Advertisement

Customize
About this Journal
This site created for TWU class - 5603 Literature for Children and Young Adults - book reviews
Current Month
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31
Dec. 2nd, 2006 @ 12:23 pm POSTCARDS FROM NO MAN'S LAND
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Chambers, Aidan, Nancy. 1999. POSTCARDS FROM NO MAN‘S LAND. Dutton Books., New York, ISBN: 0-525-46863-3

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Jacob Todd visits Amsterdam to honor his Grandfather in a WWII ceremony. His grandfather, Jacob Todd, died during the war leaving a wife and child at home. Young Jacob meets a girl at the ceremony who he begins to develop feelings for. Jacob stays with the grandson of Geertrui, Van Daan Riet. They become friends, While visiting Holland, Jacob visits the house of Anne Frank. Jacob has been influenced by Anne Frank, he feels a closeness to her although he has only known her through her diaries. He has become familiar with the life of Anne Frank. Her trials have helped to prepare him for the revelation from Geertrui. While in hiding, Jacob’s grandfather had fallen in love with Geertrui, a young woman that had nursed him back to health. The results of the love affair are shared with Jacob who must decide if he should also share the information with his grandmother. A diary of Geertrui's and grandfather Jacob is given to young Jacob.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
A coming of age novel that will be enjoyed by readers. Jacob is faced with several mature situations that take his level headed understanding and acceptance. The many situations that Jacob has been confronted with help to prepare young readers for real life situations that are not unrealistic. The history of WWII is blended with modern day events in a story that is interesting and easy to follow. The book, Postcard’s from No Man’s Land, includes action, mystery and suspense. It is a book that encourages the idea that unexpected changes in life can open new doors. Thinking positively and keeping an open mind helps in the process of growing up.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal Review -
Grade 10-Up This book received international acclaim after its 1999 publication in Europe. Older teens on this side of the Atlantic now have a chance to read the two complex and challenging narratives intertwined in this beautifully written novel. When 17-year-old Jacob travels solo from England as his grandmother's representative at a ceremony in the Netherlands commemorating the World War II Battle of Arnhem, he is transformed. Jacob is intrigued and excited by new ideas engendered by initially bewildering experiences: the strangely disturbing Anne Frank house in Amsterdam, new acquaintances who cross gender lines, and, most of all, the imminent assisted death of the elderly lady who was his grandfather's wartime nurse and has kept in contact with his family. This frail Dutchwoman, the second narrator, has her own startling tale to tell, recalling in detail her short but passionate relationship with another Jacob long ago, when the whole world seemed to be burning and when serious, irrevocable choices were made in haste. The protagonists in these coming-of-age stories face real-world decisions involving love, sexuality, and friendship, linking the teenagers across time and generations, and leading to a conclusion as convincing as it is absorbing and thought-provoking. -Starr E. Smith, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Booklist review -
*Starred Review* Gr. 9-12. Winner of the British Carnegie Medal, this very long novel is part thrilling WWII love story and part edgy, contemporary, coming-of-age fiction. In Holland in 1944, Dutch teenager Geertrui fell passionately in love with a wounded young British soldier, and she hid him from the enemy. That soldier's grandson, Jacob, a British teenager, is now in Amsterdam to visit the grave of the grandfather he never knew, and he falls in love with a beautiful young woman, even as he's attracted to an openly gay young man. The length of the story and the tortuous connections between past and present may turn off some readers, but the individual stories are riveting as past secrets are revealed and linked with what Jacob discovers about himself. Chambers weaves together past and present with enough plot, characters, and ideas for several YA books, but he does it with such mastery that all the pieces finally come together, with compelling discoveries about love, courage, family, and sexual identity. Common to all the stories is the heroism of ordinary people. Jacob finds no neat answers, just a sense of the rich and painful confusion of what it means to be human. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --

The Horn Book, starred review
...truly memorable novel: teens may remember not only that they read it, but also where and when they read it. --

5. CONNECTIONS
*Encourage students to write daily in a journal or diary.
*Other books for young readers
NA, AN. 2003. A STEP FROM HEAVEN. Puffin ISBN: 0142500275
Rosoff, Meg. 2004. HOW I LIVE NOW. Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN: 0385746776
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Dec. 2nd, 2006 @ 12:01 pm THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Farmer, Nancy. 2002. THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION. Scholastic Inc., New York, ISBN: 0-439-57782-9


2. PLOT SUMMARY
The time period is futuristic while the setting, that has been imposed by El Patron, is of an older mid 20th century era. Matteo is a boy who spends his time alone in a small house in a poppy field. Until age six, his only companion is his caregiver Celia. Shortly before leaving his small isolated home that he shares with Celia, Matteo meets a young girl named Maria. Matt and Maria’s friendship develops over the years into one of love and understanding. Matteo Alacran discovers his true purpose as the clone of El Patron. Matt has been called an abomination, livestock and an animal in his young life. While living at the Alacran estate, Matt has been educated and has developed his gift of music. Matt realizes that the failing health of El Patron, has put his own life in jeopardy. El Patron, a father figure, considers Matt an organ bank. Celia’s love for Matt is revealed in an unusual and extreme revelation. She has poisoned Matt to the point that his organs are useless to a weakened El Patron.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This science fiction book for young adults focuses on the controversial subject of cloning. The futuristic story opens the door for communication on important topics of slavery, drugs and cloning. It encourages the development of educated and empathetic opinions. Cloning is a subject that young people of today could be faced with in the future. The injustice that is in the world is exposed to the readers. Matt matures into a strong character that has caring and perseverance. Upon finishing this book, I was hoping for a sequel. Nancy Farmer has created a character in Matt that becomes real to it‘s readers. I would promote this book to pre-teens through adults. The storyline is well developed, active and interesting. Farmer provides supporting information about the relationships of the characters in the book. The chapters are represented by the age of Matteo, from conception in a glass dish to a young man.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS:
Amazon.com review -
Fields of white opium poppies stretch away over the hills, and uniformed workers bend over the rows, harvesting the juice. This is the empire of Matteo Alacran, a feudal drug lord in the country of Opium, which lies between the United States and Aztlan, formerly Mexico. Field work, or any menial tasks, are done by "eejits," humans in whose brains computer chips have been installed to insure docility. Alacran, or El Patron, has lived 140 years with the help of transplants from a series of clones, a common practice among rich men in this world. The intelligence of clones is usually destroyed at birth, but Matt, the latest of Alacran's doubles, has been spared because he belongs to El Patron. He grows up in the family's mansion, alternately caged and despised as an animal and pampered and educated as El Patron's favorite. Gradually he realizes the fate that is in store for him, and with the help of Tam Lin, his bluff and kind Scottish bodyguard, he escapes to Aztlan. There he and other "lost children" are trapped in a more subtle kind of slavery before Matt can return to Opium to take his rightful place and transform his country.
Nancy Farmer, a two-time Newbery honoree, surpasses even her marvelous novel, The Ear, The Eye and the Arm in the breathless action and fascinating characters of The House of the Scorpion. Readers will be reminded of Orson Scott Card's Ender in Matt's persistence and courage in the face of a world that intends to use him for its own purposes, and of Louis Sachar's Holes in the camaraderie of imprisoned boys and the layers of meaning embedded in this irresistibly compelling story. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell --

