New Releases by Carol Otis Hurst

Have you heard the one about Grandpa walking through three feet of snow—uphill both ways—just to get home when he was a kid? Well, you haven''t heard it like this! During one sudden and relentless blizzard, lively Walt gets stuck for days in a barn by himself. "Awful!" Meanwhile, shy Fred is trapped in an inn full of people. "Horrible!" They both have to dig their way out. "The worst." "You said it." What a terrible storm! But what a terrific—and funny—story!

In 1864, fifth-grader Charlotte befriends an Irish-American girl at school and tries to understand the prejudices between the Irish and the Yankees in her town of Westfield, Massachusetts. Based on historical events.

In the winter of 1920, everything changed. Frank and his family got a Model T and drove to the Berkshires to try to make a success of a vacation/hunting lodge at Yokum Pond. There are fun adventures and incidents with invited guests and uninvited animal visitors, including the mysterious "horrible huge.” The rural setting and less-than-receptive neighbors fail to deter Frank’s mother from pursuing her fight for suffrage, much to the consternation of her husband and a number of the lodge’s guests, but in the end, she sees Tennessee ratify the amendment and earns a place of reverence in the movement.

In Plymouth Colony in the 1630s, John continually disappoints his father, Governor William Bradford, during a difficult time as the colony faces its first murder and subsequent trial.

Kate and her brother Jesse are not happy when they have to move from Brooklyn to an old house in Massachusetts after the death of their father, but their newly adopted sister from Korea quickly makes friends with a "blue lady" who helps the family find away to stay where they belong.

Eleven-year-old Sarah copes with emotional and economic hardships when her beloved but impulsive father leaves the family and their Massachusetts farm to prospect for gold in California.

Some people collect stamps. Other people collect coins. Carol Otis Hurst''s father collected rocks. Nobody ever thought his obsession would amount to anything. They said, "You''ve got rocks in your head" and "There''s no money in rocks." But year after year he kept on collecting, trading, displaying, and labeling his rocks. The Depression forced the family to sell their gas station and their house, but his interest in rocks never wavered. And in the end the science museum he had visited so often realized that a person with rocks in his head was just what was needed. Anyone who has ever felt a little out of step with the world will identify with this true story of a man who followed his heart and his passion.

Etta, a twelve-year-old orphan in nineteenth-century Connecticut, meets a boy living in an abandoned cabin on the New Haven and Northampton Canal and has adventures with him while trying to be reunited with her siblings.

This book contains eight selections of literature for children in Grades 3-5, books which focus on themes of friendship and family. Ranging from picture books to novels, these selections are rich with possibilities for exploring topics such as loyalty, empathy, conflict, courage, fairness, responsibility, and diversity. Each selection features the following: a detailed summary of the source of the selection; a variety of activities for embracing understanding; suggestions and techniques for facilitating in-depth discussions; and an annotated list of thematically related books. Selections in the book come from "The Table Where Rich People Sit" (Byrd Baylor); "The Lotus Seed" (Sherry Garland); "Shiloh" (Phyllis Reynolds Naylor); "Sarah, Plain and Tall" (Patricia MacLachlan);"Charlotte''s Web" (E.B. White); "Bad Girls" (Cynthia Voigt); "Lily''s Crossing" (Patricia Reilly Giff); and "Wringer" (Jerry Spinelli). (NKA)

In this valuable resource, Hurst and Otis bring together the methods and philosophy for the extensive use of trade books in the middle school curriculum. Novels, picture books, and non-fiction materials are summarized and extended within the context of themes, literary study, and focus books for discussion and activities in the classroom and library. Eighteen fully developed themes enable educators to bring literature into other areas of the curriculum. In addition, 29 literary works are explored through further activities and discussion, again reaching into many curriculum areas. A section on literary study that includes symbolism, foreshadowing, and flashbacks helps teachers guide students to an analytical level in their reading and writing. Both teachers and students will greatly benefit from this useful resource!

Presents a collection of literature-based activities for students in kindergarten through grade two; matching picture books with twenty curriculum themes in the areas of science, social studies, art, literature, and math; featuring summaries of fourteen recommended books; and including profiles of twenty-five authors.

"More than 100 activities for teaching young children about giants in nature." Children explore really big things, from dinosaurs to icebergs. The focus is on comparison. Incorporates books: The lion and the mouse stick-on storybook; Bernice the barnacle/Más poderoso que yo by Alma Flor Ada; The little dinosaur/Dinosaurito by Trevor Wilson.

"More than 100 activities for teaching young children about the environment." From items on a nature walk to animal habitats, the wonder and magic of our world come alive as children learn to respect and care for the environment. Incorporates books: Ask the armadillo/Le debemos preguntar al armadillo by John Archambault and David Plummer; And the green grass grew all around/Y la hierba fresca creció alrededor; Island baby/Bebé isleño by Holly Keller.

Chomp, chew, munch, and crunch. Food and nutrition from a child''s point of view! More than 150 activities for teaching young children about what we eat. Use with books: Martí and the mango/Martí y el mango by Daniel Moreton and The blueberry pie elf/El duendecillo del pastel de arándanos by Jane Thayer.

Children discover that each person is unique and valuable--a discovery that lets them take pride in their own accomplishments and respect the accomplishments of others. More than 150 activities for teaching young children about themselves.

Children dive into the world of sea turtles, whales, seals, fish, and more. More than 150 activities for teaching young children about the ocean. Incorporates book titles: Who sank the boat?/¿Quién hundió el bote? by Pamela Allen; A chance for Esperanza/La oportunidad de Esperanza by Pam Schiller, Alma Flor Ada and Meryl Henderson ; Where are my puffins, whales, and seals?/¿Dónde estan los frailecillos, las ballenas y las focas? by Ron Hirschi.

"More than 100 developmentally appropriate activities for teaching young children about construction." Build toys, homes, bridges, machines, tools, and more. It''s the perfect foundation for exploring the joy and wonder of building. Incorporates books: Animals that build their homes/Animales que construyen sus nidos by Robert M. McClung; Changes, changes by Pat Hutchins; Roxaboxen/Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran.

The best picture books available for use in a classroom as identified by five experienced teachers. Includes a summary and a brief description of the text and illustrations for each book as well as suggestion for ways in which the book can be used across the curriculum.