Category: Academics

Gifted and Talented Program at Risk … for those lucky to have one!

When I was a kid growing up in California, our public school system went from being one of the best, with a high per capita spend. to one of the worst, bottoming out for most of the 50 states in terms of  per capita spend per child. Why? Proposition 11. I was too young to really understand it, but I do remember having classroom sizes in elementary school in the 30-32 range. But I was also in the Mentally Gifted Minor Program that later changed names to the GATE (Gifted and Talented Something) Program — the switch was to squeeze in “talented” kids who didn’t quite score in the cut off range.

And I remember taking test after assessment test. You had to take tests until you failed one so that you would be, I guess, properly assessed. I remember thinking how unfair it was that all the other kids got to play and I had to take another standardized test.   But there were perks to being in the program.  We had special programs held at the library for the GATE group that were much more interesting than the social studies unit done inside my classroom that I was allowed to skip.

It does make me a little sad that there is no such program these days in Massachusetts.  We have to supplement our kids on our own.  But for those states that still are managing to hang on to theirs, it’s such a good thing!  But it does seem that the Leave No Child Behind has swung the pendulum in the opposite direction. Can’t there be a happy medium?

Here is the link to the entire article from the DesMoinesRegister.com.

Here are some key paragraphs for you speed readers:

Here’s an educational irony: As students across the state start another school year ready and eager to learn, lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are poised to eliminate the only federal program that supports our most academically promising students.

For more than 20 years, the Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act has focused on research to assist students who traditionally had been underrepresented in gifted education. This includes students from rural or low-income households, children with disabilities and those for whom English is a second language.

As the only federal program focused on underserved, high-ability learners, the Javits program impacts students here in Iowa and nationwide by developing model curriculum that can be used by all teachers to meet the special needs of gifted students. Moreover, the program incorporates gifted education strategies into regular classrooms to improve outcomes for all students.

In fact, the Javits program has directly benefited our most vulnerable students in Iowa. Through two recently completed grants led by the University of Iowa, our schools are now armed with the information they need to address the academic needs of students with disabilities who are also gifted and students who have been transferred to alternate schools.

Ultimately, Washington must lead by example and send a clear message to states and school districts that, just as they must strive to help struggling students achieve more, so too must they help advanced students achieve their full potential.

Sep 07, 2010 | 0 comments View Post

Ladybug Picture Book Award in NH: Short List (NH Kids Can Vote in Nov!)

In November 2010, New Hampshire children from preschoolers to those in third grade will be invited to vote for the winner of the 2010 Ladybug Picture Book Award. Voting materials, including a picture ballot and tally sheets will be available on this website in June.

Here are the titles nominated for 2010:

All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon & Marla Frazee (Beach Lane Books, 2009) * This won a Caldecott!


Bad Boys Get Henpecked by Margie Palatini & Henry Cole (Katherine Tegen Books, 2009)


Birds by Kevin Henkes & Laura Dronzek (Greenwillow, 2009)


The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen (Candlewick, 2009)


Creaky Old House: A Topsy-Turvy Tale of a Real Fixer-Upper by Linda Ashman & Michael Chesworth (Sterling, 2009)


The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School by Laurie Halse Anderson & Ard Hoyt (Simon & Schuster, 2009)


Otis by Loren Long (Philomel, 2009)


Princess Hyacinth (The Surprising story of a girl who floated) by Florence Parry Heide & Lane Smith (Schwartz and Wade, 2009)


Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! by Maureen Wright & Will Hillenbrand (Marshall Cavendish, 2009)


Under the Snow by Melissa Stewart & Constance R. Bergum (Peachtree, 2009)

Sep 06, 2010 | 1 comment View Post

New Standards in Education from the NYTimes

Below are some key paragraphs about the new state standards.  Here is the link to the New York Times article.  Here is the link to the PDFs that spell out the new state standards.  This seems like a good thing but what are your thoughts?

