First ever media literacy series for elementary!
In 2006, Capstone Press contacted me about a new media literacy book series for students in grades 3-5. They asked if I’d be interested in writing one of the books. The focus of the series, they said, was not only media literacy, but also helping young people ask the right questions about media. After hearing their approach, I said yes. The result is “Coming Distractions: Questioning Movies.” I am pleased to say that all of the books in this series are visually appealing and engaging. (The other books in the series deal with video games, music videos, TV, magazines and online media.) To learn more, read on.
Latest News:
- More photos from Nigeria (April 2008)
- New photos from Nigeria: students reading- using computer (Feb. 2008)
- Promoting the books at the SC Literacy Conference exhibit (Dec. 2007)
- Read profile of Guofang Wan, author of two of the books
- Accelerated Reader quizzes now available; details here and here
- Nigerian students learning media literacy via the Capstone Press series
- School Library Journal review of the series
- Frank is honored by the SC Center for Children’s Books & Literacy (May 2007)
- Read Booklist’s review of “Coming Distractions”
- Read media educator Barry Duncan’s review of the entire series
- Capstone Press- press release about the series
- Frank is one of the featured authors at the SC Book Festival (February 2007)
- See Frank reading “Coming Distractions” to elementary students
Capstone Press Publishes New Media Literacy Series for Youth
Dear Educators,
I am pleased that Capstone Press has just released a new, 6 book set, about media literacy, designed for students in grades 3-5. Download this two page flyer or press release with additional details and ordering instructions.
Description of series:
Give young readers the tools they need to evaluate the barrage of media messages that reach them every day. Value assumptions, product placements, and cues to act are embedded in each media message. This fun series embraces media as entertaining and useful but also empowers readers as they learn a systematic way to question pop culture and to recognize how influential media messages are.
Link to National & State Standards regarding media literacy.
Listed below are the titles, authors and ISBNs:
| Titles/descriptions/ISBNs | Titles/descriptions/ISBNs |
| At the Controls: Questioning Video & Computer Games 978-0-7368-6768-9 Sports games, fantasy games, war games – there are hundreds of video games out there. So how do companies get gamers to play theirs? And what are they really trying to say? Well, grab your controller. It’s time to ask questions about video game messages. |
Pretty in Print: Questioning Magazines 978-0-7368-6764-1 Teen mags, decorating mags, sports mags-there are hundreds of magazines on the newsstand. So how do publishers get you to pick up theirs? Well, get comfy. It’s time to ask questions about messages in magazines. |
| Coming Distractions: Questioning Movies 978-0-7368-6766-5 Action flicks, romantic comedies, animated classics-there are all kinds of movies to choose from. So how do filmmakers get you to watch their movie? Well, grab your popcorn. It’s time to ask questions about the messages in movies.Notes from author Frank Baker: 1. see additional material that did not make the final version of the book 2. link to my page about film |
TV Takeover: Questioning Television 978-0-7368-6763-4 Crime-scene dramas, reality shows, sitcoms-there are tons of shows on TV. So how do networks get you to watch their shows? And what are they really trying to say? Well, find the remote and get comfortable. It’s time to ask questions about TV messages. |
| Music Madness: Questioning Music & Music Videos 978-0-7368-6765-8 Rock, hip-hop, country-there are all kinds of music to listen to. So how do music labels get you to tune in to their stuff? And what are they really trying to say? Well, pop in a CD and put your headphones on. It’s time to ask questions about music messages. |
Virtually True: Questioning Online Media 978-0-7368-6767-2 Post on your blog, chat with friends, surf for the latest news-there are millions of things to do online. So how do webmasters get you to clock onto their site? And what are they really trying to say? Well, get your hand on the mouse. It’s time to ask questions about messages of online media. |
| Yourspace: Questioning New Media by Heather E. Schwartz ISBN: 9781429619936/ 1-4296-1993-7″These books will make terrific teaching tools” Library Media Connection, May/June 2009 |
What’s Your Source?: Questioning the News by Stergios BotzakisISBN: 9781429619929/ 1-4296-1992-9 “These books will make terrific teaching tools” Library Media Connection, May/June 2009 |