When You Reach Me

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stead, Rebecca. 2009. WHEN YOU REACH ME. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 0385906647

PLOT SUMMARY
WHEN YOU REACH ME is the story of Miranda, a sixth grader living in New York City in 1979. Miranda tries to discover the meaning behind a series of mysterious notes that seem to predict the future. While she is receiving and figuring out these notes, she also learns more about friends and growing up.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Stead's book seems to have two elements to it. The first is the fantasy element. It involves mysterious notes that appear to be from someone who can travel through time. As she reads her favorite book, "A Wrinkle in Time," she tries to discover if time travel is even possible and talks to some other classmates about it. The discussions about time travel are a little hard to follow, but I not too confusing to lose readers attention. The second element, which is more realistic, is about her day-to-day activities and interactions. Readers will relate to Miranda as she tries to figure out why her best friend won't talk to her anymore and as she tries to make new friends.

Even though this book is set 30 years in the past, readers will still be able to connect to the plot and the theme. I think there are enough similarities to the way students interacted back then and now that readers will not have a problem following the story.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
KIRKUS starred review: "When all the sidewalk characters from Miranda's Manhattan world converge amid mind-blowing revelations and cunning details, teen readers will circle back to the beginning and say,'Wow ... cool."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL starred review: " This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers.”
BOOKLIST starred review " "The mental gymnastics required of readers are invigorating; and the characters, children, and adults are honest bits of humanity no matter in what place or time their souls rest."

CONNECTIONS
*Have students write a paragraph about whether or not they think time travel is possible
*Have students write a paragraph about where they would go if time travel were possible.

Speak

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Anderson, Laurie Halse. 1999. SPEAK. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374371520

PLOT SUMMARY
Melinda is starting her freshman year in high school as an outcast. She called the cops at a party during the summer and everyone, including her former best friends, hates her. Her grades drop and she withdrawals as she keeps the secret of what really happened bottled up inside. As her freshman year draws to a close she starts dealing with what happened in order to help a friend.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Anderson’s book deals with a very tough subject in a way that teenagers can relate to. SPEAK focuses on the internal journey of Melinda as she deals with the aftermath of the events that happened at a party that summer. The tone of this book will speak to students as they read about high school from an outsiders point of view. Older students will relate to Melinda as she is teased and tormented by other students. This is something that most all students have experienced at some point in their lives.

Whether they know it or not, students will connect with Melinda as she acts out by skipping class, not doing her homework and not talking to her parents instead of dealing with her problems. This book will show students that others have gone through situations similar to theirs. “I stand in the center aisle of the auditorium, a wounded zebra in a National Geographic special, looking for someone, anyone to sit next to.” Many students have felt this way at one time or another.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Michael A. Printz Honor Book
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: " This is a compelling book, with sharp, crisp writing that draws readers in, engulfing them in the story.”
BOOKLIST “In her YA fiction debut, Anderson perfectly captures the harsh conformity of high-school cliques and one teen's struggle to find acceptance from her peers.”

CONNECTIONS
Have students write about how they feel other students view them at school.

Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Krosockza, Jarret. 2009. LUNCH LADY AND THE LEAGUE OF LIBRAIANS. NY:Alfred A Knopf. ISBN 0375946844

PLOT SUMMARY
This graphic novel is the 2nd in the “Lunch Lady” series. A group of students called the “Breakfast Bunch” learns of an evil plot by the librarians to rid the world of all video games. They team up with Lunch Lady and Betty to defeat the librarians and use the video games to encourage reading.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Krosockza has written a graphic novel that will appeal to older elementary school students. This book is fast paced and easy to read. Younger students will relate to the theme of this book that good can overcome evil. The fantasy in this story is not too far out there to lose students. The librarians use characters from the books as weapons; the Lunch Lady uses her Lasso of Linguini to attack the league of librarians. The settings of the library and cafeteria will help students identify with the setting of the story.

The pen and ink illustrations add energy to the book. The illustrations are great, especially towards the end of the book when the characters are coming out of the book to attack the Lunch Lady.

This book does not do much to change the stereotype of librarians. Students often do not have a positive attitude about librarians and this book paints librarians in a negative light.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "With its appealing mix of action and humor, this clever, entertaining addition to the series should have wide appeal.”

CONNECTIONS
*Other books in the Lunch Lady Series:
Krosoczka, Jarrett. LUNCH LADY AND THE CYBORG SUBSTITUTE. ISBN 0375846832
Krosoczka, Jarrett. LUNCH LADY AND THE SUMMER CAMP SHAKEDOWN. ISBN 0375860959
Krosoczka, Jarrett. LUNCH LADY AND THE AUTHOR VISIT VENDETTA. ISBN 0375860940
Krosoczka, Jarrett. LUNCH LADY AND THE BAKE SALE BANDIT. ISBN 0375867295

*Other graphic books at this level:
Cammuso, Frank. KNIGHTS OF THE LUNCH TABLE: THE DODGEBALL CHRONICLES. ISBN 043990322X
Steinberg, D.J..THE ADVENTURES OF DANIEL BOOM AKA LOUD BOY: SOUND OFF. ISBN 0448446987

Elijah of Buxton

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Curtis, Christopher Paul. 2007. ELIJAH OF BUXTON. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0763624020

PLOT SUMMARY
Elijah was the first person born into freedom in the town of Buxton. Buxton is a town in Canada that was founded by runaway slaves.  His life is pretty dull until someone steals money from his friend, money he had been saving to buy his family out of slavery. Elijah travels across the border to America, into the world of slavery to help his friend. Elijah is shocked by the way slaves are treated and tries to help a group of imprisoned slaves at all costs.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Young readers will be able to connect to Elijah as they read this book. He loves doing anything besides going to school, especially if it involves fishing. He thinks his parent’s are too hard on him, which young readers will definitely identify with.

