Freedman, Russell. The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights. New York: Clarion Books.
Marian Anderson was blessed with one of the greatest singing voices of all times. She was blessed not only for singing, but also with the strength and talent in order to have a great impact on the struggle for equal rights. Marian would never describe herself as confrontational, and her intention was never to have the impact that she did because all she cared for was singing. She grew up in an immigrant populated neighborhood with not a lot of money however she attended her church and particpated in their choir faithfully. She never missed a day and for that they rewarded her. The Union Baptist Church proved to be her gauntlet into her musical career. They provided money in order for her to buy her first evening gown, and then provided money for her to attend a singing school. Although, she faced many obstacles because of her color her biggest opposition came long after her stardom. She had been denied the right to sing at the Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Even though she had powerful friends such as the First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, they refused to let her perform there because of her color. Eleanor in support of Anderson decided to resign from DAR creating worldwide attention. In support for Marion she was asked to perform at the Lincoln Memorial in front of 75,000 people, way more than what Constitution Hall could accomodate. This proved to be a momentous occasion and a defining moment in the struggle for equal rights.
Freedman tells the beautiful story of Mariane Anderson and how her life became to be such a prominent one. Although, she had incredible odds against her, she managed to take what God had gave her and truly make an impact. Freedman tells us the story of her life with accurate and defining details. The photographs bring the story to life and allows us to see through her eyes during that time period by including racially discriminating signs. He includes many quotes by Anderson herself, and other important characters. Although this books only highlights Anderson's life the reader will surely appreciate her contribution to the struggle of equal rights.
Friday, May 2, 2008
York's Adventures with Lewis and Clark
Blumberg, Rhoda. York's Adventures with Lewis and Clark. 2004. New York: Harper Collins.
More than likely the story of Lewis and Clark and their journey of exploration throughout the western part of the United States is a familiar one. Sacagawea is also a familiar name, knowing that she was a brave Indian woman who contributed greatly to their quest. However, the story of York is an unfamiliar one. Clark was a rich plantation owner who had many slaves, but one in particular was very special to him and his family. As a young boy, they played together, swam together, and protected one another. As they grew older, York became his personal assistant and by slavery rules he had to do whatever Clark wished. When Clark was asked to particpate in this incredible journey he indeed expected York to accompany him. York became an invaluable part of this mission. His black skin, who once made him inferior, provided to be the key in gaining the trust of Indians. His strength and power was also valued by all the men in the Corps. Although, he was a vital part in this historical event, because of his skin color, he did not receive recognition. Clark never wrote his name down on the log of men who participated and therefore did not earn a penny for his efforts. In the end, York died a lonely and unproserperous man.
This story is unbelievably powerful and saddening. Blumberg provides the reader with historically accurate information by documenting journel entries, newspaper articles, maps, portraits, and other meaninful illustrations. Although, the information regarding York's life is not overwhelming the documentation provided gives the reader enough insight to realize his contributions made during this event. Blumberg defines York's life threw his eyes and also threw the eyes of the white men. We learn what it was like to live as a slave and all of the hardships that he had to endure. The reader really gets to experience the pain and sorrow relating to the life of an African American during this time period. It is amazing to see how vastly different the white men and the Indians treated black people. Although York, proved to be an invaluable component to the mission, it is amazing at how many people will not find his name a familiar one. This book definately needs to be added to any history section in the library.
More than likely the story of Lewis and Clark and their journey of exploration throughout the western part of the United States is a familiar one. Sacagawea is also a familiar name, knowing that she was a brave Indian woman who contributed greatly to their quest. However, the story of York is an unfamiliar one. Clark was a rich plantation owner who had many slaves, but one in particular was very special to him and his family. As a young boy, they played together, swam together, and protected one another. As they grew older, York became his personal assistant and by slavery rules he had to do whatever Clark wished. When Clark was asked to particpate in this incredible journey he indeed expected York to accompany him. York became an invaluable part of this mission. His black skin, who once made him inferior, provided to be the key in gaining the trust of Indians. His strength and power was also valued by all the men in the Corps. Although, he was a vital part in this historical event, because of his skin color, he did not receive recognition. Clark never wrote his name down on the log of men who participated and therefore did not earn a penny for his efforts. In the end, York died a lonely and unproserperous man.
This story is unbelievably powerful and saddening. Blumberg provides the reader with historically accurate information by documenting journel entries, newspaper articles, maps, portraits, and other meaninful illustrations. Although, the information regarding York's life is not overwhelming the documentation provided gives the reader enough insight to realize his contributions made during this event. Blumberg defines York's life threw his eyes and also threw the eyes of the white men. We learn what it was like to live as a slave and all of the hardships that he had to endure. The reader really gets to experience the pain and sorrow relating to the life of an African American during this time period. It is amazing to see how vastly different the white men and the Indians treated black people. Although York, proved to be an invaluable component to the mission, it is amazing at how many people will not find his name a familiar one. This book definately needs to be added to any history section in the library.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Quest for the Tree Kangaroo
Montogomery, Sy. Quest For The Tree Kangaroo. 2006. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Readers will learn quite a bit of history, geography, culture and science in this book about an expedition to New Guinea. Lisa Dabek, a forty-five year old scientist takes a team of 14 people on a quest to find a rare mammel called the Tree Kangaroo. Lisa grew up in New York City and always had asthma, so as a child she could not participate in sports and therefore found herself studying the behavior of animals. She was fascinated about why they did the things they do. She eventually became a scientist who would study animal behavior. In 2003, she decided to form a team of people to travel and study the creatures abroad. Readers will learn about the struggles, hardships, and great rewards that are involved with studying animals in the wild.
This book is broken up into ten sections making it extremly easy for the reader to follow. It creates a timeline so that we know who Lisa is, where she came from, and how her life path led her to the study of mammals in the wild. We follow along as the group boards the tiny plane and heads to this foreign land. The information is abundant in this book. Facts are simply added into the text, making it an extemely useful tool for any science classroom. The pictures are amazing as well. They will take your breath away looking at all the beautiful mountains, and waterfalls. Readers will also get a glimpse of the beautiful languages, and culture of the people that are from New Guinea. The end of the book contains several websites with more information about the Tree Kangaroos and where they are located. It also has several words in Tok Pisin, one of the many langugage in New Guinea, that is a great tool for extending the lessons in this book. I highly recommend this book.
Readers will learn quite a bit of history, geography, culture and science in this book about an expedition to New Guinea. Lisa Dabek, a forty-five year old scientist takes a team of 14 people on a quest to find a rare mammel called the Tree Kangaroo. Lisa grew up in New York City and always had asthma, so as a child she could not participate in sports and therefore found herself studying the behavior of animals. She was fascinated about why they did the things they do. She eventually became a scientist who would study animal behavior. In 2003, she decided to form a team of people to travel and study the creatures abroad. Readers will learn about the struggles, hardships, and great rewards that are involved with studying animals in the wild.
This book is broken up into ten sections making it extremly easy for the reader to follow. It creates a timeline so that we know who Lisa is, where she came from, and how her life path led her to the study of mammals in the wild. We follow along as the group boards the tiny plane and heads to this foreign land. The information is abundant in this book. Facts are simply added into the text, making it an extemely useful tool for any science classroom. The pictures are amazing as well. They will take your breath away looking at all the beautiful mountains, and waterfalls. Readers will also get a glimpse of the beautiful languages, and culture of the people that are from New Guinea. The end of the book contains several websites with more information about the Tree Kangaroos and where they are located. It also has several words in Tok Pisin, one of the many langugage in New Guinea, that is a great tool for extending the lessons in this book. I highly recommend this book.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Cirque de Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Shan, Darren. 2000. The Vampire's Assistant. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
Darren Shan was a normal little boy curious about a freakshow that was in town. He and his friend Steve attended, and got into some trouble and Darren stole a poisonous tarantula. The spider bit Steve and in order to save him Darren had to go to Mr. Crepsley, the spider's owner, and ask him to save his friend. He agreed, but in exchange he turned Darren into a half-vampire. Book Two begins at this part and we learn what Darren is having a difficult time trying to deal with being a half-vampire. He refuses to drink human blood to keep him alive and so he feeds on animals. Mr. Crepsley is busy teaching him about his new life style and the things that he is going to have to accept. Mr. Crepsley decides that it is time to return to the Cirque de Freak and takes Darren along. At first, Darren is horrified because this is where it all started for him and he hates thinking about his former life. Once Darren is settled, he makes friends with Evra and two humans. Sam, who is one of the humans, becomes one of Darren's best friends and even offers to become "blood brothers" although Darren knows this isn't possible. Sam desperately wants to join the circus and will do anything possible, and Darren will do anything to keep him safe, but will efforts be enough?
Darren Shan writes a great suspenseful story in the Cirque de Freak series. The books are written at a fast pace, making it a very short and satisfying read. Anyone yearning for a good horror fantasy will love this series. The characters are real freaks that will make you cringe at the thought of them. Shan deliciously describes each character until you have a clear mental image of the person, and there are quite a few unique ones such as the wolf-man, the Little People, and Truska. This particular book setting takes place at the Circus that is located on the banks of a river. The reader quickly learns that it is not your typical circus with big bright striped tents, but we get a very eerie feeling of uneasiness. Shan is very talented in creating a sense of fear within his readers. Each book ends with a hook, therefore leaving the reader wanting more.
Darren Shan was a normal little boy curious about a freakshow that was in town. He and his friend Steve attended, and got into some trouble and Darren stole a poisonous tarantula. The spider bit Steve and in order to save him Darren had to go to Mr. Crepsley, the spider's owner, and ask him to save his friend. He agreed, but in exchange he turned Darren into a half-vampire. Book Two begins at this part and we learn what Darren is having a difficult time trying to deal with being a half-vampire. He refuses to drink human blood to keep him alive and so he feeds on animals. Mr. Crepsley is busy teaching him about his new life style and the things that he is going to have to accept. Mr. Crepsley decides that it is time to return to the Cirque de Freak and takes Darren along. At first, Darren is horrified because this is where it all started for him and he hates thinking about his former life. Once Darren is settled, he makes friends with Evra and two humans. Sam, who is one of the humans, becomes one of Darren's best friends and even offers to become "blood brothers" although Darren knows this isn't possible. Sam desperately wants to join the circus and will do anything possible, and Darren will do anything to keep him safe, but will efforts be enough?
