Tony Stead

Summary:
This persuasive book for children discusses the controversial topic of zoos and whether or not the shouls even exist. The book is grouped into sections which each contain a different argument, either for or against the usage of zoos. Such sections include the topics of endangerment, zoos as research and educational resources, and even a mental illness found in zoo animals, called "zoochosis." Each section includes facts on the subject and does not include the opinions of the writer, making this a nonfiction title.

My Personal Reaction:
I thought this book was very informative for readers. There were many topics discussed in the book that even I did not know anything about, such as zoochosis, so I am sure students would be completely fascinated by a book like this. There were also many entertaining pictures in the book for students to look at while reading, which I foudn to be a fun additive to a typically "boring" genre.

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1. Present the difference between facts and opinions. Have students write about what they think of zoos, and decipher what of their writing is fact, and what is opinion.
2. Have students draw their favorite zoo animal on a sheet of construction paper and decorate it. Fold in half to accompany a lesson on symmetry.… (lisätietoja)

There is nothing wrong with this book that collaboration with a teacher librarian couln’t improve on. Independent reading – a novel idea in today’s skill, kill, and drill reading curriculum. Stead has a plethora of ideas for the classroom teacher on how to manage a classroom library, how to get kids reading independently and how to get them to respond to what they are reading. We encounter tubs of books all labeled with various genre signs and these tubs of books are to provide everything the young folks want to read. It’s magical how so few books can cover the wide range of reading interests and levels for an entire school year. Then the magic word appears in the chapter on where to get materials. It is buried to be sure. It is only mentioned in one place. The source mentioned is: the LIBRY. Stead does not mention if this refers to the central school library or the public library, but there it is. I am waiting for the consultant such as Stead who teams up with a teacher librarian to write a really good book on independent reading. Is there anyone out there who could do the world a favor? Is there a publisher out there who would publish such a work? Is there an acquisition editor for a major publishing company out there who would recognize the winning team and winning strategy of rotating classroom collections and major classroom/library initiatives? I’m still waiting. In the meantime, pass this book by.… (lisätietoja)