Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where can I go to find teaching strategies for children's and young adult books and information about the people who wrote them?

A. www.teachingbooks.net — This web site is a treasure trove of insights and teaching ideas about hundreds of authors and thousands of books. Sponsored by the Cooperative Book Center at the University of Wisconsin, this site is filled with information about children's and young adult literature.

Q. Where can I get the props that I see in your workshops?

A. One source for the props is Book Props - www.bookprops.com It is a small company that produces very high quality props that are works of art. This is a very creative group that has a wide variety of materials for great books to share and read aloud. They are not inexpensive, but the quality and the "ahhhhs" make them worth the price. New props include Bertie Was a Watchdog, Molly Lou Melon, Old Mother Hubbard, and many others.

Another source is Mimi's Motifs - www.mimismotifs.com This group is more focused on puppet-like props. They, too, are hand made, and are developed specifically for the younger listener. New props include Epossumondas.

Q. Where can I get the present that I saw in your workshop?

A. Book Props made my present box. I'm not certain that they are making more, but you can ask. If not, make your own with sturdy cardboard and colorful fabric. Put the sides of the box together with Velcro, add a bow, and you're ready to give the gift of reading.

Q. What do you think of reading programs featuring leveled books and computer comprehension tests?

A. These programs have their place. Initially, they do motivate readers, and you will see more reading of books. What is uncertain, however, is the long-term motivation effects of these programs. I do have a couple of concerns about these programs, however, which I describe below.

Books are selected without regard for your readers. By that I mean that the computer does not know your readers, and so cannot incorporate their interests and developmental levels into their "leveled" selections. It is necessary that people who know the readers (the teacher, the librarian, the parent) help to select the books that really are appropriate.

There are no selection criteria readily available. Why some books are selected and others are not is not arbitrary, I suspect, but it is difficult to get a specific list of criteria for the books that are selected.

Q. Some people are objecting to some of the books I have in my classroom and library. What should I do?

A. First, it is the right and responsibility of parents to be aware of what their children are reading. I appreciate it when parents ask that their children not read a specific book.

However, it is not the right of parents to limit what all children are reading. It is important that this distinction be made, and that while a particular book may not be appropriate for their child, it is appropriate for some child.

If a parent (or teacher) still insists that the book is not appropriate for the classroom or library, then a specific procedure for challenging materials needs to be followed. For help with developing such a policy, visit the website of the American Library Association - www.ala.org - and follow the links to Fight Censorship. It is important that a book not be removed from a collection because someone finds it objectionable; once people know that a questioned book is a removed book, then people with all kinds of issues will find a reason to remove a wide variety of books.

Q. How do you make the file folder reviews?

A. Rather than bring novels to my workshops, I have been bringing file folder reviews. The format for each of these is the same.

Front cover of the file folder: Enlarged color copy of the book jacket. These copies can be done on a color copier or printed on your computer from an on-line bookstore.

Inside left side of the file folder: Copy of the information from the book jacket - book blurb and author bio.

Inside right side of the file folder: At least two reviews of the book. I use sources such as School Library Journal, Booklist, Hornbook, Riverbank Review, New York Times. If you are making these for your students to use, replace these professional reviews with the comments that your students make about the books.

Back cover of the file folder: Copy the first page from the book. Rather than laminate these folders at school, I take them to Kinkos to have them done. It costs more, but they use a 60# laminating film that strengthens the folders and does not peel away.

Q. What is the difference between science fiction and fantasy?

A. I like the definition used by Ray Bradbury. — "Science fiction is the art of the possible. Fantasy is the art of the impossible."

Q. What books do you recommend for . . . ?

A. have been receiving a number of requests for specialized lists of books. Unfortunately, I am not able to develop these individual bibliographies. Because I do not know your students, I am not the one best qualified to provide you with the best book list. However, I would recommend that you consult the following resources for some possibilities for adding to your list of books on any number of subjects for any age:

Adventuring With Books published by the National Council of Teachers of English — This resource is published on a regular basis and lists recently published books on a variety of topics at identified grade levels.

The Bookfinder published by the American Guidance Service — This resource, available at your public library, lists books that are particularity appropriate for social issues and personal problems.

The Horn Book Guide — This semiannual index reviews all books published, and has an especially good index for almost every topic that comes to mind.

The card catalog at your public library — Professionally trained librarians have selected these books, and you can be confident that these books have been selected for their quality and interest.