From Publishers Weekly
Farmer's (A Girl Named Disaster; The Ear, the Eye and the Arm) novel may be futuristic, but it hits close to home, raising questions of what it means to be human, what is the value of life, and what are the responsibilities of a society. Readers will be hooked from the first page, in which a scientist brings to life one of 36 tiny cells, frozen more than 100 years ago. The result is the protagonist at the novel's center, Matt a clone of El Patron, a powerful drug lord, born Matteo Alacran to a poor family in a small village in Mexico. El Patron is ruler of Opium, a country that lies between the United States and Aztl n, formerly Mexico; its vast poppy fields are tended by eejits, human beings who attempted to flee Aztlan, programmed by a computer chip implanted in their brains. With smooth pacing that steadily gathers momentum, Farmer traces Matt's growing awareness of what being a clone of one of the most powerful and feared men on earth entails. Through the kindness of the only two adults who treat Matt like a human Celia, the cook and Matt's guardian in early childhood, and Tam Lin, El Patron's bodyguard Matt experiences firsthand the evils at work in Opium, and the corruptive power of greed ("When he was young, he made a choice, like a tree does when it decides to grow one way or the other... most of his branches are twisted," Tam Lin tells Matt). The author strikes a masterful balance between Matt's idealism and his intelligence. The novel's close may be rushed, and Tam Lin's fate may be confusing to readers, but Farmer grippingly demonstrates that there are no easy answers. The questions she raises will haunt readers long after the final page. Ages 11-14.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --

5. CONNECTIONS

Books by Farmer

Farmer, Nancy. 2002. THE EAR, THE EYE AND THE ARM. Scholastic Inc; New York. ISBN: 0141311096
Farmer, Nancy. 1997. A GIRL NAMED DISASTER. Orchard; New York. ISBN: 0531095398

.
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Dec. 2nd, 2006 @ 12:44 am KIRA-KIRA
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kadohata, Cynthia. 2004. KIRA - KIRA. Scholastic, Simon & Schuster Books; New York,
ISBN: 0689856393

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this young adult fiction book Kadohata, a struggling Japanese family in the 1950’s, leaves their home in Iowa for a new life in Georgia. The parents work long hours in a chicken plant to support their family. They are devoted to Katie, Lynn and Sammy. They show their love to the children by hard work and providing them with a home. Katie’s best friend is her older sister Lynn. Lynn has always been there for Katie, she taught Katie her first word, Kira - Kira, that means glittery in Japanese. The hardship of the family increases as Lynn becomes sick and now Katie must care for Lynn and their young brother Sammy. The children go for a picnic that ‘goes wrong’ when young Sammy is caught in an animal trap and Lynn. Katie must release the trap and run for help. Lynn has become helpless in her illness. Cancer has taken away Lynn’s chance of a future Katie learns to live on and keep her memories of Lynn alive. The love and support of the extended family helps the Takishima family to survive the worst possible situation.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Katie narrates the story and shares her love for her sister. This is a book that will draw you in. You will begin a friendship with Katie and share the pain of the loss of Lynn. . The historical cultural background of the story is interesting. The unfamiliar lifestyle of a 50’s Japanese family becomes the known and expected.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Amazon.com review -
In Cynthia Kadohata's lively, lovely, funny and sad novel -- winner of the 2005 Newbery Medal -- the Japanese-American Takeshima family moves from Iowa to Georgia in the 1950s when Katie, the narrator, is just in kindergarten. Though her parents endure grueling conditions and impossible hours in the non-unionized poultry plant and hatchery where they work, they somehow manage to create a loving, stable home for their three children: Lynn, Katie, and Sammy. Katie's trust in, and admiration for, her older sister Lynn never falters, even when her sisterly advice doesn't seem to make sense. Lynn teaches her about everything from how the sky, the ocean, and people's eyes are special to the injustice of racial prejudice. The two girls dream of buying a house for the family someday and even save $100 in candy money. When Lynn develops lymphoma, it's heartbreaking, but through the course of her worsening illness, Katie does her best to remember Lynn's "kira-kira" (glittery, shining) outlook on life. Small moments shine the brightest in this poignant story; told beautifully and lyrically in Katie's fresh, honest voice. (Ages 11 to 14) --Karin Snelson

School Library Journal -
Grade 6-8--Katie's first word is "kira-kira," the Japanese word for "glittering," and she uses it to describe everything she likes. It was taught to her by her older sister, Lynn, whom Katie worships. Both girls have trouble adjusting when their parents move the family from Iowa to a small town in rural Georgia, where they are among only 31 Japanese-Americans. They seldom see their parents, who have grueling jobs in chicken-processing plants. Then Lynn becomes deathly ill, and Katie is often left to care for her, a difficult and emotionally devastating job. When her sister dies of lymphoma, Katie searches for ways to live up to her legacy and to fulfill the dreams she never had a chance to attain. Told from Katie's point of view and set in the 1950s, this beautifully written story tells of a girl struggling to find her own way in a family torn by illness and horrendous work conditions. Katie's parents can barely afford to pay their daughter's medical bills, yet they refuse to join the growing movement to unionize until after Lynn's death. All of the characters are believable and well developed, especially Katie, who acts as a careful observer of everything that happens in her family, even though there is a lot she doesn't understand. Especially heartbreaking are the weeks leading up to Lynn's death, when Katie is exhausted and frustrated by the demands of her sister's illness, yet willing to do anything to make her happy. Girls will relate to and empathize with the appealing protagonist.--Ashley Larsen, Woodside Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

5. CONNECTIONS

Kadohata, Cynthia. 2006. WEEDFLOWER Atheneum ISBN: 0689865740

Kadohata, Cynthia. 2007. CRACKER: THE BEST DOG IN VIETNAM. Atheneum. ISBN: 1416906371

Kadohata, Cynthia. 2004. THE GLASS MOUNTAINS. ereads.com ISBN: 0759224242
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Nov. 11th, 2006 @ 12:45 am THE COOKCAMP
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Paulson, Gary. 1991. THE COOKCAMP. NewYork: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0-439-52357-5

