Readermakers: Exploring Places, People, and History through Diaries

Children's Book and Media Review Volume 15 Issue 5 Article 4 1994 Readermakers: Exploring Places, People, and History through Diaries Sandra L. Tidwell Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cbmr BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Tidwell, Sandra L. (1994) "Readermakers: Exploring Places, People, and History through Diaries," Children's Book and Media Review: Vol. 15 : Iss. 5, Article 4. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cbmr/vol15/iss5/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the All Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Children's Book and Media Review by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact scholarsarchive@byu.edu, ellen_amatangelo@byu.edu.

Tidwell: Readermakers: Exploring Places, People, and History through Diari Children's Book and Play Review 9 READERMAKERS: Exploring Places, People, and History through Diaries by Sandra L. Tidwell Library Use Instruction Librarian Brigham Young University After reading Zlata's Diary, eleven-year-old Zlata Filipovic's account of the first two years of the Bosnian war, I thought that the perfect Readermakers article would explore books that helped children understand current world problems. Then, realizing that it was the format in which this book was written that conveyed so personally the turmoil of this recent event, I decided to see what other books utilized the diary or journal format. What I found was exciting! This format is used to explore everything from the life of a rabbit to an account of a boy's life on a farm in New England. Both fiction and nonfiction genres are represented. While the majority of books are for the older elementary and young adult age level, the diary or journal format is also used in books for younger children. Why is this format so widely used? Because they are usually written in the first person (an already powerful means of communication) journals make it easy for readers to relate to the main character. Journals and diaries enable the reader to have an intimate look into a character's personality, circumstances, and expenences. I have chosen to arrange the following list of publications by subject. ISBN, prices, and suggested grade levels are also included. These selections can help the readers under your charge to better understand people, places, and animals in the world today and make current as well as historical events come alive. These titles are natural springboards to "What would it be like..." discussions at school and at home. Teachers, match your social studies, science, and history unit topics with the subject headings in the list to provide enrichment reading experiences for your students. Special projects such as plays, readers' theaters, and reenactments are just a few of the many creative ways students can share the interesting characters and events they have read about. Perhaps this Readermaker article will have a "Writermaker" effect. As we encourage literary expression, let's not forget that each child is unique. Zlata, Published by BYU ScholarsArchive, 1994 1

Children's Book and Media Review, Vol. 15 [1994], Iss. 5, Art. 4 10 Brigham Young University an only child, did not know, as she wrote in her diary, that it would have import beyond herself and eventually be published. She wrote to assuage and express her personal feelings about war. Have your readers write their own journal accounts of their experiences. Their personal accounts may, like Zlata' s, become a vehicle to help others. AMERICAN AUTHORS - NONFICTION - LOUISA MAY ALCOTT, 1832-1888 Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888. Louisa May Alcott: Her Girlhood Diary. Edited, and compiled, with an introduction and narrative by Cary Ryan. Illustrated by Mark Graham. Bridgewater Books (100 Corporate Dr., Mahwah, NJ 07430), 1993. ISBN 0-8167-3139-X, Gr. 4+, 42 pp, $14.95. AMERICAN AUTHORS - NONFICTION - ELIZABETH YATES, 1905- Yates, Elizabeth. My Diary--My World. Westminster Press (100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202-1396), 1981. ISBN 0-664-32675-7, Gr. 5 +, 187 pp.,o.p. BOSNIA - NONFICTION Filipovic, Ziata. Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life in Sarajevo. Introduction by Janine Di Giovanni. Viking (375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014-3657), 1994. ISBN 0-670-85724-6, Gr. 5+,200 pp. $16.95 (see review this issue). CAMP - FICTION - PICTURE BOOK Cummings, Pat. Petey Moroni's Camp Runamok Diary. Macmillan Children's Group (866 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022), 1992. ISBN 0-02- 725513-1, Gr. K-5, 32 pp., $14.95. CHINA mstory TIANANMEN SQUARE INCIDENT, 1989--FICTION. Bell, William. Forbidden City: A Novel. Bantam (1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036-4094), 1990. ISBN 0-553-07131-9,199 pp., Gr. 7+, $14.95; paperback, ISBN 0-553-28864-4, $3.99. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cbmr/vol15/iss5/4 2

