Book Review: Half Brother

I used to spend Saturday mornings with my mom and sister at the Saint Louis Zoo in the Jungle of the Apes/Fragile Forest.  Even though glass separated us from the apes, my sister raced with one of the chimps, Jimi, and I had my gorilla "boyfriend", the late Juma.  These moments where it was just the apes and us, I will always treasure.

Remembering times like this, I picked up Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel and began the journey of Ben and Zan in this young adult book.  The story focuses on Ben and his families move across Canada, so that his father (a fairly well-known professor) can begin a new, groundbreaking study for the 1960s.  The study involves cross-fostering a chimpanzee named Zan and teaching him language utilizing ASL.  Not only does Ben have to adjust to this lifestyle change, he is the new kid at a prestigious private school where he doesn't believe he is smart enough to be, and negotiate the trials of having a major crush. 

At first, Ben wants nothing to do with Zan.  His parents hope he will come to think of Zan as a little brother.  This does happen and it is enjoyable to read.  Its amazing to read how these two grew in understanding of each other. Ben becomes closer with Zan then he does his own father.

The book does not sugar-coat having a chimp in the household. There are issues with research students, neighbors, and media.

Ben makes tough choices and shows great courage towards the end of the book.  I began crying at the end because of how touching the hope was in Ben.

Link to discussion guide.

Author Study of Steve Jenkins

Before any more time passes and this author study escapes my mind, I wanted to let you know how much my 3rd and 4th graders liked studying Steve Jenkins.  I really wanted to encourage nonfiction reading and one of the best authors currently writing is Steve Jenkins.  Simply put, he is pure awesomeness for science related nonfiction.  I'm going to explain more about Jenkins and his writing style by letting you know what I learned along with my students (and subsequently charted):

• Gets most of his ideas for his books from his own children asking questions.
• Uses cut-paper collage as illustrations.
• Topics mainly focus on science.
• Worked on a book with his father.
• Works with his wife on books.
• Writes introductions to begin all of his books.

Jenkins books are at many different reading levels from grades K-5--several of his books contain two levels of writing.  

I wanted to find a unique way to present information about Jenkins, so I searched for a Prezi on Steve Jenkins and found this one:

My students aren't constantly exposed to the format of Prezis, so it catches their attention in that way.

I had my students select a Jenkins book and answer questions about the book.  The questions asked were about the main topic of the book, their favorite illustration and what it was, three amazing facts they learned, etc.  The focus for individual students was just on one book and then they presented their information to the class, so we could collect information on multiple books.  My students really pined for Bones, Actual Size, Move!, What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?, and Biggest, Strongest, Fastest.


Prezi courtesy of Lisa Klingesmith: photo credit Nasa / Goddard Space Flight Center / Reto Stöckli Author Study/prezi.com

Oh, Little Mouse! Your Secret Is Out!

Recommended for PreK-K

There must be something about a little mouse and a big red edible object that is irresistible to young children.  In the new picture book by Éric Battut, Little Mouse’s Big Secret, kids go crazy for this book that focuses on humor, science, and sharing.  The text on one page and the cheerful illustrations on the opposite page interact wonderfully to tell the story of the adorable Little Mouse who finds a “delicious treat” (the illustration shows a cherry).  Little Mouse decides the cherry will be a secret and hides the cherry in the ground.  Lo and behold, Little Mouse is visited by multiple friends, one at a time, who wants to know his secret.  

“It’s my secret, and I’ll never tell, “ answers Mouse.  This is the repetitive refrain in the book.  The preschoolers I read to through the volunteer program Ready Readers, love to say this and wag their fingers back and forth.

With each animal visit, the reader will notice the illustrations in which Mouse’s cherry is sprouting from the ground and growing into a cherry tree with every consecutive page turn.  The funny part is (preschool verified), Mouse doesn’t notice this is happening because his back is turned.  The illustrations make it easy to identify stages of a plant’s growth—the tree sprouts, becomes a sapling, grows into a mature tree that blossoms, and when the blossoms disappear, cherries appear.  Mouse doesn’t even realize his “secret is out” until the cherries fall from the tree.  Mouse decides that his secret is then best shared with his other animal friends. 

Battut, E. (2011). Little mouse's big secret. New York, NY: Sterling.