Sunday, December 2, 2012

The ULTIMATE, UNABASHEDLY UNIQUE Book Review

It is "U" week at  ABC Wednesday and with my book now out for two + weeks, I thought it time for a review. And, who to give it a better review than...me!  So with tongue in cheek and a touch of holiday humor, here is the ultimate, unabashedly unique  view of my book, "Using Content Area Graphic Texts for Learning."

The ULTIMATE overview: This book is for educators and parents hoping to integrate graphic novels into their classrooms and libraries.  In this book we detail:
  • how quality graphic novels can be integrated into the language arts, math, social studies AND science curricula - with detailed lesson plans within each middle-school content area;
  • how graphic novels help enhance attention, memory, language, cognition, and sequencing skills;
  • how specific graphic novels and how our suggested lessons fit into the Common Core State Curriculum Standards;
  • and provides lists of recommended graphic novel for students within each of the subject areas (language arts, math, social studies and science).
USAGE: This book is geared for home and school libraries, middle-school classrooms.

UNIQUE and UNABASHED REVIEW: CONTINUING the ABC Wednesday theme, and instead of torturing you for 26 weeks of the alphabet (not to mention exposing you to UNENDING boredom), here is an abridged ultimate, unabashedly unique book review that's as simple as ABC: 
  • A: This is an AMAZING book with an awesome cover (although we probably could have used more ASSISTANCE with the title...LOL). 
  • B: The  BEST book ever BECAUSE it BOLDLY relates how to use graphic novels for learning.
  • C: CATCHY CONCEPTS and CHARTS for CONTENT-AREA subjects with lessons that COMPLY with COMMON CORE Standards
  • D: It DEFINITIVELY and DEFTLY integrates graphic novels into middle-school classrooms.
  • E: EXQUISITELY detailed lessons plans.
  • F: The FABULOUS FACTS about how graphic novels.
  • G: GRAPHICALLY details why GRAPHIC novels help with attention, memory, language, sequencing and cognitive skills.
  • H: HOPING you're still with me on this...
  • I: INDISPENSABLE for teachers INTERESTED IN INTEGRATING mutlti-media INCENTIVES while INCREASING INTELLECTUAL pursuits in the classrooms.
  • J: JUSTIFIABLY a JEWEL for teachers hoping to JUMP-START learning.
  • K: KILLING you softly or KNOCKING you over with my KRYPTIC  KAPTIONS? (OK I know these two words start with a "c" but I couldn't help myself.)
  • L: LAUDABLE treatment of the subject matter...LUGUBRIOUS it is not! And, the book offers suggestions LINKING graphic with the more traditional prose texts.
  • M: MARVELOUS book recommendations with no MENTION of MARVEL and an awesome chapter detailing two very different ways to use graphic novels in MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH classes.
  • N: NIFTY
  • O: ORIGINAL
  • P: PRACTICALLY PERFECT in every way - it worked for Mary Poppins,  it works for me, it will work for you!
  • Q: QUALITY educational materials
  • R: REALLY READABLE
  • S: SUPER SUGGESTIONS for enhancing attention, memory, SEQUENCING. and cognitive reasoning skills in math, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, and language arts.
  • T: TERRIFIC TREATMENT of subject matter
  • U: UNDENIABLY the best graphic novel classroom suggestions
  • V: VALUABLE for promoting VISUAL LITERACY
  • W: WITH me still?
  • X: 'Xciting anecdotes
  • Y: YEP, we're almost through
  • Z: ZIP over to Amazon.com for a look at the book or link over to a preview of the book to read the Introduction 
[Note: If you're interested in reviewing this book please let me know, I have a few more copies I can offer for more traditional and objective reviews.]
For those of you who stuck to this all the way through and for those of you who jumped to the end, thank you for humoring me in my ultimate, unabashedly unique review of my book.

Please leave your own "review" suggestions in the comments...maybe I'll use them!!!

In any event, thank you for your visit and have a great week.

14 comments:

  1. Hi Meryl!! Thanks for stopping by and linking up with my NO RULES Weekend Blog Party :))

    Paula
    lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com

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  2. It's all true!
    I'll write a perhaps tad more objective review before the end of the year. I'm halfway through it, and after the ABC Wednesday visits, I'll get back to it.

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  3. Sounds interesting though. However I stay away from learnings of all kinds :P

    PhenoMenon, ABCW Team

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  4. Wow! You have covered the entire alphabet with this unique and utterly unabashed review of your book. Sounds like an UBER resource for classroom teachers and I were still working, I'd make sure our school had a copy.

    Leslie
    abcw team

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  5. My son has problems with reading and spelling, I'm using graphic novels to try to help him along in his studies.

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    1. Graphic novels can help a lot with spelling because they see words highlighted or bolded or colored and can make visual associations helping with memory paths and multi-modal learning. They are also so highly motivating - and fun! Som of the art and prose are really exceptional. If you're interested in reviewing this book let me know - the reference sections listing quality graphic novels may really help. Thanks for the comment.

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  6. I'm thinking graphic novels will be the way to go with Little Dude - his comprehension and retention is very minimal (his bio-mom is a drug addict and alcoholic, so we're still finding out what 'issues' his brain development had from exposure in the womb). Love the alphabetical breakdown! :)

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  7. Wow! Congrats on your book ~ great 'U' for abc ~ (A Creative Harbor) ^_^

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  8. I didn't know you had a book out!!! Congratulations :))

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  9. Brilliant! I wonder if our local library has any money left this year to get one of these? Undeniably a great project!!

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  10. You've given us a lot to think about - thanks.

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  11. Been a follower! Saw you on the WW post and your follows back. :)

    http://mrsdchastain.blogspot.com

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  12. Beautiful art...thank you for sharing.

    My WW is kitchen remodeling and thick snow. Happy WW!

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  13. Graphic novel or books helps my son with his reading skills.

    Chewed UP
    Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

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