Tidwell: Readermakers: Exploring Places, People, and History through Diari CIRCUS PERFORMERS - NONFICTION Children's Book and Play Review 11 Cushman, Kathleen. Circus Dreams: The Making oj a Circus Artist. Little Brown & Co.lJoy Street Books (Time and Life Bldg, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020), 1990. ISBN 0-316-16561-1, Gr. 4-7, 90 pp., $15.95. DRUG ABUSE - FICTION (Author anonymous). Go.Ask Alice. Avon (1350 Avenue of the Americas, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10019), 1994. Reprint of 1976 ed. Paperback, ISBN 0-380-00523-9, Gr. 7+, 192 pp., $3.99. ENGLAND, MEDIEVAL CIVILIZATION - FICTION Cushman, Karen. Catherine, Called Birdy. Houghton Mifflin, Clarion Books (222 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116), 1994. ISBN 0-395-68186-3, Gr. 5+,224 pp., $13.95. EXPLORERS - NONFICTION Off the Map: The Journals oj Lewis and Clark. Edited by Peter and Connie Roop. Illustrations by Tim Tanner. Walker and Company (720 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10019), 1993. ISBN 0-8027-8207-8, Gr. 3-7,48 pp., $14.95. Columbus, Christopher. Across the Ocean Sea: A Journal oj Columbus's Voyage. Harper & Row (10 E. 53rd St., New York, NY 10022), 1966. LC: 66-10296, Gr. 5+,275 pp., o.p. Columbus, Christopher. I, Columbus: My Journal, 1492-3. Edited by Peter and Connie Roop. Illustrated by Peter E. Hanson. Walker and Company (720 Fifth Ave., New York, 10019),1990. ISBN 0-8027-6977-2, Gr. 4-7, 57 pp., $13.95. Columbus, Christopher. The Log oj Christopher Columbus: The First Voyage, Spring, Summer and Fall 1492. Selections by Steve Lowe. Illustrated by Robert Sabuda. Putnam, Philomel Book (200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016), 1992. ISBN 0-399-22139-5, Gr. PS-3, 32 pp., $14.95. Sanderlin, George William. The Sea-Dragon: Journals oj Francis Drake's Voyage around the World. Harper & Row (10 E. 53 St., New York, NY 10022),1969. LC: 72-77946, Gr. 5+,243 pp., o.p. Published by BYU ScholarsArchive, 1994 3

Children's Book and Media Review, Vol. 15 [1994], Iss. 5, Art. 4 12 Brigham Young University FARM LIFE, 1800s - NEW ENGLAND - FICTION - PICTURE BOOK McPhail, David M. Farm Boy's Year. Illustrated by David McPhail. AtheneumlMacmillian (866 Third Ave., New York, NY 1(022), 1992. ISBN 0-689-31679-8, Gr. K-3, 30 pp., $13.95. GALAPAGOS ISLANDS - NONFICTION McGovern, Ann. Swimming with Sea Lions and Other Adventures in the Galapagos Islands. Scholastic (230 Broadway, New York, NY 10003), 1992. ISBN 0-590-45282-7, Gr. 3-6,48 pp., $13.95. GARDENING - NONFICTION Murphy, Louise. My Garden: A Journal for Gardening around the Year. Illustrated by Lisa C. Ernst. Charles Scribner's Sons (866 Third Ave., New York, NY 1(022), 1980. ISBN: 0-684-16486-8, Gr. 4-6, 160 pp., o.p. GUIDE DOGS - TRAINING - NONFICTION McPhee, Richard B. Tom & Bear: The Training of a Guide Dog Team. Harper Collins ChiIdrens Bks (10 E. 53 St., New York, NY 10022-5299), 1981. ISBN: 0-690-04137-3, Gr. 5+, 160 pp., $9.89. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS - FICTION Wyss, Thelma Hatch. Here at the Scenic- Vu Motel. Harper & Row (10 E. 53rd St., New York, NY 10022-5299), 1989. Paperback, ISBN: 0-06- 447001-6, Gr. 7+, 160 pp., $3.95. Zindel, Paul. The Amazing and Death Defying Diary of Eugene Dingman. Harper & Row (10 E. 53rd St., New York, NY 10022-5299), 1987. ISBN 0-06-026863-8, Gr. 7+, 224 pp. $13.89; paperback, Starfire, Bantam (666 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10103). ISBN 0-553-27768-5, $3.99. JUNIOR HIGH - NEW YORK - NONFICTION Hunter, Latoya. The Diary of Latoya Hunter: My First Year in Junior High. Crown (225 Park Ave. S., New York, NY 1(031), 1992. ISBN 0-517- 58511-1, Gr. 6+, 131 pp., $16.00; paperback, Yin, Random House (201 E. 50th St. 31st Floor, New York, Ny 1(032), ISBN 0-679-74606-4, $8.00. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cbmr/vol15/iss5/4 4

