Murder Among Friends: How Leopold and Loeb Tried to Commit the Perfect Crime

 Bibliography:

Fleming, Candace. 2022. MURDER AMONG FRIENDS: HOW LEOPOLD AND LOEB TRIED TO COMMIT THE PERFECT CRIME. Anne Schwartz Books. ISBN: 0593177428.

Plot Summary:

The twisted story of two teenagers who were so bored in their high society lives that they decided to kidnap and brutally murder a child they knew. This is a readable true-crime story based on an event the "crime of the century", and how they got saved from the death penalty.

Critical Analysis:

This is a must-read for those crime junkies out there. I am one of those and I was blown away by this story. For two boys who had everything to kill a child just because was just flabbergasting to read about.  They were family and they lived right around the corner for each other and to think of the family having to see them during this all is so saddening. In the end, they were caught because of a pair of glasses, and when the sentencing came down those arounds were in shock. No death penalty and to think of what these teenage boys did; just didn’t make sense. Yet, it shows how money, especially in this era, could help you get away with murder. Yes, they still served time but was it enough for what they did?  I do question the age of 12 and up for this book but I know children can hear and see much worse on the internet so if you think your child is mature enough then it is a good read. I did research more after reading this book and Booby Franks's family never healed. This story has been depicted in many other books and films.

Review Awards and Excerpt(s):

★ "Fleming [is] a master of meticulously researched nonfiction.... Erudite, readable, and appalling." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "In the field of YA narrative nonfiction, Fleming continues to outdo herself." —The Horn Book, starred review

★ "The engrossing true-crime narrative style and high-interest subject will likely make this a very popular pick among teen readers.... Thought-provoking reading sure to spark further conversations about crime and punishment." —Booklist, starred review

★ "A chilling page-turner with compelling psychoanalytic aspects not often seen in young adult nonfiction. Highly recommended." —School Library Journal, starred review

Connections:

-       This would be for older students, and you could use the book to study criminology.

-       Researching what happened to these men once released from prison, or if they even got out.

-       Studying the psychology of these men and what drove them to commit such a hideous crime. 

Two Brothers, Four Hands.

 Bibliography:

Greenberg, Jan and Jordan, Sandra. 2019. Two Brothers, Four Hands. Illustrated by Hadley Hooper. Neal Porter Books. ISBN: 0823441709.

Plot Summary:

The inspiring true story of the Giacometti brothers, one an artist, the other a daredevil, both devoted to their craft . . . but even more devoted to each other.

Everyone who knew them agreed. Alberto was the genius of the family. His younger brother Diego was his opposite--he didn't care much for books or schoolwork, and he had no idea what he would be when he grew up. But despite their differences, the two brothers shared an intense bond.

Alberto Giacometti became one of the iconic artists of the twentieth century, whose tall, spindly sculptures grace the collections of museums around the world. Diego was always at his side, helping and encouraging, and in his spare time creating remarkable pieces of furniture, and works of sculpture.

This lavishly illustrated 64-page book includes extensive backmatter, complete with a timeline, source notes, photographs, and an essay on how to look at a Giacometti sculpture.

Critical Analysis:

These two men are new to me, and I found this book quite entertaining. Greenberg and Jordon did an amazing job at writing not just one biography but two. They were able to show the connection between these two brothers but also their separate stories. Alberto Giacometti couldn’t have achieved her success without his brother, Diego. Diego was often his model and helped with picking patinas and building pedestals for Alberto. Diego often would give up on his dreams to help support Alberto. You see the true love and bond of family throughout this entire book. It simply is a wonderful story about dreams these men had but also about love.

Review Awards and Excerpt(s):

A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
A Capitol Choices Noteworthy Title

A Horn Book Best Book of the Year
A Washington Post Best Children's Book of the Year
A Bank Street Best Book of the Year

"An extraordinary achievement and a moving, affecting evocation of two lives lived together."

—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

" Don’t miss this moving, brilliantly illustrated picture book portrait of brothers in art."

