Bibliography
Krosoczka, Jarrett J. LUNCH LADY AND THE LEAGUE OF LIBRARIANS. New York: Random House, 2009. ISBN 978-0-375-84684-7.
Plot Summary
The librarians are hiding something from the school. Three inquisitive students set out to uncover the mystery, but have to enlist the help of the Lunch Lady and her partner to solve the crime and rid the streets of the evil League of Librarians.
Critical Analysis
The story, itself, is very funny. It is written for children, but can be appreciated by any age. Krozoczka inserts funny lines for the lunch ladies that fit their job and their personalities like “Things are getting applesaucy” and “Great Tuna!” When the ultimate showdown between the two teams occurs, the librarians power is the unleash characters from various books upon the lunch ladies. This includes Black Beauty and the Lion from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. These touches make the book humorous. The lunch ladies retaliate with hairnet nets and banana boomerangs. The author knows his audience wants a story they can understand and find humor in quickly and he does an excellent job of delivering on both parts.
It is so obvious Krozoczka has a deep passion for comics and graphic novels. His illustrations are beautifully done, but provide the humor needed to accompany his story. While only using shades of black, white and yellow throughout the book, nothing is lacking and it feels like a fully colored book. He includes tiny details like the computer keyboard “click” in the background of the illustrations. It shows the level of detail he put into making this book. I think my favorite illustrations were of the characters the League of Librarians unleashed. The wolf from The Three Little Pigs and all the characters from Alice in Wonderland made a funny and well drawn climax to the story. The greatly done illustrations paired with a funny story make this a fun read for many ages.
Review Excerpts
“When not serving up French fries and gravy to students, Lunch Lady escapes to her secret kitchen lair to lead the life of a crime fighter. Using an assortment of lunch-themed gadgets (created by her sidekick Betty), she is definitely a quirky superhero. Tipped off by the Breakfast Bunch (three students who discovered Lunch Lady's crime-fighting alter ego in Book 1), she attempts to foil the plans of the evil League of Librarians, who seek to destroy all video games. The black-and-white pen-and-ink illustrations have splashes of yellow in nearly every panel. The clean layout, featuring lots of open space, is well suited for the intended audience. Terrence, Hector, and Dee become more developed in this second installment in the series, especially Dee, who asserts herself as the strong-willed leader of the group. The winking references to book fairs, read-a-thon enrollment, and media specialists fit well with the story line. With its appealing mix of action and humor, this clever, entertaining addition to the series should have wide appeal.” – School Library Journal
Connections
Read other books in Krozoczka’s Lunch Lady series: Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute, Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown, Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta, and Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit.
Have students write their own comics of adults with their own superpowers. What kind of superhero props would their math teacher have? What about the principal? Their parents? Their grandparents?
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Bibliography
Anderson, Laurie Halse. SPEAK. New York: Penguin Group, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-0142407325.
Plot Summary
Melinda begins her freshman year of high school barely speaking to anyone because of an event over the summer that emotionally scarred her. She spends her freshman year trying to reconcile what happened at the seniors’ party over the summer with the way her life has dramatically changed in the course of a year.
Critical Analysis
The story is beautifully told by Anderson. She allows the reader to discover the reasons behind Melinda’s muteness and decide for themselves which side they want to take. Anderson presents the rape from Melinda’s perspective which makes it feel like an invasion against the readers themselves. Melinda is an outcast in her school because she doesn’t want to conform to the other kids in her school because of the incident with Andy. I think what Anderson does best is present a story that is not centered around the incident, but the aftermath of it. This makes the trauma Melinda goes through much more relatable. I think readers that may be the same age as Melinda understand what it’s like to have an event that so shakes you that you don’t even know how to handle it. Because Anderson is able to go at it from the angle of an outcast because of something beyond her own doing, the book is a success in bringing readers a story of having to deal with issues as well as finding hope from it.
I think Mr. Freeman is one of the most rewarding parts of the book. At such a time in a child’s life, I think they need an adult figure to look up to. Because Melinda’s parents seem to be more and more absent from Melinda’s daily activities, Mr. Freeman is the adult in Melinda’s life that pushes her to express herself which she does through art. Eventually, Mr. Freeman is the one Melinda tells her story to and she is finally able to move on.
The tone is dark, but rightly so. As Melinda has to deal with this secret, she is not able to move on and be a happy teenager until her pain has been absolved. The title of the book is interesting. While Melinda just does not talk for part of the book, it is because her pain has manifested itself into physical silence. The title reflects not only Melinda’s need to speak about the incident in order to move on, but her inability to speak. In the newest cover of the book, there is a face with a tree over it. The leaves go over the face, but there mouth is noticeably absent.
Awards and Review Excerpts
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Top-10 Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Quick Pick for Young Adults
Edgar Allen Poe Award finalist
IRA Young Adult Choice
Junior Library Guild Selection
Michal L. Printz Honor Book (American Library Association)
National Book Award Finalist
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
New York Times Bestseller List
SCBWI Golden Kite Award
YALSA Popular Paperback for Young Adults
“In a stunning first novel, Anderson uses keen observations and vivid imagery to pull readers into the head of an isolated teenager. Divided into the four marking periods of an academic year, the novel, narrated by Melinda Sordino, begins on her first day as a high school freshman. No one will sit with Melinda on the bus. At school, students call her names and harass her; her best friends from junior high scatter to different cliques and abandon her. Yet Anderson infuses the narrative with a wit that sustains the heroine through her pain and holds readers' empathy. A girl at a school pep rally offers an explanation of the heroine's pariah status when she confronts Melinda about calling the police at a summer party, resulting in several arrests. But readers do not learn why Melinda made the call until much later: a popular senior raped her that night and, because of her trauma, she barely speaks at all. Only through her work in art class, and with the support of a compassionate teacher there, does she begin to reach out to others and eventually find her voice. Through the first-person narration, the author makes Melinda's pain palpable: "I stand in the center aisle of the auditorium, a wounded zebra in a National Geographic special." Though the symbolism is sometimes heavy-handed, it is effective. The ending, in which her attacker comes after her once more, is the only part of the plot that feels forced. But the book's overall gritty realism and Melinda's hard-won metamorphosis will leave readers touched and inspired.” – Publisher’s Weekly
“Anderson’s words often seem gleaned directly from a confused teenager’s soul.” – Audiofile
Connections
Read other young adult novels by Anderson. Catalyst, in particular, is set in the same community as Speak and focuses on what happens to Kate when her world suddenly spins out of her control.
Watch the 2004 film version of Speak. Starring Twilight’s Kristen Stewart, it is a great movie version of the novel.
Anderson, Laurie Halse. SPEAK. New York: Penguin Group, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-0142407325.
Plot Summary
Melinda begins her freshman year of high school barely speaking to anyone because of an event over the summer that emotionally scarred her. She spends her freshman year trying to reconcile what happened at the seniors’ party over the summer with the way her life has dramatically changed in the course of a year.
Critical Analysis
The story is beautifully told by Anderson. She allows the reader to discover the reasons behind Melinda’s muteness and decide for themselves which side they want to take. Anderson presents the rape from Melinda’s perspective which makes it feel like an invasion against the readers themselves. Melinda is an outcast in her school because she doesn’t want to conform to the other kids in her school because of the incident with Andy. I think what Anderson does best is present a story that is not centered around the incident, but the aftermath of it. This makes the trauma Melinda goes through much more relatable. I think readers that may be the same age as Melinda understand what it’s like to have an event that so shakes you that you don’t even know how to handle it. Because Anderson is able to go at it from the angle of an outcast because of something beyond her own doing, the book is a success in bringing readers a story of having to deal with issues as well as finding hope from it.
I think Mr. Freeman is one of the most rewarding parts of the book. At such a time in a child’s life, I think they need an adult figure to look up to. Because Melinda’s parents seem to be more and more absent from Melinda’s daily activities, Mr. Freeman is the adult in Melinda’s life that pushes her to express herself which she does through art. Eventually, Mr. Freeman is the one Melinda tells her story to and she is finally able to move on.
The tone is dark, but rightly so. As Melinda has to deal with this secret, she is not able to move on and be a happy teenager until her pain has been absolved. The title of the book is interesting. While Melinda just does not talk for part of the book, it is because her pain has manifested itself into physical silence. The title reflects not only Melinda’s need to speak about the incident in order to move on, but her inability to speak. In the newest cover of the book, there is a face with a tree over it. The leaves go over the face, but there mouth is noticeably absent.
Awards and Review Excerpts
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Top-10 Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Quick Pick for Young Adults
Edgar Allen Poe Award finalist
IRA Young Adult Choice
Junior Library Guild Selection
Michal L. Printz Honor Book (American Library Association)
National Book Award Finalist
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
New York Times Bestseller List
SCBWI Golden Kite Award
YALSA Popular Paperback for Young Adults
“In a stunning first novel, Anderson uses keen observations and vivid imagery to pull readers into the head of an isolated teenager. Divided into the four marking periods of an academic year, the novel, narrated by Melinda Sordino, begins on her first day as a high school freshman. No one will sit with Melinda on the bus. At school, students call her names and harass her; her best friends from junior high scatter to different cliques and abandon her. Yet Anderson infuses the narrative with a wit that sustains the heroine through her pain and holds readers' empathy. A girl at a school pep rally offers an explanation of the heroine's pariah status when she confronts Melinda about calling the police at a summer party, resulting in several arrests. But readers do not learn why Melinda made the call until much later: a popular senior raped her that night and, because of her trauma, she barely speaks at all. Only through her work in art class, and with the support of a compassionate teacher there, does she begin to reach out to others and eventually find her voice. Through the first-person narration, the author makes Melinda's pain palpable: "I stand in the center aisle of the auditorium, a wounded zebra in a National Geographic special." Though the symbolism is sometimes heavy-handed, it is effective. The ending, in which her attacker comes after her once more, is the only part of the plot that feels forced. But the book's overall gritty realism and Melinda's hard-won metamorphosis will leave readers touched and inspired.” – Publisher’s Weekly
“Anderson’s words often seem gleaned directly from a confused teenager’s soul.” – Audiofile
Connections
Read other young adult novels by Anderson. Catalyst, in particular, is set in the same community as Speak and focuses on what happens to Kate when her world suddenly spins out of her control.
Watch the 2004 film version of Speak. Starring Twilight’s Kristen Stewart, it is a great movie version of the novel.
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Bibliography
Stead, Rebecca. WHEN YOU REACH ME. New York: Yearling, 2010. ISBN-13: 978-0375850868.
Plot Summary
New York sixth-grader Miranda suddenly receives mysterious notes asking her to do things in the future. As she tries to decipher what the notes mean, she has to grapple with the falling apart of her friendship with her best friend Sal, the curious homeless man on her street corner and her mother as she grows closer to her boyfriend. Coupled with her mother’s upcoming appearance on $25,000 Pyramid, Miranda’s life takes twists she never expected.
Critical Analysis
The book is categorized as a mystery/science fiction book, but the story is so well put together it really seems like mystery is the underlying genre. It makes many mentions to Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time which Steadman said she loved growing up and relied on the premise of in this story. Because Miranda’s relationships around the happenings in her life are at the forefront of the story, the book can still be enjoyed by someone who doesn’t necessarily go to the mystery/sci-fi genre.
I think the biggest strength in the book is that Miranda is a likeable character. It is easy to care about her relationship with Sal and with her mother because you care about her. She is smart, nice and a little precocious. She genuinely wants to help the homeless man on her street and tries to be a good employee when she goes to work at the sandwich shop. Steadman greatly understands the feelings and thoughts of a twelve year old. Miranda is like most girls at her age, realizing that life has suddenly gotten hard and people leave. She is starting to see how life changes when friendships fail and parents don’t make you their day to day priority. She deals with making new friends and balancing her mother’s attention in a delicate way that actually makes sense. Once combined with the mystery that suddenly appears allowing her to be distracted from her other problems, Miranda shows she’s much stronger than she even thought.
