Tadpole's Promise Strikes Again

No, I'm afraid there is not a sequel to Tadpole's Promise by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross, but I can never resist telling their tale. There are few picture books that are easier to prove the point that even older students can enjoy a picture book. In December Aunt Betty went to two fifth grade classes with a large suitcase full of new books. (Yes, she could come to your class. I could, too, for that matter.) She began each class with a telling of Tadpole's Promise and the lesson learned is that you shouldn't skip the short books- they aren't always just for the little ones. As you may recall, this book falls into the "don't shoot from the hip because it might backfire group."

While there, Aunt Betty booktalked some of the newest trends in literature for middle grades- series, comics, nonfiction. The hour went by quickly. Interspersed were some great books that fifth graders might miss because they are in the "easy section." Aunt Betty told them that they could always use them to read to their younger siblings. They are really short stories that might give them an idea about their own writing. Pictures are amazing...

I just got a book of thank you letters from the classes. Two letters especially made me laugh out loud.

Dear Aunt Betty,
I really appreciate you coming to our class and telling about all new books. I thought that the story The Tadpole's Promise was pretty funny. I can relate to that story because my mom wants me to stay her little baby but I can't and I told her to expect change. So thanks for coming to our class.
Sincerely,
D

Dear Aunt Betty,
Thank you for visiting my school and sharing books with us. I really liked the books you showed us. The stories that you told us were awesome because I told the tadpole and caterpillar story to my mom and my dad and they loved it. And I told the story to my baby brother for bedtime story and he went right to sleep.

Sincerely,
E

Well. There you go...

Don't Shoot from the Hip...it might backfire

Don’t shoot from the hip…it might backfire- or at least not be appreciated for the genius bit of writing that it is.

Reading aloud can be a powerful tool towards increasing the literacy of our students. Publishers try to help us by providing a reading interest level to guide us in our choices. However, one needs to be conscious of the fact that a book that is promoted interest level K-3, may not, in fact, be a good idea to read to kindergarten. They really work better with older students. If you have ever read Amelia Bedelia books to young students, you know exactly what I mean. I call these books: Don’t-shoot-from-the-hip-because-it-might-backfire books.

For example, one of my favorites is Tadpole’s Promise by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross. It’s a love story about a caterpillar and tadpole who fall in love and promise to never change. That’s what these creatures do. They are all about change. The tadpole changes faster than the caterpillar. He is her “shiny black pearl” and she is “his beautiful rainbow.” When he breaks his promise the third time, she goes away angry and cries herself to sleep. Time passes and she has transformed into a beautiful butterfly. She has also lost her anger and decides to forgive him. She flies down to where the lily pad meets the water where a little green frog sits. “Have you seen my shiny black… But before she can finish her sentence, the frog leaps up and eats her- in one great gulp. And there he sits thinking fondly of his beautiful rainbow and wondering where she went. The end.”

Sometimes when I read this with adults, even they are taken aback. If you share this with your high school students, they will see the power of writing. They appreciate the surprise ending. It breaks the ice in a new class because people want to talk about it. If you read these to kindergarten, you may have to get out the box of tissues and spend the rest of the morning consoling little souls. So use the following books as a starter list of books that may be recommended by the publisher for K-3, but they will be better appreciated by grades 3-12.

Tadpole’s Promise by Jeanne Willis
Where Willy Went by Nicholas Allan
Whatever by William Bee
Beware the Frog by William Bee
Princess Justina by Ellen Dee Davidson
The Library Dragon by Carmen Deedy
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach by Carmen Deedy

Where in the World is Deborah?

By now, you may have wondered where I have been. This is the time of year that I make some time to do community theatre. Wonder of Wonders- This year I played the role of Annie Oakley in "Annie Get Your Gun." I also did the costumes, which was so much fun too! That, of course, led me to reread biographies of Little Sure Shot and others in the show. If you have ever seen the play or the movie, you should know that they are nothing like the true story of Annie and Frank. The real Frank Butler knew a good thing when he saw it and married Annie within a year of that first shooting match. Right away he saw that she had a gift for shooting and became her manager. My favorite is National Geographics' Bull's-eye : a Photobiography of Annie Oakley by Sue Macy.

One of the things I did while the show was running, was to give the kids in the cast books to read during their downtime. I pulled books about the old west, Annie Oakley and others in the play, and some books that are just plain good. For the last weekend, I pulled out some of my favorite picture books from last year-Chester, books by Mo Willems, and Princess Justina. See below for a complete list of what we read and talked about over the three week run.

