December 2013 Volume 1 Issue 12
Cover art by: Copyright © 2013 Brooke Parr
Kid's Imagination Train
December 2013 Volume 1 Issue 12
ISSN 2333-987X
ISSN 2333-987X
Editor-in-Chief: Randi Lynn Mrvos
Book Reviewer: Donna Smith
Illustrator: Brooke Parr
Marketing Director/Art Director: Rosemarie Gillen
Editorial Offices:
All across the United States
Publishing Office:
4637 Spring Creek Drive
Lexington, KY 40515
Publishing Office:
4637 Spring Creek Drive
Lexington, KY 40515
Mission Statement:
Welcome to the Kid's Imagination Train, where children can take the journey of reading in a brand new way. KIT offers book reviews, fiction, poetry, lesson plans, and nonfiction for kids ages 5 - 12. It’s unique in that it engages children by providing the opportunity to illustrate their favorite features and have them published online.
We invite you to read, to learn, and to draw!
©Kid's Imagination Train
http://kidsimaginationtrain.blogspot.com
http://kidsimaginationtrain.blogspot.com
CONTENTS
Volume 1 Issue 12
WHAT'S NEW THIS MONTH?
3...Fiction
I Forgot My Lunch
by Edie Stoltz Zolkower
4...Nonfiction
Still Standing Tall
by Geary Smith
5...Book Review
The Gingerbread Pirate
by Donna Smith
6...Lesson Plan
Poetry
by Randi Lynn Mrvos
by Randi Lynn Mrvos
7...Lesson Plan Activity
A Shape Poems
by Randi Lynn Mrvos
I Forgot My Lunch
 |
| By: Abby |
Racing out the front door, I headed off to school,
chasing papers everywhere and trying to look cool.
I was thinking of my math test whose numbers I would crunch,
when I was stricken with the thought that I FORGOT MY LUNCH!
With little time to get it, ‘cause that would make me late,
I thought of skipping lunch today and trying to lose weight.
I wished I’d had more breakfast, ‘cause now I felt so crummy.
My stomach growled as if to say, “PLEASE FILL THIS EMPTY TUMMY!”
I checked my pockets front and back for any bit of money,
so I could buy a hot school lunch of something bland and runny.
But when I searched my pockets, I only found some lint.
Maybe I could fool my mouth and make it taste like mint?
I thought my woes were over when my teacher Mr. Harty
told the class we’d worked so hard he’d throw a pizza party.
My gut was loud and piercing. It would rumble, groan and squeak.
But over the noise I heard him say he’d schedule it next week!
Sitting in the lunchroom, my friends observed my plight.
They shared with me their lunches, much to my delight.
Ham and cheese, grapes and plums, washed down with fruity punch.
With such good friends to dine with, I’m glad I forgot my lunch!
Written by: Edie Stoltz Zolkower 4
Still Standing Tall: The Life of Sam Houston
Sam Houston stood tall on a homemade diving board that overlooked a stream in
Baker Creek, Tennessee. His older brother tested his bravery. He dared
Sam to jump. Even as a little boy, Sam's courage was tested. Sam looked
down, took a deep breath, and plunged into the creek. Sam loved playing
outside. Indeed, he would rather be outside than working in the family
store as he was expected to do.
One day, Sam did not go to work at all. His older
brothers discovered Sam talking with his neighbors, the Cherokee Indians.
Sam's family reprimanded him, but that did not stop Sam. He
continued to read and to learn more about the Cherokee Indians. In fact,
he spent so much time with them that he was adopted into the tribe and given
the name, "Raven."
As a young man, Sam enlisted in the army. He stood tall
at 6 foot 2 inches and had a deep commanding voice. He served under
General Andrew Jackson and fought against the British during the War of
1812.
Later in life, he moved to Oklahoma to live with the
Cherokee Indians. He became a trader and an adviser. On many occasions,
he served as a guide for the tribe in the new territories. It was
during this time that he visited Texas, which was then under Mexican rule.
In 1832, Sam Houston moved to Texas. Three years later,
he was named commander general of the revolution army. He courageously
led the Texas army to a brilliant victory over Mexican dictator Santa Anna at
the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836. In the years that followed, he
became a United States senator. In 1859, Sam was elected Governor of
Texas.
