1. Class #2, November 20  Evaluating fiction  Christina’s book talk  Jack Gantos presentation  Lolly on Lynne Rae Perkins  Books for browsing Break  Discussion Papers Books: small group Books: entire class  Preview nonfiction

2. Evaluating fiction  Useful books Lessons  Engaging books High interest Emotional response  Good books Exemplary writing Enjoyment  learning

3. Warning signs  Too many coincidences  Too much happens  Some characters are believable while others are over the top (Are they all in the same movie?)  Tone doesn’t match what is happening  Dialogue doesn’t ring true (Nothing loses a reader faster than unbelievable dialogue)

4. Classic books  “Children’s Classics” Horn Book PDF http://www.hbook.com/pdf/childrensclassics.pdf http://www.hbook.com/pdf/childrensclassics.pdf  Anita Silvey recommendations: 500 Great Books for Teens  All over the web

5. Best of the year lists  Horn Book Fanfare  BCCB Blue Ribbon  ALA Notables  ALA BBYA Links to all of these on class website

6. Christina’s book talk The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

7. Jack Gantos presentation Reid Bryant Chris Hokanson Along Kim

8. Lynne Rae Perkins  b. 1956 in Pittsburgh PA  BFA in printmaking  Now lives in north woods of Michigan with husband and two children  Since 1995 4 picture books, 2 novels, all well received  BGHB honor books: Home Lovely and Snow Music  2006 Newbery Award for Criss Cross  Warmth of family, importance of friends, does not shy away from hard truths and complexity

9. Lynne Rae Perkins web resources Lynne Rae’s website (very basic, some ideas for teachers) http://www.lynneraeperkins.com/ Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books interview, 2000 http://bccb.lis.uiuc.edu/0200rise.html NPR interview, January 2006 (read or listen) http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php? storyId=5170249 Profile by her editor (Horn Book, July 2006) http://www.hbook.com/publications/magazine/articles/ jul06_duncan.asp

10. More recommended contemporary realism

11. BREAK

12. Discuss papers

13. Book discussion—small groups  Get into groups of ~6 people  Discuss All Alone in the Universe and Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key  Were Joey and Debbie believable characters? If so, how was this accomplished?  The biggest difference between these two books is TONE. How does this affect you as you read the book?

15. Horning’s nonfiction checklist  Accurate (acknowledgements, bibliography, glossary)  Organized  Engaging  Well written  Eye-catching presentation