In the children’s section of the library this afternoon with my daughters, I couldn’t help but notice a prominently displayed pair of picture books entitled Hoop Kings and Hoop Queens, by Charles R. Smith Jr. Because I posted earlier today about Imus, I decided to read Smith’s poetry books, especially the latter, which celebrates female basketball players. In it, I discovered the author’s tremendous respect for athleticism, photography, women and language.
I’d love to hear what he thinks about Imus.
Showing posts with label children's literature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children's literature. Show all posts
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
News I Missed
Somehow I missed two annual announcements from earlier this year.
The first is a press release from Doctors Without Borders announcing their "Top Ten" Underreported Humanitarian Stories of 2006. The press release is interesting itself, but through it, you can link to longer accounts of the ten crisis situations they feel deserve more media attention. I look forward to this annual list from an organization I admire.
The second announcement I always listen for is the American Library Association's list of children's book award winners. I didn't know until just this moment that Susan Patron won the 2007 Newbery Award for her book The Higher Power of Lucky. I met Susan years ago, and she is a beautiful person and a gifted writer for children. But there is some controversy over the book. Read Susan's response here.
The first is a press release from Doctors Without Borders announcing their "Top Ten" Underreported Humanitarian Stories of 2006. The press release is interesting itself, but through it, you can link to longer accounts of the ten crisis situations they feel deserve more media attention. I look forward to this annual list from an organization I admire.
The second announcement I always listen for is the American Library Association's list of children's book award winners. I didn't know until just this moment that Susan Patron won the 2007 Newbery Award for her book The Higher Power of Lucky. I met Susan years ago, and she is a beautiful person and a gifted writer for children. But there is some controversy over the book. Read Susan's response here.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Not Just Another Test
Last year more than 9,000 students across the country chose to take the National Mythology Exam. This is a test available to 3rd-through-9th-graders in public schools, private schools and home schools. It’s just for fun—an enrichment program to encourage students’ love of mythology and classical literature.
“Just for fun?” I asked myself.
My fifth-grade daughter had never been interested in taking this exam before, and in trying to determine why she wanted to now, I thought about some of the children’s books she’s been reading over the last year or so: Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, Caroline Lawrence’s Roman Mysteries series.
Some of those books my daughter loves so much she can’t wait to share them with her out-of-town cousins in their new monthly book group. Case in point, next month’s book is Riordan’s Lightening Thief, a novel about a modern-day boy who learns the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus are real.
It seems impossible to me that a public school kid in today’s world of high-stakes testing would want to take another test—and even study for it. But it's hard to predict what will engage a kid’s imagination.
A pleasure of parenting is finding out what does.
“Just for fun?” I asked myself.
My fifth-grade daughter had never been interested in taking this exam before, and in trying to determine why she wanted to now, I thought about some of the children’s books she’s been reading over the last year or so: Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, Caroline Lawrence’s Roman Mysteries series.
Some of those books my daughter loves so much she can’t wait to share them with her out-of-town cousins in their new monthly book group. Case in point, next month’s book is Riordan’s Lightening Thief, a novel about a modern-day boy who learns the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus are real.
It seems impossible to me that a public school kid in today’s world of high-stakes testing would want to take another test—and even study for it. But it's hard to predict what will engage a kid’s imagination.
A pleasure of parenting is finding out what does.
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