Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez
- Who has read the entire book, part of the book, or none of it?
(almost always prompted opinions and got us off to a good start)
- Has anyone read or is planning to read his other book In The
Company of Ogres or his book coming out in July 2007A Namesless Witch?
- Is this book pedestrian, good, sophisticated, literature, or a
masterpiece?
- Can you put this book it a neat genre box, or do cross genre lines?
- I have seen the author compared to Douglas Adams and terry
Pratchett. Is the comparison accurate?
- Does this book turn horror conventions on its ear? The heroes are
a redneck werewolf and vampire with a comb over. The worst villain is a innocent seeming high school girl named Tammy.
- Cast the blockbuster movie. Who did you envision to play the
various roles?
- Why do you think that this won an Alex Award in 2006? The Alex
Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. The winning titles are selected from the previous year's publishing.
- Does anyone have some good media (book, movie, etc.) to recommend?
Eragon the movie is a disappointment; saw it with my Grover book
group. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the
Wardrobe (4-Disc Extended Edition) was just relased. Snakes on a
Plane will soon be released. Or any other books that have similar
plot and theme to Gil's All Fright Diner? - We never missed this
question and it always gave some good and spirited discussion and led
neatly into next month's selection.
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Abington Public Library
Resources for Children’s & YA Book Discussion Groups
Prepared by Children’s Librarian Deborah Grimmett January 2008
The following is a list of resources, both internet and print, which I use when preparing for book discussions. This list is by no means complete, and is very subjective!
Websites
“Talk It Up” from the Multnomah County (Oregon) Library
This site includes tips for setting up a book discussion group, universal discussion questions and discussion guides for many titles. This is my first choice for discussion resources.
http://www.multcolib.org/talk/
BookMuse Kids and Teen Notes
BookMuse has some discussion guides and other book group resources. I don’t find the questions on this site to be as strong as the questions from “Talk It Up”.
http://www.bookmuse.com/pages/notes/kidscorner.asp
Teenreads and Kidsreads Book Club Section Both teenreads and kidsreads have discussion questions for a limited number of titles. I find these sites to be most helpful when I’m searching for books to read and preview for possible discussions. http://www.teenreads.com/clubs/index.asp http://www.kidsreads.com/clubs/index.asp
The Kids Book Club Book Website
This site has recipes and fun ideas from book clubs around the country.
http://www.kidsbookclubbook.com/
Scholastic Book discussion guides for many Scholastic titles. The quality of these guides is very uneven. I use this site as a starting point, only. There are also discussion guides available from many other publishers; check the publisher’s website for any book you are considering for discussion. http://scholastic.com/librarians/ab/discguides.htm
Print Resources
How to Get Your Child to Love Reading by Esme Raji Codell. Algonquin, 2003.
The Kids’Book Club Book by Judy Gelman & Vicky Levy Krupp. Penguin, 2007.
Deconstructing Penguins by Lawrence & Nancy Goldstone. Ballantine, 2005.
The New York Time Parent’s Guide to the Best Books for Children by Eden Ross Lipson. Three Rivers, 2000.
Great Books About Things Kids Love (also Great Books for Girls & Great Books for Boys) by Kathleen Odean. Ballantine, 2001.
Reading Raps by Rita Soltan. Libraries Unlimited, 2006.
The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. Penguin, 2006.
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Children’s Librarians Alliance of the South Shore (CLASS)
January 9, 2008
Abington Public Library
Present: Sue Hughey, Somerset; Elizabeth Danner, Holbrook; Deb Grimmett & Sandy Bumpus, Abington, Lynne Campbell, Hanover; Ann Marie Pokaski, Hanson; Amy Perriello, Weymouth; Sharon Colvin, Scituate; Elaine Weischedel, Milton; Elizabeth Strachan, Briantree; Margaret McGrath, Plymouth; Marty O’Meara, Duxbury
Our topic for the meeting was Book Clubs. Deb Grimmett opened the meeting by inviting those who already do book clubs to share successes, “bombs,” and general tips .
Lynne Campbell, Hanover, has had some success and used the following books: The United Tates of America, Chasing Vermeer, The Penderwicks, Kid in the Red Jacket. (Kid Power was a bomb, and kids didn’t like Here Lies the Librarian.) Her group includes parent and child, and is limited to 10 pairs. Lynne provides discussion questions and leads discussion. She brings 2-3 titles to each meeting to booktalk, then group votes on title for following meeting. Parents take turns providing snacks. Over the summer, one of the meetings is an open book discussion – share a book they’ve read.
