Digital Commons @ ACU (Abilene Christian University)

Martinez, Shan

Lorgnette v.37 no.3 Book Review:  WHAT'S INSIDE A BIRD'S NEST?: AND OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT NATURE & LIFE CYCLES      Author Ignotofsky, Rachel    Illustrator Illustrated by the author  Reviewer Shan Martinez   Pages Unpaged  Price $19.99  ISBN  978-0-593-17652-8  Publisher & Date Crown, 2024   Classification Nonfiction (598)  Grade Level 2-5          ** Book Review:  WHAT'S INSIDE A BIRD'S NEST?: AND OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT NATURE & LIFE CYCLES This book is all about birds!  The author and illustrator created a marvelous book.  Each opening is full of birds in their natural habitat with a simple narrative that younger and older readers will enjoy.  Beginning with descriptions of different kinds of nests and then moving on to eggs, the text will enable readers to learn something new with each page.  Some birds sing a complicated song to attract a mate; others do a dance.  Some birds pair for the moment, while most pair for the mating season.  Hatchling, nestling, and fledgling are all names for baby birds at different stages of development.  This book offers a lot of images to look at and a lot of information about birds to process.  Readers will enjoy this book!    

English

What’s Inside a Bird’s Nest?: And Other Questions About Nature & Life Cycles

Baker, Laura

Lorgnette v.37 no.1 Book Review:  FIVE LITTLE GHOSTS       Author Murray, Lily    Illustrator Illustrated by Holly Surplice  Reviewer Baker, Laura   Pages Unpaged  Price $16.99  ISBN  978-1-5362-3500-5  Publisher & Date Candlewick, 2024   Classification Fiction  Grade Level PreK-1           Book Review:  FIVE LITTLE GHOSTS "Five little ghosts floated off one day/over the hills and far away. /Mama Ghost said 'Fly back to me!'/ How many ghostlings can you see?"  This counting book repeats this rhyme, a variation on "Five Little Ducks," to create a Halloween-themed story for young readers.  After each iteration, readers are invited to lift the flaps on the page to find the mischievous ghostlings.  From the forest to a cozy living room to an outside playground, the ghostlings hide in various places.  But they are also disappearing.  Five ghostlings go out, but only four are to be found.  Then these four zoom off, but only three are found.  Finally, Mama Ghost is missing all her spooky brood when she calls them all home with a loud "Whoo! Whoo!"  The flap reveals everyone together as they happily reply, "Boo!"   This is a good story for one-on-one time.  Children will quickly learn to look for the flaps to reveal the hiding place of each ghost, some of which are cleverly disguised.  The pages seem sturdy enough while new, but expect it to acquire the usual worn attributes of a well-loved book.      

Five Little Ghosts

Motivation plays a critical role in the development of young children. This action research study had two purposes: to understand the role of intrinsic motivation in a kindergarten classroom, as well as to gather student and teacher perceptions of motivation strategies already being implemented. To guide the research, the researcher formulated two questions: 1) What is the role of intrinsic motivation in learning in a kindergarten classroom setting? 2) What are teacher and student perceptions of strategies designed to foster intrinsic motivation in the classroom? Qualitative data was gathered through survey responses, student and teacher transcribed interviews, and observation notes. Data was analyzed using the constant comparative method and descriptive statistics. The researcher identified several approaches contributing to motivation within the classroom, such as positive reinforcement, choice and autonomy, optimism towards learning and school, and individual student motivation. Overall, findings reflected positive perceptions towards the teacher-designed strategies being implemented

Cook, Cally R.

Fostering Intrinsic Motivation in a Kindergarten Classroom Setting

Dyer, Caitie

Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic

Stasney, Lea Ann

Lorgnette v.37 no.3 Book Review:  FRINDLE FILES, THE      Author Clements, Andrew    Illustrator Illustrated by Brian Selznick  Reviewer Lea Ann Stasney   Pages 198p  Price $17.99  ISBN  978-0-399-55763-7  Publisher & Date Random House, 2024   Classification Fiction  Grade Level 4-8         ** Book Review:  FRINDLE FILES, THE STOP!  Go no further with this book!  Find and read FRINDLE (1996).  This book tells the story of Nick and a word-loving teacher who tells her students that objects must be named (or renamed) by someone.  “Frindle” is the word Nick assigns to his pen.  “Frindle” becomes wildly and widely accepted to the extent it is marketed by one of the town’s businessmen. THE FRINDLE FILES continues the student/teacher relationship.  However, the second installment finds the tables flipped with Nick (known to his students as “Mr. N”) and a student who very much reminds him of himself as a student.  Josh is the school techno expert, and Mr. N appears to be anything BUT techno-savvy.  The battle of words and technology wits is on when Josh discovers his mother’s old pen labeled “FRINDLE.”  Who is the mysterious Mr. N?  Why does he seem to be against the use of technology?  Why does he insist on handwritten assignments?  These books are highly recommended for three reasons.  First, both are fun reads, and it could be interesting to see present-day students’ reactions to the differences in current and past learning environments.  Secondly, these  Lorgnette v.37 no.3 Book Review:  FRINDLE FILES, THE books lend themselves to both read-aloud and independent reading.  Finally, Clements’s books could prompt a study of past and present word origins.      

The Frindle Files

Isbell, Melinda

Violin of Hope

Lorgnette v.37 no.3 Book Review:  HAIKU, EW!: CELEBRATING THE DISGUSTING SIDE OF NATURE      Author Brunelle, Lynn    Illustrator Illustrated by Julia Patton  Reviewer Shan Martinez   Pages Unpaged  Price $20.99  ISBN  978-1-7284-9250-6  Publisher & Date Millbrook, 2024   Classification Nonfiction (811)  Grade Level 2-5          ** Book Review:  HAIKU, EW!: CELEBRATING THE DISGUSTING SIDE OF NATURE This book is unique, and that’s why young readers will love it!  On each opening, the author combines a haiku with fun illustrations and narratives that explain the gross animal behavior described in the poem.  Readers will be surprised that lobsters pee out of nozzles in their faces, flamingos poop on their legs to help them stay cool, and baby koalas eat their mom’s poop.  It’s all gross, and children love gross.  This book would pair nicely with a poetry unit.     

Abilene Christian University

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What’s Inside a Bird’s Nest?: And Other Questions About Nature & Life Cycles

Five Little Ghosts

Fostering Intrinsic Motivation in a Kindergarten Classroom Setting

Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic

The Frindle Files

Violin of Hope

Haiku, Ew!: Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature

The Zoo Inside Me

This Is Not a Cholent

Grow Your Colors: Planting and Eating Healthy Foods With Sesame Street

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