The Brainstorm is back for a new school year! I started off the year with a little something for everyone last year and I liked how that went. So here’s a little something for every subject at school (or at least all the subjects at our school). Core subjects have two books, one for upper level classes and one for lower. Here’s to a great new school year of reading!
ABCs
The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away And Learned His ABCs (the Hard Way) by Patrick McDonnell
Little Red Cat ends up on quite the chase after accidentally upsetting an alligator, a bear, a chicken, and a dragon. Their chase takes them all over the place, with each page highlighting something or an action that starts with the letter of the alphabet displayed. There's a guide for what each item or action was in the back of the book for those who like to check.
Art
I Spy: an Alphabet in Art designed and selected by Lucy Micklethwait
On each spread of this book you're asked to spy something in a classic piece of art that starts with each letter of the alphabet. A guide is provided in the back of the book.
I like the way this book introduces classic art pieces in a fun way as part of a hide-n-seek puzzle. Too often art is introduced in dry and boring ways. But on each page the artist and name of the piece are included at the bottom of the spread. Kids will learn some art history while having fun.
Bible
The Case for Miracles by Lee Strobel
Lee Strobel starts off his investigation into whether or not miracles happen, and whether or not it is reasonable to even believe they happen, by addressing the case against the miraculous with an interview of the editor of
Skeptic magazine, Dr. Michael Shermer. Strobel then goes on to explore the opposing view, that miracles do happen, with interviews of other experts from a variety of faiths, including scientists, theologians, missionaries, and detectives. Along the way Strobel seeks to establish how a miracle can be well-documented, why some people - even Christians - are reluctant to believe in the supernatural, and what to do with miracles that don’t happen despite many prayers.
Most books on miracles just relate stories of miracles that the author has heard about and are largely limited to the author’s acquaintances. Few if any will include comments on the reliability of the stories. Few will have the guts to talk to someone who genuinely doesn’t believe in miracles and have a civil conversation about why. But Strobel does. He approaches this more from a research perspective, and the modern miraculous stories that are included are largely shared by the interviewees and all are well documented. He also gets deeper into the heart of the issue. Is it reasonable? Is there precedence? What about the miracles in the Bible? Is every “miracle” really a miracle? Probably the most powerful chapter in the entire book is the final one talking about why God wouldn’t bring about a miracle in certain cases. (A box of tissues is advisable for this chapter.) And then Strobel closes by weighing the two sides, admitting his persuasion, but ultimately acknowledging that he cannot make up anyone’s mind for them. The reader must decide what to believe. Highly recommended. Oh, and there are also student and kid versions of this book out there.*
Computers
Potions & Parameters (Secret Coders, #5) by Gene Luen Yang, ill. by Mike Holmes
The Secret Coders use LightLight and their growing coding skills to help them hunt for Hopper’s dad, but things don’t go as planned and it is revealed that Dr. One-Zero has something even more evil in the works for the entire town.
This series is so good in helping readers learn coding basics in a very fun way. Things covered in previous books get resurfaced or built upon so you don’t forget what you’ve already learned, and constant progress is being made in knowledge. How to code circles gets introduced in this one, as well as how to code any polygon.*
English
Ain’t Nothing But a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry by Scott Reynolds Nelson with Marc Aronson
Nelson shares how he was researching the men who worked on the railroad, and that led him to start looking for the real John Henry. There were enough details consistent throughout the various version of the song that suggested people were singing about a real man. He shares about his research process and what he eventually uncovered about a man who worked the railroad named John Henry.
This is just as much about the process of doing historical research and how to dig for information from the past as it is about John Henry. What Nelson uncovered about Henry and how the song has evolved and been misunderstood is absolutely fascinating. Highly recommended for history teachers, music teachers covering folk songs, writing teachers, and any students about to start a research project. Also a good read for those interested in railroad history and African American history, or just history in general. It's a quick read, but packed with all sorts of good stuff. Make sure to check out the further info and resources in the back of the book too.
