A Rosh Hashanah Tale

I'm Sorry, Grover: A Rosh Hashanah Tale
by Tilda Balsley & Ellen Fischer

I have always been a great fan of Sesame Street. The program premiered on November 10, 1969, forty-nine weeks before I was born. My mother stayed home from school (she is a retired teacher) that day in order to see the premier episode.

This particular book, I'm Sorry, Grover: A Rosh Hashanah Tale is from the first Israeli co-production of Sesame Street, called Rechov Sumsum. Some of the familiar characters from America's Sesame Street are also seen on Shalom Sesame (the central location for the set of Rechov Sumsum). Grover and Cookie Monster appear in this story as well as Broch, Avigail (a cross between America's Elmo and Abby Cadabby) and Moishe Oofnik (compared to American's Oscar the Grouch).

The story opens with Grover welcoming the reader a Shanah Tovah - "Happy New Year". He explains that he is in Israel and is going to be telling us a story about his friend Brosh. Cookie Monster finds a sad Brosh in a coffee shop. He soon learns Brosh is sad because he has lost his woolly cap. Cookie Monster goes with Brosh in order to help him retrace his steps. He attempts to locate Grover, thinking he took the cap. He then confront Avigail and Moishe Oofnik, neither have his cap. When the cap is finally discovered Brosh must find each of the friends he thought had taken his cap and apologize.

Throughout the book various items used during Rosh Hashanah are mentioned, such as the shofar (a horn blown in long and short staccato blasts), round challah (circular bread to symbolize the cycle of the year), pomegranates (to symbolize being fruitful in the new year), apples and honey (for a sweet new year).  The text of the book is in English. However, there is a Hebrew text in a number of places in the illustrations. Since the book takes place during the High Holidays (the ten day period leading up to Rosh Hashanah) Brosh is given the opportunity to apologize to his friends and begin the new year with a clean slate.

This is one of four books in the Shalom Sesame eBooks available from Kar-Ben Publishing. Other books in the series include : The Count's Hanukkah Countdown, Grover and Big Bird's Passover Celebration, and It's a Mitzvah, Grover!. I would recommend this book for a library serving children in an area with a large Jewish population. I believe it would be a great book to help young children understand Rosh Hashanah and how to ask for forgiveness.

*To comply with new guidelines introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, Kar-Ben Publishing, has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this book for review purposes through NetGalley.com.

From Stinky to Sanitary

Stinky Sanitation Inventions
by Katie Marisco

I know this probably sounds bizarre, but when I saw the cover and title of this book I knew I had to read it.

Have you ever heard of a garderobe? It was the medieval version of a toilet. It featured a small opening which enable the waste to fall down, usually into the moat. Did you know "the average person goes through almost twenty-one thousand sheets of toilet paper each year? How many porta-potties did the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee set up to aid the attendees to the swearing-in ceremony? I'll give you a hint, it was a record-breaker.

These are just a few of the very interesting facts you will learn about the incredible inventions we use every day in order to keep ourselves sanitary, healthy and clean. I know this is a topic most of us would never discuss in public, but this book has been written for children from age eight to eleven. 

I don't think it will stay on the shelf very long. I believe the children will flock to the title and want to know more about the contents (a table of contents, glossary, index and a section for further information is included in the book).

I'm not sure the cover picture was the best choice, it might deter some potential readers. However, once one of the kids at school have checked this book out, they will all want to know about the pooper-scooper, sewers, and landfills.

I would recommend this book for public and school libraries. The colorful photographs with spotlight information across from full-paged text keeps this book from feeling cluttered. The layout of the book is nice and the font is easily read. Some of the background pages for the photographs can be distracting to older readers, but I think the children to whom this book is directed will like the burst of color throughout.

*To comply with new guidelines introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, 21st Century Publishing, has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this book for review purposes through NetGalley.com.

Magical, Wonderful Wizard of Oz

It is most appropriate for me to post a review of this particular book today. Not only is this the book's "birthday", but it is also my sweet cousin Charlotte's birthday!

We are Wizard of Oz fanatics. We LOVE everything Oz! Her nickname is WWW (Wicked Witch of the West) and I am WWE (Wicked Witch of the East). Our children are the flying monkeys ~ very appropriate when you actually KNOW our children. Last weekend was our annual family reunion and we were able to spend a great deal of time together laughing, talking, shopping, and taking pictures. We had a blast!