Margaret McGrath has a successful club for 6-8 year-olds in Plymouth that meets Saturday mornings, kids only, no parents, no food, but an activity each month. She is still trying to find a good meeting time for a 9-12 year old group.
Elizabeth Danner in Holbrook has 3 clubs going: Grades 1-3 focuses on series fiction, kids only, no parents, drop-in, no sign-up. She also does one for grades 4-6, with no parents. She has just started one for grades 6-8, with 3 boys, who like to choose their own books!!
Elaine Weischedel does a book club over the summer, for 3 months, grades 3-5, and has used the following titles: A Lion to Guard Us, The Firework-maker’s Daughter, and Midnight Horse.
Deb Grimmett then took off with a wealth of information from her Abington successes! She currently does 3 groups: Gr. 1-3, 45 minutes, parent/child, 7 pairs
Gr. 4-6, +/- 1 hour, parent/child, 12-13 teams (used to be more girls, now ˝ & ˝!) Gr. 7-10, 1 ˝ hr., 11 registered, no parents (as voted by group!)
They all meet Thursday nights at 7 p.m., different weeks monthly (Abington is open until 8:30). They always include food, sometimes an activity. Reminder phone calls are very important!! We had a brief discussion about registering yearly, or monthly, having same kids each month…. Deb does her planning over the summer, choosing all the books for Gr. 1-3 and 4-6. Teens vote on their titles in August for the year. Deb listens to a LOT of audiobooks, in choosing titles. One idea for getting groups going – buy paperback copies to give away, or doing this once a year for active groups is a nice idea, if you have the budget. In picking books, don’t do really current ones, or it’s too hard to put holds on them and get them in time. Deb places holds for enough copies for her groups and has them ready to go home for the next month. She renews them as needed, waives fines as needed (it shouldn’t cost money to be in a group!) Discussion questions: need a general one to start, to draw them into book. Do not use questions with one-word answers. Have children answer first, THEN parents. Lynne Campbell types up questions to hand out, Deb does not. Deb says planning time is about 1 hour for younger 2 groups (not including reading the book) – about 2-3 hours for teen club. Good question – how to gets kids to come to Book Club when they didn’t like the book: Deb makes them read 20 pages, then come and tell why they didn’t like it. Remind them that differing opinions makes for a good discussion. Remember that there will always be at least one child in your group who will not speak. Many thanks to Deb Grimmett for leading a wonderful discussion and sharing tons of handouts, attached here. Hopefully they make it through the email process. A point of clarification: Cliffhangers = Grades 4-6, Jr. Cliffhangers = Grades 1-3
Also attached here is a list of favorite books shared by attendees at this meeting.
It was reported that Joanne Doherty has retired from Bridgewater Public Library, as a result of their current financial crisis. The library is only open 15 hours a week and is on its way to de-certification.
Our next meeting is Wednesday, April 9, 1:30-3:30, John Curtis Library, Hanover, hosted by Lynne Campbell. We will discuss ideas to spend down our treasury $769.63. If you cannot attend, please email ideas to Marty at momeara@ocln.org We will also share Summer Reading ideas, unless someone suggests a better idea. Plan to share how your town might put a different spin on the program and theme than other towns…. It was decided to discuss Summer Reading at the January 2009 meeting (April is a little late).
Respectfully submitted,
Marty O’Meara Duxbury Free Library
Abington Public Library Teen Book Club 2006 – 2007 Revised Schedule
Meeting Schedule All meetings are Thursdays at 7:00 PM.
Date Discussion Title September 28 Crash by Jerry Spinelli October 26 The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman November 30 Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata January 25 Gossamer by Lois Lowry February 15 Share Favorite Titles for Future Discussion Books March 22 Red Scarf Girl by Jiang Ji-li April 26 Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech May 24 Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Abington Public Library Cliffhanger Club 2007 - 2008
Welcome to the Cliffhanger Club Child-Parent Book Discussion Group! This year we will fall underground with Gregor the Overlander, travel from Africa to England with Rachel, and explore the frustrations of younger siblings with Catherine. Along the way we will enjoy delicious snacks and share laughter and friendship with others in the group. Ready…Set…Read!
Meeting Schedule All meetings are Thursdays at 7:00 PM.
