Fab 4 Reflection

                I really enjoyed the textbook choice for this semester. It provided me with a lot of helpful and insightful information that I will be able to use in the future. Not only did it introduce me to the many genres of literature, but it also provided me with a lot of ways that to apply these differnt styles of literature into my future lessons and teachings. The fab four was a great way for us to not only be introduced to the format of the textbook in the beginning, but as I put more work into my fab four, the more information I was able to obtain from the readings. The text was easy to read and organized in a way that it was easy to go back and find information. This was becasue it was split into three main sections; critical issues, teaching connections, and literature examples. Each of which can be found as well in my Fab 4 summaries themselves. Each of these sections was beneficial to learning about each topic. Being able to choose and focus on 4 chapters meant that I got more use out of the book than I would have if I was overwhelmed with the book as a whole. This way the class was able to split up the text and in the end we all learned about the topics we covered as well as the others through the sharing of everyones blogs.

Annotated Bibliography

Introduction:

My name is Jennifer and I am an approaching senior and elementary education major. I attend Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers Florida where I have lived my entire life. I grew up in a home where there were always books around the house. I was never pushed to read, yet my parents always read to me. I think that’s how I developed a love for reading. However as I grew older my love for reading faded away. Reading became a chore instead of a hobby or adventure. It wasn’t until a trip to the book store my freshman year of college that I found myself sitting on the floor of the

children’s section. It was at that moment when I was surrounded with collections of my favorite memories as a child as well as walls filled with new adventures that I opened a book and Inside that children’s book I started to find that love of reading that I had once lost. The more I read, the more my love was restored. It was also at that moment that I realized I wanted to become an elementary school teacher. I wanted the opportunity to instill that love for reading inside of students. A love that while sometimes may be lost will never completely disappear. When this project was introduced, I was more than excited to dig up my old library card and get started.

Reflection:

When I first walked into the children’s section of the library, I was quite overwhelmed. While each section was categorized and organized. I never knew there were so many published children’s books. Then I met the children’s librarian. As soon as I asked for assistance and presented her with the task at hand, she dropped everything and was eager to stick by my side until we had found all twenty five books of different genres and age levels. Some new and some classics, it seemed like she had read them all. Suddenly the only thing that overwhelmed me was carrying a pile of twenty five books plus a few more back to my car. That was day one. About a month later, my annotated bibliography is complete. Not only did I discover many new books that I had never cracked open before, but I was able to go back and reminisce with classics as well. But this project also went deeper than the content of the books. I became more aware of both award winning books and authors, I discovered exactly what each genre encompassed and focused on classroom connections more than I ever had before. This is one of the most useful assignments I have completed in my college career. So useful in fact that I don’t plan on stopping here. I am inspired and feel that as a teacher it is my responsibility to stay up to date on children’s literature, past, present and future.

Barbara Park Author Study

Barbara Park

“Teachers and children do not have the same kind of brains.”

-Barbara Park, Junie B., First Grader

Introduction to the unit:

For this unit I chose to study an author that I have always been a fan of. Barbara Parks is a well-known children’s author, known for her humorous portrayals of a kindergartener named Junie B. Jones. When I was younger I read many of the books in the Junie B. Jones series written by Barbara Parks; however I was unaware that she also wrote books for young adults as well. Through this study I hope that I will have a chance to not only revisit the books I enjoyed as an early reader, but also be able to discover some of Barbara Parks other works in her collection.

Background Information:

          Barbara Park is the author of the humorous Junie B. Jones series.   As a successful fiction author, Park has received more than 40 awards for her books, including 25 Children’s Choice awards. While she is best known for her Junie B. Jones series, she has also written many other books, including a children’s picture book and approximately 13 other novels written for older kids in the middle grades. In fact, believe it or not, some of the characters featured in the middle grade novels are the most meaningful for Park.

Unlike many authors, Barbara Park didn’t grow up wanting to be an author. In fact as a kid Barbara Park had no interest in writing at all. In a question and answer segment on her website she says that “for me, a writing assignment was more upsetting than finding out my mother was cooking liver and onions for dinner.” It wasn’t until she was in high school that Park began to develop a love for reading. Despite her newly discovered love for reading, Barbra Park didn’t immediately begin to write. She went to the University of Alabama and graduated with a teaching degree, much like I am on the path to doing. However “her first classroom of seventh graders drove her right out of the profession”. It was at this point in her life that Park took a step back and pondered what her next step would be. It was a Judy Blume book brought home from her son that sparked her creativity and made her realize that children’s literature could be a great outlet for her sense of humor.

