BrainJuice: American History, Fresh Squeezed!

by Carol Diggory Shields, Richard Thompson

History homework getting you down? Too much to learn? Names? Dates? Important events? Hang in there! Help is on the way! Adroitly reducing reams of boring data about our nations past to a generous selection of over-the-top verses, Carol Diggory Shields presents our history with incisive hilarity. Here, for example, is her wry interpretation of the Louisiana Purchase:
Tom Jefferson went shopping for a city one fine day
Something in the South with a harbor or a bay,
Voila! said the French, The city of your dreams!
For only 15 million, we will sell you New Orleans.
Nutritionally balanced, guaranteed pure, 100% refreshing, and cleverly distilled future BrainJuice topics will include biography, literature, and geography.

Genres: Poetry, History

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Carol Diggory Shields was inspired to write Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp after "being called a Nagosaurus by my five-year-old," she admits. "I started playing with the idea of partying dinosaurs who were scientifically accurate (more or less), and somehow in the prehistoric ooze of my brain, Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp took shape." Her rocking prehistoric party proved a hit with both young readers and critics. "Witty and imaginative, the poem has a rhythm that makes cumbersome multisyllable dinosaur names roll off the tongue," said Kirkus Reviews.
Currently a children's librarian, Carol Diggory Shields has also worked with children as a recreational therapist and at one time was a designer of stuffed toys. Her years of being around children have no doubt helped her get a feel for the fun-but-factual stories that kids love, told in animated verse with an infectious beat. After successfully collaborating with illustrator Scott Nash on Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp, she teamed up with him for Martian Rock, "the true story of how a meteorite from Mars arrived on Earth," she quips.
More recently, the pair worked together again on The Bugliest Bug, a wacky tale of an insect talent contest threatened by hungry spiders (disguised as judges) and a brave little Damselfy who saves the day. "Insects are awesome!," the author enthuses. "Every human invention, from catapults to jet propulsion, had already been invented and used by bugs for millions of years. And that's why to be 'bugly' is the ultimate compliment."
The author of several books for children, Carol Diggory Shields lives in northern California.

Reviews

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun way to learn about American history. These poems made me smile. A little bit dated as it ends with George W. Bush.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good starter to much of American history for elementary-aged children. Illustrations are genuinely great, I still had some burned in my mind decades after reading. I appreciate the author’s efforts to include some of the darker periods of history; the Trail of Tears poem is particularly harrowing. However, this book falls victim to what others of its type usually do: it (inadvertently) prioritizes a white colonialist narrative. It also struck me on this read the omission of queer history, particularly the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Influenza was mentioned, so why was Y2K deemed more important an inclusion? All in all, this is very much a reflection of the time it was written, for good and for ill.

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun way to learn American history through 41 short and often humorous poems. Some of the poems can even be sung and the timeline at the of each page helps give a big picture to history. I learned some fun things that were new to me.

I think it would be a fun exercise to give the poems to kids but leave off some of the words and have the kids figure out what words need to be added to have the poem make sense.

"The presidents are passing by--Stand up and holler!
Number one is Washington,
His picture's on the _________.
John Adams is next in line,
A smart but grumpy fellow,
Third is Thomas Jefferson,
Builder of _________..."

[Ann Marie Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grade level: 2nd-4th grade
I enjoyed this book because it is a fun, new way to learn about history. The poems are chalk full of historical information that many kids probably wouldn't retain if it were presented in a bland history textbook. The book starts with a poem about the first people who came to America and then proceeds to talk about the discovery and expansion of America. The author includes historical poems about the pilgrims, the Boston Tea Party, the Louisiana Purchase, Presidents, and many more. This book would be simple to incorporate into the other history material you use in class. These poems could be a fun way to learn about both poetry and history.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun book which teaches American History through poetry. Great as a catalyst for teaching an event or to reinforce what you've been teaching. Short, keeps attention of children, accurate, and conducive to conversation.

[Amanda Northrup · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too much humor at the expense of actual facts. Loved the poem on Native American removal, though.