August Book Talk Two: Congressman John R. Lewis' MARCH Graphic Novel Series

August Book Talk Two: Congressman John R. Lewis' MARCH Graphic Novel Series

Back in 2013 at the American Library Association Conference in Chicago, IL, I had the pleasure of  meeting Civil Rights Leader and Congressman Mr. John Lewis.  Congressman Lewis was an U.S. Representative from the state of Georgia’s fifth district. Congressman Lewis was promoting his graphic novel (comic book) series, MARCH. This graphic novel trilogy was based on the firsthand account of Congressman John Lewis's lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, taking him from a sharecropper's farm in Troy, Alabama to the halls of Congress.  Congressman Lewis also marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  

Congressman Lewis was very nice and humble person when I took this picture with him.  He was also very passionate about what he was called to do in his life. He love to learn about people and wanted to know everything about you. Congressman Lewis was a very good listener and he cared about your feelings and opinions.  Congressman Lewis always treated individuals with the upmost respect.  He treated people like he wanted to be treated. Congressman Lewis cared about our rights as not only U.S. citizens but also human beings.  Congressman Lewis final act was trying to protect the voting rights for all U.S. citizens. However,  Friday July 17, 2020, Congressman Lewis lost is battle to cancer.  He was 80 years old.  Civil Rights Leader Rev. C.T. Vivian, who also marched alongside Dr. King, died on the same day as Congressman Lewis.  Congressman Lewis and Rev. C.T. Vivian were life long friends.  MARCH is available for check out in Coolidge’s library.

Image property of Kaleena T. Woodard

March: Book 1 by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell 

Image property of Top Shelf Productions

    In book one of this graphic novel,  Georgia congressman John Lewis talks about his youth in rural Alabama, his meeting with Martin Luther King Jr., and the birth of the Nashville Student Movement. 

• Publisher: Top Shelf Productions 
• Publication Date: August 13, 2013
• Interest Level: YA
• Lexile Number: 760
• March One Lesson Plans

March: Book 2 by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell 

Image property of Top Shelf Productions

    In book two, Lewis talks about the direct action campaigns in Nashville,  the freedom rides into the Deep South, and his speech at the 1963 March on Washington. 

• Publisher:  Top Shelf Productions 
• Publication Date: January 20, 2015
• Interest Level: YA
• Lexile Number: 850

March: Book 3 by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell 

Image property of Top Shelf Productions

    In book three, Lewis talks about the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, the Freedom Summer Murders, the 1964 Democratic National Convention, the Selma to Montgomery marches and Voting Rights Act of 1965. 

• Publisher:  Top Shelf Productions 
• Publication Date: August 2, 2016
• Interest Level: YA

Teachers and Parents:

Here are some other books that Congressman Lewis has written.

Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America by John Lewis with Brenda Jones

Image property of  Hachette Books/ Hyperion

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Hachette Books; Reprint edition (August 15, 2017), Hyperion: 2012

Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement by John Lewis with Michael D'Orso 

Image property of  Harvest Books/Simon & Schuster

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• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Reissue edition (February 10, 2015), Harvest Books: 1999

Congressman John Lewis "March: Book One", Video

Video property of  Politics and Prose (http://www.politics-prose.com/) YouTube Channel

August Book Talk: The Wizenard Book Series and other books created by Kobe Bryant

August Book Talk 2020

The Wizenard Book Series was created by NBA basketball legend and Academy Award–winning storyteller, Kobe Bryant. Bryant is also the CEO of Granity Studios. Granity Studios is an award-winning multimedia original content company focused on creating new ways to tell stories around sports. Stories created  are crafted to entertain, by bringing education and inspiration together.  Coolidge’s library has this book series and other additional books created by Mr. Bryant in English and in Spanish.

The Wizenard Series: Season One Created by Kobe Bryant, Written by Wesley King

 

Image property of Granity Studios

 

Reggie has never felt destined for greatness. He dreams about basketball brilliance all day and night, but the hard truth is that he's a bench warmer for the West Bottom Badgers -- the worst team in the league. Even their mysterious new coach, Rolabi Wizenard, can't seem to help them end their losing streak.

Reggie is willing to train tirelessly to improve his game, but the gym itself seems to be working against him in magical ways. Before Reggie can become the player he dreams of being, he must survive the extraordinary trials of practice.

