Pinkalicious!

I think I have read this book 87 time to Leah!  She loves it!

Click on this link to watch!
Pinkalicious

Book Talk: The Friendship Doll

In 1924, The united States passed an immigration law limiting the number of people allowed into the U.S. from Japan and other areas of Asia.  This law caused great tension between the U.S. and Japan.  During this time, a very caring man named Dr. Sidney Gulick worked to improve the way Americans felt about people from Japan.  He lived in Japan for 20 years and knew how much Japanese children love dolls.  In 1926, as a gesture of goodwill, Dr. Gulick started a project to send American dolls to Japan in time for their Doll Festival.  The project was a sensation!  The people of Japan were overwhelmed with the arrival of over 12,000 blue-eyed dolls.  In return, the finest doll makers in Japan created 58 beautiful Torei Ningyo (Dolls of Gratitude) to be sent to The United States.  The dolls were welcomed with receptions and put on display all over the United States.  

The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson (May 10, 2011) tells the story of one of these 58 dolls as she leaves Japan and arrives in America in 1927.  Ms. Larson tells us that this book is based on the real events that occurred, but the story she tells is fiction. 
Miss Kanagawa is a beautiful Japanese doll, crafted by Master Doll-Maker Tatsuhiko.  From the moment she is created, she knows that she is an ambassador, and will act as such.  Master Tatsuhiko tells her that he wishes for her to one day feel the love of a child, but Miss Kanagawa is above such foolishness.  She is not a play thing, not a baby doll to be held and cuddled, but a symbol of peace and friendship.  As she will soon learn, sometimes you can't ignore what your heart tells you. 
There is something very special about Miss Kanagawa.  Her eyes are piercing, and she seems to look right into your soul and read your thoughts.  She seems to "say" the exact right thing at the exact right time, even though she is only a doll and cannot speak the way you and I can.  She seems to come into your life right when you need her.  She seems to make you a better person than you were before you met her.  
Miss Kanagawa comes into the lives of 4 different girls during her travels as an Ambassador of Friendship.  Each of the 4 girls are struggling to be a good friend or a good daughter, and are at a crossroads in their lives.  After being with Miss Kanagawa, they learn what they must do to be a good person.  The girls are not the only ones that learn about love and friendship. Miss Kanagawa's heart opens a little more with each girl she meets and she knows why Master Tatsuhiko wished for her to find the love of a child.  She finds that opening her heart is painful, because along with hellos, there are goodbyes and some goodbyes can break your heart. 
Sadly, in 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.  Most of the Friendship Dolls were removed from museums, some were even destroyed.  The dolls were seen as unpatriotic during World War II.  There were 58 dolls in 1927 and now, 43 of the dolls remain- some in museums, some owned privately.  I learned that The Putnam Museum in Davenport, Iowa is home to Miss Hokkaido.  I will be making a trip very soon!

Miss Hokkaido Serves Tea at the Putnam Museum in Davenport

I fell in love with each of the characters I met in this book.  I wish Ms. Larson could write an entire book about each of the characters.  Ms. Larson seamlessly places each girl in her setting and time period.  The voices of the girls and Miss Kanagawa intertwine beautifully.  At the end of the book, the reader learns the story behind each of the characters, and we learn facts about the actual events that occurred.  This book would be a great fit into a study of Japan, or a genre study of historical fiction.  After reading the book, I could see classes researching the actual Friendship Dolls and the events that took place before and after they arrived.  I, myself spent time researching the topic online as I read the book.   The book ends in present day with a sweet but sad twist that left a smile on my face and tears on my cheeks.
Bunny is the first girl we meet and she is struggling with a bully.  She has the perfect revenge planned when Miss Kanagawa tells her " Our actions make the fragrance of our lives.  Would you smell of plums or vinegar?"  That question really struck me, and I started to think about all of my actions in life.  Would my life smell like plums or vinegar?  No matter my answer, I decided that from that moment on, I would choose plums.  What would you choose?