WWE & WWW
Friday, July 26, 2013

In celebration of the 75th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz Beth Bracken has presented a wonderful adaptation of this classic story. Using original film stills and portions of dialogue from the screenplay by Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, and Edgar Allan Woolf, Bracken has created a thirty-four page picture book for young children to enjoy over and over again. From the opening black and white photo of Dorothy Gale to the final page showing the beautiful ruby slippers all of the favorite images of the movie have been incorporated into this picture book.

The Wizard of Oz
adapted by Beth Bracken

The only complaint I have about the book is the abrupt ending. If you have seen the movie as many times as I have, you know Dorothy makes it back home to Kansas after repeating, "There's no place like home." However, if this is a child's introduction to this masterpiece you are sadly left wondering. Following this famous statement appears the words, "The End". There are fabulous images of Dorothy reuniting with her family in Kansas that could have easily been used at the end of this book to show she actually does make it back home. I'm sure Bracken had her reasons for not including this important element. Be that as it may, I don't feel this is as reassuring an ending as the original version from the movie where she awakens to find Aunt Em and Uncle Henry by her side or the book where she lands in her stocking feet in the open prairie runs to Aunt Em's welcoming arms.

As an aficionado of all things Oz, overall I like this book. I love the fact the stills from the original movie have been incorporated. It is a nice introduction to one of my all time favorite books. The series of books (fourteen in all) were written for children twelve and over. To have a version that can be enjoyed by younger readers is fantastic, in my opinion. I would hope by reading this adaptation at an early age and having an appreciation for the characters, and not being afraid of the flying monkeys and witches, the children will be more likely to pick up the original at an older age and enjoy the adventure, excitement, and charm of L. Frank Baum's writing.

*To comply with new guidelines introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, Capstone Press, has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this book for review purposes through NetGalley.com.

Author Spotlight - Kelly Bingham

A few weeks ago I posted a review of one of my favorite new children's books, Z is for Moose. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview the illustrator of the book, Paul O. Zelinsky, and today I have the pleasure of sharing my interview with the author, Kelly Bingham.

Ms. Bingham is the author of highly acclaimed Shark Girl (2010) and the much anticipated sequel Formerly, Shark Girl (released in May 2013) for young adult readers. She is also the "mother" of Moose, the main character in Z is for Moose!

Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham

What made you switch gears and begin writing for young children?

Well, funny enough, I didn't. I wrote Z is for Moose first! I wrote and sold Moose in 2004. I was working on Shark Girl at the time and it was mostly done, but I hadn't submitted it anywhere yet.

I read on your website that you put Shark Girl away following the shark attack on Bethany Hamilton and that Jane's character is not based on anyone. I love how you explain the process of writing for Jane, "Her voice took over and I found myself following her lead." I guess Jane needed to be heard and you were her voice. 

 

Moose making an appearance
at a book signing in NYC.

How did you come up with the character, Moose? Is he based on anyone?

When my son was three, he was learning his alphabet. We read every ABC book we could find. Back then, there weren't that many. Most of them were pretty straight forward and only a few were funny. He loved the funny ones and asked me to find him a new funny ABC book. By then I had exhausted all the ABC books in our library. The idea for Moose came to me very suddenly and I wrote it all down. I knew I wanted the alphabet to fall apart around the letter M, and I decided that Moose would be a fun character to see go crazy. (As opposed to Mouse, or Monkey, with I also toyed with.)

Moose on Earth - Moose's Blog

Moose on vacation
in Cozumel

As for Moose being based on anyone...I think any parent can relate to having children who have a hard time waiting their turn, or who succumb to melt-downs once in a while, or who really just want to be part of the activities going on around them and can't take "no" for an answer. To some degree, Moose is inspired by my kids. But mostly, he is just himself, and came to me with the perky personality he already has.

It's possible that Zebra may be slightly based on all the parents in the world who have their own Moose to deal with. But mostly Zebra is just simply who he is, which is a good friend.

I love this description of Moose. That is exactly what I envisioned, a young child having a meltdown. Being a librarian for over 700 four-year-olds I can completely relate. I have seen many Moose-like meltdowns when all of our copies of Z is for Moose are checked out. Sadly, I can't purchase a copy for all of my students to have their very own.

