Module 2 - The Cat Ate My Gymsuit

Danzinger, P. (1974). The cat ate my gymsuit. New York: Putnam.

SUMMARY

A young teenager is disgruntled with life. There is not much in life that Marcy Lewis likes - not home, not school, and not herself. However, all that changes when Ms Finney becomes the English teacher at Marcy's school and helps the students learn beyond the school's curriculum. Marcy, in spite of her insecurities, makes new friends, stands up for what she believes and begins to like herself. Things start looking up for Marcy Lewis and the students in Ms. Finney's class when Ms. Finney gets fired. How much have Marcy and her friends learned about standing up for what they believe in?

MY IMPRESSION

This was a great book that explored the very real feelings of middle school students. Although some of the topics are dated and are evidently written during a different time students can connect with the concerns, worries and frustrations of Marcy Lewis.  Teachers smoking in the school, kids drinking at a party and a tyrannical father are great discussion points for how things were, how things still are and what things might never change for middle school students.

REVIEW

Beauregard, S. (2005, April 1). Review of The Cat Ate My Gymsuit. The Booklist, 1400.

Published in 1974 and considered a "modern classic," Danziger's novel about overweight teenager Marcy Lewis is an excellent choice for a multicast performance. The story contains lots of dialogue and characters with distinct personalities. Written during an era when calling oneself "Ms." was radical, principals unilaterally suspended students, and adults routinely smoked cigars and cigarettes, the story holds up amazingly well. The shining star in this production is Caitlin Brodnick, who plays Marcy to perfection. She never overplays her role as the bright teenager whose self-image is so low that she refuses to participate in gym class because she doesn't want others to see her in a gym suit. The other youthful actors-Spencer Murphy, who reads the part of Joel Anderson, and Katie Reed, as Nancy Sheridan-are believable as well. Except for Marcy's younger brother, whose babylike speech seems a bit unnatural, all characters come off as credible and authentic, including Marcy's put-upon mother and Ms. Finney, the beloved teacher who is suspended for refusing to say the "Pledge of Allegiance."

SUGGESTION FOR LIBRARY USE

Create a display of books, including this title, that connect students with real life issues that they will face throughout middle school.

Module 2 - The Snowman

Briggs, Raymond. (1978). The snowman. New York: Random House.

SUMMARY

A young boy wakes up to discover snow on the ground. He runs out to build a snowman fitted with a scarf, hat, eyes, carrot nose and coal buttons! As the snowman comes to life the boy has a friend to play with.  A wordless picture book that can be read by any level reader leads the reader through a young boy's day and night showing his new friend all about life indoors and out. In return the snowman takes the boy on an adventure to see the world!

MY IMPRESSION

A sweet book with many options for implementation in library and classroom settings. The illustrations allow the reader to see into the world of the boy and the snowman. The facial expressions of the two characters are well drawn and help the reader to know the characters.

REVIEW

Snelson, K. (n.d). Amazon.com review [Review of the book The Snowman]. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Snowman-Raymond-Briggs/dp/0394839730/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c

Who needs words to tell a story? In Raymond Briggs's charming tale, told with 175 softly hued, artfully composed frames, a little boy makes friends with a snowman. He wakes up on a snowy day, tells his mother he's going outside, then begins a flurry of snowman-building. That night, he can't sleep, so he opens the front door and lo! the snowman has come to life. The amiable yet frosty fellow enjoys his tour of the boy's cozy home; he admires the cat, but is disturbed by the fire. The boy shows him other wonders--the TV and a lamp and running water. Predictably perhaps, he is disturbed by the stove, but likes ice cubes quite a bit. Soon it is the snowman's turn to introduce the boy to his wintry world. They join hands, rise up into the blizzardy air--presumably over Russia and into the Middle East--and then safely back to home sweet home. The boy pops into bed before his parents get up... but when he wakes up the next morning he races outside only to find his new buddy's melted remains, scattered with a few forlorn lumps of coal. Since the book is wordless, you can make up any ending you want... like "Then, in a puff of pink smoke, the snowman recomposed himself and went to live in the boy's garage freezer." Or you could just resign yourself to a peaceful "And that was that." Raymond Briggs's The Snowman won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and this wintertime classic continues to win the hearts of kids every year. (Preschool and older)

SUGGESTION FOR LIBRARY USE

A suggestion for library use is to have the students see the story (in big book form). Allow the students to share what they see happening as the story progresses. When completed sing the “Five Little Snowmen Fat”

- Five Little Snowmen Fat (Hold up the correct number of fingers then hold your arms out in front of to pretend you have a round tummy)

- Each with a funny hat (Point to head with index fingers)

- Out came the sun (Extend arms out over your head to make sun)

- And mmmeeellltttteeeddd one-(Sink slowly to the ground and remove one snowman from the board)

- And that was the end of that! (stand up again ; clap hands once)

Repeat rhyme for four, three, two, and one until there are no snowmen left.

Final Verse

- One little snowman fat,

- He had a funny hat…

Module 1 - I Already Know I Love You

Crystal, Billy. (2004). I Already Know I Love You. New York: HarperCollins.

SUMMARY

A story about the dreams of a grandfather upon hearing his daughter is having a baby. The grandfather looks forward to all the fun a grandparent can have from fishing, to reading and playing games with his grandchildren.

PERSONAL IMPRESSION

Although a thoughtful book about an exciting time for any grandparent, I thought it was a little cheesy. As I connect to the anticipation of a new baby, I have not been there from the grandparent side but from the daughter and daughter-in-law side of the coin. The excitement of sharing in new moments with the new baby is very sweet and thoughtful but my initial thoughts were, "When do the parents get to do things for the first time? You had your turn, let the parents have their's!" However, looking at it in a more open-minded manner I realize that grandparents are probably as excited as the parents when a baby is on the way and this book expresses that sentiment perfectly.

REVIEW

Topol, Martha. Rev. of I Already Know I Love You, by Billy Crystal. School Library Journal 1 June   2004.

PreS-K-As a grandfather-to-be anticipates the birth of his grandchild, he expresses excitement for all of the special moments and activities he can't wait to share: bear hugs, the ocean, a Yankees game, a movie. The rhyming text is basic and yet effective. Crystal manages to come across as sincere rather than sappy so that the special nature of this intergenerational relationship shines through. As the narrator imagines the future, the soft pastel art depicts the baby nestled snuggly in Grandpa's arms. Other pictures show the wide-eyed red-headed child getting older, her grandpa and a fuzzy stuffed monkey by her side. The longevity and importance of this family relationship is thus visually supported and celebrated. After readers see and hear about all of the enjoyable events that will occur, the book comes full circle and ends with the birth of the child, "Get ready, little sweet one-/your life will be just great./I'm going to be your grandpa, and-/I can hardly wait."

SUGGESTION FOR LIBRARY USE

A suggestion for use in the library would be a story time with grandparents and their grandchildren with a craft afterward of making a book together.