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By SAM DILLON Published: June 2, 2010

The nation’s governors and state school chiefs released on Wednesday a new set of academic standards, their final recommendations for what students should master in English and math as they move from the primary grades through high school graduation.

The standards, which took a year to write, have been tweaked and refined in recent weeks in response to some of the 10,000 comments the public sent in after a draft was released in March.

The Obama administration hopes that states will quickly adopt the new standards in place of the hodgepodge of current state benchmarks, which vary so significantly that it is impossible to compare test scores from different states. The United States is one of the few developed countries that lacks national standards for its public schools.

Students whose families move from New York to Georgia or California, for example, often have difficulty adjusting to new schools because classroom work is organized around different standards. The problem has become worse, since many states have weakened standards in recent years to make it easier for schools to avoid sanctions under the federalNo Child Left Behind law.

The new standards were written by English and math experts convened last year by theNational Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. They are laid out in two documents: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, andCommon Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects. With three appendices, the English standards run to nearly 600 pages.

Under the new math standards, eighth graders would be expected to use the Pythagorean theorem to find distances between points on the coordinate plane and to analyze polygons. Under the English standards, sixth-grade students would be expected to describe how a story’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes and how an author develops the narrator’s point of view.

In keeping with those principles, the English standards do not prescribe a reading list, but point to classic poems, plays, short stories, novels and essays to demonstrate the advancing complexity of texts that students should be able to master. On the list of exemplary read-aloud books for second and third graders, for instance, is James Thurber’s “Thirteen Clocks.” One play cited as appropriate for high school students is “Oedipus Rex,” by Sophocles.

Sep 06, 2010 | 3 comments View Post

Turn Your Child Into a Reader (from MomTrends)

Is this the year you give your child the gift of reading? It’s never too late or too early to start sharing books with your child. Our guest editor Lezlie Evans shares“The Power of Reading With a Child”

Did you know the number one determiner of success when a child enters formal schooling is the number of hours he has been read aloud to by someone close to him? The simple act of reading to your child will make all the difference in the world!

And the benefits of reading go far beyond success in school. Reading fosters language development, stimulates imagination, encourages curiosity, builds a strong, diverse vocabulary, increases self esteem, and helps children make sense of the world around them. While all these things are important, I believe one of the most significant things reading does is create strong bonds and lasting memories between parents and children.

The challenge lies in the lure of glitzy computer games, endless television programming, DVD players, and portable hand-held electronics. A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found children ages 8-18 spend an average of nearly eight hours a day with electronic media. It takes a conscientious effort to set aside time for reading.

Following these four easy steps will help you lay the foundation of early literacy skills in your home and assist your child in becoming a life-long reader:
1. Fill your home with books. Have a basket or box of books in every well-used room in your house. In a recent survey The National Literacy Trust found that children who have access to books in the home read at a higher grade level and attain a higher level of education. While building a home library is wonderful, taking advantage of your local public library is like putting money in your pocket. Take weekly trips to the library and encourage your child to check out as many books as your card will allow. Let your child get their own library card when old enough. If you have a reluctant reader, don’t hesitate to ask your children’s librarian for the perfect book that will capture your child’s interest.

2. Read every day with your child. Read from the earliest age and at every stage! If your child has a short attention span read often, but keep the sessions short. If your child is an emergent reader, take turns reading—you read a page, and then let him read a page. Be sure to be expressive, vary your intonation, and have fun with it! If your child is an independent reader, listening to him read is as important as reading to him.

3. Model the behavior. Let your child “catch” you reading, whether it is a magazine, a book, or an article on the Internet. Research shows parents who are readers tend to raise children who become life-long readers themselves. Limit TV time and have a set time of the day when you turn off electronics and stop, drop, and read as a family.


4. Applaud your child’s efforts. Praise your child and talk with him about what he is reading. Send the message that reading is pleasurable and fun by giving books as gifts and rewards.

