Module 12: Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein by Don Brown

Module 12: Biography and Autobiography

Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein by Don Brown

Brown, D. (2004) Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein [Kindle version]. Retrieved from Amazon.com

Plot Summary
From his birth, Einstein was an oddball. He was "too fat" for his grandmother and failed to coo and babble like other babies. But when he does talk, he proves himself as clever and sharp. At the age of three, he gains a baby sister, Maja. Young Einstein is not a fan of his new companion. He hits her and strikes her in the head. Maja would go on to say that to be Einstein's sister you needed a "sound skull."

As a child, Einstein struggled with controlling his temper. He throws tantrums and even ends up scaring off a tutor with his rage. However, when he is not angry, he gives single-minded attention to the activities he finds enjoyable, such as building a house of cards. Einstein is full of wonder and often is curious of how things work, like the compass that his father gives him.When his family moves to Munich, the four-year old Einstein is left to wander the streets without supervision.

Once he begins school, he gets labeled as an odd boy. He doesn't like to play sports or the soldiers on parade. His classmates mock him for his Jewish heritage. In class, he focuses on subjects that he enjoys and abandons the rest. His teachers become frustrated with the amount of time it takes him to provide answers in class. However, Einstein earns good grades so they cannot say that he is dim. In his home life, he practices violin and excels without a tutor.

At age 12, he befriends Max Talmud, a medical student, who introduces him to geometry. Max recalls Einstein quickly devouring the material. Einstein becomes transfixed by math and focuses on it in school. Meanwhile, his disinterest in other subjects irritates his teachers. His teachers criticize his interests and insist that nothing will come of them.

When Einstein is 15, his family moves to Milan, Italy. However, the German law dictates that Einstein must serve in the military before he can leave. He is left behind to complete high school and the military. Einstein becomes depressed when he is separated from his family. Because of his failing health, he is given special permission to leave school and reunite with his family in Italy.

When he joins back up with his family, he is able to pursue private study of math and is able to explore his interests. Einstein attempts to enroll in Zurich Polytechnic, a college in Switzerland, but is unable to because he fails the entrance test in the subjects that he disregarded in class. For the next year, he earns his high school diploma and is able to enter Polytechnic.

Einstein graduates and tries to find a teaching job at a university. However, there are no opportunities available. In 1992, he begins work at the Swiss patent office in an Expert III Class position. He then goes on to marry and become a father. But all this time, he continues wondering and examining how things work. He is constantly thinking about things, such as light, time, energy and matter. Through his exploration, Einstein comes up with the photoelectric effect, theories of relativity, and E= mc^2. From his work, he ends up willing the Nobel Prize and a household name.

Impressions
What I enjoyed most about the book was how the illustrations provoked the emotional state of Einstein. For example, when he falls into depression after his family leaves for Italy, the colors are blue with a great deal of shading. It gives the reader a greater understanding of how Einstein is feeling. I also appreciate how the book only slightly touched on Einstein's theories, so the reader does not get bogged down on understanding the science behind his discoveries. Instead the reader is able to gain understanding of the man behind the theories. The book focuses on Einstein's progression from a moody outsider to the genius that we think of today.

One thing that I wish had been expanded upon was Einstein's marriage. We get very little about who he married or their life together and very little about his child. All we really get is that he marries, has a son, and pushes around his son's carriage through Zurich while thinking about theories. I think that more information would be helpful to understand the adult Einstein. However, the book seems to be focusing on his childhood so I understand why their focus was elsewhere.

Reviews
Publishers Weekly. (2004) Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein [Book Review]. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-618-49298-5

"Brown's narrative and appealing quirky pen-and-ink and watercolor art effectively illuminate the eccentricities and intelligence of Einstein the boy and the man."

Kirkus Reviews. (2004) Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein [Book Review]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/don-brown/odd-boy-out/

"Kids won't need to understand relativity to appreciate Einstein's passage from lonely oddball to breathtaking genius. An author's note and bibliography fill out this terrific package."

Library Suggestions
For a library, I would suggest this book for younger readers for a biography unit. It is a simple read and has additional information and a bibliography at the back of the book.

This could also be read aloud or assigned by a librarian or teacher when studying scientists or famous people, Einstein is a household name, but many people do not know how he grew up. This would be a chance to show a new side to Einstein.