You have a degree in animation and worked for Disney for twelve years.

Did you ever consider illustrating Z is for Moose?

Not really. I have never been a fine artist with skills that extend to great understanding of design and color and executing artwork much beyond sketching and simple coloring. My comfort zone involves Sharpies and colored pencils, and that's about it.

When I "wrote" Moose, I did so by storyboarding it out, which involved making a small dummy and drawing the pictures and finding my story that way, through making all the visual things happen from page to page. I made that "book" with the sole purpose of reading it to my son at night.

Later on, I showed it to author friends, who encouraged me to submit it as a manuscript. So I typed it up and sent it off. I never showed the dummy to anyone other than friends and family. It's not much to look at and is very rough, but it helped me get the story written.

I have a similar comfort zone with Sharpies and colored pencils. When I am not reading, I like to color. I know it sounds kind of crazy, but it is very relaxing for me. I especially love the color by numbers. Not the really easy ones though. My favorites are Color Counts by Mindware.

What would you want your readers to take away from your books?

Laughter would be nice. And hope. And maybe some personal connection, a moment of "Wow, I've felt that way, too!"

Making a personal connection with a book seems to always keep the book and characters in your heart. When an author develops a character to whom the readers can relate or build a bond with, the author can seem like a friend. One who understands, even if not on a personal level. Characters can take on a life of their own. They can make the reader see events, ideas, even other people in a way no one else could ever personal convey.  

Are there other picture books in your future? How many books do you currently have in the planning stages?

I have several books in the sloppy stages of planning and drafting. There will be at least one more picture book in my future: there is a second Moose book on the way!

Yes, Paul O. Zelinsky, told me in his interview he was "largely done" with the illustrations for the second Moose book. No hints were given by him, and now by you. I guess we are all going to have to wait and see what kind of adventure, or mischief Moose will be involved with in his second book. I can't wait to see it. It will definitely be a book I spotlight on this blog!

Before working on any kind of project, be it writing an article for my blog or lesson plans for teaching my students, I always do some kind of investigating to see exactly what I am getting into with the task. I don't want to go into something without at least an understanding of what I am in for.

What kind of research do you do before beginning work on a project?

It depends on the project. For Moose, I read every ABC book in my local library several times before writing one of my own. And that was not really concentrated research as much as filling a need for my son, and then having our little story evolve into something totally unexpected.

Shark Girl
by Kelly Bingham

Formerly, Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham For Shark Girl, I studied tons of poetry, and had to do research on lots of things. I researched shark attacks ad how and where they happen, and looked through many gruesome photographs. I studied a lot of medical facts. I read autobiographies written by people who had had their lives changed by disabling accidents and diseases. I reviewed "the five stages of grief." I interviewed amputees, doctors, physical therapists, and talked to a man who makes prosthetic limbs. All of that was quite educational!

Most readers, I’m sure, would be surprised to learn of all of the research that goes into writing a book. Thank you for sharing these details. I think it is very important for readers to understand authors don't have all of the answers or details when writing. They are, however, able to find the information and pull it all together in order to make a meaningful and entertaining story for the reader.

What do you do to help inspire yourself when you are creatively blocked?

Usually I take a break. I read. I do other things. You can't force solutions to come to you when you need them. And for me, that's what being "creatively blocked" comes down to. I have a situation that needs solving and I don't have an answer.

During those times I try to be patient. I have found that doing things not related to writing are a good way to free up my brain to work on a solution for the story problem I am facing. Often, a solution will come to me while driving, or when I first wake up in the morning.

On rare occasions it helps to talk the story problem over with someone. But mostly I find it unrealistic to present a story problem to someone and expect them to come up immediately with something you haven't already tried and rejected. For the most part, I let things gel and cook, and keep the faith that the block is only temporary.

Also, it helps to start working on something new, even if it's rough and clunky. Sometimes switching gears to a new story will help me figure out the obstacles in another story.

I am a bibliophile and a self-confessed bookworm. I constantly have a book with me so I will never be caught without reading material. It seems people are more influenced today by factors outside of books and reading.

How do you respond to these changes in order to get people back to reading?

Hmmm, what a good question. I have to admit, I haven't given this a lot of thought.

