Fold Me Up, Scotty

Origami Club is a huge site where kids can learn more about the wonderful art of paper folding. There are easy creations for younger kids like this simple cat, which has instructions in both diagram and animation.


Following these instructions to make their chosen creation will give kids great practice in visual literacy. Why not let them choose several clothes to dress a character, and then describe it in words? Or try out different paper planes for distance or aerobatics, then record the details of their experiment? Or create sea creatures for a wall mural that displays their poems about the sea?


Another fun origami site is Tammy Yee's Origami Page. Tammy shares her own art work. You print out her illustrations and follow directions to fold them, like with this swallowtail butterfly.


For folding according to two themes, try this museum site where Michael Fosse shows the folds to create several origami models on video. Kids click on the model they would like to try, in themes of Polar Origami, and Origami Now (bat, frog, duck etc).


If you'd like your kids to see some inspirational folding, check out this short video below. It's in German, but you don't need to know the language to understand what's happening. It might give your kids an idea for a narrative of their own.

Papierkrieg from Makaio Tisu on Vimeo.

Art can give kids a focus for their writing, and tap into that deep well of creativity that lies within us all.

Letter to the Book Chook - Free Reading Material

Hello, how can I get reading material not expensive or free please. Let me know - prek to 4 grade. I have two kids and the boy does not read very good. He needs all the help. Also I send books to schools in Lima Peru for kids in that country to read in English, and get to like the language. Thank you very much. V.


Hi, V!


It's not easy to find really good free reading material online. That's understandable when writing, illustrating and publishing are professions and like all professions, they expect to be paid for their time and their tremendous talent.


My personal belief is that publishers and authors who offer some work to the public via a website will be rewarded with a loyal fanbase and new readers. I am judging this solely on my own online behaviour, and also commonsense. I LOVE publisher sites that offer me value in the form of learning activities to support books, or writer sites where I can get a taste of a book, or at least of the writer's style. If I'm buying online, I would much rather spend money on a book when I have an idea of what the book is like, and that there is extra support for that book via a website. So, generally, google your favourite book publisher and writer sites to see what they offer.


There are several websites that offer free online books. Unfortunately, just because a book is free doesn't mean you will find great writing within its cyber covers. I have found some gems though.


Storyline Online is a huge free site. You can click on your book of choice and listen to it being read aloud by an actor, while you follow the words in a text box on the screen. It also weaves illustrations from the book into the video. Some of my favourites like Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge and Stellaluna are here. I love it because the books are ones I would recommend on my blog. Beautiful!


Mrs P.com has some online stories, read aloud by Mrs P herself, after an entertaining introduction. Kids are listening to these stories rather than following with their eyes. There is also an intriguing-looking Magic Library but I couldn't get it to play nicely with my browser.


The PBS Between the Lions website is excellent. If you don't know it, take some time to explore it with your kids. I like the fact the little videos are engaging AND help with reading by highlighting words as they are read aloud. Use the left side menu to scroll through all the choices, both fiction and nonfiction.


Starfall has lots to read online. There are plays, myths, folktales, fables, fiction and nonfiction. Clicking on the ear icon will allow kids to listen while they read the pages. It really helps a young reader to hear the words spoken at the same time as he is looking at the words. That's one reason read-alouds are so important. Don't forget the poetry section at Starfall with poems like Who Has Seen the Wind by Christina Rosetti. Short texts like poems and songs can be very engaging for young readers.


Let's not forget RIF's Reading Planet! Kids can watch and listen to stories there, and songs too.


Do you know the author Mercer Mayer? He wrote the Little Critter books, fun for under 8s. His Little Critter site is generous, with several stories you can hear online in the form of Mercer Mayer reading aloud, and also pages to view and read online.


The International Children's Digital Library has hundreds of books from all over the world and in different languages. They are organized very well, and basically the site brings you a page at a time that you read with your eyes, then click the arrow to read the next. Not as high tech as some of the others, but special as an online library for the world's children. It's really worth a browse to see some wonderful illustrations. This also looks to be a useful way for self-published writers to promote their books. One book I enjoyed was Insect Soup, a book of poems about bugs.