Steadman’s writing is grown up, but completely applicable to her target audience. She doesn’t talk down to them, but lays out the story in a complex, but easy to follow way. Through this, Steadman allows the readers to travel through the story through Miranda’s eyes.
Awards and Review Excerpts
2010 Newberry Award Winner
2009 New York Times Notable Book
2009 Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Books
2009 Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of the Year
2009 School Library Journal Book of the Year
2009 Booklist Editor’s Choice
2009 Horn Book Fanfare
2010 ALA Notable Children’s Book
"Every scene, every nuance, every word is vital both to character development and the progression of the mystery that really is going to engage readers and satisfy them.” – Katie O’Dell, Chairwoman of Newberry Award Committee
“Sixth-grader Miranda lives in 1978 New York City with her mother, and her life compass is Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. When she receives a series of enigmatic notes that claim to want to save her life, she comes to believe that they are from someone who knows the future. Miranda spends considerable time observing a raving vagrant who her mother calls the laughing man and trying to find the connection between the notes and her everyday life. Discerning readers will realize the ties between Miranda's mystery and L'Engle's plot, but will enjoy hints of fantasy and descriptions of middle school dynamics. Stead's novel is as much about character as story. Miranda's voice rings true with its faltering attempts at maturity and observation. The story builds slowly, emerging naturally from a sturdy premise. As Miranda reminisces, the time sequencing is somewhat challenging, but in an intriguing way. The setting is consistently strong. The stores and even the streets–in Miranda's neighborhood act as physical entities and impact the plot in tangible ways. This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers.” – School Library Journal
Connections
The book deals with clues that reveal something in the future. Have students write letters or clues to their future self. What do they want to realize or to find out? What do they think will be important or life changing to them in a couple months or a couple years?
Miranda loses a friend, but makes others along the way. One of the friends she makes is someone she didn’t like the first time she met her. Have students write about a time in their life when they felt that way. Did they lose someone they were once close to? Did they end up friends with someone they disliked the first go round? What made them change their mind?
Stead, Rebecca. WHEN YOU REACH ME. New York: Yearling, 2010. ISBN-13: 978-0375850868.
Plot Summary
New York sixth-grader Miranda suddenly receives mysterious notes asking her to do things in the future. As she tries to decipher what the notes mean, she has to grapple with the falling apart of her friendship with her best friend Sal, the curious homeless man on her street corner and her mother as she grows closer to her boyfriend. Coupled with her mother’s upcoming appearance on $25,000 Pyramid, Miranda’s life takes twists she never expected.
Critical Analysis
The book is categorized as a mystery/science fiction book, but the story is so well put together it really seems like mystery is the underlying genre. It makes many mentions to Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time which Steadman said she loved growing up and relied on the premise of in this story. Because Miranda’s relationships around the happenings in her life are at the forefront of the story, the book can still be enjoyed by someone who doesn’t necessarily go to the mystery/sci-fi genre.
I think the biggest strength in the book is that Miranda is a likeable character. It is easy to care about her relationship with Sal and with her mother because you care about her. She is smart, nice and a little precocious. She genuinely wants to help the homeless man on her street and tries to be a good employee when she goes to work at the sandwich shop. Steadman greatly understands the feelings and thoughts of a twelve year old. Miranda is like most girls at her age, realizing that life has suddenly gotten hard and people leave. She is starting to see how life changes when friendships fail and parents don’t make you their day to day priority. She deals with making new friends and balancing her mother’s attention in a delicate way that actually makes sense. Once combined with the mystery that suddenly appears allowing her to be distracted from her other problems, Miranda shows she’s much stronger than she even thought.
Steadman’s writing is grown up, but completely applicable to her target audience. She doesn’t talk down to them, but lays out the story in a complex, but easy to follow way. Through this, Steadman allows the readers to travel through the story through Miranda’s eyes.
Awards and Review Excerpts
2010 Newberry Award Winner
2009 New York Times Notable Book
2009 Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Books
2009 Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of the Year
2009 School Library Journal Book of the Year
2009 Booklist Editor’s Choice
2009 Horn Book Fanfare
2010 ALA Notable Children’s Book
"Every scene, every nuance, every word is vital both to character development and the progression of the mystery that really is going to engage readers and satisfy them.” – Katie O’Dell, Chairwoman of Newberry Award Committee
“Sixth-grader Miranda lives in 1978 New York City with her mother, and her life compass is Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. When she receives a series of enigmatic notes that claim to want to save her life, she comes to believe that they are from someone who knows the future. Miranda spends considerable time observing a raving vagrant who her mother calls the laughing man and trying to find the connection between the notes and her everyday life. Discerning readers will realize the ties between Miranda's mystery and L'Engle's plot, but will enjoy hints of fantasy and descriptions of middle school dynamics. Stead's novel is as much about character as story. Miranda's voice rings true with its faltering attempts at maturity and observation. The story builds slowly, emerging naturally from a sturdy premise. As Miranda reminisces, the time sequencing is somewhat challenging, but in an intriguing way. The setting is consistently strong. The stores and even the streets–in Miranda's neighborhood act as physical entities and impact the plot in tangible ways. This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers.” – School Library Journal
Connections
The book deals with clues that reveal something in the future. Have students write letters or clues to their future self. What do they want to realize or to find out? What do they think will be important or life changing to them in a couple months or a couple years?
Miranda loses a friend, but makes others along the way. One of the friends she makes is someone she didn’t like the first time she met her. Have students write about a time in their life when they felt that way. Did they lose someone they were once close to? Did they end up friends with someone they disliked the first go round? What made them change their mind?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Bibliography
Williams-Garcia, Rita. ONE CRAZY SUMMER. New York: Amistad, 2010. ISBN 978-0-06076088-5
Plot Summary
African American sisters Delphine, Vonetta and Fern are sent from their father and grandmother’s house in Brooklyn to Oakland , CA to spend the summer with their estranged mother, Cecile. Their mother seems to be hiding a big secret, being somehow involved with the Black Panthers. When Cecile sends her daughters to the rec center down the street, the three girls end up in a Black Panther summer camp for children. The girls don’t quite understand why they are placed in this new place, especially since Cecile doesn’t seem to be at all interested in the daughters she left behind in Brooklyn. Delphine, eleven, is the oldest of the three girls, acting as the motherly figure to her sisters. She is responsible and smart beyond her years. Vonetta, nine, seeks to be the center of attention in all situations. Fern, seven, is the youngest and clings to her white baby doll, trying to be more grown up like her older sisters. As the summer progresses, the girls stop counting down the days until they leave and start to learn more and more about the Panthers and the mother who left them behind seven years prior. It is a summer of discovery of themselves, their family past and the future being made in front of their eyes in Oakland.
Critical Analysis
This book taught me a lot I did not know about the Black Panthers in a way that kept me entertained and did not feel like a history lesson. Garcia-Williams weaves the history of the Black Panthers and their cause into the story of Delphine and her sisters. Between learning about Huey Newton and the changing of Cassius Clay into Mohammed Ali, the overthrow of oppression of African Americans was thriving in Oakland .
Delphine is a strong young lady who has clearly been forced to grow up and care for her sisters far too early. Throughout the story, it is clear that the lack of her mother has led her to be the girl she is. Her sisters were younger when their mother left (with Fern being a newborn) so they have not been expected from their father or grandmother to step up like Delphine. I liked the very different personalities the three sisters had, but also the way Garcia-Williams explains how they are so similar. It is very hard to like Cecile who cares so little about her children, but as the story unfolds, it is apparent that she has had to do this in order to make her girls strong for the fights they’ll have to fight in their lives. A lot of very adult actions are introduced in front of the girls at the rec center, but I think they are actions that young children saw in real life. While hard lessons, I think those taught to Delphine and her sisters are worthwhile. I loved reading about the three girls finding their own voice, standing up for oppression and learning to accept a mother who abandoned them.
Awards and Review Excerpts
2011 Coretta Scott King Award Winner
2011 Newbery Honor Book
2011 Scott O’Dell Prize for Historical Fiction
2010 National Book Award Finalist
Junior Library Guild Selection
Texas Library Association Best Book for 2010
“Author Rita Williams-Garcia has a fine ear for the squabbles and fierce loyalties of siblings and a keen eye for kid-centered period details, including collect phone calls, go-go boots and the TV dolphin Flipper. With authenticity and humor, she portrays the ever-shifting dynamics among ultra-responsible Delphine, show-off Vonetta and stubborn Fern.” – Washington Post
“Set during a pivotal moment in African American history, this vibrant novel shows the subtle ways that political movements affect personal lives; but just as memorable is the finely drawn, universal story of children reclaiming a reluctant parent’s love.” - Booklist
“And, I’m sorry. You can make amazing, believable characters all day if you want to, but there’s more to writing than just that. This writer doesn’t just conjure up people. She has a way with a turn of a phrase. Three Black Panthers talking with Cecile are, “Telling it like it is, like talking was their weapon.” Later Cecile tells her eldest daughter, “It wouldn’t kill you to be selfish, Delphine.” This book is a pleasure to cast your eyes over.” – School Library Journal
“Each girl has a distinct response to her motherless state, and Williams-Garcia provides details that make each characterization crystal clear. The depiction of the time is well done, and while the girls are caught up in the difficulties of adults, their resilience is celebrated and energetically told with writing that snaps off the page.” – Kirkus Starred Review
Connections
· Travel from Brooklyn, NY to Oakland, CA plays a big role to the girls in the book. Have children learn about the cultures in Brooklyn and Oakland. What are the people like? The weather? What is there to do in these towns?
· Have students investigate the Black Panthers and prominent figures in the African American Civil Rights Movement. Read biographies like Martin Luther King, Jr.: Young Man With a Dream by Dharthahula H. Millender.
Williams-Garcia, Rita. ONE CRAZY SUMMER. New York: Amistad, 2010. ISBN 978-0-06076088-5
Plot Summary
African American sisters Delphine, Vonetta and Fern are sent from their father and grandmother’s house in Brooklyn to Oakland , CA to spend the summer with their estranged mother, Cecile. Their mother seems to be hiding a big secret, being somehow involved with the Black Panthers. When Cecile sends her daughters to the rec center down the street, the three girls end up in a Black Panther summer camp for children. The girls don’t quite understand why they are placed in this new place, especially since Cecile doesn’t seem to be at all interested in the daughters she left behind in Brooklyn. Delphine, eleven, is the oldest of the three girls, acting as the motherly figure to her sisters. She is responsible and smart beyond her years. Vonetta, nine, seeks to be the center of attention in all situations. Fern, seven, is the youngest and clings to her white baby doll, trying to be more grown up like her older sisters. As the summer progresses, the girls stop counting down the days until they leave and start to learn more and more about the Panthers and the mother who left them behind seven years prior. It is a summer of discovery of themselves, their family past and the future being made in front of their eyes in Oakland.
Critical Analysis
This book taught me a lot I did not know about the Black Panthers in a way that kept me entertained and did not feel like a history lesson. Garcia-Williams weaves the history of the Black Panthers and their cause into the story of Delphine and her sisters. Between learning about Huey Newton and the changing of Cassius Clay into Mohammed Ali, the overthrow of oppression of African Americans was thriving in Oakland .
Delphine is a strong young lady who has clearly been forced to grow up and care for her sisters far too early. Throughout the story, it is clear that the lack of her mother has led her to be the girl she is. Her sisters were younger when their mother left (with Fern being a newborn) so they have not been expected from their father or grandmother to step up like Delphine. I liked the very different personalities the three sisters had, but also the way Garcia-Williams explains how they are so similar. It is very hard to like Cecile who cares so little about her children, but as the story unfolds, it is apparent that she has had to do this in order to make her girls strong for the fights they’ll have to fight in their lives. A lot of very adult actions are introduced in front of the girls at the rec center, but I think they are actions that young children saw in real life. While hard lessons, I think those taught to Delphine and her sisters are worthwhile. I loved reading about the three girls finding their own voice, standing up for oppression and learning to accept a mother who abandoned them.