I hope it doesn't sound lazy, but I guess I don't really see myself trying to lure anyone back into reading. I feel that people will read when they want to, or they won't. I am totally out of the loop on all the new animated storybook apps out there, and all the various digital things that combine reading and games, or reading and movement. I am aware there are websites paired with some books that look to get readers reading a certain book, then exploring and socializing and game-playing on a related website. That's a great idea. But that's not me, and that's not my thing right now. I find it hard to write good stories and I continually find writing an enormous challenge. It's enough for me right now to simply focus on creating good books. I sincerely hope readers find them.

I think all authors, to some degree, really look to librarians, booksellers, teachers, and parents to encourage a love of reading in a child, hopefully from an early age, and to match children with books that are just right for them. Without all these team players in place, each doing their part, not only would "traditional books," (for want of a better term) fade away, but readers might fade away, too. There's nothing wrong with the distraction of games, eBooks, animated apps, websites, and even TV and movies. But it's so very critical that we keep our kids readers as well.

Yes, I believe it is a team effort, and extremely critical to keep our children reading. One of my favorite things to do is connect people with books. Reader’s advisory is one of my favorite ways to help people in the library. Learning about their interests and locating the perfect book or author for them always makes you feel like you have handed them the world. I am so thankful to authors for sharing their gift of words in order to bring a smile to the faces of the library patrons, especially the children.

Were you an avid reader growing up? Did reading influence your decision to become an author?

Oh year, I was a huge reader. I read all the time and usually read the same books over and over and over. My friend and I often wrote our own books together, and made illustrations, and stapled them up, and we felt as proudly professional as any eleven-year-old can feel.

There's no question that my love of reading influence me to want to write and to tell stories. From an early age that's all I wanted to be a part of. It was such a joy to work at Disney as a story artist. I was surround by other storytellers and they were all so incredibly talented. To spend all day crafting stories is a pretty special experience. Even on the days we'd shred everything and start over. And I learned so much!

It was a big, scary step for me to leave Disney and set out to write stories on my own, but it was a good choice. I love doing what I do and my work allows me to be home with my kids, too. And I still get to work with amazing, talented people. I would be more than happy to continue working with Paul O. Zelinsky forever! He's amazing.

What was the last book you read?

I recently re-read The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, which I love. And I just read Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World'sMost Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin. What an incredible book! I thought it was outstanding.

These are great books. The Scorpio Races was named a 2012 Printz Honor Book and Bomb was a Newbery Honor book for 2013.

This next question is unusual, but I ask it at the end of all of my spotlight interviews just to see who has an inner rock star. Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) loves to sing 80s hair band songs while he does karaoke.

What would be your featured song?

Really? Wow. Good for Jeff! And how daring for anyone to tackle karaoke, in my opinion, since I am the worst singer ever!

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?

No - I can't think of anything remotely interesting. Thank you so much for this interview. It's been fun.

Well, thank you Kelly. I have enjoyed the insight especially the creation of Moose, your writing through storyboarding, and your research for the Shark Girl book. I truly appreciate the time you took for this interview. I can't wait to see what you have in store for Moose next.

Ms. Bingham has received starred reviews from Booklist, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB), The Horn Book, Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly, and School Library Journal for her works. Shark Girl was on Oprah Winfrey's Book List for Kids and was nominated for The Inky Award in Australia. From the American Library Association Shark Girl was nominated for a Schneider Family Book Award (ALA - "for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences") and was named an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. It was also nominated for nine state book awards, including: Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Tennessee; and awarded the Iowa Teen Award in 2011 by student readers.

Z is for Moose is an ALA Notable book and was named one of Amazon's Best Books of 2012. It was nominated for the E.B. White Award which “recognize(s) books that reflect the playful, well-paced language, the engaging themes, and the universal appeal to a wide range of ages embodied by E.B. White's collection of beloved books." It has also been named to the 2013 Texas 2x2 Reading List. 

You can read about Moose's adventures on his blog, Moose on Earth (because Moose travels way more than Mouse) and visit Kelly Bingham's website, sign her guest book and look around. 

Follow Directions...Why?