Not free, but One More Story also has some lovely books. In stories like Pete's Pizza, kids can listen and read along, with words highlighted as they are said. The story's illustrations are above, with the text below, just like a real book with kids either clicking to turn the page at their own speed, or opting for automatic. Unfortunately, a subscription costs. For homes, $44/year. Only you can decide if that is inexpensive for what your kids would get out of it. Personally, I would prefer a bricks and mortar library for free.


At Robert Munsch's website, you can download the writer reading his own books aloud as mp3s. Though not for commercial use, you could certainy load them onto a player and your kids can listen while they read along on their own Munsch books or library books.


Speakaboos has some great free stories like Arthur and Aladdin for kids to listen to and read along with.


Boowa and Kwala have stories to read which chronicle the adventures of the two characters, interspersed with minimal animation and sound. This site is gorgeous. I have a separate post coming up about it soon.


The library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County has an online feature called Storyplace, which has a preschool and elementary section.


Read some Beatrix Potter stories online.


Read some classic fairytales online.


At the BBC Cbeebies website, kids can read stories online, and listen to some at the same time. This might give your son an idea of a book he would like to search out at the library or at school. I love the voices in Charlie and Lola!


Read Grimms FairyTales online. Kids can choose the text only version, or the flash version where they can listen and read along.


If your kids are into jokes, they can read jokes online at Chickadee.


If your son likes nonfiction, he might like these online picture books about Science topics I found recently. The tunes of the sung ones are really catchy. (Thanks to Kelly Tenkely of iLearn Technology)


We Make Stories is also a subscription site BUT one of its activities is free. At ReMix-it, kids can change the words of such classics as Black Beauty, from the options provided.


Lil' Fingers has a storybooks section where kids can read (but not listen).


Professor Garfield has toon books where you can read and listen at the same time. Cute illustrations.


The Toronto Public Library has links to other sites for you to explore, and many great online stories of its own, like Owl Babies, a Book Chook favourite.


We're not talking great literature with some of the sites above, but it might while away some time for your youngsters, as an alternative to print reading.


I have to admit, I love "real" books best though. If you want actual print books that are not too expensive, the best place is your local library. Most libraries nowadays encourage borrowers to take several books for weeks at a time. They also offer audio books, videos, and even an online catalogue where you can search for and request the exact books you want. Children's librarians are some of the loveliest people I know, so make sure your kids get to know them, because they will have excellent suggestions to make. And don't forget your school library!


Sometimes borrowing library books doesn't satisfy a child's urge to own a book. Do you have garage sales or markets near where you live? Regular trips to these will build your kids a fabulous home library in no time. And while you're at the local library, check to see if they have a "3 books for $2.00" trolley like mine does. Secondhand stores or Op shops seem to be a growth industry where I live, and these are also worth checking when you want to buy inexpensive books. I think it's wonderful that you are sending books to Peru for kids there. It makes good sense to recycle books that we no longer need, by sending them to kids who do.


V, whatever reading material you help your kids to find, make sure you share it with them. Kids are never too young or old to be read aloud to, and we know for sure that a parent's reading aloud every day makes a difference to a child's reading attitude and ability. Nothing will ever replace a parent's role in encouraging and helping kids to read.


Thanks for your letter to the Book Chook. Your kids are so lucky to have a mother who wants to be involved in her children's reading!


Sincerely,

The Book Chook


Photo credit: Morguefile - Columbus (Ohio) Metropolitan Library, Kid's Section.

Maps

Maps fascinate me. That doesn't mean I'm good at giving or receiving directions. I happen to be one of those chooks who has to turn her whole body around to read a road map, and I am still convinced the sun rises in the west in some parts of the world I've visited. There is just something about a map that draws me to it, and has me tracing its contours and dreaming. I adore fantasy books that have a map to help you understand their world. I think of old maps as art, and can lose myself in their muted colours and the dreams they provoke.