2. PLOT SUMMARY
A five year old boy takes a train trip to visit his grandmother in northern Minnesota. The boy's father is a soldier in WWII and his mother has gone to work in the factory. He is brought a lunch of a a biscuit and jelly and grapes by the porter. It is a typical lunch for a boy in the 1940's. After two days on the train, the little boy reaches his destination. The big truck that brought his grandmother to the station is late. It has had to make several stops to add water to the radiator along the way. The train station is eighty miles from the camp where his grandmother is a cook. His grandmother calls him her thimble. Grandmother lets him find her thimble with a boy in her sewing box. The boy on the thimble reminds her of her grandson. The large men that work at the camp are building a road to Canada. They drive large trucks filled with gravel into the forest. They take the boy on the job sharing in his enjoyment of the new experience. The boy loves his grandmother and is enjoying his time with the workers but misses his mother. He would like for his grandmother to live with him but as his grandmother says, there comes a time when parents and children must live apart. Grandmother sends him home on the train after telegraphing his mother. Mother has missed him and welcomes him home.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Paulson sets the time with visual descriptions of daily life. The boy spends two days on trains under the care of a porter. He sleeps in a pull down bed and eats sack lunches provided by the porter. The babysitter, back home spends her time listening to the radio. Paulson introduces the story by explaining the addition of Uncle Casey to the household. Although mother's new boyfriend takes him to the movies, the boy does not like Uncle Casey being with his mother. The future of the boy is foretold at the conclusion of the book. The boy does not see his grandmother for many years. He lives in many places after his father returns from the war. He visits after he is grown and brings his own children to visit his special grandmother. This book shared a special time between a boy and his grandmother that most readers can identify with.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Publishers Weekly review - "This short, lyrical novel concerns a five-year-old boy who is sent to the north woods of Minnesota to live with his grandmother, a cook for a rough-and-tumble road-building crew, because his father is off fighting in World War II and his mother has taken a job in a factory. Paulsen's simply told story strikes extraordinary emotional chords, from the boy's wide-eyed wonder at the giant men and their giant machines, to his searing rage at his mother's new boyfriend (the real reason he's been packed off to the woods), to his profound love for his grandmother, to his aching loneliness for his mother. Paulsen expertly balances sensitive probing of the boy's mental and emotional life with superb descriptions of the boy helping the men build the road, making Paulsen's unnamed hero one of the most fully realized characters in recent memory. Those hungry for adventure stories, as well as more introspective readers, will be spellbound by this stirring novel, which is every bit the equal of The Winter Room and Paulsen's other works." Ages 10-12. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Horn Book Guide review - "Beautifully written."
Kirkus review - "A memorable evocation of a special time and place"

5. CONNECTIONS
* have children share stories and photos of visits to see their grandparents.
*Other books by Gary Paulson
Paulson, Gary. 2001. SOLDIER'S HEART : BEING THE STORY OF THE ENLISTMENT AND DUE SERVICE OF THE BOY CHARLEY GODDARD IN THE FIRST MINNESOTA VOLUNTEERS.Yearling ISBN: 0440414741
Paulson, Gary. 1996. FATHER WATER, MOTHER WOODS.Laurel Leaf: New York. ISBN: 0440219841
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Nov. 10th, 2006 @ 09:52 pm CRISPIN: CROSS OF LEAD
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Avi. 2004. CRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD Hyperion; ISBN: 0786816589

2. PLOT SUMMARY
A young boy, known all his life as Asta's son, fights for survival after the death of his mother. He is told his name is Crispin by the priest who is soon murdered. The priest, Father Quinel, knows his true identity and is murdered to protect the secret. Crispin wears a lead cross hung around his neck that had belonged to his mother. The inscription will later reveal it's message. Crispin is declared a wolf's head by his enemy, John Aycliffe. He is confused at the force Aycliffe is using to insure his death. Aycliffe has claimed that Crispin has commited the murder of Father Quinel. The boy of thirteen has been marked for death, and must escape from the village of his birth. On the road he meets a man named Bear that becomes a father figure to the lonely boy. They travel to a walled city to meet other's that are planning a rebellion againt Lord Furnival. Bear is captured and Crispin must use his wit to ensure the release of his good friend. Lord Furnival dies after a long illness. The wicked steward, Aycliffe meets his end when he tries to betray Crispin. Crispin is made a free man by his master, Bear. He chooses to leave his new found heritage and travel with Bear to see the world.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The historic fiction, Crispin Cross of Lead, is set in England in 1377. It is written with an old world tone. The setting is described in detail. Crispin narrates the story of his life and adventures. Crispin's life as a serf has been hard, he has often gone hungry under the rule of Lord Furvinal. Avi gives a descriptive view of life for most people in medieval times. It is adventurous and will be enjoyed by its young readers. The book brings the past to life.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Publishers Weekly review - Set in 14th-century England, Avi's (The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle) 50th book begins with a funeral, that of a village outcast whose past is shrouded in mystery and whose adolescent son is known only as "Asta's son." Mired in grief for his mother, the boy learns his given name, Crispin, from the village priest, although his presumably dead father's identity remains obscure. The words etched on his mother's treasured lead cross may provide some clue, but the priest is murdered before he can tell the illiterate lad what they say. Worse, Crispin is fingered for the murder by the manor steward, who declares him a "wolf's head" wanted dead or alive, preferably dead. Crispin flees, and falls in with a traveling juggler. "I have no name," Crispin tells Bear, whose rough manners and appearance mask a tender heart. "No home, no kin, no place in this world." How the boy learns his true identity (he's the bastard son of the lord of the manor) and finds his place in the world makes for a rattling fine yarn. Avi's plot is engineered for maximum thrills, with twists, turns and treachery aplenty, but it's the compellingly drawn relationship between Crispin and Bear that provides the heart of this story. A page turner to delight Avi's fans, it will leave readers hoping for a sequel. Ages 8-12. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

School Library Journal review- Grade 6-9-A backward and sheltered peasant boy is forced to flee for his life when secrets from his past put him in conflict with the local steward, a vicious man who declares the boy to be a "wolf's head," someone who can be killed without remorse or repercussion. When his mother dies, the boy's sole legacy is a mysterious lead cross, given to him by the local priest and inscribed with words he can't read. With the help of his newfound master and friend "Bear," the boy, who defines himself only as "Asta's son," claims his rightful heritage and strikes a blow for the downtrodden. In this recording of the novel by Avi (Hyperion, 2002), actor Ron Keith's portrayal of the uncertainty and fear of a young boy searching for his place in a hostile world lends a sense of magic and urgency to the story. The accent, pacing, and inflection of this skilled narrator make it possible for listeners to enter fully into the struggles of life in 14th century England from the perspective of a wide cast of characters.
Cindy Lombardo, Orrville Public Library, OH
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Crispin: At the Edge of the World ISBN: 078685152X Hyperion (September 1, 2006)

5. CONNECTIONS
*Build a castle or village reminisant of the travels of Crispin.
*Other books to enjoy by Avi
Avi. 2006. CRISPIN: AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD. Hyperion. ISBN: 078685152X
Avi. 2004. THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE. HarperTrophy: New York. ISBN: 0380728850
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Nov. 10th, 2006 @ 09:21 am THE WATSON'S GO TO BIRMINGHAM-1963
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Curtis, Christopher Paul. 1995. THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM: 1963. Random House: New York. ISBN: 0385317379