Don't Push the Button!
by Bill Cotter

In a world where children are surrounded by technology from the time they wake in the morning until they go to bed, Don't Push the Button! is a fun interactive book without the bells and whistles of an iPad app. A lovable purple monster taunts the reader by stating over and over again DO NOT push the button, but everyone knows deep down he WANTS you to push the button. It is merely a matter of reverse psychology!

Exciting things happen (through the illustrations) when the reader "pushes" the button. Nothing really happens as all adults will quickly realize, but to a young child this button is magical because it changes the color of the monster, adds polka dots to him, and then multiplies him across the pages.

Press Here
by Hervé Tullet

Mr. Cotter did not originate this concept, but he did create a new twist by having a cute monster as the main character. Some may know the book Press Here by Hervé Tullet, which is a wonderfully simplified variation of this book published by Chronicle Books in 2011. In Press Here a single dot is object at the center of attention (or off to the side, depending how you hold the book). I have to say I loved the interaction and especially the reaction of the students when reading Press Here during story times or even one on one. I believe the same response will be had when reading Don't Push the Button!

I think pairing the two books, especially at the beginning of the school year, could bring wonderful conversation. It can be an interesting way for children to see what happens when we follow directions (or not follow directions) and the concept of consequences, since one book tells the reader to push the button while the other tells the reader NOT to push the button.

I would recommend Don't Push the Button! for children from age two to grade two. I believe they will not only enjoy the interplay of the book, but also the blob-like characters.

*To comply with new guidelines introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, Sourcebooks, Inc., has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this book for review purposes through NetGalley.com.

44th Anniversary

I missed posting this review on the 44th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, but only by a week. Okay, I have to admit I have heard the stories from a number of people who watched this historic event on television, my husband and parents among them. Me, I didn't see it. In fact, I wasn't even born yet. It would be over a year before I appeared on this Earth. So for me, astronauts, rockets, space shuttles, and NASA have always been a part of my life; just like Satellites, Tang, Teflon, and Velcro.

For me, the space event I remember the most happened when I was a freshman in high school. I was sitting in Mrs. Leonhardt's English class the morning of January 28, 1986. She was at the front of the room talking about something I'm sure was very important for my grammatical and / or literary future (like righting blog entries and book reviews), but what I remember the most was the knock on the door. Now, it was not unusual for someone to knock on the door, but when Mrs. Leonhardt walked out the door and when she re-entered the classroom, she had a completely different demeanor. I don't remember ever seeing one of my teachers cry. In fact, as a teacher's kid I was used to seeing teachers in a variety of moods, but devastated was just not on that list of emotions. I could not imagine what could have happened to upset her so. I went to comfort her by giving her a hug. That is when I found out the Space Shuttle Challenger with the first member of the Teacher in Space Project had broken apart and disintegrated in Florida. It is one of those moments in history where you will always remember where you were and the people around you.

The Astronaut Wives Club
by Lily Koppel

During the publicity buzz for The Astronaut Wives Club I saw an interview with some of the wives who played a key role in this book on the CBS Sunday Morning. After listening to these brave women talk about the homes and community they built in Togethersville, "the ironic name journalists gave to the space burb of Clear Lake City, the "City of the Future" [Loc 1478], I knew I wanted to learn more about these amazing women who stood in the background of history.

I can't say I have always been fascinated with space. When you live in the city, it is hard to see the stars, let alone imagine the wonders of the universe. I can't even imagine the lives these women lead during late 1959 through the 1960s. Every time my husband or son leave the house I tell them to be careful. I can completely understand Barbara Cernan's comment in the book "If you think going to the Moon is hard, try staying at home" [Loc 2961]. I would be a nervous wreck.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the different groups of astronaut wives (Mercury Seven, The Next Nine, The Fourteen, The Scientists, and the Original Nineteen) and how they intermingled, or not. The background stories of each of the wives was very different and enlightening. It is sad to learn so many of the marriages between the women who stayed home and maintained some semblance of normalcy for their family and their astronaut husbands were destroyed because of this profession. Their lives were interrupted by journalists and reports. They had no privacy and they were constantly scrutinized. The wives had to watch every step and not "bother" their husbands with trivial tasks or problems around the house. I'm not sure how any of the marriages lasted with this kind of pressure. I have to applaud these women for the sacrifices they made for the technological advancement made by the United States Space Program. It was quite a daunting task and they should be applauded and held in high esteem. They should be in the history books along with their husbands and not hidden behind the kitchen door.