Sites About The Friendship Dolls:
Bill Gordon's Friendship Doll Page: Tells the story of the 1927 Friendship Doll exchange between Japan and the United States. Friendship Dolls continue to play an important role in promoting understanding, peace, and friendship between children and adults in the two countries.
Wikipedia Friendship Doll Page lists where the remaining dolls are located. 
Japanese American Museum
 

Happy Presidents Day

Is it President's or Presidents?  I am not sure about that, but I am sure that Duck for President by Doreen Cronin (E CRO) is my favorite Presidential book.  If you visit the Simon & Schuster site, you can download various printables to go with the book, including a campaign poster and buttons!  Check it out at the Lemme Library, and check out Duck's campaign spot:

Book Talk: Horton Halfpott

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of Tom Angleberger's soon to be published book Horton Halfpott: Or, The Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor; or, The Loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's Corset. I started it today and just finished it!  I promise that there won't be any spoilers in this book talk!

Horton Halfpott is a smart, funny and fast paced mystery.  In this story, a chain of events happen after M'Lady Luggertuck decides not to tighten her corset one morning.  Because she isn't grumpy and cranky from being squeezed and pinched all day, she agrees to do something that will change the lives of everyone at the manor.  The book is full of great characters- some you will love and some you will love to hate.  I was concerned at first with the number of characters in the book, afraid that middle grade kids couldn't keep track of all of them, but after reading, I know it is not a concern at all.  Tom obviously  knows  how to write for these kids- he doesn't weigh the story down with too many details.  He tells the reader just enough, and then trusts that the reader will piece the story together.  (Just like adults do!) The narrator of the story does a great job of moving the story along and assuring us that we don't need to know everyone's backstory. 

There is one character that we meet that we want to know more about, and we do.  Horton Halfpott is our main character and hero.  He is kind, hard-working and dedicated.  He is a good son and a great friend.  He works for one penny a week in the kitchen of the manor to support his mother, siblings and sick father.  He suffers at the hand (or spoon) of the vile cook and the evil Luther Luggertuck.  Horton has more than one opportunity to make bad choices, but maintains his good heart.  He falls in love with Celia (the heroine of this story), evades pirates, escapes from jail and solves the mystery of the stolen Lump (and wig, letters, a bust of Napoleon- oh and a monocle), with the help of some very sleuthy friends. (Is sleuthy even a word?  It should be!)  This book will appeal to both boys and girls, kids who love mysteries and kids who love funny stories.  The humor in this book is smart funny- not silly, fart joke funny.  Reluctant readers may struggle with the fast pace of the story and the number of characters.  The narrator does use an Old English voice, which may prove difficult for kids who struggle.  Kids will love the illustrations in the book that start each chapter.  I love this book!  I can't wait for the kids to be able to read it so we can talk about it!  I still have some questions about some of the characters, so I am hoping there will be a sequel (I have to learn more about Bump!)  Did I mention that the cover will glow in the dark?  How cool is that?

*images from from hortonhalpott.com

Interrupting Chicken

I read this book to 2nd grade last week, and it cracked them up!  This is the story of a papa chicken who reads a bedtime story to Little Chicken.  I can relate to this story, being the mom of an interrupting almost-3-year-old.  Like my daughter, Little Chicken has something to say about every single page.  It takes for ever to finish a story!  Papa Chicken knows this, and encourages Little Chicken to be quiet and just listen.  This proves to be very difficult!  The story ends with Little Chicken reading to Papa... will Papa interrupt the story?

Friday Funny

Yay Me!!!

I just received an advanced copy of Tom Angleberger's newest book Horton Halfpott!  After I selfishly devour it myself, I will offer it as a read aloud during lunch.  I am very excited!!!

From hortonhalfpott.wordpress.com

Bieber Style

Join Justin Bieber as he reads The Cat in The Hat by Dr. Seuss! Visit the Bookit website to learn about the World's Biggest Read Aloud!

