Module 3: A Tree is Nice

Summary:
This book describes a tree's usefulness, what they provide us with, and where they grow in simplistic, easy to understand text.

Reference:
Udry, J. M. (1956). A tree is nice. China: HarpersCollinsPublishers.

Review:
Mitchell, D. (2001, April 11). [Revew of the book A Tree is Nice]. Retrieved from Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Tree-Nice-Janice-May-Udry/dp/0060261552
The best early readers are those that focus on a subject that a child can easily understand, use simple words, and have illustrations that perfectly capture the words. A Tree Is Nice easily passes those tests. The book is a Caldecott medal winner for its illustrations.
The book explores all of the many benefits that trees bring us. They "fill up the sky," and "make everything beautiful." "Even if you have just one tree, it is nice too." The book goes on to describe the beauty of leaves, the fun of playing in them, and even bonfires with them in the fall when they are at their most beautiful. You can climb the tree, lean things up against the tree, enjoy the shade, be protected from winds, use the sticks for drawing in the sand, and hang swings and flower baskets in the branches. Trees make perfect backgrounds for picnics, too.

My favorite part of the book is the section about planting a tree. Ms. Udry points out that you can put a tree in, and watch it grow. Then you can tell others that you planted it, and they will want to plant one, too. I remember planting some trees as a cub scout, and revisiting them as a middle-aged man and taking great delight in seeing them become a large, leafy oasis in what had been a barren field.

The illustrations are terrific. The book's designer has created a vertically elongated page shape that accentuates the graceful trunks of trees. Half of the illustrations are in color (using watercolors with inked outlines and details) and half in black-and-white. The choices for full color are good ones (fall leaves, being next to a house, and with a picnic). The pen and ink ones with grey washes are very poetic in their simplicity. The design also minimizes the words, which appear almost like a memorial plaque at the base of a tree in an arboretum. The style is very reminiscent of the best simple drawings of the fifties, and provide a nostalgic feeling.

In addition to reading this book to your child, and having your chld read this book to you, you each must plant a tree!

Where else does nature provide well for us, where you can help nature along a little? Perhaps you should consider a bird feeder or bird bath (if you have a yard).

Enjoy the natural sculpture and art all around you!



Use in a library setting:
I believe this book would be great for teaching main idea and supporting details. A Tree is Nice is the main idea of the book while all of the tree's uses and what it provides people would be great supporting details.

Module 2: Shiloh

Summary:
Shiloh is the story of a Beagle (later named Shiloh) who is abused by his owner, Judd Travers, and later finds the love he's been searching for in Marty Preston, a ten year old boy. Judd bought the dog for thirty-five dollars and his purpose is to be a hunting dog, except for the fact that he constantly runs away. After Marty finds Shiloh, he becomes attached to the poor, neglected Beagle. Marty's family is poor, but he'll do anything to put food in Shiloh's mouth including collecting cans to recycle. He even builds Shiloh a place to sleep and keeps him a secret from his family. Eventually Marty's mother discovers Shiloh, and Marty has to face the fact that Shiloh must be returned to his owner. Unfortunately, Shiloh is attacked by a neighbor's pet, a German Shepherd, and is badly injured. The doctor puts him on antibiotics and Shiloh lives with Marty's family until he's better. Judd is suspicious that Marty has his dog, goes to the Preston's house, and discovers Shiloh. In the end Marty offers to buy Shiloh, but must pay the price for doing all of Judd's odd jobs for two weeks straight. It's worth it to get the best gift of all - Shiloh.

Reference:
Naylor, P.R. (2000). Shiloh. New York: Scholastic.

Book Impressions:
I loved reading this book and plan to read the others in the series. It has such well developed, relatable characters, and the relationship between Shiloh and Marty is heartwarming. Judd's love to hate character made my blood boil with his abusive antics. Throughout the entire book I rooted for Marty to own Shiloh and find the money he so desperately needed to feed and take care of this dog.


Reviews:
(1991, December 1). [Review of the book Shiloh]. Booklist Starred, Vol. 88, No. 7.
In the West Virginia hill country, folks mind each other's privacy and personal rights, a principle that is respected in 11-year-old Marty Preston's family and reinforced by a strict code of honor--no lying, cheating, or taking what isn't yours. When a beagle he names Shiloh follows him home, Marty painfully learns that right and wrong are not always black and white. Marty's dad realizes that the beagle is Judd Travers' new hunting dog and insists they return Shiloh to his rightful owner, even though they both know that Judd keeps his dogs chained and hungry to make them more eager hunters. Sure enough, Judd claims the dog and greets him with a hard kick to his scrawny sides. Marty worries about Shiloh being abused and makes plans to buy the dog . . . if Judd will sell him. Then Shiloh runs away again, and Marty secretly shelters the dog, beginning a chain of lies as he takes food and covers his tracks. Though troubled about deceiving his family, Marty reasons, "a lie don't seem a lie anymore when it's meant to save a dog." The West Virginia dialect richly seasons the true-to-life dialogue. Even when the Prestons care for Shiloh after he is nearly killed by another dog, Mr. Preston insists Shiloh be returned to Judd if he recovers; however, Marty makes a deal with the malicious Judd to earn Shiloh for his own. Not until the final paragraph can readers relax--every turn of the plot confronts them with questions. Like Marty, readers gain understanding, though not acceptance, of Judd's tarnished character. Fueled by the love and trust of Shiloh, Marty displays a wisdom and strength beyond his years. Naylor offers a moving and powerful look at the best and the worst of human nature as well as the shades of gray that color most of life's dilemmas.

Use in a library setting:
I believe this book would be a great one to use with a library book club. There are great themes, moral situations, and characters to discuss in this story. I think this book could lead to some great conversations.