I will say the layout of the book seemed jumpy to me. Now, I don't know if this is because I was reading an electronic copy of the book or not. I do know the final published book had photographs that were not included in the eBook. This could have caused the sense of bouncing from one astrowife to another.

I would recommend this book for public and high school libraries. I believe this is wonderful background information into the history of women in America and helps to show exactly how far we have come as a society in making women an equal partner.

*To comply with new guidelines introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, Grand Central Publishing has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this book through NetGalley.com.

Confessions of a BAD Teacher

When I was a young child I played with Barbies and stuffed animals, but the majority of the time they were seated in front of my large metal teacher desk that was located in my bedroom. Yes, I had a teacher desk in my bedroom! If I remember correctly it looked something like this.

NOT my actual desk, but it reminds me
of the one I had.

I always wanted to be a teacher. My mother's parents were teachers, both of my parents were in education (my mom as a teacher, my dad as a librarian), it just seemed natural for me to follow in their foot steps. I remember seeing the frustration on my mother's face after a long day at school. I remember hearing the stories (you can never repeat any of this, was a constant refrain during the BASS (B!tch about School Stuff) meetings. I was never told I could not be a teacher, but I was encouraged to search other avenues of professions.

Like all educators, I did not go into the profession for the money! Teaching is a calling, especially for those of us who go to college straight out of high school to work on a teaching degree (for me Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies). I don't remember ever considering another profession. When I graduated from high school my plan was to double major in Education and Library Science. However, at the time, the two did not overlap. If I was going to do a double major, I would be required to take the courses for both degrees and it would take me twice as long to graduate. My father was completely against this, since he was footing the bill. So, I settled on a teaching degree, followed years later by a Master's degree in Reading which was very beneficial in obtaining my current position as a librarian for 750+ four-year-olds!

Confessions of a Bad Teacher: The Shocking
Truth from the Front Lines of American
Public Education
by John Owens

When I saw the cover of this book and read the title I was intrigued. I thought, who in their right mind would admit to being a bad teacher, and why would you right a book about it. Then I started reading the book! I have to say, Mr. Owens, hits the nail on the head in this depiction of public education. Now, his experience, albeit for only one year, took place in New York City. I live over 1500 miles away in Texas, but it seems to me the education system is similar. I'm not going to say I have been in the same situations as Mr. Owens because, in all honesty I have not. He taught high school. I have worked in an elementary and pre-school. The similarities come when references are made to our passion for teaching and the unrealistic expectations placed on teachers.

Mr. Owens compares his first days of teaching as being an apprentice clown and being expected to be an expert in juggling a variety of dangerous objects in the air. Now to that I can relate on my level (working with very young children) and anxiety level (loosing a child on the first day of school)!

I remember my first day of teaching. There was a young child, at the time I did not know if this child was a boy or a girl (I will refer to this child as Gabriel in order to maintain anonymity). The child had beautiful long flowing blonde hair, french braided down his/ her back. About twenty minutes after Gabriel's mom left my classroom door, he / she ran out the door faster than a cheetah. Now, I couldn't leave the other twenty children unattended (I didn't have an aide in my classroom, it was just me and twenty bright eyed children, most of them as new to school as I.) I quickly motioned to the teacher next door and asked her to stayed in the doorway between our classes and watch both sets of students while I attempted to run and look for my escapee. As I was racing down the hall I ran into one of the vice principals, we'll call him Mr. Smith. He was very calm and quickly assisted me in locating my little runner. Come to find out Gabriel, who was quick to tell the other children he is a BOY (but not until after he ran away), had run into the men's restroom and hid behind the door. Welcome to the classroom Mrs. Betts!

The comparison between public schools and charter schools Mr. Owens make is very close to what I, and my education friends have talked about for years. It would be ideal if we could hand pick the students we allow into our schools and classrooms. However, this is not how public schools work. Charter schools are not held to the same state rules and regulations as the public schools from which a number of parents flock away from each year. Instead of placing all of the pressure on the classroom teachers, charter schools seem to have a firm control on the parents and students. Requiring parents to be involved in their child's education.

