Let's travel down the shore to Lavallette, New Jersey! We're looking forward to catching up with Mrs. Stryker, one of Reading Road Trip's favorite readers. Mrs. Stryker was the Library Media Specialist at Lafayette School for eleven years before her retirement at the end of the 2010 school year. Mrs. Stryker handed over the LMC keys to Mrs. Cifrodella, but she still enjoys summer reading and flip-flop summer fun! So, where-- and what-- will Mrs. Stryker be reading this summer?
A few weeks ago, Mrs. Stryker stopped by the LMC and flipped open Beach is to Fun: A Book of Relationships by Pat Brisson (RL K-3), a rhyming story about a day at the beach that looks at relationships between things-- and introduces us to analogies and logic in a playful way.
Fore! Mrs. Stryker will have a copy of The Million DollarPutt by Dan Gutman (RL 4.3) tucked into her golf bag. This 2009 Garden State Book Award nominee tells the story of thirteen-year-old Ed "Bogie" Bogard's quest to learn golf and to win a million dollar prize. We think that Mrs. Stryker may Drop Everything And Read realistic fiction on the 9th hole!
Ahoy, mateys!Mrs. Stryker will be floating and boating... and reading The Mary Celeste: An Unsolved Mystery from History by Jane Yolen and Heidi Elisabet Yolen Stemple (RL 4.5). This historical fiction picture book brings out the amateur sleuth in all of us: a young girl presents the case of the unexplained disappearance of the crew on the ship Mary Celeste in 1872.
When she's off to zumba class, Mrs. Stryker will carry a copy of The Seashore Book by Charlotte Zolotow (RL 4.1) in her duffel bag. After an active dance aerobic class filled with lively Latin music, a quietly refreshing summer picture book hits the spot: a mother's words help a little boy imagine the sights and sounds of the seashore, even though he has never seen the ocean.
Well, here we are in Lavallette! We find Mrs. Stryker relaxing on the beach, wiggling her toes in the sand, soaking up summer sunshine, and reading Flotsam by David Wiesner (RL K-3). This colorful picture book features a science-minded boy who goes to the beach to collect and examine objects that have washed ashore-- including an underwater camera that contains a collection of unusual pictures! Check out the book trailer for the 2007 Caldecott Award winner:
Let's take a walk on Book Beach with Mrs. Stryker. Don't forget to bring your imaginations... and your underwater cameras!
Hold onto your hard hats! Library Media Specialist Mrs. Cifrodella and her family are setting up a Reading Road Trip Detour, leaving the school year far behind and constructing some serious mid-summer fun. What’s on the agenda? Family time, creative play time, soak-up-the-sun-and-splash-in-the-surf time, and (of course) plenty of reading time!
When friends ask for summer reading suggestions, Jordan C. recommends the Moxy Maxwell series by Peggy Elizabeth Gifford (RL 5.1). Featuring one of our favorite procrastinating heroines, the books are fresh and funny, with short chapters that are cool to read on hot summer days. Mrs. Cifrodella's pick? Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Practicing the Piano (but She Does Love Being in Recitals).
Reading Road Trippers looking for smooth summer reading with comic-strip flair will like the Big Nate series, written and illustrated by Lincoln Peirce (RL 3.5). The books follow the school-based adventures and misadventures of mischievous sixth-grade hero Nate Wright.
Make a right turn toward graphic novels! Cave drawings, ancient hieroglyphics, medieval tapestries: stories told in pictures have been around for thousands of years. Modern graphic novels combine elements of chapter books, picture books, and movies. Graphic novels are like traditional books in length and plot development… but they're written and illustrated in comic-book style!
The Smurfs graphic novels by Peyo- Papercutz (Grades 3-6). Just in time for a newly-released summer movie, the lovable smurfy blue comic characters make a graphic novel debut! Titles in the series include: The Purple Smurfs, The Smurfs and the Magic Flute, The Smurf King, The Smurfette, The Smurfs and the Egg, and The Smurfs and the Howlibird.
The Bone graphic novels by Jeff Smith (Grades 3-6) present the adventures of three cousins from Boneville: Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone. One Lafayette reader marvels that the author “compresses so much adventure into small books.” Johnathon W. appreciates the comic-book qualities of the series, and Dennis M. reports that the books are “awesome… Something exciting is always happening.” James S. gives Bone: The Great Cow Race rave reviews; James M. would recommend the series “to kids all over the world.”
