BayNews needs you!  BayNews welcomes any articles, news, ideas on storytime or programs, etc.  Just send any articles as a Word attachment to email, to Penny Peck at Pikly@aol.com.  Thanks!

 

REVIEWERS: SHOULD WE USE THE TERMS “LOVE” OR “LIKE”?

“I love this book!” can be a phrase that is sometimes used when writing our reviews. Many members believe this phrase sounds unprofessional, others feel it expresses how they see the book. Below we have three members’ opinions on the use of the phrase. How do you feel? Email Pikly@aol.com, and we will include your take on this issue in our next BayNews.

“Please cut out the deep emotional personalizing of “loving” – or even liking – books (or hating and disliking...). They are aesthetic objects, not bed mates, partners, spouses, relatives, etc., etc. Regard them as objects and neither you nor others will be hurt, insulted, cast down, sad, suicidal, when others disagree. Books exist in the third person, not first, particularly in discussion.”
Ever thine,
Big Grandma, third person spokespeon (sic)

“I respectfully disagree. Although I generally don't say I love a book, since they typically do not create such a strong emotion to me, I think it is true that they generate feelings, thoughts and attachments. We can have emotional reactions to inanimate objects or non-human beings (dogs, cats, etc). If people did not feel strongly about books and what they represent, book burnings and censorship would not arouse such controversy.”
Denise Schmidt

“In my class on children’s materials for San Jose State, we spend one week on writing reviews of children’s books. As part of that lecture, I talk about how ineffective the use of words like “love” can be during a debate on a book. Here is the quote from that lecture: One note on “love.” “I simply loved this book!” We all say this, but that is a roadblock to discussion on the book. If you loved it – that’s an emotional reaction that no one can disagree with. But if you say “I appreciated the first person voice, because it sounded very authentic,” then someone can disagree without hurting your feelings. They can give an example of a sentence that sounds like the 40 year old author, not the nine year old protagonist. “I loved it” also doesn’t sound professional, and the reviews are professional writing – like reporting in journalism.”

“Since we are talking about making our reviews sound more effective, I have one other pet peeve: hearing how your child felt about a book. It can muddy the water when you bring up that your child liked it; that also makes it hard for people to disagree without insulting your child’s opinion. But if you tried it on an entire class who enjoyed or were bored by the book, that would be a valid comment.”
My two cents,
Penny Peck

Just Listening: Audiobooks
By Kathryn Shepler
Aurora School, Oakland

Skelton, Matthew. Endymion Spring. Listening Library, 2006, 8 CDs unabr., 10 hrs., 9 min. Grades 5-9. $40. ISBN 0-7393-36-44-4. Performed by Richard Easton.
A book with unimaginable power is created during the time of Johannes Gutenberg and promptly is lost to mankind. Centuries later young American visitors in an old Oxford library rediscover the magic codex and the chase for its possession is on. The text moves from chapters set in 16th century Germany to modern day England. Author Matthew Skelton has brought a wonderful fantasy world to life in his first novel. Richard Easton is an actor with a clear distinctive voice that brings the words to life without distracting the listener with his presence. His narration is an excellent way to bring the story of alternating centuries to life.

Pfeffer, Susan. Life As We Knew It. Listening Library, 2006, 7 CDs, unabr., 9 hrs. Grades 6-12. $45. ISBN 0-7393-3683-5. Performed by Emily Bauer.

After the moon is struck by an asteroid and set into an altered orbit, climatic changes cause life on earth to no longer be “as we knew it”. Young teen Miranda experiences all the frustrations and fears of her new life. The atmosphere of this story is so strong the listener will not be able to shake the vague sense of apprehension long after the book is over. Pfeffer maintains a convincing voice throughout the story. And the read is equally adept. Emily Bauer has a youthful voice with a smile you can hear through her voice. She maintains the right amount of tension and her narration presence never intrudes on the story.

 

“Eragon” Programming Ideas – Movie debuts Dec. 16, 2006

To celebrate the film version of the bestselling novel Eragon by Christopher Paolini, have a party!
Make Dragon Eggs:

Check your local craft store - they may have unfinished wooden eggs that the kids could paint

To make dragon eggs you will need:
Small to medium sized balloons
White glue
Water
Newspaper torn into strips
Small dragon toys or figurines
First you will need to push a dragon figurine into a balloon. Blow balloon up to desired size and tie off. Mix one part water, one part glue in a shallow pan. Dip newspaper strips into glue mixture, let excess drip off. Apply wet newspaper to balloon. Repeat until the entire balloon is covered. Let dry overnight. Then give them to the kids to paint, color or decorate any way they please.

The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions, page 69, has a recipe for "Treasure Stones" that would work very well for Dragon Eggs:
1 c. flour
1 c. used coffee grounds
1/2 c. salt
1/4 c. sand
3/4 c. water
Mix all dry ingredients together in a medium bowl. Slowly add water and knead until the mixture is the consistency of bread dough. Break off a piece of dough and roll it into the size of a baseball. Make a hole in the center of the ball big enough to hide treasures in. Fill the hole with treasures and seal with some extra dough. Let your treasure stone air-dry for 2-3 days or until hard, or bake in the oven on a cookie sheet at 150 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Dragon crafts:
http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/chindragonhard.html
The head of this dragon is made of a folded paper plate. The four-foot long body made of painted crepe paper will sway and twist as the puppet is carried overhead.

http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/chdragoneasy.html
The same dragon as above, but made easier by providing a pattern for the head.
(This same pattern would made a good mask!)

http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/printcraft.cfm?CraftID=256
Draw and color a dragon and a breath of fire. Paste the flame to a craft stick, cut a slit by the dragon’s mouth, and blow fire by sliding the tab back and forth!There is a template provided on the site, but it looks kind of young for grades 3-6.

http://www.kckpl.lib.ks.us/YS/crafts/dragon.htm
This is a pretty simple but cool stick puppet made of a paper plate and construction paper. A pattern for the dragon’s face is provided.

http://www.newton.mec.edu/Angier/DimSum/Shoebox%20Dragon%20Lesson.html
This is a group project. Each child makes a part of the dragon out of a shoebox that is worn on his/her head. When they line up and move around the room, the result is similar to the long elaborate dragons seen in parades.

Egg race:
The eggs could be hardboiled and dyed blue,gold/yellow, or red to represent the three dragons.