Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms by Lissa Evans

It is hard to believe that very soon we will start our first read aloud of the year.  Some teachers start with the same book each year.  Some because they haven’t learned what books their students will like, and some because they read the same books every year.  I don’t fit in this mold.  I have been on the look out for a read aloud for a third grade class.  This year I will have lower readers, so I am not sure what that will bring.  I just finished a book that is on the top of the stack for the first read aloud.  The funny thing I bought one at The Bookies and one came from Amazon. (I got a very generous gift card from my students at the end of the school year.)

British Cover

Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms by Lissa Evans is a wonderful tale. (Funny in England it is Small Change for Stuart.  A much better title!)  Stuart Horten is a vertically impaired 10 year-old. He is teased at school about his height, and S. Horten. His mother’s job has changed so the family must move.  Dad realizes that the town in which he grew up is close to Mum’s new job, so the family moves to Beeton.  Dad writes crossword puzzles.  He uses very large and odd vocabulary.  At one point Stuart thinks he should just have a question mark tattooed on to his forehead, and just point at it when his talking with his dad!  Unfortunately, the move happens at the beginning of summer vacation.  Making it very difficult for making new friends.

Once arriving Stuart find that he had triplet girls living next door, April, May, and June.  It is easy to say that Stuart is not thrilled that there are three snooping girls next door.  Stuart soon finds out that his great uncle was a magician, but he disappeared during World War II.  Stuart, also, discovers a hidden note from this uncle with clues to finding his workshop filled with magical mechanisms.  Grudgingly, at first, Stuart accepts April’s help in solving the mystery.  There is, of course, a time crunch because his uncle’s house is set to be demolished.

I really enjoyed this fast read.  It was witty, and filled with 10 year-old angst.  I liked how Ms. Evans fostered the new friendship between these two odd and different kids.  If I decide not to do it first I will do it as a read aloud later in the year.  The vocabulary is rich, and luckily the book has the definitions. 

I am open to suggestions for read alouds.  Also, why did they change the name for the States?  Go figure.

The New Sam Gary Branch Library in Denver

Dad in front of the new library.

Last night my dad and I attended the “sneak peek” of the new Denver Public Library Branch in Stapleton.   My parents live about three blocks from the new library.  My 76-year-old dad walked Rosie, his dog, to watch the construction everyday.  He knew about the electrical, the state of the art lighting (it includes using natural filtered light to illuminate the building).  He knew the artwork was delayed etc., etc., etc.  When I told him I got us tickets to go he was beside himself.  Mom said it was all he talked about for days. 

Dad is a reader.  He didn’t go to college, and his father had an 8^th grade education, but I remember both of them always reading.  My dad doesn’t have great comprehension, and he forgets that he has already read a book. (Actually, he is forgetting a lot of everything.)  One time he was half way through Centennial by James Michener when he realized he had already read it!  Dad said last night “I am going to be here everyday it is open.”  City budget cuts only allows for branches to be open 32 hours a week. 

It was a wonderful evening to watch my dad stroll the shelves and look at titles.  I showed him a book about the history of Lego. (Samsonite used to make Lego.) He said he was going to be there August 11, the day it opens, to check it out for my nephew Levi.

I was a little bad because I pulled a copy of Fake Mustache and placed it on an end cap!

The Sam Gary Library is beautiful.  During one of the, little, speeches it was mentioned that people wanted a modern day Carnegie Library.  Not an easy request.  The exterior of the building is nice, but the spirit of the Carnegie Library lives inside.  It is an inviting place to be.  There is a fireplace with seating, building filled with new books and a huge children’s section.  Overall it is a place a 76-year old man feels comfortable reading his books.  Thanks Dad!

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again by Frank Cottrell Boyce

I had one of these.

