Look below for help with current Westwood Public Schools homework assignments.
If you're a teacher and would like sites added for an assignment, please contact Lizzy Healy at Ehealy@minlib.net
Hello Everyone and Welcome back to School! Fall is almost officially here and I am sure the homework is piling up. Check back here to your friendly neighborhood homework help blog for all your school needs and feel free to post any questions you may have. - Librarian Lizzy ;)
There are many kinds of stories that have animals in them, some are about characters who love animals or have a special connection to animals, like horseback riding; others are fantasy and are about animals that can talk like humans and have the same problems as humans. There is such a wide variety that I implore you to come to the library (the main or the branch) and take a look through our fiction that are labeled with animal stickers. Here are a few examples of animal books: (but remember there are plenty more at the library!) J Fiction Adler, CS- One Unhappy Horse Breathed, Berke-Flawed Dogs Byng, Georgia- Molly Moon Corder, Zizou- LionBoy Dahl, Roald- Fantastic Mr. Fox DiCamillo, Kate- Tale of Desperaux Graham, Kenneth- Wind in the Willows Jacques, Brian- Redwall London, Jack- Call of the Wild London, Jack- White Fang Sewell, Anna- Black Beauty Voigt, Cynthia- Young Fredle White, EB- Charlotte's Web White, EB- Stuart Little
As always please post any questions! I'm always happy to help.
Below you will find a list of the selection of multicultural books we have at the library. If you have any questions, post them on the blog or come into the library!
Multicultural Books
AlvarezHow Tia Lola Came to Stay (Dominican Republic)
AviBeyond the WesternSea (Ireland)
BosseTusk and Stone (India)
BradbySome Friend (African-American)
BudhosAsk Me No Questions (Bangladesh)
CameronColibri (Guatemala)
CarmiSamir and Yonatan (Israel)
CarvellSweetgrass Basket (Native American)
ChenPeiling and the Chicken Fried Christmas (Taiwan)
ChengThe Lace Dowry (Hungary)
ChengHoneysuckle House (China)
ChoiYear of Impossible Goodbyes (Korea)
ChoiEchoes of the White Giraffe (Korea)
ClintonA Stone in My Hand (Gaza Strip)
CoferCall Me Maria (Puerto Rico)
CowleyHunter (New Zealand)
D’AdamoIqbal (Pakistan)
DhamiBollywood Babes (India)
DhamiBhangra Babes (India)
DohertyThe Girl Who Saw Lions (Tanzania)
EllisThe Breadwinner series (Afghanistan)
FilipovicZlata’s Diary (Sarajevo)
FlakeThe Skin I’m in (African-American)
FletcherShadow Spinner (Iran)
FletcherAlphabet of Dreams (Iran)
ForresterDust from Old Bones (African-American)
ForresterSound the Jubilee (African-American)
GeorgeJulie of the Wolves (Eskimo)
GiffNory Ryan’s Song (Ireland)
GlatshteinEmil and Karl (Austria/Holocaust)
HansenThe Heart Calls Home (African-American)
Hamiltonnumerous titles (African-American)
HausmanThe Jacob Ladder (Jamaica)
HerreraDowntown Boy (Mexico)
HesseLetters from Rifka (Russia)
HoRice without Rain (Thailand)
HossackGreen Mango Magic (Hawaii)
HurstTorchlight (Ireland)
JimenezThe Circuit (Mexico)
JimenezBreaking Through (Mexico)
JohnsonBird (African-American)
JohnstonAny Small Goodness (Mexico)
KimmelSword of the Samurai (Japan)
LevineDave at Night (African-American)
LevitinJourney to America (Germany/Holocaust)
LyHome is East (Cambodia)
McCaughreanThe Kite Rider (China)
MahChinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society (China)
MatasDaniel’s Story (Germany/Holocaust)
MeadGirl of Kosovo (Albania)
MonjoPorcelain Pagoda (China)
MorpurgoKensuke’s Kingdom (Japan)
MwangiThe Mzungu Boy (Kenya)
Namiokanumerous titles (China)
NaidooWeb of Lies (Nigeria)
NaidooNo Turning Back (South Africa)
NapoliThe King of Mulberry Street (Italy)
O’DellMy Name is Not Angelica (Senegal)
OrlevRun, Boy, Run (Poland/Holocaust)
OrlevThe Man from the Other Side (Poland/Holocaust)
Parknumerous titles (Korea)
ParkinsonKathleen, The Celtic Knot (Ireland)
PearsallTrouble Don’t Last (African-American)
PearsallCrooked River (Native American)
RyanEsperanza Rising (Mexico)
RyanBecoming Naomi Leon (Mexico)
SachsCall Me Ruth (Russia)
SalisburyEyes of the Emperor (Japan)
