Read a Good Movie

23-1 (06)
release dates: June 3-9
TM
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Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
© 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
By BETTY DEBNAM
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
See a Good Book
Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932)
wrote “The Wind in the Willows” for
his son, and modeled the character
Toad after him. Another of his children’s
stories, “The Reluctant Dragon,” has
also been made into a movie.
“Sounder” is the
story of a boy and
his family in the
South during the
Depression. When
the father steals
food for his
starving family, he
is put in prison. His
son searches for
his father with his
dog, Sounder.
William H. Armstrong (1914-1999)
wrote more than 12 books for kids and
adults. His book “Sounder” won the
Newbery Medal in 1970.
He taught ancient history in high
school for more than 50 years. He also
wrote books about how to study.
jacket art by Bill Dodge, © 1997, published by Puffin Classics
Anna Sewell (1820-1878) wrote only
one book, “Black Beauty,” but it made
her famous.
When she was 14, she was in an
accident that left her crippled. The
only way she could get around was in
a horse-drawn cart. She grew to love
the horses.
“Black Beauty” taught people how
important it was to be kind to horses
and other animals.
“Little Women” is
the story of four
girls growing up in
the mid-1800s in
America. Although
they are poor, they
find happiness
through their
imagination. Alcott
based the character
of Jo on herself.
Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888)
wrote about 10 books for children and
adults. Her most famous book is
“Little Women,” which was based on
the experiences of her own family.
She also worked as a seamstress, a
teacher, a servant, an editor of a
magazine for girls, and as a nurse for
the Union Army during the Civil War.
jacket art courtesy HarperCollins
“The Wind in
the Willows”
features the
adventures of
Mole, Rat,
Badger, Toad,
and their friends
in the wild.
Toad is always
getting into
trouble,
especially after
he discovers
cars.
“Black Beauty, The
Autobiography of a
Horse,” is written as
if the horse were
telling the story of its
life. “Black Beauty”
has many owners.
Some of them are
mean to him, and
some are kind.
jacket art courtesy HarperCollins
jacket art courtesy Aladdin/Simon & Schuster
Did you know that many movies
have been made from books?
Sometimes several movies have been
made from one book.
This summer, why not start a fun
project, and compare movies to the
books they were based
on? Ask yourself if you
liked one version
better. If so, why? For
example, did you have
more fun reading the
Harry Potter books, or did you have
more fun seeing the movies?
This Mini Page is about some
authors and their classic books that
have been made into movies. (A classic
is a work that lasts through time.)
jacket art courtesy Yearling/Random House
Read a Good Movie
“The Wonderful
Wizard of Oz” is
about a farm girl,
Dorothy, who is
whisked away by a
tornado to a magical
land. There she finds
adventures and
friends, such as a
scarecrow, a tin man
and a cowardly lion.
L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) is most
famous for his many books about the
magical land of Oz.
Before becoming a successful writer,
he held several jobs. At different
times, he managed opera houses, a
general store and a newspaper. He
also worked as a reporter and a
traveling salesman.
Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.
®
23-2 (06); release dates: June 3-9
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from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
“The Phantom
Tollbooth” is the tale
of a boy who receives
a mysterious package
he must put together.
His gift turns out to
be a tollbooth that
leads him into a
magical land. There
he must rescue the
princesses Rhyme
and Reason.
“The Incredible
Journey”
features three
pets who are
separated from
their beloved
family. They
travel hundreds
of miles through
dangerous
country to get
back home.
Sheila Burnford (1918-1984)
wrote several books for kids and
adults. She is best known for “The
Incredible Journey.”
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Mini Spy . . .
jacket art courtesy Random House
jacket art © John Porter, 1997, published by
Puffin Books
Louise Fitzhugh (1928-1974)
wrote about 10 books for kids. The
most famous is “Harriet the Spy.”
“Treasure Island” is
the story of a cabin
boy on a ship who
finds a treasure
map. He and the
scary pirate Long
John Silver set out
to find the buried
treasure.
Robert Louis Stevenson (18501894) wrote many books for kids and
adults. His adventure stories include
“Kidnapped” and “The Strange Case
of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” He is
also known for his book of poetry for
kids, “A Child’s Garden of Verses.”