Reading together allows you to slow down and enjoy the moment as you laugh, talk, and make discoveries together. And don’t forget, all the while you’ll be laying the foundation for success in school and in life. So grab a book, read with a child, and experience the magic for yourself!

Lezlie Evans is a mother of six, a published children’s book author, and an advocate for early literacy. Read more about her and her latest book, WHO LOVES THE LITTLE LAMB online atwww.Lezlieevans.com.

Sep 06, 2010 | 0 comments View Post

Setting Up Routines at Home for Academic Success, Particularly for Reading

School is starting and usually there is a month of adjustment for both teacher and children doing things like assessing each child in a variety of subjects, getting into the rhythm of classroom routines and behavior norms, finding out how each child learns best, making new friends and reviewing academic material from last year.  It’s not a time where new learning is emphasized (except if your child  is lucky enough to “loop” with his or her same class from last year in which case it’s business as usual).
So, as a parent, this is a good time to start setting routines for good academics at home.  Make sure there is a good spot for homework,  even if it’s the 2-minutes-a-day kind and even more important, set a time of day when the homework gets done.  We actually set different schedules and spots for different subjects:  math is right when the kids get home from school concurrent with a snack; spelling lists review are a parent/child pair that happens when we go upstairs to start our bedtime routine and is more successful when the child writes as opposed to recites aloud (a fun way to write on the windows with dry erase pens or on a white board); reading is at night right before lights out and usually in bed, cozy and together.
But … WHAT IF your child does not enjoy reading?  WHAT IF, your child hates to read aloud but is at the stage where it’s necessary to make sure the words are decoded correctly?  WHAT IF, reading is torture and you, the parent, do all the reading to your child?  WHAT IF, it seems as if your child will NEVER read for pleasure?
I think this is a phase that all parents go through with their children and it can be longer or shorter based on the child.  The key here is to try, and try again.  Mix it up.  Try new things.  Don’t give up.  If you keep at it, your child will reach that magic thresh hold when upon you will catch your child reading when other things were supposed to happen.  Like going to sleep.  Here are some ideas to get your child reading:
  • Let your child choose the book from a pile that you select and can summarize to him or her.  Use your child’s teacher, librarians, peer recommendations and blogs to find ideas for books that might interest your child.
  • Graphic novels are a legitimate choice!  There are great ones for both girls and boys.
  • Read together, especially the first chapter to get your child engaged in the story.  Once your child is engaged, take turns reading, either page by page or chapter by chapter.
  • A trip to the library or bookstore should be fun and frequent!
  • Books on tape are also a good choice and ebooks as apps are another way to do this.
  • Non fiction on topics of interest are also great:  ufos, bugs, disgusting things, mummies … find a topic that fascinates!
  • Magazines count!  Get a subscription to their favorite one.
  • Make your own book on tape.
  • Create reading time for the whole family to do together.
  • Motivate with a reward system to get over the hump.

What is working for you?  I’d love your suggestions for motivating your children to read plus any surefire books that your kids recommend. We got these recommendations from the kids in our neighborhood and my 10-year-old daughter loved them.

For grades 3-5:

For younger readers, grades 1-2:

And for the newest of readers:

To view any books more closely at Amazon, just click on the image of the book.

p.s.  And with regard to math, September is a good time to review math facts from the end of last year.  Our favorite way is to play 10 minutes of  math games a day .  The games can be on the computer, with a deck of cards, an actual board game or an app on the iPhone/iPad/iPod.

Sep 06, 2010 | 2 comments View Post

Top 10: Best Children’s Books Featuring Life-Changing Teachers (ages 4-12)

As we ease into the summer and reflect on the our children’s past school year, it is the teacher who makes the difference between a great year and a mediocre or worse year.  I am sure that I am not alone in sending up prayers to get particular teachers for my kids next year.  This list is a homage to the exceptional teachers everywhere who dedicate their lives to making a difference.  And they absolutely do!  One day, one of their students may even write about their exception teacher as in the case for a few of the books selected below.