My dad worked for Samsonite.  In 1969 the company transferred him to Mexico City, so he packed up our family and moved us from Denver to one of the largest cities in the world.  The movie theatres in Mexico City were GRAND.  They had ushers to seat you, etc.  It was in one of these theatres that I saw a movie that made me love cinema for the rest of my live.  Close to the middle of the movie the family car, being driven by Caractacus Potts, goes off a cliff; and instead of crashing , it flies!  I was hooked.  The movie of course was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  Ian Fleming was the author of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and James Bond.  To be honest I have never read anything written by the author, but I love movies based on his work.  (Except for Moonraker, and a couple of other really BAD Bond movies.  Yes, I am looking forward to Skyfall the new Bond movie.)  Just like today there were toy tie-ins to the movie.  I had a model Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car just like the one in the picture.  It was so cool because when I pushed the button wings popped out just like in the movie!

Anyhow, I was at The Bookies and saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again by  Frank Cottrell Boyce.  I really enjoyed Cosmic, so I was excited that he wrote the book about a beloved character.  Ian Fleming’s estate authorized the sequel.  The new book takes place in modern day Britain.  The Tooting family is your typical 21^st century family.  Mum, Dad, Lucy, Jem (short for Jeremy) and Little Harry have no idea that when Dad looses his job; and Mum brings home an old Volkswagen van that they are in for an adventure of a lifetime.  Since Dad was fired because his hands were too big to do his job he restores the old van.  During the first test drive Dad and Jem realize the spark plugs need to be replaced.  They head off to a junkyard to find the parts, but end up with a racing engine instead.  Yes, it is Chitty.  As you can imagine the fun is just beginning. 

With his new freedom from the work force, Dad and family decide to head out on an adventure.  The first stop is Paris.  Given that Chitty is involved they don’t get to Paris the typical way.  In fact, they end up landing on the top of the Eiffel Tower.  Soon after they arrive a mysterious man named Tiny Jack wants to buy the van.  After leaving Paris they head for Egypt.  Lucy has always wanted to see the Pyramids. She is very morose.  Where is the Cure when you need them? 

A series of events happen and they end up at Tiny Jack’s very large house.  I don’t want to give too much away.  I will tell you that Dad and Mum leave for a night out on the town in an Aston Martin DB5.  It comes equipped with all the extras.  I love the connection to Ian Flemings other character.  Their leaving leaves the children in a bad situation.  Of course we all know who saves the day.

At first I was unsure about the book.  I thought the Tooting name was too close to the song Toot Sweets from the original movie.  So, I kept expecting a family connection.  Once I got over that and realized that it was car parts that were the connection I quickly fell in love with this book.  It is funny, thoughtful, and silly.  I know a few kids that will find the book truly scrumptious.

spy school By Stuart Gibbs

Last year Guy’s Read Book Club read belly up by Stuart Gibbs.  It was by far the favorite book of the year.  Many parents ended up reading it as well.  Recently, I found Mr. Gibbs newest book Spy School while scouring the shelves at The Bookies.  I was very excited to see a new book from a great author.  After finishing the book I stand by my statement about Stuart Gibbs.

Spy School is a covert school located in Washington DC.  It is run by the CIA, and its sole purpose is to train kids to be spies.  Most of the instructors are ex CIA operatives.  In other words that are too old or incompetent to be spies!   One day an average nerdy, 12 year old, named Ben Ripley comes home to find Alexander Hale, a spy, sitting in his living room. (Later we find that Alexander Hale is a total “Dig Me!”) Alexander is there to take Ben to spy school.  Ben is a mathematical genius, so he is told that he has qualified to be a spy.  What they didn’t tell him was the truth.  He is, actually, supposed to be a patsy, or a trap. While at Spy School he makes new friends, new enemies, and quickly finds out he is in over his head. Oh, and he saves the day.

OK, so that was a very brief blurb on the book.  I figure I would spend the time writing about what I like about the book.  Just like Belly Up, it is very funny.  Not slap stick funny, but situational funny.  Mr. Gibbs creates these very unrealistic situations that once you finish reading you say. “On, I could totally see that happening!”  The book is filled with wonderful characters.  It is very hard to figure out friend or foe.  This is important in a mystery.  I, also, like that Ben knows that he is not perfect. 

Another thing I like about the book is the layout.  Each chapter is titled, followed by location, date, and time.  I am not going to give the chapter number, but one chapter is titled:  

Interrogation 

Cheney Center for the Acquisition of Information

Most kids aren’t going to get the references, but REALLY how funny is this!