Awards and Review Excerpts
2011 Coretta Scott King Award Winner
2011 Newbery Honor Book
2011 Scott O’Dell Prize for Historical Fiction
2010 National Book Award Finalist
Junior Library Guild Selection
Texas Library Association Best Book for 2010
“Author Rita Williams-Garcia has a fine ear for the squabbles and fierce loyalties of siblings and a keen eye for kid-centered period details, including collect phone calls, go-go boots and the TV dolphin Flipper. With authenticity and humor, she portrays the ever-shifting dynamics among ultra-responsible Delphine, show-off Vonetta and stubborn Fern.” – Washington Post
“Set during a pivotal moment in African American history, this vibrant novel shows the subtle ways that political movements affect personal lives; but just as memorable is the finely drawn, universal story of children reclaiming a reluctant parent’s love.” - Booklist
“And, I’m sorry. You can make amazing, believable characters all day if you want to, but there’s more to writing than just that. This writer doesn’t just conjure up people. She has a way with a turn of a phrase. Three Black Panthers talking with Cecile are, “Telling it like it is, like talking was their weapon.” Later Cecile tells her eldest daughter, “It wouldn’t kill you to be selfish, Delphine.” This book is a pleasure to cast your eyes over.” – School Library Journal
“Each girl has a distinct response to her motherless state, and Williams-Garcia provides details that make each characterization crystal clear. The depiction of the time is well done, and while the girls are caught up in the difficulties of adults, their resilience is celebrated and energetically told with writing that snaps off the page.” – Kirkus Starred Review
Connections
· Travel from Brooklyn, NY to Oakland, CA plays a big role to the girls in the book. Have children learn about the cultures in Brooklyn and Oakland. What are the people like? The weather? What is there to do in these towns?
· Have students investigate the Black Panthers and prominent figures in the African American Civil Rights Movement. Read biographies like Martin Luther King, Jr.: Young Man With a Dream by Dharthahula H. Millender.
Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer
Bibliography
Meyer, L.A. BLOODY JACK: BEING AN ACCOUNT OF THE CURIOUS ADVENTURES OF MARY “JACKY” FABER, SHIP’S BOY. New York: Graphia, 2010.
Plot Summary
After being orphaned in London and left on the street, Mary Faber is taken in as a ship boy. Life is hard on the ship, but she is taken under the wing of Rooster who treats her like family. Mary disguises herself as a boy to continue to stay on the ship. Soon, she comes back to the ship after killing a pirate to defend her shipmate covered in blood and nicknamed “Bloody Jack”.
Critical Analysis
From the Prologue on, Meyer does not hold back, but jumps right in to the harsh world of living on the high seas. There is blood and fighting and poor Mary being abandoned and orphaned. In the past few years, particularly with The Pirates of the Caribbean movies, pirates have been brought to the forefront of popular culture. Told in first person, Jacky has the speech of a ship boy down pat. At first a bit distracting, after a few pages it becomes expected and necessary to the story.
Meyer’s story easily fits into the pirate genre. Jacky is a likeable character that shows readers that even someone young can be brave in the face of adversity. Jacky was put under enormous pressure to survive for herself and shows she was able to do so. While the characters in the book are a ragamuffin team, it is easy to like them. Rooster really steps up to become a great influence in keeping Jacky safe and being able to survive on the ship. The book has a lot of action with interesting characters. It makes for an enjoyable read, but one that is deep and fulfilling. Like the movies in the pirate pop culture, this book shows life on the high seas as it was while making it something worth reading.
Review Excerpts
“"I prays for deliverance," confides Mary Faber, orphaned at eight years old by a pestilence that relegates her to a life of begging and petty crime on the streets of London. After her gang's leader is killed, she dons his clothing, trading in the name Mary for Jack, and takes to the high seas aboard the HMS Dolphin. Meyer evokes life in the 18th-century Royal Navy with Dickensian flair. He seamlessly weaves into Jacky's first-person account a wealth of historical and nautical detail at a time when pirates terrorized the oceans. Interspersed are humorous asides about her ongoing struggle to maintain "The Deception" (she fashions herself a codpiece and emulates the "shake-and-wiggle action" of the other boys when pretending to use the head, for instance), she earns her titular nickname in a clash with pirates and survives a brief stretch as a castaway before her true identity is discovered (the book ends as she's about to be shipped off to a school for young ladies in Boston). The narrative's dialect occasionally falters, but this detracts only slightly from the descriptive prose ("He's got muscles like a horse and looks to have a brain to match") and not at all from the engine driving this sprawling yarn: the spirited heroine's wholly engaging voice. Her budding sexuality (which leads to a somewhat flawed plotline involving a secret shipboard romance) and a near-rape by a seaman mark this one for older readers, who will find the salty tale a rattling good read.– Publisher’s Weekly
“With the plague running rampant in London in 1797, Mary's parents and sister are soon counted among the dead. Left alone and penniless, the eight-year-old is taken in by a gang of orphans and learns survival skills. However, when their leader is killed, Mary decides to try her luck elsewhere. She strips the dead body, cuts her hair, renames herself Jack Faber, and is soon employed as a ship's boy on the HMS Dolphin. When the vessel sees its first skirmish with a pirate ship, her bravery saves her friend Jaimy and earns her the nickname "Bloody Jack." Told by Mary/Jack in an uneven dialect that sometimes doesn't ring true, the story weaves details of life aboard the Dolphin. Readers see how she changes her disguise based on her own physical changes and handles the "call of nature," her first experiences with maturation, and the dangers to boys from unscrupulous crew members. The protagonist's vocabulary, her appearance and demeanor, and her desire to be one of the boys and do everything they do without complaint complete the deception. This story also shows a welcome slant to this genre with an honorable, albeit strict Captain, and ship's mates who are willing and able teachers. If readers are looking for a rousing, swashbuckling tale of pirates and adventures on the high seas, this title falls short. However, it is a good story of a brave ship's "boy" with natural leadership abilities and a sense of fair play and humanity.” – School Library Journal
Connections
· Read the other books in the Bloody Jack series: Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady; Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber; In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of the Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber.
· Compare the life of Jacky’s at sea to the lives of other people at sea. How is her life different from that in The Pirates of the Caribbean?
Meyer, L.A. BLOODY JACK: BEING AN ACCOUNT OF THE CURIOUS ADVENTURES OF MARY “JACKY” FABER, SHIP’S BOY. New York: Graphia, 2010.
Plot Summary
After being orphaned in London and left on the street, Mary Faber is taken in as a ship boy. Life is hard on the ship, but she is taken under the wing of Rooster who treats her like family. Mary disguises herself as a boy to continue to stay on the ship. Soon, she comes back to the ship after killing a pirate to defend her shipmate covered in blood and nicknamed “Bloody Jack”.
Critical Analysis
From the Prologue on, Meyer does not hold back, but jumps right in to the harsh world of living on the high seas. There is blood and fighting and poor Mary being abandoned and orphaned. In the past few years, particularly with The Pirates of the Caribbean movies, pirates have been brought to the forefront of popular culture. Told in first person, Jacky has the speech of a ship boy down pat. At first a bit distracting, after a few pages it becomes expected and necessary to the story.
Meyer’s story easily fits into the pirate genre. Jacky is a likeable character that shows readers that even someone young can be brave in the face of adversity. Jacky was put under enormous pressure to survive for herself and shows she was able to do so. While the characters in the book are a ragamuffin team, it is easy to like them. Rooster really steps up to become a great influence in keeping Jacky safe and being able to survive on the ship. The book has a lot of action with interesting characters. It makes for an enjoyable read, but one that is deep and fulfilling. Like the movies in the pirate pop culture, this book shows life on the high seas as it was while making it something worth reading.
Review Excerpts
“"I prays for deliverance," confides Mary Faber, orphaned at eight years old by a pestilence that relegates her to a life of begging and petty crime on the streets of London. After her gang's leader is killed, she dons his clothing, trading in the name Mary for Jack, and takes to the high seas aboard the HMS Dolphin. Meyer evokes life in the 18th-century Royal Navy with Dickensian flair. He seamlessly weaves into Jacky's first-person account a wealth of historical and nautical detail at a time when pirates terrorized the oceans. Interspersed are humorous asides about her ongoing struggle to maintain "The Deception" (she fashions herself a codpiece and emulates the "shake-and-wiggle action" of the other boys when pretending to use the head, for instance), she earns her titular nickname in a clash with pirates and survives a brief stretch as a castaway before her true identity is discovered (the book ends as she's about to be shipped off to a school for young ladies in Boston). The narrative's dialect occasionally falters, but this detracts only slightly from the descriptive prose ("He's got muscles like a horse and looks to have a brain to match") and not at all from the engine driving this sprawling yarn: the spirited heroine's wholly engaging voice. Her budding sexuality (which leads to a somewhat flawed plotline involving a secret shipboard romance) and a near-rape by a seaman mark this one for older readers, who will find the salty tale a rattling good read.– Publisher’s Weekly
“With the plague running rampant in London in 1797, Mary's parents and sister are soon counted among the dead. Left alone and penniless, the eight-year-old is taken in by a gang of orphans and learns survival skills. However, when their leader is killed, Mary decides to try her luck elsewhere. She strips the dead body, cuts her hair, renames herself Jack Faber, and is soon employed as a ship's boy on the HMS Dolphin. When the vessel sees its first skirmish with a pirate ship, her bravery saves her friend Jaimy and earns her the nickname "Bloody Jack." Told by Mary/Jack in an uneven dialect that sometimes doesn't ring true, the story weaves details of life aboard the Dolphin. Readers see how she changes her disguise based on her own physical changes and handles the "call of nature," her first experiences with maturation, and the dangers to boys from unscrupulous crew members. The protagonist's vocabulary, her appearance and demeanor, and her desire to be one of the boys and do everything they do without complaint complete the deception. This story also shows a welcome slant to this genre with an honorable, albeit strict Captain, and ship's mates who are willing and able teachers. If readers are looking for a rousing, swashbuckling tale of pirates and adventures on the high seas, this title falls short. However, it is a good story of a brave ship's "boy" with natural leadership abilities and a sense of fair play and humanity.” – School Library Journal
Connections
· Read the other books in the Bloody Jack series: Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady; Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber; In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of the Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber.
· Compare the life of Jacky’s at sea to the lives of other people at sea. How is her life different from that in The Pirates of the Caribbean?
Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
Bibliography
Cushman, Karen. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY. New York: Harper Collins, 1995. ISBN-10: 0064405842.
Plot Summary
Set in the thirteenth century, fourteen year old Catherine (or Birdy as she is often called) writes to her brother in the form of a diary. Coupling her father’s search for a suitable husband for her with the constant supervision she has from her mother and her nurse, Birdy feels total oppression in her life. The book follows Birdy as she deals with day to day struggles of being a young girl wanting independence in a time when that was not something that was even possible.
Critical Analysis
Birdy is the kind of girl I’ve always seen myself as – free-spirited and extremely strong willed. Cushman takes a character that is so out of the norm during her time and places her right in the thick of it. Birdy, so called because of her love for birds, is just as trapped as the birds she keeps in cages in her room. Once Birdy leaves the cage her father has her in, she’ll be trapped by her husband. She tries to find ways to get rid of each of the suitors her father finds for her by tricking them or making them find her repulsive. All of this is much to her father’s dismay which, judging by the way she talks about her father in her journal, doesn’t bother her one bit.
