Morning in a Different Place may be one of the most important books that will never be widely read by those who need it most.  Set in the Kennedy presidency, it describes the relationship of two girls- one black, one white- and their families.  But it is more than a story in a critical period of our nation’s history; it is a story about race, families, and struggle that is timeless, and that is important.

People who grew up in the sixties may not have realized that the situation experienced by Yolanda and Fiona even existed. Family violence and racial concerns were often matters discussed behind closed doors. The idealistic families of the fifties were still prevalent in the sixties. Even well intentioned middle class working families conspired to keep socially embarrassing events secret.

Yet, the Kennedy administration offered new hope for families that transcended racial and social lines. Those lines spread from Appalachia to the largest urban centers and beyond.  People had hope.

Hope disappeared for many people on November 22, 1963 and the next day automatically became different.

Middle school and high school students will understand the book.  Their teachers, parents and grandparents also need to read it and talk about with them. The book is a great candidate for an entire community to read and discuss. It is a superb social commentary on the times that profoundly influenced a nation.

5 of 5

John Parker

Media Coordinator

Andrews High School

50 HS Drive

Andrews, NC  28901

http://www.slamguy.wordpress.com

Every Human Has Rights: A photographic declaration for kids belongs on the table of every waiting room in every school, public agency, and health care provider. It is a book that can be browsed, read page-by page, or meditated upon by young and old.

The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been simplified and amplified by the team of National Geographic and the ePals Global Learning Community. The full and rather sophisticated text of the Declaration is included in the appendix, but it is the enumerated and simplified captions that make this particular edition valuable. The pictures and the writing of kids from around the world only enhance the value of expressions such as, “You have the right to a free and safe LIFE.”

Also included is valuable information that can help everyone take the ideas beyond the page and into the world. Former President of Ireland and member of The Elders, Mary Robinson, contributes a foreword that is truly inspirational.

Order this book for your children and pass it along to the neighbors, or make it a gift to your school and take an active part in changing the world one reader at a time.

5 out of 5

John Parker

Media Coordinator

Andrews High School

50 HS Drive

Andrews, NC  28901

www.slamguy.wordpress.com

From Russia with Lunch is Bruce Hale’s latest entry into the Chet Gecko Mystery series. In typical Hale style the book is satirically playful drawing heavily from a deep cabinet of tastes and flavors.

As expected the book draws heavily on some “punny” stereotypes. The playfulness is rampant, yet almost exhausting in a place or two. While adults will certainly pick up on and appreciate the humor, kids may not.  If they do not, the book is still well written and thought out in terms of the mystery and how it is resolved.

In Hale’s own way the book is also multicultural. He brings in characters like Wiccans that may be perceived as dangerous by some only to dismiss them and render them totally innocuous in regard to the story and its resolution. There is no question about Hales’ ability as a storyteller.

Late elementary and middle school students may enjoy the book most, but may have to be urged to remember that there is some real artistry transpiring on the pages. Add the book to your collection with confidence that some readers will find Chet Gecko irresistible just like Garrison Keillor’s listeners find Guy Noir, Private Eye indispensable.

4 out of 5

John Parker

Media Coordinator

Andrews High School

50 HS Drive

Andrews, NC  28901

http://www.slamguy.wordpress.com

The Case of the Stinky Socks is an aromatic mystery that will be enjoyed by young readers that discover the Milo & Jazz Mysteries series recently introduced by the Kane Press.

The enjoyment is sure to last beyond the life of the book because the readers are exposed to some rather interesting illustrations that capture the investigative process.  These illustrations, coupled with the activities at the end of the book prepare kids to seek out and unravel the mysteries in their own world.

The mystery itself is not easy to decipher before the conclusion; wrong paths are explored and hypotheses are revised. The simple language makes this little mystery accessible to all but the earliest readers.

The book would make a nice gift or addition to a classroom library where exposure to different types of literature is essential. Boys, girls and teachers will love the investigative strategies that apply scientific method in a school-based story.

5 of 5

John Parker

Media Coordinator

Andrews High School

50 HS Drive

Andrews, NC  28901

http://www.slamguy.wordpress.com

O’Brien, Tony, and Mike Sullivan. Afghan Dreams: Young Voices of Afghanistan. New York: Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2008. $18.99.

Afghan Dreams is a sobering look at the lives of children in and around Kabul. At the same time it is both beautiful and horrific. The beauty lies within the eyes and soul of each child featured in this photo tour. The horror abounds in the stories that comprise their past and the uncertainty of their future.