My observation is that kids love maps too, particularly creating them. Five-year-olds can learn a lot from representing a finite area like a park with 3D found objects, and older kids relish inventing their own pirate maps, or mapping their classroom layout. Mapping activities provide opportunities for kids to practise visualization, mathematics, interpreting data, drawing to scale, and communicating with an audience. If your child doesn't have an atlas of his own, why not consider buying him one, and helping him learn more about our wonderful world through its pages? Maps and stamp collecting go really well together too, and provide many opportunities for more reading and learning. 


There are some wonderful sites online that promote mapping. National Geographic has slick interactive activities where kids can search for sunken treasure, explore a pyramid with a robot camera, explore Mars, and more.


While playing a "game" at National Geographic, kids are learning about symbols, how to use co-ordinates, scale etc. The site also has bite-sized information about maps and mapmaking, for kids who are ready to move past games, and insights into some modern-day explorers. The links for educators page lists many great activities, lesson plans and resources about mapping. I especially like the Mental mapper, which shows the same place from a child's and an adult's perspective.


If you or your child share my fascination with old maps, take a look at David Rumsey's Historical Map Collection This site is such a neat way to tap into the visual history of our world. There are over 120 historical maps scanned in, and represented within Google Maps. You can also see the whole collection of over 20 000 images by launching an application called Luna Browser, or use other apps like Second Life and Google Earth. Check out this map of the World Globe 1790, and this fabulous wood block print of Kyoto 1709 (these are via Google Maps so you don't need to download any software to view.) It's a beautiful place to let your imagination roam.


Printable World Map has many free printable maps, perfect for home schoolers and teachers. Maps are also in different categories like fill-in-the-blank maps, labelled maps and blank maps.


Mapquest has all the features you need to zoom around the world on different digital maps. You can use your mouse to slide the map around, and zoom in and out with the slide bar. Enter country to change maps at top left.


I'm sure everybody knows Google Maps, a fantastic resource. Did you know they have collaborated with Russian railways to let you take a virtual tour of the Trans Siberian Railway? Be sure to choose your own music or literature before you start the journey. I chose balalaika, but you can pick rumble of wheels to add to authenticity. Not only are you there looking out the train window, but you can also jump to certain places on the route map. Closest I'll get to the Volga!


Scribble Maps has roughly the same features as other online map sites, like zoom etc, but it also lets you scribble on maps, add markers, add text, add images from a url that the site scales to the map via the toolbar in the top left corner. I amused myself by drawing a cat in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean, but I can think of many practical applications for this site. The menu button in that same toolbar gives you the chance to save your work, print it, send to a friend and even create a widget of your map. Fun to try to trace an explorer's journey, or mark out your own holiday route. This is very cool.


Kids geo.com has some nice games where you have to identify capitals, match locations with states and countries etc


Geognos isn't just about maps but I'm mentioning it here because it's a handy site for finding facts about countries quickly. Click on a flag to find information about that country. You'll not only see a map you can zoom into and out of, but also photos, history, and geography-related facts.


Free maps and mapping-related clip art.


American Memory has some lovely old maps in its collections and is well worth a look.


Mapping resources from Geography Awareness Week (National Geogrpahic again.)


When you're finished playing with maps, why not head over to Placefy? This is a game that asks you to identify world cities after looking at a picture. Even if you are not a world traveller, it's fun to try to use visual clues to work out the answer.


Recently, I watched a TED video about a huge advance in mapping with Bing maps. This is called augmented-reality mapping. Please take a few minutes to check out this technology. If you're a geek like me, I know you'll be wowed!


Late addition: just found out about The Map as History from Free Technology for Teachers. On-line maps that use animation, colour and narration to bring history to life. (In English AND French!) 

Book Review, I Spy Dad

The more I read picture books, and I read a LOT of picture books, the more I realize that the most successful picture books are those where the writer and illustrator complement each other perfectly. I Spy Dad is such a book. Written by Janeen Brian, illustrated by Chantal Stewart, and published by New Frontier (2009), I Spy Dad is a charming romp with delightful characters, and is perfect for reading aloud.


