Scary, Gross and Enlightening: Books for Boys

Scary, Gross and Enlightening: Books for Boys
An Internet Hotlist on Boys and Books

created by Deborah B. Ford, Children's Literature Specialist

Introduction
In addition to using books and magazines to find out about Boys and Books, why not also use the power of the Internet? The links below will get you started.

The Internet Resources

Authors

Candace Fleming - Teachers can download a teacher's guide for Fabled Fourth Graders and other books by Fleming.
Chris Van Allsburg - Learn about Van Allsburg and his works. Play a game. Write a story. Go on a scavenger hunt.
Dan Gutman - Read the rejection letters author, Dan Gutman, has received, though he has written many popular books.
Dav Pilkey - Dav Pilkey, author of Captain Underpants, among other things, has a wonderful web page full of fun things to read and do.
David Almond - David Almond, author of Skellig, offers writing tips and answers kid's top questions.
David LaRochelle - Find teacher's guide to The End, as well as pictures of his hobby- pumpkin carving.
Deborah Hopkinson - Get behind-the-scene scoop on where authors get ideas. Find subject web links. Teachers can find lesson plans.
Gris Grimley - Find out which artists inspire Gris Grimley's work.
J. Patrick Lewis - Poet, J. Patrick Lewis, shares jokes and poems, as well as answers to kid's questions and links to great literature websites.
Jerry Pallotta - Known as the 'Alphabet Man,' Pallotta has written over 50 books for children. You can play a tough version of Online Hangman based on his books at this website.
Jim Trelease - Trelease, the expert on reading aloud, shares books, ideas and articles about the who, what and when of reading aloud.
Kathleen Krull - Kathleen Krull, author and nosey neighbor, has hundreds of ideas for using biography in the classroom. Try the Fun Stuff link too!
Lemony Snickett - With a website as fun as his books, you don't want to miss the fun and games at Snickett's website. A printable reading group guide is also available.
Megan McDonald - Now that Stink has his own books, look at McDonald's page for Judy and Stink's adventures and activities.
Mo Willems - Your pal, Mo, invites readers to draw the pigeon, as well as news of what is happening in the life of this up-and-coming rising star.
Rick Riordan - Author of the Percy and the Olympians series, Rick Riordan offers a plethora of support material.
Sara Holbrook - Poet, Sara Holbrook, shares booking information and her blog on her website. Students will also find a cheat sheet for their reports on her life.
Seymour Simon - Prolific science writer, Simon, shares many valuable links to science websites and bibliographies of his books.
Sid Fleischman - Author of the Houdini book (among many others), Fleischman gives the secret to an astounding card trick. You can also get great tips for budding authors.
Sigmund Brouwer - Looking for a good sports book? Looking for a Canadian author? Try Sigmund Brouwer. He even includes study guides.

Books

Alex Rider series - Access highly classified information about the 14 year old James Bond character, Alex Rider.
Bibliomania - Contains free short stories and teachers guides.
Bram Stoker Award - Annual Award given to books in the Horror genre.
Carol Hurst on Mysteries - From the Children's Literature Website by Carol Hurst, this article on mysteries gives you a bibliography and how to use them in your classroom.
Comic Books for YA - Find out all you need to know about the genre and why it should be in your classroom or library collection.
Comic Life - Create your own comics using this software.
Deborah Ford's Some of the Best Books List of Links - Look here for links to lists of the best books, including great author, publisher and student sites.
Don't Know Much About series - From the Don't Know Much About series, author, Kenneth Davis, provides activities for kids and lesson plans for teachers.
Esme's Book Blog - Read Esme Codell's daily about about new releases and books that are related that you may already have in your collection.
Superhero ABC - Is it a bird? Is is a plane? No, it's Astro Man and his colleagues. Fans of this awesome alphabet book can find more things to do and even buy shirts with their favorite superhero.
Using Audiobooks in Literacy - This PDF brochure contains informaton about using audiobooks with your students, including rationale and non-traditional classroom programs.
YALSA Great Graphic Novels - Need great graphic works with a national association 'blessing'? Try the books that are nominated or winners of the Young Adult Association.