The show ends on Sunday. After that, it's back to the world as usual. I go back on the road in September. In between, I have lots of reading to do. Stop in and see what I found!

Books about the Wild West, Annie Oakley and Books That Are Just Plain Good!

Abnett, Dan. -- Sitting Bull and the Battle of the Little Bighorn {IL 3-6, 978.004} -- PowerKids Press, 2007., RL 3.5, 24p
Agee, Jon. -- Nothing {IL K-3, -E-} -- Hyperion Books for Children, 2007., RL 2.1, 32p
Agee, Jon. -- Terrific {IL K-3, -E-} -- Hyperion, 2005., RL 2.9, 32p
Armstrong, Jennifer. -- The American story : 100 true tales from American history {IL 3-6, 973} – Knopf, 2006., RL 6.4, 358p
Arnold, Tedd. -- Even more parts : idioms from head to toe {IL K-3, -E-} -- Dial Books for Young Readers, 2004., RL 1.7, 30p
Arnold, Tedd. -- Hi! Fly Guy {IL K-3, -E-} -- Scholastic, 2005., RL 1.4, 30p
Arnold, Tedd. -- Parts {IL K-3, -E-} -- Puffin Books, 2000, c1997., RL 3.3, 32p
Asch, Frank. -- Mr. Maxwell's mouse {IL K-3, -E-} -- Kids Can Press, 2004., RL 5, 32p
Auch, Mary Jane. -- The princess and the pizza {IL K-3, -E-} -- Holiday House, 2002., RL 3.8, 32p
Banks, Kate. -- Max's words {IL K-3, -E-} -- Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006., RL 3.2, 32p
Biedrzycki, David. -- Ace Lacewing, Bug Detective {IL K-3, -E-} -- Charlesbridge, 2005., RL 2.4, 44p
Bishop, Nic. -- Nic Bishop spiders {IL K-3, 595.4} -- Scholastic Nonfiction, 2007., RL 3.3, 48p
Blair, Eric. -- Annie Oakley, sharp shooter {IL K-3, 799.3} -- Picture Window Books, 2005., RL 2.9, 32p
Bruchac, Joseph. -- A boy called Slow : the true story of Sitting Bull {IL K-3, 978} -- Philomel Books, 1994., RL 4.3, 32p
Bruel, Nick. -- Who is Melvin Bubble? {IL K-3, -E-} -- Roaring Brook Press, 2006., RL 2.4, 32p
Child, Lauren. -- But excuse me that is my book {IL K-3, -E-} -- Dial Books for Young Readers, 2005., RL 2.3, 32p
Child, Lauren. -- Who's afraid of the big bad book? {IL K-3, -E-} -- Hyperion Books for Children, 2003, 2002., RL 5.5, 32p
Cronin, Doreen. -- Diary of a spider {IL K-3, -E-} -- Joanna Cotler Books, 2005., RL 2.5, 36p
Crummel, Susan Stevens. -- Ten-gallon Bart {IL K-3, -E-} -- Marshall Cavendish Children, 2006., RL 2, 32p
Crunk, Tony. -- Railroad John and the Red Rock run {IL K-3, -E-} -- Peachtree Publishers, 2006., RL 3.9, 32p
Cushman, Doug. -- Mystery at the Club Sandwich {IL K-3, -E-} -- Clarion, 2004., RL 1.6, 30p
Davidson, Ellen Dee. -- Princess Justina Albertina : a cautionary tale {IL K-3, -E-} -- Charlesbridge, 2007., RL 2.3, 32p
Deedy, Carmen Agra. -- The library dragon {IL K-3, -E-} -- Peachtree, c1994., RL 5.5, 32p
Deedy, Carmen Agra. -- Martina the beautiful cockroach {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Peachtree, 2007., RL 2.8, 32p
Dolan, Edward F. -- The Pony Express {IL 3-6, 383} -- Benchmark Books, 2003., RL 5.8, 48p
Duvoisin, Roger. -- Petunia {IL K-3, -E-} -- Dragonfly Books, 2002, c1950., RL 3.1, 32p
Englar, Mary. -- The Sioux and their history {IL 5-8, 978.004} -- Compass Point, 2006., RL 4.2, 48p
Finchler, Judy. -- Miss Malarkey leaves no reader behind {IL K-3, -E-} -- Walker, RL 3.5, 32p
Freedman, Russell. -- Children of the Wild West {IL 5-8, 978} -- Clarion, c1983., RL 7.5, 104p
