The Cartoon History of the United States By Larry Gonick

Looking for history with comic relief? The Cartoon History of the United States is one of the most entertaining history books I’ve ever read.  The book delivers hundreds of years of history about the United States while keeping it all light with witty humor.  The drawings are simple, entertaining and accompanied by large quantities of text, allowing the book to deliver an ample amount of information disguised as a graphic novel. The caricatures are often entertaining and provide the much needed breaks between all the chunks of text.  It feels as if the book is flying through the years, providing just enough information about events to whet students’ appetites.

The Cartoon History of the United States would make an excellent place to start an inquiry project. This text could be used to introduce students to U.S History or as a companion to the course textbook.  Students who enjoy comedy, history and other non-fiction graphic novels might enjoy this selection. --Claudio Leon


Gonick, Larry. The Cartoon History of the United States. HarperCollins, 1991. Print.

Sneak preview: Kindness for Weakness by Shawn Goodman

Want to take a walk inside a secure detention center in New York state in the aughts?  Goodman captures the authentic details of the dynamics among staff and incarcerated youth to an uncanny degree.  Although Louis, the novel’s protagonist, is never sharply drawn enough to warrant the reader’s attachment, several supporting characters are, and in spite of the wan first fifty pages, once Louis gets on the bus heading upstate, the reader is undoubtedly along for the ride.  Students who have not yet experienced secure detention environments may appreciate the heads up or, perhaps, the history.  This novel could pair interestingly with Walter Dean Myers’ Monster or Lockdown, or the author’s previously published Something Like Hope. The text itself begs a reading of London’s classic, Call of the Wild.--Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Not yet published, due out May 2013 from Delacorte Press.

Other People’s Rejection Letters by Bill Shapiro

Whether your curiosity is driven by schadenfreude or sympathy, there is a lot of appeal in this substantial volume of collected rejection letters, notes, emails, and texts.  Rejection is a universal experience and there is something for everyone to connect to in Bill Shapiro’s well-curated tome.  These rejections run the gamut, from the official rejection of Mark David Chapman’s parole to the Museum of Modern Art’s letter rejecting a painting from Andy Warhol, with plenty of Dear John letters, notes between estranged parents and children, and good, old-fashioned thanks-but-no-thanks letters from prospective employers.  

Preserving most of the entries in their original state (facebook page, toilet paper, cell phone screen, note passed surreptitiously in class) makes Other People’s Rejection Letters a uniquely visually stimulating browse.  There are even a handful of rejection letters from galleries that have been fully-illustrated by the rejected artist!  

Any solid collection of written rejection will include a bit of colorful language and there is a tiny smattering of profanity sprinkled throughout.  What may be more interesting to teachers is the range of register, tone, and voice represented.  Many of these collected letters seem tailor-made to teach the idea of audience and purpose. --Regan Schwartz

Shapiro, B, ed. Other People’s Rejection Letters. New York: Clarkson Potter, 2010. Print.

Burned Alive: a Survivor of an “Honor Killing” Speaks Out by Souad

With a can of gasoline and a match, Souad’s brother-in-law changed her life forever. In this gripping memoir, Souad recounts her childhood in Palestine, where her father considered his daughters less valuable than farm animals, and the events that led to her horrific attempted murder, while pregnant, at the age of seventeen. After she and her unborn child miraculously survive the burning, thanks to some quick-acting village women, she is taken to a hospital where she receives little care as her family and hospital staff hope for her to die. Luckily, Jacqueline, a woman working for a Swiss humanitarian organization, hears about her story and takes pains to get Souad and her newborn son out of the country and into safety.

This memoir is consistently popular with students who are drawn to the incredible story of a young woman who finds herself in an all too common situation -- in love, pregnant, and then abandoned by the man. In Souad’s story, however, the consequences are far more extreme than what many free and independent women can fathom. This book has the potential to open our students’ eyes to the atrocities around the world, and to help them understand and appreciate their own freedoms a little better.

Souad never learned how to write; the result is a book that was dictated in a very simple, straightforward style, following her story from Palestine to Europe. Some parts may be challenging for struggling readers, but the overall text is very accessible, especially for students who have been hooked by the story and are willing to persevere through foreign concepts. --Anja Kennedy

Souad. Burned Alive: a Survivor of an “Honor Killing” Speaks Out. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2004. Print.

