Reading Matters Winter 2018

The Borden Murders, Braille, and Bullies: A Children’s Literature Review Column for Teachers

Jonda C. McNair with Clemson University Students

Thunder Boy Jr. Alexie, Sherman. (2016). Illus. by Yuyi Morales. Unpaged. Little, Brown. 978-0-316-01372-7. $17.99 (Primary). —by Ellie Corbin Have you ever wanted to change your name because you felt it just was not normal? In this story, a boy

This column features a selection of recently published high-quality books about various topics, such as the infamous Lizzie Borden murder trial, the life of Louis Braille, and a neighborhood bully. There are also a number of genres, including contemporary realistic fiction, biographies, informational text, and fantasy. These genres span a wide age range in that there are picturebooks for young readers and older readers, transitional chapter books, middle-grade novels, and young adult novels. In addition, I have made sure to include culturally diverse literature that is representative of the world in which we all live. Clemson University undergraduates who are participants in the Creative Inquiry Program helped me write this column. I hope you will enjoy reading and sharing these books with your students as much as my students and I enjoyed reading them. Please feel free to send comments and feedback about the column to jmcnair@ clemson.edu. I would like to hear from you. Happy reading!

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named Thunder Boy Jr. tells his audience a huge secret: “I HATE MY NAME!”Thunder Boy Jr. was named after his father but longs for a normal name. Throughout the story, the boy discusses different names that he would rather have, such as Full of Wonder because he dreams of traveling the world or Old Toys Are Awesome because he likes going to garage sales with his mom. He cannot find any reason that his name should be Thunder Boy Jr. The story is child friendly regarding word choice and includes fun speech bubbles and various text sizes on the pages to add emphasis. Morales intricately illustrates each page through vivid watercolor drawings that help establish the setting of each page and provide readers with a visual of the characters. At the end of the story, Thunder Boy Jr. gets an exciting and ironic surprise from his dad. What do you think his surprise is? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

Trouble Next Door: The Carver Chronicles, Book Four English, Karen. (2016). Illus. by Laura Freeman. 139 pp. Clarion. 978-0-544-80127- 1. $14.99 (Primary/Intermediate). —by Audrey Lauren Rick What if your favorite neighbors were replaced by your school’s biggest bully? What if that bully moves in while you’re supposed to

Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille Bryant, Jen. (2016). Illus. by Boris Kulikov. Unpaged. Alfred A. Knopf. 978-0-449-81337- 9. $17.99 (Primary/Intermediate). —by Hannah Minnick “ Too small …Those words! I wanted to be bigger, stronger, older. Perhaps if I showed Papa what I could do….” Ever since Louis Braille

be working on your science fair project? Those are the problems Calvin finds when Harper moves in across the street. Calvin must deal with a neighboring bully while competing in the school’s science fair. Calvin works on his project while he learns that not everybody is exactly how they seem and while he struggles to work as he faces procrastination. In Trouble Next Door , Calvin begins to form friendships he never imagined possible. Harper works hard on his behavior and grades in school, and Calvin is very concerned that he won’t be able to get a new video game! What will Calvin do if he can’t win the science fair and get the new game? Calvin develops into a young man who relates well to others and doesn’t judge a peer before he gets to know them, and he’s even willing to share his favorite food. Laura Freeman’s art pulls the readers further into the story through simplistic and cartoon-style drawings, which display the emotions of the characters. Will Calvin finish his project, or will he spend all of his time hiding from a bully and hanging out with friends? Trouble Next Door is bound to pull young readers deep into the story of Calvin and Harper as they conquer the big issues of fifth grade.

was a young boy, he had a wild curiosity for gaining knowledge and being just like Papa. One day when he was just 5 years old, his curiosity led him to a hardship that would change his life forever. He was blinded and now unable to read and learn like his friends. Yet, this did not stop little Louis! Author Jen Bryant tells a moving and inspirational biography of a boy who refused to be held back by his disability despite what others said. Louis went on to invent the Braille system that is still used today and has changed the lives of many. The text and illustrations allow readers to experience Louis’s emotions throughout his journey. Readers are also able to see the world through his eyes because the watercolor illustrations transition between dark and light. This story of passion and perseverance is sure to speak to all

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