Top Ten for Tuesday, February 15, 2011

I guess I am still in the mood for love, because this week I give you 10 stories of unlikely friendship and love. 

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell

E RIC

This tale based on a true story about a charming penguin family living in New York City's Central Park Zoo will capture the hearts of penguin lovers everywhere. Roy and Silo, two male penguins, are "a little bit different." They cuddle and share a nest like the other penguin couples, and when all the others start hatching eggs, they want to be parents, too. Determined and hopeful, they bring an egg-shaped rock back to their nest and proceed to start caring for it. They have little luck, until a watchful zookeeper decides they deserve a chance at having their own family and gives them an egg in need of nurturing. The dedicated and enthusiastic fathers do a great job of hatching their funny and adorable daughter, and the three can still be seen at the zoo today. (School Library Journal)
 

Nacho and Lolita by Pam Munoz Ryan

E RYA

Each year on the March feast day of St. Joseph, the swallows return to the Mission. This tale is told from the perspective of another avian wonder, a once-colorful pitacoche. How it becomes a plainer-looking creature is at the heart of this pourquoi tale. Nacho, an extravagantly colored bird who lands at the Mission, is unimpressed with the arid landscape, but nonetheless does his best to entertain the native peoples and friars with his haunting melodies and bright appearance. Human acclaim, however, does not compare with the company of other birds, and so he eagerly anticipates the rumored return of the swallows. Nacho bonds with them and in particular with a sweet little female named Lolita. Much as he would like to accompany the swallows when the flock departs, it proves impossible for the big, ungainly bird. Initially distraught, he channels his energy into creating a surprise for them upon their return, and as a by-product leaves a lasting legacy of color and beauty for the Mission. (School Library Journal)

Owen & Mzee: The Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Isabella & Craig Hatkoff

When the six-year-old contributor to this book saw the photograph documenting the extraordinary friendship between a baby hippo (Owen) and a 130-year-old giant tortoise (Mzee), she persuaded her father to help tell their story. Originally an e-book, the hardcover version begins with images of the duo, whetting readers' appetite and providing reassurance as the potentially disturbing plot unfolds. After a scene depicting a pod of hippos near the Sabuki River in Kenya, the text describes the 600-pound baby's displacement and separation from the group during the 2004 tsunami. Children witness the challenging rescue and meet the knowledgeable staff at an animal sanctuary. From Owen's first approach for protection to Mzee's unexpected tolerance, the photographs, mostly by BBC photojournalist Greste, capture the pair eating, swimming, snuggling, and playing together. Their contentment and peace are palpable. Because it is sensitively structured, with careful choices about what is emphasized and illustrated, the situation does not overwhelm readers. The text and the back matter are brimming with information about the animals, their caregivers, and the locale. This touching story of the power of a surprising friendship to mitigate the experience of loss is full of heart and hope. (School Library Journal)

Tadpole's Promise by Keanne Willis

E WIL

Ross's vibrantly hued pen-and-ink and watercolor cartoons depict the edge of a pond where a caterpillar and a tadpole meet and fall in love: "She was his beautiful rainbow, and he was her shiny black pearl." Perched on a leaf above the water, she smiles down at her sweetheart and asks him to "Promise you'll never change." Although he agrees, some vows are difficult to keep, and when they next meet, he has sprouted two legs. She forgives him, but after he breaks his promise twice more and now looks more like a frog than her "shiny black pearl," the lovelorn larva ends the affair and cries herself to sleep (sequestered in a cocoon). Meanwhile, the melancholy frog sulks around the pond, making heart-shaped air bubbles that rise to the surface and burst. When the caterpillar awakens, now a butterfly, she decides to forgive her beloved and flies above the water to find him. Without a thought, the frog swallows her whole, and then returns to wondering about whatever happened to his "beautiful rainbow. (School Library Journal)