Friend, Catherine. -- The perfect nest {IL K-3, -E-} -- Candlewick Press, 2007., RL 2.3, 34p
Fuchs, Bernie. -- Ride like the wind : a tale of the Pony Express {IL K-3, -E-} -- Blue Sky Press, 2004., RL 4.5, 32p
Gran, Julia. -- Big bug surprise {IL K-3, -E-} -- Scholastic Press, 2007., RL 3, 32p
Gravett, Emily. -- Wolves {IL K-3, -E-} -- Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2006, 2005., RL 3, 34p
Grey, Mini. -- The adventures of the dish and the spoon {IL K-3, -E-} -- Knopf, 2006., RL 2.3, 32p
Grey, Mini. -- Traction Man is here! {IL K-3, -E-} -- Knopf , 2005., RL 3.2, 32p
Gunderson, Jessica -- Young Riders of the Pony Express {IL 3-6, -E-} -- Capstone Press, 2006.
Harness, Cheryl. -- They're off! : the story of the Pony Express {IL 3-6, 383} -- Aladdin Paperbacks, 2002, 1996., RL 5.5, 32p
Haugen, Brenda. -- Annie Oakley : American sharpshooter {IL 5-8, 799.3} -- Compass Point Books, 2007., RL 6.7, 112p
Hawkes, Kevin. -- The wicked big toddlah {IL K-3, -E-} -- Knopf, 2007., RL 2.8, 34p
Hayden, Kate. -- Plains Indians {IL 3-6, 978} -- Two-Can in association with F. Watts, 1997., RL 5.2, 32p
Henkes, Kevin. -- A good day {IL K-3, -E-} -- Greenwillow Books, 2007., RL 2.1, 24p
Hicks, Peter. -- You wouldn't want to live in a Wild West town! : dust you'd rather not settle {IL 3-6, 978} -- Franklin Watts, 2002., RL 5, 32p
James, Helen Foster. -- S is for s'mores : a camping alphabet {IL 3-6, 796.54} -- Sleeping Bear Press , Thomson/Gale, 2007., RL 5.5, 40p
Jeffers, Oliver. -- The incredible book eating boy {IL K-3, -E-} -- Philomel Books, 2007, 2006., RL 2.2, 32p
Jenkins, Emily. -- That new animal {IL K-3, -E-} -- Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005., RL 3.3, 32p
Kalman, Bobbie. -- Women of the West {IL 3-6, 920.72} -- Crabtree Pub. Co., 2000., RL 5.7, 32p
Kellogg, Steven. -- Pecos Bill : a tall tale {IL K-3, 398.2} -- Morrow, 1986., RL 5.2, 46p
Kellogg, Steven. -- Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett : a tall tale {IL 3-6, 398.2} -- Mulberry Books, 1999, 1995., RL 5.3, 40p
Kimmel, Elizabeth Cody. -- The top job {IL K-3, -E-} -- Dutton Children's Books, 2007., RL 3.9, 32p
Kimmel, Eric A. -- The Great Texas hamster drive {IL K-3, -E-} -- Marshall Cavendish Children, 2007., RL 2.4, 40p
Kloske, Geoffrey. -- Once upon a time, the end : (asleep in 60 seconds) {IL K-3, -E-} -- Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2005., RL 2.6, 25p
Koestler-Grack, Rachel A. -- The Sioux : nomadic buffalo hunters {IL 3-6, 978.004} -- Blue Earth Books, 2003., RL 5.6, 32p
Krosoczka, Jarrett. -- Punk Farm {IL K-3, -E-} – Knopf, 2005., RL 1.6, 30p
Krosoczka, Jarrett. -- Punk Farm : on tour {IL K-3, -E-} -- Knopf, 2007., RL 2.3, 36p
Krull, Kathleen. -- Fartiste {IL K-3, -E-} -- Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2008., RL 1.8, 37p
Krull, Kathleen. -- Harvesting hope : the story of Cesar Chavez {IL K-3, 331.88} -- Harcourt, 2003., RL 6.3, 48p
Krull, Kathleen. -- Houdini : world's greatest mystery man and escape king {IL 3-6, 793.8} -- Walker, 2005., RL 5.8, 28p
Krull, Kathleen. -- Lives of extraordinary women : rulers, rebels (and what the neighbors thought) {IL 5-8, 320} -- Harcourt, 2000., RL 6.7, 95p
