From the 2003 OCIRA Fall Conference: Weaving Our Own Tapestry of Books

Ohio Reading Teacher, Fall 2003-Spring 2004 by Hendershot, Judith

The Battle of the Alamo, synonymous with Texas independence, is a much argued and well-told tale in United Stares history, but Murphy is credited with doing an admirable job of separating myth and fact for Inside the Alamo, also published in 2003. Early on in his book notes he acknowledges that some issues surrounding the battle might never be resolved. All that said, Murphy has crafted a highly readable account of this two week period in early American history, setting aside speculations about bravery and the fate of the hero Davey Crockett to address what seems factual from photos, illustrations, and the most reliable documentation. As with An American Plague, students in grades 6 and up will find the content and structure of the text most manageable.

Aliki's new book Ah, Music.' is destined to become a valuable resource for grades 1 -4, and it should be on every music teacher's bookshelf. Aliki masterfully lays out concepts in music background in a child-friendly manner not unlike a musical composition, so that it seems to accumulate like a fine description rather than just informational text. She likens musical notation to handwriting and refers to it as creation that comes to life through instruments that play it and voices that sing it. Musical history is broken down into manageable stages for early learners to grasp. Designed as an introductory text, this book will bring young readers back to it over and over.

Patricia and Frederick McKissack's Days of Jubilee: The End of Slavery in the United States traces the stages of the emancipation of slaves in a well- organized text full of first hand narratives, letters and primary source documents. This book is a four star resource for history study from grade 4 up and will surely be the core book choice for theme explorations. Leo and Diane Dillon's elegant illustrations and duotone photographs and engravings are mood setting and convey the urgency of the struggle.

Books mentioned

Aliki. (2003). Ah, music! New York: HarperCollins.

Bryant, A. (2003). Beautiful blackbird. New York: Atheneum.

Clark, A. (1976). Secret of the Andes. New York: Puffin.

Cushman, K. (2003). Rodzina. New York: Clarion.

Dotlich, R. (2003). In the spin of things. PA: Boyds Mills Press.

Franco, B. (2003). Mathematickles. Illus. S. Salerno. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Lewin, T. (2003). The lost city. New York: Philomel.

Lowrey, L. (2003). The silent boy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

McKissack, P. & F. (2003). Days of jubilee: The end of slavery in the United States. New York: Scholastic.

Munoz Ryan, P. (2002). When Marian sang: The true recital of Marian Anderson. Illus. B. Selnick. New York: Scholastic.

Murphy, J. (2003). Inside the Alamo. New York: Clarion.

Murphy, J. (2003). An American plague: The true and terrifying story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. New York: Clarion.

Paulsen, G. (1990). Hatchet. New York: Delacorte.

Paulsen, G. (1996). Brian's winter. New York: Delacorte.

Paulsen, G. (1999). Brian's return. New York: Delacorte.