Journeys: Young Readers' Letters to Authors Who Changed Their Lives.

Journeys: Young Readers' Letters to Authors Who Changed Their Lives.       Candlewick Press          2017   226p.  $9.99            ISBN 978-0-7636-9578-1          ms/hs  Letters  VG

Letters About Literature is an annual program hosted by the Center of the Book in the Library of Congress that solicits letters from students in grades four through twelve to authors who have impacted them in some way. The book is a collection of those letters arranged by age and “stages of a journey: destination, realization, and the return home”. The letters are very personal, drawing connections between novels and poems and daily life, family history, bullying, escaping reality, career inspiration, race, etc. The young authors write inspiring and heart-wrenching messages to the authors of the works they relate to, confessing deep feelings, fears, concerns, and connections to literary characters. The collection could be used in lessons for similar projects within a classroom or to encourage participation in the national program.                          

Summary: Letters from readers to authors reveal the impact of literature on young lives.         

Biography, Language Arts                                    --Stephanie Pennucci

Berne, Emma Carlson What Is An Idiom When It's At Home?

Berne, Emma Carlson           What Is An Idiom When It's At Home?       Capstone Publishers 2018   32p     27.32  978-1-5157-6388-8            elm/ms                       VG-BNS           

“An exploration of idioms, covering what they are, providing examples, and including related exercises.”      Upper elementary and middle school students who enjoy learning about English language will appreciate this new title on idioms in the “Fact Finders: Why Do We Say That?” series.  Written in an easy-to-read format, students gain a better understanding of what idioms are and will be able to provide solid examples to others.  The author touches upon figurative and literal meanings, as well as phrasal verbs and clichés.  Students will be able to identify the idiom and its literal meaning with real world examples.  The author provides students with a history of idioms and how they are used worldwide, as well as providing insight to the future of idioms with today’s technology and use of emojis.

The author includes colorful illustrations, tables, charts, “Try It Out” sidebars, “Did You Know” facts, a glossary of terms, recommended books, critical thinking questions, a special code to use on FactHound, and an index.

            Fact Finders (Capstone)       As of this review, four titles have been published in this new series, Fact Finders: Why Do We Say That?   Each title reviews  parts of speech & basic grammar properly in a fun way to teach students.       Forba-MacCain, Charleen Idioms ; Language Arts. 

Journeys: Young Readers Letters to Authors Who Changed Their Lives

Journeys: Young Readers Letters to Authors Who Changed Their Lives           Candlewick Press      2017   226p   9.99    978-0-7636-9578-1            ms/hs             VG       

Letters from readers to authors reveal the impact of literature on young lives.           

Letters About Literature is an annual program hosted by the Center of the Book in the Library of Congress that solicits letters from students in grades four through twelve to authors that have impacted them in some way. The book is a collection of those letters arranged by age and “stages of a journey: destination, realization, and the return home” (p. xiv). The letters are very personal making connections between novels and poems to daily life, family history, bullying, escaping reality, career inspiration, race, etc. The young authors write inspiring and heart wrenching messages to the authors of the works they relate to, confessing deep feelings, fears, concerns, and connections to characters. The collection could be used in lessons for similar projects within a classroom or to encourage participation in the national program.                           Pennucci(3), Stephanie        biography, language arts