Looking Glass and Lamp Post

Whether through the rabbit hole with Alice, by a scarlet train with Harry, or in a wardrobe with Lucy, libraries will take you places!

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This is not technically within the confines of this blog, but I am pulling library duties to help a friend solve a query :)

Source: "you-all, pron.". OED Online. March 2013. Oxford University Press. http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/232148?rskey=ZVzwjB&result=5&isAdvanced=false (accessed June 05, 2013).

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Blog: 100 Scope Notes: Children's Literature News and Reviews

100 Scope Notes: Children's Literature News and Reviews. Travis Jenkins.

Curious about newly released books for elementary grade readers? Interested in news about children's literature? Looking for a community of cyberlibrarians? The blog 100 Scope Notes: Children's Literature News and Reviews is an excellent resource for all of this (and more!).

The value of 100 Scope Notes has not gone unnoticed -- the blog, listed in Kidlitosphere Central, has been mentioned in American Libraries Direct, recognized by the Salem Press Library Blog Awards, and it was a "Favorite Five" in Guide to Online Schools' 50 Best Children's Literature Blogs. Additionally, the man behind the blog, Travis Jenkins, has been a judge for the Cybils Awards.

the first impression is a positive one. The blog is of a very simple and clean design -- there are very few colors outside the pictures in the articles and the logo (pictured above). There are none of the visual trappings that make some blogs confusing to look at or, quite frankly, irritating. The layout is likewise very simple and straightforward, and navigation through the various links and menus is very easy.

It is no surprise Jenkins would be asked to judge at the Cybils; his devotion to the field is evident in his blog. An elementary school librarian from Michigan, Jenkins writes reviews for adults interested in children's literature that are full of pop culture references (he confesses to reading many an Entertainment Weekly in his day), pith, and honesty (observe his review for I Want My Hat Back, which is far better than my review). He also integrates news stories (such as this quick take on a recent book banning, and further commentary on previous hullabaloo surrounding In the Night Kitchen) and propagates and instigates various Internet campaigns (such as the #Holdshelf and Unfortunate Covers memes).

The latter hints at what is the best aspect of the blog: the way it connects to the community of librarians, other educators, and fans of children's literature. This is made especially easy as the blog has a presence on a number of social network platforms: Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. 100 Scope Notes is, if nothing else, incredibly easy to follow.

Apart from the connection it provides to the children's literature community, its most obvious use is as a way to learn about new books for younger readers, particularly for youth librarians in school or public libraries. 

100 Scope Notes is, simply put, a very cool blog. I'm glad I stumbled upon it -- I am already a big fan!

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Video/Movie: Secret of Kells

The Secret of Kells. Screenplay by Fabrice Ziolkowski; co-director, Nora Twomey; director, Tomm Moore. A French-Belgian-Irish production, 2009. ISBN 9781422992371

Brendan lives at the Abbey of Kells where he assists his uncle, the abbot. Brendan's uncle is obsessed with protecting the abbey from Viking marauders, but Brendan becomes increasingly enamored with becoming an illuminator, especially after Brother Aiden arrives with his masterfully illuminated book. Brendan is inspired to explore the world around him against his uncle's wishes. He meets and befriends Aislinn, a forest spirit, but likewise finds darkness and danger beyond the abbey walls.

This movie is of a very high quality. It was very well-received by critics -- it still has a 91% positive rating on RottenTomatoes -- and it was also nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2010 Academy Awards. What truly sets it apart is that it is beautifully and stylishly drawn. It was heavily influenced by movies like Disney's Mulan, which draws upon art and traditions of a specific culture -- Ireland in the case of this film. Each scene is as vibrant and lush as the illuminated manuscript that inspired the story, which is itself highly entertaining and full of adventure and magic.

Some biases are clear in this movie (e.g. Vikings are depicted not as humans, but as demon-voiced hulking monsters) but it strives to paint a wide picture of life in medieval Ireland (free of leprechauns!), a history and culture many may not be familiar with. For example, it is a misperception that Ireland in the Dark Ages had no interaction with the outside world, but the brothers in Brendan's abbey are of diverse origins: though not outwardly stated, there are monks insinuated (by their accents and appearance) to be from England, Italy, China, and Africa.

The movie is suggested for ages 8 and up (it was not rated by the MPAA), but there should be some caution before younger children watch it. The violence is mostly implied, but there are some scarier scenes with wolves, mythological creatures, and the Vikings. Also, the story just is not for everyone -- the plot has a little bit of a slow start, so some viewers may get bored.