I think Cushman shines in her historical knowledge throughout the novel. Each page of Birdy’s journal is dedicated to a different saint. Cushman’s ability to understand and incorporate the saints into Birdy’s daily life shows how much work she put into the historical accuracy of the time. Cushman easily talks about the day to day activities of Birdy like she lived the life herself at Birdy’s age. The first line of the book sets the tone for the rest of the novel: “I am commanded to write an account of my days: I am bit by fleas and plagued by family.” Because historical fiction relies on an accurate historical data, finding out this much day to day information from so long ago had to be difficult. Cushman delivers it with ease, letting readers feel the pain Birdy feels while explaining why this time in the world was so trying for a girl like Birdy.
Awards and Review Excerpts
Newberry Honor Award Winner
“A Newbery Honor Book, this witty and wise fictive diary of a 13th-century English girl, according to PW, "introduces an admirable heroine and pungently evokes a largely unfamiliar setting." – Publisher’s Weekly
“This unusual book provides an insider's look at the life of Birdy, 14, the daughter of a minor English nobleman. The year is 1290 and the vehicle for storytelling is the girl's witty, irreverent diary. She looks with a clear and critical eye upon the world around her, telling of the people she knows and of the daily events in her small manor house. Much of Birdy's energy is consumed by avoiding the various suitors her father chooses for her to marry. She sends them all packing with assorted ruses until she is almost wed to an older, unattractive man she refers to as Shaggy Beard. In the process of telling the routines of her young life, Birdy lays before readers a feast of details about medieval England. The book is rich with information about the food, dress, religious beliefs, manners, health, medical practices, and sanitary habits (or lack thereof) of the people of her day. From the number of fleas she kills in an evening to her herbal medicines laced with urine, Birdy reveals fascinating facts about her time period. A feminist far ahead of her time, she is both believable and lovable. A somewhat philosophical afterword discusses the mind set of medieval people and concludes with a list of books to consult for further information about the period. Superb historical fiction.” – School Library Journal
Connections
· What would student’s diaries look like if they lived in another time? Have them look at what their problems would be in the 1200s if they lived when Birdy lived. How do these compare to the problems they have day to day now?
· Read Cushman’s book The Midwife’s Apprentice. It takes place around the same time as Birdy’s story and focuses on Alyce’s first foray into midwifery.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
What To Do About Alice by Barbara Kerley
Bibliography Kerley, Barbara. WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008. ISBN-13: 978-0-439-92231-9 Plot Summary The title page of the book explains the entire premise of the book: “How Alice Roosevelt broke the rules, charmed the world, and drove her father Teddy crazy!” Kerley takes readers into the life of Alice Roosevelt and shows how grew from a precocious child into a thriving adult who helped her father in his presidency and shape the world she lived in. Teddy was not able to keep Alice contained as a child and even at the end of his time in office, he was not able to find out what to do about Alice. Critical Analysis The story itself was interesting and fun to read. I didn’t know any of the information about Alice before reading the story so I felt much more informed by the end of the book. The book itself is not long, but does have some bigger words to read. The structure of the story is chronological, introducing her and her father and then starting from Alice as a child after her mother died until she was grown up and married. There are random fun facts about Alice throughout the story like “She learned to love crusty French rolls and English tea served “piping hot”. She read voraciously and drank in Father’s tales of Davy Crockett, George Armstrong Custer, and Daniel Boone”. The font used in the book was fun and easy to read. On nearly every page, a word or phrase is in a different font in larger, bolder letters that make the story feel a little more zany like Alice. The text is built into the pictures on every page. Whether it’s written on the street next to the picture of the girls from the boarding school or in the moose head when Alice is in the library looking for books, the pictures and the text work very well together. There is a lot going on visually in the book, but I believe it is to accentuate the “outrageous” person Alice was. The drawings of Alice as she grows older are well done. She is portrayed as lively and very much her own person. One line says “Everyone loved Alice” which I think is apparent throughout the book. At one point, Alice takes her younger brothers and sister to slide down the steps inside the White House after her father becomes the president. The joy on all their faces makes it impossible to not also love Alice. To me, the only part I could not figure out is the picture on the last page of the book where Alice is walking past Mount Rushmore in what appears to be pajamas with a spoon on her shoulder that is bigger than her. All I can assume is that it is another antic that belongs to Alice – she’s running away with the spoon. Review Excerpts "Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was....The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art." -Booklist, December 15, 2007"Theodore Roosevelt’s irrepressible oldest child receives an appropriately vivacious appreciation in this superb picture book.... Kerley’s precise text presents readers with a devilishly smart, strong-willed girl who was determined to live life on her own terms and largely succeeded." -Kirkus, February 1, 2008"Kerley’s text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject s antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp her style, dives fully clothed into a ship s swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father s trusted advisers. Fotheringham’s digitally rendered, retro-style illustrations are a superb match for the text." -School Library Journal, March 2008 Connections · Read other biographical books by Barbara Kerley: The Extraordinary Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, and The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins · Research Alice’s father, former president Teddy Roosevelt. The book touches on some of his time in the White House. Have students explore what Teddy did, his politics, his decisions, and how he got his head on Mount Rushmore.
Truce by Jim Murphy
Bibliography Murphy, Jim. TRUCE. New York: Scholastic Press, 2009. ISBN-13: 978-0-545-13049-3 Plot Summary This book tells the story of the events leading up to and that took place during World War I. Starting with growing tensions, the trouble reached a boil when Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated. This led to Germany, Austria-Hungary, Serbia and Russia to start the war that had been years in the making. Soon, World War I began and countries began fighting one another. Critical Analysis I fully admit I knew very little about World War I before reading this book. I learned a great deal of information and it is obvious Murphy put a great deal of effort into researching and learning about these events. Much historical data is used, including quotes and specific people who were in the battle fields. My favorite chapter is Chapter Five: It Was a Sight No One Will Ever See Again. This chapter is the one that the book is named for and the actual only event I knew about this war. It was Christmas morning and English sergeant Alfred Self said, “It was so quiet, it was uncanny. There were no planes overhead, no observation balloons, no bombs, no rifle fire, therefore no snipers, just an occasional lark…” The chapter goes on to tell that this particular Christmas day, the British soldiers said they would not fight that day if the Germans did not fight. They were calling a truce for Christmas. While some German leaders were not happy with this decision, it did seem to work. The men spend the day drinking and eating with their fellow soldiers, captains from opposing sides trading beer for pudding. The men locate and bury their dead. But no fighting was done. The chapter ends with a quote from British captain R.J. Armes: “I left our friends [the Germans] on Xmas Day in a quiet mood. I stood upon the parapet and had a final look around and not a shot was fired.” In what is very dark subject matter, this chapter gives a bit of humanity to the history. At least for one day, the men could put down their arms and call a truce. The timeline, notes, an index and more resources about World War I are included in the back of the book. These pieces of information would be very helpful if someone wants to get more information on the topic. The epilogue by Murphy is well written, but maybe steeped a little too heavily on his thoughts about the rhetoric of the state of our country right now. The very last line of the epilogue sum up the WWI Christmas Day truce in a beautiful way: “It may have been a small step toward peace on earth, a tiny bit of light in a vast and threatening darkness, but it offered reassurance and hope that a kinder, humane spirit could prevail amid the horrible brutality of war.” The illustrations are helpful in many ways. First, there are a several maps that really put into perspective the battles that were happening at this time. Most of the other illustrations are photos that were taken at this time or illustrations done by people who studied or were a part of the war. These give an authenticity to the book, making it feel even more real. The photo, for example, of the German long-range artillery that is about to shoot down a supply train show the real action of the war. Other photos like that of dead soldiers in a trench give a more horrifying look at the action described in the text. The font color used is a brownish grey which is about the same color as all of the illustrations. This color makes the story seem even more chilling as there was no real color during this dark time in the world’s history. Awards and Review Excerpts A 2010 Notable Book for a Global Society An Editor’s Choice, Kirkus Reviews An ALA Notable Book for Children An ALA’s BBYA Best Book for Young Adults A NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended Title Junior Literary Guild Selection Booklist Best Books of 2009 SLJ Best Books of 2009 A BCCB Blue Ribbon Book “World War I was notable for the incredible carnage, the complete senselessness of which was noted by both foot soldiers and...saavy statesmen.... Anyone who has ever felt confused by the connection between the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and the conflagration that followed will be vastly enlightened by Murphy’s explanation, extended in a comparison drawn in the epilogue [between] Europe in 1914 and the United States just prior to attacking Iraq. Murphy's research is impeccable, and his use of primary sources is both seamless and effective. An excellent addition to ...libraries, this affecting book has a place in history curriculum as well.” – School Library Journal "Murphy's excellent telling of this unusual war story begins with an account of the events that led to WWI and follows the shift in the soldiers' mind-sets from the feverish rush to join before the war ended to the painful realization that no end was in sight. Printed in tones of sepia, the illustrations in this handsome… vividly portrays the context and events of the Christmas Truce." – Booklist Review "The historical background Murphy provides gives the truce emotional resonance; his subsequent, concise summary of the next four years of carnage is all the more sobering in contrast. Plentiful photographs and period illustrations convey the paradoxes well.” – Hornbook “Opening with a cogent recap of the state of Europe….that focuses on those moments when war might have been averted,… the author gracefully moves to the horrific conditions of battle…. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, Murphy takes readers through to the exhausting endgame that spawned the next war, but also he leaves kids with the provocative thought that war need not be inevitable, that the truce "offered reassurance that a kinder, humane spirit could prevail…." Spectacular." – Kirkus Review Connections · Murphy refers to a few other books about the Christmas Day truce. Look at these stories to see if they differ than Murphy’s. Silent Night: The Story Of the World War I Christmas Truce by Stanley Weintraub and Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon. · In the epilogue, Murphy says he first began his research on WWI with looking at the 400,000 African-American soldiers in the war. Read the books he mentions about these men: The Harlem Hellfighters: When Pride Met Courage by Walter Dean Myers and Hell Fighters: African American Soldiers in World War I by Michael Cooper.
We Are The Ship by Kadir Nelson
Bibliography Nelson, Kadir. WE ARE THE SHIP: THE STORY OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL. New York: Hyperion Books, 2008. ISBN-12:978-0-7868-0832-8 Plot Summary Nelson’s book follows the rise and fall of Negro League Baseball, ending with the acceptance of African Americans into the sport. Bringing in stories of African American baseball players that are well known like Satchel Paige and Jackie Robinson as well as introducing men that are not as well know, Nelson gracefully shows the sport as it finally gained some of the best players, regardless of their race. Critical Analysis This book was simply beautiful. Told in first person, it has the feeling that you’re living the story that’s being told. Each chapter is packed full of information about the men as well as the sport. It uses a lot of quotes that draw the reader in even more. The chapters are numbered like innings as if you were actually at a baseball game. I think my favorite part about the text was the use of quotes at the beginning of each chapter. For example, the 1st Inning has a quote by Satchel Paige: “I ain’t ever had a job, I just always played baseball.” The quotes give a reverence to the story and really tie in the love the men had for the game. Hank Aaron’s Foreword to the book is well written and agrees that Nelson’s book really pays tribute to the men on these teams. He remembers the moments Nelson touches on and feels nostalgic for the memories Nelson presents in this book. The end of the book has a list of Negro Leaguers who made it to the Major Leagues as well as Negro Leaguers who are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The Author’s Note at the end gives a more in depth look into Nelson’s feelings about the book and the subject matter. In it, he says, “I have attempted in earnest to present these men (and one woman) in all their dignity, pride, and spiritual strength. They are my heroes.” I believe this is true and that he gives them the upmost dignity in his book. Possibly more moving than the text itself are the illustrations. Nelson goes into painstaking detail to show the men who writes about. The pictures give even more of the sense that Nelson really loves the topic of the book. From the old looking photos of players to the pictures of individual men standing on the field as if they’re looking right into the camera, to the beautiful illustration of a night game, circa 1932, the pictures bring in even more detail. It’s interesting to note it is hard to find a smile on any of the faces of the players. I think it lends to the seriousness the men had towards their sport. I felt Nelson gave illustrations that give his story all the praise and justice it deserves.