Darren Shan writes a great suspenseful story in the Cirque de Freak series. The books are written at a fast pace, making it a very short and satisfying read. Anyone yearning for a good horror fantasy will love this series. The characters are real freaks that will make you cringe at the thought of them. Shan deliciously describes each character until you have a clear mental image of the person, and there are quite a few unique ones such as the wolf-man, the Little People, and Truska. This particular book setting takes place at the Circus that is located on the banks of a river. The reader quickly learns that it is not your typical circus with big bright striped tents, but we get a very eerie feeling of uneasiness. Shan is very talented in creating a sense of fear within his readers. Each book ends with a hook, therefore leaving the reader wanting more.
Fashion Kitty
Harper, Charise Mericle. 2005. Fashion Kitty. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
The Kittie family is an unusual cat family because they have a pet mouse. They are allowed to do this because they are all vegetarians and love to eat things like ice cream, cheese, and pancakes. Lana named her Mousie, but KiKi secretly named her Phoebe Frederique. KiKi is a extraordinary girl cat who loves fashion. One day on her birthday while she was blowing out the candles, a shelf on the wall that was loaded with fashion magazines, crashed down upon her head. Everything seemed normal after the accident until KiKi fell to the floor screaming. When KiKi jumped up she had been transformed into Fashion Kitty and flew out the window to go and save the day. She rescued Mary Jane who was about to make a terrible fashion faux pax, and from that point on she new that this is what she was meant to do.
Harper creates a cute graphic novel for young girls. The Kittie family is very eccentric and even though this is a cat family every young girl reading this book will think it is funny and relatable. The style in which Harper writes is very appealing and will make the reader laugh with statements such as "After all, every family has a few secrets. We like to wear striped underwear." The pictures are definately geared towards little girls because the images are all in pink and gray. The charcters are your typical comic book images that look like they were illustrated by a younger artist. The story is easy to read and follow along and the images definately add to the story. This is a cute book, that most younger girls would enjoy.
The Kittie family is an unusual cat family because they have a pet mouse. They are allowed to do this because they are all vegetarians and love to eat things like ice cream, cheese, and pancakes. Lana named her Mousie, but KiKi secretly named her Phoebe Frederique. KiKi is a extraordinary girl cat who loves fashion. One day on her birthday while she was blowing out the candles, a shelf on the wall that was loaded with fashion magazines, crashed down upon her head. Everything seemed normal after the accident until KiKi fell to the floor screaming. When KiKi jumped up she had been transformed into Fashion Kitty and flew out the window to go and save the day. She rescued Mary Jane who was about to make a terrible fashion faux pax, and from that point on she new that this is what she was meant to do.
Harper creates a cute graphic novel for young girls. The Kittie family is very eccentric and even though this is a cat family every young girl reading this book will think it is funny and relatable. The style in which Harper writes is very appealing and will make the reader laugh with statements such as "After all, every family has a few secrets. We like to wear striped underwear." The pictures are definately geared towards little girls because the images are all in pink and gray. The charcters are your typical comic book images that look like they were illustrated by a younger artist. The story is easy to read and follow along and the images definately add to the story. This is a cute book, that most younger girls would enjoy.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
A Wrinkle in Time
L"Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time. 1962. New York: Dell Publishing.
The Murry family is clearly a unique group of people. Mrs. Murry is a very smart lady that has four children; Meg, Charles Wallace, Sandy and Dennys. Her husband has been away on a special assignment for the government which has clearly had an impact on the children. Meg seems to have taken her father's absence particularly hard causing trouble in school and with other children. She is a feisty girl, who seems to resist and push other people away. One dark, stormy night the family couldn't sleep, so they were all sitting in the kitchen eating when a neighbor shows up whose name is Mrs. Whatsit. It turns out that she lives in a nearby house with two other women, Mrs. Which and Mrs. Who. Meg learns that her brother knows these women and that they may have information that will help them find their father. The women, who turn out to be some sort of supernatural spirits have discovered a way to travel through time called tesseracting. They take the children Meg, Charles Wallace, and a local neighborhood kid, Calvin to a planet called Camazotz where all the people have been brainwashed and they must fight the evil IT to save their father. In the end, Meg learns that love is all she needs in order to save her brother from the evil.
This story written by L'Engle was extremely disappointing. The story is somewhat confusing and hard to follow. The way in which the story begins we know that there is something fishy about the three women that live in the nearby haunted house because of their names and their peculiar behavior, but when Charles Wallace takes his sister to the house the reader is somewhat left in the dark. We are getting to see the story through Meg's eyes and since she doesn't know exactly what is happening neither does the reader, and this can be quite frustrating at times. There are great insinuations of good versus evil, supernatural characters, and religion, however I can not see how a fourth grader could possible interpret this book on their own. It is written on a fourth grade level, but the content is clearly intended for an older audience. The story jumps from one unbelievable setting to the next and never really has a climax that will grab the reader's attention. This book has won several awards including the Newberry Award, the Sequoyah Book Award, the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, and runner up for the Hans Christian Award.
It seems that after I researched the book I could appreciate more of the qualities that the book contained. I can definately see how this book could be used in a classroom, but in my opinion it is not one that I would recommend picking up off the shelf to read for fun.
The Murry family is clearly a unique group of people. Mrs. Murry is a very smart lady that has four children; Meg, Charles Wallace, Sandy and Dennys. Her husband has been away on a special assignment for the government which has clearly had an impact on the children. Meg seems to have taken her father's absence particularly hard causing trouble in school and with other children. She is a feisty girl, who seems to resist and push other people away. One dark, stormy night the family couldn't sleep, so they were all sitting in the kitchen eating when a neighbor shows up whose name is Mrs. Whatsit. It turns out that she lives in a nearby house with two other women, Mrs. Which and Mrs. Who. Meg learns that her brother knows these women and that they may have information that will help them find their father. The women, who turn out to be some sort of supernatural spirits have discovered a way to travel through time called tesseracting. They take the children Meg, Charles Wallace, and a local neighborhood kid, Calvin to a planet called Camazotz where all the people have been brainwashed and they must fight the evil IT to save their father. In the end, Meg learns that love is all she needs in order to save her brother from the evil.
This story written by L'Engle was extremely disappointing. The story is somewhat confusing and hard to follow. The way in which the story begins we know that there is something fishy about the three women that live in the nearby haunted house because of their names and their peculiar behavior, but when Charles Wallace takes his sister to the house the reader is somewhat left in the dark. We are getting to see the story through Meg's eyes and since she doesn't know exactly what is happening neither does the reader, and this can be quite frustrating at times. There are great insinuations of good versus evil, supernatural characters, and religion, however I can not see how a fourth grader could possible interpret this book on their own. It is written on a fourth grade level, but the content is clearly intended for an older audience. The story jumps from one unbelievable setting to the next and never really has a climax that will grab the reader's attention. This book has won several awards including the Newberry Award, the Sequoyah Book Award, the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, and runner up for the Hans Christian Award.
It seems that after I researched the book I could appreciate more of the qualities that the book contained. I can definately see how this book could be used in a classroom, but in my opinion it is not one that I would recommend picking up off the shelf to read for fun.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Twilight
Meyer, Stephenie. Twilight. 2005. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
When Isabella Swan moved from the sunny city of Phoenix to the gloomy and rainy town of Forks to be with her father, she had no idea of how her future was going to change. On her first day at her new school she noticed a group of kids, the Cullens, and how beautiful yet secluded they were from the rest of the students. She was immediately drawn to one of them, Edward. She was fascinated by his beauty and elusiveness. It took him a while to begin talking to her, but from that moment on it was destiny that these two young lovers be together, but there were complications. It turns out that Edward is a vampire that was born in Chicago in 1901. He was dying of the Spanish Influenza when Carlisle found him in a hospital. Carlisle a vampire himmself, saved him from death by biting him and changing him to one of his own kind. He did the same with four other young kids and they soon became a family together. The Cullens were a special group of vampires because they all had agreed not to harm any humans, for the blood that they were required to get in order to survive. When Isabella learned of their secret, she accepted them and soon became a part of their pack. Everything was going great until one night they went to a field to play ball and another group of vampires caught her scent and decided they wanted to devour her. The Cullens immediately try to protect Isabella and they knew they would do anything they could to protect Edward's new love.
Twilight is the first book in Stephenie Meyer's series. This series is captivating right from the first page. Every reader will frantically turn the page dying to know what the future holds for this young couple. Although this gothic story about vampires and werewolves is strictly fantasy, the reader will no doubt be drawn into the highly believable characters and setting. Meyer creates strong, realistic qualities in each of the characters that superbly flows throughout the entire series. It is possible to know what each character feels, thinks, and sees so well that the reader will feel as if they are a part of the story themselves. The bond that forms between Edward and Bella is so real and so powerful that people will wish they could feel this themselves in their own lives. Although this book is 544 pages long, once beginning the first page you will never want the story to end. It will be a race to the library to get your hands on the next book. This book's intended audience is Young Adult, but older fans of vampire stories will fall in love with this series. This book is highly recommended for any young adult or older library.
When Isabella Swan moved from the sunny city of Phoenix to the gloomy and rainy town of Forks to be with her father, she had no idea of how her future was going to change. On her first day at her new school she noticed a group of kids, the Cullens, and how beautiful yet secluded they were from the rest of the students. She was immediately drawn to one of them, Edward. She was fascinated by his beauty and elusiveness. It took him a while to begin talking to her, but from that moment on it was destiny that these two young lovers be together, but there were complications. It turns out that Edward is a vampire that was born in Chicago in 1901. He was dying of the Spanish Influenza when Carlisle found him in a hospital. Carlisle a vampire himmself, saved him from death by biting him and changing him to one of his own kind. He did the same with four other young kids and they soon became a family together. The Cullens were a special group of vampires because they all had agreed not to harm any humans, for the blood that they were required to get in order to survive. When Isabella learned of their secret, she accepted them and soon became a part of their pack. Everything was going great until one night they went to a field to play ball and another group of vampires caught her scent and decided they wanted to devour her. The Cullens immediately try to protect Isabella and they knew they would do anything they could to protect Edward's new love.