To purchase any of these books, please click on the image of the book

or buy at the Pragmatic Mom store on the right hand column.  Thank You!

ps  Special thanks to the exceptional teachers I and my children have had.  You know who you are!

10.  The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill

Based on the true story of Agnes Sutterfield who came to the a remote village in Alaska in 1948 to teach in a one-room school house.  Her students could survive in the wilderness but most didn’t know how to read or write.  Her ability to connect with her students and create curriculum that they could relate to makes her a life-changing teacher!  In real life, one of her students becomes the firs Alaskan native to be accepted to Medical School in England.  [chapter book, ages 8-12]

9.  My Face to the Wind: The Diary of Sarah Jane Price, A Prairie Teacher by Jim Murphy [chapter book, ages 8-12]

This novel is set in the 1800′s in Broken Bow, Nebraska which is part of the wild, wild west.  Fourteen-year-old Sarah Jean Price must take over the one-room school house where her father was hired to teach but dies unexpectedly. Written in a diary format, we read about Sarah’s challenges and her ultimate success as she develops into an exceptional teacher.  [chapter book, ages 8-12]

8.  Yoko by Rosemary Wells

Mrs. Jenkins, Yoko’s teacher, is featured in many of the books in the Yoko and Friends series.  She is a wonderful teacher as shown in this book, where she must figure out a way to keep Yoko’s classmates from teasing her about her Japanese lunch.  Mrs. Jenkins is up to the task though it keeps her up late at night fretting until she thinks of a solution.  [picture book, ages 4-8]

7. The Secret School by Avi

14-year-old Ida fills in secretly when the teacher in their one-room school house suddenly leaves and threatens closure of the school.  Ida has always wanted to be a teacher and she’s completely up to the arduous task.  This is one of my fourth grader’s favorite books of all time!  [chapter book, ages 8-12]

6.  Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard

When Miss Nelson is missing and the class is way behind in their work, a scary substitute teacher turns up to whip things into shape.  Children will love the surprise ending.  [picture book, ages 4-8]

5.  Don’t Say Ain’t by Irene Smalls

New York public schools were first integrated in 1957 and this picture book portrays the difficulty for exceptionally talented African American children to bridge the two worlds of their advanced, integrated school with their colloquial inner city home.  Dana, the little girl in the story, is assisted in learning this precarious balancing act  from her teacher.  [picture book, ages 6-10]

4.  Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Mr. Slinger is such a wonderful teacher that everyone in his class wants to be a teacher when he or she grows up.  Especially Lily.  But when Lily brings in her new purple plastic purse and can’t follow the rules, she gets in trouble and is furious with Mr. Slinger.  The way Mr. Slinger handles this makes every parent want a “Mr. Slinger” to be our child’s teacher!  [picture book, ages 4-8]

3.  A Nickel,  A Trolley, A Treasure House by Sharon Reiss Baker

This is a true story about a young boy who is shown  a world of possibilities by his kind teacher. And to think opening up a world of possibilities takes only a nickel, a trolley and a treasure house.  And an exception teacher!  Don’t forget that part!  [picture book, ages 6-10]

2. Ida B.  … And Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster and Possibly Save the World by Katherine Hannigan

Sometimes teachers can change lives in quiet ways such as by being exceptional listeners to their students as is the case with Ida B. who is reeling from her mother’s cancer, the abrupt change from being homeschooled to being back at public school, and the loss of some beloved trees. [chapter book, ages 8-10]

1. Thank You Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco

This book is a homage to Polacco’s teacher who discovered her dyslexia and helped her to overcome it.  And this book would be the perfect gift to any amazing, life-changing teacher that we are fortunate to have in our lives.  [picture book, ages 6-12]

BabyAge.com

Sep 06, 2010 | 1 comment View Post

The 2010 Geisel Awards (Dr. Seuss) from Books and Stuff and ALSC

I found this from Books and Stuff which is the blog for Westerville Library and they give their perspective on the winners at the bottom of this post.  Benny and Penny in the Big No-No by Jeffrey Hayes is  the 2010 Winner.  The information on the Geisel 2010 winners is from the ALSC (The Association for Library Service to Children):