—School Library Journal, Starred Review

Connections:

 Teachers could use this book for a variety of lessons such as:

-       Growth Mindset- he never gave up and spent many hours, days, and years trying new things and pushing himself.

-       It could be used during a unit of studying artists.

-       In art classes you could use this text to create a timeline of Alberto Giacometti’s life as well as use the text to introduce sculptures. There are numerous art ideas on Pinterest and YouTube that you could use in guiding students to create different types of art with this book. 

What to Do About Alice?

Bibliography:

Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What to Do About Alice? Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. Scholastic Press. ISBN: 0439922313.

Plot Summary:

 A story you may not know about a rebellious girl. You will love reading about Alice Roosevelt! She broke the rules, charmed the world, and drove her father President Theodore Roosevelt crazy. She is a girl who is adventurous, wanting to meet and try new things, and ready to “eat up the world”, as Alice called it. A fun story that lets you get a peek at family life inside the White House with a maverick of a girl leading the way.

Critical Analysis:

 I enjoyed this story because I have often been fascinated with the Roosevelts and learning about Alice was very entertaining. It caused me to research her even more and was enthralled with her story. If you know a little about her story before reading this book I think it changes your opinion of her life story. She was full of energy and seeking attention all the time. She lost her mother at birth and shoved away at her aunts because it was too much for Theodore Roosevelt. As an adult reading this I see so many underlying emotions that she must have been experiencing, while then they thought of her as just a silly, adventurous girl. She led a life that most women in her era were unable to and this book is an amazing beginning to learning about Alice Roosevelt.

Review Awards and Excerpt(s):

A Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book

 A Sibert Honor Book* "Superb... a gleeful celebration." -- Kirkus Reviews

Connections:

 Create a timeline of Alice Roosevelt's life, and research her political involvement. Especially with the period and her gender, she could participate in many aspects. Here is a look into her travels in Asia and her impact while there- https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/the-first-daughter-in-asia-alice-roosevelts-1905-trip/

Research the President's children and compare what it was like for each of them to grow up in the White House. 

·         First Children of the White House

·         List of All Children

Opinion writing on what you think it would be like to grow up in the White House. 

Funny Bones

 Bibliography:

Tonatiuh, Duncan. 2015. FUNNY BONES: POSADA AND HIS DAY OF THE DEAD CALAVERAS. Harry N. Abrams. ISBN: 1419716476.

Plot Summary:

Funny Bones tells the story of how Calaveras came to be. This is the story of artist Jose Guadalupe Posada and how he used his culture, surroundings, and printmaking skills to create artwork that people know and love. This is a beautifully written and illustrated book by Duncan Tonatiuh and I hope you enjoy the story as much as I did. *This video is a short edit of the book that focuses on Posada's life.

Critical Analysis:

This book is a fun and creative story that allows you to get to know the man behind the skeleton drawings. He started at the bottom and worked his way up. In the end, he became legendary after others wanted to know who had created these Calaveras. This book is drawn in what I feel would be traditional for the period it represents. I think any child who loves art will like this book and find out quite a bit of knowledge about Jose Guadalupe Posada. I also liked how the book spoke of the type of art he used like printing, etching, and lithograph it showed step-by-step images and gave a basic description of these techniques.  What I found very interesting was how you were able to see how he used his art to express his opinions on the society and political world around him. He used funny poems and drawings to speak of how really no matter what we are all Calaveras in the end. This is an inspiring book in many ways, and I think especially for those who are of Mexican descent and celebrate Dia De Los Muertos.

Review Awards and Excerpt(s):

A New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year
A Robert F. Sibert Medal Winner
A Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book
An ALA/ALSC Notable Children’s Book

**STARRED REVIEW**
"A wealth of biographical and contextual information... it’s a valuable introduction to Posada that will leave readers thinking about the process of creating art and the social impact it can have."―Publishers Weekly

**STARRED REVIEW**
"The beautifully expressive Day of the Dead-inspired illustrations on heavy paper pages sport borders of bones, grinning skeletons, and Tonatiuh's signature figures shown in profile, influenced by the ancient Mexican art of his ancestors. Simple yet effective sentences accompany step-by-step images detailing the artistic processes that Posada learned as a printer's apprentice... A stunning work, with great possibilities for lesson plans or tie-ins with Day of the Dead."―School Library Journal

Connections:

·         This would be a great starting point for students to learn about different artists.