Tidwell: Readermakers: Exploring Places, People, and History through Diari JUNIOR HIGH - GREAT BRITAIN - FICTION Children's Book and Play Review 13 Townsend, Sue. Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 Three Quarters. Avon (105 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016), 1984. Paperback, ISBN 0-380-86876-8, Gr. 8+,208 pp., $4.99. MENTALLY HANDICAPPED - FICTION Keyes, Daniel. Flowers for Algernon: A Classic Story of Struggle. Creative Education, Inc. (123 S. Broad St., P.O. Box 227, Mankato, MN 56001), 1987. ISBN 0-88682-007-3, Gr. 4+, $13.95. MISSING PERSONS - FICTION Pfeffer, Susan Beth. The Year without Michael. Bantam Books (666 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10103), 1987. ISBN 0-553-05430-9, 176 pp., $16.00; paperback, ISBN 0-553-27373-6, $3.99. NUCLEAR WAR - FICTION O'Brien, Robert C. Zfor Zachariah. AtheneumlMacmillian (866 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022), 1975. ISBN: 0~89-30442-O, Gr. 7+,256 pp., $15.95; paperback, Macmillan Children's Group. (866 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022), ISBN 0-02-044650-0, $3.95. OWLS - NONFICTION Heinrich, Bern. An Owl in the House: A Naturalist's Diary. Adapted by Alice Calaprice. Drawings and photographs by the Bern Heinrich. Joy Street Books (34 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108), 1990. ISBN 0-316-35456-2, Gr. 5-9, 119 pp., $14.95. PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED - FICTION Marsden, John. So Much to Tell You. Joy Street Books (34 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108), 1989. ISBN: 0-3 16-54877-4, Gr. 7+, 112 pp., $14.95; paperback, Juniper, Fawcett Book Group (201 E. 50th St., New York, NY 1(022). ISBN 0-449-70374~, $3.50. Published by BYU ScholarsArchive, 1994 5