I would love to meet Janeen Brian. I am betting she has a great sense of humour, and a flair for drama, as well as her undeniable talent, because that's the way she writes. I love her books and have reviewed Wishbone, Silly Galah, Too Tight Benito, Where does Thursday go?, Columbia Sneezes, Oddball, Elephant Mountain and By Jingo! an alphabet of animals here at The Book Chook. 


You just can't help loving this book. It's a celebration of dads - reading dads, weeding dads and even lively-leading dads. In Brian's impeccable rhyme, we meet all sorts of dads, and Stewart ensures they are all sorts visually too - different ethnic origins, professions and appearances. The illustrations are lively and fresh, a perfect complement to Brian's playful story.


I spy with my little eye dads all starting with d.
But can I find the one who's mine? I wonder where he'll be.


Kids love to play the I Spy game, so they'll instantly want to join the search. And I know they'll enjoy looking at all the dads and comparing him with their own as the story proceeds. The I Spy game itself would be a great way to either follow up or introduce the story. Older brothers and sisters might like to join in and spy objects that start with certain sounds, and little ones can look for things that are red, or round, or have legs.


I Spy Dad would make a great picture book for students studying families, or multiculturalism. I think it would also make a lovely gift for a dad who wants to share a special book with his child, one that shows dads in various roles, and reaffirms our understanding that all dads are special people.

Libraries Need Books AND Computers

Here's an interesting article from The Telegraph.co.uk. Apparently the National Literacy Trust did a study which found that less than half of the children studied aged between nine and fourteen read fiction more than once a month. They are more likely to read websites and emails for leisure. While I can't help feeling sad about the fun they're missing, I admit to feeling pleased they are reading at all. Besides, fiction isn't the answer to everyone's reading needs.


This quote from the article had me nodding my feathered head:


Academics believe there is abundant evidence that reading for fun is key to improving literacy from a very early age.


A new London University study, released today, shows that three-year-olds who are read stories every day tend to have significantly better reading abilities by the age of five than those who are not.


If they'd asked us, they could have saved themselves all that money.


And here is the quote from the article that made me cry:


But many fear schools are contributing to the problem by downgrading libraries in favour of web-based learning.


Ya think?


Downgrading any libraries at all is the most short-sighted step an authority can take. Libraries are havens for many, the one place in a community we can bank on learning being free. Libraries give us a key to entering different worlds, providing escape for some, and armchair travelling for others. In a library, I know I will find someone who can help me find entertainment, information, guidance, solutions, questions, and the way to find my own answers. School libraries need teacher librarians who know kids and know children's literature, not technicians chosen because of their lower rate of pay. As Gloria Blanchard said on The Book Chook in her article Aidan's Reading Miracle, what would kids like her grandson do without well-stocked libraries and teacher librarians?


Libraries need computers, so that we can access online information, but they need books too. Books become friends in the way a computer never will. There have been so many many times in my life when a book has helped me cope, taught me a lesson, made me laugh, made me cry, provided escape and relaxation. Our kids deserve that choice. Computers for when the internet or software is the answer, and books for when a book is needed. For when a friend is needed.


I asked children's author Sheryl Gwyther, who was  heavily involved in the SAVING AUSSIE BOOKS blog during the campaign against Parallel Importation of Books, what she thinks of library cutbacks. 


Sheryl: Recently many Australians fought a battle to save our local children's book industry against the onslaught of Parallel Importation and we won. Now all those who love children's books face an even greater concern - the gradual, insidious elimination of school libraries. Where else can children discover the world of the imagination every day of the school year? Or have the support of a trained librarian?

And the culprits to this destruction? Federal and State Governments from both major parties over a decade. The only way to save school libraries now is to harness the will of the people.
(You can read more at the Bright Ideas blog.)


The new US National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Katherine Paterson, said recently:


I have seven grandchildren, all of whom are well-equipped with electronic gadgets. Yet all of them are readers - because their parents are readers who have read to them, because they have teachers who care about literature and librarians who introduce them to books they will enjoy and be enriched by. (via Jen Robinson's Book Page.)

