the foundation of their collaborative effort, Saving the Baghdad Zoo: A True Story of Hope and Heroes (HarperCollins, 2010). Here Major Sumner discusses his mission. more » » »
Nick's Picks
Nick's Picks: Selected Resources from TeachingBooks.net
In late April I attended the Jane Addams Book Award announcements at Chicago's Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, the actual location where the crusader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient supported immigrants and advocated for social justice and racial and gender equality. While attending this ceremony, which recognizes children's books for their literary excellence and social justice themes, I considered some of what I've learned through books:
- social justice is relevant for everyone
- so many powerful stories go untold until a brave person writes them
- books open us to diverse perspectives about the world
Make These Curriculum Connections
Daydreaming at the Beach: Picture Book Pleasures
Dive into summer vacation by sharing a beach-themed read-aloud or creating a color-drenched book display. These tales encompass the elements of a blissful summer day spent in any environment, offering scenic surroundings to savor, natural wonders to explore, and new experiences to soak up at a refreshingly leisurely pace. Filled with sky-bright hues and airy storytelling, these inviting titles will have your students digging their toes into sun-warmed sand, reeling with the rhythm of crashing waves, and soaring away on a sea-scented breeze. more » » »
What's New
Road Trip!
School's out and freedom beckons. Warm sunshine and leisure time herald the call of the open road, with sandy beaches and mountain peaks waiting to be explored. The teens in these recent young adult novels hit the road, experiencing life-changing encounters along the way. Wry humor, newfound courage, and keen insight accompany them through danger, excitement, and personal growth. more » » »
Sporty Selections
Chip Shots and Slide-Rule Passes: World-Class Soccer Books
Though soccer has yet to catch on in this country the way it has in the rest of the world, that doesn't mean that it isn't a popular pastime—and likely to become even more so as the World Cup 2010 competition heats up this month.
That interest is certainly reflected in the rising flood of tales and informational titles being released. Here are some new and recent suggestions (plus one or two classics) that are likely to score with young readers—and perhaps adults in need of quick refreshers on the game's rules and history. more » » »
Behind the Books
Behind the Books...Cynthia Kadohata on Inspiration
The question I'm most often asked by kids is, "Where do your ideas come from?" I always give a concrete answer: "Someone suggested that to me," or, "It happened in my childhood." And while those answers are true for some of what I write, many of my ideas come from somewhere else. But it's hard to put my finger on just where that somewhere else is.
Read more at TeachingBooks.net » » »
Professional Shelf
Now What? Confronting and Resolving Ethical Questions: A Handbook for Teachers
A colleague manipulates a lottery drawing for a trip to exclude a student with behavior issues. A school librarian discovers that a parent volunteer has violated a student's right to confidentiality. A principal asks teachers "to monitor the movements" of two female high school students; their parents disapprove of their romantic relationship. What would you do if faced with these situations?
In Now What? Confronting and Resolving Ethical Questions: A Handbook for Teachers (Corwin, 2010), Sarah V. Mackenzie and G. Calvin Mackenzie consider your options. more » » »
In this Issue
Wallace Edwards on the creation of his mesmerizing Alphabeasts!
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