Radical Change

In this blog, I do not plan to write up each book I read, but every once in awhile I'm sure I will feel the need to do so. It just so happens that I want to share my most recent read.

I just completed April Wayland's Girl Coming in for a Landing: A Novel in Poems. This is a very quick YA read. This book is all poems written in first person, and it follows a young teen-aged girl through her school year. I enjoyed the poems, the storyline, the illustrations, and the topics (the topics were very relivant...actually several of the poems were from Wayland's journal of her teenage years). What I enjoyed most about this novel was the format. I love books written in unusual formats, and this one definitely fits what Eliza Dresang would call a Radical Change book.

Rating

If you are not familiar with Radical Change: Books for Youth in a Digital Age by Eliza T. Dresang, I would recommend that you pick it up. Dresang looks at three kinds of change: changing forms and formats (graphics in new forms and formats, nonlinear organization, etc.), changing perspectives (multiple perspectives, etc.), and changing boundaries (previously forbidden subjects and overlooked settings, etc). Wayland's novel is definitely a radical change type of book.

Happy Reading,

Dr. Quinn

Summer Reading

I have set a goal for my summer reads. This summer I hope to focus more on some YA. I have chosen the following books: Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson, Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr, The Girls: A Novel by Lori Lansens, Girl Coming in for a Landing: A Novel in Poems by April Halprin Wayland and Elaine Clayton, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (this is a long book so I may struggle with this one), and I have also just picked up Redwall: The Graphic Novel by Brian Jacques. Someday I hope to do a post on graphic novels. I am an extremely slow reader so it will be interesting to see when this list is accomplished.

Happy Reading,
Dr. Quinn

Mock Caldecott

This year my two children's literature classes and my graduate class on response to literature all participated in separate mock Caldecott activities. My two undergraduate classes chose Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine (Author) & Kadir Nelson (Illustrator) as their medal winner. However the graduate class chose Pssst! by Adam Rex as their medal winner.

Other books that were honored include: The Cheese by Margie Palatini, Steve Johnson (Illustrator), Lou Fancher (Illustrator), Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals by Ashley Bryan, Ashley Bryan (Illustrator), The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis, Peter Sis (Illustrator), & Diary of a Fly by Doreen Cronin, Harry Bliss (Illustrator), Harry Bliss (Illustrator).

Happy Reading,

Dr. Quinn

Favorites

I am often asked if I have a favorite book or a favorite author. The answer is no I do not have one favorite, but I do have several authors that I enjoy most. I really enjoy (in no specific order): Mo Willems, David Shannon, Chris Van Allsburg, Avi, Laurie Halse Anderson, and David Wiesner.

Happy Reading,
Dr. Quinn

Beware...I Can't Spell

Although I have a PhD and I am a professor of education, I cannot spell at all. As a matter of fact, I am self-diagnosed LD in spelling. Soooooo, beware of copious amounts of spelling errors. I will correct all I can, but I will not sacrifice my energy to write by going to http://www.dictionary.com/ just to correct a word. If the spellcheck picks it up then great. Otherwise. sorry, but that is just me.

One book that I connect with is Woolvs in the Sitee by Margaret Wild and Anne Spudilas.



This book is completely written in invented spelling. I loved it. Some of my students struggled reading this, but I had no problem. I felt like I was at at home with the spelling. :)

So reader you have been warned! Anything goes when it comes to spelling within this blog!

Happy Reading,
Dr. Quinn