I think it's essential we find out from our own school librarians, and community librarians what is going on in their libraries. If you discover that you and your family will be affected, then write to the appropriate politicians and express your concern. No, your outrage.

Downgrading libraries is a disaster!

Photocredit Flickr

Reader's Theatre (3)

In Reader's Theatre (1), I described Reader's Theatre as a great way to have kids interact with a story, as well as develop their imaginations. In Reader's Theatre (2), I revealed the Book Chook method for turning a piece of literature into a Reader's Theatre script. Such scripts make a wonderful project for families, Sunday School and Boy Scout groups, or whole classes to create. That creative process involves many literacy skills, and can be another way to link to the literature kids are reading. Picture books, traditional tales, and fairy tales all make accessible sources for these created scripts.


Now I want to discuss how I introduce a Reader's Theatre script to a group of children. Remember, Reader's Theatre can be used simply as a script to read aloud, with as few as two people to take all the parts, and no props or costumes. But I prefer it as a piece practised for performance in front of an audience.


If I want to use a script I've already written with a group of kids, the first thing I do is read the story aloud that the script is based on. Ideally, I do that several times as well as initiate activities that help kids get to know the text really well.


Then I explain the concept of Reader's Theatre. For young ones, this could be as simple as "Let's make a little play about this book." I introduce the script, reading it aloud with great expression, fluency and enjoyment. We become familiar with it. In a classroom, that would happen in Guided Reading sessions over a couple of days. Group or chorus reading follows, with each child having his/her own scripts by now. Once parts are chosen or assigned, a highlighter helps readers keep track of their own parts in a script. If kids aren't comfortable reading their part alone, they might choose to partner-read. Even though children can read from their scripts in a performance, they need plenty of opportunities to practise their parts so they develop fluency. Memorization is not necessary for Reader's Theatre, but some kids will have a whole script by heart in a blink!


Humour is always appreciated by audience and readers in activities like this. You can enhance the humour already present in a story by using exaggeration. If I were using the snippet of script I wrote about The Three Bears (see Reader's Theatre 2) with a group, I'd encourage the characters to think how they can best portray big, middle-sized and tiny with body movements and facial expressions. I'd have the chorus decide on the voices, actions and facial expressions they're going to use to accompany their lines ahead of performance, so that the audience is presented with a group "Awww" that exaggerates its silliness. Children often have good ideas for props or costumes that produce a smile. Does Papa Bear constantly have to hold his too-big trousers up? Could we use a thimble for Baby's bowl?


Once everyone has had a chance to develop individual fluency, practise as a group. Communication is the key! Make sure kids develop the habit of facing the audience when they read. Remind them not to cover their faces with scripts, and never use masks that cover the whole face. With older children, encourage them to look at the script only when they need to, so they engage eye contact with audience members. Clear speaking is essential, but may need to be enhanced with microphones, depending on the acoustics of your venue. Everyone tends to speed up when they're nervous, so I have my kids build in conscious breaks at commas and full-stops.


All of the above sounds very serious and important, and I believe these are core communication skills we should encourage. But don't forget to have fun with Reader's Theatre! It truly is fun, and just because the Book Chook way is to nudge it towards Opera House standards, doesn't meant that is the best way for you and your children.


In Reader's Theatre (4), I'll discuss different ways of using Reader's Theatre.

Photo Credit Flickr

Book Review, Birdsong

I have a new favourite picture book. Seriously! It's Birdsong, written and illustrated by Ellie Sandall, and published by Egmont UK, 2010. I was dusting the bookshelves where my to-be-read pile lurks, when my hand slipped, the book fell open, and I was drawn immediately into a beautiful fantasy. I plonked myself down next to the bookcase, read it, then read it again.


Sandall has kept to minimal, yet meaningful text to produce a picture book that children and adults will love. Her birds are bursting with personality, and each has its own unique call. This is an excellent story to read aloud. I can just imagine most littlies will have it off by heart very soon because of a combination of the bird noises and simple rhyming text.