In my research about this author I was able to discover where many of her the ideas for the books that she writes come from. The fact that she has been able to countlessly take a simple event, and transform it into a plot that brings her characters to life amazes me. Barbara Park admires authors such as Dr. Seuss because of the way he is able to capture imagination in his storytelling. Humor and dialogue are Parks favorite parts of writing, neither of which usually comes easy for her. However sometimes Park says that “an event can set off a chain of ideas.  A bike accident at the end of Park’s street sparked the idea for Mick Harte was Here (Random House, 1996).”

 Even in Parks middle grade novels, they story is told from a kids point of view and the main characters are between the ages of eight and ten years old. It wasn’t until Park published The Kid in the Red Jacket that she began working with younger characters. According to Park, Random Park publishing contacted her soon after the books release and asked her to write four books in a series for early readers. These four books ended up becoming the start of the well-known Junie B. Jones series.   

Fab-4 Historical Fiction

Chapter 8 historical fiction

As the book puts it, historical fiction is neither fantasy nor non-fiction, but they are possible. “They usually occur in periods prior to the author even being born.” Sometimes the author writes about life experiences, however they are written in a fictional format. Historical fiction is often used in education because of its many benefits. According to Johnson; the author of The Joy of Children’s Literature, “When history is written in story form it is easier for students to understand historical time periods and events because the author creates a sense of realism.” In addition, there are many benefits of including historical fiction into teaching. These benefits include a sense of life as it was lived in the past, helps like the past and present and shows that they too can play a historical role.

            Along with the many stated benefits in the book there are many other teaching connections that the author has provided. Historical fiction is not only entertaining to students, bit it can also be used to teach different historical categories. While categories such as ancient, medieval and colonial times are usually covered through the textbook, they can be a lot more interesting for students if they are taught through other formats. Historical fiction can also be used to compare and contrast the vast amount of content that is covered. As a teacher, historical fiction can be used to help students compare and contrast their lives with young characters in historical fiction. This counteracts another downside to textbooks and the fact that most textbooks don’t even use younger historical figures.

Henry’s Freedom Box

By: Ellen Levine

Henry Brown was a slave who dreamed of freedom but dreaded the day that he would be torn apart from his family. Until one day it happened; Henry was sold to his master’s brother. There, Henry met his wife and started his own family, but still he feared that his family might too be torn

apart like he once was. When Henry’s wife and children are sold at the slave market Henry begins thinking about how he can become free. Then one day while working at the warehouse Henry sees a crate and gets an idea. He will ship himself to freedom. The story then follows Henry’s Journey to freedom in his freedom box.

Up the Learning Tree

By: Marcia Vaughan

A young enslaved boy living in the pre- civil war south, Henry Bell risks his life so that he can learn how to read. He attends school from up in a sycamore tree. From in the tree, Henry listens to the lessons and tries to make sense of letters and words. His determination and bravery lead him on a journey of discovery that changes his life forever.

Titanic Book Three S.O.S

By: Gordon Korman

This edition of the three part series called Titanic follows four younger children aboard the boat in its final stages. As the ship begins to sink, it is a race against time for the children who are not only trying to survive, but are also trying to piece together a mystery and nmask a killer before time runs out.

Fab-4 Non Fiction

Chapter 10 Non –Fiction

Chapter ten in the Joy of Children’s Literature discusses the non-fiction genre.  According to Johnson nonfiction books have come a long way.” From the dry recitation of facts and badly reproduced photography” the nonfiction genre has transformed into literature that is filled with creativity and originality. Nonfiction books not only provide information from students, but in fact some students even prefer to read nonfiction books over fiction books. However as a teacher it is very important that you test the accuracy of the books that are provided for your students. If children are given the opportunity to read nonfiction, it can prove to have many benefits. It builds knowledge of the natural and social world, offers a key to success in later schooling, and addresses children’s interests and questions.

As a teacher if you use nonfiction books in your teaching it can prove to be very beneficial. Some ideas of using nonfiction literature in your teaching include writing letters to different cultures or even soldiers that can be studied through nonfiction books. Assignments such as this not only build student knowledge, but also improve writing skills. Another great example of integrating the nonfiction genre into teaching is Anne Frank’s Diary. The Diary of Anne Frank not only teaches history, but can also teach students the importance of keeping a diary and how it can play a part in the future as well as many other life lessons.

It’s a Baby African Elephant

By: Kelly Doudna

“It’s a Baby” is a series of books written about wild baby animals.

  It’s a Baby African Elephants introduces readers to African elephants with a sequence of facts while covering many topics such as where they live, what they eat as well as how they interact with other elephants. The book also provides readers with a list of vital statistics at the beginning of the book and a fun fact at the end.

Erika’s Story

By: Ruth Vander

Erika’s story is a true story of a Jewish woman re-telling her accounts of how her mother was able to spare her from the horrors of the holocaust when she was just an infant.

