In Print

NEA Today, Mar 2006

In Print

CAN ONE PERSON MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

In Say Something, author Peggy Moss tells of a girl who watches silently as her peers are teased and ostracized. But after experiencing that singular humiliation for herself, she learns the true cost of remaining silent, and finds the courage the following day to speak to a lonely girl on the bus. The book is most appropriate for children in grades two through six, but this short, sweet story offers a lesson for all ages. 32 pp. $16.95 from Tilbury House Publishers. Go to www.tilburyhouse.com.

LEADERSHIP WITHOUT A NET

An English teacher and department chair, author John G. Gabriel shares wisdom on how to approach today's multifaceted leadership demands and implement changes in a struggling school in How to Thrive as a Teacher Leader. He addresses the all-important need for building a cooperative team of teachers and administrators founded on communication and mutual respect, and provides practical suggestions for boosting morale and mediating conflicts. The book also includes a section on teaching assessments. 220 pp. $27.95 from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. To order, visit www.ascd.org/books.

A FIGHT FOR FLIGHT

With no experience and only a hodgepodge of materials, a retired cheesemaker resolves to build a flying machine. Written and illustrated as an "inventor's journal" by award-winning graphic designer Pablo Bernasconi, Captain Arsenio: Inventions and (Mis)Adventures in Flight employs quirky but oddly charming, collage-like illustrations with a Rube Goldberg sensibility to complement this tale of loony obsession. Ages 6 and up. 40 pp. $16 from Houghton Mifflin Company. Visit www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com.

THE secRET OF MY ESCUSCS

Through crosswords, cryptograms, and a variety of other puzzles, authors Jacqueline Byrne and Michael Ashley present SAT Vocabulary Express: Word Puzzles Designed to Decode the New SAT to help make vocabulary building as painless as possible. The puzzles are designed to help students learn how to decode unknown words, establish connections among similar words, encourage educated guessing, and increase overall vocabulary. The book offers a fun and inviting way to prepare for a dreaded test. 192 pp. $12.95 from McGraw-Hill. To order, visit http://books.mcgraw-hill.com.