Children's Book and Media Review, Vol. 15 [1994], Iss. 5, Art. 4 14 Brigham Young University RABBITS - NONFICTION Hess, Lilo. Diary of a Rabbit. Charles Scribner's Sons (866 Third Ave., New York, NY 1(022), 1982. ISBN 0-684-17413-8, Gr. 4-6,48 pp., o.p. SNAKES - NONFICTION Brenner, Barbara. A Snake-Lover's Diary. Harper Collins Children's Books (10 E. 53 St., New York, NY 10022-5299), 1990. ISBN 0-06-D20697-7, Gr. 4-6, 96 pp., $15.89. SYRIA - FICTION Schami, Rafik. A Hand Full of Stars. Translated from the German by Rika Lesser. Dutton Children's Book (2 Park Ave., New York, NY 1(016), 1990. ISBN 0-525-44535-8, Gr. 7 +,224 pp., $14.95; paperback, Puffin Books (40 W. 23rd St. New York, NY 1(010). ISBN 0-14-D36073-5, $4.50. TIT ANIC (STEAMSHIP) SHIPWRECK - NONFICTION - PICTURE BOOK Spedden, Daisy Coming Stone. Polar: The Titanic Bear. Illustrated by Laurie McGaw. Little Brown, (Time & Life Bldg, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 1(020), 1994. ISBN 0-316-80625-D, 64 pp., $16.95. UNITED STATES HISTORY - CIVIL WAR, 1861-1865 - NONFICTION Murphy, Jim. The Boys' War: Confederate and Union Soldiers Talk about the Civil War. Houghton Mifflin/Clarion Books (222 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116), 1990. ISBN 0-89919-893-7, Gr. 4-9, 128 pp., $15.95; paperback, ISBN 0-395-66412-8, $7.95. Voices from the Civil War: A Documentary History of the Great American Conflict. Edited by Milton Meltzer. Crowell (Imprint of Harper Collins) (10 E. 53 St., New York, NY 10022-5299), 1989. ISBN 0-690-04802-5, Gr. 7+,224 pp., $14.89. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cbmr/vol15/iss5/4 6

Tidwell: Readermakers: Exploring Places, People, and History through Diari Children's Book and Play Review 15 UNITED STATES IllSTORY - CIVIL WAR, 1861-1865 - FICTION Clapp, Patricia. The Tamarack Tree: A Novel of the Siege of Vicksburg. Lothrop, Lee & Shepard (105 Madison Ave, New York, NY 1(016), 1986. ISBN: 0-688-02852-7224, Gr. 5+, 224 pp., $13.00; paperback, Puffin Books (40 W. 23rd St. New York, NY 1(010). ISBN 0-14-032406-2, $3.95. UNITED STATES IllSTORY - COLONIAL PERIOD CA. 1600-1775 - FICTION Bowen, Gary. Stranded at Plimoth Plantation, 1626. Harper Collins (10 E. 53 St., New York, NY 10022-5299), 1994. ISBN 0-06-022542-4, Gr. 3-7, 88 pp., $19.89. Clapp, Patricia. Constance: A Story of Early Plymouth. Lathrop, Lee & Shepard Co. (P. O. Box 198, Wooster, OH 44691), 1968. ISBN 0-8446- 6647-5, Gr. 5+,255 pp., $16.95; paperback, Smith, Peter Pub.lBeech Tree Books (105 Madison Ave., New York, NY 1(016). ISBN 0-688- 10976-4, Gr. 5+, $3.95. UNITED STATES IllSTORY - INDIANA, 1830's - FICTION Henry, Joanne Landers. A Clearing in the Forest: A Story about a Real Settler Boy. Illustrated by Charles Robinson. Four Winds Press/Macmillan Children's Group (866 Third Ave., New York, NY 1(022), 1992. ISBN 0-02-743671-3, Gr. 3-6,64 pp., $14.95. UNITED STATES IllSTORY - JEWS - NONFICTION The Jewish Americans: A History in Their Own Words, 1650-1950. Edited by Milton Meltzer. Crowell (Imprint of Harper Collins) (10 E. 53 St., New York, NY 10022-5299), 1982. ISBN 0-690-04228-0, Gr. 5+, 192 pp., $14.95. UNITED STATES IllSTORY - REVOLUTION, 1775-1783 - NONFICTION The American Revolutionaries: A History in Their Own Words, 1750-1800. Edited by Milton Meltzer. Crowell (Imprint of Harper Collins) (10 E. 53 St., New York, NY 10022-5299), 1987. ISBN: 0-690-04643-X, Gr. 7+, 256 pp., $13.89. Published by BYU ScholarsArchive, 1994 7