This would be a perfect movie to show in teaching about the history and culture of Ireland, or of medieval Europe in general. It's also refreshing that the protagonist never engages in combat or violence himself (he does outwit a giant snake monster, though), so it could be useful in demonstrating peaceful and smart resolutions to conflict. It is also just a good movie, so it could be used purely for entertainment.

Viewers who enjoyed this will probably also enjoy the aforementioned Mulan, with its blend of history and magic. Those interested in Irish history and mythology may like The Secret of Roan Inish. How to Train Your Dragon is an animated movie that kids might also like with a Middle Ages setting with fantastical creatures -- and it will give a more balanced (albeit less historically accurate) view of Vikings!

For more information, watch this movie trailer:

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Music CD/Song Collection: Here Come the ABCs

They Might Be Giants. Here Come the ABCs. Disney Sound, 2005. (Music CD)

Who put the alphabet in alphabetical order? Do Q and U hang out on a regular basis? And does E eat everything? All of these burning questions are addressed in a collection of incredibly fun songs by the musical group They Might Be Giants.

This album made a big splash when it was released in 2005. It won Parenting Magazine’s Children’s DVD of the Year Award and two National Parenting Publications Awards, it reached #1 on the Billboard Children's Music chart, and it inspired the band to create two follow-up albums, Here Come the 123s and Here Comes Science.

Here Come the ABCs is the band's entertaining take on various aspects of the alphabet. Songs feature profiles of sounds of letters ("Go for G!"), organization ("L M N O," which handily points out that these are separate letters -- that was a problem I had when learning the alphabet!), and application ("The Alphabet of Nations"). There's some educational value in most of the songs (some only slightly, like "Fake Believe"), but they all revolve around the unifying alphabet concept (occasionally alluding to other school subjects, like "C is for Conifer"). A notable exception is the theme from Higglytown Heroes, which They Might Be Giants supplied for the hit Disney Channel show.

There is not a clear organization present (it's certainly not in alphabetical order) -- naptime songs are placed right before songs like "Clap Your Hands" -- which can be irritating if a particular order is necessary (e.g. rowdy to quiet). However, this does go along with the hodgepodge of musical styles present. The band employs widely different genres like disco, country, and technopop. This is where the band truly excels: their musical talent (i.e. skills in vocals and instruments) is evident in the breadth of styles. The production quality is incredibly high, and the packaging is likewise very fun. A quibble is that the lyrics are not included in the case, and there are no extras (there is a version that includes a DVD, but this particular copy did not).

Educators will be able to use this music as a way to illustrate uses for specific letters. As previously mentioned, several of these songs would be good sources of ambient sounds during nap time, as well as rowdier songs for play and dance time. Parents will also be able to use this for car trips -- children will be educated and entertained without driving parents up the wall.

Listeners who enjoyed this may be interested in They Might Be Giants' follow up albums, Here Come the 123s and Here Comes Science. Listeners who discovered them from the Disney Channel may also like Choo Choo Soul's self-titled album (this group is also prominently featured in the channel's preschooler programming bloc). For parents looking for children's music from their favorite bands, a place to start may be the Barenaked Ladies' Snacktime!.

For a sample of the album, watch the video for my personal favorite, "The Alphabet of Nations."

Alphabet of Nations - They Might Be Giants from They Might Be Giants on Vimeo.

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Nonfiction: Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator

Tanaka, Shelley. Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator. Illustrated by David Craig. Abrams Books, 2008. ISBN 9780810970953

"'You're saying that women are or should be the equal of men in aviation?' a cranky male journalist asked her once. 'No, not in aviation,' Amelia replied. 'In everything.'"

This quote from the famed aviatrix sums up the life of a spunky, trailblazing celebrity and pioneer in both aviation and gender equality as it is presented in Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator. While her first encounter with an airplane was comically anticlimactic, Earhart's life was about pushing boundaries, from her not-a-skirt uniform in grade school gym class, to her transoceanic solo flights, to her final circumnavigating journey that ended in mystery.

This book by Shelley Tanaka (a Canadian author whose other books have received various awards for nonfiction, such as the Science in Society Children's Book Award in 2000 and the Information Book Award in 1997 and 1996) won the Orbis Pictus Medal for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children in 2009. It offers much valuable information, but its one true weakness is that it is not necessarily groundbreaking. The information of this biography is the conventional story of Amelia Earhart. 