SalisburyUnder the Blood Red Sun (Japan)
SchanzerEscaping to America (Poland)
SkrypuchAram’s Choice (Turkey)
TateThe Secret ofGumbo Grove (African-American)
Taylornumerous titles (African-American)
UchidaA Jar of Dreams (Japan)
UchidaThe Invisible Thread (Japan)
WatkinsSo Far from the Bamboo Grove (Japan)
WhelanGoodbye Vietnam (Vietnam)
WhelanHomeless Bird (India)
WhelanThe Turning (Soviet Union)
WoodDaughter of Madrugada (Mexico)
WoodruffThe Orphan of Ellis Island (Italy)
Woodsonnumerous titles (African-American)
WyssBear Dancer, The Story of a Ute Girl (Native American)
YeeTales from GoldMountain: Stories of the Chinese in the New World (China)
Books or stories in the historical fiction genre blend actual historical facts with fiction. A story could be a fictional account of a character but during a real historical period in time ( for example Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson). There are many stories to choose from, because there are many different periods of time that you can find a story in. Look here for to see an interesting chart that explains the different kinds stories in historical fiction. Here is a very detailed list of some of the historical fiction books we have in the library. There are so many, that if you want to come to the library we can help you find the kind your looking for.
Historical Fiction
600 A.D. – 1599 A.D.
Medieval Worlds
J Fiction
Armstrong-Raleigh’s Page (1500’s/England)
Armstrong-Whittington (1423/Black Plague)
Avi -Crispin: Cross of Lead and At the Edge of the World (England)
Bulla-The Sword in the Tree (King Arthur)
Camelot-Camelot (King Arthur)
Crossley-HollandArthur Trilogy (King Arthur)
Cushman-Catherine Called Birdy (England)
Cushman-Matilda Bone (England)
Dana-Young Joan (France)
Davis-Future Knight (1409)
DeAngeli -The Door in the Wall (England)
Dorris-Sees Behind Trees (America)
Edwards-Dragon: Hound of Honor (France)
Grant -Blood Red Horse (Crusades)
Jinks -Pagan Series (France)
Kelly-Trumpeter of Krakow (Poland)
Konigsburg -A Proud Taste for Scarlet & Miniver
McGovern-Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest (England)
McKinley- The Outlaws of Sherwood (England)
Mitgutsch-A Knight’s Book (/Germany)
O’Dell-The Captive (1500’s/Mexico)
Picard-Stories of King Arthur & his Knights (King Arthur)
Pope-The Perilous Gard (England)
Snow - Sisters of the Sword (Feudal Japan)
Spradlin-Youngest Templar series (Europe/Crusades)
Stolz - Bartholomew Fair (England)
Sutcliff- Tristan and Iseult (Ireland)
Treece -Splintered Sword (Vikings)
Vanderwal-The Battle for Duncragglin (Scotland)
Westall - The Wind Eye (England)
Yolen-Dragon’s Boy (King Arthur)
Yolen - Sword of the Rightful King (King Arthur)
1600 A.D. – 1799 A.D.
U.S. Colonial/Revolutionary Times
J Fiction
Anderson - Chains (Revolutionary War)
Anderson- Forge (Revolutionary War and sequel to Chains)
Anderson - Fever 1793
Avi-Captain Grey (Pirates)
Carlson - Attack of the Turtle (1776/Revolutionary War)
Collier - My Brother Sam Is Dead (Revolutionary War)
Cooney-Ransom of Mercy Carter (Colonial America)
Duble-The Sacrifice (Salem Witch Trials)
Duey- Hoofbeats: Silence & Lily, 1773 (Revolutionary War, Boston)
Field-Calico Bush (Colonial America)
Forbes - Johnny Tremain (Revolutionary War)
Gallico- Miracle in the Wilderness (Colonial America)
Giblin-The Boy Who Saved Cleveland (1798/Cleveland, Ohio)
Holmes- Cross of Gold (New Mexico)
Howard - The Crimson Cap (1687/Exploring America)
Hudson - Dawn Rider (Plains’ Indians)
Hurst-A Killing in Plymouth Colony (Colonial America)
Keehn - I Am Regina (French and Indian War)
Kerr-Worlds Apart (Carolinas)
Krensky-The Printer’s Apprentice (New York City)
Laird - Water Rat (Delaware)
Lawson-Ben and Me (Ben Franklin)
Myers-Spy! (Revolutionary War)
Myers-Time of the Witches (Salem Witch Trials)
Nixon - Maria’s Story (Williamsburg)
O’Dell- Sarah Bishop (Revolutionary War)
Petry - Tituba of SalemVillage (Salem Witch Trials)
Rees-Witch Child (Witchcraft)
Speare-The Witch of Blackbird Pond (Witchcraft)
Stevenson - Treasure Island (Pirates)
Wyss-The Swiss Family Robinson (Shipwreck)
1800 - 1899 A.D.