Children's Book and Media Review, Vol. 15 [1994], Iss. 5, Art. 4 16 Brigham Young University UNITED STATES mstory - REVOLUTION, 1775-1783 - FICTION Bourne, Miriam Anne. Nabby Adams' Diary. Drawings by Stephen Gammell. Coward, McCann & Geoghegan (200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 1(016),1975. Gr. 6+,128 pp., o.p. UNITED STATES mstory - SLAVERY - FICTION Rinaldi, Ann. Wolf by the Ears. Scholastic (230 Broadway, New York, NY 10003),1991. ISBNO-590-43413-6,Gr. 7+, 252pp., $13.95; paperback, ISBN 0-590-43412-8, $3.50. UNITED STATES HISTORY - SOCIAL LIFE AND CUSTOMS TO 1775- FICTION Farber, Norma. Mercy Short: A Winter Journal, North Boston, 1692-93. Dutton Children's Book (2 Park Ave., New York, NY 1(016), 1982. ISBN 0-525-44014-3), Gr. 5+, 138 pp., $11.95, o.p. UNITED STATES HISTORY - SOCIAL LIFE AND CUSTOMS 1865-1918- FICTION Terris, Susan. Nell's Quilt. Scholastic «230 Broadway, New York, NY 10003), 1988. Paperback, ISBN 0-590-41914-5, Gr. 7 +, 176 pp., $2.50. UNITED STATES HISTORY - WOMEN - NONFICTION As I Saw It: Women Who Lived the American Adventure. Collected by Cheryl G. Hoople. Dial Press (666 Fifth Ave., Mew York, NY 10103), 1978. ISBN 0-8037-0339-2, Gr. 7+, 187 pp., o.p. Rappaport, Doreen. American Women. Their Lives in Their Words: A Documentary History. Edited by Doreen Rappaport. Harper Collins Children's Books (10 E. 53 St., New York, NY 10022-5299), 1990. ISBN 0-690-04817-3, Gr. 7+, 336 pp., $17.89; paperback, Crowell Jr. Booksrrrophy (Imprint of Harper Collins) (10 E. 53 St., New York, NY 10022-5299). ISBN 0-06-446127-0, $6.95. UNMARRIED MOTHERS - FICTION Hamilton, Morse. Effie'S House. Greenwillow Books (105 Madison Ave., New York, NY 1(016), 1990. ISBN 0-688-09307-8, Gr 7+,208 pp. $13.95. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cbmr/vol15/iss5/4 8

Tidwell: Readermakers: Exploring Places, People, and History through Diari Children's Book and Play Review 17 Kaye, Geraldine. Someone Else's Baby. Hyperion Books for Children (Division of Disney Book Publishing, Inc., A Walt Disney Co., 114 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011),1992. ISBN 1-56282-150-4, Gr. 7+,144 pp., $13.89. WORLD WAR, 1939-1945 - NONFICTION Bassett, John T. War Journal of an Innocent Soldier. Avon (105 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016), 1991. ISBN 0-380-71130-3, Gr. 7+,160 pp., $4.50. WORLD WAR, 1939-1945 - JEWS - FRANCE - FICTION Roth-Hano, Renee. Touch Wood: A Girlhood in Occupied France. Four Winds Press (866 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022), 1988. ISBN 0-02- 777340-X, Gr. 5-9, 304 pp., $16.95. WORLD WAR, 1939-1945 - JEWS - NETHERLANDS - NONFICTION Frank, Anne. The Diary of a Young Girl. Introduction by Eleanor Roosevelt. Random House/Modem Library (201 E. 50th St., 31st Floor, New York, NY 10022), 1978. ISBN 0-394-60451-2, 285 pp., Gr 7+, $13.50; paperback, Bantam Books (666 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10103). ISBN 0-553-29698-1, $4.99. WORLD WAR, 1939-1945 - JAPANESE-CANADIANS - NONFICTION Takashima, Shizuye. A Child in Prison Camp. Tundra Books of Northern New York (P. O. Box 1030, Plattburg, New York 12901), 1991. Paperback, ISBN 0-88776-241-7, Gr. 4+, 100 pp., $7.95. Published by BYU ScholarsArchive, 1994 9