Tony O’Brien’s pictures are compelling, to say the least. They capture, without words, the necessary conclusion that children are the largest casualties of the longstanding Afghan wars. Mike Sullivan’s text reveals the mixture of hope and reality that makes dreams possible. Together, O’Brien and Sullivan relay the message that these Afghan children are forced to grow up too soon because of their geographic destiny.

The Afghan landscape has been fraught with problems for more than a century. The Taliban and the presence of the United States in the region is only the most recent version of the problem. Given the length of the protracted struggle, the strategy of O’Brien and Sullivan is to address the problem with a younger audience. By creating awareness the authors have planted seeds for humanitarian action that will eventually ripen.

The young voices of Afghanistan need to be heard in every community around the world. One way to make this happen is to share this book with someone, or ask that the local library make it available. Educators need to be refreshed by the war-torn stories of children who desire to be teachers. Kids of all ages need to hear the strained voices of children that could be their brother or sister. Everyone needs a beautiful encounter, and this book provides.

5 of 5

John Parker

Media Coordinator

Andrews High School

50 HS Drive

Andrews, NC  28901

“After Gandhi: One hundred years of nonviolent resistance offers a very selective history that is used to explain nonviolence in a very modern context. The vignettes and their principal actors are presented to illustrate the practices often associated with Mohandas Gandhi.
It is within the context of these vignettes that the book introduces the reader to essential terms such as “apartheid,” “strikes,” “junta,” “petition,” and dozens more. The summaries of the incidents are concise and retain the focus of their ability to demonstrate noviolence. The concise biographical data that follows each of these entries is also helpful, but not entirely necessary.
The illustrative material that was done in pastels feels more like charcoal, but communicates clearly the seriousness of the subject matter. Unlike the illustrations, not everyone views the situation in such stark terms. There is hope with each generation. Justice and war are still issues of importance, and it requires a new and personal call to action. The Obrien’s make this call, but it could be louder and stronger. Aside from the cover illustration depicting the progression of nonviolence from Gandhi to the masses, and a few pages at the end of the book devoted to their own action, the O’brien’s eliminate their own influence. Their backgrounds as activists give their voices experience and authority. They have the ability to connect the works of Nobel laureates to the everyday experience of children.

3.5 Out of 5 for Motivational Work
4.5 Out of 5 for Coverage of the Topic

John Parker
Media Coordinator
Andrews High School
50 HS Drive
Andrews, NC 28901
www.slamguy.wordpress.com

From the first line of Our Abe Lincoln to the last the book sings itself. Drawing upon the annals of Lincoln’s presidential campaign for material this song/book/historical record provides the perfect introduction for young children.

Teachers and children will have many opportunities for success with this book. It can be read, but why? Set to the tune of  The Old Gray Mare, this book demands a sing-aloud by the reader. Anything less will just miss the point.  And the point is that children can and should be taught in an engaging manner. That method is also emphasized by Barbara McClintock’s illustrations that suggest that children can recreate the scene in their own public performance donned in period attire.

This is one book that embeds a body of core knowledge into the hearts and minds of children in a way that will develop into a lifetime memory that can be shared and recalled again and again. Teachers of Pre-K and early elementary aged children will also find ample opportunities to pair movement with the lyrics and create their own interpretations of the work. Add this book with confidence to any collection, but be prepared to sing.

John Parker

Media Coordinator

Andrews High School

50 HS Drive

Andrews, NC  28901

www.slamguy.wordpress.com

Just in time for his 200^th birthday, “Lincoln and His Boys” offers much more than a cursory account of the beloved president’s life. The story is biographical and Tad and Willie are the storytellers. Their fictionalized dialogue based on historic accounts gives Wells great credibility as both researcher and writer. The dialogue is engaging, yet challenging the reader to discover new words that have long passed out of popular usage. The text is covered with facts that are skillfully woven to give a rather complete story of Mr. Lincoln’s perspective of the Civil War.

Teachers of American History from upper elementary through high school will find uses for the book. Although intended for a younger audience a middle or high school teacher may use it in a center to give more perspective to the importance of Lincoln and his family. Generally speaking, good resources that probe the relationships of the Lincoln family are missing from most school curriculums.  Even more scarce are books that tie the family influences to the administration itself. Clearly, “Lincoln and His Boys”  will invite children to explore  the other factors that influence decision making. Add it with confidence to your classroom or library. 

4 out of 5

John Parker

Media Coordinator

Andrews High School

50 HS Drive

Andrews, NC  28901