The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds
Some people collect rocks or stamps or art. Jerome collects words. He loves basking in their sound and look. But then Jerome finds something even better than collecting words...stringing them together and giving them away.
Whether you're introducing kids to the concept of strings of words forming sentences, or empowering them to use their words for good, this is a fantastic read. Kids should get introduced to some new vocabulary and go away inspired from this book. Highly recommended to language arts and reading teachers to have on hand for repeat readings throughout the year to inspire any class.
French
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
The classic story of the governess who falls in love with her charge’s guardian, but his secrets may prevent Jane from ever having a happy ending.
It sounds kind of funny to say, but if you really want to practice your French go read some classic Brit Lit.
Jane Eyre especially has huge chunks of dialogue in French, and there’s no translation so you gotta work those language skills.
Learning Support
The Wild Book by Margarita Engle
Fefa struggles to read. The doctor says she has world blindness and she'll never be able to read, but Fefa's mother does not give up. Mamá gives Fefa a blank book to help her collect words. Fefa isn't sure about the book. She finds reading so hard she isn't sure she likes words. But when her brother is injured and becomes her tutor, some of the slippery words start to become a little more manageable, and eventually Fefa is able to save the entire family with her reading.
The Wild Book is historically just a little after the Cuban civil war and focuses on one girl with dyslexia and her family during a time when bandits were prevalent and kidnappings were common. I recommend reading the author's note at the end telling how this story is based on her grandmother's life as a little girl with dyslexia in Cuba and some of her real adventures, including the potential kidnapper. I haven't come across very many historical fiction books about children with dyslexia or Cuba, so this is worth having for both of those points. It's also a very approachable length at just over 120 pages and written in free verse poetry, so middle graders who struggle with words like Fefa or are reluctant readers may find this a bit easier to tackle.
Life Skills
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: the Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca, ill. by Daniel Rieley
A picture book biography of Temple Grandin, who was misunderstood as a child because of her autism but eventually found a love of animals and made a name for herself as a brilliant livestock scientist and speaker on autism.
Told in rhyme, this is an inspiring picture book biography about a woman who overcame a lot. There's extensive notes the back with further information on Temple's life and accomplishments.
Lunch
Sandwiches!: More Than You Ever Wanted to Know about Making and Eating America’s Favorite Food by Alison Deering, ill. by Bob Lentz
Sandwiches is part infographic guide to the history and fun facts of food you happen to find between two slices of bread and part cookbook. The book is divided into five sections, from easiest to assemble at level one to sandwiches that require some prep work in level five. Kitchen safety instructions are provided as you go along with ideas of ingredients to swap out in various sandwiches or dares to try some more out there ingredients on a select few sandwiches for the brave.
Whether you’re hungry for knowledge or hungry for a meal, this is a fantastic book to satisfy those cravings.*
Mandarin
Summertime Rainbow: a Bilingual Book of Colors by Belle Yang
With text in Mandarin and English, some rabbits explore the colors in the garden.
There’s a helpful pronunciation guide so you can learn your colors in Mandarin pretty easily with some cute rabbits.
Math
Engineered!: Engineering Design at Work by Shannon Hunt, ill. by James Gulliver Hancock
A tour of various fields of engineering both traditional and emerging, with examples of real engineers in these fields and projects they have worked on. Each field of engineering gets 4-6 pages of information.
This is attractively designed and intriguingly informative. I kept spontaneously sharing tidbits from this book with whoever I happened to be near at the moment. There were so many fascinating little things. That said, there’s a lot of information packed in here so I can’t see many middle graders sitting down to read this straight through, but it is good in little chunks over a few days. Highly recommended for any kids who like fun facts or problem solving. Science or math teachers, snag this and read it aloud in filler time to your students! This would also be a good resource for those studying newly emerging career fields.*
Lifetime: the Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives by Lola M. Schaefer, ill. by Christopher Silas Neal
In one average lifetime...animals can do some amazing things. Schaefer and Neal tell and show kids some of the average numbers for the lives of common and uncommon animals. The back of the book includes more information on each animal, a breakdown on how the author figured out the numbers for each animal, an instructional guide on averages, and some further animal math problems.