Twilight is the first book in Stephenie Meyer's series. This series is captivating right from the first page. Every reader will frantically turn the page dying to know what the future holds for this young couple. Although this gothic story about vampires and werewolves is strictly fantasy, the reader will no doubt be drawn into the highly believable characters and setting. Meyer creates strong, realistic qualities in each of the characters that superbly flows throughout the entire series. It is possible to know what each character feels, thinks, and sees so well that the reader will feel as if they are a part of the story themselves. The bond that forms between Edward and Bella is so real and so powerful that people will wish they could feel this themselves in their own lives. Although this book is 544 pages long, once beginning the first page you will never want the story to end. It will be a race to the library to get your hands on the next book. This book's intended audience is Young Adult, but older fans of vampire stories will fall in love with this series. This book is highly recommended for any young adult or older library.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Al Capone Does My Shirts
Choldenko, Gennifer. Al Capone Does My Shirts. 2004. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Moose Flanagan and his family moved to Alcatraz on January 4, 1935. His father got a job as a prison guard on the island and his mother wanted to move there so that his sister Natalie, could attend the Esther P. Marinoff School. Natalie is a sixteen year old autistic girl who's mother will do anything possible to find a "cure" for her daughter. Moose's mother has tried all sorts of medicines, doctors, treatments, and even sent away for some special voodoo dolls all in the effort to help her. Natalie fails her initial interview at the school, and it is left up to Moose to take care of her. He takes her everywhere he goes and is left to deal with her tantrums all by himself. While on the island, Moose meets some of the other kids that live there and together they form a circle of friends that seem to always be coming up with schemes that involves the inmates from Alcatraz.
This historical fiction novel is told in such a way that the readers think that this plot could actually be happening in today's time period. It is the story of a typical family that has to deal with a sibling or child with a mental disability. The reader learns the struggles that each family has to face, and yet we get to see a glimpse of what life was like living on the island of Alcatraz during the 1930's through the eyes of children. This story is funny, sad, lighthearted, and yet deals with some pretty emotional topics. The bonds that form between Natalie and Moose and sure to be felt by the readers.
Moose Flanagan and his family moved to Alcatraz on January 4, 1935. His father got a job as a prison guard on the island and his mother wanted to move there so that his sister Natalie, could attend the Esther P. Marinoff School. Natalie is a sixteen year old autistic girl who's mother will do anything possible to find a "cure" for her daughter. Moose's mother has tried all sorts of medicines, doctors, treatments, and even sent away for some special voodoo dolls all in the effort to help her. Natalie fails her initial interview at the school, and it is left up to Moose to take care of her. He takes her everywhere he goes and is left to deal with her tantrums all by himself. While on the island, Moose meets some of the other kids that live there and together they form a circle of friends that seem to always be coming up with schemes that involves the inmates from Alcatraz.
This historical fiction novel is told in such a way that the readers think that this plot could actually be happening in today's time period. It is the story of a typical family that has to deal with a sibling or child with a mental disability. The reader learns the struggles that each family has to face, and yet we get to see a glimpse of what life was like living on the island of Alcatraz during the 1930's through the eyes of children. This story is funny, sad, lighthearted, and yet deals with some pretty emotional topics. The bonds that form between Natalie and Moose and sure to be felt by the readers.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Bud, Not Buddy
Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy. 1999. New York: Delacorte Press.
Bud is a ten year old boy who is on a mission to find his father. Bud, not Buddy as he wants to be referred to, lost his mother when he was six years old. He had no other family so he was forced to live in an orpahanage. He had been in many homes, but the story begins when he goes to live with the Amos'. The Amos' son, named Todd, picked a fight with Bud and for punishment they sent him to the shed for the night. While in there, he got attacked by hornets and broke threw the glass window to escape. He knew he could not live in that house any longer and he refused to go back to "the home" and so his journey began. All things precious to Bud, fit into a worn out suitcase which contained a picture of his mama, some rocks, and a blue flyer of a band named Herman E. Calloway and the Dusky Devastors of the Depression. Bud, beleived that his father was Herman E. Calloway so he decided to travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan to find him. On his journey he met many interesting people, got himself into some pretty scary situations, and even grew up a little. After arriving in Grand Rapids, he learns that this is truly his home, although it is not quite what he expected.
Christopher Paul Curtis tells this historical fiction threw the eyes of a young boy. Bud, is a strong, yet vunerable character whose hard life has forced him to grow up way beyond his years. He has the strength and courage to set out on his own to discover his past and his future. Curtis is sure to describe each situation throughly so that the reader can clearly picture in their mind exactly the house conditions, and what the shantytowns looked like. It will be as if the reader is thrown into the times of the Great Depression.
Bud is a ten year old boy who is on a mission to find his father. Bud, not Buddy as he wants to be referred to, lost his mother when he was six years old. He had no other family so he was forced to live in an orpahanage. He had been in many homes, but the story begins when he goes to live with the Amos'. The Amos' son, named Todd, picked a fight with Bud and for punishment they sent him to the shed for the night. While in there, he got attacked by hornets and broke threw the glass window to escape. He knew he could not live in that house any longer and he refused to go back to "the home" and so his journey began. All things precious to Bud, fit into a worn out suitcase which contained a picture of his mama, some rocks, and a blue flyer of a band named Herman E. Calloway and the Dusky Devastors of the Depression. Bud, beleived that his father was Herman E. Calloway so he decided to travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan to find him. On his journey he met many interesting people, got himself into some pretty scary situations, and even grew up a little. After arriving in Grand Rapids, he learns that this is truly his home, although it is not quite what he expected.
Christopher Paul Curtis tells this historical fiction threw the eyes of a young boy. Bud, is a strong, yet vunerable character whose hard life has forced him to grow up way beyond his years. He has the strength and courage to set out on his own to discover his past and his future. Curtis is sure to describe each situation throughly so that the reader can clearly picture in their mind exactly the house conditions, and what the shantytowns looked like. It will be as if the reader is thrown into the times of the Great Depression.
Day of Tears
Lester, Julius. Day of Tears. 2005. New York: Hyperion Books.
This historical fiction is sure to bring sorrow to any reader's hearts. Julius Lester describes one of the saddest, and largest slave auctions in U.S. History. Pierce Butler is a single man who is raising two daughters, with the help of one of his slaves named Emma. His Southern plantation has been in his family for many generations, but now is at risk due to his poor luck at the card table. He decides to assemble an auction to sell off all of his slaves in order to pay back his gambling debts. As soon as the auction began the sky turned black, and the rain began to come down in fits. The slaves described the scene as "God's tears". In the recount of the auction we learn about how families, lovers, and friends are torn apart. We learn that every slave has a price, even Emma, who had practically raised the girls since their mother left. The story closely follows the lives of Emma and Joe and the rough journey they had to endure to finally end up in Canada and be allowed to live free.
Lester tells this story through shifting first person accounts. The story is told through the eyes of the main characters. Although, at some points it is a little difficult to remember the character, the flow of the story and the raw feelings that each character brings to this novel is unforgettable. Each character has a flashback in the story where they tell how they remembered the specific event. This quote from Emma sums up the entire book "Sarah, my oldest girl, told me that in one of her books it said a picture is worth a thousand words. I told her whoever wrote that didn't know very mucy. When I think back on slavery and all what happened that day when God cried, couldn't no picture make you feel what it was like."
This historical fiction is sure to bring sorrow to any reader's hearts. Julius Lester describes one of the saddest, and largest slave auctions in U.S. History. Pierce Butler is a single man who is raising two daughters, with the help of one of his slaves named Emma. His Southern plantation has been in his family for many generations, but now is at risk due to his poor luck at the card table. He decides to assemble an auction to sell off all of his slaves in order to pay back his gambling debts. As soon as the auction began the sky turned black, and the rain began to come down in fits. The slaves described the scene as "God's tears". In the recount of the auction we learn about how families, lovers, and friends are torn apart. We learn that every slave has a price, even Emma, who had practically raised the girls since their mother left. The story closely follows the lives of Emma and Joe and the rough journey they had to endure to finally end up in Canada and be allowed to live free.
Lester tells this story through shifting first person accounts. The story is told through the eyes of the main characters. Although, at some points it is a little difficult to remember the character, the flow of the story and the raw feelings that each character brings to this novel is unforgettable. Each character has a flashback in the story where they tell how they remembered the specific event. This quote from Emma sums up the entire book "Sarah, my oldest girl, told me that in one of her books it said a picture is worth a thousand words. I told her whoever wrote that didn't know very mucy. When I think back on slavery and all what happened that day when God cried, couldn't no picture make you feel what it was like."
Monday, March 24, 2008
Road to Paris
Grimes, Nikki. Road to Paris. 2006. New York: G.P.Putnam's Sons.
Paris is a wonderful little girl who any reader will fall in love with. This heartwarming and yet heartbreaking story. Growing up in foster homes in which she was treated poorly and locked in closets, she had a fear of the dark but the only comforting thought from her ill life was the fact that her brother was by her side. Malcolm and Paris lived with the Boones' family in which the mother would beat Paris at any given moment. One day they had had enough so they decided to run away to the only family they had left, their grandmother. Once upon arriving they felt relieved yet sorrowful when they learned that she did not want to raise them because she was too old to start a family again. She called Children's Services and one morning Paris awoke to a man taking away her brother. She was sent to live with a strange family in Ossining. She was heartbroken and had to fight back the tears of not knowing what the future held and not knowing where her brother was located. She learned that she would be living with the Lincoln family and was scared to death at first. But after a few weeks things settled down and she slowly began to fall in love with her new mom and brothers. She made a friend at school and even enjoyed playing hide and seek with her new family members. The family taught her a very important lesson and that was to "keep God in her pocket". She learned to face hard things in her life and to get through them with the help of God. She started to form a stronger faith and knew she could get through anything with His help. Everything in her life was going good until she got a phone call that her mom was married again and wanted her back home. Paris felt confused about leaving her new loving family and going back home to live with her mom and brother. After many days of contemplating her choice, she boarded the train back towards her natural family.
Nikki Grimes writes a beautiful story and yet any reader will turn the last page wanting to know what the future will hold for this little girl. It leaves the reader with a sense of hope that she found God and now knows that she can get through anything with "God in her pocket". The story is realistic and could very well be the story of any girl in one of our public school classrooms. The bond between brother and sister is so powerful the reader will be thankful for their own family members and their relationships in their life. Although, the story doesn't quite have a happy ending, I would recommend this as a great read.