Module 14: Water Sings Blues by Kate Coombs

Module 14: Poetry and Story CollectionsWater Sings Blues by Kate Coombs

Coombs, Kate. (2013) Water Sings Blues [Kindle Version]. Retrieved from Amazon.com 

Plot Summary
This collection of ocean poems both explores the lives of aquatic animals and gives life to the ocean itself. Coombs presents the animals and ocean with human-like characteristics which ignites the imagination. Some highlights of the book include: Octopus Ink, Not Really Jelly, and Prayer of the Little Fish.

Octopus Ink
Coombs portrays the octopus as a hesitant author who autographs the water with the word "goodbye." It is an excellent alternative take on the octopus and gives a fun take on their ink.

Not Really Jelly
Not Really Jelly depicts the confusing and amusing nature of jellyfish. They are not really jelly and they are not really fish. This poem gives a child-like impression of jellyfish that captures their jelly nature. "...all slither and jiggle and tremble and squish."

Prayer of the Little Fish
Prayer of the Little Fish goes through the daily prayer of a small fish in the ocean. He prays for safety and health. He prays for food and shelter. It mimics a prayer that readers can hear in their own lives.

Impressions
Although poetry is not usually my ideal reading material, I was very impressed on how well they captured up the spirit of the ocean and how well the poems flowed. Coombs gives human qualities to the ocean and its occupants and inspires the reader to think of the ocean creatures in a new light. I particularly loved Prayer of the Little Fish. Coombs mirrored a human prayer from the perspective of the little fish. It made the fish relatable and gave you a glimpse into their aquatic life.

The illustrations are beautiful. The water color style of illustration enhances the ocean-feel of the poems. They are an excellent accompaniment to the text.

Reviews
Kirkus Reviews (2012) Water Sings Blues [Book Review]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kate-coombs/water-sings-blue/

"Varied rhyme and rhythmic patterns and surprising connections characterize these relatively short poems, which read aloud well and stick in the memory. there's humor, interesting language and intriguing imagery, as when the Gulper Eel's 'astronomical maw' is compared to a black hole. Thoughtful organization and placement of text on the page and So's wavery, watery illustrations extend the poems' meaning."

Bowen, B. (2012) Water Sings Blue: Ocean Poems [Book Review]. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8118-7284-3

"Coombs punctuates her sweeping, lullaby-like poems about the ocean with surprising personification and unexpected imagery."

Library Suggestion
This collection of poems is a great resource for read-alouds. I would definitely suggest pulling Water Sings Blues for anyone presenting a ocean/sea themed story time. The poems over the water animals would be excellent for quick reading and pack in a lot of personification in to each mini-story.

Module 13: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Module 13: Graphic Novels and Series Books

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Kinney, J. (2007) Diary of a Wimpy Kid. New York, NY: Amulet Books.

Plot Summary
As Greg Heffley begins middle school, he decides to keep a journal to he wants to give people something when they ask him questions once he is famous, and because his mother wants him to keep a diary. Greg goes through his day-to-day life along with his own commentary. He is also plagued by his bullying older brother, Rodrick; his spoiled younger brother, Manny; and his frustrating parents, Frank and Susan.

Over the course of the year, Greg must deal with fitting in and frustrations with family and friends. Examples include, running and hiding from teenagers on Halloween; Rowley becoming popular when he breaks his arm; and being a tree in the school's Wizard of Oz play.The most notable and well remembered part of the book was when the older kids force Rowley and Greg to each the Cheese, which was associated with a form of cooties called the Cheese Touch. Although Greg is able to escape the Cheese by claiming to be allergic, Rowley eats it. When the other kids see that the Cheese is gone, Greg claims to have thrown it away to protect Rowley. This reunites Greg and Rowley after their previous fight.

Impressions
I am going to be honest. This book was not my cup of tea. I usually have this problem when a book simply documents events rather than having a mission. I didn't really feel like the book was going anywhere because there wasn't one overarching conflict. Diary of a Wimpy Kid was a year in the life of Greg Heffley and it didn't stick with me.

Even though it wasn't my favorite book, I can definitely see where young readers would like it. It is relatable to children entering in or attending middle school because it gives a kid's perspective on kid challenges.

Reviews
Scholastic. (n.d.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: A Novel in Cartoons [Book Review]. Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/diary-wimpy-kid#cart/cleanup

"Author/illustrator Jeff Kinney recalls the growing pains of school life and introduces a new kind of hero who epitomizes the challenges fo being a kid. As Greg says in his diary, 'Just don't expect me to be all Dear Diary this and Dear Diary that.' Luckily for us, what Greg Heffley says he won't do and what he actually does are two very different things."