 Publisher: Granity Studios

Publication Date: March 31, 2020

Series: Wizenard Series

Interest Level: 5-8

Lexile: 660

Training Camp Created by Kobe Bryant, Written by Wesley King  

 

Image property of Granity Studios

Magic doesn't seem possible for the West Bottom Badgers. They're the lowest-ranked basketball team in their league, and they live in the poorest neighborhood in Dren. Nobody expects them to succeed at anything. Plus, every kid on the team has secret struggles of his own.

When a new coach named Professor Wizenard arrives on the first day of training camp, the Badgers can't explain the magical-seeming things they see and hear. Every player experiences unique and strange visions--visions that challenge everything they thought they knew about basketball, and about their lives and their secrets off the court. To survive the increasingly intense ordeals of training, the Badgers will need to take unimaginable risks, learn to trust their teammates, and confront the darkness within themselves.

Publisher: Granity Studios

Publication Date: March 19, 2019

Series: Wizenard Series

Interest Level: 5-8

Lexile: 590L

    Here are some other books that were created by Kobe Bryant and Granity Studios

Legacy and the Queen Created by Kobe Bryant Written by Annie Matthew 

Image property of Granity Studios

Game – Tennis means life and death for the residents of the magical kingdom of Nova, and for twelve-year-old Legacy, it’s the only thing getting her through the long days taking care of the other kids at the orphanage. That’s all about to change when she hears about Silla’s tournament.

Set – Silla, the ruler of Nova, hosts an annual tournament for the less fortunate of her citizens to come and prove themselves and win entrance to the Academy, where they can train to compete at nationals. The prize is Silla’s favor and enough cash to keep open the orphanage, and Legacy has her heart set on both.

Magic – What Legacy has yet to know is that the other players have something besides better skills and more money than she does. In Nova, tennis can unlock magic. Magic that Silla used to save the kingdom long ago and magic that her competitors have been training in for months already. 

    Now, with the world turned against her and the orphanage at stake, Legacy has to learn to use her passion for the game to rise above those around her and shine.

Publisher: Granity Studios

Publication Date: September 3, 2019

Interest Level: YA

Lexile: 820L

Epoca : The Tree of Ecrof Created by Kobe Bryant Written by Ivy Pochoda

Image property of Granity Studios

    Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof takes place at the most elite sports academy in the land, where the best child-athletes are sent to hone their skills. When Rovi and Pretia arrive, each harboring a secret about themselves, they begin to suspect that something evil is at play at the school. In the course of their first year, they must learn to master their grana in order to save the world from dark forces that are rising.

Publisher: Granity Studios

Publication Date: November 12, 2019

Interest Level: 5-8

Lexile: 750L

References

GranityStudios search on July 17, 2020 at https://granitystudios.com/

Welcome Back Returning and New Coolidge Tiger Students and Staff Introduction

Welcome Back Returning and New Coolidge Tigers Students and Staff,

 

I hope that all of you all have had a great and safe summer.  I also hope that all of you have read some new and exciting books.  My name is Ms. Woodard and I am the librarian at Coolidge Middle School.  Ms. A. Bates is my assistant librarian.  Since we are practicing social distancing, I have decided to create a book talk blog for students and teachers.  The purpose of this blog is to introduce students to new and exciting books that are within the school’s diverse library collection.   Each month, there will be a couple of post based on books and other information pertaining to the library.  With every online format created, I do have a couple of rules that everyone should follow in terms on being a digital citizen.

 

Blog Posting Rules

1.     When individuals comment on any blog post, please state your first and last name, grade level and homeroom/language arts teacher’s name.  I would like to know who you are.

 

2.     Students and staff members who have read books featured on this blog are free to express what they did or did not like about the book.

 

3.     Book suggestions are welcomed as long as the book is age and grade appropriate.

 

4.     Please show some respect to others while posting comments on this blog post.  Disrespecting others on  blog post will not be tolerated. If this action occurs, I will report the student or students involved to their teacher and counselor.

 

5.     Inappropriate language will not be tolerated when commenting on blog post. If this action occurs, I will report the student or students involved to their teacher and counselor.

 

ALSO ...........................

Teachers can access the library orientation  presentation  by clicking the highlighted link below. 

• Coolidge's Library Orientation 

I hope that everyone will have a great and exciting school year. Regardless of what is going on in the world today always remember to stay focus, be productive, open your mind and explore every possibility that reading has to offer.

 

Welcome Back

 

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