REVIEWS
Killer Underwear Invasion! is a humorous book to help kids learn about what disinfor- mation is and how to tell real news from fake news. Elise Gravel uses comical, colourful creatures to present a serious subject in a hi- larious way. Trough this, students are given the critical thinking skills needed to interact with media and digital media texts. Aſter explaining what fake news is, come-
KILLER UNDERWEAR INVASION! How to Spot Fake News, Disinforma- tion & Conspiracy Theories By Elise Gravel Chronical Books/Raincoast, 2022 104 pages, $22.50 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Reviewed by Jane Ranson
dic examples are given to show students the reasons behind why people create fake news and how easy it can be to believe it. As the book continues, it shows why disinformation can be dangerous and what happens when it spirals out of control. Confirmation bias is explained and analyzed in a way that allows students to understand that it is something they all need to deal with. Gravel provides clear methods of discern-
ing real news from fake news and teaches stu- dents to think critically, which is a necessary skill for anyone consuming any kind of news in 2024. Te book also teaches students that they need to check their sources and think about the difference between fact and opin- ion; they can’t just read the headlines.
My Grade 4 class enjoyed the time-travelling adventure Apartment 713 by Kevin Sylves- ter, a captivating and heartwarming middle- grade novel that seamlessly weaves mystery, time travel and a powerful message of empa- thy and friendship. When Jake moves with his mom to the
Regency, a rundown building under threat of demolition, he hates it. Lonely and missing his old home, Jake slowly explores the build- ing and gets to know some of his neighbours, who warn him to stay away from apartment 713. When he finds himself drawn to the mysterious apartment, everything changes. Te story centres around Jake and his new
APARTMENT 713 By Kevin Sylvester Harper Collins Canada, 2022 256 pages, $23.99 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Reviewed by Karen Kelly
friend Beth, but my students felt that the main character was the enigmatic apartment, a place that holds secrets and mysteries beyond imagination. Sylvester brilliantly combines historical elements with a modern twist, al- lowing the characters to visit pivotal mo- ments in history. Te vivid descriptions and meticulous attention to historical accuracy bring these time-travelling experiences to life, making the book both educational and enter- taining. Te idea of time travel sparked great discussions and imagination in our class.
Killer Underwear Invasion! is a necessary
addition to any classroom and a must-read for anyone teaching students from grades 3 to 8. Te book doesn’t just address specific news stories, it teaches students how to research and analyze information to make their own deci- sions about what to believe regarding news they consume, whatever the source might be. It also fits perfectly with the Language cur- riculum expectations, as there are connec- tions to digital media literacy in Strands A, C, and D. In Strand A, students learn about their rights and responsibilities when interacting online, when making decisions, and when de- veloping their digital identity. In Strand C stu- dents learn to apply the conventions of digital and media texts to analyze the relationships between the content, the audiences, and the creators. Finally, in Strand C they learn how to communicate their message to an audience in a respectful and responsible manner. Students will be engaged by Gravel’s fun
illustrations and comedic writing while still thinking seriously about the very important topic of fake news.
Jane Ranson is a member of the Limestone Teacher Local.
Te book’s intricate mystery elements kept
my students engaged and eager to unravel the secrets hidden within the apartment. Tese twists and turns, combined with the time travel, created an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement that made it hard to stop the story at the end of any given chapter. Te characters demonstrate the impor-
tance of understanding and supporting one another, even in the face of adversity. As an educational tool, this book has the potential to spark students’ interest in history and en- courage them to explore the past further. It is an excellent resource for teachers looking to introduce students to new genres. Tis time-travelling adventure kept my
young students hooked, while the powerful friendship between Jake and Beth leſt a last- ing impression. Tis book is not only an en- joyable read but also a valuable educational tool that easily links different content areas of the curriculum. As a class, we highly recom- mend this wonderful book.
Karen Kelly is a member of the Limestone Teacher Local.
ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ FEDERATION OF ONTARIO 45
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