I quickly read this book, and I am giving it to a student this morning.  Unfortunately, the book is not right for Guy’s Read.  It is very much a high 4^th grade and above.  Not just reading level, but content.  You know just because they can read it doesn’t make it right. 

The Dead Gentleman by Matthew Cody

Finding new books for Guy’s Read is fun, but can be very challenging.  There is a three year, maturity, level; and probably, a seven year reading range.  Therefore, it is hard to find books that most of the guys will enjoy.  That is why I read blogs and spend time in front of the bookcases at The Bookies.  On a recent visit I found a book that will fit most of the readers in our group.  Of course I need to wait for it to come out in paperback.  Besides that it will be perfect.

I’ll be very honest, often I judge the book by the cover.  In other words does it look like something third, fourth, and fifth grade boys will be willing to open and read.  After checking the cover I read the back and the inside flap to see if it catches my interest.  Call me shallow, but it seems to work!  The flap was filled with words like: secret, Explorers, street orphan, mysterious, investigating, and betrayed.  These are the reasons I dropped The Dead Gentleman by Matthew Cody in my book basket.  (Thank god they don’t have shopping carts.)

Tommy Learner, a street orphan from the 19^th century; and ends up meeting Jezebel Lemon, a 12 year old girl dealing with her parents divorce, from the 21^st century.  They meet in the basement of the apartment building Jezebel calls part time home, and the building Tommy was betrayed in. 

Their meeting sets of an adventure where these two have to save earth and figure out how to travel through time.  Tommy was a street urchin that crossed the wrong “gentleman”.  Through a string of events he ends up in the underwater ship of Captain Scott.  The Captain tells Tommy that Jules Vern based his ship in 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea on his ship. 

I’m not going to go into more details of what happens, but instead focus on what I liked.  (I’m stealing this from Ms. Yingling Reads.)  I loved the voice.  It was cool the way one chapter was the author and the next was of Tommy telling the story.  This will make kids think.  The reference to two time periods was exciting and interesting, and once they were together and traveled through the “worm hole” it was hard to put the book down.

Often when a book ends it is easy to tell that there will be a sequel of a series.  Sometimes this is a great way to end a book.  Others it seems to be a copout to coming up with a great ending.  It happens in movies too.  The worst being Star Wars:  Episode V-The Empire Strikes Back.  I mean we knew there was going to be another one, but can’t you do better.  I am not going to do a spoiler, but…..I really liked the end of The Dead Gentleman.  It ended soundly, but could be interpreted that a sequel could happen. 

When it comes out in paperback, and the guys pick it I will let you know what they thought.

Fake Mustache or, How Jodie O’Rodeo and Her Wonder Horse (and Some Nerdy Kid) Saved the U.S. Presidential Election From a Mad Criminal Mastermind by Tom Angleberger

I, quickly, read Fake Mustache or, How Jodie O’Rodeo and Her Wonder Horse (and Some Nerdy Kid) Saved the U.S. Presidential Election From a Mad Criminal Mastermind by Tom Angleberger.  The title gives you a hint on how funny the book is going to be.  I laughed out loud the entire time I spent reading the book.  It ended up being the last read aloud of the year.  More on that later on. 

The story is about a 7^th grader named Lenny Junior, his best friend Casper Bengue, and Jody O’Rodeo,  a television star from a canceled show.  (Very Hannah Montana!)  Lenny’s friend buys a fake moustache, and sets out to take over the world.  Casper buys the moustache at Sven’s Fair Price Store, which sales many items from the Heidelberg Novelty Company.  (The company plays a big part of the story.)

From the beginning Casper sets up Lenny as the bad guy.  With a friend like that who needs enemies?   The mustache has the ability to brain wash people.  That is everyone except Lenny, Jodie, and Sven.  The antics to save the day are what make this book SO very funny.