Paris is a wonderful little girl who any reader will fall in love with. This heartwarming and yet heartbreaking story. Growing up in foster homes in which she was treated poorly and locked in closets, she had a fear of the dark but the only comforting thought from her ill life was the fact that her brother was by her side. Malcolm and Paris lived with the Boones' family in which the mother would beat Paris at any given moment. One day they had had enough so they decided to run away to the only family they had left, their grandmother. Once upon arriving they felt relieved yet sorrowful when they learned that she did not want to raise them because she was too old to start a family again. She called Children's Services and one morning Paris awoke to a man taking away her brother. She was sent to live with a strange family in Ossining. She was heartbroken and had to fight back the tears of not knowing what the future held and not knowing where her brother was located. She learned that she would be living with the Lincoln family and was scared to death at first. But after a few weeks things settled down and she slowly began to fall in love with her new mom and brothers. She made a friend at school and even enjoyed playing hide and seek with her new family members. The family taught her a very important lesson and that was to "keep God in her pocket". She learned to face hard things in her life and to get through them with the help of God. She started to form a stronger faith and knew she could get through anything with His help. Everything in her life was going good until she got a phone call that her mom was married again and wanted her back home. Paris felt confused about leaving her new loving family and going back home to live with her mom and brother. After many days of contemplating her choice, she boarded the train back towards her natural family.
Nikki Grimes writes a beautiful story and yet any reader will turn the last page wanting to know what the future will hold for this little girl. It leaves the reader with a sense of hope that she found God and now knows that she can get through anything with "God in her pocket". The story is realistic and could very well be the story of any girl in one of our public school classrooms. The bond between brother and sister is so powerful the reader will be thankful for their own family members and their relationships in their life. Although, the story doesn't quite have a happy ending, I would recommend this as a great read.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
So B. It
Weeks, Sarah. So B. It. 2004. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
Heidi is a 12 year old girl who knows nothing of her past. She only knows what her neighbor and dear friend can tell her of how her and her mother showed up at her apartment. One day Bernadette heard a whimpering outside of her door and when she opened it she discovered a woman holding a tiny, crying baby. Bernadette found out that Heidi's mother, who calls herself So B. It was mentally challenged or as they called it "has a bum brain". Bernadette took in the new family and helped take are of Heidi. Although Bernadette has agoraphobia, they managed to take care of themselves through lots of love and luck. Heidi was always curious of her beginnings, wondering about her family, where she came from, what her mother's name is, and especially curious about her mother's word "soof". Her mother would use this word frequently and it bothered Heidi that she could not figure out the meaning. One day Heidi found a camera and she went to get the pictures developed and those photos held a key to the past. She showed the pictures to her mother and she immediately said "soof". Heidi knew that she would have to travel to the place located in the pictures to learn about her mother and possibly her family. On the long journey to New York, Heidi met several people, who also helped her discover things about herself. Once she arrived in New York, she discovered the truth about her past, only to lose her mother in the end.
Readers will fall in love with Heidi and feel the urgency as they read through the pages to discover Heidi's past with her. Weeks does a fantastic job of creating characters that are strong, yet caring such as Bernadette, which not everyone could be as lucky to have someone like that in their life. As Heidi discovers her past as well as things about herself many people can relate to the life changing experience of when you really learn about who you are. This book will touch readers of all cultures no matter their age or gender.
Heidi is a 12 year old girl who knows nothing of her past. She only knows what her neighbor and dear friend can tell her of how her and her mother showed up at her apartment. One day Bernadette heard a whimpering outside of her door and when she opened it she discovered a woman holding a tiny, crying baby. Bernadette found out that Heidi's mother, who calls herself So B. It was mentally challenged or as they called it "has a bum brain". Bernadette took in the new family and helped take are of Heidi. Although Bernadette has agoraphobia, they managed to take care of themselves through lots of love and luck. Heidi was always curious of her beginnings, wondering about her family, where she came from, what her mother's name is, and especially curious about her mother's word "soof". Her mother would use this word frequently and it bothered Heidi that she could not figure out the meaning. One day Heidi found a camera and she went to get the pictures developed and those photos held a key to the past. She showed the pictures to her mother and she immediately said "soof". Heidi knew that she would have to travel to the place located in the pictures to learn about her mother and possibly her family. On the long journey to New York, Heidi met several people, who also helped her discover things about herself. Once she arrived in New York, she discovered the truth about her past, only to lose her mother in the end.
Readers will fall in love with Heidi and feel the urgency as they read through the pages to discover Heidi's past with her. Weeks does a fantastic job of creating characters that are strong, yet caring such as Bernadette, which not everyone could be as lucky to have someone like that in their life. As Heidi discovers her past as well as things about herself many people can relate to the life changing experience of when you really learn about who you are. This book will touch readers of all cultures no matter their age or gender.
Judy Moody & Stink The Holly Joliday
McDonald, Megan. 2007. The Holly Joliday. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.
All Stink wants for Christmas this year is snow. Stink and his family live in Vermont and the chances are snow are very slim. One day while the family was preparing for Christmas, the mailman came, although it was not Mr. Harvey their usual mailman. This was a man with white fuzzy hair and smiley wrinkles. Stink learned that his name was Jack Frost, and asked him if he could deliver snow this year for Christmas. Mr. Frost said he couldn't promise anything, however he would keep his fingers crossed and that is was very possible because he could feel snow in his bones. Meanwhile, Stink and his sister, Judy, made their Christmas lists and while Judy's took up an entire toilet paper roll Stink's was just one word, snow. As their classes prepared for the Christmas vacation, Stink was disappointed because in this years performance he was going to have to be the mouse in the production of "The Night Before Christmas". He had been learning about snowflakes and secretly planned to change from a mouse to a stellar dendrite, which is a type of snowflake he learned about at school. He successfully executed his plan, although that night, Christmas Eve, he still was dreaming of a white Christmas. As Judy and Stink went to bed, something magical happened, it began to snow. When they woke up in the morning snow covered the earth and they ran outside to play. It really was a holly joliday!
What child doesn't wish for snow for Christmas? This holiday book is a perfect choice for anyone wanting to get into the Christmas spirit. Judy and Stink have the typical brother and sister relationship, while Judy picks on her little brother he still keeps his wishes in mind and doesn't let that deter his goal of seeing snow. The story takes place in Vermont and their house is filled with decorations and the joy of the season. Although this is a great choice for any child who is beginning to read chapter books, the illustrations by Peter Reynolds add so much more to this story. The characters are drawn like cartoons, and have bright colors and lively expressions. Any child will have fun listening and reading this book.
All Stink wants for Christmas this year is snow. Stink and his family live in Vermont and the chances are snow are very slim. One day while the family was preparing for Christmas, the mailman came, although it was not Mr. Harvey their usual mailman. This was a man with white fuzzy hair and smiley wrinkles. Stink learned that his name was Jack Frost, and asked him if he could deliver snow this year for Christmas. Mr. Frost said he couldn't promise anything, however he would keep his fingers crossed and that is was very possible because he could feel snow in his bones. Meanwhile, Stink and his sister, Judy, made their Christmas lists and while Judy's took up an entire toilet paper roll Stink's was just one word, snow. As their classes prepared for the Christmas vacation, Stink was disappointed because in this years performance he was going to have to be the mouse in the production of "The Night Before Christmas". He had been learning about snowflakes and secretly planned to change from a mouse to a stellar dendrite, which is a type of snowflake he learned about at school. He successfully executed his plan, although that night, Christmas Eve, he still was dreaming of a white Christmas. As Judy and Stink went to bed, something magical happened, it began to snow. When they woke up in the morning snow covered the earth and they ran outside to play. It really was a holly joliday!
What child doesn't wish for snow for Christmas? This holiday book is a perfect choice for anyone wanting to get into the Christmas spirit. Judy and Stink have the typical brother and sister relationship, while Judy picks on her little brother he still keeps his wishes in mind and doesn't let that deter his goal of seeing snow. The story takes place in Vermont and their house is filled with decorations and the joy of the season. Although this is a great choice for any child who is beginning to read chapter books, the illustrations by Peter Reynolds add so much more to this story. The characters are drawn like cartoons, and have bright colors and lively expressions. Any child will have fun listening and reading this book.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Junie B. Jones - Audiobook
Park, Barbara. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus. Audiobook Read by Lana Quintal.
Junie B. is a spunky kindergartner excited to go to school for the first time. Her mother takes her to school to meet her new teacher, whom Junie B. refers to as Mrs., and gets to see her new classroom in room 9. The teacher asks her mother if she will be riding the bus and her mother replies yes, which rattles Junie B's world. Junie B. is not excited about riding the stupid, smelly bus. Once she gets on the bus she doesn't have anyone to sit with and then a stupid boy steps all over her beautiful dress that looks like velvet. She decides that she doesn't like riding that bus. Her first day of school went great, and she even made a new friend and everything was going great until she learns that some "meanies" that ride the bus home pour chocolate milk on kid's heads. Junie B. makes up her mind that she is not going to ride the bus home, and decides to hide in the supply closet. After eveyone leaves the school, she ventures out and explores the school in a new light, playing in the media room, or library as she previously called it, playing in the nurses' office until she has an "mergency" and needs to go to the restroom. She calls 911 and police rescue her.
The reader will be immediately brought back to their first day of school as they listen to this story. The plot is believable and realistic as descriptions of her classroom will jolt memories of every reader's kindergarten classroom. Junie B's character is a firecracker, and urges the reader to fall in love with her creativity, and yet vunerability. Lara Quintal does a fantastic job of narrating the story. She creates different voices for each of the characters and her pitch and tone perfectly match that of this feisty little girl.
Junie B. is a spunky kindergartner excited to go to school for the first time. Her mother takes her to school to meet her new teacher, whom Junie B. refers to as Mrs., and gets to see her new classroom in room 9. The teacher asks her mother if she will be riding the bus and her mother replies yes, which rattles Junie B's world. Junie B. is not excited about riding the stupid, smelly bus. Once she gets on the bus she doesn't have anyone to sit with and then a stupid boy steps all over her beautiful dress that looks like velvet. She decides that she doesn't like riding that bus. Her first day of school went great, and she even made a new friend and everything was going great until she learns that some "meanies" that ride the bus home pour chocolate milk on kid's heads. Junie B. makes up her mind that she is not going to ride the bus home, and decides to hide in the supply closet. After eveyone leaves the school, she ventures out and explores the school in a new light, playing in the media room, or library as she previously called it, playing in the nurses' office until she has an "mergency" and needs to go to the restroom. She calls 911 and police rescue her.