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Christopher Curtis introduces the reader to the Watson family. We get to know the family in the descriptive story telling. Momma and Daddy are from Birmingham Alabama in the south. They now live in the cold northern state of Michagan. Momma makes sure that they stay warm with layers of winter clothing. The children are bundled to prevent them from freezing and being hauled away in the garbage trucks. Kenny, the narrator of the story is the middle child. He is a good student and considered a bit of a nerd. Joetta is the youngest and considered to be annoying by her brothers. Byron, the oldest, is on the road to trouble in Flint Michigan. He has been running with a gang and his parents are worried. It is decided that Byron will go to live in Birmingham with his grandmother where the slower pace will get him back on track. Momma and Daddy plan the long trip to Alabama. Momma packs the food and plans the stops for the trip. It takes a lot of planning as the Watson's would not be welcome in many places on the road. A network had been established by previous black travelers, telling of the safe places that make the trip possible.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Watson family comes to life in this historical fiction by Christopher Curtis. Byron the oldest child is a challenge for his parents. His facination with fire brings on a disturbing situation with his mother. Mrs. Watson survived a fire as a child and tries to teach Byron a lesson about the danger of playing with fire. At her wits end, her solution is to hold a match near Byron's finger. Her choice of punishment would be considered unacceptable by most people. Joetta, blows out the matches as her mother lights them, saving Byron from being burned. Momma sets a better example in the rest of the book, her goal of frightening her son is accomplished. The event is tramatizing in the book and special care is needed in discussing alternate solutions to the problem. The church bombing represents the actual bombing that killed four teenage girls in Birmingham in 1963. The reality of the deaths of four little girls in the book, brings an awareness to the reader of what life was like for black families in the recent past. Kenny is faced with the sight of a little girls shoes in the rubble of the church building, that he thinks belong to his sister. His family is spared when his sister is found alive but the shock sends ten year old Kenny into a depression. Kenny is helped by his loving family and the time he spends in the small space behind the couch. An epilogue concludes the book with historic data of the struggle for human rights. Curtis brings an an awareness of the human rights issues that are a part of our countries history.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
School Library Journal review - Grade 6 Up Kenny's family is known in Flint, Michigan, as the Weird Watsons, for lots of good reasons. Younger sister Joetta has been led to believe she has to be overdressed in the winter because Southern folks (their mother is from Alabama) freeze solid and have to be picked up by the city garbage trucks. Kenny, the narrator, does well in school and tries to meet his hard-working parents' expectations. After a string of misdeeds, Mr. and Mrs. Watson decide that tough guy, older brother Byron must be removed from the bad influences of the city and his gang. They feel that his maternal grandmother and a different way of life in Birmingham might make him appreciate what he has. Since the story is set in 1963, the family must make careful preparations for their trip, for they cannot count on food or housing being available on the road once they cross into the South. The slow, sultry pace of life has a beneficial effect on all of the children until the fateful day when a local church is bombed, and Kenny runs to look for his sister. Written in a full-throated, hearty voice, this is a perfectly described piece of past imperfect. Curtis's ability to switch from fun and funky to pinpoint-accurate psychological imagery works unusually well. Although the horrific Birmingham Sunday throws Kenny into temporary withdrawl, this story is really about the strength of family love and endurance. Ribald humor, sly sibling digs, and a totally believable child's view of the world will make this book an instant hit.?Cindy Darling Codell, Clark Middle School, Winchester, KY
Copyright 1995

Booklist review - Gr. 4-8. In a voice that's both smart and naive, strong and scared, fourth-grader Kenny Watson tells about his African American family in Flint, Michigan, in 1963. We get to know his strict, loving parents and his tough older brother, who gets into so much trouble his parents decide to take him back "home" to Birmingham, Alabama, where maybe his strong grandmother will teach him some sense. Several of the family stories are a bit self-conscious (we keep being told we're going to laugh as Dad puts on a show and acts the fool), but the relationships aren't idealized. Racism and the civil rights movement are like a soft rumble in the background, especially as the Watsons drive south. Then Kenny's cute little sister is in a Birmingham church when a bomb goes off. She escapes (Curtis doesn't exploit the horror), but we're with Kenny as he dreads that she's part of the rubble. In this compelling first novel, form and content are one: in the last few chapters, the affectionate situation comedy is suddenly transformed, and we see how racist terror can invade the shelter of home. Hazel Rochman

5. CONNECTIONS
* Share the historic speech of Martin Luther King with students.

*Other books by Curtis
Christopher Paul Curtis. BUD, NOT BUDDY. (Newbery Medal Winner, 2000)
Yearling; ISBN: 0440413281
Christopher Paul Curtis. 2004. BUCKING THE SARGE. Wendy Lamb Books ISBN: 0385323077
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Oct. 27th, 2006 @ 09:33 am Pyramids & Mummies
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simon, Seymour. 2003. PYRAMIDS & MUMMIES. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. ISBN 1-58717-240-2

2. PLOT SUMMARY
An informative, book about pyramids and mummies. The book explains how pyramids are leveled. The builders of the pyramids dug ditches and filled them with water. They would mark the water level and remove the dirt and rocks above the water line. Simon tells of the stones for the pyramids being carved by hand with chisels and wooden hammers. The stones fit together so tightly that you couldn't put a knife between the stones. Simon tells of the organs being removed from the pharaoh's body. "Pieces of the brain were drawn out through the nostrils with an iron hook" The heart was left in the body as a part of the ritual. The Egyptian people in the days of the pyramids thought the soul remained in the heart. It took seventy days to prepare the body before burial. Two thousand years later the people of Central America and Mexico built pyramids.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Pyramids & Mummies has interesting and colorful photographs. The photos include uncovered faces and bodies of mummies. The book includes four punch out collectible fact cards in the back of the book. Pyramids & Mummies is a level 3 book for grades 2 - 4.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Kirkus review "Planets around the Sun + Wild Bears + Giant Machines + Killer Whales "Beginning readers will relish these eye-popping titles in the "See More Readers" series... Each nonfiction title uses spectacular full photos on every page and a brief, readable, large-type text filled with intriguing and quotable facts that beginning, as well as older, less-able, readers will find appealing and useful. It is his genius to pick just the right detail to pull the reader in... Incredibly accessible, each title comes with four collectible trading cards. (Easy reader/nonfiction 5-7)"

Horn Book Guide review. "An interesting, well-researched text is supported by appealing color photos. The book focuses mainly on Egypt but also mentions the pyramids of the Aztecs and Mayans. Readers new to the subject will be fascinated by the mummification process and the basics of pyramid construction. Difficult words and names are explained in context, and pronunciation is given. Copyright 2005"

5. CONNECTIONS
*Create a time capsule of objects and bury it for future generations
*Other books by Seymour Simon
Simon, Seymour. 2003. SPACE TRAVELERS. ISBN: 1587172518
Simon, Seymour. 2002. SUPER STORMS. ISBN: 1-58717-137
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Oct. 26th, 2006 @ 12:15 pm (no subject)
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stanley, Diane. 1996. LEONARDO DA VINCI. Ill. Diane Stanley. NewYork: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0-688-10437-1