U.S. Pioneers, Civil War, Slavery, Reconstruction
J Fiction
Avi-Hard Gold (1859/California Gold Rush)
Avi - Iron Thunder (1862/Civil War)
Avi - The Seer of Shadows (1872 / New York City)
Barker-A Difficult Boy (1839 / Indentured Servitude)
Blos -Letters From the Corrugated Castle (1850’s/California Gold Rush)
Calvert-Bigger (1860’s/Frontier Life)
Calvert- Sooner (1860’s/Reconstruction)
Clark-Hattie on Her Way (1800’s/New York)
Clark - Secrets of Greymoor (1800’s/New York)
Collins -Daughter of Winter (1849/ Massachusetts)
Couloumbis-Maude March on the Run! (1800’s/Frontier Life)
Curtis-Elijah of Buxton (1859/Slavery)
Cushman-The Ballad of Lucy Whipple (1849/California Gold Rush)
Erdrich-The Birchbark House (1850’s/Native Americans)
Erdrich-The Game of Silence (1850’s/Native Americans)
Erdrich-The Porcupine Year (1850’s/Native Americans)
Poetry is a kind of writing, usually in verse. Poetry verse is set out in short lines with words put together in rhythm or rhyme or both. Poetry is about a writer sharing with the reader an experience or strong feelings. Poems are written with words chosen for their sounds and beauty as well as their meaning.
Poetry began in prehistoric times when people passed down their oral history in poetic language and song. Through the years, three main kinds of poetry have developed: lyric, narrative, and dramatic. Lyric poetry is any short poem. Narrative poems are ones that tell stories, an epic or ballad. Dramatic poetry also tells a story, but in this case one or more of the poem's characters acts out the story, like a play.
The list below is filled with books that combine poems on a certain subject, books filled with a particular poet's (Shel Silverstein for example) poems on various things, and novels that are told through a series of poems called verse. There are many ways to present poetry, so if you are looking for something specific like a certain topic or format, please post your question, or call, or come into the library. Let me know if your teacher has given you specific kinds of format for this book report. We have so many books on poetry, so if you know of a famous poet, we can definitely find you a book of their poems. We will have a cart in the library set aside with some books of poems for you to look through when you come in. Have fun with this project and as always let me know any way I can help you find what your looking for.
Books of Poems:
Animal sense / by Diane Ackerman -J 811.5 Ackerman -In this delightfully witty collection of poems, bestselling author Diane Ackerman shows how the senses shape and enrich the experiences of all living beings.
Poems from Homeroom: A Writer's Place to Start by Kathi Appelt- YA 811.54 Appelt The first half of this pre-teen poetry writing guide offers thought-provoking free verse; the second digs into the motivation behind each poem and practical writing advice.
Robert Browning's poetry has mysteries and a beauty of language that youngsters will love exploring, from the classic and beloved "Pied Piper of Hamelin" to the charming verse play "Pippa Passes".
All kinds of poems are collected together: old and new, short and long, funny and sad. Many of the poems are very famous and well-loved, but there are also some surprises and a few "classics-in-the-making."
I'm Nobody. Who Are You? by Emily Dickinson
A great introduction to the poems of Emily Dickinson.
Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems by Kristine O'Connell George- J 811.54 George From humorous to angst-ridden, this collection offers verses that will captivate your students.
Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-Century American Art edited by Jan Greenberg
Featuring the work of acclaimed authors, this compilation of poetry explores the often surprising relationship between words and visual art.