The reader will be immediately brought back to their first day of school as they listen to this story. The plot is believable and realistic as descriptions of her classroom will jolt memories of every reader's kindergarten classroom. Junie B's character is a firecracker, and urges the reader to fall in love with her creativity, and yet vunerability. Lara Quintal does a fantastic job of narrating the story. She creates different voices for each of the characters and her pitch and tone perfectly match that of this feisty little girl.
Monday, March 10, 2008
You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very Short Mother Goose Tales to Read Together
Hoberman, Mary Ann. You Read to Me, I'll Read to You Very Short Mother Goose Tales to Read Together. 2005. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
This book is the third installment from Mary Ann Hoberman and Michael Emberley. This particular book is made up of thirteen classic Mother Goose tales, but with a twist. Although, each poem is fairly close or a continuation of the original poem it will most likely be appreciated more by those who have read the original nursery rhyme. Stories include Humpty Dumpty, Jack, Be Nimble, Jack and Jill, and Little Boy Blue and Little Bo Peep. This series of books are cleverly written so that each character has their own voice and encourages participation from readers. At the very beginning, there is an introductory poem that instructs the reader or readers on how to participate with this book. The illustrations are absolutely hilarious. Children will love the animations and expressions of each of the characters. Each poem contains approximately six illustrations that follow along with the nursery rhyme telling the story. It is clearly certain that everyone who picks up this book will love it! It would be a great tool for reader's theater, introduction to comparison and contrast with older children, introduction to poetry, and a never ending list of opportunities. I highly recommend this book at anyone of any age.
This book is the third installment from Mary Ann Hoberman and Michael Emberley. This particular book is made up of thirteen classic Mother Goose tales, but with a twist. Although, each poem is fairly close or a continuation of the original poem it will most likely be appreciated more by those who have read the original nursery rhyme. Stories include Humpty Dumpty, Jack, Be Nimble, Jack and Jill, and Little Boy Blue and Little Bo Peep. This series of books are cleverly written so that each character has their own voice and encourages participation from readers. At the very beginning, there is an introductory poem that instructs the reader or readers on how to participate with this book. The illustrations are absolutely hilarious. Children will love the animations and expressions of each of the characters. Each poem contains approximately six illustrations that follow along with the nursery rhyme telling the story. It is clearly certain that everyone who picks up this book will love it! It would be a great tool for reader's theater, introduction to comparison and contrast with older children, introduction to poetry, and a never ending list of opportunities. I highly recommend this book at anyone of any age.
Hummingbird Nest A Journal of Poems
O'Connell George, Kristine. Hummingbird Nest A Journal of Poems. 2004. New York: Harcourt Press.
This journal of poems provides a snapshot into the beatiful life of hummingbirds in California. Kristine O'Connell and her family were having breakfast outside on their patio one afternoon when suddenly a small bird started diving at their heads. They soon learned that a hummingbird was building a nest in their ficus tree. O'Connell decided to begin a journal depicting the events of the hummingbird. For the next eight weeks, her family marveled at the hummingbird's antics. They would leave small pieces of cotton and try to keep the patio as calm and welcoming for the birds as possible. Soon Anna, as she was later named, laid two beautiful eggs which became two healthy, beautiful fledglings. The family watched as Anna would bring food to them, and nervously watch as the birds began to try and fly on their own. One day, one of the birds had disappeared and not too much longer the other one took off on her own. Her family was so excited to be a part of this miracle, and were all sad to see it end. They often wondered later on that summer, if one of the hummingbirds at their feeders were "their" hummingbirds.
Each poem is titled and dated with the event for that day. The way in which the author writes the poem allows the reader to see the movements and thoughts of the hummingbirds. When discussing the size of the bird, the font is considerably smaller than the rest of the poem. As the birds are learning to fly the text is stretched out over several lines creating the feeling of falling out of the nest. The illustrations are small, yet very realistic. This collection of poetry tells the beautiful true story of the birthing of hummingbirds. It truly will turn any reader into a bird lover, yearning to experience the same as O'Connell.
This journal of poems provides a snapshot into the beatiful life of hummingbirds in California. Kristine O'Connell and her family were having breakfast outside on their patio one afternoon when suddenly a small bird started diving at their heads. They soon learned that a hummingbird was building a nest in their ficus tree. O'Connell decided to begin a journal depicting the events of the hummingbird. For the next eight weeks, her family marveled at the hummingbird's antics. They would leave small pieces of cotton and try to keep the patio as calm and welcoming for the birds as possible. Soon Anna, as she was later named, laid two beautiful eggs which became two healthy, beautiful fledglings. The family watched as Anna would bring food to them, and nervously watch as the birds began to try and fly on their own. One day, one of the birds had disappeared and not too much longer the other one took off on her own. Her family was so excited to be a part of this miracle, and were all sad to see it end. They often wondered later on that summer, if one of the hummingbirds at their feeders were "their" hummingbirds.
Each poem is titled and dated with the event for that day. The way in which the author writes the poem allows the reader to see the movements and thoughts of the hummingbirds. When discussing the size of the bird, the font is considerably smaller than the rest of the poem. As the birds are learning to fly the text is stretched out over several lines creating the feeling of falling out of the nest. The illustrations are small, yet very realistic. This collection of poetry tells the beautiful true story of the birthing of hummingbirds. It truly will turn any reader into a bird lover, yearning to experience the same as O'Connell.
Poetry Speaks to Children
Poetry Speaks to Children. Edited by Elise Paschen. 2005. Illinois: Sourcebooks MediaFusion.
This collection of poetry contains 95 poems written by 73 different poets. The poetry ranges from silly poems such as discussing neighbors underwear and farting, to more serious poems such as the Raven by Edgar Allen Poe. There are also topics of weather, seasons, animals, opposites, and growing up, to name just a few. Some of the poems are very short while others are quite a bit longer, but each carefully selected poem will make the reader smile. The illustrations carefully detail one of the characters or features a point from the selected poem. The CD that is included with this book contains approximately one hour of 60 tracks worth of poetry. Most of the poems are read by the authors themselves, bringing the poetry alive for all of the readers. Children and adults of all ages will love reading through this collection.
This collection of poetry contains 95 poems written by 73 different poets. The poetry ranges from silly poems such as discussing neighbors underwear and farting, to more serious poems such as the Raven by Edgar Allen Poe. There are also topics of weather, seasons, animals, opposites, and growing up, to name just a few. Some of the poems are very short while others are quite a bit longer, but each carefully selected poem will make the reader smile. The illustrations carefully detail one of the characters or features a point from the selected poem. The CD that is included with this book contains approximately one hour of 60 tracks worth of poetry. Most of the poems are read by the authors themselves, bringing the poetry alive for all of the readers. Children and adults of all ages will love reading through this collection.
¡Pio Peep! Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes
Ada, Alma Flor & F. Isbel Campoy. ¡Pio Peep! Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes. 2003. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.
¡Pio Peep! is a fabulous collection of Spanish oral folklore nursery rhymnes. The original compilation was created by Alma Flor and F. Isabel Campoy. This bilingual book contains the original nursery rhyme and then a "poetic re-creation" of Spanish poems. So although, the poems might not be translated perfectly, the main features and purpose of the story remains true. Poems range from two to ten lines and magnificiently detail the Hispanic culture. The nursery rhymes include stories about birds, five little chicks, a snail, wolf pups, and a boy going to the city to possibly get engaged. Each page contains enormous brightly colored illustrations that take up almost all of the page. In general, on one side of the page is the Spanish poem and then on the other is the English poem. Children will love to read each poem and older bilingual children will love to compare the two rhymes. This collection of traditional Hispanic nursery rhymes will be a great addition to any poetry collection.
¡Pio Peep! is a fabulous collection of Spanish oral folklore nursery rhymnes. The original compilation was created by Alma Flor and F. Isabel Campoy. This bilingual book contains the original nursery rhyme and then a "poetic re-creation" of Spanish poems. So although, the poems might not be translated perfectly, the main features and purpose of the story remains true. Poems range from two to ten lines and magnificiently detail the Hispanic culture. The nursery rhymes include stories about birds, five little chicks, a snail, wolf pups, and a boy going to the city to possibly get engaged. Each page contains enormous brightly colored illustrations that take up almost all of the page. In general, on one side of the page is the Spanish poem and then on the other is the English poem. Children will love to read each poem and older bilingual children will love to compare the two rhymes. This collection of traditional Hispanic nursery rhymes will be a great addition to any poetry collection.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Thumbelina
Pinkney, Brian. 2003. Thumbelina. New York: Greenwillow Books.
A woman who wanted a child very badly wish for a child of her own. An old woman gave her a magic seed and when it bloomed there was a beautiful flower with a tiny child inside. The woman named her Thumbelina because she was no bigger than her thumb. She took very good care of her, until one day a toad kidnapped her and planned for her to marry his son. The toad put her in the middle of a pond, until the fish sat her free. She came upon a butterfly that she tied a sash too and swept her away into the forest. Thumbelina was content living among all of the beautiful flowers and warm sunlight, but when winter came she was hungry and very lonely. A field mouse took her in, but made her promise to help clean and tell stories. Her neighbor, a blind, rich, mole fell in love with her beautiful voice and wished to make her his wife. She reluctantly agreed and as the mole was taking her deep underground she came upon a bird, that he believed to be dead. Thumbelina felt sorry for the bird and brought a blanket of hay for the bird when she noticed that his heart was beating. She realized that the bird wasn't dead, but only cold from the harsh winter. She continued to take care of the bird until the spring, when she dug out a hole and set him free. The bird wanted Thumbelina to come with him, but she refused knowing that the mole and field mouse would be upset. On her wedding day, she walked outside to say goodbye to all of the things she loved like the flowers and the sun. She suddenly heard a bird chirpping and it was the swallow who had come to rescue her. She boarded upon his back and he took her to a field of beautiful flowers and to her amazement there were other timy people like her there. The King gave her his crown and asked her to be his wife. She couldn't refuse and knew that this would be the right husband for her. The flower people brought wonderful gifts to her and they lived happily ever after.