TM
Mini Spy and her friends are going to see a movie of their
favorite books this summer. See if you can find:
• word MINI
• sailboat
• dinosaur
• bowl
• man in
the moon
• fish • comb
• heart
• apple
• top hat
• lemon
• letter E
• orange
In “Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory,”
a poor boy gets a
ticket to a mysterious
chocolate factory.
The strange owner
leads the factory
visitors through odd
adventures.
Roald Dahl (1916-1990) wrote
more than 40 books for kids and
adults. His most famous kids’
books include “Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory,” “James and the
Giant Peach” and “Matilda.”
Brown
Basset ws
The Ned’s
Houn
TM
“The 101 Dalmatians”
is about the
adventures of a
dalmatian couple
and their pups. Cruella
de Vil kidnaps the
puppies to turn them
into a fur coat. Their
parents and humans
try to rescue them.
Dorothy “Dodie” Smith (18961990) was an actor. She wrote
movie scripts and plays, and about
seven books for kids and adults.
Her most famous is “The 101
Dalmatians.” She based some of
the book on things that happened
with her own dalmatians.
jacket art courtesy Penguin Books for Young Readers
jacket art courtesy Random House
Norton Juster (1929 — ) is best
known for writing “The Phantom
Tollbooth.” He has written about 10
books for kids and adults. He is an
architect and college teacher.
“Harriet the Spy” is
about an 11-year-old
who wants to be a
spy. She writes down
everything she can
find out about
people. But when a
school bully reads
her notes to her
classmates, people
get hurt. Harriet and
her friends try to set
things right.
jacket art courtesy Puffin Classics
jacket art courtesy Random House
More Reading and Viewing Choices
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
’N
Summer Reading TRY
FIND
Words that remind us of things you can find in books are hidden in
the block below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally.
See if you can find: ADVENTURE, MYSTERY, FACTS, SCIENCE,
EXPLORATION, HISTORY, PUZZLES, MUSIC, STORIES,
NATURE, TIPS, DIRECTIONS, MAP, RECIPES, LESSONS,
HELP, GAMES, ANSWERS, CHARTS.
S R E W S N A Y R E T S Y M P
I LOVE
H G M V S T O R I E S S L N U
TO READ IN
I F A U L E S S O N S N M A Z
THE SUMMER!
S A V M S S S C I E N C E T Z
T C M M E I R E C I P E S U L
O T A L G S C C H A R T S R E
R S P S N O I T C E R I D E S
Y T I P S E R U T N E V D A K
P L E H N O I T A R O L P X E
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23-3 (06); release dates: June 3-9
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
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Go dot to dot and color.
Rookie Cookie’s Recipe
Peppers Stuffed With Rice
You’ll need:
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 medium green peppers
• 1/2 cup uncooked instant rice • 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup canned diced tomatoes • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
What to do:
1. Cut a thin slice off the top of each pepper. Remove seeds and rinse.
2. Place peppers in a microwavable cooking dish.
3. Mix together all the other ingredients except the water.
4. Fill each pepper almost full.
5. Pour 1/2 of the water into each filled pepper.
6. Cover loosely and microwave on high power for 6 minutes.
7. Rotate the dish and cook another 5 minutes until peppers are soft.
Makes 2 servings.
Note: You will need an adult’s help with this recipe.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Meet Cody Linley
Actor Cody Linley plays the character
Mullet Fingers in the movie “Hoot.”
Mullet is the boy who fights hard to save
the owls living in the woods near his
home.
Cody began his acting career when he
was 8 years old. His first film role was
Spit in the movie “My Dog Skip.” Later,
he had parts in other movies, including
“Miss Congeniality” and “Cheaper by the Dozen.”
He has been in TV shows and films. His appearances on
TV include “That’s So Raven” and “Walker, Texas Ranger.” He
also plays the role of Laura’s best friend in the TV movie
“Beyond the Prairie, Part 2: The True Story of Laura Ingalls
Wilder.”
