________________ CM . . . . Volume XVIII Number 15 . . . . December 9, 2011

cover

A Bath. (My World).

Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011.
16 pp., pbk. & hc., $6.95 (pbk.), $15.16 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-9521-6 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-9496-7 (RLB.).

Subject Headings:
Grooming behavior in animals-Juvenile literature.
Baths-Juvenile literature.

Preschool-grade 1 / Ages 3-6.

Review by Suzanne Pierson.

*** /4

   
cover

My Dog Likes Me. (My World).

Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011.
16 pp., pbk. & hc., $6.95 (pbk.), $15.16 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-9524-7 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-9499-8 (RLB.).

Subject Headings:
Children and animals-Juvenile literature.
Dogs-Juvenile literature.
Human-animal relationships-Juvenile literature.

Preschool-grade 1 / Ages 3-6.

Review by Suzanne Pierson.

*** /4

   
cover

When I Am Happy. (My World).

Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011.
16 pp., pbk. & hc., $6.95 (pbk.), $15.16 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-9528-5 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-9503-2 (RLB.).

Subject Heading:
Happiness-Juvenile literature.

Preschool-grade 1 / Ages 3-6.

Review by Suzanne Pierson.

*** /4

   
cover

Today is a Great Day! (My World).

Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011.
16 pp., pbk. & hc., $6.95 (pbk.), $15.16 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-9531-5 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-9506-3 (RLB.).

Subject Headings:
Optimism-Juvenile literature.
Attitude (Psychology)-Juvenile literature.
Positive psychology-Juvenile literature.

Preschool-grade 1 / Ages 3-6.

Review by Suzanne Pierson.

*** /4

   
cover

Are You Like Me? (My World).

Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011.
16 pp., pbk. & hc., $6.95 (pbk.), $15.16 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-9533-9 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-9508-7 (RLB.).

Subject Heading:
Individual differences-Juvenile literature.

Preschool-grade 1 / Ages 3-6.

Review by Suzanne Pierson.

*** /4

   
cover

Body Talk. (My World).

Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011.
16 pp., pbk. & hc., $6.95 (pbk.), $15.16 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-9536-0 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-9511-7 (RLB.).

Subject Heading:
Body language-Juvenile literature.

Preschool-grade 1 / Ages 3-6.

Review by Suzanne Pierson.

*** /4

   
cover

What is an Ocean?

Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011.
16 pp., pbk. & hc., $6.95 (pbk.), $15.16 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-9540-7 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-9515-5 (RLB.).

Subject Headings:
Ocean-Juvenile literature.
Oceanography-Juvenile literature.

Preschool-grade 1 / Ages 3-6.

Review by Suzanne Pierson.

*** /4

   
cover

My Community Long Ago. (My World).

Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011.
16 pp., pbk. & hc., $6.95 (pbk.), $15.16 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-9542-1 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-9517-9 (RLB.).

Subject Headings:
Village communities-History-Juvenile literature.
Villages-History-Juvenile literature.
Frontier and pioneer life-Juvenile literature.
Communities-History-Juvenile literature.

Preschool-grade 1 / Ages 3-6.

Review by Suzanne Pierson.

*** /4

   

excerpts:

You are like me in many ways.
You are also different in many ways.
Different is fun! ( From
Are You Like Me?.)

Unlike the previous books that I reviewed from the “My World” series of Bobbie Kalman’s Leveled Readers (see Vol. XVIII, Number 3, September 16, 2011), all eight books in this review are of the same quality – nothing outstanding but nothing to be concerned about. Currently, there appear to be 48 books in this series, six at each level. This review looks at one book from each level, all published in 2011.

      The book covers are colour coded to indicate the level, from A to H. This will help beginning readers know what books they can read now, and what books they can look forward to reading next.

Six of the books at the lowest levels, A, B, C, D, E, and F, begin with a page titled “Words to know”. The “Words to know” page includes words or phrases with pictures. These words are printed in bold when they are used in the books. These six books are 16 pages in length, compared to the 24 page format of the two higher level books.

The two books at the highest levels, G and H, begin with a table of contents (“What is in this book?”) and end with “Words to know” and “Index” page which also includes pictures. Beginning readers may find the pictures helpful to remind them of the page they are trying to find. Pictures used throughout the series reflect the diversity of students in today’s classrooms.

All eight books end with a final page of “Notes for adults” that explain the objectives of the book and give pre- and post- reading discussion questions. Some of the activities seem less appropriate than others. For example, in A Bath, the adult is to ‘ask the children to bring a toothbrush to class’ to practice dry brushing. I think it would be easier to ‘[p]ractice washing hands’ while singing two verses of Happy Birthday.

Included at the bottom of the page is a notation sending the adults to on-line teacher’s guides. Unfortunately, the resource is incomplete, and the eight books that are reviewed here are not included in the list available at the website.

Level A
A Bath uses a repetitive sentence (The ____ has a bath) and colourful photos to identify animals (a robin, an elephant, etc.) and children taking a bath.

Level B
My Dog Likes Me contains pictures of dogs doing unusual things, such as ‘jumping like the fish’, to help beginning readers practice reading sentences in the present continuous tense – verbs ending in ‘-ing’.

Level C
When I Am Happy repeats the sentences ‘I ____ when I am happy. I like to ___.’ Pictures of children clapping, jumping, shouting, and other activities illustrate happy, active children. The extension activity in this book identifies several ‘different states of happiness’, such as excitement, contentment, etc.

Level D
Today is a Great Day is written with rhyming words. Some of the sentences are forced to fit the rhyming words, but young students are not likely to notice. Positive thinking and positive behaviour are modeled.

I learn many new things
at my school
I think my school is really cool!
“Today is a great day!”

Level E
Are You Like Me? could lead to some interesting discussions of some very important diversity concepts. The book examines ways that we are the same and ways that we are different. The “Notes for adults” at the end of the book suggests discussing similarities such as: “What do they [children] need to stay alive? What things do they need to feel safe and happy? How do they all change from the time they are born to the time they become adults?” Ways that we are different, such as gender, name, culture, etc. are also suggested topics for class discussions.

Level F
Body Talk illustrates many non-verbal ways that we communicate feelings. “Notes for adults” suggests that ‘children who have Asperger’s syndrome’ may find the photos of the expressions of the children helpful to learn how to read the non-verbal cues.

Level G
What is an Ocean? is written in the format of a beginning nonfiction reference book. Sentence structure is simple but the information is more extensive than in the lower leveled books.

Icy oceans
The Arctic Ocean is at the top of Earth.
The land around it is called the Arctic.
Polar bears live on the ice in the Arctic.

Level H
My Community Long Ago introduces young readers to how people lived in the past ‘by comparing aspects of community life then and now.’ Some of the topics included are “Places to learn, Clothes, and Travel then and now.” Colourful photos depict modern day activities opposite activities from the past. which are depicted by colourful and detailed drawings.

If you need leveled readers, you might choose to purchase some of these books to supplement your collection. Be aware that the quality of individual books in the series can vary significantly. It is best to examine every title individually rather than assume that the titles are equally appropriate for your students.

Recommended.

Dr. Suzanne Pierson is a retired teacher-librarian, currently instructing Librarianship courses at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364
Hosted by the University of Manitoba.
 

NEXT REVIEW | TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - December 9, 2011.

AUTHORS | TITLES | MEDIA REVIEWS | PROFILES | BACK ISSUES | SEARCH | CMARCHIVE | HOME