Book Cover Image:
Image retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Brooks-Story-where-tales-welcome/dp/0449813282
Summary:
Missy, the
main character in Miss Brooks' Story Nook, likes going to the story nook every
morning. The only problem is having to pass Billy's house to get there. She
usually takes the long way to school avoiding Billy, but on mornings when she is running late she has to
take the route past Billy's house, and he takes her hats. One particular
morning at Miss Brooks' Story Nook, the electricity goes out. Miss Brooks takes this event and turns it into a teaching opportunity, letting the kids take over story time. She asks them to create their own story and they learn what makes a good story including important things like plot
and action. Through the process of creating their own story they solve Missy's "Billy" problem creatively. They create a story that scares the bully Billy and convinces him to give all her hats back.
APA Refrerence:
Bottner, B.(2014). Miss Brooks' story nook. New York. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Impressions:
I loved
Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I Don't) so I knew I had to read the sequel, and
it did not disappoint. This book covered a different aspect of stories. It introduces the basic principles of a good story, unlike the first book when Missy's problem was just
finding a book. Missy has a problem with a boy named Billy stealing her
hats and it is "vexing." I
like how the author has the child tell the story and it is apparent that the
author understands how kids think. Missy's use of the word vexing to a
little girls obsession with ghosts demonstrate a clear use of a child's voice. After learning the elements that make up a great story, Missy finds a creative solution
to her problem. A good story with a creative method for dealing with a bully
using the mind and not the fist solves her problem with the hat stealing Billy.
Professional
Review:
Energetic,
book-loving Miss Brooks is back, as is Missy, the grumpy, stumpy, hat-wearing
reluctant reader–turned-bookworm who is her biggest fan (Miss Brooks Loves
Books (and I don’t), 2010).
This
time around, though, there’s a new wrinkle: a boy named Billy who likes to
torment Missy and steal her precious hats. Missy mostly manages to avoid him,
but sometimes she can’t help but pass by his house, and that’s where the
trouble always occurs. When a storm knocks out the lights at school one
morning, Miss Brooks decides to take advantage of the atmosphere and have the
kids tell stories instead of listening to her read aloud. Although her
classmates suggest focusing on aliens, kittens or ghosts, Missy finds herself
unexpectedly brainstorming a solution to her problem while concocting a
semi-scary story about a neighborhood ogre named Graciela and her very large boa
constrictor. Over-the-top silliness in Emberley’s appealing illustrations
contrasts with Bottner’s deadpan delivery to amplify the humor, while clever
details in the pictures reward close examination. Characters come alive with
distinct voices and appearances, and the twin plots flow smoothly, if
purposively, to the requisite “happy ending.”
While
sequels can sometimes be disappointing, readers and listeners who enjoyed Miss
Brooks’ first appearance will likely be very happy to find out what happens
next—and they just might be inspired to create some tall tales of their own. (Picture
book. 4-8)
MISS BROOKS' STORY NOOK by Barbara
Bottner , Michael Emberley | Kirkus. (2014). Kirkus. Retrieved September 2, 2015, from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/barbara-bottner-2/miss-brooks-story-nook/
Library
Uses:
I would use
this as an introduction to a program
teaching kids about storytelling. This book does a good job of teaching children what goes into a story while not being overly didactic . It gives kids the idea of what makes a good story
while still being entertaining. After reading the story I would ask the children to work together like in the book to create their own story.
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