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: http://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: http://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cbmr/vol15/iss5/4
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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,
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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, 18321888
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, 1905Yates, 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 100143657), 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 0-02725513-1, Gr. K-5, 32 pp., $14.95.
CHINA
mSTORY
1989--FICTION.
TIANANMEN
SQUARE
INCIDENT,
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.
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Tidwell: Readermakers: Exploring Places, People, and History through Diari
Children's Book and Play Review 11
CIRCUS PERFORMERS - NONFICTION
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.
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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: 0-06447001-6, 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 0-51758511-1, 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.
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Tidwell: Readermakers: Exploring Places, People, and History through Diari
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JUNIOR HIGH - GREAT BRITAIN - FICTION
Townsend, Sue. Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 Three Quarters. Avon
(105 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016), 1984. Paperback, ISBN 0380-86876-8, 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.
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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.
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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 0-14-0324062, $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 0-84466647-5, Gr. 5+,255 pp., $16.95; paperback, Smith, Peter Pub.lBeech
Tree Books (105 Madison Ave., New York, NY 1(016). ISBN 0-68810976-4, 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.
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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 1775FICTION
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 1865-1918FICTION
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.
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Tidwell: Readermakers: Exploring Places, People, and History through Diari
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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 0-02777340-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.
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