Batman Hush story by Jeph Loeb

The world’s greatest detective is back, trying to solve one of the greatest mysteries of his life.  Who is Hush? How is he always one step ahead of the Caped Crusader? After rescuing a kidnapped boy and discovering Catwoman in the process of stealing the ransom money, Batman gives chase to the feline thief above and below the streets of Gotham City.  The chase leads them both to a larger mystery that will force the long time frenemies to join forces and investigate what connects all of Batman’s greatest villains to the mysterious figure named Hush.  With every one of his well-honed skills put to the test, Batman will prove why he’s the world’s greatest detective.  But as he gets closer to the truth the Caped Crusader will have to figure out how Jason Todd’s (Robin) death is connected to Hush.

Batman fans will not be disappointed by Batman: Hush.  Students will love seeing the Joker, Two-Face, the Penguin, Nightwing and plenty of other guest appearances in the book.  I would recommend this book to any comic book reader who likes their mysteries mixed with action. --Claudio Leon

Loeb, Joseph. Batman: Hush. New York, 2003. Print

Robot Dreams by Sarah Varon

Wordless friendship is probably be the best way to describe this fantastic graphic novel about a dog and his robot friend.  Through the use of imagery alone, Sarah Varon does a great job demonstrating the friendship between the dog and his mail-ordered robot.  Together both characters share many adventures and have a great time, until they go to the beach.  Dog encourages Robot to jump in the water with him.  Robot reluctantly agrees and eventually joins Dog in the water.  After their swim they both decide to lay down on the sand, but when it’s time to leave, Robot is unable to move. Dog is forced to leave Robot at the beach where he comes to visit Robot every day.  When winter comes and the beach closes, Dog can no longer visit Robot. Will Robot still be there when the beach opens next summer?  Dog doesn’t know it, but Robot’s adventures are just about to begin.

Robot Dreams is suitable for any reading level since the only text found in this graphic novel is onomatopoeia; the rest of the novel is textless.  Students will enjoy looking at each panel and flying through the pages as though they were watching a silent film.--Claudio Leon

Varon, Sara. Robot Dreams. New York & London: First Second, 2007. Print

Encyclopedia of Sharks by Steve Parker

Sharks are older than dinosaurs and just as fascinating.  These mysterious predators come in all shapes and sizes, from the 6-8 inch dwarf lantern shark, to the 40-foot whale shark, and the Encyclopedia of Sharks has them all.  Chock-full of glossy, full-color photographs, charts, and maps, it’s clear that the immediate appeal of this book is visual.  However, the casual browser is soon roped in by the interesting snippets of information presented in sidebars and captions.  Each page of the book is a separate section, clearly organized with titles and subtitles, making it easier for fluent readers to skim for information.  These sections are grouped into chapters, such as “Shark Design” and “Hunters and Killers.”  The Encyclopedia of Sharks includes an extensive index and glossary, as well as a list of places to see sharks and shark-related resources. --Regan Schwartz

Parker, Steve. Encyclopedia of Sharks. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books, 2008. Print.

Can’t Get There from Here by Todd Strasser

The New York City streets that Maybe and her tribe of homeless teens have called home for months are growing colder and more desolate with each passing day.  As the winter wears on and intensifies, the group struggles to survive, spending their days and nights in ever-more-desperate searches for shelter and food.  For Maybe, life on the streets is a better option than going home, but trust is hard to come by.  She learned a long time ago that adults lie and cheat and generally want something in return for any small kindness.  As the temperature drops and her friends begin to disappear, can Maybe learn to trust in time to save herself?

Written in Maybe’s humble voice, the narrative is fairly straightforward and easy to follow.  However, it is interspersed with short biographical sketches that may prove a bit confusing at first.  While the situations and events portrayed are uncomfortable and ugly, the language is not, making this book suitable for sensitive middle grade readers and classroom use. --Regan Schwartz

Strasser, Todd. Can’t Get There From Here. New York: Simon Pulse, 2004. Print.

Ray Charles: Find Another Way! by Susan Sloate

Don’t be fooled by this slim biography. Yes, it’s easy on the eyes with large font, plenty of white space and large color photographs, but it’s also filled with interesting information about the late rhythm and blues great, Ray Charles. In a mere thirty-two pages, I learned several memorable things about the man that I had never heard before. For instance, he changed his name from Ray Robinson, so as not to be confused with the boxer, he played chess against people with sight, and he even drove a car sometimes! These personal facts are intertwined with the historical context of his career, and Sloate includes a few anecdotes about Ray’s participation in the Civil Rights Movement.