Sam Houston retired in Huntsville, Texas because he built
his first house in Huntsville and he loved the town. On July 26,1863 he died at
the age of 70. To honor this great man, artist David Adickes designed and
constructed the Sam Houston statue. A Tribute to Courage was dedicated to the city of
Huntsville on October 22, 1994. Located on Interstate 45 between Dallas
and Houston, the statue stands at 67 feet in height on a 10-foot sunset granite
base. It is the world's tallest statue of an American hero, honoring a
man who once stood tall.
Written by: Geary Smith
The author wishes to thank Mr. Michael Sproat, Curator of
Collections, Sam Houston Memorial Museum, for his expertise.
5
Book Review: The Gingerbread Pirates
Name of Book: The Gingerbread Pirates
Illustrator: Matt Tavares
Year Published: 2009Age Range of Book: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: Candlewick Press
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3223-6
Price: $7.08
Three pirates—Captain Cookie, Wavy, and Dots work together on Christmas Eve to free their fellow crewmates trapped in a cookie jar jail. Captain Cookie with his toothpick peg leg and cookie cutlass bravely escapes a ravenous mouse, traverses cliffs, and faces a notorious cannibal. And a boy wishes for a pirate ship and waits to hear “reindeer hooves on the roof.”
Christmas is magic time and Kladstrup’s picture book tap-steps and step-taps the reader through a new holiday favorite. The detailed pictures of Santa Claus, gingerbread pirates, the star-lit tree, stockings hung on the mantel, and other Christmas decorations along with the roving mouse and sleeping cat beautifully depict the story.
On the back flap of the book jacket, Kladstrup writes about how she came up with the idea for her story. Her inspiration came from a Christmas when she baked pirate gingerbread cookies with her son. Kladstrup is also the author of the middle grade novel, The Book of Story Beginnings.
Matt Tavares has illustrated Lady Liberty: A Biography, as well as retellings of Iron Hans: A Grimms’ Fairy Tale, Jack and the Beanstalk, and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. In addition, he has written and illustrated three books about baseball: Mudball, Oliver’s Game, and Zachery’s Ball.
6
Lesson Plan: Shape Poems
Shape poems are sometimes known as concrete or picture poems. They typically blend art with poetry. These poems are fun to look at and to read.
Some shape poems make simple pictures by adjusting the length of lines. For instance, a shape poem about a snake might by created by stringing words of the poem in a curvy fashion, so that the written words take on the shape of a snake. Or a shape poem about a tulip might be written in the shape of a flower. A shape poem can be written as a geometric shape like a circle or a triangle. In shape poems, words are freely arranged in any direction in order to illustrate the subject of the poem.
Some shape poems make simple pictures by adjusting the length of lines. For instance, a shape poem about a snake might by created by stringing words of the poem in a curvy fashion, so that the written words take on the shape of a snake. Or a shape poem about a tulip might be written in the shape of a flower. A shape poem can be written as a geometric shape like a circle or a triangle. In shape poems, words are freely arranged in any direction in order to illustrate the subject of the poem.
Suggested reading:
Poem-making: Ways to Begin Writing Poetry by Myra Livingston
Knock at a Star: A Child’s Introduction to Poetry by X.J. Kennedy and Dorothy Kennedy
Written by: Randi Lynn Mrvos
7
Written by: Randi Lynn Mrvos
7
Shape Poem Ornaments
Integrate geometry into this poetry activity.
Materials:
Blue and white construction paper, ruler, scissors, pencil, fine-tipped black marker or pen, yarn, glitter, stickers, beads, scrap paper
Directions:
1. Cut out 5" x 5" squares from the blue-colored construction paper.
2. From the white construction paper, cut out a circle, a square, a rectangle,
and a triangle, about ½" smaller than the 5” x 5” squares.
3. Use these geometric shapes as patterns.
4. Trace around the edges of the white shapes with a pencil onto the squares of 5" x 5"
blue squares.
5. Write a poem about the geometric shapes along the outline of the shapes.
6. Punch a hole at the top of each poem.
7. String a piece of yarn through the hole and tie it into loop.
8. Decorate the inside of the poems with glitter, stickers, or beads.
9. Hang the shape poems on doorknobs and from windows.
Written by: Randi Lynn Mrvos
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Kid's Imagination Train
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Kid's Imagination Train