To Timbuktu by Casey Scieszka -ADVISABLE

Scieszka, Casey and Illustrated by Weinberg, Steven To Timbuktu, 496 pgs. Roaring Brook Press, 2011. $13.59. (Swear Count: 0). Sexual Content-PG. Violence -PG
Casey and Steven travel the world together, using a variety of financing methods such as research grants and teaching English as a second language. They meet in Morocco and live together in China, vacation in Laos, and eventually travel to Timbuktu in Mali. The reader finds out about the in and outs of traveling and living cheaply, teaching English, and making friends. One long adventure, this entire true story is fully illustrated, that’s right, on every page!
This story features two incredibly brave, fun, smart, interesting, and creative people. But, I was exhausted after reading this giant book. So many places, new things, people, and experiences –frankly they all started to blur together. A high school or college student who is interesting in traveling on a dime and maybe teaching English abroad must read this.
HS –ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Stephanie MLS graduate.

Gerturde is Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude by Jonah Winter

Winter, Jonah Gerturde is Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude, illustrated by Calef Brown. Atheneum (Simon and Schuster), 2009. PICTURE BOOK. $16.99. The relationships between Gertrude Stein, Hemingway, Picasso, and other famous creative types of that time period are explored within this picture book. While the artwork is extremely entertaining, the text is way beyond any young student trying to understand the meaning of the work. I consulted with a fellow teacher and we both agree that only AP Literature or college-level students will be able to interpret this at all. If such a teacher could be convinced to use a picture book, it could make for a very inspiring lesson plan. COLLEGE – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library-Teacher