Awards and Review Excerpts
- Winner of the Sibert Medal
- Coretta Scott King Author Award, 2009
- Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, 2009
- Look at other books illustrated by Kadir Nelson: Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange, Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford, and Please, Baby, Please by Spike Lee.
- What else can you learn about Negro League Baseball? Look at Heroes of the Negro Leagues by Jack Morelli and The Biographical Encyclopedia of Negro Baseball Leagues by James A. Riley. • Have students pick a Negro League Baseball player and do a presentation over his life. What did he do before baseball? How long was he in baseball? How far did he get? What teams did he play for?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones
Bibliography
Sones, Sonya. WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2001. ISBN 0-689-84114-0
Plot Summary
Sones’s book of poems follows fourteen year old Sophie as she falls in love many times and finds out who she can talk to about the various problems in her life. She tries to navigate the waters between love and lust while keeping her two best friends by her side. The poems vary in style with mostly free verse and a few sonnets (like on page 81). Some have complete sentences and others do not. This form gives the idea that the reader is right there in Sophie’s mind – sometimes the thoughts she has are random and flighty while other times they are serious and thought out. The topics covered are all things relevant to a fourteen year old girl: periods, sex, fighting parents, love, being picked on, internet dating, cheating on a boyfriend, and breaking up.
The titles of the poems give insight into what each poem is about like the poem titled “Why I Don’t Mind Being An Only Child” where Sophie explains the relationship she has with her two best friends. There are only pictures on a few pages where Sophie explains her she and her boyfriend made a flip book and if you flip the pages, you can actually see the flip book. The cover fights well with the book itself. Sophie is an artist and enjoys going to the museum. The book cover is a collage of pictures, drawings and paintings that could be seen in the room of a fourteen year old.
Critical Analysis
This is the book I wish I would have had at fourteen. Sones understands what it’s like to get your first period and what you can and can’t tell even your best friends. Sophie is stuck in that awkward age where you aren’t quite a grown up, but you’re not quite a child. When Sophie’s parents fight, she ends up feeling even more like she has no control of her life and her emotions. Sones perfectly captures the idea of lust and how it is so easily disguised as love to a fourteen year old. She describes Sophie sitting on her boyfriend Dylan’s lap and sneaking outside to kiss each other. Painful and raw, Sophie does not hold back in her thoughts about life and everything happening to her. I felt connected to Sophie even more in the poem “I Hate Her” where Sophie is so angry with her mom, but ends the poem by saying “But I hate hating her” (150). This book took me back to the feelings I had at Sophie’s age, especially fighting with my mom, but desperately needing her to understand what I was going through.
There are no topics that Sones leaves out because they are too serious or too tough. Sophie talks about panties she bought and brags to her friends about how excited she is to show them to the girls. She falls for a guy she meets online who turns out to be a scumbag and she is afraid he might meet her in person. Nothing scares Sones away in this book which I think is important because all the topics are truly relevant to girls today. While this book brings up mature topics, I think they all need to be discussed with teenagers and Sones does so in a graceful yet powerful way.
Awards and Review Excerpts
A Junior Library Guild Selection
ALA named one of Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2004 and 2005
International Reading Association Young Adults’ Choice (2003)
Texas Lone Star State Reading List Choice (2003-2004)
Scholastic Teenage Book Club Selection
Booklist Editors Choice (2001)
“Sonya Sones writes with clarity and truth, and knows how to keep us reading.” –David Almond, author of Kit’s Wilderness, an ALA Printz Award Book
“Tender and sexy and honest. With the poetry of an innocent kiss and the passion of a teenager’s heart, Sones has created a book that feels like real love.” –Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak, an ALA Printz Honor Book
“Sonya Sones’s is a voice that the literature of the young has been waiting for, even when it’s as silent as the whispering of fingers.” –Richard Peck, author of the Newberry Award-winning A Year Down Yonder
“Each poem – funny, heartbreaking, and honest – perfectly describes a moment in time; together they tell a powerful story.” – Ellen Wittlinger, author of Hard Love, an ALA Printz Honor Book
Connections
• Read other books by Sones: What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know and One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies
• Have students write their own poems about issues on their mind. Are they dealing with love or loss or fighting with a friend? What does their mind and their heart feel that they may not be able to say out loud?
• Read other books like those of Sones: The Earth, My Butt and Other Round Things by Carolyn Mackler, Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr, or Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Sones, Sonya. WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2001. ISBN 0-689-84114-0
Plot Summary
Sones’s book of poems follows fourteen year old Sophie as she falls in love many times and finds out who she can talk to about the various problems in her life. She tries to navigate the waters between love and lust while keeping her two best friends by her side. The poems vary in style with mostly free verse and a few sonnets (like on page 81). Some have complete sentences and others do not. This form gives the idea that the reader is right there in Sophie’s mind – sometimes the thoughts she has are random and flighty while other times they are serious and thought out. The topics covered are all things relevant to a fourteen year old girl: periods, sex, fighting parents, love, being picked on, internet dating, cheating on a boyfriend, and breaking up.
The titles of the poems give insight into what each poem is about like the poem titled “Why I Don’t Mind Being An Only Child” where Sophie explains the relationship she has with her two best friends. There are only pictures on a few pages where Sophie explains her she and her boyfriend made a flip book and if you flip the pages, you can actually see the flip book. The cover fights well with the book itself. Sophie is an artist and enjoys going to the museum. The book cover is a collage of pictures, drawings and paintings that could be seen in the room of a fourteen year old.
Critical Analysis
This is the book I wish I would have had at fourteen. Sones understands what it’s like to get your first period and what you can and can’t tell even your best friends. Sophie is stuck in that awkward age where you aren’t quite a grown up, but you’re not quite a child. When Sophie’s parents fight, she ends up feeling even more like she has no control of her life and her emotions. Sones perfectly captures the idea of lust and how it is so easily disguised as love to a fourteen year old. She describes Sophie sitting on her boyfriend Dylan’s lap and sneaking outside to kiss each other. Painful and raw, Sophie does not hold back in her thoughts about life and everything happening to her. I felt connected to Sophie even more in the poem “I Hate Her” where Sophie is so angry with her mom, but ends the poem by saying “But I hate hating her” (150). This book took me back to the feelings I had at Sophie’s age, especially fighting with my mom, but desperately needing her to understand what I was going through.
There are no topics that Sones leaves out because they are too serious or too tough. Sophie talks about panties she bought and brags to her friends about how excited she is to show them to the girls. She falls for a guy she meets online who turns out to be a scumbag and she is afraid he might meet her in person. Nothing scares Sones away in this book which I think is important because all the topics are truly relevant to girls today. While this book brings up mature topics, I think they all need to be discussed with teenagers and Sones does so in a graceful yet powerful way.
Awards and Review Excerpts
A Junior Library Guild Selection
ALA named one of Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2004 and 2005
International Reading Association Young Adults’ Choice (2003)
Texas Lone Star State Reading List Choice (2003-2004)
Scholastic Teenage Book Club Selection
Booklist Editors Choice (2001)
“Sonya Sones writes with clarity and truth, and knows how to keep us reading.” –David Almond, author of Kit’s Wilderness, an ALA Printz Award Book
“Tender and sexy and honest. With the poetry of an innocent kiss and the passion of a teenager’s heart, Sones has created a book that feels like real love.” –Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak, an ALA Printz Honor Book
“Sonya Sones’s is a voice that the literature of the young has been waiting for, even when it’s as silent as the whispering of fingers.” –Richard Peck, author of the Newberry Award-winning A Year Down Yonder
“Each poem – funny, heartbreaking, and honest – perfectly describes a moment in time; together they tell a powerful story.” – Ellen Wittlinger, author of Hard Love, an ALA Printz Honor Book
Connections
• Read other books by Sones: What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know and One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies
• Have students write their own poems about issues on their mind. Are they dealing with love or loss or fighting with a friend? What does their mind and their heart feel that they may not be able to say out loud?
• Read other books like those of Sones: The Earth, My Butt and Other Round Things by Carolyn Mackler, Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr, or Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Button Up!: Wrinkled Rhymes by Alice Schertle
Bibliography
Schertle, Alice. BUTTON UP!: WRINKLED RHYMES. New York: Harcourt Children’s Books, 2009. ISBN 978-0-15-205050-4
Plot Summary
This series of poem by Alice Schertle gives a voice to the clothes of animals. When does Harvey wear his galoshes? How does Bob’s helmet protect him and get used while he rides his bike? The poems are funny and easy to read. The illustrations done by Petra Mathers are very nice in that they give good human qualities to these animals. Wanda is shown doing cannonballs into the water in her swimsuit and Jack is wearing his soccer jersey while making goals and kicking the ball. Schertle opens a world of creatures to a human-like existence through the simple act of putting on their clothes.
Critical Analysis
This book is funny and charming. Designed for kindergarten to second grade, the drawings make the animals lifelike, not cartoonish. Schertle shows great care for these animals, carefully picking their articles of clothing and writing a sharp and sweet poem around each. While the poems are not thought provoking, they do provide younger readers a group of characters they could easily relate to. Just like them, they have a favorite tshirt, a hat, a bicycle helmet. The careful words and lovely illustrations make this book of poetry enjoyable to all readers.
Review Excerpts
". . . these creatures have personality, exuberance and high style that perfectly match the verses. Loads of fun."--Kirkus, starred review
"From delicately comical to downright funny, the art perfectly reflects the contagiously rhythmic, playful verse. Made for sharing, and worth learning by heart, too."--Horn Book, starred review
". . . these poems will give readers a new perspective on getting dressed . . . Playful spreads and spot art suit the small, snappy verses beautifully. This whimsical little volume will make a delightful addition to poetry collections."--School Library Journal, starred review
"The whimsical illustrations pair perfectly with the wittiness of the text, and the whole is a clever and original poetic treat."--Booklist, starred review
“. . . enjoyable sound effects . . . Tone varies from sturdy support of ‘Bob’s Bicycle Helmet’ . . . to the playfulness of ‘Wanda’s Swimsuit . . . the extraordinary precision of Mather’s [sic] delicate brush strokes result in collagelike textures and crisp solidity . . . sure to tickle youngsters.”--The Bulletin
"Here's a match made in children's-book Heaven: esteemed poet Schertle (All You Need for a Snowman) and Mathers, the artist behind the Lottie's World (the charming chicken) books . . . Full of surprises, perhaps a sniffle, and plenty of cheer ("Everybody clap your hands,/ everybody shout,/ Bill's got his jacket on,/ LET'S GO OUT!"), this one will be in constant demand."--PW Shelf Awareness
Schertle, Alice. BUTTON UP!: WRINKLED RHYMES. New York: Harcourt Children’s Books, 2009. ISBN 978-0-15-205050-4
Plot Summary
This series of poem by Alice Schertle gives a voice to the clothes of animals. When does Harvey wear his galoshes? How does Bob’s helmet protect him and get used while he rides his bike? The poems are funny and easy to read. The illustrations done by Petra Mathers are very nice in that they give good human qualities to these animals. Wanda is shown doing cannonballs into the water in her swimsuit and Jack is wearing his soccer jersey while making goals and kicking the ball. Schertle opens a world of creatures to a human-like existence through the simple act of putting on their clothes.
Critical Analysis
This book is funny and charming. Designed for kindergarten to second grade, the drawings make the animals lifelike, not cartoonish. Schertle shows great care for these animals, carefully picking their articles of clothing and writing a sharp and sweet poem around each. While the poems are not thought provoking, they do provide younger readers a group of characters they could easily relate to. Just like them, they have a favorite tshirt, a hat, a bicycle helmet. The careful words and lovely illustrations make this book of poetry enjoyable to all readers.