Pinkney retells and illustrates the story by Hans Christian Anderson in a magical way. The bright colors and soft lines demostrate how fragile and delicate Thumbelina can be, yet how strong she is to make such a long journey on her own. The simple vocabulary could be easily understood by most of the readers. This abridged version is a nice addition to any child folktale collection.
A woman who wanted a child very badly wish for a child of her own. An old woman gave her a magic seed and when it bloomed there was a beautiful flower with a tiny child inside. The woman named her Thumbelina because she was no bigger than her thumb. She took very good care of her, until one day a toad kidnapped her and planned for her to marry his son. The toad put her in the middle of a pond, until the fish sat her free. She came upon a butterfly that she tied a sash too and swept her away into the forest. Thumbelina was content living among all of the beautiful flowers and warm sunlight, but when winter came she was hungry and very lonely. A field mouse took her in, but made her promise to help clean and tell stories. Her neighbor, a blind, rich, mole fell in love with her beautiful voice and wished to make her his wife. She reluctantly agreed and as the mole was taking her deep underground she came upon a bird, that he believed to be dead. Thumbelina felt sorry for the bird and brought a blanket of hay for the bird when she noticed that his heart was beating. She realized that the bird wasn't dead, but only cold from the harsh winter. She continued to take care of the bird until the spring, when she dug out a hole and set him free. The bird wanted Thumbelina to come with him, but she refused knowing that the mole and field mouse would be upset. On her wedding day, she walked outside to say goodbye to all of the things she loved like the flowers and the sun. She suddenly heard a bird chirpping and it was the swallow who had come to rescue her. She boarded upon his back and he took her to a field of beautiful flowers and to her amazement there were other timy people like her there. The King gave her his crown and asked her to be his wife. She couldn't refuse and knew that this would be the right husband for her. The flower people brought wonderful gifts to her and they lived happily ever after.
Pinkney retells and illustrates the story by Hans Christian Anderson in a magical way. The bright colors and soft lines demostrate how fragile and delicate Thumbelina can be, yet how strong she is to make such a long journey on her own. The simple vocabulary could be easily understood by most of the readers. This abridged version is a nice addition to any child folktale collection.
Little Scraggly Hair: A Dog on Noah's Ark
Cullen, Lynn. 2003. Little Scraggly Hair: A Dog on Noah's Ark. New York: Holiday House.
This story is about a scraggly haired dog a very long time ago. Back then, dogs had warm, dry noses and were not much use to humans. In fact, they saw dogs as ornery creatures who were only around to chase cats and dig up bones. Scraggly haired dog, was different though. He didn't much care for chasing cats and in fact he liked the way they purred, but they didn't want to have anything to do with him. He was a very lonely dog, and wanted nothing more than a little food and some companionship. One day he stumbled upon a man building an ark. He layed down and half expected to get shooed away, but the man named Noah did quite the opposite and gave him some food. Scraggly hair dog immediately wanted to please the man and helped him by fetching pieces of wood and tools to fulfill his wish of building a boat. God had told Noah to gather up the animals in pairs and bring them to the boat, and dog did just that. He nipped at the feet of the animals and dodged gigantic teeth of alligators. After the rain quit, Noah was so thankful for all of dog's help he bent down to pet him when he noticed that his nose was wet and cold. He decided to let him sleep in the house by the fire until his nose warmed up. To this day, dogs still have wet and cold noses and that is why they now get to sleep in warm houses.
This is such a wonderful twist to Noah's Ark. The characters are friendly, and readers can't help but fall in love with scraggly haired dog. The watercolor illustrations are are old fashioned and simple and contribute to the tale of the story. The dialect in which the characters speak is Appalachian, but makes the read aloud fun for the children. This tale of how a dog helped Noah, and became a household creature would make a great book in any child's collection.
This story is about a scraggly haired dog a very long time ago. Back then, dogs had warm, dry noses and were not much use to humans. In fact, they saw dogs as ornery creatures who were only around to chase cats and dig up bones. Scraggly haired dog, was different though. He didn't much care for chasing cats and in fact he liked the way they purred, but they didn't want to have anything to do with him. He was a very lonely dog, and wanted nothing more than a little food and some companionship. One day he stumbled upon a man building an ark. He layed down and half expected to get shooed away, but the man named Noah did quite the opposite and gave him some food. Scraggly hair dog immediately wanted to please the man and helped him by fetching pieces of wood and tools to fulfill his wish of building a boat. God had told Noah to gather up the animals in pairs and bring them to the boat, and dog did just that. He nipped at the feet of the animals and dodged gigantic teeth of alligators. After the rain quit, Noah was so thankful for all of dog's help he bent down to pet him when he noticed that his nose was wet and cold. He decided to let him sleep in the house by the fire until his nose warmed up. To this day, dogs still have wet and cold noses and that is why they now get to sleep in warm houses.
This is such a wonderful twist to Noah's Ark. The characters are friendly, and readers can't help but fall in love with scraggly haired dog. The watercolor illustrations are are old fashioned and simple and contribute to the tale of the story. The dialect in which the characters speak is Appalachian, but makes the read aloud fun for the children. This tale of how a dog helped Noah, and became a household creature would make a great book in any child's collection.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Dona Flor: A Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart
Mora, Pat. 2005. Dona Flor: A Tale About a Giant Woman With a Great Big Heart. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Dona Flor was a beautiful girl, who grew into a beautiful woman. Her mother showed her so much love that she flourished into a giant that could speak every language. Because she was so big, people would make fun of her. They later learned that her only desire was to help and protect her friends. Soon, the villagers became fond of her and she took care of them by preparing tortillas every morning, making toys, and reading to the children in the shade while they played all over her soft body. And, so when the village was being haunted by the sound of a very large puma the villagers went to Dona Flor for help. They were too scared to come out of their houses for fear of danger from the puma. Since Dona Flor was friends with all of the animals and spoke their language, she decided to go to them for help. They told her to look upon the mountaintop and she will find her answer. Up there she found a cute little puma roaring into a long, hollow log which roared into the valley. The puma liked hearing how load his roar was and would fall down upon his back laughing. Dona Flor thought he was a little pumita and began to scratch him behind his ears until he began to purr. She brought pumita home with her and let him sleep on her big toe on a bed of clouds.
The beautiful watercolor illustrations bring to life the sweet and bold Dona Flor. Readers understand how people could make fun of her size, yet learn how helpful it could be to have a giant as your friend. Dona Flor can make giant tortillas children can use a rafts and pluck stars from the sky so that the villagers can find their way home at night. Throughout the book, spanish terms are used and children can relate to this cultural tale.
Dona Flor was a beautiful girl, who grew into a beautiful woman. Her mother showed her so much love that she flourished into a giant that could speak every language. Because she was so big, people would make fun of her. They later learned that her only desire was to help and protect her friends. Soon, the villagers became fond of her and she took care of them by preparing tortillas every morning, making toys, and reading to the children in the shade while they played all over her soft body. And, so when the village was being haunted by the sound of a very large puma the villagers went to Dona Flor for help. They were too scared to come out of their houses for fear of danger from the puma. Since Dona Flor was friends with all of the animals and spoke their language, she decided to go to them for help. They told her to look upon the mountaintop and she will find her answer. Up there she found a cute little puma roaring into a long, hollow log which roared into the valley. The puma liked hearing how load his roar was and would fall down upon his back laughing. Dona Flor thought he was a little pumita and began to scratch him behind his ears until he began to purr. She brought pumita home with her and let him sleep on her big toe on a bed of clouds.
The beautiful watercolor illustrations bring to life the sweet and bold Dona Flor. Readers understand how people could make fun of her size, yet learn how helpful it could be to have a giant as your friend. Dona Flor can make giant tortillas children can use a rafts and pluck stars from the sky so that the villagers can find their way home at night. Throughout the book, spanish terms are used and children can relate to this cultural tale.
Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet: Mexican Folktales
Philip, Neil. 2003. Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet: Mexican Folktales. New York: Clarion Books.
This book comprised of 14 Mexican Folktales brings insight to Mexican culture for any of its readers. Stories include folktales titled The Flea, The Story of the Sun and the Moon, The Hog, and Cinder Juan, which closely resembles the American tale of Cinderella. Each story is approximately one to five pages in length accompanied by a vibrant illustration depicting a scene from the folktale. The reader will find the Notes on the Stories section extremely useful and any educator will consider this a goldmine. Each story is broken down by collector of story, origin of story, and a somewhat interpretation of the folktale. It also give useful information such as where other versions of this same story is published. Hoorse Hooves and Chicken Feet: Mexican Folktales is a great read for anyone interested in Mexican culture and traditions.
This book comprised of 14 Mexican Folktales brings insight to Mexican culture for any of its readers. Stories include folktales titled The Flea, The Story of the Sun and the Moon, The Hog, and Cinder Juan, which closely resembles the American tale of Cinderella. Each story is approximately one to five pages in length accompanied by a vibrant illustration depicting a scene from the folktale. The reader will find the Notes on the Stories section extremely useful and any educator will consider this a goldmine. Each story is broken down by collector of story, origin of story, and a somewhat interpretation of the folktale. It also give useful information such as where other versions of this same story is published. Hoorse Hooves and Chicken Feet: Mexican Folktales is a great read for anyone interested in Mexican culture and traditions.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Fabian Escapes
McCarty, Peter. 2007. Fabian Escapes. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
Hondo the dog and Fabian the cat both live in a nice little home. After Hondo gets home from his walk Fabian escapes out the window to experience the neighborhood and Hondo remains inside and manages to have his own adventure. Fabians smells the flowers and makes new friends while Hondo eats crackers from the baby and gets to play dress up with one of the children. At the end of the day Fabian returns and Hondo welcomes him home. Peter McCarty both wrote and illustrated this book using pencil on watercolor paper. The illustrations are both magical and whimsy. The pages are an off-white color which contributes to the older feeling of the text.