Teacher Resources

Best of the Best: Top 100 Web Resources for Educators - A hotlist of websites connected to curriculum, common core, and technology gathered by Deborah B. Ford.
Brodart- Selecting Kid Safe Graphic Novels - New to graphic novels? Look at these guidelines to help you determine if novels you are considering are age appropriate to your library.
Cooperative Children's Book Center - Resources for using graphic novels in your classroom abound on this university website.
Destiny @ Sandi.net - San Diego Unified Schools uses Follett Destiny for their digital resource needs.
Junior Library Guild - The collection development and book review service relied upon by thousands of schools and public libraries.
Mark E. Damon's Powerpoint Games - Download Damon's powerpoint versions of Jeopardy, How to be a Millionaire and Weakest Link to jazz up your classes.
Pale Male - Follow the adventures of the real pale male, including a slide show of the NY building where he builds his nest.
RubiStar - Registered users can save and edit online rubrics.
Teachingbooks.net - Teachingbooks.net is a subscription-based online resource for thousands of ideas related to children's authors. Some information is free. For example, you can hear an author pronounce his own name. Other features, like an author visit in his/her own home, are member only.
Using Comics with ESL/EFL Students - Justine Derrick explains how to use graphic novels with ESL students and the benefits of doing so.
Using Graphic Novels in the Classroom - Scholastic, publisher of many graphic novels, provides this lesson plan packet for using their books.

Student Sites

Facthound - Looking for websites to support the book you read? Look no further than Facthound. Simply choose your grade level and search.
Fun Brain - Students can play games like Mad Libs or read graphic novels, like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, online.
Great Websites for Kids - Sponsored by ALA, this site suggests websites on authors, booklists and activties for kids and those who work with them.
Guys Read - Guys Read is a web-based literacy program for boys founded by author and First National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature Jon Scieszka.
I Spy Scholastic - Play games, work puzzles or post your own I Spy riddle.
Kids Reads - This invaluable site gives information on authors and illustrators. Find out the order of a series. Sign up for their newsletter to get the latest on the world of children's publishing.
National Geographic for Kids - Games, activities and information galore-just for kids.
Professor Garfield.org - Full of games, drawing videos, creating your own comics, this site may be my new favorite.
Punk Farm - Hear the band rock out on 'Old MacDonald Had a Farm.'
Storyline Online - Brought to you by the Screen Actors Guild, watch video-streaming of authors reading books aloud.
Teen Reads - Author interviews, latest releases and discussion questions make up this website that lets teens help themselves to great books.
Time for Kids - Read national and world news in this magazine just for KIDS!

Research

Boys and Books: Encouraging Middle School Males to Read - A study of the research written by Johna Faulconer, Jessica Grant, and Melissa Matsevich of East Carolina University.
Jane McFann on BFB - Published by Jane McFann (2004, August). Boys and Books. Reading Today, 22(1), 20-21.
National Assessment of Educational Progress - Look at where boys and girls stand in testing across the nation.
Reading Don't Fix No Chevys - Read the results of the research of Smith and Wilhelm in this professional book. Find out strategies to reach your male students. Check out their other books too.

Publishers

Capstone Press - Looking for graphic novels you won't be afraid to use in an elementary or middle school? Start with Capstone Press and Stone Arch books for high interest, content-related books.
Classical Comics - This UK publisher encourages reading of the classics by adapting them into graphic novels. Click on the education link for lesson plan ideas.
Harper Collins Kids - This publisher website provides activities for kids guides for teachers. Sign up for their newsletter and be the first to know.
Kids at Random House - Random House provides links for kids K-12 related to the books they publish. Teachers, parents and librarians can find out about new releases, authors and find activities to use at home and at school.
Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers - The Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers list identifies titles aimed at encouraging reading among teens who dislike to read for whatever reason. The list selects both fiction and nonfiction.
The Center for Cartoon Studies - The only college that specializes in cartooning. Also publisher of award-winning graphic novels.
Toon Books - Toon Books is an award winning publiser of easy-to-read graphic novels. Teachers will find ready to use lesson plans.

Content by Deborah B. Ford, Children's Literature Specialist, auntbettyblue@yahoo.com
http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listboysandau.html
Last revised Tue Mar 12 13:11:00 US/Pacific 2013