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Stanley's biography of the life of Leonardo Da Vinci, tells of his birth to a young peasant women. At a young age he moved to his fathers home to live. Although his father was of high position, Leonardo wasn't allowed to go to university. He was given a limited education and was sent to be an apprentice with the painter, Andreas del Veroccchio. Leonardo was an artist, scientist and engineer of great genius. He spent years in the design of a craft with wings, modeled after a bird, in hopes of flying. He devoted his life to learning. He studied anatomy and documented his studies with drawings that are still used today. Leonardo lived to be sixty seven and is believed to have died in the arms of the King of France.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Stanley illustrates her book with painting in the style of the Renaissance. The illustrations show a depth of field, with scenic landscape. The style is a development in painting that was credited to Da Vinci. The biography has numerous inserts of sketches by the master, Leonardo Da Vinci. The back cover is creatively done in a reverse of the front cover, with the Title and author printed in a mirror image, in recognition of Da Vinci's choice of writing style.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Publishers Weekly review,"Adding this Renaissance genius to the illustrious lineup of individuals whose lives she and Peter Vennema have chronicled, among them Cleopatra, Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare, Stanley produces her most stunning pictorial biography to date. Drawing from a range of sources, including her subject's extensive notebooks, Stanley's conversational narrative describes Leonardo da Vinci's astoundingly far-reaching and varied achievements. Young readers will come to appreciate both da Vinci's universally renowned accomplishments as a painter and the breadth of his scientific experimentation and research. While her text is thoroughly intriguing, even more impressive is the artistic challenge Stanley takes on and triumphantly meets: her paintings not only portray the period particulars and likenesses of da Vinci, his patrons and colleagues, but successfully incorporate, in seamless collages, miniature reproductions of such celebrated masterpieces as The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. These exquisite reproductions, as well as sepia-toned spot art taken from da Vinci's notebooks, sit uncommonly well within Stanley's own paintings, educating the reader about da Vinci's masterpieces as a natural part of the visual storytelling. A virtuosic work." Ages 7-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Booklist review, Gr. 3-7." Well researched, intelligently written, and beautifully illustrated, this is the best of the many children's books on Leonardo. Stanley begins with a brief introduction to the Italian Renaissance and then looks at the life of the artist. The text pages feature a series of sketches from Leonardo's notebooks. These vivid drawings, chosen to reflect ideas and events in the story, juxtapose well with the large illustrations created with colored pencil, gouache, and watercolors on the facing pages. Stanley seems to draw inspiration from her subject, creating a series of paintings that transcend her previous work in technique, subtlety, sensitivity, grace, and depth of feeling. She brings the period to life in paintings following Leonardo from his baptism to his deathbed. The craftsmanship that makes this biography so solid in concept, appealing in design, and accessible in presentation extends to the scholarship behind it, as glimpsed in the appended postscript and bibliographies." Carolyn Phelan

5. CONNECTIONS
*Share books of the paintings and inventions of Da Vinci
*Other books on Leonardo DaVinci

Marshall, Norman V. LEONARDO DAVINCI.Ill. by Aldo Ripamonti. WHAT MADE THEM GREAT. New Jersey: Silver Burdett,1981. ISBN 0382240073

Muhlberger, Richard. WHAT MAKES A LEONARDO A LEONARDO. New York: Viking/The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1994. ISBN: 0670857440
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Oct. 25th, 2006 @ 11:34 pm WHEN MARIAN SANG
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ryan, Pam Munoz. 2002. WHEN MARIAN SANG. ILL. Brian Selznick. NewYork: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0-439-26967-9

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Ryan shares the life of Marian Anderson, the famous contralto singer who sang for 75,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939. Anderson faced problems with segregation in her life as well as her career. At six year old, Anderson began performing with the Union Baptist Church Junior Choir. This experience set her on her life journey as she, after being refused a musical education in her own country, traveled far to develop her talents and open the doors for all artists of color. Anderson was accepted in Europe and was able to sing for integrated audiences. Eleanor Roosevelt was instrumental in the talented singer being recognized in the United States.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Notes following the story give added information of Marian Anderson's life. The warmth of Marian's low, contralto voice can easily be felt through the expressive illustrations and music that affected the artist. The illustrations are interesting and descriptive. They are painted in acrylic with a brown hue that gives a feeling of the past. Illustrator Brian Selznick was inspired by his uncle Richard who told stories of his memories of Marian Anderson. Several illustrations use historical information from photographs in their background. The wallpaper pattern in Anderson's childhood home is taken from the pattern in the curtains at the old Metropolitan Opera "that hints of things to come."

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Publishers Weekly review, “The creative team behind Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride returns with a picture book biography as understated and graceful as its subject, singer Marian Anderson (1897-1993). Tracing the African-American diva from her beginnings as an eight-year-old church choir wonder ("the pride of South Philadelphia") through years of struggle to rise above the racism that would delay her debut with the Metropolitan Opera until she was 57, this book masterfully distills the events in the life of an extraordinary musician. Ryan's narrative smoothly integrates biographical details with lyrics from the gospel songs Anderson made famous: a passage about the budding singer's longing to perform onstage ("Opera was simply the sun and the moon a dream that seemed too far away to reach") segues to "He's got the sun and the moon right in His hands"; "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child..." follows a 2/3 spread of the singer on the bow of a ship bound for Europe, the sun creating a halo effect. Working with a sepia-toned palette, Selznick's paintings shimmer with emotion, his range of shading as versatile as Anderson's three-octave voice. Whether depicting her as barely visible beyond the crowds at her famous 1939 concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial or in a final scene of her stepping into the spotlight at the Met, the images are striking and memorable (particularly the soulful face of Marian herself as she matures from child to woman). The author's and artist's notes, timeline and discography round out this stellar effort." Ages 6-10.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Amazon.com review,"As this skilled duo did with Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, Pam Muñoz Ryan and Brian Selznick bring to life the story of yet another remarkable American woman, gifted black contralto Marian Anderson.
Undoubtedly one of America's greatest singers, Anderson was hardly known in her own country because of her race--music schools ignored her applications ("We don't take colored!") and even after she began singing professionally, many venues only featured white performers. Ryan's well-paced story becomes especially poignant as she recounts Anderson's overwhelming success in Europe ("one newspaper in Sweden called it 'Marian Fever' ... In Austria, the world-famous conductor Arturo Toscanini announced that what he had heard, one was privileged to hear only once in a hundred years"). The book reaches its climax with a wordless, deep brown two-page spread from Selznick, a crowd's-eye view of Anderson singing at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939, an historic concert that drew an integrated audience of over 75,000.
Ryan's simple, metered text (punctuated frequently by lyrics) captures the quiet drama of Anderson's story, and kids will especially identify with the confusion and frustration of young Marian. And as with the pair's previous collaboration, Selznick's rich illustrations ably convey the undeniable strength and courage of a talented, determined woman." (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

5. CONNECTIONS
* Students can listen to audio of Marian Anderson, http://www.library.upenn.edu/exhibits/rbm/anderson/lincoln.html
and http://www.library.upenn.edu/exhibits/rbm/anderson/index.html
*More biographies by Ryan
Ryan, Pam Munoz. AMELIA AND ELEANOR. Ill. Brian Selznick. ISBN: 059096075X
Ryan, Pam Munoz. ESPERANZA RISING. ISBN: 043912042X
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Oct. 13th, 2006 @ 12:52 pm Apple Pie 4th of July
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Wong, Janet S. 2000. APPLE PIE 4TH OF JULY. ILL. Margaret Chodos-Irvine. NewYork: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 0-15-202543-X