Cody, 16, is from Texas. He lives with his parents and two
of his four brothers.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
The Mini Page®
E!
L
A
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Help for Planet Earth
A popular
resource book
containing
solutions for
problems of
trash, air and
water quality,
and wildlife
habitat.
To order, send $3.00 total cost (includes all postage and handling) for each copy. Send check or money order (U.S. funds only)
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Please send ______ copies of The Mini Page Help for Planet Earth (Item #0-8362-4316-1) at $3.00 each, total
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TM
All the following jokes have something in common. Can you
guess the common theme or category?
Tali: Why is it dangerous to do math
problems in the jungle?
Betty: If you add 4 plus 4, you get ate!
Lucy: What should you throw at animals in
the jungle when they get married?
Alan: Wild rice!
Wendy: What jungle animal can
you put in a trance?
Pam: A hypnopotamus!
Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.
®
23-4 (06); release dates: June 3-9
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
More Reading and Viewing Picks
jacket art courtesy HarperCollins
Ludwig Bemelmans (1898-1962)
wrote 15 books for kids and many
for adults. He is best known for his
seven “Madeline” books. He won
the Caldecott Medal in 1954 for
“Madeline’s Rescue.”
“Stuart Little” is about
a mouse with human
parents. His family
loves him, but when he
grows up, he leaves
home to seek
adventure.
E.B. White (1899-1985) wrote 20
books for children and adults.
“Charlotte’s Web” is probably his
best-known work. It has also been
made into movies.
The Mini Page thanks Wendy Lukehart,
coordinator of Children’s and Young Adult
Collections, D.C. Public Library, for help with
this issue.
“The Lion, the Witch
and the Wardrobe” is
about four children
who walk through a
stand-alone closet,
or wardrobe, to find
a magical land. They
join a great lion to
fight the White Witch
and save the land of
Narnia.
“Babe: The Gallant
Pig” tells of a little
piglet raised by a
sheepdog. Babe
learns to herd sheep
by being polite and
asking them nicely.
His special abilities
make him a great
help to the farmer he
loves.
Dick King-Smith (1922 — )
worked for many years as a farmer,
then became a teacher, and finally a
writer. He has written more than
100 books for kids, most of them
featuring the animals he loves.
The Mini Page is created and edited by
Betty Debnam
Associate Editors
Tali Denton
Lucy Lien
Staff Artist
Wendy Daley
jacket art courtesy Houghton Mifflin
jacket art courtesy HarperCollins
C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) is best
known for “The Chronicles of Narnia”
series. He also wrote books for adults.
jacket art courtesy HarperCollins
“Madeline” tells of a
young schoolgirl in
Paris who has her
appendix removed.
After she feels better
again, she has fun.
Her classmates wish
they could get all the
attention Madeline is
getting.
Patricia MacLachlan (1938 — )
has written about 20 books for kids
and adults. She won a Newbery
Medal for “Sarah, Plain and Tall” in
1986. She also teaches children’s
literature in college.
“Curious George”
is the tale of a
mischievous
monkey whose
curiosity gets him
in trouble.
The husband-and-wife team of
Margret (1906-1996) and H.A. Rey
(1898-1977) wrote the Curious
George books together.
When the Nazis were invading
Paris in 1940, the Reys escaped by
riding their bicycles to a safe
country. They carried the “Curious
George” manuscript with them.
In “The Secret
Garden,” two spoiled
but lonely children find
a mysterious locked
garden. The wonders
of the garden allow the
children to find
friendship and healing.
Frances Hodgson Burnett (18491924) wrote about 10 books for kids
and adults. The most famous include
“A Little Princess,” “Little Lord
Fauntleroy” and “The Secret Garden.”
All have been made into movies.
jacket art © 1999 by Gary Kelley, published by
Random House Children’s Books
jacket art courtesy Penguin Young Readers Group
Robert Coles (1929 — ) has written
more than 50 books. He is a child
psychiatrist and university professor.