In the choose-your-own adventure graphic novel Meanwhile: Pick Any Path, 3,856 Story Possibilities by Jason Shiga (RL 3.0), a boy stumbles upon the laboratory of a mad scientist who asks him to choose between testing a mind-reading device, a time machine, and a doomsday machine.
Comic books come to life! From 1985 to 1995, the good-for-a-giggle adventures of six-year-old mischief-maker Calvin and his best buddy Hobbes the stuffed tiger filled newspaper funny pages with smiles and laughter. Check out these Calvin and Hobbes video shorts, featuring Reading Road Tripper Charlie T. and his Dad, a Lafayette LMC volunteer:
We can check out Calvin and Hobbes at the Library of the Chathams:
In It’s a Magical World: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection, Bill Watterson’s skillfully drawn comics follow the adventures of imaginative little boy Calvin and his stuffed toy tiger Hobbes.
There’s Treasure Everywhere: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection presents more than three hundred comic strips that chronicle the continuing adventures of rambunctious Calvin and his tiger companion Hobbes.
Butterfly by Julie C.
As we continue down the road, let’s pack a bit of Calvin and Hobbes wisdom in our suitcases: “We're so busy watching out for what's just ahead of us that we don't take time to enjoy where we are.” Keep your eyes on your reading, Road Trippers… and enjoy the summer, wherever you are!
This summer, fourth grade Language Arts teacher Mrs. Erezuma and her family will be vacationing on a quiet island off the coast of Maine: no telephone, no television, no Internet. Just family time to share, beautiful scenery to enjoy, colorful sea glass to collect. No cars on the island? No problem! Reading Road Trip will join Mrs. Erezuma on a fantastic summer reading adventure, starting with the popular series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. Let's get started with a video review by Alec and Max:
The Lightning Thief by Jack M.
It all begins with The Lightning Thief (RL 4.9). After learning that he is the son of a mortal woman and the ancient Greek god Poseidon, twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is sent to a summer camp for demigods like himself… and joins his new friends on a quest to prevent a war between the gods. Reading Road Tripper Calvin B. enjoys learning about Greek mythology and admires Percy Jackson “because he is powerful and awesome.” Stephen R. would definitely read other books by Rick Riordan, observing, “He writes good stories that are interesting and action-packed.” Cole K. recommends The Lightning Thief to all friends, calling it “the best book ever” and noting that it has the perfect mix of thought and action, of heroes and villains.
The adventure continues in The Sea of Monsters (RL 4.9), as Percy and demigod friends attempt to rescue a satyr friend from the Cyclops—and to save Camp Half-Blood from Titan attack.
In The Titan’s Curse (RL 4.7), Percy and friends join forces to rescue the missing goddess Artemis before the winter solstice, when she is needed to sway the Olympian Council regarding war with the Titans. Reading Road Tripper Owen L. admires the heroic qualities of Percy Jackson and says, “I like this book because of the Greek Mythology."
The Battle of the Labyrinth (RL 4.5) finds Percy hurrying to Camp Half-Blood after his high school is invaded by demonic cheerleaders! He joins his demigod friends on a quest through the mythical Labyrinth, while war between the Olympians and the evil Titan Kronos draws near.
Fifth grade Language Arts teacher Mrs. Weglarz beats the heat with a good fantasy-adventure book and a refreshing beverage! This summer, she’ll enjoy the surf, the sun, the sand, and The Last Olympian (RL 4.8) down the shore at Long Beach Island. In the final installment of the series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. He leads an army of young demigods to stop the Titan advance on New York City—while the Olympians struggle to contain Typhon, a rampaging monster. Reading Road Tripper Chris L. enthusiastically endorses The Last Olympian, describing it as “epic perfection… awesome.”
Even after completing the series, we can continue to explore the world of Percy Jackson and the Olympians in The Demigod Files (RL 4.7). The book details three of Percy’s adventures as he battles all sorts of mythological monsters in the modern world. The Demigod Files also features a map of Camp Half-Blood and interviews with favorite characters Percy, Connor, Travis, Clarisse, Annabeth, and Grover.