·         Researching the history of Calaveras.

·         Tie in when learning about the Day of the Dead.

·         Learning about lithography, wood engraving, and printing- tie in with art lessons.

Comics- Dangerous or Fun?

Comics are they dangerous or fun? You may be thinking how can a comic be dangerous, but after reading this article on Delancey Place you see that some did believe this to be true. 

"It seemed to [Wonder Woman publisher] Charlie Gaines like so much good, clean, superpatriotic fun. But in March 1942, the National Organization for Decent Literature put Sensation Comics on its blacklist of 'Publications Disapproved for Youth.' The list was used in local decency crusades: crusaders were supposed to visit news dealers and ask them to take titles off their shelves. Wonder Woman was banned. ..."

Over time a doctor by the name of Lauretta Bender along with other colleagues decided to study the effect comics had on children, specifically those in mental hospitals that had experienced trauma. These studies showed that comics were actually beneficial to children in multiple ways. In my opinion, banning books is a recurring issue in our society. We shouldn't be banning any books. If you find that books are inappropriate for your child or yourself then simply don't read them. It's not right to take books away from others just because it bothers you. I found this article very interesting, and I will be researching this topic more. 

-  - - - - - - - - - -

Comics in Schools Today

Today children love to read comics and graphic novels and knowing this as educators we should be looking for ways to incorporate this format of writing into our learning. Before this assignment, I honestly didn't know what was available in the technology world for children to use when creating their own comics. Our assignment was to check out these three platforms Pixton, FotoJet, and Makebeliefscomix to see what we thought about how they work. So I am sharing the comics I created and my opinion about each platform.

Pixton

 I really liked using this program and it was very simple to use. My nephews ranging from 7 years old to 18 years old say we creating my comic and had to join in creating with this program. We all really liked how you could choose a lot of options from different colors of hair, skin, eye, makeup, hair, and clothing. There is a bank of objects that you can use and multiple backgrounds. I do think they should add some more objects in for props or have a way to draw/create your own. This one is not free but they do offer 3 different levels. 

FotoJet

This platform is more of a create-your-own comic strip with your photos. It is neat but I don't think it is a great one for kids because they can't create comics from a bank of images that look like animation which I feel more children would like the animation version better. This program is more about using real photos.  If you want to print photos in a comic strip format this is a great option. It has cool comic collage backgrounds already that you can insert your pictures and add speech bubbles. There is a limited bank of props. I guess you could create images on another program like Canva and import them into FotoJet. I think for younger students this might be too many steps, but high school students would be able to easily navigate between multiple programs.  I personally didn't have fun really making one on this site. 

makebeliefscomix

This site isn't my favorite either but I do prefer it over the FotoJet, especially for younger students. I liked that it was easy to use once you played around with it, and it does have a limited image bank. I think it should have more options for characters because once I picked someone they had to stay seated in all the slides. You also can't change their facial expressions. I do think this is a good starting place for students if they are not sure what their story is going to be about.  

Overall, my favorite option is Pixton because it has a lot of options and you can take a story or idea you have already created and build from there. The other two platforms don't have a lot of options and to me aren't as fun to use. 

Book Trailers, and QR Codes

 As librarians, we must be prepared to move with the ever-growing world of technology. In my class this week we were asked to create a book trailer and a QR code. I wanted to create a book trailer for a book that is very special to me, and with my mother passing away this year I enjoyed creating this trailer. I chose Little House in the Big Woods. 

It is one of the first chapter books that I really remember my mom reading to me every night, and it is also where my mother came up with my name Laura. She loved this series and through the years no matter what grade I have taught I have read it to my classes. It's funny to see how children today are actually very drawn to this type of book. It is enjoyable at any age and time. I feel it is a timeless classic. 

This is the first trailer I have ever made and using Canva and Animoto were very easy to use. I am excited to play around with it more so that I can make even better book trailers in the future. 

