Candice Ransom on Transitional Readers

I heard Candice Ransom speak at the Roanoke Valley Reading Council's Literacy Tea on May 29, 2008. I am very far behind on posting reviews and notes from speakers I've heard, so I'm attempting to catch up.

Candice Ransom has written over 100 books for children including Finding Day's Bottom, Tractor Day, Seeing Sky-Blue Pink, and her new series for children, Time Spies Series.

I read the first book in the Time Spies series, Secret in the Tower, before it was published. I immediately loved it for two reasons: 1) it would appeal to my students who were unable or unmotivated to read longer chapter books, and 2) it took place in Virginia and snuck in Virginia history. Since I teach fourth grade and fourth graders study Virginia History, this was a big draw for me. You can read a chapter of Secret in the Tower here.

So, what are transitional readers? They are kids who are past the easy reader books, but aren't ready for middle grade chapter books. They are newly independent readers. As a teacher, I'm glad Candice is trying to appeal to this age group. There are some kids who try to make that leap to regular chapter books and just can't plow through the entire book. They aren't ready. The Time Spies series books are ones that have chapters that can be read in one sitting, and have a "hook" at the end of the chapter, to make the reader want to keep reading.

Ransom describes her books as a mixed genre, combining adventure, fantasy, mystery, biography, history, set in a comtemporary setting, and put it all in a series. She says that this series is a tribute to "everyday fantasy" where a kid feels like something magic could happen to you. She pays homage to E. Nesbit and others. In this series, modern day kids go back in time to an important moment in history. But as Ransom says, she uncovers a piece of history in each of the books that hasn't been "done to death." The social studies teachers in my school were excited that Secret in the Tower talked about Jack Jouett, known as the "Paul Revere of the South" who warned Jefferson that the British wanted to capture him.

There isn't an author's note at the end of each books, because "kids don't read them." Instead there is a travel guide at the back of each book with the historical information in it.

The Time Spies series has a wonderful website with lots of information for kids. You can check it out here.

Other links:
Candice Ransom's website
Candice Ransom's blog

Jamestown Books

The big 400th anniversary weekend of Jamestown this coming weekend May 11-13. In honor of this big celebration here in Virginia, I thought I would highlight a list of Jamestown books I've been compiling. I know this is not a comprehensive list. In fact, I have not included the majority of the nonfiction reference books for kids written about Jamestown. Most of the books on this list are historical fiction, with a few exceptions. Many of the nonfiction selections are narrative nonfiction. I'm always wanting to expand the list, so if I have forgotten your favorite books about Jamestown, please let me know.

Here are my codes:

PB--Picture Book

MG--Middle Grade

YA--Young Adult

Hi-Lo--High Interest, Lower Reading Level (good for struggling readers)

HF--historical fiction

NF--nonfiction

1607: A New Look at Jamestown by Karen Lange (MG, NF)

1609: Winter of the Dead by Elizabeth Massie (YA, HF)

Blood on the River: James Town 1607 by Elisa Lynn Carbone (MG, HF)

Double Life of Pocahontas by Jean Fritz (YA, NF)

Jamestown Journey by Bentley Boyd (MG, graphic novel)

Jamestown: Journey Back in Time by Scott Reighard (YA, HF)

James Towne: Struggle for Survival by Marcia Sewall (Hi-Lo, HF)

John Smith Escapes Again by Rosalyn Schanzer (PB, NF)

Journey to Jamestown by Lois Ruby (MG, HF)

Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla (MG, HF)

Miracle: The True Story of the Wreck of the Sea Venture by Gail Karwoski (MG, NF)

My America: Our Strange New Land, Elizabeth's Jamestown Colony Diary, Book 1 by Patricia Hermes (MG, HF)

My America: Season of Promise, Elizabeth's Jamestown Colony Diary, Book 3 by Patricia Hermes (MG, HF)

My America: The Starving Time, Elizabeth's Jamestown Colony Diary, Book 2 by Patricia Hermes (MG, HF)

The Mystery at Jamestown: First Permanent English Colony in America by Carole Marsh (MG, HF)

On Their Own: A Journey to Jamestown by Marie Stone (MG, HF)

Pocahontas: Princess of the New World by Kathleen Krull (PB, NF)

Pocahontas and the Strangers by Clyde Robert Bulla (MG, HF)

Sam Collier and the Founding of Jamestown by Candice Ransom (Hi-Lo, HF)

Sees Behind Trees by Michael Dorris (MG, HF)

Serpent Never Sleeps: A Novel of Jamestown and Pocahontas by Scott O'Dell (YA, HF)

Shadows in the Glasshouse: A Jamestown Story by Megan McDonald (MG, HF)

Surviving Jamestown: The Adventures of Young Sam Collier by Gail Karwoski (MG, HF)

Two Chimneys by Mary Holmes (MG, HF)

Virginia Bound by Amy Butler (MG, HF)

(Interview with Amy Butler by Cynthia Leitich Smith at Cynsations)

What if You'd Been at Jamestown? by Ellen Keller (Hi-Lo, HF)

When the Great Canoes Came by Mary Louise Clifford (MG, HF)

Who's Saying What at Jamestown, Thomas Savage? by Jean Fritz (MG, NF)