2010 Medal winner

Benny and Penny in the Big No-No!, written and illustrated by Geoffrey Hayes, published by TOON BOOKS, a division of RAW Junior, LLC

Benny and Penny in the Big No-No! is a perfect example of a graphic novel designed just for young readers. Siblings Benny and Penny encounter trouble when curiosity about a mysterious neighbor leads them into unexpected adventures. The characters’ emotions are revealed in the rich artwork within each panel. Children will connect with the realistic dialogue and page-turning appeal of the story. They will be thrilled to enter the world of graphic novels.

“The real big ‘no-no’ would be to miss this distinctive beginning graphic novel with perfectly matched text and illustrations,” said Geisel Award Committee Chair Susan Veltfort.

2010 Honor Books

I Spy Fly Guy!, written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold, published by Scholastic, Inc.

Fly Guy and his pal Buzz are back in a fresh beginner chapter book.  A disastrous ending to a game of hide and seek finds Fly Guy hauled away to the local dump in this new take on a lost pet. Arnold’s watercolor and colored pencil cartoon-like illustrations are fun and fanciful.

Little Mouse Gets Ready, written and illustrated by Jeff Smith, and published by TOON BOOKS, a Division of RAW Junior, LLC.

Little Mouse narrates this story with humor and excitement as he dons clothes and dreams of adventures to come. The simplified bubble dialogue and one or two panels per page combine to create an appealing and effective format for new readers.

Mouse and Mole: Fine Feathered Friends, written and illustrated by Wong Herbert Yee, published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

In this quiet story of friendship, artistic Mole and poetic Mouse join forces to hatch a clever plan for watching skittish birds.  They create their own book of paintings and poems to celebrate their bird-watching adventures.  The soft illustrations reflect the gentleness of the text.

Pearl and Wagner: One Funny Day, written by Kate McMullan, illustrated by R. W. Alley, published by Dial Books for Young Readers.

In three short and simple chapters, friends Pearl and Wagner experience the hijinks and pranks of April Fools’ Day. Beginning with the cover art, McMullan and Alley set the stage and draw the reader in immediately. Readers will be delighted as Wagner gets the last laugh!

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So, I think I’ve managed to neglect mentioning the Geisel Awards up to this point.  What a grievous oversight.  Anyone with a new reader needs to know about this award “given annually the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers.”

The days of Dick and Jane are gone my friends.  As this article says, boring beginning reader books are so yesterday.  Today’s readers are funny and engaging. Kids actually want to read them!

Toon books are in a graphic novel (read: comic book) format and are great place to start for boys and reluctant readers.

Many parents are already familiar with Mo Willems and his fantastic picture books like the Pigeon and Knuffle Bunnyseries.  But those same parents are often unfamiliar with Mo’s hilarious beginning reader Elephant and Piggie series.  Mo also has a new series about Cat the Cat.  Don’t be fooled by the traditional picture book look of these books, they’re intended for beginning readers as well.

And if you haven’t introduced your new reader to the Fly Guy series by Tedd Arnold, you’re both missing out!  When a fly on the hunt for something tasty and slimy to eat crosses paths with a boy named Buzz who’s looking for a smart pet for The Amazing Pet Show, a beautiful friendship is born.  And of course, hilarity ensues.

Also worth a mention are the Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa series, Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same, and the Annie and Snowball series.  And check out our list of Geisel Award winners and honor books.

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To view any book at Amazon, just click on the image of the book.