Hondo the dog and Fabian the cat both live in a nice little home. After Hondo gets home from his walk Fabian escapes out the window to experience the neighborhood and Hondo remains inside and manages to have his own adventure. Fabians smells the flowers and makes new friends while Hondo eats crackers from the baby and gets to play dress up with one of the children. At the end of the day Fabian returns and Hondo welcomes him home. Peter McCarty both wrote and illustrated this book using pencil on watercolor paper. The illustrations are both magical and whimsy. The pages are an off-white color which contributes to the older feeling of the text.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Move Over Rover
Beaumont, Karen. 2006. Move Over Rover. Orlando, Florida: Harcout, Inc.
Rover, the dog, is in his doghouse all alone and chewing on a bone when suddenly it begins to rain. The cat, the raccoon, the squirrel, and many other animals convince Rover to let them squeeze into the tiny, yet warm and dry doghouse. All of the sudden they smell something foul and notice the skunk is trying to join them. They immediately run out of the doghouse leaving the skunk in the only dry place. After the storm, the animals look for Rover when they notice that he is all alone in his warm and dry doghouse.
The rhythmic and flowing words in this book almost make it impossible not to sing as you are telling this story. The repeating pattern for each animal entering the doghouse make it fun and predictable for any young child. The illustrations are large, bold, and clearly magnify the expressions and stories of each animal. Early in the story, the images foreshadow what will happen by displaying small images of the skunk "checking out" the warm and dry doghouse. This book would be a must have in any young child's collection.
Rover, the dog, is in his doghouse all alone and chewing on a bone when suddenly it begins to rain. The cat, the raccoon, the squirrel, and many other animals convince Rover to let them squeeze into the tiny, yet warm and dry doghouse. All of the sudden they smell something foul and notice the skunk is trying to join them. They immediately run out of the doghouse leaving the skunk in the only dry place. After the storm, the animals look for Rover when they notice that he is all alone in his warm and dry doghouse.
The rhythmic and flowing words in this book almost make it impossible not to sing as you are telling this story. The repeating pattern for each animal entering the doghouse make it fun and predictable for any young child. The illustrations are large, bold, and clearly magnify the expressions and stories of each animal. Early in the story, the images foreshadow what will happen by displaying small images of the skunk "checking out" the warm and dry doghouse. This book would be a must have in any young child's collection.
Henry's First-Moon Birthday
Look, Lenore. 2001. Henry's First-Moon Birthday. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Jenny and GninGnin, her grandma, are preparing for a very special day. It is her brother's first month birthday, or his first-moon, as it is called in Chinese. Together they prepare soup, make tea, decorate banners and get the house ready for all of the visitors. As friends and relatives begin to arrive, Jenny's job is to make sure that her cousins do not wake baby Henry, although she can't resist and pinches him when no one is looking. Everyone is very impressed with how well Henry looks and how he is such a wonderful baby. Jenny can't wait to tell him how wonderful his first-moon birthday was and how lucky he was to have her in charge.
This cultural story describes the the traditions of the first-moon birthday through the eyes of a young girl. Readers can learn about Chinese culture such as making red eggs to welcome the baby and hanging a gold chain and coins around the baby's neck. Lenore Look, the illustrator, manages to brightly fill each page with bright, cheery colors. The child-like illustrations give us even more insight to the special event through the eyes of the young girl. This would be a great book to use in teaching children about ways different cultures celebrate birthdays.
Jenny and GninGnin, her grandma, are preparing for a very special day. It is her brother's first month birthday, or his first-moon, as it is called in Chinese. Together they prepare soup, make tea, decorate banners and get the house ready for all of the visitors. As friends and relatives begin to arrive, Jenny's job is to make sure that her cousins do not wake baby Henry, although she can't resist and pinches him when no one is looking. Everyone is very impressed with how well Henry looks and how he is such a wonderful baby. Jenny can't wait to tell him how wonderful his first-moon birthday was and how lucky he was to have her in charge.
This cultural story describes the the traditions of the first-moon birthday through the eyes of a young girl. Readers can learn about Chinese culture such as making red eggs to welcome the baby and hanging a gold chain and coins around the baby's neck. Lenore Look, the illustrator, manages to brightly fill each page with bright, cheery colors. The child-like illustrations give us even more insight to the special event through the eyes of the young girl. This would be a great book to use in teaching children about ways different cultures celebrate birthdays.
Every Friday
Yaccarino, Dan. 2007. Every Friday. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
Every Friday is a fantastic story about a young boy and his father spending time together and enjoying each other's company. On Fridays the boy and his father leave the house rain or shine, cold or sunny, and head to the local diner for breakfast. On the way, even though it seems everyone else is in a rush, they take their time and enjoy taking in their surroundings. The boy and his father both cherish the ritual of spending quality time together on these special mornings. The illustations are so powerful in this book, that words are barely needed to tell the story. The cartoon-like images take up the entire page and contributes to the feel good sensation of this book. Although, the book was published in 2007, the illustrations and strong family bond seem to make the reader feel like they are reading something from earlier in this century.
Every Friday is a fantastic story about a young boy and his father spending time together and enjoying each other's company. On Fridays the boy and his father leave the house rain or shine, cold or sunny, and head to the local diner for breakfast. On the way, even though it seems everyone else is in a rush, they take their time and enjoy taking in their surroundings. The boy and his father both cherish the ritual of spending quality time together on these special mornings. The illustations are so powerful in this book, that words are barely needed to tell the story. The cartoon-like images take up the entire page and contributes to the feel good sensation of this book. Although, the book was published in 2007, the illustrations and strong family bond seem to make the reader feel like they are reading something from earlier in this century.
The Other Side
Woodson, Jacqueline. 2001. The Other Side. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Clover and Annie are very similar girls, but their lives are seperated by a long wooden fence. Clover and Annie's parents tell them that they should never cross the fence and to always stay on their own side. Clover is black and Annie is white. Clover was curious about the other girl and wondered why she always sat upon the fence. One day after a long period of rain, Clover was brave enough to walk over and introduce herself. Annie explained that her mom said never to go to the other side, however she never said anything about sitting on the fence. After that point, the girls sat on the fence, watched the world, and became fast friends. One day they imagined someone coming and breaking down the barrier. E.B. Lewis' beautiful watercoloring brings the characters and emotions alive for the reader. Each page consists of large colorful artwork depicting the setting and characters' actions. Although, this book deals with racial tensions it has been written through the eyes of a little girl and proves the point that friendship is blind.
Clover and Annie are very similar girls, but their lives are seperated by a long wooden fence. Clover and Annie's parents tell them that they should never cross the fence and to always stay on their own side. Clover is black and Annie is white. Clover was curious about the other girl and wondered why she always sat upon the fence. One day after a long period of rain, Clover was brave enough to walk over and introduce herself. Annie explained that her mom said never to go to the other side, however she never said anything about sitting on the fence. After that point, the girls sat on the fence, watched the world, and became fast friends. One day they imagined someone coming and breaking down the barrier. E.B. Lewis' beautiful watercoloring brings the characters and emotions alive for the reader. Each page consists of large colorful artwork depicting the setting and characters' actions. Although, this book deals with racial tensions it has been written through the eyes of a little girl and proves the point that friendship is blind.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Los Gatos Black on Halloween
1) Bibliography
Montes, Marisa. 2006. Los Gatos Black on Halloween. New York, NY. ISBN 0805074295
2) Plot Summary
On Halloween scary creatures such as the las calabazas,las brujas, los esqueletos and others come out and join together for a monstrous ball. They play the harpsicords, and dance and are having a great time when suddenly they hear raps on the door. As the door opens, they see children holding their bags yelling trick or treat. The monsters are upset and believe the kids are the scariest things they have seen.
3) Critical Analysis
Montes clearly creates hauntingly beautiful characters in her story through the use of English and Spanish rhythms. The reader can clearly see and hear the movements of the Halloween characters such as the "cats slink and creep on Halloween". The words in which they are printed on each page even creates a song like pattern.
The illustrations are beautiful and will capture the imagination of each reader young or old. Even though this is intended to be a scary story, the monsters are obviously having a great time. The illustrations are dark, yet wispy creating an even more fantasy like image in the reader's imagination.
4) Review Excerpt
Booklist 2006
" Montes' evocative poem deserves exceptional artwork, and Morales obliges. Her soft-edged paintings glow with the luminosity of jewels, and her witches, werewolves, and corpses are frighteningly executed.
5) Connections
* Used as a precursor to Halloween studies
* learning English and Spanish language
Other books by Montes include Infinito Particular and Rose and Charcoal.
Montes, Marisa. 2006. Los Gatos Black on Halloween. New York, NY. ISBN 0805074295
2) Plot Summary
On Halloween scary creatures such as the las calabazas,las brujas, los esqueletos and others come out and join together for a monstrous ball. They play the harpsicords, and dance and are having a great time when suddenly they hear raps on the door. As the door opens, they see children holding their bags yelling trick or treat. The monsters are upset and believe the kids are the scariest things they have seen.
3) Critical Analysis
Montes clearly creates hauntingly beautiful characters in her story through the use of English and Spanish rhythms. The reader can clearly see and hear the movements of the Halloween characters such as the "cats slink and creep on Halloween". The words in which they are printed on each page even creates a song like pattern.
The illustrations are beautiful and will capture the imagination of each reader young or old. Even though this is intended to be a scary story, the monsters are obviously having a great time. The illustrations are dark, yet wispy creating an even more fantasy like image in the reader's imagination.
4) Review Excerpt
Booklist 2006
" Montes' evocative poem deserves exceptional artwork, and Morales obliges. Her soft-edged paintings glow with the luminosity of jewels, and her witches, werewolves, and corpses are frighteningly executed.
5) Connections
* Used as a precursor to Halloween studies
* learning English and Spanish language
Other books by Montes include Infinito Particular and Rose and Charcoal.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Green Eggs and Ham
1) Bibliography
Seuss, Dr. 1960. Green Eggs and Ham. New York, NY. ISBN 0394800168.
2) Plot Summary
Sam, an extremely persistant character, tries to get his friend to eat green eggs and ham. He carries around a fork, tray and platter of green eggs and ham and tries to get him to eat them in many different ways considering location "here or there" or with different friends " would you eat them with a fox" but yet his friend refuses to eat green eggs and ham. He follows him around considering all the different places, ways, friends that he could eat them with and yet his friend will not sway in his decision. Finally, Sam wears on his friend and he gives in with the consideration that he will leave him alone if he at least tries the delicacy. With great surprise he realizes that he DOES like green eggs and ham and yes he would "eat them in a boat and with a goat" he then thanks his friend and finishes the platter of green eggs and ham.