Farfallina and Marcel by Holly Keller

E KEL

A gentle story about sustaining friendship in the face of change. One spring, a young gosling, Marcel, and a caterpillar, Farfallina, become close friends. Similar in temperament and considerate of one another's strengths and weaknesses, they like spending time together. One day, Farfallina feels very strange and she climbs a tree to rest. After weeks of patiently waiting for her return, Marcel realizes that he must go on without her. When the two meet again, they don't recognize one another at first: one has become a beautiful butterfly and the other an elegant goose. But they soon discover that, though they look different, they still are the best of friends. Watercolors in predominantly blue and green decorate the quiet tale, which includes an author's note on how caterpillars become butterflies. (School Library Journal)

A Splendid Friend Indeed by Suzanne Bloom

E BLO

Children will recognize their relationships with friends or siblings in this creative, pointed picture book. Polar Bear is reading when Goose comes rushing in, pulls the book from the bear's hand, and begins reading himself. The same thing happens after Polar Bear starts writing. Even more frustrating are Goose's persistent questions about what the bear is thinking. But after hearing a note Goose has written about his "splendid friend," Polar Bear realizes that Goose is a splendid friend, too. (Booklist)

Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming

E FLE

In May 1945, a Dutch girl named Katje is thrilled to receive a letter and a package of socks, soap, and chocolate from Rosie, a girl she doesn't know who lives in Mayfield, Indiana. The kids start to exchange letters, and when Rosie's family members learn of Holland's severe post-war deprivations, they enlist Mayfield residents to send food and clothes to Katje, who generously shares the gifts with others in her community. The sense of suffering isn't strong here, in part because the Dutch townspeople are almost always depicted as smiling about the packages. But the story is still moving, and Dressen-McQueen's lively illustrations, in colored pencil, oil pastel, and acrylic, pack lots of color, pattern, and historical details onto every expansive page. Fleming based the book on her mother's experience, which she describes in an author's note; in the real-life story, however, adults, not children, orchestrated the events, a finding that may be a little disappointing to kids who took the book, with its specific dates, town names, and heroic, generous children, as straight fact. (Booklist)

Cat and Fish by Joan Grant

E GRA

Cat and Fish come from different worlds — he from the land, she from the sea. But when they meet in the park one night, they like each other's looks. Cat shows Fish his world and teaches her how to climb, how to take shelter from the rain, and how to stay warm. But Fish misses the sea, so Cat takes her back and meets her friends and discovers the water world. Then the trouble starts. Opposites may attract, but can they find common ground and stay friends? Neil Curtis’s stunning black-and-white illustrations make this whimsical story of how two unlikely soul mates overcome their differences spring to life. (Amazon.com)

Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems

E WIL

Leonardo is supposed to be a terrible monster, but he's just terrible at his monsterly craft. Small, with big blue eyes, a blue tongue, and a furry body, Leonardo looks like a tiny, unassuming brother of a Wild Thing. He gets an idea: find the most "scaredy-cat kid" in the world and "scare the tuna salad" out of him. He finds Sam, who seems an easy mark and bursts into tears. But  Willems lists the real reasons Sam is crying, starting with "My mean big brother stole the action figure out of my hands" and ending with a bird's pooping on Sam's head. After thinking it over, Leonardo decides to move from terrible monster to wonderful friend. (Amazon.com)
 

Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss

E SEU

Surely among the most lovable of all Dr. Seuss creations, Horton the Elephant represents kindness, trustworthiness, and perseverance--all wrapped up, thank goodness, in a comical and even absurd package. Horton hears a cry for help from a speck of dust, and spends much of the book trying to protect the infinitesimal creatures who live on it from the derision and trickery of other animals, who think their elephant friend has gone quite nutty. But worse is in store: an eagle carries away the clover in which Horton has placed the life-bearing speck, and "let that small clover drop somewhere inside / of a great patch of clovers a hundred miles wide!" Horton wins in the end, after persuading the "Who's" to make as much noise as possible and prove their existence. This classic is not only fun, but a great way to introduce thoughtful children to essentially philosophical questions. How, after all, are we so sure there aren't invisible civilizations floating by on every mote? (Amazon.com)

I Hope You Find Your "Peeta" This Valentine's Day

My most Hunger Games obsessed student, Sami made these rockin' Valentines this year!  