Module 2: Blueberries for Sal

Summary:
Blueberries for Sal is the classic tale of a girl and her mother spending the day together picking blueberries. Most of the blueberries Sal picks end up in her mouth instead of being saved for the canning her mother has planned for them. Sal's mother tells her to go off and find her own berries. In the meantime, a mother bear stumbles upon little Sal and a little bear finds Sal's mother's blueberries. Each of the "babies" ends up being reunited with her own mother. In the end the bears have stored up enough berries for winter and Sal and her mother have enough berries for their canning.

Reference:
McCloskey, R. (1948). Blueberries for Sal. New York: Viking.

My impressions of the book:
I enjoyed reading this book. It seems as though it's from the "age of innocence." A mother could trust her young child out in the wilderness with wild bears roaming and not even think twice about it. When the mother first told her child to run along I couldn't believe it! The area they were in seemed too dangerous and rugged for a child to be left on their own. Besides the great story I also enjoyed the illustrations. The pictures are black and white, but have a way of conveying Sal's innocence.

Reviews:
Sharpe, W. (n.d) [Review of the book Blueberries for Sal]. Retrieved from http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/Blueberries-for-Sal.html
This humorous, entertaining book for preschoolers is an easygoing tale with just enough suspense to make it interesting. Robert McCloskey's text and illustrations blend perfectly with the mix of characters to tell a story that tickles the imagination. The full-page illustrations make it easy for children to understand the emotions of the characters.

The idea of a little girl and a bear cub each following the wrong mother appeals to preschoolers' sense of humor. But beyond the entertainment value, the story provides some lessons for children. Subtly showing the kinship of humans and animals, McCloskey closely parallels the stories of Little Bear and Sal. This is an excellent read-aloud.

Uses in the library setting:
This books might be a good one to read aloud with a cause and effect lesson or perhaps to feature an older book that won a Caldecott Honor.

Module 1: Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind

Summary:
If students read 1,000 books by June 12, the principal will dye his hair purple and sleep on the roof of the school. There are voracious readers at the school who cannot put books down, and then there are the reluctant readers who would rather play video games than pick up any reading material and help attain the school goal. One particular reluctant reader has no interest in any genre. His teacher, Miss Malarky, tries to get this student to read from a variety of genres, hoping she'll stumble across a book he loves. The persistant teacher wins in the end because she finds a book with all of the elements in it that the student loves. He even reads at night under the covers with his flashlight. He reads book number 1,001, but that doesn't matter. The most important thing is that he discovers his love of reading.

Reference:
Fincher, J. & O'Malley, K. (2006). Miss Malarkey leaves no reader behind. New York: Walker Publishing Company, Inc.

My Impressions of the Book:
I thought this book was really predictable and I lost interest in it after the first couple of pages because I could clearly see where it was headed. I suppose this book was meant to be an inspiration to teachers to never give up trying to turn students into readers. From a teacher's perspective I don't think this is realistic. We may be able to reach most of our students and help them find books they enjoy, but you just can't win them all over, even if you're a super teacher! The other purpose was probably to inspire reluctant readers to try reading. I enjoy books with well developed characters, settings, and plots. This book just seemed weak to me in all of these areas. It didn't leave me wanting to read the rest of the books in the Miss Malarkey series.


Professional Book Reviews:
Phelan, C. (2006, July)[Review of the book Miss Malarky Leaves No Reader Behind] The Booklist, Vol. 102, No. 21.
Gr. 1-3. Ace teacher Miss Malarkey returns in a picture book narrated by a reluctant reader. Although comfortable within his small group of video-game-playing buddies, a boy wants to contribute to the schoolwide goal of reading 1,000 books in hope of seeing Principal Wiggins "dye his hair purple and sleep on the roof of the school."Trying one of Miss Malarkey's suggested books after another, he rejects them all--until she finds the perfect one to match his eclectic interests. Expressive cartoon-style illustrations, brightened with markers and colored pencils, create a series of lively scenes in which speech balloons record conversations and comments not found in the text. With an unstated moral, this is one volume that librarians won't soon forget. Short lists of recommended books, including a bibliography of adult books that recommend children's books, are appended.

Sheridan, R. (2006, August 1). [Review of Miss Malarky Leaves No Reader Behind]. School Library Journal, Vol 52, Issue 8, p. 81.
K-Gr 2-During the first week of school, Principal Wiggins promises that if the students read 1000 books by June 12, he will dye his hair purple and sleep on the roof. Miss Malarkey tells her class that they will be doing the Everybody Reads in America program and promises that all of the students will find books they love before the end of the school year. She picks some for each of them, engaging even reluctant readers. One boy remains unable to find a book he likes until June 10, when Miss Malarkey chooses one that has aliens, race cars, funny jokes, chewing gum, hot sauce, and cannonballs. It becomes number 1001 read by the students and the story ends with everyone wishing Principal Wiggins (whose hair is now purple) a good night on the roof. This title will resonate with those who choose math, video games, and sports over books. O'Malley's illustrations, done in markers and colored pencils, enhance the text with expressive pictures of the students and their teacher as they explore (or choose not to explore) the joys of reading. The illustrations lend humor and credibility to the reluctance of some of the students. A must-have for all libraries.-Rebecca Sheridan, Easttown Library & Information Center, Berwyn, PA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Use in a Library Setting:
Many school libraries have a reading contest or reading goal set for the school. This book might be a good way of showing students what a reading goal is and how students can work hard (even the reluctant ones) to achieve the goal. It takes everyone in the school working together to be victorious.

This book mentions a variety of genres. Teachers or librarians could use it as a springboard to discuss the various book genres that exist and could go more in depth about each one throughout the year, reading books aloud from these genres.