Tag Archives: boy

Iqbal and His Ingenious Idea: How a Science Project Helps One Family and The Planet

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At first glance, I wondered if this book was about Muhammad Iqbal who was a philosopher, poet, and politician, respectfully dubbed the “Poet of the East”. Or if it was about Iqbal Masih, 12 year old child rights activist. The story was about neither. It is a fictional tale about Iqbal the inventor.

Iqbal needs an idea for his upcoming science fair. He wants to win the prize money so he can buy a propane stove for his family. He has one month to create something that is sustainable. After much thought and some computer research, Iqbal sets out to create a solar cooker.

Highly recommended

What I like about this book: The story is one of perseverance, creative thinking and family unity (sister is involved in the work).
It is very approachable for many grade levels. There are so many jumping off points for discussions on similarities and differences (family structure, schooling structure, home arrangements…).
The back matter gives more information about clean cooking stoves and there are even directions to create one. This would be great as a STEM activity. Also included is information about Bangladesh and a brief snapshot of Bengali home life.  Included in the glossary is pronunciation and meaning for the Bengali words used in the story. Children love to learn to count in other languages (ēk, dui, tin…one, two, three)!
The majority of the colored pencil drawings cover a two page spread with the text condensed and highlighted on one page. This will engage young readers.
Lastly, this would be a great story to use before introducing students to their first science fair.

I also appreciate the fact that the story is a collaborative work of two women, author Elizabeth Suneby (Razia’s Ray of Hope) and illustrator Rebecca Green.

Publisher stated: 3rd – 7th grade.
This could be used as a read aloud beginning as early as late Kinder, especially if tying into the STEM project.

 

 

 

The Daring Escape of The Misfit Menagerie

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Misfit Menagerie

“Smalls the sun bear, Tilda the Angora rabbit, Rigby the Komondor dog, and Wombat the wombat are the four animals that make up “the misfit menagerie.”
Together they’ve always lived a happy life on Mr. Mumford’s farm. That is, until one fateful evening when Mumford, loopy from elderberry wine, accidentally loses them to the dastardly circus owner Grande Master Claude. Suddenly, these animals are forced to perform death-defying tricks and live in filthy, cramped cages as members of Claude’s traveling circus. But all hope is not lost! Claude’s nephew Bertie and his friend Susan, a circus acrobat, are equally fed up with Claude’s evil ways, and together they might just have what it takes to find their ticket out of the circus.” Amazon.com

Resnick is a writer who creates characters worth caring about and a plot line that keeps the reader engaged.  However, the abuse that occurs is harsh.  Once the reader has begun to care about the characters it is very hard to read the detailed description of their individual cruel treatments and sufferings. An angry elephant, a hot-to-trot Zebra and an elderly monkey who has given up on life are a few of the side characters.  These animals are starkly contrasted by the main animals: a wombat, a sun bear, a Komondor dog and an angora rabbit who live an idyllic existence until a cruel circus master swindles them away from their loving owner.  The circus master also “owns” two children.  One performs in the circus and the other does everything necessary to help keep a circus running.
The story line is very engaging and the writing style is fluid and descriptive. Perhaps a bit too strong in many instances where the cruelty and abuse is concerned. The harshness without redeeming or redemptive outcomes makes me rate this book as not recommended.
There is a sequel and perhaps that will add light and meaning to this work.

Sidney & Sydney: Book 1 Third Grade Mix-Up

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sidney and sydneyThe start of a new school year and the start of third grade.  What could induce more uncertainty and nervousness?  How about stepping into the classroom on the first day and seeing that your teacher spelled your name wrong.  Should you speak up? Perhaps it’s better to just sit down and not make a fuss about it.  After all the teacher, Mr. Luther,  is known to be grumpy.

Ah, the trials of third grade!  Sydney (spelled with a “y”) meets her gender counterpart (Sidney with an “i”) on that first day.  They soon find out they have a lot more in common than just a same first name.  This is a story of friendship that elementary students will like to read about.  The dialog is very realistic and the characters are well written and believable.  The story line is engaging without being trite or overly predictable.  Jakubowski seems to accurately understands her audience.

The story is heavily illustrated, in full color, by Luisa Montalto. Most of the illustrations are full page, centering on the characters with little to no background distractions. The opening pages give an illustrated bio of the characters and the end pages give further info and insight into the characters.  I can envision many of my students trying to copy Montalto’s clean style and creating a Sydney or Sidney of their own.

Visit Capstone to have students read bios on Sydney and Sidney and there respective friends.  Also there are two downloads: “How funny are you?” and “Are you a good friend?”  Both of these quizzes are the type with no definitive right or wrong answers.  They are the type that sum up your answers with “If you have mostly “A” answers you are….

 

 

Running With Trains: a novel in poetry and two voices

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Running With Trains is a story told from two perspectives and told in verse.

Set in the 1970’s, we first hear from Perry a 13 year old boy who feels adrift in turbulent times: his father is missing in action in Vietnam, his mother is studying to become a nurse in the city, and his older sister is in college where political protests keep her from connecting with her brother or family. On his weekly travels between his hometown where he lives with his grandmother, and Cincinnati where he lives with his mother on weekends; Perry looks out his window and notices Steve whose farm lies on the rail line that Perry travels each week.

Steve likes to race the train as it crosses his fields;  Steve watches the train and dreams about the people, places and adventures that he feels he may never come to know.

In alternating voices, Michael J. Rosen weaves a tale of two boys—one wishing for the stability of home, the other yearning to travel—and the unexpected impact of their fleeting encounter (when a cow causes the train to stop). After their brief meeting both boys are left wondering if the grass is indeed greener on the other side of the train window?

This is a comfortable read, not a lot of drama or high adventure.  Like the train in the story it takes the reader from point A to point B with a reliable steadiness, but it does give the reader some new perspective to consider.

Finding Zasha

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This is the prequel to Saving Zasha and is set in 1941 during the German invasion of Russia.

The main character is twelve year old Ivan. After an intense bombing of his home city of Leningrad, Ivan and his mother are forced to leave their home. The company Ivan’s mother works for is moving operations to the Ural mountains for safety and continued productivity.  Ivan is not allowed to go with her; therefore, she is forced to make the heart wrenching decision of separating from her only child.  Mom decides to send Ivan to live with her brother Boris who lives 70 miles away.

Ivan’s new city is soon overtaken by the Germans and Ivan inadvertently becomes an entertainer for the German commander, Major Axel Recht, a cruel and ruthless man. Axel has two German Sheppard puppies that he is training to hunt and kill Russian citizens. Ivan is horrified at the intended use of these beautiful creatures and appalled at their cruel treatment, so he makes up his mind to steal the dogs away from Axel.  Axel is a man who callously and blatantly punishes anyone whom he perceives to have crossed him in any way. Ivan realizes that Axel in all likely hood will literally kill him for what he is about to do, but he feels compelled to steal the dogs regardless of the potentially dire consequences he could face.

This prequel gives the reader introduction to characters and motivations that are in the first book Saving Zasha.  This is an interesting read for upper elementary and middle school students. Both boys and girls will enjoy the story. The beginning hooks the reader with the bombing of Leningrad.  The story lags just a bit in the middle and the end wraps up just a little too quickly; however, Finding Zasha is still a very engaging read.