Picture This!The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel by Robert Venditti (RL 4.5) tells Percy Jackson’s story in comic book format. Master the Myth: We can learn more about Greek mythology at the Library of the Chathams:
The Mythology Handbook: A Course in Ancient Greek Myths by Lady Hestia Evans (RL 7.4) offers an introduction to Greek mythology, profiling beasts, gods, goddesses, and heroes.
The Beautiful Stories of Life: Six Greek Myths, Retold by Cynthia Rylant (RL 5.3) contains illustrated tales from Greek mythology, including the stories of Pandora, Persephone, Orpheus, Pygmalion, Narcissus, and Psyche.
Mythological Creatures: A Classical Bestiary: Tales of Strange Beings, Fabulous Creatures, Fearsome Beasts & Hideous Monsters from Ancient Greek Mythology by Lynn Curlee (RL 6.8) is an illustrated guide to ancient mythological beasts. The book describes each creature's origins and what role it has played in world mythology.
Let's take a side trip to the official Percy Jackson and the Olympians website. Click on the red-highlighted words to get started! And then let's visit with author Rick Riordan to find out more about the books, the characters, and the reason he writes:
Explore Rick Riordan's The Kane Chronicles: In The Red Pyramid (RL 6.0), Egyptologist Dr. Julius Kane accidentally unleashes the Egyptian god Set. The vengeful god banishes the doctor to oblivion and forces his two children, Carter and Sadie, to embark on a dangerous adventure that brings them closer to the truth about their family's connection to an ancient secret order. Brian G. and Will C. appreciate the action and the ancient history in The Red Pyramid.
In The Throne of Fire (RL 6.0), Carter and Sadie must outsmart the House of Life and the gods of chaos in order to complete their worldwide search for an ancient Egyptian book. An enthusiastic Lafayette School reader offers this five-star review: “I love this book with its exciting plot and interesting setting, characters, and Egyptian hieroglyphics.”
The Lost Hero by Brendan G.
Reading Road Trippers longing for a return to Camp Half-Blood get their wish in Rick Riordan’s sequel series, Heroes of Olympus. In The Lost Hero (RLThe Lost Hero, observing, “It is full of action. It is funny, and it has magic in it.” Finnian B. appreciates that the book introduces “all sorts of cool monsters,” while Edward L. reports that the story is “epic, suspenseful, and awesome.” Needless to say, Reading Road Trippers like Andrew Z. eagerly await more books in the series: The Son of Neptune will be available on October 4, 2011.
Mrs. Erezuma’s husband is an architect; he plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. This summer, the Erezuma family will be spending their Maine island vacation in a house designed by Mr. Erezuma! We imagine that Mr. Erezuma’s house uses traditional building materials like wood or brick or stone. But, hey, we’re on a Reading Road Trip. We’re reading fantasy-adventure books. Almost anything can happen. What if the vacation house was built with something really fantastic and adventurous… something like … Legos? Take a look at this video:
We can learn more about this fantastic and adventurous house design in James May's Lego House, available at the Library of the Chathams. After that, we might be inspired to construct a big blue Lego bookcase to hold all of our favorite fantasy-adventure books!
Stories from the Sea: Combing shorelines for sea glass—frosted shards of glass that have been tumbled and smoothed by waves, water, and sand—is a popular pastime along Maine beaches. Let’s join Mrs. Erezuma and her family as they add to their colorful collection:
A Gift from the Sea by Kate Banks (RL 3.5). Unaware its ancient history, a boy finds a rock and takes it home to a shelf beside his sea glass and starfish.
The Story of Sea Glass by Anne W. Dodd (RL 3.5). When Nicole finds a beautiful piece of red sea glass on the beach, her grandmother tells her a story from her own childhood of a broken red vase, which may have been the origin of this sea glass. Includes information about sea glass and instructions for making a sea glass sun-catcher.
The Legend of the Cape May Diamond by Trinka Hakes Noble (RL 5.4). This beautifully illustrated picture book, written by a former Lafayette School Author's Day guest, tells the Lenape Indian legend of the Cape May Diamonds, small pebbles that lay hidden beneath the waters of the old Delaware River.
Looking for more fantasy and more adventure this summer? Follow the Reading Road Trip signs and check out these great series:
Children of the Red King (Charlie Bone) series by Jenny Nimmo (Grades 3-6). The mysterious and magical powers of the Red King have been passed down through the generations. These gifts, some evil and some good, turn up unexpectedly in recipients who have no idea where they came from… in people like Charlie Bone and some of the children he meets behind the grim, gray walls of Bloor's Academy.