That being said, this book has much to offer its ages 8 and up audience. Tanaka offers a wealth of information with a solid bibliography,citations for the quotations, and a decently sized index for the 45 or so pages of text. Tanaka's real strength comes from her writing style: it is clearly and engagingly written, and the story's tragic ending is not shied away from or told in a patronizing way. The asides with more information that appear on the edges of some pages are also illuminating and often provide interesting context to Earhart's life story. It truly is a very good biography, so it is a shame that there is at least one glaring error: on the front flap, it is noted that Earhart went missing on 2 July 1937; confusingly, the caption on the photo of Earhart in Venezuela on her final journey says she dined there on 9 July 1937 (this is surely a typo and "9 June 1937" was intended, but editors should have caught this).

Aside from the inherent adventure of Earhart's life story, readers will also enjoy the photographs and illustrations that appear throughout the book. The photographs capture the aura of excitement and celebrity that surrounded her, and they help drive home that this was a real woman who lived in the not-so-distant past. David Craig's realistic watercolors nicely fill in the gaps of the story presented by the photographs and add color and vitality that might be missing from them.

As with many biographies of iconic figures, this book will be most useful in connecting to lessons about history, in this case the history of early aviation and twentieth century American culture. It could also be used to illustrate a milestone in the movement toward greater equality for women. It is also a good book for parents and educators to use as an inspirational story for children regardless of their gender (which is also Tanaka's parting thought).

Readers interested in aviation may want to look at biographies of the Wright Brothers, such as two others which received Orbis Pictus honors, To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers by Wendie C. Old and The Wright Sister: Katharine Wright and Her Famous Brothers by Richard Maurer (which also prominently features an important woman). Readers looking for books on boundary-pushing women might be interested in Sibert Medal winner Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Lee Stone.

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Early/Easy Reader: I Want My Hat Back

Klassen, John. I Want My Hat Back. Candlewick Press, 2011. ISBN 0763655988

One polite and single-minded bear has lost his hat. He goes on a search, but the other animals claim not to have seen it. It may seem like this bear's hatless head is as bare on the inside as it is on the outside, but do not count him out -- he may have some surprises!

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen is hilarious, memorable, and unique (there certainly are not many easy reader books that can be said to have twist endings in the way that this one does). It is understandable why it would be a 2012 Geisel Honor book and recipient of the New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Children's Book Award. It plays on tropes of other famous easy readers  -- with its repetition and questing protagonist, it is reminiscent of classics like Are You My Mother?  However, its tongue-in-cheek style can make it alienating; it is certainly for readers with a particular sense of humor. This said, there is still much to recommend it for its young audience (as an easy reader, it is suggested for ages four and up), namely Klassen's writing style and illustrations.

It won an award named for Dr Seuss, but the language Klassen uses is not quite Seussian (i.e. there are no wacky-but-fun nonwords): sentences are simple and terse, but this sparse word choice plays into the deadpan humor of the book and makes it easier for younger readers. Further, the words that are used are also ones that are probably familiar to the audience, making it very useful for readers who are just starting out.  Also helpful for this audience is the repetition (the formula this creates will help readers figure out the plot within the first pages, and it also leads readers to fill in the blanks of the bear's final surprise) and the use of a large and clear font with different colors to point who is speaking (e.g. a turtle speaks in green, a fox speaks in orange, and a deer speaks in brown).

Klassen's illustrations (Chinese ink and digital art) are also a lot of fun. All the characters are emotionless and plain, but in a charmingly goofy way. The white space makes the illustrations as sparse as the text, but when certain revelations occur to bear --could someone have stolen the hat?-- dramatic color makes a greater impact (and pulls out a bigger laugh). While different animals are introduced on the first several pages, another clear pattern is established with the illustrations and the text, giving early readers another hand with grasping the book’s plot.

This book is really enjoyable for a wide audience, but its intended age group will especially love it, so there are many uses. Its simplicity make it a good early literacy book. It would also make an excellent story time book (the the characters are begging for a reader to give them fun voices). Parents and educators will also appreciate the bear’s willingness to lend a hand and good manners – up until the end, of course!

Young readers who respond to the repetition will be interested in the aforementioned Are You My Mother? by P. D. Easton. For those interested in other comedic easy books, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems should inspire many laughs. For slightly older readers, picture books like The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales offers a similar kind of subversive humor (and color palette for illustrations). Much older readers may enjoy the fact that this book has inspired an Internet meme!