The American Library Association (ala.org) — This website includes a number of books selected for a variety of readers and topics.

There are several list servs on the Internet at which people talk about children's literature. Someone involved in one of these list servs may be able to recommend some book titles in your area of interest. The two that I especially recommend are:

• CHILDLIT
  • send e-mail to — majordomo@mail.rutgers.edu
  • Subject line - blank
  • Message - subscribeCHILDLITyour e-mail address
• KIDLIT-L
  • send e-mail to — Listserv@bingvmb.cc.binghamton.edu
  • Subject line - blank
  • Message - subscribe KIDLIT-L your first name your last name

Additionally, there are some websites that have lists of books in various topic areas. Some of my favorite bibliography sites include: Children's Book Council School Library Journal Vandergrift's Literature page

Q. What can I copy to promote a book with my readers?

A. For a clear explanation of what is and is not appropriate regarding the copying of book covers refer to the section entitled "Carrie on Copyright" in School Library Journal, November 2002.

Below is the part of the copyright law that has to do with fair use, and what educators can do to promote books with their readers. Copy this and take it to the print shop, etc. to let them know that when you ask to copy a page from a book, you are perfectly within your rights as an educator. Remember: if we don't use this aspect of the copyright law, we are going to lose it.

Report of the House Committee on the Judiciary (House Report No. 94-1476) Fair Use. Section 107 of Title 17 of the U.S.Code Agreement on Guidelines for Classroom Copying in Not-for-Profit Educational Institutions:

I. Single Copying for Teachers — A single copy may be made of any of the following by or for a teacher at his or her individual request for his or her scholarly research or use in teaching or preparation to teach a class:

• A chapter from a book;
• An article from a periodical or newspaper;
• A short story, short essay or short poem, whether or not from a collective work;
• A chart, graph, diagram, drawing, cartoon, or picture from a book, periodical, or newspaper.

Q. How do you manage to stay current with children's books?

A. I read books when I'm on the airplane and on the treadmill. Both places provide me with concentrated periods of time when no one is asking me to do anything.

Since the publishers kindly send me so many of the books for review, I can quickly go through the picture books and nonfiction books for a quick initial assessment when they arrive. I subscribe to several reviewing sources to help guide my fiction reading. If there is something in the review that interests me (it doesn't even have to be a positive review), then I will read the book in its entirety.

Q. Where can I get the "stuff" you have in your workshops?

A. The storytelling props that I use are available from Book Props, a small company in Oregon that specializes in high-quality, creative materials developed especially for stories. Visit their web site for a look at what they have. Mimi's Motifs is the source for the upside-down puppets that I shared in the workshop.

The puppet for Bark, George is one of the Folktales puppets that can be purchased in book stores, better quality toy stores, even zoo shops. The animals that George ate are Beanie Babies, and I have a black shoulder bag for George's stomach. It's simple, but it works.

Q. Where can I buy the books?

A. All of the books I mention in my workshops are in print. You may not be able to find them on the shelves of your local bookstore, but they can be ordered. Additionally, your library supplier (Follet, Brodart, Baker & Taylor, Bound-to-Stay-Bound, etc.) should be able to get the books. Also you can purchase books online from the following companies:
Follett
Mackin
Perma-Bound

Q. How do you pronounce the authors' names?

A. Because names are so personal, it is impossible to know how to pronounce someone's name correctly unless you hear the person say his/her name. Sometimes the author's website will have clues for pronunciation. Until you hear the author introduced, do the best you can, knowing that the author will understand.

Q. What books do you recommend for reluctant readers?

A. Remember that publishing is a profit-driven industry, and publishers publish the books that will sell. Because reluctant readers are not the people who purchase books, there will be fewer books published for these readers.

I do recommend looking at nonfiction for reluctant readers, as well as humorous stories and books on timely topics. The American Library Association (ala.org) has a list of books for reluctant readers that they identify each year, as well.

Perhaps the best advice is not to limit the options for these readers. Provide them with as much choice as possible, and accept what they select as appropriate for them to read. If it is too difficult, they will learn that soon enough, and will choose something more appropriate. Also, it may not be important that they read every word, but that they get enough from the book that they will want to try the reading experience again.

Q. Do you do workshops for school districts?

A. I enjoy doing workshops and presentations for various organizations and school districts. Visit workshops and training on my website for descriptions of possible workshops. Of course, you can always e-mail me with specific questions and to request additional information.