Powtoon Book Trailer

So I've been playing around with a new tool I heard about ... hmmm. I already can't even remember where.

POWTOON.

Here is the book trailer.




What do you think?
Now, it is still in beta so there were a couple of bugs. I can't say the interface was TOTALLY intuitive. But it didn't take long to figure out. I'm excited to play around some more.
They say they have an educator account which would facilitate downloading of videos. I sent in my info so we'll see what they say. The hard part is always "student accounts" if the kiddos are under 13. Now, I wouldn't suggest this for younger than 4th or 5th either way (see "not entirely intuitive interface") but once I get it down totally I think I could help them along. We'll see. I'm hoping yes because I really want to try using this more.
Or, even if the kids aren't doing it themselves, it certainly makes for more interesting presentations I could show them (on whatever topic). Or for professional development.
I like it. I think you'll be seeing it again. Keep it up, Powtoon! You've got the start of a good thing.


 

Creating Book Trailers

Welcome to all of the SimpleK12 visitors and anyone else stopping by!

This is just to let you know that you can find the info and links from the webinar here (actually this link can also be found at the top of the page, if you are actually on my blog and not in a reader).

If you have ANY further questions please comment here. If I know the answer I'll gladly share. If I don't I'll see if I can figure it out. :]

Creating Book Trailers with Elementary Students

If anyone is interested I just agreed to do this.
#eeeek #startthenervesnow #nobutreallyIdohaveacluewhatImtalkingaboutIDO

Apologies for the double posting two days in a row. That's what happens when you schedule posts ahead of time! And if the linked image doesn't work (which I'm guessing it might not but you can't tell in the preview ... but a comment from a lovely reader gave me an explanation that made more sense than anything I ever saw when googling) go here for more info on my presentation. Then here for more on the rest of their webinars. The Day of Learning stuff is free. Just a note ... they will send you plenty of emails for more free resources AND for the stuff they'd like it if you paid for ... but you can easily delete them if you are not interested. Shhhh! That's what I do. :]

Polly's Pink Pajamas by Vivian French

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Literary value ... three stars. Pictures and four-year-old niece who LOVES pink ... lots more stars. She approves heartily.





Smitten by David Gordon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Pink mitten made this one a winner with my niece. Cute story about friends helping each other through thick and thin ... making a pair.





Danny's First Snow by Leonid Gore

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


So my niece did not approve of this one ... mostly because it was a BOY bunny. Pictures were darling ... just wasn't my most favorite story ever.



View all my reviews

Picture Book Biographies

The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn by Robert Burleigh

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Love the pictures and even learned a few new things about his life (like the name Mark Twain comes from riverboats testing the depth of the waters ahead).



I may come back and change this to a four. I just can't help but think the dialect ... while interesting and true to the style of many of Mark Twain's stories ... is going to be a stumbling block for many kiddos. I could be wrong ... but I know, for example, they get very confused with some of the anachronisms in Bubba, The Cowboy Prince. Even the older ones. So we'll see.



PERFECT as an easy intro to Mark Twain for older students.






Barnum Brown: Dinosaur Hunter by David Sheldon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Though I still do not understand the fascination with dinosaurs ... the kiddos at my school love them. This is a nicely accessible picture book biography to encourage casual readers. Not quite enough info for research ... but more than enough to pique curiosity to look further!







A Wizard from the Start: The Incredible Boyhood and Amazing Inventions of Thomas Edison by Don Brown

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Great description of his childhood as promised by the cover ... but not much more. Liked the illustrations.


And EGADS. Reading the author's note at the end? Trying to compete with Tesla and his AC current Thomas Edison electrocuted an elephant?


Wish I didn't know that. Before today I'd always thought of him as such a creative, hard-working innovator. Now I'm also going to remember that. :[







The Remarkable Benjamin Franklin by Cheryl Harness

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Ben Franklin did many great things for our country. Didn't know he started from such humble beginnings or that he had so much ... family drama, shall we say?

Kid appropriate. Only thing I would say is that there is an awful lot of text for a "picture book biography." One of those cases where the teacher would say "no, that's not long enough for your report" but the younger kids would get lost in all the words.

Loved the quote around the portrait on the opening page ... "If you would not be forgotten, As soon as you are dead and rotten, Either write things worthy reading, Or do things worth the writing. B.F."






The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth by Kathleen Krull

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Great storytelling and I loved the illustrations.



Though ... I've always been told the first "TV" broadcast was in the BY Academy in Provo--well, the tour guide told me that when we went through it back in my undergrad days when it was all falling apart (they've since remade the building into Provo's Public Library). This book made it sound like it was in CA. I wonder who was right?



Thought it was interesting that Philo didn't do much in the way of TV watching ... except for the landing on the moon. It didn't turn out exactly like he might have envisioned but he was right. The shared experience of watching a story is a fun way to bring people together.



View all my reviews

The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher by Robert Kraus

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Ever so much fun. My sister got it for my niece and they brought it over so that I could see it tonight. It's a reprint of a '69 title. I LOVE the illustrations. Most (not quite all, though) of the rhymes work very well.

Sort of like the Grinch the Snitch learns his lesson. It is better to give and share than take.



View all my reviews




When Cows Come Home For Christmas by Dori Chaconas

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A bit on the silly side (and the rhymes/rhythm could be improved) ... but that's OK. It's a fun one that is new to me ... and so will most likely be new to a lot of the kiddos. Saw it on display at the public library yesterday, will be reading it in the school library tomorrow!



View all my reviews

(Edit from today ... it was a hit!)



No Two Alike by Keith Baker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I love, love, love the pictures. The text is nice and simple and quiet, too, but the pictures are what made this book for me. Now must save it for the next time I see my niece ... and then maybe PreK in January. This is the public library copy. I need to get one for our school!

The color combo is just fun. Lots of lovely snowflakes and two small, bright red birdies. I think it's the contrast between the red and the white snow, blue sky, and green trees.


Plus the message. There are no two snowflakes that are alike. Or animals. Or kids. Everyone is special.


Which sounds cheesy to say but the book did it just right.



View all my reviews

Number Two

This one is for The Teacher's Funeral. I LOVE this book but can never quite get anyone else to love it as much as me. Can't convince my students to love historical fiction. Can convince them of just about any other genre. Will have to keep trying!

First of Book Trailers I've Made ... Two More to Come

One will be posted right after this one. And I'm still working on the other (never tried stop-motion before). But any constructive comments would be appreciated because I want them to be as good as possible before I "turn them in" to our director of Library Services. He picked me as one of the three (and only elementary teacher librarian) to sort of head this up districtwide and I don't want to disappoint.