GDC Newsletter Updates
JUSTICE! One-Hundred Ten Years in the Making
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | On July 15, 2022, the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) rewrote their records to declare Jim Thorpe as the sole winner of the gold medals for the decathlon and pentathlon in the 1912 Stockholm Games. On that historic day, Jim Thorpe became the first Native American to win Olympic gold medals. He completely dominated his two Olympic events. Sweden’s King Gustav V presented Thorpe with his medals and said to the young champion, “Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world.”
A Spy in Monet’s Garden
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Ella in the Garden of Giverny presents a delightful story of a young American girl in the early 20th century who is befriended by the creator of Impressionism, Claude Monet. Daniel Fehr smartly integrates Ella’s first-person narrative with an extended dialogue using the voices of Ella and of Monet, who becomes her mentor.
Out of this World
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Award-winning author, Sally M. Walker, employs one of the most widely known and used verse forms to take students on a poetic trip into space, near and far, far away. Further, she devotes a large part of Out of This World to an exploration of space using informative prose to help gifted readers further explore and better understand the extraordinary space phenomena initially introduced in her haiku poems.
Together We Are Strong
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | ‘Twas the Night Before PRIDE is an easy reading celebration of families from the all-inclusive LGBTQ+ population around the world.
A World Without Story is Lost
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Donna Barba Hilguera’s The Last Cuentista would be a standout book for middle-grade and secondary gifted readers in any year. The fact that it was the novel chosen to receive the Newbery Medal on the occasion of the American Library Association’s 100th Anniversary of the award, as well the 2022 Pura Belpre Award, add to its distinction.
the Immigrant Experience
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Almost everything about Watercress, from the story line to the artwork, is both simple and basic, yet deeply meaningful. Ashamed of feeling different, Andrea Wang wrote this book as an apology and love letter to her parents. She invites all readers to share their family stories. “Tell your stories. They are essential.” Stories create family traditions.
In Search of Poets
For nearly 44 years, Gifted Development Center has been a beacon of child-centered assessment. We are seeking gifted poet/examiners to continue our work who can “attend in a more perceptive, intimate, even holistic way.” We need assessors who excel at listening, who can tell a story of who this child is, what are this child’s needs, and why we should care.
Colossus: Amazing Feats of Engineering
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Colossus opens with a double-page spread of text and images that answer a key question: What is an engineer? Some engineering feats go back in time across thousands of years and their construction may still mystify contemporary engineers. How were such marvels as the great pyramids of Egypt and England’s Stonehenge constructed upwards of five thousand years ago?
Giftedness in its Essence is From the Inside Out
Giftedness is a way of experiencing that is aware, sensitive, intense, empathic, curious, complex, intuitive, imaginative, creative, excited about ideas, committed to the greater good.
Gifted Girls Pledge
Gifted women and girls are often discouraged from letting their light shine and their brilliance come through. This is a pledge to be unique, to be courageous and to grow brighter because the world needs you.
Amazing Africa
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Africa, Amazing Africa is a brilliantly colorful continental atlas. Young readers learn fascinating facts about each of Africa’s current nations. The rich illustrations portray the people, places, exotic animals, vegetation, orange and pink sand dunes, vast deserts, architecture from mud huts to soaring contemporary skyscrapers, unique dress, sports, foods, and even musical instruments found in the incredibly diverse countries.
Celebrate Animals Daily
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Many gifted children seem to have come into the world already madly in love with words. Not much later they begin to develop a passion for all the creatures of the earth. Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright serves as an important tribute to these twin loves.
Our Place in the Universe – Near and Very, Very Far Away
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Your Place in the Universe is a perfect fit for such keen learners. Jason Chin’s remarkable STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) picture book is about measurements, comparisons, relationships, numbers, time, distance, and the incredible vastness of the known universe.
The Beauty of Picture Books
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | This month’s Book of the Month column examines the values of print picture books and mentions several that have received national and international recognition. A Green Place to Be: The Creation of Central Park is a beautiful example of this genre. It documents the history of the development of one of the most iconic human achievements in the world.
We Are More Than You Think We Are
On October 8, 2021, Mayor De Blasio announced his plan to phase out the New York City Gifted and Talented Program. This places all gifted programs in America at risk. Abolishing gifted programs widens the gap between haves and have-nots. Eliminating gifted programs is the highest form of discrimination, suggesting that under-represented populations cannot BE gifted.
Picturing Jazz: A Celebration of Jazz and Great Food
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Jazz for Lunch! is narrated in rhymed verse by a young Black child accompanied by his beloved Auntie Nina to a jazz club (presumably in Harlem) where they expect to hear some crazy, wonderful music capped off with some noontime grub.
You Are Not Your Struggles
“Gifted” has many different connotations. Most people think it is about high achievement in school. In my view, that is academic talent. Gifted children may or may not excel in school, and academically talented students may or may not be gifted.
To differentiate the concept of giftedness from “success”—in school or in life—I have come up with the notion of Gifted Plus to signify the inner experience of giftedness.
DR. Fauci: The World’s Doctor
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Dr. Anthony Fauci is the best known physician in the world today due to his recent work with COVID-19. He has been a chief medical advisor to seven U. S. Presidents. Anthony Fauci’s special gift for listening to people to learn new information has allowed him and his fellow researchers to discover new viruses that attack the immune systems of patients. Aided by scientists around the world, Dr. Fauci prompted the development of vaccines to create immunity from the deadly coronavirus. Two pages of text answer the questions, How Do Vaccines Work? and Are Vaccines Safe?