For the past three years I have volunteered my time each Thursday evening in order to have the library at my school open for parents and their children to check out books. During the last school year, not only was the library open, but each week there was a special activity or event in which the families could participate. Now, I do not write this in order to blow my own horn, but simply to make a point. Was I required to do this? No. I did it because I believed, and still do, I felt it was important to provide this service to my students and their families, especially since the public library within walking distance of our school was closed three years ago. 

Like Mr. Owens, I wanted my students to get excited about learning and books. I can't say I was surprised to read that the author's lead teacher told him not to get the students excited. It seems that so much of the fun of learning has been removed from our schools, along with any kind of recognition for excellence. I say this because of my son's experiences in school. On my campus, thankfully for my four- and five-year old students, we still have fun while learning. We learn about to be a good audience member by listening to story tellers or children's musicians who visit our school. We learn how to control our bodies through a variety of obstacles in the spring when we have the annual Bunny Trail. We even learn how to cheer for our friends and fellow students when we recognize them for coming to school every day during a six weeks grading period. However when our students move on to elementary school, middle, and high school, these events, activities, and celebrations are few and far between, if they exist at all. 

Too much emphasis is placed on the standardized tests. Across the country school districts are not looking at the students, but the data (daily and six weeks grades, as well as standardized test scores) received, generally at the end of the year. Is it any wonder test scores are manipulated and scandals reported across the country? Careers are held in the balance by students. Children. Children who come from all kinds of families. 

When it comes to actually teaching, I love how Mr. Owens compares engaging lessons to the power of a video game. Yes, students can get lost in the excitement and challenge of video games and wouldn't it be fabulous if we had the same power as educators? 

Today, teachers must be able to pull very student into every topic with the power of a video game and get them to not only absorb but also to process, analyse, and synthesize the information at the highest level. And do it every day, every time, regardless of the students' learning abilities or the resources available to them. The general expectation is that poverty, learning disabilities, medical- emotional issues, and behavior problems shouldn't stand in the way of student achievement.[Loc 945]

An experienced teacher can develop engaging lessons over the years and have a treasure chest of tried and true lessons from which to pick each year. But don't think this makes teaching easier. Yes, these lessons can be pulled, but then they have to be tweaked in order to make them fit with the current curriculum (it seems to be constantly changing) and the students being taught. What worked two years ago will not necessarily work for the students who will be walking into the classroom this year. Corinne Driscoll, a twenty-two year veteran teacher in the Syracuse City School District, makes a wonderful observation.

...our leaders think of children as parts on an assembly line. If we plug in A and tighten screw B, all will be well, and every child will be a carbon copy of the other- on the same date all children of the same will get the same score on the same test. Education is not a product; it's a process. Children are not identical machine parts, but complex human beings coming to school with a whole variety of baggage, both good and bad.

This book is NOT about a bad teacher. It is about a teacher who was caught in a broken system (Latinate Institute). A broken system with a commanding officer (Ms. P) who was more driven by the outward appearance of success (outdated school information) than the actual success of the students. When reading about his experiences, and those of other contributing teachers, the dedication to the school and students is evident. In general teachers want only the best for their students. We don't go into the profession for the money. There are a great number of other career paths that are a lot less stressful and a great deal more lucrative, but not as rewarding in the sense of achievement. The feeling you have when you see the light come in on that one child's eyes as "they get it" for the first time is like none other. You truly feel like you have won. Now, tell me, how can the CEO of any top  business relate? Okay, maybe they are going to make in one day what a classroom teacher makes in an entire year (or sadly maybe two years), but will they have the satisfaction and helping a child learn a skill that will be used for the rest of their life? Remember, that CEO got to be in that position because great teachers helped them along the way to be successful!

Although the title of the book is a little off-putting, it is a fabulous read. It made me think about my twenty year career in education. I am thankful I have never been in the same position as Mr. Owens, traveling from classroom to classroom with a cart of materials or working for a difficult commanding officer. My experiences are very different in a number of ways, but very similar in others. I think all educators will be able to relate to this book and see they too could be labeled as a "bad" teacher simply because what they see as the best for their students may seem inappropriate by the "powers that be". This makes me think of a saying I read on a bumper sticker (or somewhere else), "Those who can, teach. Those who can't make the rules for teachers!"

*To comply with new guidelines introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, Sourcebooks, Inc. has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this book through NetGalley.com.