2. PLOT SUMMARY
The narrative poem by Wong, is about a young girl that spends the 4th of July at her parent's Chinese restaurant. The young girl worries that her parents don't understand American things. She watches the parade go by, and wonders if the day will go by without her. The restaurant is open 364 days a year; the only day off is Christmas. It is difficult for a young girl to wait the whole day with her parents at work. She is anxious to join in the celebration. She must wait the entire day while people come in for matches and ice cream. The people start coming at suppertime, so people do eat Chinese food on the fourth of July. Her father reminds her that fireworks are Chinese as well. The day comes to completion with the family watching fireworks and eating apple pie on the roof.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Wong has personal experience with a restaurant in the family. After calling her grandfather on the fourth of July, to find him working, she asks, who eats Chinese food on the Fourth of July? Don't they just come in for matches? Talking with her family gave her the inspiration for her narrative poem. Wong shows the emotions and patience of the young girl. Waiting is a subject all young people can relate too. The similarities of different cultures are shown in an interesting way. Wong shares a piece of her Korean and Chinese heritage in Apple Pie 4th of July. The illustrations by Chodas-Irviare are created in a printmaking technique. They are simple but are very clever in the expressive way that they show the emotions of the young girl.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Publishers Weekly review, “The author and artist teamed for Buzz return for this carefully honed story about a girl's experience as a first-generation Chinese-American. Readers first encounter the unnamed narrator as she looks unhappily out the glass door of her parents' market, open for business even on the Fourth of July. Hearing the "boom, boom, boom" of the approaching parade, sniffing the apple pie baking in a neighbor's oven, she is distracted by the cooking smells from the store's kitchen, where her parents are preparing chow mein and sweet-and-sour pork. "No one wants Chinese food on the Fourth of July," she tries to explain, and her prediction seems right as the afternoon lengthily unfolds with almost no customers. "My parents do not understand all American things," she reminds herself, "They were not born here." But the evening brings a steady stream of patrons, and the holiday concludes with the family watching fireworks (invented by the Chinese) and eating what else? apple pie. The well-paced text heavily freighted at the beginning and swift by the end reflects the girl's changing emotions and moods. The art resembles cut-paper collage. Chodos-Irvine deploys sharply defined objects in a range of colors and patterns to construct harmonious, forthright compositions that will likely prove inviting to readers of many backgrounds. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.”

School Library Journal, “Kindergarten-Grade 2-This simply told story explores a child's fears about cultural differences and fitting in with understanding and affection. A Chinese-American girl helps her parents open their small neighborhood grocery store every day of the year. However, today is the Fourth of July and her parents just don't understand that customers won't be ordering chow mein and sweet-and-sour pork on this very American holiday. As she spends the day working in the store and watching the local parade, she can't shake her anxiety about her parents' na‹vet‚. When evening arrives along with hungry customers looking "for some Chinese food to go," she is surprised but obviously proud that her parents were right after all: Americans do eat Chinese food on the Fourth of July. Nighttime finds the family atop their roof enjoying fireworks and sharing a neighbor's apple pie. Done in a "variety of printmaking techniques," Chodos-Irvine's illustrations are cheerfully bright and crisp, capturing the spirit of the day as well as the changing emotions of the main character. This second successful collaboration by the creators of Buzz (Harcourt, 2000) is one you won't want to miss. Alicia Eames, New York City Public Schools Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.”

5. CONNECTIONS
* Listen and watch Janet Wong read her book at the White House. http://www.whitehouse.gov/easter/2004/2003videos.html
*Listen to an audio recording of Janet Wong reading a poem. http://www.janetwong.com/poems/momsshadow.cfm
*More books by Janet Wong
Wong, Janet. THE TRIP BACK HOME. Ill. Bo Jia. ISBN 0-15-200784-9
Wong, Janet S. A SUITCASE OF SEAWEED AND OTHER POEMS.
ISBN: 0-689-80788-0
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Oct. 12th, 2006 @ 10:21 pm Poetry - A Pizza the Size of the Sun
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Prelutsky, Jack. 1994. A PIZZA THE SIZE OF THE SUN. ILL by James Stevenson. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0-590-37469-9

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Over a hundred poems, many about animals and people. The poems are about subjects kids can relate to, pizza, feeling like someone else or taking care of daily tasks. Prelutsky shares the idea of self-contemplation in, "When I Am Full of Silence," bringing the simple idea of reflecting on our thoughts as something to be appreciated. He takes out and examines the things we see around us, discovering what it is all about, and at the same time enjoying the twists.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
A fun way to learn new vocabulary. Prelutsky uses poetry in a silly and fun way to teach kids how to find humor in daily life and ordinary things. Emotions and feelings are discovered in the poems, and revealed in the poetry. The drawings by Stevenson are discriptive and entertaining. They add interest to the pages and work well with the poems.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Publishers Weekly review: “Following A Pizza the Size of the Sun, the reigning czars of silliness are back on the warpath, wreaking poetic havoc with yet another deliciously sly volume. The titles alone are a treat: "Never Poke Your Uncle With a Fork"; "I'm Ironing My Rhinoceros"; "Waffles Give Me Sniffles." Prelutsky trips the light verse fantastic across territory that's familiar yet fresh. He gleefully descends to the depths of gross-out humor ("Worm puree, oh hooray!/ You're the dish that makes my day"), engages in nimble wordplay ("There's no present like the time," he notes in "I Gave My Friend a Cuckoo Clock") and once again proves himself king of the final one-two punch (a knight confesses to ineffectuality in an ode closing with this couplet: "My name is famed through all the land/ I'm called Sir Lunchalot"). The sassy selection of nonsense rhymes and puckish poems will further endear Prelutsky to his many fans. Meanwhile, partner-in-crime Stevenson peppers the pages with his inimitably impish sketches, from pigs in kilts on stilts to fleas on a circus trapeze. Hats off to these two glorious goofballs! Ages 5-up.” (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

School Library Journal review: “Kindergarten-Grade 6-Another felicitous collaboration from this team, full of the joy of words and whimsical images. Though the format, size, and type of content is similar to the duo's other books, the verse is fresh and catchy with sparkling wordplay and unexpected rhymes, and Stevenson's line drawings project the humor with verve. Included are the usual poems about weird animals and unusual children, a dragon, yucky food, fantastic experiences in everyday situations, and quite a few clever shape poems. There is even a disappearing one that actually vanishes off the page. All but two of the selections are new. As in the previous books, a wide variety of typefaces and printing tricks are utilized to create an imaginative and entertaining look. Wonderful tools for teachers, the poems boast impeccable rhythms and rhymes and strongly appeal to a child's sense of humor, whether read aloud or independently.
Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA”
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


5. CONNECTIONS
 Have students take an online, poem writing workshop, and listen to Jack Prelutsky read his own poem at
<http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/jack_my_poem.htm>

 More books of poetry by Prelutsky
Jack Prelutsky. SOMETHING BIG HAS BEEN HERE. ILL. by James Stevenson ISBN 0688064345 an ALA Notable Book
Jack Prelutsky THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK. ILL by James Stevenson ISBN 0688022715 an ALA Notable Book
Jack Prelutsky. IT’S RAINING PIGS & NOODLES. ILL. James Stevenson ISBN 0-06-029194-X
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Oct. 10th, 2006 @ 12:05 am What My Mother Doesn't Know
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sones, Sonya. 2001. WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN"T KNOW. NewYork: Simon Pulse. ISBN 13:978-0-689-85553-5

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Sones shares a sequence of poems that takes us through several months of a young teenagers life. The poems are written in the style of a journal. Sophie, a freshman in high school, shares her emotions while discovering herself. Sophie tells of her feelings for her boyfriends, friends and parents. Sophia shares with the readers, her mother's anger and depression. After Sophie wears a dress to a dance that her mother had thought was inappropriate, the mother tears it up. Sophie's mom then spends several days in the basement, watching television and eating chocolates until an apology is splipped under the door by Sophie.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
These poems are identifiable to teenagers and adults. We can all relate to the emotions that Sophie has when she falls in love for the first time. Sones draws the reader into the narretive prose, with her open and sometimes embarrassing situations. Reluctant reader's may enjoy the intimate secrets that Sones shares.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT (S)
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY starred review: "...Sones (Stop Pretending) poignantly captures the tingle and heartache of being young and boy-crazy...With its separate free verse poems woven into a fluid and coherent narrative with a satisfying ending, Sophie's honest and earthy story feels destined to captivate a young female audience, avid and reluctant readers alike."
BOOKLIST starred review: "...hilarious and irreverent in the style of Naylor's Alice books. The poetry is never pretentious or difficult; on the contrary, the very short, sometimes rhythmic lines make each page fly. Sophie's voice is colloquial and intimate, and the discoveries she makes are beyond formula, even while they are as sweetly romantic as popular song. A natural for reluctant readers, this will also attract young people who love to read."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "...Sones is a bright, perceptive writer who digs deeply into her protagonist's soul... Sones's poems are glimpses through a peephole many teens may be peering through for the first time, unaware that others are seeing virtually the same new, scary, unfamiliar things... Sones's book makes these often-difficult years a little more livable by making them real, normal, and OK."