Watch this trailer for a demonstration of this book’s unique brand of humor:

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Magazine: Cricket Magazine

Cricket Magazine. Carus Publishing, April 2012. ISSN 0090-6034

The world is full of stories: some are real (like that of the iceberg that floated around the Atlantic before lurking in the path of the Titanic) and some are fictional (like that of the adventures of Christy and Blackie as they escape the sinking ship, St. John); some are old (like that of folktale about the prince who becomes very certain that, despite what his father the king may tell him, that he is in fact a rooster) and some are new (like that of the basketball-loving boy who must deal with his parents' separation while also preparing for the coming-of-age rite of his Bar Mitzvah). A good portion of the world's stories can be found in Cricket Magazine.

Cricket has long been an essential literary magazine for children (particularly in the 9-14 age range), and has won a slew of awards in its 35-year run (e.g. the Parents' Choice Gold Award in 2012, 2009, and 2008; the Paul A Witty Award in 2009). Each issue (which is a uniform 48 pages) contains a wide variety of content, such as comics, histories, serialized stories, and puzzles. There are many authors who contribute, and often there are "big names;" in the issue I read, for example, the story "Prince Rooster" was written and drawn by Art Spiegelman, creator of the seminal graphic novel Maus.

There are many things about this magazine that would attract young readers. The illustrations are colorful and engaging; the fun cast of characters that crop up in each issue (such as Cricket and Ladybug); and first and foremost, the high caliber of the content. It is true, though, that this magazine is not for all readers. The high quality articles and stories translates to very wordy pieces, and this could turn some readers off. For those it appeals to, though, this magazine is a boon!

It is clear that the magazine tries to stay topical -- the April issue marked the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic with a cover and several sea-oriented stories -- and as such, educators could use this as a resource for current events-related material. It is a literary magazine, so it could also be a good resource for youth who are interested in writing themselves. There is simply a huge variety of topics addressed in Cricket -- there are any number of uses for its plethora of topics in a wide range of subjects. 

Readers interested in Cricket may want to try other magazines from Carus Publishing, such as Calliope or Cobblestone. For readers interested in the more scientific or historical perspectives may want to try National Geographic for Kids or Discovery Kids.

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Graphic Novel: Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter

Sakai, Stan. Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter. Dark Horse, 1999. ISBN 1569714134

Wandering rabbit ronin Usagi Yojimbo unwittingly stumbles upon the highly contested and mystical sword "Grasscutter," the blade of the gods. He quickly realizes that the factions hunting for this sword, including those he thinks of as friends, could lead the empire to civil war if it were to be discovered. Meanwhile, a mysterious and shadowy figure is roaming the countryside, weaving a path of violence leading straight to the titular two-eared warrior.

This collection of Usagi Yojimbo is the collected twelfth volume in this comic book epic of anthropomorphic samurai, and was the winner of the Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story in 1999. The story itself is a very interesting blend of Japanese folklore and history with the imagination of Stan Sakai, the Japanese-American author and illustrator. Eisner himself, in an introduction to this volume, praises Sakai's skill at storytelling and insight into traditional Japanese culture (which, interestingly enough, is often not seen in graphic novels exported from Japan). Readers are introduced to Japanese language terms for royal, noble, and mythological figures, the political power structure of feudal Japan, and many details of daily life in the time period, such as the cuisine and clothing of ordinary people.

Grasscutter is a really entertaining adventure, but may not be entirely suitable to everyone in its suggested ages 10 and up audience. There are times when Sakai may go a little too deep into traditions and history for younger readers -- in the prologue, for example, he spends a lot of frames going over creation myths and historical battles, slipping between terms in English, Japanese, and even Chinese. The result can be a little confusing after a single read through, but more advanced readers or just more interested readers would be able to overcome this hurdle. A larger concern is the violence that is really pretty frequent. This is not that shocking a discovery in the story of a sword-wielding samurai and his friends and enemies, and it is handled in a "cartoony" manner (for example, when characters are killed, a little thought bubble with a skull in it hovers over their heads, and their faces often look a little goofy rather than bearing a frightening death grimace) and the fact that it is not colored means there is not explicitly any blood or gore. However, there are characters who meet their end by clearly being stabbed, beheaded, and even shot through the head with arrows, so caution is necessary when deciding whether or not to add this to a collection or recommending it to a reader.