Review Excerpts
". . . these creatures have personality, exuberance and high style that perfectly match the verses. Loads of fun."--Kirkus, starred review
"From delicately comical to downright funny, the art perfectly reflects the contagiously rhythmic, playful verse. Made for sharing, and worth learning by heart, too."--Horn Book, starred review
". . . these poems will give readers a new perspective on getting dressed . . . Playful spreads and spot art suit the small, snappy verses beautifully. This whimsical little volume will make a delightful addition to poetry collections."--School Library Journal, starred review
"The whimsical illustrations pair perfectly with the wittiness of the text, and the whole is a clever and original poetic treat."--Booklist, starred review
“. . . enjoyable sound effects . . . Tone varies from sturdy support of ‘Bob’s Bicycle Helmet’ . . . to the playfulness of ‘Wanda’s Swimsuit . . . the extraordinary precision of Mather’s [sic] delicate brush strokes result in collagelike textures and crisp solidity . . . sure to tickle youngsters.”--The Bulletin
"Here's a match made in children's-book Heaven: esteemed poet Schertle (All You Need for a Snowman) and Mathers, the artist behind the Lottie's World (the charming chicken) books . . . Full of surprises, perhaps a sniffle, and plenty of cheer ("Everybody clap your hands,/ everybody shout,/ Bill's got his jacket on,/ LET'S GO OUT!"), this one will be in constant demand."--PW Shelf Awareness
Connections
- Read the story aloud to the group, but change the names of the various animals to children listening to the story. Have a bag of clothing items that are listed in the book. Give it to the child whose name you pick for that story and have them wear it.
- Have children write a poem about what they think their pet’s favorite clothing item would be if they wore clothes. Would their poodle carry a parasol? Would their cat wear a cap? Then draw pictures of the animals wearing these items.
Messing Around on the Monkey Bars by Betsy Franco
Bibliography
Franco, Betsy. MESSING AROUND ON THE MONKEY BARS. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-7636-3174-1
Plot Summary
Franco presents a colorful book full of poems about and at school. The poems include subject matter like a teacher not listening to her students, giving reports on animals, recess, lunch and homework. The book is set up to be read by two voices as well as the group. Each poem has regular, bold and bigger bold font to easily distinguish the separate voices.
Critical Analysis
This book is a very fun read. The poems are all topics that school aged children would be interested in reading about. Franco easily puts herself into the mind of a child who deals with the everyday problems of school. The use of techniques like the sound of the pencil tapping provides another level to the poems that make them fun and interactive. The illustrations done by Jessie Hartland really fit in with the theme of school. They look like drawings that may have actually been done by a child. These pictures tie the stories to the intended readers by allowing children to see pictures that may have been drawn by their peers with stories that explain their own day to day worries and activities. I think the best part of the book is the section at the end of the book titled “Adventurous Way to Read the Poems”. In this section, different poems are highlighted with an activity that highlights the poem. For example, the poem called “Jenny’s Pencil” involves someone saying “Tap, tap, tap” while the other voice reads about what is happening in the classroom. The “adventure” for this poem has someone tap a pencil to make the noise while the poem is being read. I think these suggestions really add another dimension to reading these poems. It shows the author/publisher put a great deal of thought into providing a story that was also very interactive.
Review Excerpts
Susan Treadway, M.Ed: “There are poems that have rhyme and rhythm while others are free verse. It is significant to note that much of the vocabulary is in the form of onomatopoeia which creates vivid mental images. This powerful technique is useful for educators and students who use it to address other subjects within language arts and across the curriculum, i.e. speaking, listening, reading and writing. It is unfortunate, however, that illustrations are not as bold or large enough for listeners toenjoy as portrayed by the excellent poetry. As a picture book for older elementary and middle schoolers, it could be somewhat of a disappointment for visual learners. Even so, wrapping up the collection is a very fine section called "Adventurous Ways to Read the Poems" that helps readers incorporate variety, unique forms, and unlimited presentations with friends and colleagues. Integrating poetry into classes becomes readily available with works such as this one. Dive in!”
Connections
Franco, Betsy. MESSING AROUND ON THE MONKEY BARS. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-7636-3174-1
Plot Summary
Franco presents a colorful book full of poems about and at school. The poems include subject matter like a teacher not listening to her students, giving reports on animals, recess, lunch and homework. The book is set up to be read by two voices as well as the group. Each poem has regular, bold and bigger bold font to easily distinguish the separate voices.
Critical Analysis
This book is a very fun read. The poems are all topics that school aged children would be interested in reading about. Franco easily puts herself into the mind of a child who deals with the everyday problems of school. The use of techniques like the sound of the pencil tapping provides another level to the poems that make them fun and interactive. The illustrations done by Jessie Hartland really fit in with the theme of school. They look like drawings that may have actually been done by a child. These pictures tie the stories to the intended readers by allowing children to see pictures that may have been drawn by their peers with stories that explain their own day to day worries and activities. I think the best part of the book is the section at the end of the book titled “Adventurous Way to Read the Poems”. In this section, different poems are highlighted with an activity that highlights the poem. For example, the poem called “Jenny’s Pencil” involves someone saying “Tap, tap, tap” while the other voice reads about what is happening in the classroom. The “adventure” for this poem has someone tap a pencil to make the noise while the poem is being read. I think these suggestions really add another dimension to reading these poems. It shows the author/publisher put a great deal of thought into providing a story that was also very interactive.
Review Excerpts
Susan Treadway, M.Ed: “There are poems that have rhyme and rhythm while others are free verse. It is significant to note that much of the vocabulary is in the form of onomatopoeia which creates vivid mental images. This powerful technique is useful for educators and students who use it to address other subjects within language arts and across the curriculum, i.e. speaking, listening, reading and writing. It is unfortunate, however, that illustrations are not as bold or large enough for listeners toenjoy as portrayed by the excellent poetry. As a picture book for older elementary and middle schoolers, it could be somewhat of a disappointment for visual learners. Even so, wrapping up the collection is a very fine section called "Adventurous Ways to Read the Poems" that helps readers incorporate variety, unique forms, and unlimited presentations with friends and colleagues. Integrating poetry into classes becomes readily available with works such as this one. Dive in!”
Connections
- Look at other books illustrated by Jessie Hartland: Clementine Visits the City, Henri Matisse: Drawing with Scissors, and Night Shift.
- Read other books about school poetry: No More Homework! No More Tests!: Kids Favorite Funny School Poems by Bruce Lansky, Lunch Money and Other Poems About School by Carol Shields and If You’re Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand: Poems About School by Kalli Dakos.
- Have students write their own poems about their favorite (or least favorite) part of school.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The Three Horrid Little Pigs by Liz Pichon
Pichon, Liz. THE THREE HORRID LITTLE PIGS. Wilton, CT: Tiger Tales, 2008. ISBN-13: 978-1589250772.
Plot Summary
In this new take on a traditional folk tale, the three little pigs are the bad guys. Their mother kicks them out of the house for being naughty little pigs. The first pig tries to build a house out of straw, but it is quickly eaten by cows. The second pig makes himself a home out of twigs, but angry birds rip it apart. The third pig overtakes a rooster’s house for his own home, but the rooster pecks him right out. As opposed to the traditional telling, the wolf is the nice character. The pigs, having no place to go, sneak into the wolf’s house. While readers see the wolf with a big pot on the stove, in the end he offers the pigs soup and helps them to make a big house out of bricks. In this house, the pigs, cows, birds and roosters all have enough space for all to move in.
Critical Analysis
The facial expressions on the pigs really lend credit to how mean they are to others. They look like nasty little pigs that deserved to be kicked out of their house. The wolf, on the other hand, has a kind and helpful face which leads to his willingness to help the pigs, despite how many times they turned their backs to his help along the way. The illustrations are bright and colorful and well animated which help move the story along. This innovative take on a classic folk tale is funny and well worth the read. The pictures give an updated feel to the book and make it engaging to children and adults alike.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: “If you think you can't jam another twist on a classic tale into your collection, think again. Three pesky porcine protagonists are so bad that their mother kicks them out of the house. They are so lazy that they merely pile up sticks and straw for houses and one takes over a henhouse. The wolf is portrayed as a helpful handyman who offers to shore up their shoddy construction but is rebuffed each time. Rendered homeless by straw-eating cows, nesting birds that need sticks, and a pecking rooster who reclaims the henhouse, the homeless pigs get ready to head for the kindly wolf's abode. When he hears the pigs on the roof, he prepares a "big pot of boiling…soup" and invites them in. The tale ends with everyone living together happily ever after. The full-color cartoon illustrations capture the pigs' bad behavior and comeuppance with a goofy exuberance. The font size shrinks and enlarges to mirror the action and the text works as a fun read-aloud as well as a read-alone.”
Connections
· Read other versions of The Three Little Pigs and compare and contrast the pigs and the wolf. Who are bad and good in each? Does the outcome change at the end of each story? Consider looking at: The Three Little Pigs by Steven Kellogg, The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas and Alaska’s Three Pigs by Arlene Laverde.
· Art Project: Have the kids use various materials to build their own pig houses (i.e. toothpicks, straws, etc.) Find out which ones hold up the best through a strong wind. Discuss what makes the sturdiest house.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Rumpelstiltskin by Paul O. Zelinsky
Zelinsky, Paul O.RUMPELSTILTSKIN. New York City: Dutton Children’s Books, 1986. ISBN 0-525-44265-0.
Plot Summary
In the retelling of the classic fairy tale, Zelinsky tells the story of a miller who sends his daughter to the king, telling him she can spin straw into gold. The daughter is told she would be killed if she couldn’t produce the gold overnight. She cries until a little man comes in and tells her he can spin the straw into gold for her in exchange for her necklace. The greedy king brings in more straw the next night and wants even more gold. Again, the little man does this task for a fee. When the king finally asks for an entire room of straw to be turned into gold, he promises the girl she will become the queen if she completes the task. She cries and again the little man appears. He says he will again spin the gold, but this time he asks for her firstborn child in exchange for his services. Over a year later, she is queen and the little man comes to collect on their agreement. He tells her he will give her three days to figure out the little man’s name or else she will still have to give up her child. The queen has her servants help her and one servant lady finds the little man in the mountains where she overhears him speaking his own name to himself. She tells the queen the man’s name so she is prepared when he returns to collect. At the end of the story, the queen gets to keep her child as she called the little man by name – Rumpelstiltskin.
Critical Analysis
The illustrations in the book are dreamlike, much in the vein of a fairy tale. There is a golden hue that seems to be over the entire book, adding to the story’s theme of spinning the straw into gold.
The character of Rumpelstiltskin looks nice in the beginning when he is offering to help the young girl the first time. The more straw there is to turn into gold and the more he asks for from the girl, the more devious he becomes. At the beginning of the book, he is looking down and appears to be just a helpful man. As he grows meaner, he looks up more and more. By the time he asks for the future queen’s unborn child, his face is turned upward and his nose is very pointy. The facial features on the queen are also quite detailed throughout the book. The updated remake of this classic story is nicely done, telling the same riveting story with beautiful illustrations.
Awards and Review Excerpts
1987 Caldecott Honor Book, Redbook Award, Society of Illustrators and AIGA Certificates of Merit, Bratislava Biennale Selection, ALA Notable Book, SLJ Best Book, Parents' Choice Award, Book-of-the-Month Club selection, and White Raven Book selection of the International Youth Library.