3) Critical Analysis
How could any child not love Green Eggs and Ham? The rhythm and rhyme of the story leads the reader to deliver such exuberance in the words. It's as if you could almost sing the book. Although, there is not a great storyline here, the characters and the lines leave the reader wanting to read more. The illustrations are a classic of Dr. Seuss with bright, silly characters, that literally tell stories with just their expressions. I think that this book is definately a valuable part to any child's book collection.
4) Review Excerpt
Amazon.com
"As usual, kids will love Dr. Seuss's wacky rhymes and whimsical illustrations--and this time, they might even be so moved as to finally take a taste of their broccoli."
5) Connections
* Could be used to consider the importance of trying new food
Seuss, Dr. 1960. Green Eggs and Ham. New York, NY. ISBN 0394800168.
2) Plot Summary
Sam, an extremely persistant character, tries to get his friend to eat green eggs and ham. He carries around a fork, tray and platter of green eggs and ham and tries to get him to eat them in many different ways considering location "here or there" or with different friends " would you eat them with a fox" but yet his friend refuses to eat green eggs and ham. He follows him around considering all the different places, ways, friends that he could eat them with and yet his friend will not sway in his decision. Finally, Sam wears on his friend and he gives in with the consideration that he will leave him alone if he at least tries the delicacy. With great surprise he realizes that he DOES like green eggs and ham and yes he would "eat them in a boat and with a goat" he then thanks his friend and finishes the platter of green eggs and ham.
3) Critical Analysis
How could any child not love Green Eggs and Ham? The rhythm and rhyme of the story leads the reader to deliver such exuberance in the words. It's as if you could almost sing the book. Although, there is not a great storyline here, the characters and the lines leave the reader wanting to read more. The illustrations are a classic of Dr. Seuss with bright, silly characters, that literally tell stories with just their expressions. I think that this book is definately a valuable part to any child's book collection.
4) Review Excerpt
Amazon.com
"As usual, kids will love Dr. Seuss's wacky rhymes and whimsical illustrations--and this time, they might even be so moved as to finally take a taste of their broccoli."
5) Connections
* Could be used to consider the importance of trying new food
My Librarian is a Camel
1) Bibliography
Ruurs, Margriet. 2005. Honesdale, PA. ISBN 1590780930
2) Plot Summary
How do children in other countries receive books from the library? Ruurs tells a fascinating story of how books manage to become a part of children's lives in rural areas of certain countries. Thirteen countries are featured in this book, and each country has their own means of supplying books to children. Some books are delived by truck, mail, wheelbarrows, boat, camels, and even elephants. Each country has certain organizations that make it a priority to place literature in the minds of young readers. This is a true and fascinating read!
3) Critical Analysis
What an amazing story! Many people in the United States take it for granted how fortunate we are to have school or public libraries in our daily lives. Ruurs tells the story of mobile libraries and how crucial they are in helping educate young children. The book is set up in a very easy to read format displaying each country and their method on a 2 page spread. The pictures are all taken by the organizations themselves making the book feel unique and inspiring. The text is very simple and explains the process of delivering books in a very simple manner.
4) Review Excerpt
School Library Journal 2005
"With little information available about libraries of the world, this title offers a glimpse into the world of books, which several countries consider as important as air or water."
5) Connections
* Compare and contrast different countries and lifestyles.
* For use in multi-cultural lessons
Other books by Ruurs include When We Go Camping, and Virtual Maniac: Silly and Serious Poems for Kids.
Ruurs, Margriet. 2005. Honesdale, PA. ISBN 1590780930
2) Plot Summary
How do children in other countries receive books from the library? Ruurs tells a fascinating story of how books manage to become a part of children's lives in rural areas of certain countries. Thirteen countries are featured in this book, and each country has their own means of supplying books to children. Some books are delived by truck, mail, wheelbarrows, boat, camels, and even elephants. Each country has certain organizations that make it a priority to place literature in the minds of young readers. This is a true and fascinating read!
3) Critical Analysis
What an amazing story! Many people in the United States take it for granted how fortunate we are to have school or public libraries in our daily lives. Ruurs tells the story of mobile libraries and how crucial they are in helping educate young children. The book is set up in a very easy to read format displaying each country and their method on a 2 page spread. The pictures are all taken by the organizations themselves making the book feel unique and inspiring. The text is very simple and explains the process of delivering books in a very simple manner.
4) Review Excerpt
School Library Journal 2005
"With little information available about libraries of the world, this title offers a glimpse into the world of books, which several countries consider as important as air or water."
5) Connections
* Compare and contrast different countries and lifestyles.
* For use in multi-cultural lessons
Other books by Ruurs include When We Go Camping, and Virtual Maniac: Silly and Serious Poems for Kids.
Library Lion
1)Bibliography
Knudsen, Michelle. 2006. Library Lion. Cambridge, MS. ISBN 0763622621.
2) Plot Summary
One day a lion walked into Miss Merriweather's library. Mr. McBee was very concerned, but it did not bother Miss Merriweather as long as the lion was not breaking any of the rules. The lion cruised around the library until he found a group of kids at story time. He loved story time. He listened intently to all of the stories and after the last one was read, he got very upset and roared as loud as he could. Miss Merriweather explained that if he broke the rules by not being quiet he could not come back to the library. The kids quite enjoyed being in the company of a lion and begged Miss Merriweather to let him come back. The next day the lion came back and helped with the duties of the librarian by dusting encyclopedias, licking envelopes, and helping kids reach books on the top shelf. He became an integral part of the library and Miss Merriweather's day. Until one day, Miss Merriweather was standing on a stool putting away books, and she fell and was hurt very badly. The lion went to Mr. McBee for help and roared very loudly, however since he broke the rules he knew he could never come back to the library. After Miss Merriweather recovered her and all of the children were very upset at the absence of the lion. Mr. McBee decided to take matters in his own hand to search for the lion and ask him to come back. Miss Merriweather and the children were overjoyed to see the lion and Miss Merriweather explained that in certain situations it was okay to break the rules in the library.
3) Critical Analysis
Michele Knudson manages to create the typical sterotype of a librarian in Library Lion. She is not neccessarily concerned about who her patrons are as long as they are following all of the library rules. One day when Mr. McBee panics over a lion entering the library, Miss Merriweather is unphased as long as he is not breaking any of the rules. Knudsen creates believable yet highly stereotypical characters. Through the eyes of the librarian, a lion, and young children we see how a typical library is run. We learn that it isn't about who you are, and the rules are meant to be followed however, in certain cases it is okay to break the rules. Knudsen manages to tell a lovable story, with an important message to all of its readers.
The illustrator, Kevin Hawkes, draws a delightful story for all of its readers. His drawings look like something out of a coloring book with soft colors, and smiling faces. The artwork is simple and yet appeals nicely to the text. However, compared to some other children's books I would say the artwork is rather blaise. It lacks eye popping colors, and attention grabbing art.
4) Review Excerpts
School Library Journal 2006
"The lordly, lovable lion is a masterful mix–regal beast and furry friend–and the many human characters are drawn with animation and emotion."
Booklist 2006
"The warm friendships will easily draw interest, though, as will the handsome, nostalgic pencil-and-acrylic illustrations. Children will easily see themselves in the wild lion, which yearns to explore and enjoy the library but worries about the constraining rules."
5) Connections
*Use with any age students as a great story time lesson about rules in the library.
* Great story to learn about morals to a story.
Other books by Michelle Knudsen include Fish and Frog: Brand New Readers, and Happy Easter!
*
Knudsen, Michelle. 2006. Library Lion. Cambridge, MS. ISBN 0763622621.
2) Plot Summary
One day a lion walked into Miss Merriweather's library. Mr. McBee was very concerned, but it did not bother Miss Merriweather as long as the lion was not breaking any of the rules. The lion cruised around the library until he found a group of kids at story time. He loved story time. He listened intently to all of the stories and after the last one was read, he got very upset and roared as loud as he could. Miss Merriweather explained that if he broke the rules by not being quiet he could not come back to the library. The kids quite enjoyed being in the company of a lion and begged Miss Merriweather to let him come back. The next day the lion came back and helped with the duties of the librarian by dusting encyclopedias, licking envelopes, and helping kids reach books on the top shelf. He became an integral part of the library and Miss Merriweather's day. Until one day, Miss Merriweather was standing on a stool putting away books, and she fell and was hurt very badly. The lion went to Mr. McBee for help and roared very loudly, however since he broke the rules he knew he could never come back to the library. After Miss Merriweather recovered her and all of the children were very upset at the absence of the lion. Mr. McBee decided to take matters in his own hand to search for the lion and ask him to come back. Miss Merriweather and the children were overjoyed to see the lion and Miss Merriweather explained that in certain situations it was okay to break the rules in the library.
3) Critical Analysis
Michele Knudson manages to create the typical sterotype of a librarian in Library Lion. She is not neccessarily concerned about who her patrons are as long as they are following all of the library rules. One day when Mr. McBee panics over a lion entering the library, Miss Merriweather is unphased as long as he is not breaking any of the rules. Knudsen creates believable yet highly stereotypical characters. Through the eyes of the librarian, a lion, and young children we see how a typical library is run. We learn that it isn't about who you are, and the rules are meant to be followed however, in certain cases it is okay to break the rules. Knudsen manages to tell a lovable story, with an important message to all of its readers.
The illustrator, Kevin Hawkes, draws a delightful story for all of its readers. His drawings look like something out of a coloring book with soft colors, and smiling faces. The artwork is simple and yet appeals nicely to the text. However, compared to some other children's books I would say the artwork is rather blaise. It lacks eye popping colors, and attention grabbing art.
4) Review Excerpts
School Library Journal 2006
"The lordly, lovable lion is a masterful mix–regal beast and furry friend–and the many human characters are drawn with animation and emotion."
Booklist 2006
"The warm friendships will easily draw interest, though, as will the handsome, nostalgic pencil-and-acrylic illustrations. Children will easily see themselves in the wild lion, which yearns to explore and enjoy the library but worries about the constraining rules."
5) Connections
*Use with any age students as a great story time lesson about rules in the library.
* Great story to learn about morals to a story.
Other books by Michelle Knudsen include Fish and Frog: Brand New Readers, and Happy Easter!
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