There are certainly many ways educators could use this graphic novel, especially as an introduction to Japanese culture and history. Given its medium, it is also a way to reach readers who are not interested in more traditional formats or who just like to read comics and graphic novels. With its roots in history, it could also be a way to demonstrate that life is not always idyllic, and there are real tragedies -- such as a child emperor who is pursued to his death. Furthermore, Usagi Yojimbo is a solid moral hero: he only reacts with violence when attacked, he thinks about the good of society rather than the good of a few, and risks himself to save those who are small.

For readers who enjoy this graphic novel, there are many more in this series, including the first eleven volumes. They may also enjoy the equally as epic (but more light-hearted) Bone series of comics and graphic novels by Jeff Smith. For readers who are interested in the historical aspect of Grasscutter, Erik C. Haugaard's The Samurai's Tale could be a good option.

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Picture Book: Grandpa Green

Smith, Lane. Grandpa Green. Roaring Book Press, 2011. ISBN 9781596436077

Family history (and history in general) is so important to teach to children -- in many ways, it defines who we are. The importance of this has definitely been instilled in the young boy in this picture book -- he is able to tell the story of his great-grandfather's life as he makes his way through the lush and verdant garden his Grandpa Green has sculpted. Even though he, or his grandpa, may forget the details of a very long life, the garden (and the love that nurtured it) is there to fill in the gaps. 

This book was a Caldecott Honor book for 2012. It may seem overly sentimental, but many young readers will appreciate the adventure of Grandpa Green's long life and the beautiful and fun illustrations (a combination of line drawings and sponge paint, reminiscent of some of Smith's other award-winning works, like The Stinky Cheese Man). There are some mature subtleties to this picture book - illness, love, war, aging, death - but they are handled in a way that would not alienate the ages 5 and up audience. It is these subtleties that make Grandpa Green such a good picture book, and parents and educators could take advantage of them to teach many valuable lessons: legacy, social history, and even environmentalism. It could also be a good book for a child who has experienced the loss of an older relative; they may be gone, but we have their stories and love to keep with us forever. One practical weakness that I feel I should mention, though, is that the story's final pages are actually a foldout -- this creates a panoramic view of Grandpa Green's garden, and life. This is a very nice touch, but in a school or public library (or even a home with small children), there is definite potential that these pages could be ripped.

Readers who enjoyed this book will probably actually really enjoy other Caldecott books from this year, two of which have an emphasis on life, love, and nature: Honor book Blackout (a story of a family who learn to enjoy a "simpler" life after during a power outage) and fellow Honor book Me . . . Jane (a biographical book about the childhood of renowned primatologist and environmentalist Jane Goodall). Another work that is getting a lot of press right now that could also work as a read-alike for this book is Dr. Seuss's The Lorax, a story about the fragility of nature and which has recently been made into a film. 

For more information on this book (or if you just want to take a glimpse at the beautiful illustrations), watch this trailer.

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Audiobook: The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Selznick, Bryan. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Read by Jeff Woodman. Scholastic, 2007. (Audiobook) ISBN 9780545003636

Hugo Cabret is all by himself, even though he lives in a busy train station in Paris. He is completely isolated after a series of tragedies -- his father's death in a fire, his good-for-nothing uncle's mysterious disappearance -- but like a phoenix from the ashes, Hugo rescues an automaton from the wreckage of the museum where his father died. Hugo, trained as a horologist by his father (a clockmaker, though Hugo wants to be a magician) decides to fix the broken gears-and-metal man, which, like clockwork, sets the whole story into motion.

The print version of this novel won the 2008 Caldecott Medal (usually reserved for picture books, but the many lush illustrations earned this award), but the audiobook was also very well received - it was shortlisted for Audiobook of the Year in the 2008 Audie Awards. The audio version is incredibly true to the text, but Selznick's amazing illustrations obviously cannot directly make it in to the audiobook presentation (though a bonus disc included in the package does allow listeners to follow along with the narration and the illustrations if they choose). To replace the visuals with the amazing illustrations, the audiobook makes it a cinematic experience through the use of high quality and entertaining sound effects. The roar of flames tearing through a museum, the maddening click of heels on the pavement, the tinny tick of winding gears and many more sounds combine to make a unique audio experience, something akin to an old-time radio show (which helps to add to the vintage vibe of the novel).