Although I am on Team Gale, I still love these!  

Take Over Your School I Will. Hmmmmmm.

Yoda seems to be taking over our school lately!  May be we will change our mascot from the Lemme Leopards to the LemmeYodas... has a good ring to it, yes?  With kids still reeling after our Skype with Mr. Angleberger and so many kids reading the book and Mrs. Hall using it as an oral lit choice... everyone is in on the action!

Usually I get upset when I find "non-educational" materials printed, but Master Yoda must have put some sort of calm over me.

Aidan is in 1st grade and well on his way to becoming an origami master!

Will can't be stopped.  He is now inventing his own characters, like this Sith

 

And he has invented an origami speech bubble!

And... congratulations to Tom on his Cybils Award for

Middle Grade Fiction

Librarians Need Love Too!

I am so lucky to be in a profession where I can make a difference in the life of a child.  I get bogged down with the chaos of it all sometimes, the paperwork, the overhead light bulbs and jammed printers...the behind the scenes things get in the way too often.  So, today, I got a love note that snapped me back into reality.  I walked into my office and found this.  It's a good day to be a librarian!  Thank you, Amelia. : )

Librarians need Love 2!

i LuV yOu

Today during Kindergarten, we read the book Nacho & Lolita by Pam Munoz Ryan.  This is a love story about Nacho, a rare but beautiful bird and Lolita, a small swallow.  Nacho meets Lolita when she migrates to the town he is currently living in.  He is by himself most of the time, as he is one of a kind and he is too big to fly very far.  He is thrilled when he sees new birds arriving.  Nacho's heart is warmed by Lolita and he spends the summer helping her build a nest and raising her chicks.  When summer ends, Lolita must travel to South America with her flock, leaving Nacho behind.  He tries to convince her to stay, but she tells him that it is too cold during the winter, and now she may never return since the river in the town is drying up.  Nacho tries to follow the swallows, but falls into the ocean and has to stay behind.  He finds that if he plucks his beautiful feathers and plants them in the ground, flowers, trees and even a river appears.  The town is beautiful and full of life as he awaits Lolita's return...  will she return?  Ask your Kindergartener!  (Would I read a tragic love story on Valentine's Day??)

After we read the book, we did a little craft project. We each traced our hand on construction paper and cut them out.  Then we folded the fingers down so the hand was making the sign for "I love you".  We attached a heart with a love note, to be delivered to someone special this afternoon. 

Valentine 2.0

When I was a kid, I loved to do Mad Libs!  You know, fill in the blank with a noun, verb or adjective?   Here are a few Valentine's Day Mad Libs for you to try!  If you don't know what the parts of speech are, there is a help button.

A Special Valentine

A Valentine Poem

Modern Cinderella

What Are Friends For?

Make a Valentine on Starfall.com and practice your connecting words like because & and.  You can print your Valentine too!

My Favorite Love Story

Ah... Valentine's Day is upon us.  Flowers.  Chocolate.  Love.  Have you ever tried to read a love story to a group of elementary students?  The girls giggle and the boys plug their ears (and make gagging sounds.)  Trust me, I know.  I've read my fair share of fairy tales to kids and I get the same reaction every time!  If someone gets married in the book... forgetaboutit!  I have even seen boys lay down on the ground and bury their face in their hands.  There is one love story that is perfect for reading to kids:

Stinky Smelly Feet (A Love Story) by Margie Palatini is my favorite love story.  Douglas the Duck is smitten with Dolores and Dolores is Smitten with Douglas (smitten takes the edge off... they don't know what smitten means!)  One day, during a picnic lunch, Dolores invites Douglas to take off his shoes and let the grass tickle his toes.  He does, and we discover that Douglas has a serious case of stinky, smelly feet.  Douglas is very embarrassed by this discovery, but Dolores is unfazed.  After she comes to, she lets Douglas know that it is ok, and may be he just needs a good, hot bubble bath.  Douglas tries very hard to get rid of his odoriferous feet, but nothing works.  The 2 love-ducks think that his shoes might be the culprit,  and not his feet.  So, they throw out all of his shoes and walk off down the street hand in hand, still quite smitten with one another.  A happy ending?  Yes, even though we discover that Douglas doesn't have stinky shoes, he indeed has stinky, smelly feet.  But, this is a love story, right?  Dolores loves Douglas so much that it doesn't matter how bad his feet smell- she loves him so much that she can overlook (or oversmell) this little problem.

This book is great for showing kids that despite our differences or our flaws, that we are still great people.  And, if someone doesn't like you for who you are,  you don't want to be friends with them.  The kids don't even realize that they are learning a valuable life lesson because they are so busy laughing and pointing out the hilarious illustrations by Ethan Long- birds in gas masks, fish that go belly up from the smell.  I love this book, my kids love this book, and I'm sure you will love this book too!

Friday Funny

Thursday Thirteen

Did you know that there is a big difference between "middle grade" fiction and "young adult" fiction? I have noticed these days that my middle grade readers (ages 8-12) are quick to jump in to books that are intended for young adults!  (They ask me for Hunger Games and Twilight!) Young adult fiction is geared towards kids ages 14 to 21.

Middle Grade readers are ages 8-12.   These kids are trying to figure out what  think, and where they fit in. They like books that they can relate to.  Because of this, most themes deal with issues that these kids deal with: school, friendships, relationships with peers and siblings, and daily difficulties that may seem ordinary to to you and me. This age group  is easily distracted,  so the books have a faster pace, lower word count and less chapters.  This week I give you my favorite middle grade books!  

Frindle by Andrew Clements

F CLE

When he decides to turn his fifth-grade teacher's love of the dictionary around on her, clever Nick Allen invents a new word and begins a chain of events that quickly moves beyond his control.

The Lemonade War by Jaqualine Davies

F DAV

Evan and his younger sister, Jesse, react very differently to the news that they will be in the same class for fourth grade and as the end of summer approaches, they battle it out through lemonade stands, each trying to be the first to earn 100 dollars. Includes mathematical calculations and tips for running a successful lemonade stand.

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

F DIC

Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni describes her first summer in the town of Naomi, Florida, and all the good things that happen to her because of her big ugly dog Winn-Dixie.

The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street by Sharon Flake

F FLA

Ten-year-old Queen learns valuable life lessons about being a good friend when Leroy, a new kid in the neighborhood, comes to Queen's school.

Million Dollar Shot by Dan Gutman

F GUT

Eleven-year-old Eddie gets a chance to win a million dollars by sinking a foul shot at the National Basketball Association finals.

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
F HAD

In a future where the Population Police enforce the law limiting a family to only two children, Luke has lived all his twelve years in isolation and fear on his family's farm, until another "third" convinces him that the government is wrong.

The Secret of Zoom by Lynne Jonell

F JON

Ten-year-old Christina lives a sheltered life until she discovers a secret tunnel, an evil plot to enslave orphans, and a mysterious source of energy known as zoom.

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

F MAS

Just before his thirteenth birthday, Jeremy Fink receives a keyless locked box--set aside by his father before his death five years earlier--that purportedly contains the meaning of life. 

One Beastly Beast by Garth Nix

F NIX

A collection of four fantasy tales in which a boy joins a strange navy in pursuit of video pirates, a neglected princess seeks adventure, an orphaned inventor seeks the perfect parents, and a genius girl faces a sea serpent

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen

F PAU

Things get out of hand for a twelve-year-old boy when a neighbor convinces him to expand his summer lawn mowing business. 

Beryl: A Pig's Tale by Jane Simmons

F SIM

Tired of being mistreated and cooped up, Beryl the piglet escapes her farm and meets a group of wild pigs, whose settlement splits up over the decision of whether to let her stay, and with her new "family" she sets out to find a new home.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

F STE

As her mother prepares to be a contestant on the 1980s television game show, "The $20,000 Pyramid," a twelve-year-old New York City girl tries to make sense of a series of mysterious notes received from an anonymous source that seems to defy the laws of time and space.

Charlotte's Web by EB Lewis

F LEW

Wilbur, the pig, is desolate when he discovers that he is destined to be the farmer's Christmas dinner until his spider friend, Charlotte, decides to help him.

Book Talk: One Crazy Summer

One Crazy Summer  By Rita Williams-Garcia Amistad

F WIL

Delphine's mother left her and her 2 younger sisters when she was only 5.  She has a few memories of her mother, but not enough to really know her.  Her grandmother, Big Mama lets her know that her mother was selfish and thankless.  Delphine's Pa sends her and her sister, Vonetta and Fern to Oakland to meet their mother and stay with her for 6 weeks during the summer of 1968.  

The girls board a plane in Brooklyn and wait anxiously in the LA airport for their mother to claim them.  When their mother, Cecile arrives, she isn't much of a mother.  She doesn't hug them or ask them how they have been for the last 6 years.  She complains about their arrival, saying. "I never asked for y'all to come out here anyhow."  She won't cook for them, and shoos them out of the house as soon as they wake up in the morning.  

On their first night in Oakland, 2 Black Panthers show up at Cecile's door.  After being sent to their room, the girls overhear that the Black Panthers need Cecile to help them print fliers for an upcoming rally.  The girls are immediately frightened, because Big Mama has always told them that Black Panthers just stir trouble.  The girls have been raised to say "yes m'am" and "no m'am" and to not make a "big negro spectacle" out of themselves.  

Each morning, the girls go to The People's Center, where they are served breakfast by The Black Panthers, and then go to classes where they learn about civics, their rights and how to deal with police officers.  At the end of the summer, the girls are to participate in a rally for the youngest Black Panther, Little Bobby, who was killed by white police officers during a raid.  Delphine is very afraid, and doesn't want her sisters anywhere near that rally.  After an excursion to San Fransisco, the 3 girls come home to find their mother and 2 Black Panthers being arrested.  Their mother doesn't claim them, and they are left to their own devices until she is set free.  You will need to read the book for yourself to see if Cecile becomes the mother Delphine always wanted, whether or not the girls go to the rally and if the girls arrive back home safely.

This is a wonderful historical fiction novel for children 10+.  The novel would be a great fit as a social studies read aloud, especially when learning about segregation and the fight for equal rights.  I did my research as I read this book, and learned that The Black Panthers started in Oakland in 1966.  In One Crazy Summer, The Panthers spend a lot of time talking about the founder of the Panthers, Huey Newton, who was in prison for shooting and killing a police officer.  I learned that the conviction was overturned in 1970, and Newton was set free.  Students could read this novel without having knowledge of The Black Panthers, Malcolm X and the fight for equal rights, and they would still enjoy a wonderful story about family and friendship.  I love finding a great historical fiction book that reads like a contemporary story- and One Crazy Summer is that book!

Top Ten Tuesday

While blog hopping, I discovered a new Top Ten list for book lovers at The Broke and The Bookish!  This week, they pose the question:

What 10 characters would you name your child after?

The only boy name to make the list is Jonas from The Giver

Piper from The Girl Who Could Fly

Katniss from The Hunger Games

Cassia from Matched

Zoe from Wild Things

Charlotte from Charlotte's Web (Lottie for short)

Lucy from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Molly from Stand Tall Molly Melon

Olivia from Olivia

Trixie from Knuffle Bunny