If you have never read, Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder, you need to check it out. Here is a little summary brought to you by Amazon:

Based on the real-life adventures of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House in the Big Woods is the first book in the award-winning Little House series, which has captivated generations of readers. This edition features the classic black-and-white artwork from Garth Williams. 

Little House in the Big Woods takes place in 1871 and introduces us to four-year-old Laura, who lives in a log cabin on the edge of the Big Woods of Wisconsin. She shares the cabin with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters Mary and Carrie, and their lovable dog, Jack.

Pioneer life isn’t easy for the Ingalls family, since they must grow or catch all their own food as they get ready for the cold winter. But they make the best of every tough situation. They celebrate Christmas with homemade toys and treats, do their spring planting, bring in the harvest in the fall, and make their first trip into town. And every night, safe and warm in their little house, the sound of Pa’s fiddle lulls Laura and her sisters into sleep.

The nine books in the timeless Little House series tell the story of Laura’s real childhood as an American pioneer, and are cherished by readers of all generations. They offer a unique glimpse into life on the American frontier, and tell the heartwarming, unforgettable story of a loving family.

QR CODES in the Library

You may not often think of using QR codes in your library but they actually come in handy in a variety of ways. You can use QR codes with your students by having QR throughout the library and/or inside of books to direct students to book trailers, places to discuss their thoughts online, a way to find books that are similar or if reading a nonfiction book it may lead you to other articles and information online. There are just so many ways you can use QR codes with your students. Another idea depending on your campus is using QR codes for self-checkout and renewal of books. You can also use QR codes with the school staff such as keeping track of inventory, and/or having quick references of ideas to search with students and teachers. 

An idea that I had that I haven't seen so far online is one to help parents. We, as teachers, often want parents to be involved in helping build their child's comprehension but as we know parents may not have the time to read the entire chapter book so why not use the QR codes to help the parents with comprehension questions they could ask their child and the answers so that they have the option to still help their child with reading comprehension. The same can go with attaching QR codes to books that link to information on what a student is supposed to be doing for a research project. I feel that QR codes are not being utilized in schools and especially libraries often enough.  To learn more about QR codes there are numerous online resources with many ideas just such as How to use QR codes in the library or school. Let me know if you find anything interesting, and what you think about my reading comprehension idea. 

Infographics for Teachers and Librarians

 Infographics are an important tool for teachers and librarians. It can be used for a variety of things from sharing library aspects to ratios of classroom and school growth, and much more. People largely respond to visuals, and this allows you a chance to share information in a quick visual way.

There are a variety of platforms to use for making graphics such as Easel.ly, Piktochart, and Canva just to name a few. I use Canva often for a variety of graphic projects but decided to try Piktochart for this assignment. There are many pros and cons to each but in the end, I think for infographic designs Piktochart is the best. It has existing templates and a variety of images to choose from.

I decided to play around with a template and started to add information from an article from the Pew Research Center on, Americans' opinions of getting news from social media. I think if I had the paid plans, I would have been able to do a lot more to this infographic but if I was looking for something quick and easy to use the free templates work great.  

Wang, L. (2024, February 7). Many Americans find value in getting news on social media, but concerns about inaccuracy have risen. Pew Research Center. 

Hidden by Helen Frost

Bibliography:

Frost, Helen. 2015. Hidden. Square Fish. ISBN: 1250056845

Plot Summary:

When Wren Abbott and Darra Monson are eight years old, Darra's father steals a minivan. He doesn't know that Wren is hiding in the back. The hours and days that follow change the lives of both girls. Darra is left with a question that only Wren can answer. Wren has questions, too.

Critical Analysis:

 I listened to this book through Libby, and it was unabridged. The narrator was Sisi Aisha Johnson. At first, I was a little bored because I am not an audiobook person but the story was good so kept with it. The narrator did a great job reading the book and honestly, it didn’t make me think of poetry at all. I could see YA loving the book because this generation seems more into audiobooks and the story is interesting. You can imagine being this young girl in the back of a van when someone steals it.