He wrote his book after meeting
Ruby Bridges more than 45 years
ago, when she was a brave 6-year-old
just trying to go to school. The courts
had ruled that all-white schools had
to admit black students. This made
some people angry.
jacket art courtesy HarperCollins
jacket art courtesy Scholastic
In “Sarah, Plain and
Tall,” a woman
answers a farmer’s
ad in the late 1800s.
The farmer has lost
his wife, and is
seeking a new wife
and mother for his
kids.
jacket art courtesy Random House Publishing
“The Story of Ruby
Bridges” is the true
story of this little girl.
For a year, she was
the only student in her
class, because white
parents took their
kids out of school
when Ruby started.
In “The Iron Giant,” a
huge creature scares
the farmers, eating
barbed wire and
tractors. A young boy
leads the giant to
safety, and shows him
how to save the
Earth.
Ted Hughes (1930-1998) is best
known for his poetry. He also wrote
the words for opera songs, and
children’s books.
Look through the movie ads in your
newspaper. Were any of the kids’ movies
made from books?
Next week, The Mini Page celebrates
Father’s Day with a story about older kids
following in their father’s footsteps.
Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.
Discover some
good books for
summer
in
®
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
by Betty Debnam
Appearing in your
newspaper on ____________.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam
© 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
(Note to Editor: Above is cameraready, one column-by-41/4-inch ad
promoting Issue 23.)
release dates: June 3-9
23-5 (06)
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The MIni Page Publishing Company Inc.
®
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
Standards Spotlight:
Read a Good Movie
Mini Page activities meet many state and national educational standards. Each
week we identify standards that relate to The Mini Page’s content and offer
activities that will help your students reach them.
This week’s standards:
• Students comprehend and respond to a variety of images and text.
• Students identify forms and elements of literature. (Language Arts: Reading)
Activities:
1. Take the list of books in today’s Mini Page and ask family members and friends to tell you which
ones they’ve read. Then ask if they have seen the movie version of the books. Ask them to tell you
which they liked better and why. Which books were the most popular? Which movies were the most
popular? Why did people like one version more than the other?
2. Select seven books discussed in today’s Mini Page. Write the titles on a piece of paper. Next to each
title, write the name of a family member or friend who might like that book. Share your list with
your family members and friends.
3. Find a newspaper story that you think would make a good book. Write a paragraph describing the
story. Then write what might happen next in the story — in other words, give it a new ending.
Write several sentences explaining why you think the story would also make a good movie.
4. Which of the authors in today’s Mini Page (a) were teachers at some point in their lives, (b) had
many different careers in their lives, (c) wrote stories based on their own lives, and (d) wrote
stories about situations in real life?
5. Several of the books in today’s Mini Page are about real life in different time periods: “Sounder,”
“Little Women,” “The Story of Ruby Bridges” and “Sarah, Plain and Tall.” Read one of these books
to see what you can learn about that time period. Use these questions to guide your thinking:
What was everyday life like for people in the story? What were their homes like? How did they
cook and clean? How did they dress? What kind of jobs did people have? What was happening in
the country at that time? How were their lives different from your life today? Write a paragraph
comparing the lives of the characters and your life.
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
(Note to Editor: Above is the Standards for Issue 23.)
TM
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Supersport: Mario Williams
Height: 6-7
Weight: 290
Hometown: Richlands, N.C.
National Football League quarterbacks haven’t met
Mario Williams yet. And they’re in no hurry to see the
rookie defensive end.
Williams, the No. 1 pick of the Houston Texans and
the top player chosen overall in the recent NFL draft,
promises to wreak havoc in the NFL. The All-American
from North Carolina State has the range, strength and
quickness to become a dominant pro defensive player.
In three collegiate seasons, Williams impressed pro scouts with his
fierce pass rush and tackling ability. He recorded a school career-record
25.5 sacks and a single-season mark of 14.5 last year for the Wolfpack. As
a result, he also became the first player from the Atlantic Coast
Conference ever to be chosen No. 1 in the NFL draft.
Williams majored in sports management at N.C. State. But for the next
several years, Houston is counting on him to major in sacking
quarterbacks and racking up running backs, two things he does best.
(Note to Editor: Above is copy block for Page 3, Issue 23, to be
used in place of ad if desired.)
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