The back of the book has an abbreviated timeline, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. If you want to learn more about Ray Charles, Sloate includes a few books to consider reading as well as a few websites. This book is a great choice for struggling and reluctant readers, especially as the the Common Core State Standards ask all classes to incorporate more nonfiction texts.  --Anja Kennedy

Sloate, Susan. Ray Charles: Find Another Way! New York: Bearport Publishing, 2007. Print.

Amazing Baby by Desmond Morris

From their button noses to their teeny toes, babies are designed to enthrall us, and Amazing Baby is your one-stop guide to them.  This book, full of gorgeous full-color photographs, tackles every aspect of human infant development, from gestation to toddler.  With sections on “staying healthy,” “how babies learn,” and “emotional life,” Amazing Baby covers a wide range of topics thoroughly and succinctly.  Each topic is amply illustrated with photographs and full-color overlays, and broad categories are broken down into a series of 1-2 page subtopics, each further broken down into 1-2 paragraph sections, allowing the reader to skim for pertinent and interesting information.  This book proves ever-popular, especially with our female students.  When it comes time to browse for books, you can be sure there will be a group of two or three poring over the images and information in this one.

Because it covers such a broad range, the readability of the text varies quite a bit from topic to topic.  Some of the sections dealing with physiology are quite dense, while others dealing with play or common routines are very readable.  The text is well organized, with a table of contents and a comprehensive index.  However, the real appeal of this book is in the stunning images. --Regan Schwartz

It should be noted that there are two images of a nursing infant and one image of a topless, pregnant torso, which may make this volume unsuitable for some readers or environments.

Morris, Desmond.  Amazing Baby. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books, 2008. Print.

You're Invited: Biblioball 2012

This short video invitation says it all.  But for those of you who like to have things spelled out:  December 8th, 2012, 8pm, The Bell House in Brooklyn.  Click here for tickets.

Hope to see you dressed up, getting down, and getting literary!

Programming Spotlight: Arts & Dreams

 

Bronx Hope Social Workers and Reading Specialist show off their affirmations. 

Last week, Bronx Hope students had the opportunity to participate in one of two Arts & Dreams-led empowering art workshops. Students and staff learned about the power of positive affirmations and then made some of their own! Many thanks to Laura, Patricia and Zyambo. --Anja Kennedy

Saint Iggy by K.L.Going

It is a week before Christmas and third-year freshman, Iggy Corso, has been suspended again (this time it’s looking permanent), but that is hardly the worst of his concerns.  His mom has been missing for weeks, presumably on a meth-fueled bender, and his father is too drunk or stoned to care.  With his principal’s admonition to do “something that contributes to the world” ringing in his ears, Iggy makes a plan.  It has five steps:

1. make a plan

2. get out of the Projects

3. do something with [his] life

4. change everyone’s mind about [him]

5. get back into school

For assistance and advice he turns to his friend and mentor, Mo, a wealthy college dropout with an escalating drug habit that is about to get them both into a lot of very serious trouble.  Can Iggy’s relentless optimism and drive get both their lives back on track?  How many ways can a sixteen year old, with little education and no skills, contribute to the world?

Written in the first person, from Iggy’s perspective, Saint Iggy is a gritty, urban drama with an amusingly wry voice.  Despite its Lexile level of 1190, Saint Iggy’s generous use of whitespace, and realistic teen voice, make it an accessible and engaging read for a fluent high school reader. --Regan Schwartz

Going, K.L. Saint Iggy. New York: Harcourt, Inc., 2006. Print.

Programming Spotlight: International Games Celebration

Fun!  On November 14th and 15th students at Passages 4 largest sites participated in the American Library Association’s International Games Day.  Students recalled their favorite games from childhood and school, thought about the purposes of games, played games, and reflected on the value and roles of games in their lives.  Our libraries offered board games like chess,  Bananagrams and Scrabble, video games like Big Brain Academy, and word games like crossword puzzles, Scattergories and word searches. Social work team members contributed their engaging presence and socio-emotional expertise, and Literacy for Incarcerated Teens provided essential funding. Game on!

Papertoy Monsters: 50 Cool Papertoys You Can Make Yourself by Brian Castleforte

Like monsters?  Wish they weren’t quite so large and dangerous?  Have I got the book for you!  Paper Toy Monsters is a treasure trove of so-ugly-they’re-cute miniature monsters you build yourself.  Armed with a little time, some glue, and a lot of patience, you can craft an army of tiny, full-color monsters with names like Lil Vamp, Wolfman Joe, and Halloweeny.  Rated “easy” to “advanced,” there’s a monster for everyone.  Once you’ve worked your way through all of the artist-designed monsters, there are templates for you to design your own!