Krull, Kathleen. -- Lives of the artists : masterpieces, messes (and what the neighbors thought) {IL 3-6, 709} -- Harcourt Brace, 1995., RL 5.8, 96p
Krull, Kathleen. -- Lives of the athletes : thrills, spills (and what the neighbors thought) {IL 5-8, 796} -- Harcourt Brace, 1997., RL 7.3, 96p
Krull, Kathleen. -- Lives of the musicians : good times, bad times (and what the neighbors thought) {IL 5-8, 780} -- Harcourt Brace, 1993., RL 6.3, 96p
Krull, Kathleen. -- Lives of the presidents : fame, shame, and what the neighbors thought {IL 5-8, 973} -- Harcourt Brace & Co., 1998., RL 7.5, 96p
Krull, Kathleen. -- Lives of the writers : comedies, tragedies (and what the neighbors thought) {IL 5-8, 809} -- Harcourt Brace, 1994., RL 6.9, 96p
Krull, Kathleen. -- M is for music {IL K-3, 780} -- Harcourt, 2003., RL 4.3, 48p
Krull, Kathleen. -- Pocahontas : princess of the New World {IL K-3, 975.5} -- Walker, 2007., RL 4.6, 36p
Krull, Kathleen. -- A pot o' gold : a treasury of Irish stories, poetry, folklore, and (of course) blarney {IL 3-6, 820.8} -- Hyperion Books For Children, 2004., RL 3.9, 181p
Krull, Kathleen. -- Wilma unlimited : how Wilma Rudolph became the world's fastest woman {IL 3-6, 796.42} -- Harcourt Brace, 1996., RL 4.8, 44p
Krull, Kathleen. -- A woman for president : the story of Victoria Woodhull {IL 3-6, 305.42} -- Walker & Co., 2004., RL 5.8, 32p
LaRochelle, David. -- The end {IL K-3, -E-} -- Arthur A. Levine Books, 2007., RL 3.2, 36p
Long, Melinda. -- How I became a pirate {IL K-3, -E-} -- Harcourt, 2003., RL 3.1, 36p
Long, Melinda. -- Pirates don't change diapers {IL K-3, -E-} -- Harcourt, 2007., RL 2.7, 42p
Macy, Sue. -- Bull's-eye : a photobiography of Annie Oakley {IL 5-8, 799.3} -- National Geographic Society, 2001., RL 8.8, 64p
McLeod, Bob. -- SuperHero ABC {IL K-3, -E-} -- HarperCollins, 2006., RL 2.7, 34p
Morris, Carla. -- The boy who was raised by librarians {IL K-3, -E-} -- Peachtree, 2007., RL 4.1, 32p
Muntean, Michaela. -- Do not open this book {IL K-3, -E-} -- Scholastic Press, 2006., RL 1.4, 34p
O'Connor, Jane. -- Fancy Nancy and the posh puppy {IL K-3, -E-} -- HarperCollins, 2007., RL 1.7, 32p
O'Malley, Kevin. -- Captain Raptor and the moon mystery {IL K-3, -E-} -- Walker, 2005., RL 3, 32p
O'Malley, Kevin. -- Captain Raptor and the space pirates {IL K-3, -E-} -- Walker, RL 3.2, 32p
Offill, Jenny. -- 17 things I'm not allowed to do anymore {IL K-3, -E-} -- Schwartz & Wade Books, 2007., RL 3.9, 32p
Palatini, Margie. -- The cheese {IL K-3, -E-} -- Katherine Tegen Books, 2007., RL 2.7, 32p
Pallotta, Jerry. -- The beetle alphabet book {IL K-3, 595.76} -- Charlesbridge, 2004., RL 4.8, 32p
Pinkney, Andrea Davis. -- Bill Pickett : rodeo-ridin' cowboy {IL K-3, 636.2} -- Voyager Books, 1999, 1996., RL 5, 32p
Portis, Antoinette. -- Not a box {IL K-3, -E-} -- HarperCollins, 2006., RL .7, 32p
Prince, April Jones. -- Twenty-one elephants and still standing {IL K-3, -E-} -- Houghton Mifflin, 2005., RL 4.9, 32p
Rocco, John. -- Wolf! Wolf! {IL K-3, -E-} -- Hyperion Books for Children, 2007., RL 3.7, 32p
Salley, Coleen. -- Epossumondas saves the day {IL K-3, -E-} -- Harcourt, 2006., RL 3.5, 42p