Other aspects of this are also of a very high quality. The reader, Jeff Woodman, does an excellent job of altering his voice to differentiate between the characters, (and considering just how few characters there are with dialogue in this novel, this single reader approach works perfectly well). The sound in general is very good -- the aforementioned sound effects, for example, are not at an overwhelmingly loud or a distractingly quiet volume. Another nice touch is the music that is incorporated at the beginning and ending of the novel; it certainly underscores the cinematic experience that this audiobook offers.

This novel itself (with an audience of age 9+) is definitely genre-bending, and as such, has a myriad uses. As a film-like audiobook, it may certainly appeal to those who don't have a penchant for reading, or those who may have disabilities that inhibit reading. It's well-researched historical setting could appeal to teachers and students who are interested in early twentieth century France, or the history of cinema and robotics. Furthermore, this science and engineering aspect could appeal to teachers and students who want a way to tie these concepts to real world applications. At about four hours, it may be a little long for some attention spans, but it is much shorter than other audiobooks. It's also just a lot of fun!

Readers (or listeners) who are interested in finding titles similar to The Invention of Hugo Cabret may want to look into the film adaptation, Hugo. For other audiobooks with a similar feel, readers may like Matthew J. Kirby's The Clockwork Three, which is about three orphans in the late nineteenth century, one of whom is a clockmaker with skills with automata. A series with a similar vintage appeal and highly intelligent children is the Mysterious Benedict Society, which is also available on audio. For listeners just looking for more stories about boys who find it difficult to fit in (also with a movie adaptation), The Diary of a Wimpy Kid may be worth checking out.

For more on this story, watch the video clip of the author below as he talks about The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Or, if you're really interested in this novel's subject matter, take a look at the George Méliès film, Le voyage dans la lune (or A Trip to the Moon), that is at the heart of the story, posted below.

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Fiction: A Wrinkle in Time

L'Engle, Madeline. A Wrinkle in Time. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1962. ISBN 9780312367541

Meg Murry is a square peg, and the disappearance of her scientist father, Dr. Murry, only complicates the ridicule she meets from teachers and other students. When her secretly brilliant baby brother Charles Wallace meets three unusual women -- Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which -- he, Meg, and her new friend Calvin O'Keefe are whisked away on an adventure across the stars, making new allies and enemies and discovering the fate of Dr. Murry.

A Wrinkle in Time, the 1963 Newbery Medal winner, is a classic of children's literature, and it is obvious why it is so lauded. Grand scientific adventure is counterweighted with adolescent melodrama in a truly masterful way, and in the end, it is the mixture of these two seeminlgy disparate conflicts that help Meg to save the day.

Meg is the quintessential outsider -- her glasses, braces, frizzy hair, quirky family, and standoffish attitude all ensure she has a difficult adolescence. She is isolated at school, uncomfortable about her appearance, and is grieving the absence of her father. Meg's first encounter with Calvin O'Keefe starts her mental revolution -- Calvin explains his truly tragic home life to Meg, who begins to realize that sometimes, beauty and happiness are in the eye of the beholder. On the other side of the universe, Meg's realization comes to complete fruition. Her own uniqueness -- the very things that make her an outsider -- is what is ultimately able to stop evil and save her father. 

A Wrinkle in Time is celebrating it's 50th anniversary, and it can still speak to readers today. This novel is filled with mystery and adventure, and  Meg's difficulties fitting in with her community also make her a character with whom many children can identify. There are times when the science part of this fiction can get really dense (there is even a well-known illustration with an ant to explain the titular wrinkle in time, the way the children are able to travel), but overall, this book is simply fun. While there are some tense scenes, most readers 11 and up will be able to understand and relate to this book.

Educators can find many uses for this book. It is certainly good for readers who feel like they don't belong as they can identify with Meg's feelings. The physics in this book may go over many readers' heads, but it is still useful to demonstrate what is still a frontier in modern science and mathematics. It could also be used for teaching cultural sensitivity -- Meg particularly learns this when dealing with Aunt Beast. 

For readers who enjoy A Wrinkle in Time, there are four companion books by L'Engle, with this novel collectively called The Time Quintet (it should be noted these books are episodic, they are not so much a progressive series). Readers interested in other mysteries, adventures, and heroic, outsider children may also like J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (the Beaudelaires are every bit as preocious as Meg and Charles Wallace).

Here is a pretty amazing trailer in honor of A Wrinkle in Time's 50th anniversary: