Top 10 Books- Picture Book 1
The following memory is brought to you courtesy of Eric Rohmann’s 2002 My Friend Rabbit (Roaring Brook Press, Brookfield)- the first picture book of “My Top Ten Books”
We lived in a small subdivision of townhouses known as “The Gardens”. It was the summer between 5th and 6th grade. I was staying over at a friend’s. Since his dad was working all night we didn’t have a curfew. Actually we did have a curfew, but his dad was working all night. With no real curfew the night was ripe for adventure.
We set out for the pool area to play some midnight shuffle board. The actual game we intended to play doesn’t really resemble traditional shuffle board in any kind of way, but at least it used the same equipment.
Our path was blocked. The sprinklers were on, and they were spraying our path. It wasn’t that we minded getting wet. After all, we were playing midnight shuffle board. It was that getting wet with reclaimed water wasn’t very pleasant. It was more about the odor from the water.
Our solution- redirect the sprinklers. A simple twist would provide us a clear, dry, odor-free path. However, the twist wasn’t as simple as it seemed. Who knew that a simple little twist would unscrew the sprinkler head and create a large geyser of smelly reclaimed water?
All we needed to do was get the sprinkler head back on. Struggling to put a sprinkler head back on while getting pummeled in the face with “sewer water” was no easy task, but we managed it. We managed it so well that no water would come out of that sprinkler head again. Since the water needed to go some where it was redirected back to the surrounding sprinkler heads. Apparently, these other sprinkler heads weren’t designed to handle the added water pressure. The result was several small explosions of water and the creation of four more geysers in the area. We fled the scene.
Rarely does a book illustrate the innocent follies of youth as My Friend Rabbit does. Simple problem- not so simple solutions, that’s just how our minds worked (some of us haven’t quite grown out of it). As I read the book with my son I smile and think about all of the sprinkler heads he’ll break in the future.
Does your life story run parallel with any children’s books you know? How can we use these stories to help share life lessons? Wait a minute, FCAT doesn’t test life lessons. Can you tell I’m bitter about FCAT?
Please share.
Links of interest
Unofficial fan site- http://www.darkmaterials.com/rohm3.htm
Interview- http://www.childrenslit.com/f_rohmann.html
M Donlevy
posted by M. Donlevy @ 6:44 PM
8 Comments:
At 9:44 PM,
Anonymous said…
I must say, Michael, with that rabbit standing there holding that airplane and your comparison to the sprinkler incident, I really do want to read this book. What could he possibly be up to?
Nancy Phillips
At 7:52 AM,
Anonymous said…
Since I teach middle school, I don't have a depth of knowledge about picture books, but I really enjoy using them in my class. This year I have tried to bring them in occasionally, not only because the students enjoy the plots and the lessons taught in the shorter format, but because I can teach some basic FCAT strategies while still sharing some great books with them. When reading picture books, we talk about the setting, analyze character, make predictions, and discuss plot structure. It is one way I teach valuable and meaningful lessons and literature while still "preparing students for FCAT."
- Courtney R. Unruh
At 1:04 PM,
Gabriela said…
Michael, I love the sprinkler story. That is the kind of anecdotes that a person remembers forever. I've been thinking a lot about a book that has a parallel with my life. The Giving Tree comes to mind because it sketches more or less everyone's stages of life, but I can't think of any particular story. Sometimes I feel a little like Cinderella. I am thankful for my "prince," my "castle" and my "happily ever after."
I can tell you are bitter about FCAT and with good reason. I am not fond of it either. Don't yo think teaching would be much more interesting and rewarding if we could prepare our students for the real world, with some "life experiences" learned?
P.S. Is there a way to spellcheck the postings?
At 4:35 PM,
M. Donlevy said…
When I post my main journal entries I have a spell check option. However, others that post comment do not. Usually, I'll type everything up in Word and then copy and paste my comments into the text box.
M Donlevy
At 5:06 PM,
Anonymous said…
Standardized tests I must say are not my favorite thing to do and I really feel bad for the kids having to take the FCAT year after year. I'm so happy that wasn't invented when I was a kid. I can't imagine what it's going to be like when I have kids. FCAT will probably be in Kindergarden by then. I'm personally a horrible test taker. I get such test anxiety. Taking the GREs for Grad School just about did me in.
A book that comes to mind which would be similar to a life experience would be Arthur's Eyes by Marc Brown. That was one of my first books I was able to read on my own. In fourth grade I started to need to wear glasses for reading. I felt like Arthur when I got glasses. I felt the whole classes eyes were only focused on me. I wanted to hide them just like Arthur however, I couldn't see when they were put away. Barbara Miller
At 8:04 AM,
Anonymous said…
Since I seem to be a “little” older than most, my connections to literature revolve more around my children’s experiences than my own. I loved using literature to foster life lessons…using the “The Kissing Hand” to help diminish tears and “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” to help them understand that we all have bad days. We would relate our experiences and compare them to the stories.
One of my favorites was “Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten.” I used this book with my daughter when she was frightened about starting kindergarten. We would read the book (repeatedly…remember the age!) and talk about the learning that would happen and school and making new friends. What fun we had when we tried to find a “Patricia Packer” who sneaked “a cracker” and a “Xavier Roe” who yelled “Hello!”
Since I am in a reminiscing mood, I will not taint it with thoughts of the FCAT…but I will post my thoughts at a later time!
Beth
At 8:59 AM,
Ms. K. said…
Although I thought about it a great deal I could not think of a children’s book that paralleled a story in my life, but I did recall a book that fit right into my young niece’s life. She came to live with me a year ago with a lot of frustration and anger inside of her. My sister had given her a book called Sometimes I’m Bombaloo. The story is told through the voice of a little girl. Much like my niece the little girl in the book is good, happy and most of the time gets along fine. But at times as the book says she gets Bombaloo (angry, stomps feet, throws things etc.) Without telling all the details, the story continues with what happens when you are not in control and how it resolves in the end. It is a picture book with a familiar circumstance that probably many children can relate to.
My niece loves the book!
J Keany
At 1:18 PM,
Anonymous said…
Michael - Another book that sounds intriguing! I was both enchanted and amused by your sprinkler story and once I post this, I will head to our media center to see if we have the book.
I'm also trying to think of a book that might parallel my life. When I come up with one, I'll let you know. Does anyone have one to recommend for an 8 year old boy who is saying bad words? That is the current struggle in my home.
I am not a classroom teacher, but I see the stress both our children and teachers feel related to FCATs. Last year our school was a D school. We have some incredible teachers, but our student population comes from rural poverty. If one of our homes has 10 books, it is surprising. Our children can't read because their parents can't read or are in jail or gone or working 3 jobs. The children are learning, but not at the level the FCAT demands. What a pity!
Carol Williams
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