The story is interesting. I can imagine being Wren because as a child we used to sleep in the back of our suburban and I could see someone getting in to steal it not knowing we were in the back. The story goes on to years later when the girls run into each other at summer camp. They at first don’t know each other, and one almost kills the other in a drowning game. Throughout the book, there is a lot of emotion with the girls learning the truth and having to deal with a variety of emotions. There were times I felt the book to be a little boring after the start being intense with a kidnapping but it was a good book.

Review Awards and Excerpt(s):

2012 ALA Notable Book

2012 Bank Street Best Children’s Books, Starred

2012 Lee Bennett Hopkins Children’s Poetry Award Honor Book

William Allen White Children's Book Award (Kansas): Sixth-Eighth Grade Winners

“Like Frost's Printz Honor Book, Keesha's House, this novel in verse stands out through its deliberate use of form to illuminate emotions and cleverly hide secrets in the text.” ―Booklist

“Many teen readers will identify with Wren and Darra and how events that happened to us when we were younger help shape the person we become.” ―VOYA

Connections:

This book would be a great book to teach point of view, as well as while teaching the novel in verse.

You could compare this book to other books by the author such as:

Keesha’s House (2003)

Spinning Through the Universe (2004)

The Braid (2006)

Diamond Willow (2008)

Crossing Stones (2009)

Salt (July 2013)

Monarch and Milkweed (2008)

Step Gently Out (2012)

In the book the girls are taking lifesaving classes and water activities are mentioned so you could use this to tie in learning about the buoyancy of different objects during a “Sink or Float?” unit.

Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis--- If you love history check this book out.

 Bibliography:

Hood, Susan and Dawson, Greg. 2023. ALIAS ANNA: A TRUE STORY OF OUTWITTING THE NAZIS. HarperCollins. ISBN: 0063083906

Plot Summary:

This true story is about a young Ukrainian girl, Zhanna who along with her sister must outsmart the Germans during the Holocaust. She must leave behind her friends, her freedom, and her promising musical future at the world’s top conservatory. With no time to say goodbye, Zhanna, and her family are forced out of their home and made to walk on a long, cold, death march. When a guard turns a blind eye, Zhanna flees with nothing more than her musical talent, her beloved sheet music, and her father’s final plea: “I don’t care what you do. Just live.” The girls run and continue to outsmart the Nazis in plain sight. The book is written by author Susan Hood along with Zhanna’s son, Greg Dawson.

Critical Analysis:

 This book was quite amazing, and I really am having a hard time sharing my analysis. I love history, especially learning about the holocaust and I found this book to be very enlightening. It begins with a letter from a woman's grandchild about what her grandmother's life was like as a child. It then morphs into the grandmother's story but is written as poetry. The words float around the pages at a time, and with the words and experiences shared, you can feel and understand her childhood. There are so many relatable emotions that can be felt with this writing. Follow Zhanna or Anna’s story from a comfortable loving family and home to the horrors she and her family had to face at a young age. Anna from the beginning is a curious and brilliant child as well as her sister and to see how they outwitted the Nazis to live is an amazing story. 

 This Novel in Verse also teaches you quite a bit about what happened to Jewish people in the Ukraine. I also liked the chapters comparing Stalin and Hitler. It made me think about the comparison of this book and the things we are experiencing in our world right now. This book made me wish I had a relative that I could write to and read about such a history. This is a great example of how poetry started as folktales. Dive into a great read and be prepared to notice that history is repeating itself.

Review Awards and Excerpt(s):

A Sydney Taylor Book Award 2023 Middle Grade Notable!

A Jewish Book Council Award Middle Grade Finalist!

A NERDY BOOK CLUB 2022 BEST NOVEL-IN-VERSE BOOK!

A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 2022 BEST BOOK FOR KIDS!

A CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST INFORMATIONAL BOOKS FOR YOUNGER READERS OF 2022!

