[ISLMA-Share] Rain Reign on Bluestem

Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association islma at list.railslibraries.info
Fri Mar 18 05:09:52 CDT 2016


?There are occasionally books on award lists that I purchase but recommend and reserve as teacher read alouds because the books needs interpretation and assistance.  The father is CLEARLY not a role model in the book so an adult read aloud, as you noted, allows some discussion on how wrong he is.  It is also my belief that books with bad-example characters is often a powerful message against those behaviors/language rather than someone who inspires.


My advice is that "Award" books are always subject to the same selection policies as the rest of my collection.  If I question a title, after reading it entirely, for my collection and/or community I do not have to include it.  Bluestem (and Caudill) only ask that you

  *   Provide access to a minimum of 12 titles from the Master List of 20 Titles. http://www.islma.org/BluestemFAQ.htm

Because I have served multiple buildings, some with the younger end of Caudill's 4-8 scope, I have often NOT purchased all 20 titles.  And I explain to the students why I do that and the accept it.  They are always welcome to find the others at the public library if they are a very advanced reader and a mature young person, but I feel I have to be library "mom" with the majority in mind.  I find Caudill's age recommendations pretty accurate as reflected in my student's abilities.  I offer any that start with 4th or 5th grade to my 4th graders and I read carefully any designated above that before including them in my "Caudill Challenge" for the year.  (My Caudill Challenge for 2016 was for 15 of the titles... 2017 it will be 16 titles).


Note:  Rain Reign is also on the 2017 Caudill list.  I don't personally have concerns with it for my 4th grade readers.


Marcia Brandt

Director of K-4 Library Media Services

Herscher CUSD#2:  Bonfield Grade and Herscher Intermediate Schools

brandtm at hsd2.k12.il.us<mailto:brandtm at hsd2.k12.il.us> -- 815 426-2242 x 412 -- 501 North Main, Herscher, IL  60941



"Librarians are just like search engines, except they smile and they talk to me and they don't give me paid-for advertising when they are trying to help. And they have actual hearts."

- Matt Haig


Read to me... Views from a K-8 Library Media Specialist<http://read2me2.edublogs.org/>

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From: islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info <islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> on behalf of Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info>
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 7:20 PM
To: islma at list.railslibraries.info
Subject: [ISLMA-Share] Rain Reign on Bluestem

I just finished Rain Reign and loved the book, but was thinking it was more appropriate for middle school than elementary. Then I noticed that it is on the 2017 Bluestem list.
Here is my dilemma: In the book it isn't only students who use the word "retard", but Rose's father also uses it when telling the school that he doesn't want Rose in a class with retards. I'm not sure third graders are mature enough to understand that Rose's father is dysfunctional and that his statement is inappropriate for an adult. I feel this would be a good teachable moment if reading it aloud, but not sure if most kids would understand it if reading the book independently. So I'm not sure if I should have the book in my K-5 library since I'm uncomfortable with it.
BTW I had a parent upset about the word being used in a Hank Zipzer book. After talking with her about the context of the use, I refered her to the district procedure she could go through for challenging materials. She didn't take things further.
?Is anyone else concerned about student maturity level for this topic??

--
Diane Kispert
LRC Director
H. C. Storm Elementary School

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