Kirkus Review (n.d.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: A Novel in Cartoons [Book Review]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jeff-kinney/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid/

"Largely through his own fault, mishaps seem to plague Greg at every turn, from the minor freak-outs of finding himself permanently seated in class between two pierced stoners and then being saddled with his mom for a substitute teacher, to being forced to wrestle in gym with a weird classmate who has invited him to view his 'secret freckle.' Presented in a mix of legible 'hand-lettered' text and lots of simple cartoon illustrations with the punch lines often in dialogue balloons, Greg’s escapades, unwavering self-interest and sardonic commentary are a hoot and a half—certain to elicit both gales of giggles and winces of sympathy (not to mention recognition) from young readers."
Library Use Suggestions
This book series is incredibly popular with children. There is no denying it. I would suggest either hosting a Diary of a Wimpy Kid party or book club as a way of bringing readers together over their similar interest. The party can be hosted as a celebration of a new book release or just for fun. In a book club setting, each book could be read and discussed each month.

Book Trailer Assignment

INFO 5420 Assignment C: Book Trailers

Book Trailer 1: Matilda by Roald Dahl

URL: https://animoto.com/play/Jqws8tK0Wkf3E3WHUaOX8A

Book Trailer 2: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

URL: https://animoto.com/play/OSjimdnB9qHupjEUgTdZbQ

Book Trailer 3: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

URL: https://animoto.com/play/SxTrKoVSJimpxOFn88Wenw

Module 11: Now & Ben by Gene Barretta

Module 11: Informational Books

Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Barretta

Barretta, G. (2013). Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin [Kindle version]. Retrieved from Amazon.com

Plot Summary

Now & Ben  takes the reader through one of the most significant inventors in history, Benjamin Franklin. The story covers both well known and more unique inventions of Benjamin Franklin, such as the lightning rod, the Long Arm, and the glass armonica. They also discuss come of his other contributions such as promoting eating citrus fruits to prevent scurvy and charting the Gulf Stream. Along with each of these advancements, the author gives the modern version or how Benjamin Franklin's invention inspired others.

Impressions

I was definitely a fan of how the books gave the Now equivalent of Benjamin Franklin's inventions. It takes his past inventions and shows how they are used in the modern world. I think this is very useful for young readers, so they can see how his inventions have evolved over time and truly understand how influential Benjamin Franklin was and still is today.

The illustrations are adorable and place Benjamin Franklin and his inventions side by side with the modern counterpart. The drawings are bright and draw the reader in. They are an excellent addition to the story and are sure to capture the attention of young readers.

Reviews:

Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin [Review of Book] (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8050-7917-3

"The juxtaposition of present and past effectively reinforces the continued relevance of Franklin's inventions and underscores the extraordinary range and depth of his ingenuity and practicality. With its breezy format and succinct text, the book delivers facts in an assuredly kid-friendly style. The playful watercolor cartoons, often divided into panels, help to vary the pacing. A concluding futuristic spread envisions even further updated variations on Franklin's inventions."

Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin [Review of Book] (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/now-ben#cart/cleanup

"In this informative book, Gene Barretta brings Benjamin Franklin's genius to life, deepening our appreciation for one of the most influential figures in American history."

Library Use Suggestions:

I think Now & Ben would be an excellent option to incorporate into a STEAM story time. I promotes creativity and shows how innovation can last from years to come. It would be a way to encourage science and engineering as well as promoting a Maker Space.

Module 9: Cam Jansen and the Catnapping Mystery by David Adler

Module 9: Mystery

Cam Jansen: The Catnapping Mystery by David A. Adler

Adler, D.A. (2005). Cam Jansen: The Catnapping Mystery. New York, NY: Puffin Books.

Plot Summary:
Cam and her friend are meeting up with her Aunt Molly at a fancy hotel in the city. While they are debating between which activities to do for the day, Cam overhears a hotel guest exclaim that she is missing her cat, Little Tiger. The woman had given her luggage and cat to the bellhop to bring up to her hotel room, but they never arrived. While at the main desk, the lady receives a call from the bellhop, who is really a thief. He says that her clothes are old and her jewelry is fake, so he has no choice but to ransom her stuff back to her. He instructs her to wait in her hotel room for further instructions. The police are called and Cam decides to help out. At first the police do not listen to Cam, but when her photographic memory helps identify the thief's van. They start to take notice. Cam points out that the bellhop-thief was wearing a blue uniform and not a red one like the rest of the hotel staff and she remember his van from when she arrived at the hotel. Although she is unable to remember the plate number, she was able to identify the sticker on his window. It leads them to his apartment complex and they track the thief down. When they find him, they prove that the cat in his apartment is Little Tiger by calling his name. Cam then reunites the cat with his owner.

