Great and Sublime Fool: The story of Mark Twain

Caravantes, Peggy Great and Sublime Fool: The story of Mark Twain
Morgan Reynolds 2009 176p 28.95 978-1-59935-088-2 ms/hs
World Writers (Morgan)(This series has been on our Books of Note Lists several times in past years. )

This detailed biography connects his life to his writings. Twain's humor comes through in direct quotes. His up and down financial status and his vulnerability coupled with fixed beliefs in a new typesetting machine is captured in the title of the book. Grades 7-12. If a student wishes to understand Twain/Clemens; his humor, his inspirations, his vulnerability, his brilliance, and his popularity, this is the place to start. Caravantes connects Twain's life to his writings. Showing Twain's social, political, and religious beliefs as they are presented in his lectures, writings, and friendships, the reader will realize that Twain was ahead of his time in many ways. His wanderlust took him across the United States and Europe, finding a human story everywhere he went. The importance of family to Twain is clearly presented including his marriage, his children and the impact they had on him and his writing. While most likely a difficult man to live with, his love and concern for immediate family were a constant in his life. His inventions outside of writing met with little success. When faced with monetary woes, he always bounced back with another piece of writing. Quotations from Twain show his humorous side. Photographs of family and acquaintances give a flavor of the early 20th century to contemporary readers. A timeline, bibliography, and index complete the book. A very engaging writing style coupled with an attractive format will make this book a hit with student researchers or those who just want to know more about Mark Twain. Strongly recommended for grades 7-12. L. McNicol

Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask

• Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask

  Evaluating web pages skillfully requires you to do two things at once:
  

• 1. Train your eye and your fingers to employ a series of techniques that help you quickly find what you need to know about web pages;

• 2. Train your mind to think critically, even suspiciously, by asking a series of questions that will help you decide how much a web page is to be trusted.

• This page is organized to combine the two techniques into a process that begins with looking at your search results from a search engine or other source, follows through by investigating the content of page, and extends beyond the page to what others may say about the page or its author(s).

• Check this website out. It is a great resource for librarians!
  

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Don’t be a copycat! by Nancy Bentley

Bentley, Nancy. Don’t be a copycat!
Enslow, 2008, 64p, $27.93, 978-0-7660-2860-9.
Series: Prime

It is never to early to learn why you shouldn’t steal other people’s words. In this book, you will learn what the word Plagiarism means and why it is not right to copy other people’s words when you are doing a report. You will also learn how to read information from books and web sites and then process the information. Instructions then provide you with the tools to write what you learned, your opinions, your observations, and your arguments, or conclusions. With this process, you will learn new words. You will be able to interpret what you have read, and then you will be shown how to take notes on the most pertinent things for your report. The concept of copyright. To copyright something is to protect it from stealing.

Learn how to create a great original report using your own words and learning the research process. If you follow the outline or steps to a great report you will be able to learn and you will have a lot to write about because of your notes of important information about your topic.
Includes: illustrations, pictures, fact boxes, charts, graphic organizers, guidelines, bibliography, web sites, glossary and index. MD

Emancipation Proclamation: would you do what Lincoln did? by Elaine Landau

Landau, Elaine. Emancipation Proclamation: would you do what Lincoln did?
Enslow, 2008, 48p, $23.93, 978-0-7660-2899-9.

In the middle of the Civil War, Lincoln is confronted with a delicate decision. If he signs the Emancipation Proclamation, it will free the slaves and have profound significance for the Confederate states and the Union.
This book presents a situation in history in which an important person has to make a history changing decision, in this case it was Abraham Lincoln.
The book is structured so that information is presented then followed by questions that will help to develop critical thinking skills. The following chapter enlightens the readers as to the course that Lincoln chose.
This text is crisply written and fully illustrated with a low reading level accompanied by full color illustrations. The inclusion of several lists, where to obtain more information, web sites and a glossary/index make this a useful research tool.
Having taught third and fourth grades for several years, I feel that this particular format of colored pictures, multi shaped pictures, boxed questions, and primary source illustrations will appeal to readers. LM

Treatment of animals from a scientific and ethical viewpoint

Bekoff, Marc. Animals Matter.
Shambhala (Random House), 2007. 202p $14.00 978-1-59030-522-5

This title, from the author of “The Emotional Lives of Animals,” examines the treatment of animals from a scientific and ethical viewpoint. Beckoff, who has a PhD in biology, analyzes the scientific research with the philosophical ideas and humane values to present arguments for the ethical treatment of domestic and wild animals. The forward is written by Jane Goodall. Some of the topics include: animal feelings, the difference between animal rights and animal welfare, captivity, and experimentation. Bekoff takes the point of view that animals are sentient and should always be treated humanely.
This is an updated edition of the 2000 copyrighted title “Strolling with Our Kin: Speaking For and Respecting Voiceless Animals” which was printed for children by the American Anti-Vivisection Society. Bekoff has expanded the information to include new research as well as a glossary and an index.
“Animals Matter” is a thoughtful book that would be a very good addition to high school libraries. It will be of interest to animal lovers as well as a good title for research. TW

Ask Here PA: Live answers to your questions 24/7

Ask Here PA is Pennsylvania's new statewide live chat reference service and is a free service to all residents of Pennsylvania, offering live chat reference 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

"We'll be here to help you get answers to your questions, any time and anywhere you have Internet access. Unlike other "expert" sites on the Web, there is no charge to use our service. We'll be doing what libraries have always done best -- quickly getting you the accurate, unbiased information you need."

http://AskHerePA.org/

[TIPS] world clock

http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock.swf

We've seen world population clocks before that tick away (presumably) as the population of the planet increases. This one goes a step - several steps - further. It also counts things such as the earth's temperature, the number of species that have gone extinct, the number of deaths (broken down by causes), and many more items - even how many bicycles have been produced. You can view the clock by the yearly stats, monthly, weekly, daily, or even one that will reset the counter to NOW.

Have this running up on the screen when the students enter the classroom and let them decide for themselves which statistic is the most.. interesting?.. alarming?.. to them. A writing prompt? A topic for further research? A class wiki?