 

This lyrical book is one of the most truthful survivor stories I’ve ever read. I think this book will be a page-turner for adolescents.  — Jack Kliger, President and CEO of the Museum of Jewish Heritage

A profound and powerful story of the Holocaust told with heart, soul, and music. — Kathryn Lasky, Newbery Honoree, and winner of the National Jewish Book Award

A harrowing and remarkable story of strength and survival.  — Kirkus Reviews

Appended with generous back matter, this offers a revealing look at an underreported Holocaust chapter. — Booklist

Hood tells Zhanna’s story through both free verse and a rich array of forms. The use of poetry is effec­tive, echo­ing in its com­plex­i­ty the music of a sin­gu­lar life caught in the chaos of history. This high­ly rec­om­mend­ed book includes exten­sive back­ground mate­r­i­al, pho­tos, sources, lists of musi­cal com­po­si­tions, and poet­ic forms. — Jewish Book Council

Connections:

This is a perfect book to use when learning about the Holocaust. You could use this book to read along with other books such as:

-          Diary of Anne Frank

-          Number the Stars

-          Who was Anne Frank? By Ann Abramson

-          What Was the Holocaust? By Gail Herman

-          There are even numerous picture books you could read along with this book to compare the different experiences the Jewish people and those around during this time experienced.

You could also use this text to lead your students to write letters to their own families to learn about their family history.

Comparing this text paired with nonfiction text and relating it to what the world is experiencing today. 

Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold

 

Bibliography:

Sidman, Joyce. 2014. WINTER BEES AND OTHER POEMS OF THE COLD. Ill. by Rick Allen. Clarion Books. ISBN: 0547906508.

Plot Summary:

 This picture book is a wonderful addition to any collection. It is written by Newbery-winning poet, Joyce Sidman. In this book, we discover how animals stay alive during the winter and learn about their secret lives under the snow. The poetry has been matched with Rick Allen’s illustrations and his print technique of linoleum brings it all together into a mesmerizing text.

Critical Analysis:

Woah, I am not a fan of poetry typically, but I really enjoyed this book. I think it is because the author added the poetry piece with informational text to give you more information about the animals, plants, and more. My favorite pieces I liked were the Big Brown Moose and the Trees, and Skunk Cabbage. I was most impressed with the poem and informational text from the Skunk Cabbage, I’d never heard of this plant, and it was very interesting. To think that after the beautiful snow melts a “curious odd flower…..” with a “rotting meat smell”, is just mind-blowing. I think children would really enjoy this wrap-up of the book.

As for the illustrations I really loved them. It reminded me of when I was in high school, and we got to make linoleum prints. Now of course Rick Allen’s are much better than what I would have come up with, but I remember the fun of creating those prints. I know what it takes to create them and to see the detail he has added and the coloring he has done is quite impressive. He was able to portray each animal and plant with detail, and a winter-muted color scheme. I think that even if you are not a poetry person like me you will find the elements in this book to be very enjoyable.

Review Awards and Excerpt(s):

ALA Notable Children’s Book

Claudia Lewis Award

Minnesota Book Awards

School Library Journal Best Nonfiction Book

 "Each poem brings a sense of humor, respect, or wonder to its subject." —Publishers Weekly, starred review *

 "Concluded with a glossary of big but fascinating words, this is equally suited to curricular units and cozy reads in front of a fire." —Booklist, starred review 

* "A work to be savored by young artists and scientists." —Kirkus, starred review * "Winter Bees distinguishes itself with a focus on the science of animal survival, coupled with superlative illustrations. Readers young and old will enjoy this winter journey and marvel at the wonders of nature." —School Library Journal, starred review

 "A handsome, persuasive, and authentic ambassador for creatures in their natural state." —Horn Book

Connections:

      This book would be great for any poetry unit as a mentor text.

      A few different activity ideas are:

-          Read the poetry pieces that don’t mention the animal's name, and don’t show the students the pictures. Then see if the students can infer what they think the animal is, what words from the piece made them think this? It’s a great inferencing activity and kids really enjoy seeing if they are right.

-          You could let your students create their own miniature version of a linoleum print using erasers, and write a piece of poetry to go along with the image they created.

-          Compare this book to other Joyce Sidman books and see if she has a common theme or writing style.