As I said earlier I read this as my last read aloud of the year.  It’s funny we spend all summer trying to figure out the best first book, but because the end of the year is so frantic the last book is often an after thought.  To be honest I hadn’t given it much thought either.  After I finished Fake Mustache… at home I knew I had found the perfect book to end a VERY HARD YEAR. 

Often when Read Aloud time is over kids beg for more.  Sometimes it is because they are enjoying the book, sometimes because it is a cliff hanger and they want to know what comes next, and sometimes because they know that we love to read and they don’t want to have to work.  You know what I mean!  What makes this a great read aloud is, of course it is hilarious, but it also gives us the upper hand during read aloud.  “Mr. Kimmal read more!”  “OK, one more chapter.”  It took them awhile to figure out that some chapters were less then on paragraph. 

I loved Origami Yoda, but didn’t feel it was appropriate for third graders.  I still don’t think they get the true meaning of the story.  Even though there is crushing in this book it is done in such a slapstick sort of way that kids just groan, laugh and go on.  

Personal Note

I have not blogged in a long time.  I finished my 15-year of teaching and it was one of the worst.  (My first year was teaching 7^th and 8^th grade Spanish at an urban school in Boston, and this was worst!)  I had a really tough class, a new principal, an administration that was challenging, and the topper, a team that was backstabbing and deceitful.  Our team spent five hour-long sessions with a mediator.  Many things suffered because of this.  I spent all my energy being positive in the classroom and at home.   I’m not sure what next year will bring. I have a new team, two first year teachers; and I know what to expect from administration. 

I spent the first two weeks of the summer in France.  We took our moms to Paris and Bordeaux.  I ate well, drank well, and enjoyed being with people I love.  I am now ready to get back into the swing of things.

Hooray for Diffendoofer Day by Dr. Seuss

My friend Carol has written a lot lately on our state’s “big” event.  As we all know the pressure put on teachers and students over this test is counterproductive to what we should be doing:  teaching, and learning. 

One of my student’s father works for a rocket company.  Kindof cool.  I can say “What, you think your dad is a rocket scientist?  And he can reply “Why, yes he is!”  Well, anyway his company goes to schools and builds rockets out of two litre soda bottles, and other fun stuff.   After they are “built” we take the third graders out and they shoot them off.  Last year it was the best memory of the year.  Given the company’s busy schedule, and our science unit about space the logical time for this activity was set for the Thursday and Friday before the “big” event.  Like I said this has been planned for months.  Everyone from the principal to the other third grade teachers knew the dates and time commitment.  Well, today came the realization that it is days before the “big” event, and even worse it takes time away from mathematics.  There is concern that by a few kids missing two days of instruction it will negatively impact their test scores.

I read the email multiple times to see if there was fine print saying “just kidding!”; but alas it was not there.  Now to be blunt a few things entered my head, and some were said with my door closed at lunch; but for the sake of this being a blog I’ll just censor my thoughts:  “What the…..” Really!  If they aren’t ready now what will two more******* days do?”  After calming down I decided that I would do what I always do when I need to be calm in front of my class.  I READ A PICTURE BOOK.  Not any book, but one that told them what I really thought.

I read Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! by Dr. Seuss.  I have read this book many times.  I use it as a mentor text when we discuss using our brains to think, and that we are capable of doing so much.  In third grade they split up the “big” event over two months.  ????? We take Reading in February and Writing and Mathematics in March. In our class we discuss how we started preparing for these test the day our first story was read to us, the first time we knew a number, and the first time we wrote a letter.  In other words we know what is on the test, so sit back and show the state what you can do. 

In my heart I, truly, believe this.  I am, also, not naïve enough to believe that I don’t need to teach these wonderful students the formats of the test.  The format of the editing paragraph on the writing test is enough to put anyone over the edge. What will the results show?  They will show that some students still struggle, and some fly.

What won’t the results show?

·      laughter

·      compassion

·      deeper thought

·      questioning

So in the words of Dr. Seuss:  “Miss Bonkers teaches a pig to put on underpants, and ducks to sing.  Mr. Kimmal teaches your shoes are untied,  and what's on your shirt?  Mr. Kimmal, also, teaches EVERYTHING!  He’s different-er than the rest.”