Module 2: Ramona and Her Father

Book Summary: Ramona’s family is all in a slump.  Ramona’s father lost his job, her mom has to work full time and Beezus just thinks Ramona is a pest.  Ramona is determined to make everyone happy, but in doing that she annoys her family.  She researches many ways to make money and decides that she is going to be on commercials.  That did not work out as she had planned and her dad assured her that he would not trade her for a million dollars.  The story ends well when her father gets another job and the family gets back to what the Quimby’s call normal.

My Impressions: As I read this book I realized how many students it could reach today.  While it was written in the 1970s it reflects the lives of many students living in today’s economy.  I had to giggle as I was taken back in time with some of the things mentioned, but yet could place the same situations in today’s times.  Cleary manages to have her characters be silly and funny even in real world serious situations that so many of our patrons experience.

Professional Review:  Gr 3-5 – Pest, gutsy Ramona is now seven and a second grader – still ingenuous and loving but a bit more grown-up, at least enough to wonder what’s in those X-rated movies.  The Quimbys – everyone’s favorite family – are suddenly hit by disaster when Dad loses his job.  Mom is forced to work full-time, the cat refuses cheaper food and eats the Halloween pumpkin instead; Beezus is preoccupied and beleaguered by Creative Writing; and Dad keeps house in desperation, chain smoking and sitting by a phone that never rings.  Ramona takes matters into her own hands; primping and simpering, she practices being “dainty and adorable” to make a million dollars doing child roles in commercials; she also starts an intensive campaign to stop Dad from smoking.  It all ends happily with Dad getting a job and promising to try to stop smoking.  Old friends will not be disappointed in spite of the seriousness if the situation:  Cleary reassures young readers by seasoning the bitterness with love and laughter that relieve the tensions. – Marjorie Lewis, Scarsdale Junior High School Library, N.Y.

Library Uses: 

·       Read Aloud – This book would be a great read aloud in many schools where students are facing these same issues with the economy.

·       Literature Circle – Arrange for a group of students to meet and discuss the book.  They can in this group share their emotions and responses to the book and build a community.

·       Writing Group – Ramona’s experience with creative writing could be brought out and challenge students to interview someone who _______________ (fill in with something that the students are currently working on).

Cleary, B. (1975). Ramona and her father. New York: Morrow.

Lewis, M. (1977, November). Book Review. [Review of the book Ramonda and Her Father, by M. Lewis]. School Library Journal 24(3), p 54.

 

Module 2: Corduroy

  Book Summary: Corduroy is a bear that lives on a department store shelf until a girl named Lisa finds him and promptly falls in love with him.  Her mother tries to talk her out of getting him because he was missing a button.  Corduroy sneaks off the shelf to search for his button, but was returned to the shelf.  The next day Lisa returns to the store with her own money from her piggy bank.  She buys Corduroy, takes him home, sews a new button on and loves him.

My Impressions: This book is a classic.  The book relates to many children who have stuffed animals as a friend.  Corduroy is more for the younger crowd and was enjoyed by our family for many years.  There are many sequels to Corduroy, but none of them really have the quality of the original story. 

Professional Review:  Freeman, Don. Corduroy. Viking, 32 pp.  It is love at first sight when young Lisa sees Corduroy, a stuffed bear with one button missing from his overalls, for sale in a department store, but she lacks enough money to buy him.  The happy conclusion is deeply satisfying.

Library Uses:  There are several elements to use as social lessons for children while using this book as a read aloud or story time.  Corduroy has something he doesn’t like about himself that other people notice as well, but he can’t fix it on his own, he needs some help.  The discussion could also lead to Corduroy deciding he wants to live in a palace, but eventually he was happy where he was because he had a home and someone to love him. 

          A librarian reading this book could also take the route of discussing damages to books.  Corduroy had a flaw (his missing button) perhaps due to some mistreatment or an accident when a child took him off the shelf.  If a patron to the library sees a book that needs a little help to be appealing to all readers please let the librarian know so that we can love it back to the shelf.

Freeman, D. (1968). Corduroy. New York: Viking Press.

Burns, M. (1997, March/April). Book Review. [Review of the book Corduroy, by D. Freeman]. The Horn Book Magazine 72(2), p 187.

Module 1: Bats at the Library

Book Summary:  These bats are bored with the normal evenings.  They come through an open window and have some fun in the public library.  The fun includes making shape shadows, playing in the water fountain and at the copy machine and having a story time.  This book is showing readers all that they can see in a library visit.

My Impressions: This book had distinct, bright and colorful illustrations that keep the reader engaged. This book took readers through a visit to the library in a creative way through nocturnal animals.  The book shows both younger and older visitors in a way that can relate to many.

Professional Review: An open library window is an invitation for a colony of bats in this sequel to Bats at the Beach (2006). Once inside, older bats look for favorite books, while younger ones explore and play. Storytime settles everyone down and transports them into the tales, filled with bat characters playing new roles. The bat homage to classic hildren’s books includes titles like Goodnight Sun, while images such as Little Red Riding Bat will amuse children who are familiar with the originals. The rhymed narrative serves primarily as the vehicle for the appealing acrylic illustrations that teem with bats so charming they will even win over chiroptophobes.

Library Uses: This book could be used as an introduction to literary discussion groups in the library. The bats found something they were interested in (insect books) and formed into discussion groups.  

Lies, B. (2008). Bats at the Library.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Perkins, L.  (2008, October 15).  Book Review. [Review of the book Bats at the Library, by B. Lies].  Booklist 105 (4), 1 p.