Really good explanations about the role of carbon and oxygen over vast time periods, with an emphasis on recent warming phenomena, but since the intenReally good explanations about the role of carbon and oxygen over vast time periods, with an emphasis on recent warming phenomena, but since the intended audience is children I wouldn't mind if this was a little more solutions oriented. Climate change and global warming are rather hefty problems for our children to inherit without guidance....more
Publishers of nonfiction for children please note: a lot more people would read nonfiction if it was. . . better! Take a look at this book, that managPublishers of nonfiction for children please note: a lot more people would read nonfiction if it was. . . better! Take a look at this book, that manages to convey complex ideas about simple machines in a highly imaginative way, but does not talk down to the reader. For sure the dense language and concepts take some unpacking with children, but the idea of lifting a lion or ten, or a panda on a pallet engages many for whom this content would otherwise remain abstract. In my Primary Years Program IB school, I've read this several times with Year 3/4 students as part of a simple machines inquiry and students later collaborate to make machines capable of lifting a pumpkin. How I would love captivating nonfiction/creative nonfiction texts for all such inquiries....more
I love picture books that explore the lives of grandparents and this one is entertaining. Grandad Frank is highly opinionated. He doesn't like noise oI love picture books that explore the lives of grandparents and this one is entertaining. Grandad Frank is highly opinionated. He doesn't like noise or today's music or gadgets or gizmos and that's just the beginning. It's easy to imagine how frustrating he must be to live with. When the main character, a young boy, needs to give a one minute talk at school on a family member, Frank it has to be, even though it's a grim prospect. When the moment for the talk arrives, it's pretty dull going until Frank shows up and speaks for himself.
Much as I like this book, I can't help thinking it is full of missed opportunities for making connections, between Frank's character and what is revealed at the end. Only one aspect is developed cleverly and much more might have been done with this. ...more
This is a cleverly put together and thoughtful book that presents various perspectives on the landforms, plants and animals found in the dry centre orThis is a cleverly put together and thoughtful book that presents various perspectives on the landforms, plants and animals found in the dry centre or supposed ‘dead heart’ of Australia.
For many years, central Australia was a mystery to European colonists and explorers who sought the inland sea. They assumed mistakenly that westerly flowing rivers would lead to a sea and I imagine many dreamt of wealth to be made from such a discovery. Largely told from the point of view of early British explorer Charles Sturt, who searched in vain for the elusive sea. Oliver draws some interesting parallels between Sturt’s expedition and the desert animals, such as taking refuge underground to escape the worst of the heat. I never realised that Sturt’s party dug an underground room and stayed put for six months. Clearly, the desert was not to Sturt’s liking. At one point he declared the endless dunes and huge waves of sand to be as hot and desolate as the ‘entrance to Hell.’ I really like the use of primary sources, especially as Sturt viewed the desert so starkly and dreadfully. Oliver also touches on geological time and the secret life in the desert, of course known to the Indigenous people who lived there for thousands of years and understood the plants and hidden creatures. The use of names from language, such as Tjala for Honey Ants and Wakati for Portulaca seed, both from Pitjantjatjara is welcome.
A very impressive book; I can imagine some will love finding the camouflage animals in Oliver’s detailed artwork and others will enjoy her use of quotation. As a primary school teacher, who believes it’s important to problematicise the idea of explorers ‘discovering Australia’ this book provides a useful and respectful range of perspectives.
If you understand what a rich resource quality children’s picture books are and you value critical thinking and dialogue, Mary Roche has written a valIf you understand what a rich resource quality children’s picture books are and you value critical thinking and dialogue, Mary Roche has written a valuable guide. It’s clear she’s an expert at facilitating open-ended conversation based on well selected picturebooks, then stepping back and letting the children do all the hard thinking work. Curriculum documents I know stress the importance of creative and critical thinking and this is what Roche is centred on: making connections, exploring a range of perspectives, identifying assumptions and bias, because the purpose of education is not simply about passing tests, but for developing caring citizens and passionate lifelong learners. And this process starts early. And it's fun, and challenging and exciting for all! If you’ve taught young students, it’s clear from early on the students who've been exposed to this kind of thinking and those who haven't. An aspect I appreciate about this book is the focus on equity; that all children can develop the capacity to think critically and share observations though Book Talk, not just the dominant, articulate few. I also like the author’s attention to culturally diverse classrooms. If the children in our classrooms come from a range of backgrounds, the books we read should reflect that diversity (p. 160).
There’s much in this book of practical and theoretical value. Roche has included transcripts of conversations with groups of children and I found them useful for illustrating her thinking. She uses these conversations to make explicit her ideas on metacognition and dialogic teaching and there is nothing for the education student or beginning teacher to fear in terms of being burdened with excessive theory. To be honest I’m partial to a nice bit of theory, but Roche strikes a great balance. Her picture book lists are a wonderful feature also. They’re up to date but include many old favourites. I recommend this book to all those who believe they have room for growth with developing talk and higher order thinking skills with young people. ...more
In my country (Australia), quiet and sad books for children generally feature destruction of the natural environment rather than the demise of a persoIn my country (Australia), quiet and sad books for children generally feature destruction of the natural environment rather than the demise of a person. Jenny Angel is the only Australian picture book that deals with death directly, that I can recall off the top of my head, which is why I have been keen to read this a while; it is just so unusual. I really like the thinking here and the absolutely supportive relationship between the boy and his father. It's my belief that conversations with children on the topic of death are better had before they face the reality than afterwards. I don't wish to sound morbid, but if you think quiet contemplation in calm moments is important, this book might support such discussion....more
American literacy educator Debbie Miller, introduced this book when she spoke at a conference a few months ago. As part of her talk on Reader's WorkshAmerican literacy educator Debbie Miller, introduced this book when she spoke at a conference a few months ago. As part of her talk on Reader's Workshop, she showed how to teach students to make connections and infer meaning, using speech bubble shaped post-it notes to record the thoughts and feelings of characters that are not stated explicitly in the text. Although you might think picture books already invite this kind of engagement, it's a useful strategy for making thinking and hidden meanings visible for young learners.
There are many moments in Each Kindness for reflection and I and am in awe of how Woodson has made such mature subject matter accessible for children. Maybe it's a hard story to hear, but that's life. Many kids have it tougher. Sometimes there are no more chances and no happy endings.
An excellent book for anyone to reflect on acts of kindness....more