Sep 05, 2010 | 0 comments View Post

iPhone/iPad/iPod app: Math Ninja (really fun math facts game)

My five-year-old son has been hogging my iPhone and the family iPad all last week while we were on vacation.  He loaded tons of “free” games which ended up costing us $10 — (my husband: “Does he know how to read ‘free’?”  Me:  ”Yes, he reads it as ‘fee.’  Hence the charges!) — and we had to yell at him to turn off the screens.  Except when we noticed he was playing Math Ninja.  True, he’d try to cheat and slyly ask us what 9 + 6 is but we were on to him.  It turns out to be a fun game for all my kids including my 10-year-old and 8-year-0ld, both girls.  And I turned out to be bad at it.

So today I sought the help of my kids to learn how to play Math Ninja.  It begins with a short narrative (great for reluctant readers!) that draws them into a story about what the game is about, i.e. you, the Math Ninja versus Them, the animal bots.  Then, based on points (or dollars really) that you earn, you can buy weapons to defend yourself.  The fun begins as the bots come and you must defend your tree house.  Turns out I am really bad at this portion of the game AND my kids excel at it and do not need a tutorial like I did to figure out what to do.  (“Mom, it’s obvious if you play enough video games!).  Point taken and obviously I did not acquire these skills as child.

Once the onslaught is over and the points are earned, the game then turns into a math fact drill session.  The facts include addition, subtraction, division and multiplication.  While there are three levels, this relates to the difficulty of the video game portion NOT the math portion.  I asked my kids why was I getting easy subtraction (3-1= ?) when I set it to Ninja which is the hardest setting.  They said that the math drill portion is based on the history of the player who happens to be my five-year-old and that you can’t control the math difficulty but that it will get more difficult as you progress.

These are the features I like about the math portion of the game:

  • To answer a math fact problem, you must type in the number from a “calculator number pad” so YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO KNOW THE ANSWER!  You can’t guess!  There is NO multiple choice!
  • The app tracks what you get correct and incorrect and then, I assume, works that into the next round of questions.
  • There is a time limit per problem.
  • You can set the types of problems you want to be drilled on by turning off or on the choices of addition, subtraction, multiplication or division.
  • My kids actually think it’s a really fun game so they want to play it!

Math Ninja is $1.99 at the iTunes store.  Click on the image above to go to iTunes.

Sep 05, 2010 | 1 comment View Post

Ugly Colors board book based on Uglydolls — edgy but cute!

My oldest who is ten-years-old has begged me to review this book which I thought was interesting because she is long past board books.  ”It’s so cute!” she says.  ”And funny!”  And it is.  While it IS a board book for toddlers and covers colors, it has a sly wit that will appeal to adults who, no doubt, will be reading this book over and over again.

My kids have a fondness for the Uglydolls and each has at least one of them and covets the dolls in a size that they don’t own.  And yet, they rarely play with them.  The dolls sometimes accompany my girls to sleepovers, and they claim to play with their dolls with their friends but I have never witnessed this kind of play at home.

I have to hand it to Random House because it’s a brilliant play to take the Uglydolls and convert them into books — isn’t it usually the other way around?! The books have an edgy attitude which I can only describe as slightly gross (to appeal to boys) and slightly sweet (to appeal to girls).  For example, the pages dedicated to the color RED gets these comments:  ”red cars get pulled over more often”, “I’m seeing red” and “let’s paint the town red”, with a doll saying “I’m no vandal!”

Ugly Colors by David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim is part of a series of books on the Uglydolls including Ugly Guide to Eating Out and Keeping It Down, 1 2 3 4 U, A B C U Later, The Ugly Guide to Being Alive and Staying That Way, Ugly Guide to the Uglyverse, Ugly Guide to Things That Go and Things That Should Go But Don’t.  See what I mean?  Edgy but cute.  Nice job Random House.  Ugly Colors is part of the Ugly Boards which is just right for toddlers.  The other books are more comic book in nature and would appeal to readers of all sorts including reluctant in elementary school.

These books would make a nice gift paired with an Uglydoll.