Marines

By: Jack Montana

This very informative book covers many in depth topics about the United States Marines. From the beginning basics of joining and the struggles of boot camp to the selection of recruits for the elite team, and the present day missions they perform.

Fab 4-Modern Fantasy

Chapter 6 Modern Fantasy

Chapter six in The Joy of Children’s Literature discusses the genre of Modern Fantasy. According to Johnson “Modern fantasy has the ability to take us beyond the world as we know it, defying the natural laws of physics, to a world where animals talk, people can perform magic, and other worlds exist. Because of the never- ending ability that the mind has to imagine the categories of modern fantasy almost seem never-ending as well. Some of these categories include animals, toys, miniature worlds, time warps, magical powers and preposterous characters in out of this world situation.

The joy of teaching using modern fantasy comes from the ability to take an abstract concept or complex idea that would normally be hard to cover in a classroom setting and pairing it with a book that lets the reader explore the concept for themselves, developing connections to themselves as well as the world around them. Through reading this text, I have discovered that modern fantasies can be used across many content areas. Categories such as time warp can be used to teach history concepts and scientific principles. The authors of Modern Fantasy have the ability to take the unbelievable and make it believable in the reader’s eyes through the implementation of the basic literary elements. It is because of this that Modern Fantasy can be used to discuss the truth in fantasy, help students discover literary devices and learn to visualize.

Dodsworth in New York

By: Time Egan

Dodsworth in New York follows Dodsworth on his journey through New York City. However although he has always wanted adventure, he never could have planned for a crazy stowaway duck to join him along the way. Dodsworth’s adventure turns into a wild duck chase through New York City. When everything seems to be falling apart and Dodsworth feels like giving up on his adventure, he realizes that he has been on one all along.

Toys go Out Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic.

By: Emily Jenkins

A collection of stories all about the adventures of a group of toys that have come alive. Each toy has its own personality and it shows as they learn about the world in which they live and their place in it. In addition, each story teaches a lesson that kids can connect with.

Hugo Cabret

By: Brian Selznick

This is a story about a young orphan boy, named Hugo Cabret, who secretly lives in the walls of a Paris train. As a lockmaker’s intern, Hugo works part time to keep the clocks in the station working properly. With the rest of his time, he works tirelessly to repair a mysterious mechanical man called an automaton. One day a mean old man, who runs a toy booth discover Hugo and his notebook containing the private drawings of the automaton, quickly turning the book into a fast paced mystery.

Fab 4-Picture Books

Chapter 4 Picture books: Beyond Words and Illustrations

According to “The Joy of Children’s Literature” written by Denise Johnson, picture books are not just there to entertain children. In fact picture books have many more uses and are not just intended for young readers. Authors and illustrators work together in creating picture books where the pictures and the words work together to create meaning as well as entertain readers. Several studies show that “reading is a meaning making process that is supported by children’s ability to respond to visual cues.” Other types of picture books have a different purpose. Some work to teach lessons or morals to young readers, while others focus on specific concepts. In the beginning of a picture book, it is the cover that serves as a “window into the book”. It is inside of the book where the illustrations begin working with the words, depicting action, expression and even disposition. It is because of this interdependence that picture books have multiple uses and can ultimately be used at any grade level.

This great text written by Denise Johnson provides many teaching connections in multiple subject areas. “ Picture books can provide background knowledge as well as deepen and extend knowledge about a diverse range of people, places, events, concepts and experiences within any content area” (Johnson, 108) For example picture books can also be helpful when teaching nonfiction and historical contexts. A lot of these types of picture books are designed for an older audience. They can help students reach a better understanding about a topic. In addition, picture books designed for younger readers can help with teaching sequencing, re-telling and predicting.

Ling and Ting

By: Grace Lin

Ling and Ting are two identical oriental twins who everyone thinks are the same because of their identical physical characteristics. However throughout the book Ling and Ting prove that just because they are identical twins, they are not the same person. In fact they are almost exactly opposite.

The Princess and the Pea

By: Rachel Isadora

This African fairytale tells the story of a prince in search of his princess. However no

matter where he travels in Africa, he still can’t find his princess. There was something about the
different princesses that just wasn’t right. Then one stormy night there is a knock on the palace door and when the palace visitor claims to be a princess the prince determines just what to do to find out if this is true.

Ellington is not a Street

By: Ntozake Shange

This book is both a literature and illustrative tribute to the African American community of Ntozake

Shange. Through this book Ntozake reflects on the innovative men and women from her
childhood. It is a great tribute to not only these men and women but also the time period as a
whole. A time where people triumphed despite tremendous adversities.