Not only is Paper Toy Monsters a craft book, it is a wonderful introduction to the features of nonfiction texts and technical writing.  With a table of contents, headings, subheadings, pictures with captions, and multi-step directions, there is plenty of information for students to explore. --Regan Schwartz

Castleforte, Brian. Papertoy Monsters: 50 Cool Papertoys You Can Make Yourself. New York: Workman Publishing, 2010. Print.

Programming Spotlight: Papertoy Monsters

To celebrate the start of our non-fiction unit, on November 8th Passages Academy Libraries simultaneously ran a program across three of its sites.  The Horizon, Bronx Hope and Crossroads libraries invited classes to participate in the crafting of paper toy monsters.  Students explored features of non-fiction text and technical writing by reading and following written instructions from the title Papertoy Monsters.  The book which comes filled with perforated pages of pre-designed monsters, instructed students to remove the pieces from the book and fold and glue them in order to create a three dimensional figure.

During the program students were brimming with excitement as they pulled pieces apart and glued them together.  Many verbally requested to make more monsters, stay an extra period or come back the next day.  After the program ended a student passed by the Horizon library smiling and saying “I have a lot of monsters.  I made seven!”.  A review of the book is coming soon! --Claudio Leon

Take Me There by Carolee Dean

Dylan Dawson seems to take after his dad, the convicted cop-killer; a fact which has dogged him his entire life.  From the streets to juvie and back again, Dylan can’t seem to get his act together, not even long enough to learn to read.  Dylan was on probation, working at an auto shop, staying clean and falling in love with the girl of his dreams. Then life threw him a deadly curve ball and now he’s on the run from the law with his best friend and heading to Texas to get some answers from his father on death row.  But, Dylan and his father are both running out of time. Will Dylan find what he needs to get life back on track before it’s too late?

The pro-literacy message of Take Me There may, occasionally, come on too strong, but fans of Simone Elkele’s Perfect Chemistry series will find another good girl/troubled boy romance to get wrapped up in.  While the text has a Lexile of 760, the story is told through flashbacks, excerpts from Dylan’s father’s memoir, and straight narration, creating a more challenging reading experience. --Regan Schwartz

Dean, Carolee. Take Me There. New York: Simon Pulse, 2010. Print.

Save the Date: Biblioball

image by The Desk Set

Dear Readers,
Grab your calendar (in whatever form it may take these days) and set aside the evening of December 8th because you won’t want to miss the Desk Set’s annual Biblioball at the Bell House in Brooklyn!  All proceeds benefit Literacy for Incarcerated Teens, whose hard work and generosity make much of our work possible.  Hope to see you there!

Spotlight: Family Literacy at Parent/Teacher Conferences

Family Literacy at Belmont

Table at Horizon invites parents to get resources and explore the content on our library iPads

Last night at our four largest sites, Belmont, Bronx Hope, Crossroads and Horizon, parents were greeted by site librarians with take-home gifts! We had a selection of paperback picture books and board books for young readers in both English and Spanish, applications for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Reading Hot Spots maps by the National Book Foundation, and Family Literacy Pamphlets by New Visions for Public Schools. Some sites also had public librarians signing visitors up for library cards. Tomorrow afternoon is the second day for conferences, and we’re hoping to give more folks the resources they need to get books into the hands of young children. Many thanks to Literacy for Incarcerated Teens for providing the funding for all of the children's books. --Anja Kennedy

Teenie by Christopher Grant

Smart, self-conscious, petite Martine Lashley is about to have a very tough year.  A freshman at the immense Brooklyn Tech High School, she is under a lot of pressure, both academically and socially.  Determined to earn a scholarship into a study abroad program in Spain, her grades start to slide as she deals with ostracizing cliques, her best friend’s dangerous lack of judgement, and the increasingly forceful attentions of the star of the basketball team.  Not knowing where to turn for help, she tries to handle everything on her own, but that’s a lot for a girl nicknamed Teenie to carry.

Christopher Grant’s first book is full of complex characters and realistic situations brought to life by its vibrant descriptions of familiar Brooklyn settings.  While it is written at a middle school reading level, the content is high school appropriate, as the book deals with sexual assault and violence. --Regan Schwartz

Grant, Christopher. Teenie. New York: Ember, 2010. Print