It's also a great book for students studying visual literacy. The art work just zings off the page. I think kids will enjoy experimenting with collage, crayon and watercolour to try to imitate and innovate on Sandall's style.


What struck me immediately about Birdsong is its potential for performance. It's perfect as a book to read aloud to a group of children, then work together with them to develop a Reader's Theatre. (You can link to my articles about Reader's Theatre 1,and Reader's Theatre 2 and I have three more articles coming soon). The style of the illustrations will definitely inspire young artists to create their own birds, and these would make a wonderful backdrop for your performance. Children will enjoy creating their own soundscapes with bird calls, or you could add another dimension by including movement and body percussion.


Have you ever noticed how youngsters love books with noises they can imitate? Birdsong will be a definite hit with them, I'm sure. I predict some teachers and parents will wish their students had volume buttons. There's also a nice subtle lesson in the book, reminding us that it's not always the biggest and loudest who succeed! Grab Birdsong soon if you want a picture book with fun text, gorgeous illustrations, and an inspiring theme.

Aidan's Reading Miracle

I'm so pleased to welcome a great friend and fellow writer to The Book Chook, to share a story that may give hope to other parents and grandparents of dormant readers, and re-confirms my belief in the power of wonderful school libraries.

Gloria Blanchard is a Canadian author, whose writing has been published in The Verb, The Vancouver Sun, Rainbow Rumpus, and soon, Cricket magazine. As a mother, she raised two readers, then found herself bringing up her grandchildren too. While her granddaughter loved to read, grandson Aidan was a different story.

I began buying books for my grandchildren before they were born. I had a plan. My grandchildren would learn to read early and well. We would have fun!

Like most plans, this one didn’t quite work out. My granddaughter loved reading from the start. My grandson, not so much. He couldn’t keep still. He interrupted every couple of moments. He didn’t particularly care about the stories, except for a very few, Tikki Tikki Tembo being one. Aidan preferred creeping under the blankets, hooting like an imaginary animal, and best of all, annoying his sister. Reading at night left me exhausted and irritated. Reading together became torture. By the time Aidan reached grade three, he could barely read basic words like “and” or “the.” I was beside myself.

Realizing I had to save my sanity, I decided one day to opt out of the struggle. I told my grandson if he wanted me to read to him, I’d be happy to as long as it was at a reasonable time. I no longer picked books for him when I went to the library for myself. I felt as if I was deserting him. The school delicately suggested he be tested for ADHD and when the paediatrician confirmed the diagnosis, my grandson began to take medication.

This marked a turning point for Aidan. Finally, he could sit still long enough during reading time at school to make an effort. He had always been more interested in non fiction books, especially if they were about gruesome critters. The colourful pictures and small blocks of interesting facts weren’t intimidating for him so I made sure he had access to plenty of non-fiction. However, it wasn’t until the fifth grade that my grandson found a fiction book he loved. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney was the first fiction book he devoured. He read every one in the series and sometimes read to me.

The next book he fell in love with was Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel. I was stunned. This is a thick, meaty book and Aidan wanted to read the entire series. He couldn’t stop telling me about the plot of the story and what was happening to each of the bat characters. It was all alive to him, the way a book should be.

He is now in grade six and his current passion is Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the series by Rick Riordan. Seeing him immersed in a book feels like a miracle to me.

Do I feel guilty that I gave up on the struggle to help Aidan learn to read? Not at all. In spite of his ADHD, Aidan learned to read for several reasons and with the help of many people. First, his medication gave him the ability to still himself. Next, the school’s policy for a required reading time, up to 40 minutes per day, was essential. Equally important is our school’s great library, run by an experienced teacher-librarian. Aidan kick-started his own reading habit because he found the right book by himself, written by a wonderful author in a library filled with unlimited choices.

Thinking about it, libraries are a kind of miracle too. What would kids like Aidan do without them?

Photo Credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hackett/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0