This book is simple, but informative. And it could be used with a wide age range, from little ones just learning to count to those discovering averages, rounding, and applications of math problems to real life. The illustrations are simple, but eye-catching. Animals definitely make "boring" old average finding a bit more interesting.
Music
Let’s Make a Joyful Noise: Celebrating Psalm 100 by Karma Wilson, ill. by Amy June Bates
A rhythmic celebration of making a joyful noise inside and outside of church based on Psalm 100.
The rhythm and rhyme of this are done in such a way as you almost start compulsively clapping and tapping you foot as you read. Kids will love making a joyful noise along with you as you read. I also love the unique illustration style that seems to hum with the vibration of singing and joyful noises.
PE/Sports
Run with Me: the Story of a U.S. Olympic Champion by Sanya Richards-Ross
An autobiography of Olympic 400 meter champion Sanya Richards-Ross. Sanya shares her life story from her early childhood to the present focusing on sports highlights but also sharing other important life moments, and incorporating lessons on how things she's learned in sports can have parallels in life as well, especially living as a Christian.
Her little bits of advice are solid and I can see teens benefiting a lot by following them. This was a great read. I tore through it (which seems fitting), and came away inspired by her story and her comments. Highly recommended and not just to track fans.
Psychology
The Culture Code: the Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle
A look at what "secret ingredients" turn a team into a family. Coyle interviews businesses, sports teams, schools, and military groups recognized for their successful teamwork and family-like feel to find common ingredients while also looking at research in this area. His findings provide clear steps any group can use to help turn their team into a solid knit unit.
Coyle's research was fascinating, very readable, easy to implement, and highly suggested for anyone who is trying to turn a group of random people into a close-knit group.
Recess
Comics Squad!: Recess edited by Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm, and Jarrett J. Krosoczka
A short story graphic novel collection that revolves around recess.
Some graphic novel short story collections can be all over the place, but this one has a solid common target group and theme. And the contributing authors/illustrators are some very popular people among graphic novel readers. There should be a story in here for just about every lower and middle grade student.
Science
Life on Surtsey: Iceland’s Upstart Island by Loree Griffin Burns
In 1963 a volcano erupted off the coast of Iceland and created a brand new island which was named Surtsey. The scientific community got the Icelandic government to make Surtsey a sanctuary so no one is allowed to visit except scientists with special permission. Because of this forethought, scientists in Iceland (and around the world) have been able to observe the progression of life making Surtsey their new home (a process called succession in science circles). Few people in the world have set foot on Surtsey, but entomologist Erling Ólafsson is one of them who has been there several times. Author Loree Griffin Burns joins him and few other scientists on the 2015 expedition to visit the island and collect data about what is living on Surtsey now after several decades of existence.
A fascinating look at a unique place on Earth. I also appreciate the very real picture Burns gives readers about what life is like in the field for scientists, it can be wet and cold and there may be no bathrooms, but if you aren't scared away then you may be cut out for this stuff. Burns also gives a little Icelandic phonics/reading lesson which I found added a little more atmosphere to the book and helps further transport readers to this distant land. A splendid resource for classes studying succession in life sciences or biology or botany classes.
Tiny: the Invisible World of Microbes by Nicola Davies, ill. by Emily Sutton
An introduction to microbes for kids.
This is a scientifically sound intro to protists and bacterias. It is well balanced so kids are warned that some are bad but also reassured that many of them do lots of good too. Very few actual names of microbes are given, they are just introduced in broad terms with a focus on their size, where they live, how fast they can replicate, and what kinds of things they do. The illustrations help kids visualize each of these topics very well.