5. CONNECTIONS
* Encourage teens to write in a journal.

Sones, Sonya. STOP PRETENDING: WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY BIG SISTER WENT CRAZY. ISBN 0689858205

McCafferty, M. SIXTEEN: STORIES ABOUT THAT SWEET AND BITTER BIRTHDAY. ISBN 1-4000-5270-X
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Sep. 28th, 2006 @ 09:44 pm Scary Stories
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schwartz, Alvin, 1981. SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK. Ill. by Stephen Gammell. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0-397-31926-6

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Thirty short stories to put you on edge. The stories are divided into five chapters with titles like, AAAAAAAAAAAH!, He Heard Footsteps Coming Up The Cellar Stairs, and They Eat Your Eyes, They Eat Your Nose. Schwartz includes the familiar story of the mysterious phone calls coming from the upstairs phone. The Viper is a humorous tale - A widow receives a phone call from the Viper, who states that he is coming up, after several calls, he arrives to say "I am the viper, I vish to vash the vindows."

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The illustrations are black and white drawings with creepy characters. They are more frightening than the stories. The book is filled with stories that have been retold over the years at campfires and slumberparties. They are simplified for children to read. It is a book for kids who like to be scared.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: "Guaranteed to make your teeth chatter and your spine tingle." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY review: "A wonderful collection of tales that range from creepy to silly to haunting. ...Gammell's drawings add just the right touch..."John Scieszka, --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

5. CONNECTIONS
*These stories could be revised and changed by the students to show the adaptation of folktales.
*Other scary stories
Schwartz, Alvin. IN A DARK DARK ROOM AND OTHER SCARY STORIES. ISBN 0808537636
Bunting, Eve: SCARY SCARY HALLOWEEN. ISBN: 089919799X
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Sep. 28th, 2006 @ 07:04 pm The Pirate Queens
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Yolen, Jane, 1995. THE PIRATE QUEENS. Ill. by David Shannon. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0-15-200710-5

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Anne Bonney and Mary Reade, two women on the pirate ship Vanity, are keeping watch on deck. The captain, Jack Rackham and the remainder of the crew are below deck enjoying drink and sport. The governor of Jamaica sends Captain Jonathan Barnet on the man-of-war Albion, to capture the Vanity and arrest its crew. The pirate crew is tried and hanged except for Anne and Mary who claim to be with child. The judge refuses to hang them since he will not kill an innocent child. The women are said to have survived to raise families.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Pirate Queens is entertaining for all ages. It’s has an open and unpredictable story that is unexpected in a child’s book. The story is told as a rhythmic ballad based on a true historic tale. The dark suspenseful illustrations bring the tale to life. The illustrations show Anne and Mary standing bravely on deck. After they battle for their freedom and are taken prisoner, the Vanity is set on fire and left to sink in Port Maria Bay.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY review: Based on a 1720 incident in which two female pirates escaped a death sentence because they were pregnant, this rollicking ballad is "offbeat and grimly amusing," said PW. Ages 4-12. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
BOOKLIST review : "Finally, equal time for female ruffians. In this picture book for older readers, Yolen's ballad recounts the last stand of Anne Bonney and Mary Reade, real-life women pirates of the early 1700s. When a government vessel attacked their ship, Anne and Mary fought back fiercely. Although they called to their fellow pirates for help, their male comrades (including the women's "husbands" ) lolled below deck, drinking rum and playing cards. The men were hanged, but the women "pled their bellies," and the judge freed the pregnant pirates. Yolen's jingly rhymes are a little forced in places but lend themselves well to theatrical reading aloud. Shannon's very handsome acrylic paintings convey the tale's excitement with dramatic compositions in bold reds against smoky backgrounds. The eighteenth-century feeling is enhanced by pen-and-ink borders and the use of a parchment-colored background for the text. Pirate fans will enjoy Yolen's informative author's note--and the alluring skull and crossed swords on the back cover. Leone McDermott --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title."

5. CONNECTIONS
*Plan a treasure hunt with clues for the children to decipher
*Other stories about pirates:
Long, Melinda. HOW I BECAME A PIRATE. ISBN: 0152018484
Lubber, William, & Steer, Dugald, & Andrew, Ian. PIRATEOLOGY: THE PIRATE HUNTER'S COMPANION. ISBN: 0763631434
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Sep. 27th, 2006 @ 10:53 pm Cinderella
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Craft, K.V. 2000. CINDERELLA. Ill. by K.V. Craft. New York, NY: SeaStar Books. ISBN 1-58717-004-3

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this traditional fairy tale, Cinderella endures the mistreatment from her stepmother and stepsisters after the death of her father. Cinderella keeps her kind and gentle nature as she continues to help others. While returning from the market, Cinderella finds a bird with an injured wing. The prince encounters Cinderella for the first time before she flees home to care for the bird and to nurse it back to health. The magic begins when the bird returns to her window and returns the good deed by providing Cinderella with her coach and gown to attend the ball. The prince recognizes the special person that she is, as her goodness shines in the time they share together. In the prince’s search for the maiden that lost her shoe, he finds Cinderella and states, “perhaps the gentle lady can help me…for my heart aches like the lame wing of the songbird she once rescued.” They marry and become the kindest rulers the kingdom has ever known. The stepsisters and stepmother repent of their wicked ways and they all live “happily ever after”.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The illustrations by Kinuko Craft in Cinderella are elegant depictions of the well-known story. Cinderella glows with kindness as the colors in the illustrations radiate the warmth of her nature. The decorative Baroque style in the paintings provides an interesting display as the story is told.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT
From Publishers Weekly: “As lavish as Craft's (King Midas and the Golden Touch) previous works, this retold fairy tale abounds with ornamental detail. Inspired by the opulent styles of 17th- and 18th-century France, the paintings are confections of luxurious clothing, densely vegetated woods and regally appointed ballrooms. A number of the pictures are breathtaking: Craft's painting of Cinderella's ornate gold carriage flying through the sky is as romantic as any fairy-tale aficionado could wish for. Elaborate initials introduce the narrative on each spread, and the text almost always faces full-page illustrations. The story, adapted from Arthur Rackham's and Andrew Lang's versions, contains pleasing touches as well as a moral. For example, Cinderella and the prince first meet when Cinderella nurses a lame bluebird in the forest; this same bluebird later becomes the fairy godmother. When the glass slipper fits Cinderella, the prince says, "How I knew that day in the woods that you were indeed special, but I should have fully recognized that heart whether clothed in rags or regalia." While this is not the most childlike version of Cinderella, it may be among the most sumptuous. All ages. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.”