Sep 05, 2010 | 0 comments View Post

Top 10 Children’s Books: From ChristinaReads (for Middle School Girls)

I do love a good Top 10 List and this chapter book children’s book list for ages 10-14 (middle-school-girl-ish-give-or-take-a-year-or-two) from ChristinaReads is a really good one of her childhood favorites!  I have only read half her list, but the books that I’ve read are such winners that it makes me want to read the rest of her list.  Clearly the woman has great taste!  This is a list worth having your daughter work her way through.  Let me know what you think?  And please check out ChristinaReads excellent blog!

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What with my dearth of book news recently, I’ve decided to share another top 10 list! This time, it’s the top 10 books I loved as a child (in no particular order):The Witch of Blackbird Pond (Yearling Newbery)

1. Elizabeth George Speare, The Witch of Blackbird Pond. This is my all-time favorite book from childhood, and I still love it. It’s about a girl named Kit who moves from a carefree life in Barbados to the restrictive, Puritanical society of colonial New England. The book depicts this society wonderfully, making that period of American history come alive. The historical information about the Salem Witch Trials and the colonists’ growing discontent with British rule blends beautifully with Kit’s personal journey towards adulthood. The various characters are also wonderful, and even those who appear unsympathetic have some redeeming qualities. I honestly can’t praise this book enough; I’d recommend it to anyone, children and adults alike!

The View from Saturday2. E. L. Konigsburg, The View from Saturday. You might recognize Konigsburg’s name from the more famous From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, but personally I’ve always preferred The View from Saturday. This book is told from the perspectives of four sixth-grade children whose lives unexpectedly converge when they become teammates for an interscholastic academic competition. All four children are extremely intelligent, and they each have a unique way of seeing the world. I loved this book because I felt like I could identify with all the main characters, particularly Nadia, the only girl on the team. I also learned a lot of random interesting facts, because the narrative frequently flashed back to the competition and described some of the questions and answers. I think that, in real life, many smart or “gifted” children are misfits socially, and this book does a wonderful job of depicting that innocence and awkwardness.

Ella Enchanted3. Gail Carson Levine, Ella Enchanted. I didn’t read this book until my late teens, so I can’t call it a childhood favorite, but I very much enjoyed this clever retelling of the Cinderella story. The problem with traditional Cinderella stories is that it’s hard to root for a heroine who would allow herself to be bullied by her wicked stepmother and stepsisters. Levine adds a wonderful twist to the story: Ella is obedient because she has to be — she’s under a curse. In this version of the tale, Ella must find the fairy godmother who gave her the “gift” of obedience and convince the fairy to undo her spell. Otherwise, she might be compelled to do something horrible, such as murder the kindhearted prince Charmont whom she’s grown to love. This is a creative and charming twist on the Cinderella story, and it has a good lesson for young girls about determination and inner strength.

Anne of the Island (Anne of Green Gables, Book 3)4. L. M. Montgomery, Anne of the Island. I loved all the “Anne” books as a child, but this one was always my favorite. It’s the third book in the series, where Anne finally has the chance to go to Redmond College. There she reconnects with old friends and makes several new ones, including the frivolous yet quite intelligent Philippa Gordon. I really liked reading about Anne’s adventures at college, and I think she matures a lot during the course of this novel. I must admit, I also loved this book the most because it’s the one where Anne finally realizes her true love for…well, you know who. :)  These books are so sweet and uplifting, and the little anecdotes about the eccentric people Anne meets are always charming. Revisiting these books just makes me happy, and I know I can always turn to them for a nostalgic, comforting read.

Number the Stars5. Lois Lowry, Number the Stars. This book will always stand out in my mind as the first book I ever read about the Holocaust, and I still think it’s one of the best, at least of those written for children. It’s the story of a Christian girl living in Denmark and her Jewish best friend, and it takes place during the German occupation of Denmark. When the Germans start passing laws that discriminate against Jews, Christian Annemarie and her family decide to hide her best friend Ellen from the soldiers. This book does not directly address the horror of the Holocaust, but it depicts the fear felt by 10-year-old Annemarie very well. It also shows the heroism of ordinary people who did their best to rescue Jews in defiance of the laws, as well as the difficulties they faced. The book’s ending is a hopeful one, focusing on the triumphs that some brave individuals managed to achieve. I definitely think all young children should read this book.