Salley, Coleen. -- Why epossumondas has no hair on his tail {IL K-3, -E-} -- Harcourt, 2004., RL 3, 34p
Shea, Bob. -- Big plans {IL K-3, -E-} -- Hyperion Books for Children, 2008., RL 1.4, 42p
Sierra, Judy. -- Thelonius Monster's sky-high fly pie : a revolting rhyme {IL K-3, -E-} -- Knopf, 2006., RL 3.2, 34p
Silate, Jennifer. -- Little Sure Shot : Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show {IL 5-8, 799.3} -- Rosen Central Primary Source, 2004., RL 5.1, 32p
Simms, Laura. -- Rotten teeth {IL K-3, -E-} -- Houghton Mifflin, c1998., RL 2.5, 32p
Smith, Lane. -- John, Paul, George & Ben {IL K-3, -E-} -- Hyperion Books for Children, 2006., RL 3.5, 40p
Sneed, Brad. -- Deputy Harvey and the ant cow caper {IL K-3, -E-} -- Dial Books for Young Readers, 2005., RL 3.9, 32p
Squires, Janet. -- The Gingerbread Cowboy {IL K-3, 398.21} -- Laura Geringer Books, 2006., RL 3.5, 32p
Stanley, Diane. -- Raising Sweetness {IL K-3, -E-} -- Putnam's, 1999., RL 3.5, 32p
Stanley, Diane. -- Saving Sweetness {IL K-3, -E-} -- Putnam's Sons, 1996., RL 3.5, 32p
Swanson, Wayne. -- Why the West was wild {IL 5-8, 978} -- Annick Press, 2004., RL 6.7, 46p
Sydor, Colleen. -- Raising a little stink {IL K-3, -E-} -- Kids Can Press, 2006., RL 4.1, 32p
Thayer, Ernest Lawrence. -- Casey at the bat : a ballad of the Republic sung in the year 1888 {IL 3-6, 811} -- Handprint Books, 2000., RL 5.5, 30p
Thomas, Jan. -- What will Fat Cat sit on? {IL K-3, -E-} -- Harcourt, 2007., RL 1.9, 33p
Trumbauer, Lisa. -- Sitting Bull {IL K-3, 978.004} -- Capstone Press, 2004., RL 2.8, 24p
Urbanovic, Jackie. -- Duck at the door {IL K-3, -E-} -- HarperCollins, 2007., RL 1.6, 32p
Van Allsburg, Chris. -- Probuditi! {IL K-3, -E-} -- Houghton Mifflin, 2006., RL 3.4, 32p
Watt, Melanie. -- Chester {IL K-3, -E-} -- Kids Can Press, 2007., RL 1.8, 32p
Wiesner, David. – Flotsam {IL K-3, -E-} -- Clarion Books, 2006., 40p
Willems, Mo. -- Don't let the pigeon drive the bus! {IL K-3, -E-} -- Hyperion Books for Children, 2003., RL 1.3, 34p
Willems, Mo. -- Don't let the pigeon stay up late! {IL K-3, -E-} -- Hyperion Books for Children, 2006., RL 1.6, 36p
Willems, Mo. -- I am invited to a party! {IL K-3, -E-} -- Hyperion Books for Children, 2007., RL 1.2, 56p
Willems, Mo. -- Knuffle Bunny too : a case of mistaken identity {IL K-3, -E-} -- Hyperion Books for Children, 2007., RL 2.9, 42p
Willems, Mo. -- Leonardo the terrible monster {IL K-3, -E-} -- Hyperion, 2005., RL 1.9, 44p
Willems, Mo. -- My friend is sad {IL K-3, -E-} -- Hyperion Books for Children, 2007., RL 1.2, 57p
Willems, Mo. -- The pigeon finds a hot dog! {IL K-3, -E-} -- Hyperion Books for Children, 2004., RL 2, 34p
Willems, Mo. -- The pigeon wants a puppy! {IL K-3, -E-} -- Hyperion Books for Children, 2008., RL 1.2, 34p
Willems, Mo. -- There is a bird on your head! {IL K-3, -E-} -- Hyperion Books for Children, 2007., RL .8, 57p
Willems, Mo. -- Today I will fly! {IL K-3, -E-} -- Hyperion Books for Children, 2007., RL 1.2, 57p
Williams, Jean Kinney. -- The Pony Express {IL 5-8, 383} -- Compass Point Books, 2003., RL 6.7, 48p
Willis, Jeanne. -- Tadpole's promise {IL K-3, -E-} -- Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2005., RL 2.6, 28p