Do you like to laugh? To smile? Do you like poetry? If you like one, two or all of the above, this is the book for you. Inside these covers you'll find the best funny poems of X. J. Kennedy, a poet who knows what tickles us, all combined in a collection that pleases the car and delights the mind.
An anthology ofpoetry dealing with strange phenomena for which there is no rational explanation.
Call down the moon: poems of music / selected by Myra Cohn Livingston.-J 811.5 Call Divided into 12 sections, these poems range in mood from amusing to moving, serious to sublime. The authors featured include William Blake, Gwendolyn Brooks, Walt Whitman, Langston Hughes, Eve Merriam, and many others.
A collection of poemsabout dinosaurs, Ice Age mammals, prehistoric people, and other ancient creatures.
19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East by Naomi Shihab Nye- J 811.5 Nye Expand your students' minds with this compilation of 60 thought- and discussion-provoking poems.
Words With Wings: A Treasury of African-American Poetry and Art selected by Belinda Rochelle
Spanning two centuries of artistic achievement, this stunning collection pairs the work of 20 poets.
Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, Runny Babbit- Shel Silverstein.- J 811.5 Silverstein
A boy who turns into a TV set and a girl who eats a whale are only two of the characters in a collection of humorous poetry illustrated with the author's own drawings.
Rimshots: Basketball Pix, Rolls, and Rhythms by Charles R. Smith Jr. - J 808.8 Smith Hook your sports fans on poetry with this dynamic collection of basketball verses and visual artists to explore the African-American experience.
Cats, dogs, turtles, emus -- there's a place and poem in SIDNEY'S ANIMAL RESCUE STORE for every kind of critter. Meet heavy metal cockatoos who like to rock and roll, snooty llamas speaking French, alley cats with attitude, and even a batch of baby alligators.Kids will tweet, howl or hiss along to the romping rhythms of Liz Swados's poems.
This fully illustrated anthology features 18 poems, including verse by Edward Lear, Lewis Carroll, Ogden Nash, Jack Prelutsky, and X. J. Kennedy. Each short poem explores the world of a sea creature, from mermaid to oyster, and most have an element of fantasy in subject or imagery.
Each of the exquisite twenty-three poems in this posthumous collection by Valerie Worth carefully distinguishes one animal from all other creatures and captures it in all of its wonderful singularity - from wasp to snake to wren.
A story told in verse is about Kek, an African refugee, is confronted by many strange things at the Minneapolis home of his aunt and cousin, as well as in his fifth grade classroom, and longs for his missing mother, but finds comfort in the company of a cow and her owner.
Two years after being airlifted out of Vietnam in 1975, Matt Pin is haunted by theterrible secret he left behind and, now, in a loving adoptive home in the United States, a series of profound events forces him to confront his past.
Diamond Willow by Helen Frost - J FICTION Frost Willow loves her dogs, which happily mush with her through the snow in her Alaskan hometown. After something that was supposed to be fun leads to an accident, Willow must deal with the consequences of her actions. This verse novel is dominated by diamond-shaped poems written from Willow's point of view, with the occasional piece of prose from some surprising and wise older narrators.
A novel told in verse, meaning that spare, simple poems tell a boy’s moving story in this short novel about baseball, family, and the American dream. It’s 1936, and the Yankees have just hired a star center fielder whose name sounds like music. What could be a better time for Papa-Angelo’s grandson to be born? Christened after the legendary ballplayer, young Joseph Paul learns much at his Italian grandfather’s knee - about holding your breath in front of the radio during a 3-2 count with the bases loaded and having the audacity to dream big dreams. It is Papa-Angelo’s job to teach his grandson what it means to be a hero.
Hey Everyone, If you're trying to figure out what makes an story an adventure, check out this link for some direction when looking at the parts that make up an adventure. If you need any help post a comment or come into the library! :)
Also check out the new adventure book Hero by Mike Lupica about a kid who realizes he has superpowers... "Fourteen-year-old Zach Harriman can feel the changes. The sharpening of his senses. The incredible strength. The speed, as though he can text message himself across miles. The confidence and the strange need to patrol Central Park at night. His dad had been a hero, a savior to America and a confidante of the president. Then he died, and the changes began in Zach. What Zach never knew was that his father was no ordinary man--he was a superhero, battling the world's evil. This is a battle that has been waged for generations and that knows no boundaries."