About.com Children's Books

Picture That! - For Teachers of Tweens and Teens

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:46:46 +0000

Among other uses of children's picture books, author and educator Sharron L. McElmeel recommends, "Using picture books to introduce a topic, to build a schematic background for content-area studies, and to develop higher-level thinking skills..." In her book Picture That! From Mendel to Normandy, McElmeel encourages teachers of tweens and teens (grades 4-12) to use picture books across the curriculum and provides guidance as to which children's books to use and how to use them. Using picture books with older kids can be very effective in getting them interested in a topic. I have found that some picture books, particularly wordless picture books like A Day, A Dog, make excellent writing prompts. Are their picture books that have captured the interest of the tweens and teens in your family? If so, please click on "Comments" and share their recommendations.

(over art courtesy of Libraries Unlimited, An Imprint of ABC-CLIO)

Picture That! - For Teachers of Tweens and Teens originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 00:46:46.

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2009 Teens' Top Ten - Favorite Books

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:01:15 +0000

From August 24 through September 18, teens voted for their favorite books in the 2009 Teens' Top Ten online poll. More than 11,000 of them chose Paper Towns as their favorite book. Teens' Top Ten is sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), which is a division of the American Library Association (ALA). YALSA describes Teens' Top Ten as "a 'teen choice' list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year. Nominators are members of teen book groups in fifteen school and public libraries around the country. Nominations are posted online and teens across the country vote on their favorite titles each year." (YALSA Web site)

The 2009 Teens Top Ten

Paper Town by John Green (Penguin/Dutton)
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry)
Identical by Ellen Hopkins (Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry)
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins)
Wake by Lisa McMann (Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse)
Untamed by P.C. and Kristin Cast (St. Martin's Griffin)
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (Disney-Hyperion)
Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Harcourt/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

2009 Teens' Top Ten - Favorite Books originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 00:01:15.

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The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:01:22 +0000

If you have children, you probably already know about popular picture book creator Jan Brett, who has more than 33 million books in print. Her picture book, The Three Snow Bears, is a retelling of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," set in a traditional Inuit village. Brett includes accurate details about Inuit lives and customs in the picture book. I have long been a fan of Jan Brett's illustrations and her books. Does your family have a favorite Jan Brett picture book? One of my favorites is Jan Brett's Christmas Treasury a collection of her holiday and winter stories. To share your family's favorite Jan Brett books, click on "Comments" below and post your recommendations.

(Cover art courtesy of G.P. Putnam's Sons, A Division of Penguin Young Readers Group)

The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 00:01:22.

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A Book About Alzheimer's Disease and More

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:01:28 +0000

Did you know that November is National Alzheimer's Disease Month? Alzheimer's disease affects the entire family. It's hard to explain to young children what has happened to their grandfather or grandmother when they are afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. The children's picture book Singing with Momma Lou might help. More than just a book about Alzheimer's disease, it also emphasizes family love and respect, family memories, and the importance of preserving and handing down family stories from one generation to another. Singing with Mama Lou is intended for the 4-8 year old child, but it would also be valuable for older children coping with a family member's Alzheimer's disease.

Related Links
What is Alzheimer's Disease? (About.com: Alzheimer's Disease)
Early Alzheimer's Disease (About.com: Senior Health)
Video: The Effects of Alzheimer's Disease (About.com: Alzheimer's Disease)

(Cover art courtesy of Lee & Low Books Inc.)

A Book About Alzheimer's Disease and More originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 00:01:28.

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Tsunami! - A Memorable New Book

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:55:03 +0000

The picture book Tsunami! is the dramatic story of a tsunami and one man's sacrifice that saves all of the people in a Japanese village threatened by the giant waves. Both the story by Kimiko Kajikawa and the striking artwork by Ed Young are strong enough to stand alone, but together, they create a memorable experience for the reader. I recommend Tsunami! for children six and older, as well as teens and adults. Ed Young's picture book Wabi Sabi, by Mark Reibstein, is on my list of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2008.

(Cover art courtesy of Penguin)

Tsunami! - A Memorable New Book originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 00:55:03.

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Movie Version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid Coming

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:01:09 +0000

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is not only a wildly popular series of kids' books, it is also going to be made into a movie, which will be released on April 2, 2010. After a national search, eleven year-old Zachary Gordon has been cast as Greg Heffley, the main character. Steve Zahn and Rachael Harris will portray his parents. In a recent interview for School Library Journal, Jeff Kinney, the author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, talked about the movie and said, "It's live-action and is peppered with animations and fantasy sequences. I contributed to the writing and serve as an executive producer. I gave feedback on the casting of the principal cast." The fact that Kinney has been so involved with the movie gives me hope it will be good. What do you think? Click on "Comments" below and share your opinion.

(Cover art courtesy of Amulet Books, An Imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc.)

Movie Version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid Coming originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 00:01:09.

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Children's Books for Halloween and the Day of the Dead

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:01:19 +0000

It's almost time for Halloween, quickly followed by the Day of the Dead. Here is a recap of some of the chidren's books I recommend:

(Cover art courtesy of Scholastic)

Children's Books for Halloween and the Day of the Dead originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 00:01:19.

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A Gift for Abuelita: Celebrating the Day of the Dead

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:01:02 +0000

A Gift for Abuelita: Celebrating the Day of the Dead / Un regalo para Abuelita: En celebraci�n del Dia de los Muertos is, as the dual titles suggest, a bilingual picture book. Author Nancy Luenn tells the story of a young Mexican girl's search for comfort after the death of her beloved grandmother. Another good children's book about the Day of the Dead is Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead.

(Cover art courtesy of Luna Rising, A Bilingual Imprint of Rising Moon)

A Gift for Abuelita: Celebrating the Day of the Dead originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 00:01:02.

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Recommended! Lady Liberty: A Biography

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:01:12 +0000

Did you know that today is the anniversary of the 1886 Dedication of the Statue of Liberty? Ever since I first visited the Statue of Liberty as a very young child, I have been fascinated by it. When I read Lady Liberty: A Biography, I was delighted to find, in picture book format, the dramatic story of the building of the Statue of Liberty, from the initial idea to the grand celebration upon its unveiling. Between the story and the extra information presented at the end of the book, tweens (8-12-year-olds), as well as teens and adults, will learn all about this beloved American symbol. Lady Liberty: A Biography was written by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Matt Tavares, and published by Candlewick Press. I highly recommend it. If there are other children's books about the Statue of Liberty that you like, please click on "Comments" below and share your recommendations.

(Cover art courtesy of Candlewick Press)

Recommended! Lady Liberty: A Biography originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 00:01:12.

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More Children's Halloween Books

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:01:32 +0000

I have added more books to my list of Children's Halloween Books. While not all of these books are specifically about Halloween, they are all good books to read during the Halloween season. One of the books I added is a glow-in-the-dark picture book version of a Dr. Seuss story. What was I Scared of? will delight ages 4-8.

(Cover art courtesy of Random House)

More Children's Halloween Books originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 00:01:32.

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