Starred review in BOOKLIST: “It shows children that they are not alone, and it does so brilliantly.”

4. CONNECTIONS
* Act out the story in a play
*Other books illustrated by K.Y.Craft:
Mayer, Marianna. THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES. ISBN 0688080510
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Sep. 15th, 2006 @ 10:51 am THE HELLO GOOD-BYE WINDOW
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Juster, Norton 2005. THE HELLO GOODBYE WINDOW. Ill. by Chris Rashka. New York, NY: Michael Di. Capua Books: Hyperion Books for Children.
ISBN 0-8027-8778-9

2. PLOT SUMMARY
A little girl tells the readers of the enjoyable time spent at her grandparent’s house. She shares her special moments, sitting at the window and looking out at the garden. Of all the windows in the house, the kitchen window seems like a magical place. At her grandparent’s house, she loves listening to her grandfather play the harmonica. He fixes her a breakfast of oatmeal with raisins and bananas, a favorite breakfast. She shares with the readers, that as a baby, she had baths in the kitchen sink. She extends a warning that items under the sink could make you sick. This story is about experiences that are shared by a loving family.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The illustrations are colorful and child-like. They connect the story with a visual representation of the events as they are told by a child. The combination of story and illustrations makes it believably, a child’s point of view. It is a warm and loving story of the relationship between a child and her grandparents. It has received the Caldecott Award 2006.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT (S)
Starred Review by School Library Journal “Raschka’s visual interpretation of this sweet story sings… this is the art of a masterful hand” – 3/05

Starred review by BOOKLIST “Two well-known names come together in a book that speaks to the real lives of children.” - 3/15/05

Starred review by Publishers Weekly "Juster crafts an endearing portrait of a grandchild and her grandparents in this endearing book illustrated in paint box colors by Raschka. . . Grandparents will be especially charmed by this relaxed account of how a child's visit occasions everyday magic." http://www.hyperionbooksforchildren.com/


5. CONNECTIONS
*Encourage children to share special memories of places they like to visit. They can draw pictures of visits to see family.
*other books illustrated by Chris Raschka
Cummings, E.E. 2001. LITTLE TREE. Ill. by Chris Raschka. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786807954
Juster, Norton. 2002. BE BOY BUZZ. Ill. By Chris Raschka. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786808144
Hooks, Bell. 2002. HAPPY TO BE NAPPY. Ill. By Chris Raschka. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786804270

a review by Kim Welsh
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Sep. 15th, 2006 @ 01:01 am SIDE BY SIDE: FIVE PICTURE-BOOK TEAMS GO TO WORK
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Marcus, Leonard S. 2001. SIDE BY SIDE: FIVE FAVORITE PICTURE-BOOK TEAMS GO TO WORK. New York, NY: Walker & Company. ISBN 0- 8027-8778-9

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In SIDE BY SIDE, FIVE FAVORITE PICTURE-BOOK TEAMS GO TO WORK, Leonard Marcus interviews five teams of authors and illustrators for children’s books.

His first team, Arthur Yorinks and Richard Egielski, began working together on Sid and Sol in 1977. They created, LOUIS THE FISH in 1980. The team of Yorinks and Egielski began working together due to the foresight of teacher and illustrator Maurice Sendak.

Alice and Martin Provensen, a husband and wife team worked on several books together before writing and illustrating, THE GLORIOUS FLIGHT: ACROSS THE CHANNEL WITH LOUIS BLERIOT in1983. They enjoyed writing and illustrating historical books for children.

Jon Sciezka and Lane Smith, tell of the desire to create a book that is different and unexpected. THE STINKY CHEESE MAN AND OTHER FAIRLY STUPID TALES was written and illustrated in 1992.

Julius Lester and Jerry Pinkney, SAM AND THE TIGERS, 1996. A revised version of Sambo that they had loved as children.

Joanna Cole and Bruce Degan, author and illustrator share the many tales of the adventurous teacher, Ms. Frizzle. THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS EXPLORES THE SENSES, 1999, is one of the series of fun to read science books written for children.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This is an interesting book for children and adults. The average children’s book takes about one year to complete. The interviews show the dedication and hard work involved in bringing a much-loved book to completion. It includes several illustrations in the development of their books.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT (S)
Starred review by BOOKLIST. "Teachers and librarians who want to promote collaboration in the classroom or just share their enthusiasm for the creative process and those who practice it will find plenty of good material in this well-written and beautifully designed book."

The Horn Book. "With his broad knowledge of the field and the imagination to communicate that knowledge to others, Leonard Marcus here provides unusual insight into the topic of artistic partnerships. . . . What raises this book to the level of art and literary criticism is Marcus’s analysis of a pivotal work by each of the five teams, with clear explanations and plenty of visual material to further clarify those explanations. . . . A book that lives up to its subject."

5. CONNECTIONS
*Have children team up to work on creating a story with illustrations
*other books by Leonard Marcus
Marcus, Leonard S. A CALDECOTT CELEBRATION: SIX ARTISTS AND THEIR PATHS TO THE CALDECOTT MEDAL. New York: Walker, 1998. ISBN 068981383X

based on a review by Kim Welsh
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Sep. 8th, 2006 @ 09:20 pm THE THREE PIGS by DAVID WIESNER
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Wiesner, David. 2001. THE THREE PIGS. Ill. by David Wiesner. New York, NY: Clarion. ISBN 0-618-00701-6

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this book, the three pigs escape the traditional tale by removing themselves from the pages of the story. They leave the story on a new adventure. The pigs make a paper airplane from a page of the book and travel away from the wolf and into other stories. They meet other storybook characters on their journey. They later return home with a cat a fiddle and a dragon with a gold rose to live together in the house of bricks.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Wiesner's story of The Three Pigs is surprising and empowering. The pigs show their ability to take charge of their destiny. They work together as a team helping each other along the way. It isn‘t always easy as they crash the paper airplane they are traveling in. The pigs find strength in the new friendships with the cat and the dragon.

Wiesner’s illustrations, are expressive and creative. Wiesner uses transitions of art styles as the three little pigs move between stories. When visiting the dragon the pigs enter an environment of black and white drawings, upon leaving the dragon’s land they return to a place of color. When they return home the letters to their story are rearranged to give an ending that fit’s the idea of the three little pigs and their new friends.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Starred review in PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “As readers have come to expect from the inventive works of Wiesner, nothing is ever quite as it seems in his picture books. . . . Wiesner's brilliant use of white space and perspective . . . evokes a feeling that the characters can navigate endless possibilities—and that the range of story itself is limitless.”
Book Review in NEW YORK TIMES: “Wiesner's dialogue and illustrations are clever, whimsical and sophisticated.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Other books for children authored and illustrated by David Wiesner:
Wiesner, David. TUESDAY. ISBN 0-395-55113-7
Wiesner, David. SECTOR 7. ISBN 0-395-74656-6
Wiesner, David. THE DAY THE WORLD BROKE. ISBN 0-395-84842-3
Wiesner, David. JUNE 29, 1999. ISBN 0-395-59762-5
Wiesner, David. HURRICANE. ISBN 0-395-54382-7
*Other books for children illustrated by David Wiesner:
Hunting, Eve. NIGHT OF THE GARGOYLES. ISBN 0-395-66553-1
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link

Advertisement

Customize