Date Discussion Title October 4 Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff November 1 Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins December 4 The True Story of Christmas by Anne Fine January 3 Rules by Cynthia Lord February 7 Can of Worms by Kathy Mackel March 6 Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan April 3 Flush by Carl Hiaasen May 1 Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan
Teen Book Club Master List Abrahams, Peter Behind the Curtain Abrahams, Peter Down the Rabbit Hole Beddor, Frank The Looking Glass Wars Bloor, Edward Tangerine Cameron, Ann Colibri Choldenko, Gennifer Al Capone Does My Shirts Clements, Andrew Things Hoped For Creech, Sharon Chasing Redbird Creech, Sharon Walk Two Moons Duncan, Lois Killing Mr. Griffin DuPrau, Jeanne The City of Ember Haddix, Margaret Double Identity Hiaasen, Carl Hoot Holt, Kimberly When Zachary Beaver Came to Town Ji-li, Jiang Red Scarf Girl Kadohata, Cynthia Weedflower Lowry, Lois Gossamer Pullman, Philip The Golden Compass Riordan, Rick The Lightning Thief Sleator, William Rewind Spinelli, Jerry Crash Spinelli, Jerry Stargirl Strasser, Todd Give a Boy a Gun Tolan, Stephanie Surviving the Applewhites
Abington Public Library Cliffhanger Club Master Book List 2001 – 2008
Avi Bright Shadow Avi Nothing But the Truth Avi The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle Babbitt, Natalie Tuck Everlasting Balliett, Blue Chasing Vermeer Barry & Pearson Peter and the Shadow Thieves Barry & Pearson Peter and the Starcatchers Birdsall, Jeanne The Penderwicks Choldenko, Gennifer Notes from a Liar and Her Dog Clements, Andrew Frindle Clements, Andrew The Last Holiday Concert Collins, Suzanne Gregor the Overlander Corbett, Sue 12 Again Creech, Sharon Granny Torrelli Makes Soup Curtis, Chrisopher The Watson’s Go to Birmingham – 1963 Cushman, Karen Catherine Called Birdy Denenberg, Barry Early Sunday Morning DiCamillo, Kate Because of Winn Dixie DiCamillo, Kate The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane DiCamillo, Kate The Tale of Despereaux Eager, Edward Half Magic Fine, Anne The True Story of Christmas Fleischman, Sid The Whipping Boy Funke, Cornelia The Thief Lord Giff, Patricia Reilly A House of Tailors Giff, Patricia Reilly Pictures of Hollis Woods Gilbreth F. & E. Cheaper by the Dozen Haddix, Margaret Among the Hidden Haddix, Margaret Turnabout Hannigan, Katherine Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster and … Hiaasen, Carl Flush Hiaasen, Carl Hoot Holm, Jennifer Penny from Heaven Horvath, Polly Everything on a Waffle Ibbotson, Eva Dial-a-Ghost Kadohata, Cynthia Weedflower Korman, Gordon No More Dead Dogs Langton, Jane The Fragile Flag Lord, Cynthia Rules Lowry, Lois Gathering Blue Lowry, Lois The Giver Mackel, Kathy Can of Worms Martin, Ann M. Belle Teal Martin, Ann M. Here Today Nimmo, Jenny Midnight for Charlie Bone O’Connor, Barbara Moonpie and Ivy Raskin, Ellen The Westing Game Robinson, Barbara The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Ryan, Pam Munoz Becoming Naomi Leon Ryan, Pam Munoz Esperanza Rising Spinelli, Jerry Loser Whelan, Gloria Listening for Lions White, E.B. The Trumpet of the Swan Winthrop, Elizabeth The Castle in the Attic Wolff, Virginia E. Bat 6
Abington Public Library Jr. Cliffhanger Club Master Book List 2005 – 2008
Blume, Judy Freckle Juice Cleary, Beverly Ramona and her Mother Cleary, Beverly The Mouse and the Motorcycle Clements, Andrew Frindle Clements, Andrew The Last Holiday Concert Creech, Sharon Granny Torrelli Makes Soup Danziger, Paula Amber Brown is Not a Crayon dePaola, Tomie 26 Fairmount Avenue DiCamillo, Kate Because of Winn-Dixie Estes, Eleanor The Hundred Dresses Gannett, Ruth My Father’s Dragon Haddix, Margaret Say What? Howe, James & Deb Bunnicula Jenkins, Emily Toys Go Out MacLachlan, Patricia Caleb’s Story MacLachlan, Patricia Sarah Plain and Tall Martin & Godwin The Doll People McDonald, Megan Stink : The Incredible Shrinking Kid Osborne, Mary Pope Dinosaurs Before Dark Pennypacker, Sara Clementine Polacco, Patricia The Trees of the Dancing Goats Polacco, Patricia Welcome Comfort Robinson, Barbara The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Scieszka, Jon Knights of the Kitchen Table Smith, Robert K. Chocolate Fever Spedden, Daisy Polar the Titanic Bear