Impressions:
This is a very brief quick mystery that I am sure young readers will enjoy. Cam is easy to relate too, yet she still retains her uniqueness with her photographic memory.

Personally, I feel like it was a little heavy on the lead up to the mystery and did not take a lot of time with the mystery itself. The prep took up more time then solving the mystery which disappointed me. I understand that it is a very short book, but it could have been lengthened a bit to fill out the mystery.

Reviews:

Kit Vaughtan, J. (2010) The Catnapping Mystery [Book Review]. Retrieved fromhttp://www.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0141308974/SLJREVIEW.html&client=anarp

"In this 18th adventure, Cam Jansen, her parents, and her friend Eric are on their way to meet her aunt at the Royal Hotel. There, Cam overhears a conversation between a distressed hotel guest and Michael, the bellhop. Esther Wright states that on her arrival, she gave her luggage and her traveling companion, "Little Tiger," to a bellhop outside the hotel to take to her room. The cat never made it there. A ransom-demanding phone call confirms Esther's worst fears-"Little Tiger" has been catnapped. Cam once again solves the mystery and helps catch the crook. With her photographic memory, she makes mental notes of events and details that the rest of her family and friends dismiss. Pen-and-ink drawings appear frequently throughout, and a visual puzzle to solve is included at the end. Another fine mystery for beginning chapter-book readers."

Peterson, L. (n.d.) The Catnapping Mytery [Book Review]. Retrieved from http://www.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0141308974/BLREVIEW.html&client=anarp

"Cam Jansen, girl detective extraordinaire, happens upon another mystery while on an outing to the Royal Hotel. Posing as a bellhop, a thief steals the luggage and the pet cat belonging to an unsuspecting elderly woman, then holds them for ransom. Thanks to her photographic memory, Cam is able to give police a great description of both the thief and his getaway van, and together the officers and the youthful investigator get their man. Susanna Natti, who has illustrated all the books in this series, makes the pictures do double duty this time by providing not only pleasing drawings to complement the text but also visual clues to help readers solve the mystery right along with Cam. A good book to introduce young readers to chapter books: the level of mystery is just right for the audience. The book will also be a good choice to help build the confidence of older children with reading disabilities."

Library Use Suggestions:

Any book in the Cam Jansen series could easily be used in a suggested reading display for children's mystery novels. They are quick to read and can act as a way of getting children into mystery novels without overwhelming them.

Module 7: Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, Schools, and Other Scary Things

Module 7: Realistic Fiction

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look

Look, L. (2008). Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things. New York, NY: Schwarts & Wade Books.

Plot Summary:
This books follows Alvin Ho's adventure through the beginning of his school year until around Halloween. Alvin Ho must cope with his fears as he strives to get through each day of school and attempt to make friends.

The story starts out with Alvin introducing himself and his fears. Then he goes on to explain how he is coping with his fears at school by putting together his own Personal Disaster Kit (PDK) which includes plans for any difficult situation, like How to Meet Your New Teacher. Alvin seeks advice from his older brother, Calvin, on how to make new friends. Although Alvin doesn't approve of Calvin's methods, he writes it down anyways. 

The school year begins and Alvin tries to get out of class by claiming to be "allergic" to school. His dad sees through it anyways and sends him to school. There he becomes desk mates with a girl named Flea who was one eye. Alvin is unhappy about this scenario, but he "loses his voice" at school and can't fight back. When Flea comes over after school and shows his mother The Book on Alvin, Alvin flips out and offends Flea. She remains upset with him over the whole ordeal. 

Still trying desperately to get out of class, Alvin attempts to get chicken pox from a girl, Jules. He trades a piece of gum to Pinky so he can go in her house. Although the children do not show symptoms immediately, they later all come down with the chicken pox and school is cancelled. During this time, Alvin's dad allows Alvin to play with his Johnny Astro toy and saying that one day it will be his. Once the children go back to school, Alvin decides that Johnny Astro will be a great "show and tell" item and he borrow it without permission. As fate would have it, Johnny Astro gets destroyed and Alvin's dad is very upset. After this, Alvin's dad decides that he needs to take piano lessons.