Harry Potter seriesby J. K. Rowling (RL 6.7). The classic stories follow the popular boy wizard through his years at Hogwarts as he tries to stop the evil Lord Voldemort with the help of his friends. Jeffrey L. likes the series because “it tells about Harry Potter’s life and how he fights… many battles with Voldemort.” Nick P. recommends the books to “people in third through eighth grades.”
The Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart (Grades 3-6). After passing a series of mind-bending tests, four children are selected for a secret mission that requires them to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. Catherine I. believes that the “exciting and funny” series appeals to both girls and boys. Amrita S. likes the smart characters and the suspense. She recommends the book to fifth graders who enjoy adventure books. Alex S. admires the strong characters, the action, and the descriptive language, suggesting the book to friends who are looking for a challenging read with advanced vocabulary. And Ryan C. gives The Mysterious Benedict Society five big stars, explaining, “This book is exciting all the way through… It never gets boring.”
Artemis Fowl seriesby Eoin Colfer (Grades 5-8). In the first book of this series that includes chapter books and graphic novels, twelve-year-old evil genius Artemis Fowl tries to restore his family fortune by capturing a fairy and demanding a ransom in gold... but the fairies fight back with magic, technology, and a particularly nasty troll.
The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins (Grades 3-6). When Eleven-year-old Gregor is pulled into a strange underground world, he triggers an epic battle involving humans, bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders while on a quest foretold by ancient prophecy.
Inkheart Trilogy by Cornelia Funke (Grades 5-8). Twelve-year-old Meggie learns that her father Mo, a bookbinder, can bring fictional characters to life when an evil ruler named Capricorn—released from the novel Inkheart years earlier—tries to force Mo to release an immortal monster from the story.
Children of the Lamp series by Philip Kerr (Grades 5-8). Twins Philippa and John discover they are descended from a long line of djinn--and then their mysterious adventures begin.
The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini (RL 5.8). A fifteen-year-old boy named Eragon finds a mysterious stone, gets involved in a world of magic and dragons, and helps the Varden fight the Empire and Galbatorix, the evil king. Gabriel M. recommends Eragon to friends who like action-packed stories full of dragons, magic, and fantasy.
Eragon by Serena R.
Let the fantasy and adventure continue all summer!
New York City, 1907: who is that man suspended upside down from a crane? He is wearing a straitjacket, dangling precariously over the city street. A crowd gathers below, watching and waiting with breathless anticipation. What is this man doing? Why is performing such a dangerous stunt? How is this man going to escape? What if he doesn’t escape?
Today, Reading Road Trip meets up with world-famous Hungarian-American magician and escape artist Harry Houdini. Houdini was born on March 24, 1874. From his breakthrough act in 1899 to his death on Halloween in 1926, Houdini thrilled audiences with astonishing performances and sensational stunts. We can learn more about how the Great Houdini freed himself from ropes, handcuffs, milk cans, and prison cells—not to mention that famous strait jacket—by wrapping ourselves up in a good book:
A Picture Book of Harry Houdini by David A. Adler presents an illustrated biography of the life of the master magician and escape artist, covering his humble upbringing and travels around the world as an adult (32 pages, RL 3.6).
Another picture book biography, Houdini: World's Greatest Mystery Man and Escape King by Kathleen Krull, highlights the life and accomplishments of the Great Houdini (28 pages, RL 5.0).
Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman gives us a chapter book biography of the famous magician, ghost chaser, aviator, and king of escape artists (217 pages, RL 6.6).
Finally, Who Was Harry Houdini? by Tui Sutherland—a title from Lafayette School’s favorite biography series—offers an introduction to the life and amazing feats of the celebrated magician and escapologist, covering his achievements as a performer, movie star, and pilot (105 pages, RL 5.4).
When curious reporters asked how he escaped from seemingly inescapable situations time and time again, The Great Houdini simply replied, "My mind is the key that sets me free." Keeping that mysterious quote in mind, Reading Road Trip presents an encore dramatic performance dedicated to the legendary escape artist:
No doubt about it: Harry Houdini always used his noodle… an idiom meaning he used his brain!