Publishers Weekly: “ One of the most exquisite picture books of the season, Zelinsky's Rumplestiltskin will have strong appeal for children and for adult picture-book collectors alike…Here Zelinsky has retold the narrative himself; he has captured the magic and frightening wonder of the tale while incorporating elements from a number of 19th century Grimm versions. The spare story flows beautifully, and the illustrations are extraordinary. Incredibly detailed full-color paintings show the influence of careful study of styles and techniques of European portrait and landscape painters. In Hansel and Gretel, the tale's dark side was communicated principally through Zelinsky's depiction of a powerful and frightening background. But here the interior scenesheaps and heaps of straw, and baskets of empty spindles, with rooms suddenly full of golden threadcarry the story. The little man Rumplestiltskin is by turns mysterious, comforting, devious, furious and pathetic. And Zelinsky shows dramatically the love that the miller's daughter has for her child, and the terror she feels when she realizes she may have to give him up. Rumplestiltskin is a tour de force by an immensely talented artist. Zelinsky is that rare practitioner who can create sophisticated work that adults will marvel at, and that children will joyfully embrace.”
Connections
· Read Zelinsky’s other fairy tales: Hansel and Gretel and Rapunzel
· Look at other tellings of Rumpelstiltskin: Paul Galdone, Nick and Claire Page, Teodora Sirko and the original Brother’s Grimm version. How are these versions different?
Plot Summary
In the retelling of the classic fairy tale, Zelinsky tells the story of a miller who sends his daughter to the king, telling him she can spin straw into gold. The daughter is told she would be killed if she couldn’t produce the gold overnight. She cries until a little man comes in and tells her he can spin the straw into gold for her in exchange for her necklace. The greedy king brings in more straw the next night and wants even more gold. Again, the little man does this task for a fee. When the king finally asks for an entire room of straw to be turned into gold, he promises the girl she will become the queen if she completes the task. She cries and again the little man appears. He says he will again spin the gold, but this time he asks for her firstborn child in exchange for his services. Over a year later, she is queen and the little man comes to collect on their agreement. He tells her he will give her three days to figure out the little man’s name or else she will still have to give up her child. The queen has her servants help her and one servant lady finds the little man in the mountains where she overhears him speaking his own name to himself. She tells the queen the man’s name so she is prepared when he returns to collect. At the end of the story, the queen gets to keep her child as she called the little man by name – Rumpelstiltskin.
Critical Analysis
The illustrations in the book are dreamlike, much in the vein of a fairy tale. There is a golden hue that seems to be over the entire book, adding to the story’s theme of spinning the straw into gold.
The character of Rumpelstiltskin looks nice in the beginning when he is offering to help the young girl the first time. The more straw there is to turn into gold and the more he asks for from the girl, the more devious he becomes. At the beginning of the book, he is looking down and appears to be just a helpful man. As he grows meaner, he looks up more and more. By the time he asks for the future queen’s unborn child, his face is turned upward and his nose is very pointy. The facial features on the queen are also quite detailed throughout the book. The updated remake of this classic story is nicely done, telling the same riveting story with beautiful illustrations.
Awards and Review Excerpts
1987 Caldecott Honor Book, Redbook Award, Society of Illustrators and AIGA Certificates of Merit, Bratislava Biennale Selection, ALA Notable Book, SLJ Best Book, Parents' Choice Award, Book-of-the-Month Club selection, and White Raven Book selection of the International Youth Library.
Publishers Weekly: “ One of the most exquisite picture books of the season, Zelinsky's Rumplestiltskin will have strong appeal for children and for adult picture-book collectors alike…Here Zelinsky has retold the narrative himself; he has captured the magic and frightening wonder of the tale while incorporating elements from a number of 19th century Grimm versions. The spare story flows beautifully, and the illustrations are extraordinary. Incredibly detailed full-color paintings show the influence of careful study of styles and techniques of European portrait and landscape painters. In Hansel and Gretel, the tale's dark side was communicated principally through Zelinsky's depiction of a powerful and frightening background. But here the interior scenesheaps and heaps of straw, and baskets of empty spindles, with rooms suddenly full of golden threadcarry the story. The little man Rumplestiltskin is by turns mysterious, comforting, devious, furious and pathetic. And Zelinsky shows dramatically the love that the miller's daughter has for her child, and the terror she feels when she realizes she may have to give him up. Rumplestiltskin is a tour de force by an immensely talented artist. Zelinsky is that rare practitioner who can create sophisticated work that adults will marvel at, and that children will joyfully embrace.”
Connections
· Read Zelinsky’s other fairy tales: Hansel and Gretel and Rapunzel
· Look at other tellings of Rumpelstiltskin: Paul Galdone, Nick and Claire Page, Teodora Sirko and the original Brother’s Grimm version. How are these versions different?
Blackbeard’s Last Fight by Eric A. Kimmel
Bibliography
Kimmel, Eric A. BLACKBEARD’S LAST FIGHT. New York City: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-0-374-30780-6.
Plot Summary
In Kimmel’s imaginative book, he explores the legend of Blackbeard, the most feared pirate. Kimmel introduces Jeremy Hobbs, a young boy, who assists Lt. Robert Maynard of the Royal Navy on a visit to Virginia’s Governor Spotswood. The governor was looking for a brace man who could lead his sailors out and wipe the pirates out of their waters. These pirates include the villainous Blackbeard. Maynard is selected to lead men into the battle on the high seas and Jeremy continues to be Maynard’s youngest shipmate. When Maynard’s ship meets Blackbeard and his men, the battle ensues with men going overboard. Blackbeard tells his men to clear out Jeremy’s ship – a fight to the death! Blackbeard sees Jeremy and tells him to hide inside the ship because Blackbeard fights men, not children. Jeremy ends up proving his true worth to Maynard by hitting Blackbeard when he looked to the men on the ship for the fight.
Critical Analysis
The story shows that children can be strong and courageous, even when others think they are just a child. Jeremy shows his fearlessness to help defeat Blackbeard even thought he’d heard stories about Blackbeard’s good deeds. This shows children that courage is an important characteristic to have and even someone young can possess.
The illustrations, done by Leonard Everett Fisher, are dream-like which allow readers to feel like a part of the fairy tale that was the story of Blackbeard. The drawings of Blackbeard make him look terrifying without overtly doing so. For example, he is described as having hair that is on fire at the bottom which you can clearly see in the pictures. He isn’t so scary, however, that it’s hard to look at. The fight at sea was well done with the bodies flying into the ocean, but not being too scary for younger readers.
Review Excerpts
Publisher’s Weekly: “Hoarders of pirate lore will appreciate Blackbeard's Last Fight by Eric A. Kimmel, illus. by Leonard Everett Fisher, the team behind two other grand legends, The Hero Beowulf and Don Quixote and the Windmills. Author and artist create a fictional cabin boy who, off the coast of 1718 North Carolina, helps to capture and extinguish Blackbeard the pirate, whom Fisher portrays as menacing indeed.”
Connections
· Read the other books written and illustrated by Kimmel and Fisher: Rip Van Winkle’s Return and The Hero Beowulf.
· Have students write their own pirate stories, putting themselves in Jeremy’s shoes. How would the students show courage?
· Break students into groups to discuss what they would have done if they met Blackbeard.
Kimmel, Eric A. BLACKBEARD’S LAST FIGHT. New York City: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-0-374-30780-6.
Plot Summary
In Kimmel’s imaginative book, he explores the legend of Blackbeard, the most feared pirate. Kimmel introduces Jeremy Hobbs, a young boy, who assists Lt. Robert Maynard of the Royal Navy on a visit to Virginia’s Governor Spotswood. The governor was looking for a brace man who could lead his sailors out and wipe the pirates out of their waters. These pirates include the villainous Blackbeard. Maynard is selected to lead men into the battle on the high seas and Jeremy continues to be Maynard’s youngest shipmate. When Maynard’s ship meets Blackbeard and his men, the battle ensues with men going overboard. Blackbeard tells his men to clear out Jeremy’s ship – a fight to the death! Blackbeard sees Jeremy and tells him to hide inside the ship because Blackbeard fights men, not children. Jeremy ends up proving his true worth to Maynard by hitting Blackbeard when he looked to the men on the ship for the fight.
Critical Analysis
The story shows that children can be strong and courageous, even when others think they are just a child. Jeremy shows his fearlessness to help defeat Blackbeard even thought he’d heard stories about Blackbeard’s good deeds. This shows children that courage is an important characteristic to have and even someone young can possess.
The illustrations, done by Leonard Everett Fisher, are dream-like which allow readers to feel like a part of the fairy tale that was the story of Blackbeard. The drawings of Blackbeard make him look terrifying without overtly doing so. For example, he is described as having hair that is on fire at the bottom which you can clearly see in the pictures. He isn’t so scary, however, that it’s hard to look at. The fight at sea was well done with the bodies flying into the ocean, but not being too scary for younger readers.
Review Excerpts
Publisher’s Weekly: “Hoarders of pirate lore will appreciate Blackbeard's Last Fight by Eric A. Kimmel, illus. by Leonard Everett Fisher, the team behind two other grand legends, The Hero Beowulf and Don Quixote and the Windmills. Author and artist create a fictional cabin boy who, off the coast of 1718 North Carolina, helps to capture and extinguish Blackbeard the pirate, whom Fisher portrays as menacing indeed.”
Connections
· Read the other books written and illustrated by Kimmel and Fisher: Rip Van Winkle’s Return and The Hero Beowulf.
· Have students write their own pirate stories, putting themselves in Jeremy’s shoes. How would the students show courage?
· Break students into groups to discuss what they would have done if they met Blackbeard.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
The Man Who Walked Between Two Towers by Moridcai Gerstein
Bibliography
Gerstein, Mordicai. THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN TWO TOWERS. Brookfield, CT: Roaring Book Press, 2003. ISBN 0-7613-2868-8.
Plot Summary
Phillipe Petit decides to walk between the two towers in New York City as they were being built. He said this was something he’d been waiting his whole life to do. This was not a crazy feat as he’d already walked between two pillars on top of Notre Dame Cathedral. After having his friends help him set up his high wire for this act, Phillipe begins his walk high above the city. After being caught, Phillipe is ordered by a judge to perform his high wire acts and feats of bravery for children in the park. The story expresses that while the towers are no longer standing, the memory of them and Phillipe’s acts still live on.
Critical Analysis
The story provides excitement and a daring individual who follows his dream to the top of the world. The story ends with a heartwarming reminder that Americans still remember the symbolism of the two towers as well as Phillipe’s great feat.
The fold out pages in the middle of the book when Phillipe begins to walk across the towers makes the wire he walks across much longer. This allows children to not only have a more interactive experience, but see the wire as a long distance. The building is drawn to show how high it truly was, the little specks of the city below Phillipe. The topography of the city below him spans out as it would appear from Phillipe’s perspective. The colors are muted to show nighttime while the bright blue colors with a huge blue sky are used when Phillipe’s action happens during the day. The drawings are sketch-like drawings that show age as this story is from decades ago. Gerstein’s dreamlike illustrations along with an interesting well-told story provide an uplifting story for children and adults alike.
Awards and Review Excerpts
2004 Caldecott Medal winner
From School Library Journal: “The pacing of the narrative is as masterful as the placement and quality of the oil-and-ink paintings. The interplay of a single sentence or view with a sequence of thoughts or panels builds to a riveting climax. A small, framed close-up of Petit's foot on the wire yields to two three-page foldouts of the walk. One captures his progress from above, the other from the perspective of a pedestrian. The vertiginous views paint the New York skyline in twinkling starlight and at breathtaking sunrise. Gerstein captures his subject's incredible determination, profound skill, and sheer joy. The final scene depicts transparent, cloud-filled skyscrapers, a man in their midst. With its graceful majesty and mythic overtones, this unique and uplifting book is at once a portrait of a larger-than-life individual and a memorial to the towers and the lives associated with them.”
Connections
• Have students describe something they have waited all their lives to do like Phillipe.
• Ask students if they have been to New York City and if they’ve seen where the World Trade Center towers were.
• Have students draw pictures and write stories of where they would walk across a wire. Would it be somewhere high? Somewhere highly populated?