Catherine, Called Birdy (rpkg) (Trophy Newbery)6. Karen Cushman, Catherine, Called Birdy. Looking back, I’m pretty sure that this book sparked my fascination with the Middle Ages. It’s the story of 14-year-old Catherine, the daughter of a moderately well-off gentleman who wants to marry her off to an even richer gentleman. The book is composed of her diary entries, where she muses about her lot in life and observes the strange behavior of the adults around her. Initially, Catherine is immature and full of complaints, but she definitely grows and matures throughout the novel. I remember being completely fascinated by her depiction of medieval life and how different it was from my own. I also thought her voice was hysterically funny — her unique approach to swearing remains one of the most memorable aspects of the book to me (“God’s thumbs!”). Oh, and the various tricks she played on the suitors who tried to court her — hilarious! This is another book that’s stayed with me since childhood — and, like most of the others on this list, it’s still on my shelves.

A Girl of the Limberlost7. Gene Stratton-Porter, A Girl of the Limberlost. This sweet book follows the lovely and independent Elnora Comstock, who is fascinated by nature and whose passion is collecting rare moths. In the first half of the book, she struggles with snobbery at the local high school and with a mother who (for reasons that become clear later in the book) hates her. In the second half, she falls in love for the first time, but the experience is bittersweet because the man in question is engaged to somebody else. Like Rose in Bloom (see #8), this is a sweet, wholesome story that just lifts my spirits.

Rose in Bloom8. Louisa May Alcott, Rose in Bloom. This sequel to Eight Cousins revisits the Campbell family when Rose and all her cousins have grown up. Now Rose must navigate the confusing world of high society; and, as a wealthy and beautiful young woman, she must choose between her many suitors, some of whom are just after her fortune. Alcott’s books — at least the ones written for children — are refreshingly wholesome, and sometimes it’s just nice to read a book where the biggest “sins” are things like flirting and (funnily enough) reading inappropriate novels. :) There are some wonderfully romantic moments in the book, and Rose must ponder difficult questions about her place in the world. Reading this book transports me to a simpler time, and it’s often a welcome relief from the stress of modern life.

The Mozart Season9. Virginia Euwer Wolff, The Mozart Season. This is another book whose main character I really identified with. Twelve-year-old Allegra is something of a violin prodigy, and she enters a music competition where she must learn to play a Mozart concerto better than everyone else. (No, I wasn’t a prodigy, but I did play the piano for several years and was involved in annual competitions). As she prepares for the competition, she also matures into adolescence and begins to perceive the world around her in a new way. I appreciated the musical descriptions in this novel, and there’s a very memorable storyline with a confused, homeless man who desperately wants to remember a particular song he heard long ago. The book is somewhat melancholy, but in a very good way, and it’s yet another childhood favorite of mine.

Here's to You, Rachel Robinson10. Judy Blume, Here’s to You, Rachel Robinson. What girl didn’t read a ton of Judy Blume in her pre-teen years? This particular book was my favorite of hers, even though I didn’t initially realize that it was the second in a series. It must have stood alone fairly well! Rachel is another protagonist who’s something of a misfit because of her intelligence. She also feels some pressure to be the “perfect” child because of her older brother Charles, who is constantly getting into trouble and annoying her parents. This is a quintessential coming-of-age novel complete with first crushes, changing friendships, and a new perspective on the world. It’s funny in some places, sad in others, and I just remember really loving it. This is the only book on the list that I don’t currently own — but I definitely checked it out of the library several times! I’ll have to find a copy of my own now.

These are my childhood favorites, and they’ve really stayed with me through the years. What books did you love as a child?

Sep 05, 2010 | 0 comments View Post
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