Social Studies
Killers of the Flower Moon: the Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
Back in the 1920s, the Osage tribe started becoming very wealthy, thanks to terms that made them the owners of all the stuff that came out from under their territory, including oil. And in the 1920s, there was a whole lot of oil coming out. But as the Osage grew wealthier, they didn't necessarily grow healthier and members of the tribe started dying at an alarming rate, and when two shootings happened, people started to realize that maybe all those deaths weren't so natural after all. But anyone who went in to investigate the murders seemed to end up in an early grave themselves. Local law enforcement wasn't getting any results, and the Osage's cries for justice eventually brought J. Edgar Hoover's new investigators on the scene. This is the story of how horrible injustice and hatred was brought to justice despite a seemingly invincible web of corruption. And then the author relates how many other Osage likely were the victims of greedy people, out for a share of their oil money...any way they could.
Note on content: Violence and murder described.
A hard but really important read. It speaks a lot about how the truth will set people free, and that justice can win the day even where it seems evil is invicible. For many the justice is much too late, but it is important for their descendants to know that their heartache is heard, the lives lost are valued, and to acknowledge that terrible wrong was done. (Click the title to see more of my thoughts.) I like that Grann includes some of his research process in the end of the story to give readers a peek at what happens before the page is written. It also helps the reader better appreciate just how much work and research goes into a book like this, at least one that is done well and incorporates extensive primary resources. It's an important book and put together very well. Highly recommended to anyone interested in history, true crime, or who values justice.
Ten Cents a Pound by Nhung N. Tran-Davies, ill. by Josée Bisaillon
A mother and daughter in the hills of Vietnam talk back and forth about the future. The girl wants to stay near and help her hard-working mother whose body is strained from picking coffee for ten cents a pound. But the loving mother urges her to use that ten cents to go to school and gain a freedom that knowledge can bring to go beyond the village and labor that is all her mother will ever know.
This is so simple but profoundly powerful. How many mothers are there out in the world with just this vision and sacrifice? Many, many thousands. This is an ode to those women who sacrificed and labored long hard years so their children could have a better life. The illustrations are a fitting style for a Southeast Asian setting. A touching and powerful little picture book perfect for cluing kids into the way so many people in the world live, a way to help them understand the privilege and power of going to school, and of course would also make a great Mother's Day read as they ponder all their own mothers have done for them. *
Spanish
2 Fuzzy, 2 Furious (Unbeatable Squirrel Girl novels, #2) by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale
Things have been pretty quiet since the end of Squirrel Girl's last adventure. Crime is at an all time low in Shady Oaks. A huge difference from pre-Squirrel Girl times. In fact, the neighborhood is now safe enough someone is building a mall between Shady Oaks and Listless Pines. Everyone is excited about the new mall. Especially because the mall builders are holding a contest to determine the mall mascot and either Shady Oaks or Listless Pines' secondary schools will get free pizza. Something feels off about the mall to the Tippy-Toe and the squirrels, and also to Ana Sofía. Has anyone else noticed that the mall logo looks an awful lot like the Hydra logo our is she just imagining things? She's a little scared to ask Doreen. She doesn't want to get laughed at. Doreen is also trying to figure out how this friend thing works. Should she talk about the teacher who doesn't seem to like her? Why does middle school life have to be so complicated?
I absolutely LOVE Squirrel Girl's voice and attitude. This book talks about prejudice, hate, and resolving conflicts in a way that is totally entertaining and not preachy but is super solid on the advice. So good. Doreen and Ana Sofía often speak in Spanish or Spanglish and the Spanish isn’t always translated so you get to exercise your language skills while enjoying a fantastic (and frequently funny) superhero story.
Thai
Queen Sirikit: Glory of the Nation
A biography of the Queen Mother of Thailand.
A perfect read right now with her birthday this weekend.
*Books with an asterisk after the review are titles that publishers and Netgalley were kind enough to give me ARCs of in exchange for an honest review.