Gerstein, Mordicai. THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN TWO TOWERS. Brookfield, CT: Roaring Book Press, 2003. ISBN 0-7613-2868-8.
Plot Summary
Phillipe Petit decides to walk between the two towers in New York City as they were being built. He said this was something he’d been waiting his whole life to do. This was not a crazy feat as he’d already walked between two pillars on top of Notre Dame Cathedral. After having his friends help him set up his high wire for this act, Phillipe begins his walk high above the city. After being caught, Phillipe is ordered by a judge to perform his high wire acts and feats of bravery for children in the park. The story expresses that while the towers are no longer standing, the memory of them and Phillipe’s acts still live on.
Critical Analysis
The story provides excitement and a daring individual who follows his dream to the top of the world. The story ends with a heartwarming reminder that Americans still remember the symbolism of the two towers as well as Phillipe’s great feat.
The fold out pages in the middle of the book when Phillipe begins to walk across the towers makes the wire he walks across much longer. This allows children to not only have a more interactive experience, but see the wire as a long distance. The building is drawn to show how high it truly was, the little specks of the city below Phillipe. The topography of the city below him spans out as it would appear from Phillipe’s perspective. The colors are muted to show nighttime while the bright blue colors with a huge blue sky are used when Phillipe’s action happens during the day. The drawings are sketch-like drawings that show age as this story is from decades ago. Gerstein’s dreamlike illustrations along with an interesting well-told story provide an uplifting story for children and adults alike.
Awards and Review Excerpts
2004 Caldecott Medal winner
From School Library Journal: “The pacing of the narrative is as masterful as the placement and quality of the oil-and-ink paintings. The interplay of a single sentence or view with a sequence of thoughts or panels builds to a riveting climax. A small, framed close-up of Petit's foot on the wire yields to two three-page foldouts of the walk. One captures his progress from above, the other from the perspective of a pedestrian. The vertiginous views paint the New York skyline in twinkling starlight and at breathtaking sunrise. Gerstein captures his subject's incredible determination, profound skill, and sheer joy. The final scene depicts transparent, cloud-filled skyscrapers, a man in their midst. With its graceful majesty and mythic overtones, this unique and uplifting book is at once a portrait of a larger-than-life individual and a memorial to the towers and the lives associated with them.”
Connections
• Have students describe something they have waited all their lives to do like Phillipe.
• Ask students if they have been to New York City and if they’ve seen where the World Trade Center towers were.
• Have students draw pictures and write stories of where they would walk across a wire. Would it be somewhere high? Somewhere highly populated?
Thursday, January 27, 2011
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Bibliography
Potter, Beatrix. TALES OF PETER RABBIT AND HIS FRIENDS. Chatham River Press, 1984. ISBN 0-517-449013
Plot Summary
In this memorable tale that has spanned the years, Peter Rabbit’s mother warns Peter and his siblings they need to stay in the house. In her warning, she tells her children to watch out for their neighbor Mr. McGregor who turned their own father into a rabbit pie after he was caught. Peter, being the curious rabbit he is, disobeys his mother and leaves the rabbit hole. Along the way, he runs into Mr. McGregor and tries to get away from him. Peter loses his clothes, jumps in the lettuce patch, sees other animals and gets lost while trying to escape. By the end of the story, Peter finally finds his way home and is given tea by his mother while his siblings get a good supper because they obeyed her warnings.
Critical Analysis
This story is a moralistic tale where Peter receives consequences for not obeying his mother’s warnings. Telling a story that shows the dangers of disobeying a parent is a good story for young children. Not only does Peter have to face the consequences at home, but he is seen as alone and scared when he can’t find his way home. When Peter realizes the world outside of the rabbit hole is just as his mother described, he wants to go home even more – a task that seems near impossible.
A picture accompanies each short paragraph throughout the story: Peter’s mother warning her children not to leave, Mr. McGregor running after Peter, Peter coming up on the cat at the pond. All the illustrations are done by Potter herself who described by Anne Ficklen in her foreword as “her only pleasure centered on caring for her pets and her drawing”. This fact is apparent throughout the entire book as there is great detail put into each picture.
Review Excerpts
Publisher Review: “Young children will be enchanted by the simple text and beautiful illustrations, which bring a classic story vibrantly to life. The board book format is sturdy and accessible, perfect for young readers, but adults will enjoy it too for bed-time read-aloud. As a board book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit will captivate children and offer them an early introduction to the world of Peter Rabbit and all his friends.”
Connections
· Have students write stories about a time when they got in trouble. They can describe how their parents reacted to it and what they learned from it.
· Students can tell of a time they got lost and how they thought about getting home. How could they have prevented this?
· Read other tales by Beatrix Potter:
o The Tailor of Gloucester
o The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
o The Story of Miss Moppet
o The Tale of Jemima Puddle-duck
Potter, Beatrix. TALES OF PETER RABBIT AND HIS FRIENDS. Chatham River Press, 1984. ISBN 0-517-449013
Plot Summary
In this memorable tale that has spanned the years, Peter Rabbit’s mother warns Peter and his siblings they need to stay in the house. In her warning, she tells her children to watch out for their neighbor Mr. McGregor who turned their own father into a rabbit pie after he was caught. Peter, being the curious rabbit he is, disobeys his mother and leaves the rabbit hole. Along the way, he runs into Mr. McGregor and tries to get away from him. Peter loses his clothes, jumps in the lettuce patch, sees other animals and gets lost while trying to escape. By the end of the story, Peter finally finds his way home and is given tea by his mother while his siblings get a good supper because they obeyed her warnings.
Critical Analysis
This story is a moralistic tale where Peter receives consequences for not obeying his mother’s warnings. Telling a story that shows the dangers of disobeying a parent is a good story for young children. Not only does Peter have to face the consequences at home, but he is seen as alone and scared when he can’t find his way home. When Peter realizes the world outside of the rabbit hole is just as his mother described, he wants to go home even more – a task that seems near impossible.
A picture accompanies each short paragraph throughout the story: Peter’s mother warning her children not to leave, Mr. McGregor running after Peter, Peter coming up on the cat at the pond. All the illustrations are done by Potter herself who described by Anne Ficklen in her foreword as “her only pleasure centered on caring for her pets and her drawing”. This fact is apparent throughout the entire book as there is great detail put into each picture.
Review Excerpts
Publisher Review: “Young children will be enchanted by the simple text and beautiful illustrations, which bring a classic story vibrantly to life. The board book format is sturdy and accessible, perfect for young readers, but adults will enjoy it too for bed-time read-aloud. As a board book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit will captivate children and offer them an early introduction to the world of Peter Rabbit and all his friends.”
Connections
· Have students write stories about a time when they got in trouble. They can describe how their parents reacted to it and what they learned from it.
· Students can tell of a time they got lost and how they thought about getting home. How could they have prevented this?
· Read other tales by Beatrix Potter:
o The Tailor of Gloucester
o The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
o The Story of Miss Moppet
o The Tale of Jemima Puddle-duck
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Uptown by Bryan Collier
Bibliography
Collier, Bryan. UPTOWN. New York: Henry Holt and Company, LLC, 2000. ISBN 0-8050-5721-8
Plot Summary
A young boy describes Uptown, the area of Harlem he has lived in and obviously loves. He mentions places like the barbershop where the men get their hair cut, people like his grandfather, food found in his neighborhood like chicken and waffles and the girls in their yellow dresses going to church. As he describes his way through his area of New York, the boy shows the audience how much he knows about his neighborhood. By the end of the book, he tells the reader’s uptown his Harlem, his town.
Critical Analysis
Collier, who we are told in the book jacket has been painting since he was fifteen, uses colorful paintings and photographs that accurately depict great memories of Harlem. The paintings are like collages that jump off the page. For example, the newspaper being read by the men in the barbershop has lines in all directions like a collage that was laid out in the shape of a newspaper. The pictures are colorful and show the real world that is Harlem through the eyes of a young boy. Collier grew up in Maryland, but his pictures and words make it obvious he loves Harlem, the town where he now resides. The pictures simple sentences to a true story of love. The repetition on each page (“Uptown is…”) makes the book easy to read, but the paintings elevate the story.
Review Excerpts/Awards
Coretta Scott King Award winner
Kirkus Reviews: “Collier debuts with a set of dazzling paint-and-photo collages paired to a child's tribute to his Harlem neighborhood. From his window the young narrator sees "Uptown" in the Metro North commuter train crawling caterpillar-like over the river; sisters in matching dresses parading to church; weekend shoppers on 125th Street; jazz; Van Der Zee photographs; playground basketball; chicken and waffles served any time of day. ("At first it seems like a weird combination, but it works.") This complex, many-layered vibe is made almost tangible by the kaleidoscopic illustrations. For instance, the row of brownstones ".when you look at them down the block. They look like they're made of chocolate." Indeed, their bricks are photos of chocolate bars. Walter Dean Myers's poem Harlem (1997), illustrated in similar style by Christopher Myers, conveys a deeper sense of the African American community's history, but this makes an engagingly energetic once-over.”
Publisher’s Weekly: "Collier's watercolor and collage artwork effectively blends a boy's idealism with the telling details of the city streets in this picture-book tour of Harlem.”
Connections
Collier, Bryan. UPTOWN. New York: Henry Holt and Company, LLC, 2000. ISBN 0-8050-5721-8
Plot Summary
A young boy describes Uptown, the area of Harlem he has lived in and obviously loves. He mentions places like the barbershop where the men get their hair cut, people like his grandfather, food found in his neighborhood like chicken and waffles and the girls in their yellow dresses going to church. As he describes his way through his area of New York, the boy shows the audience how much he knows about his neighborhood. By the end of the book, he tells the reader’s uptown his Harlem, his town.
Critical Analysis
Collier, who we are told in the book jacket has been painting since he was fifteen, uses colorful paintings and photographs that accurately depict great memories of Harlem. The paintings are like collages that jump off the page. For example, the newspaper being read by the men in the barbershop has lines in all directions like a collage that was laid out in the shape of a newspaper. The pictures are colorful and show the real world that is Harlem through the eyes of a young boy. Collier grew up in Maryland, but his pictures and words make it obvious he loves Harlem, the town where he now resides. The pictures simple sentences to a true story of love. The repetition on each page (“Uptown is…”) makes the book easy to read, but the paintings elevate the story.
Review Excerpts/Awards
Coretta Scott King Award winner
Kirkus Reviews: “Collier debuts with a set of dazzling paint-and-photo collages paired to a child's tribute to his Harlem neighborhood. From his window the young narrator sees "Uptown" in the Metro North commuter train crawling caterpillar-like over the river; sisters in matching dresses parading to church; weekend shoppers on 125th Street; jazz; Van Der Zee photographs; playground basketball; chicken and waffles served any time of day. ("At first it seems like a weird combination, but it works.") This complex, many-layered vibe is made almost tangible by the kaleidoscopic illustrations. For instance, the row of brownstones ".when you look at them down the block. They look like they're made of chocolate." Indeed, their bricks are photos of chocolate bars. Walter Dean Myers's poem Harlem (1997), illustrated in similar style by Christopher Myers, conveys a deeper sense of the African American community's history, but this makes an engagingly energetic once-over.”
Publisher’s Weekly: "Collier's watercolor and collage artwork effectively blends a boy's idealism with the telling details of the city streets in this picture-book tour of Harlem.”
Connections
- Have students describe what they love most about their town. Use pictures to illustrate their favorite places in their hometown.
- Students can try to make their own collages like those used by Collier to describe the stories they are telling.
- Other books illustrated by Collier:
o Schotter, Roni. Doo-Wop Pop. ISBN 0060579684
o Rappaport, Doreen. John’s Secret Dreams: The Life of John Lennon. ISBN 0786808179 - o Collier, Bryan. Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali. ISBN 0763616923
Book Review Blog
Please note: All the book reviews placed on this blog are for TWU Library Science Class 5603.20.
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