The piano lessons do not go well because Alvin is scared of the piano teacher. He had been told by Jules that she is a witch like in Hansel and Gretel. After his meltdown at the piano teacher's house, he is sent back to the psychotherapist. Alvin is scared of the therapist because he thinks she is a psycho. He refuses to speak to her and eventually they play cards. The therapist is doing poorly and Alvin ends up yelling Shakespearean insults at her. Alvin's dad takes him home, but first they go to the ice cream shop and have a heart to heart. Alvin's dad tells Alvin that he knows it is hard to deal with fear and get new friends, but he would not change anything about Alvin. He also tells Alvin about how he made friends by trading baseball cards. Alvin decides that that is the way that he will win over Pinky, the popular boy in his class. 

Alvin ends up attempting to befriend Pinky, but after several mishaps, including throwing a ball through his neighbor's window, he decides that he does not want to be friends with Pinky. In the end, Alvin ends up playing with Flea and they become friends. 

Impressions:
This is a brief read and fast paced. I easily knocked out the book in a hour. I think it is a good read for children who want a quick story with an intriguing protagonist. 

What I appreciate the most about the book is that it addresses anxiety and fear in a way that is easy to understand. Most of the book is written as internal thoughts instead of conversations between characters and it shows a young boy's vision of what is going on in the world around him and how his fears impact him. I don't think that there are enough books out there that address mental illness or going to a therapist and I appreciate that Look did just that. 

Look also takes the opportunity to introduce a main character with an Asian heritage. Although much of Alvin's life is pretty standard in American ways, Look brings in details of Alvin's Chinese heritage and history into the tale. For example, Alvin has a signed baseball by Daisuke Matsuzaka, which he keeps in a case and later uses as a play ball.

The cherry on top of this book is the inclusion of Alvin Ho's Woeful Glossary which describes what Alvin means when he says different things. These glossary entries are written in the same style of the book and can allow any reader who does not understand what some of the words mean. For example, Look uses this glossary to explain who Daisuke Matsuzaka is and his significance to baseball history. It is definitively a nice touch and explains things in kid friendly language. 

Reviews:

Bird, E. (2008). Review of the Day- Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, school, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look. Retrieved from http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2008/07/28/review-of-the-day-alvin-ho-allergic-to-girls-school-and-other-scary-things-by-lenore-look/

"I can also see some people getting a little squirrely when it comes to Alvin’s dialogue, though. You could make the argument that no boy in the history of the world would say, 'My dad is not superhero material,' or 'The fourth thing you should know about me is that I love Plastic Man, Wonder Woman, the Green Lantern, Concrete Man, Aquaman, King Henry V and all the superheroes in the world.' You could SAY that but can I point out that Alvin never actually speaks these sentences? They’re just explaining his state of mind. And if a sentence says, 'The scary thing about girls is that they are not boys' then can’t you argue that the author is clarifying what Alvin is feeling even if he wouldn’t use those exact words at that exact time? In a sense, Look is translating Alvin’s thoughts and emotions into coherent, remarkable little sentences that every second grader feels but is incapable of putting into words. There’s the acknowledgment that 'crying is really great' alongside the almost poignant 'I am not good at anything ever since I started school.' Alvin isn’t precocious. He just happens to have an author capable of bringing him into crisp, clear relief."

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things [Review of Book] (2008) Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lenore-look/alvin-ho/

"In the vignettes that make up this exuberantly funny slice of Alvin’s life, Look portrays the world as it would be viewed through the eyes of a wildly creative but undeniably neurotic kid. In his hometown of Concord, Mass., Alvin searches for friends, meets with a psychotherapist (who he supposes must be a 'very smart crazy person' based on her job title) and gets himself into a variety of jams. A witty glossary and Pham’s simple yet expressive line drawings perfectly complement this appealing story about the refreshingly original, endearing Alvin."

Library Use Suggestions: 

I think that this books would be a good way to introduce mental illness to a child who is struggling with anxiety. There are not many children's books that deal with debilitating fear and this is a lighter way of approaching it. A teacher or librarian could use this as a read aloud to introduce the idea of coping with extreme fear while Alvin goes through his adventures. Children who are suffer socially can take solace in the fact that Alvin eventually finds a friend in Flea at the end of the book.