This book uses authentic language from the time period which at times is hard to decipher. I feel like this book would be hard to read for anyone who is a struggling reader.  The author states at the end that parts of the book have been fictionalized, but a majority of it is based on fact.  Curtis sites sources in the back of the book that he used when researching the town of Buxton. 

Although the story showed what life was like as a young boy, I feel that it didn’t have enough action to keep the reader’s attention.  The story took too long to get to the climax and then it ended very quickly.  

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Coretta Scott King Award Winner
Newbery Honor Book for 2008.
BOOKLIST Starred Review: “Many readers drawn to the book by humor will find themselves at times on the edges of their seats in suspense and, at other moments, moved to tears. A fine, original novel from a gifted storyteller.”

CONNECTIONS
*Students can read this book after studying the Underground Railroad to see what happens after the slaves are free
*Have students write a letter to someone describing the town of Buxton and people who live there.

Catherine, Called Birdy

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 1994. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY. New York, NY: HarperCollins. ISBN 0064405842

PLOT SUMMARY
CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY is the story of a young girl living in 1290. Catherine keeps a journal that chronicles her daily life. She writes of the chores a lady of the house must do, what she would rather be doing, and what she thinks of her potential suitors. Through the year she discovers more about herself through conversations with others and by observing the world around her.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Set in England in 1290, this story helps students see what life was like in 1290.  Students will read about what life was like without electricity, having to go outside to use the restroom and women not having much of a say in their lives. Students will learn about who villages used to be set up.  Everyone had a place in the village and a role to fulfill.  If they didn’t do their job it wouldn’t get done.

This book is very easy to read and very entertaining. Students will enjoy reading through her diary and learning that girls have the same struggles now that they did in 1290.  They struggle with getting along with their family, making time for things they enjoy and of course boys!

In an interview at the back of the book Cushman writes that she uses history books, historical novels and the internet to do research for her books, but gives no specific sources that she used.

Students might be confused with Catherine being so vocal about her potential suitors.  In the endnotes, the author writes that most women wouldn’t have put up such a fight, they would have accepted their fate and moved on.  If students didn’t read the endnote, they might not understand that Catherine was the exception rather than the rule.

This unusual book provides an insider's look at the life of Birdy, 14, the daughter of a minor English nobleman. The year is 1290 and the vehicle for storytelling is the girl's witty, irreverent diary. She looks with a clear and critical eye upon the world around her, telling of the people she knows and of the daily events in her small manor house.”

REVIEW EXCERPTS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Review: “This unusual book provides an insider's look at the life of Birdy, 14, the daughter of a minor English nobleman. The year is 1290 and the vehicle for storytelling is the girl's witty, irreverent diary. She looks with a clear and critical eye upon the world around her, telling of the people she knows and of the daily events in her small manor house.”


CONNECTIONS (taken from the Author’s Note section)
*To learn more about life in medieval England read
-Joseph and Frances Gies’s series Life in a Medieval City, Life in a Medieval Village, Life in a Medieval Castle.
-Dorothy Hartley. 1981. LOST COUNTRY OF LIFE. Pantheon. ISBN: 0394748387.
*Other stories set in or near the Middle Ages
-Chute, Marchette. 1968. INNOCENT WAYFARING. E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc. ASIN: B001LK1NVS.-Marcuse, Katherine. 1995. THE DEVIL’S WORKSHOP. Abingdon Press. ISBN: 0687105064.

Hattie Big Sky

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Larson, Kirby. 2006. HATTIE BIG SKY. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 0385735952

PLOT SUMMARY
Larson has written a historic novel set in the early 1900’s in Eastern Montana. Hattie Brooks or Hattie Here-and-There has been shuffled around to different relatives since she was orphaned at age five. She had never had a place to call her own, that changed when she received a letter telling her she had inherited her late uncle’s homestead.  At sixteen years old she packed her belongings and boarded a train for Vida, Montana.  The story is of her adventures in learning what it means to be a homesteader and a neighbor. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book will give students a glimpse into living as a homesteader in the early 1900’s. This book does not sugar coat the details instead it describes very realistically what life was like. Describing how Hattie had to go out in the blizzard to milk the cow and how people were helpless when they were sick because there weren’t doctors in every town.

Larson shows that she did a thorough job researching for this story. It is based on her great-grandmothers story.  Her grandmother did not keep a journal, but she read many other journals to piece together this story. This story also rings true of the times by bringing in the anti-German sentiment. In the “Author’s Notes” section she states that the mob incident with Mr. Ebgard actually occurred.  

Students will be able to identify with Hattie as she tries to make it on her own.  They will also relate to the fact that it isn’t always easy to be friends with people who others discriminate against.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
BOOKLIST Starred Review: “authentic first-person narrative, full of hope and anxiety, effectively portrays Hattie's struggles as a young woman with limited options, a homesteader facing terrible odds, and a loyal citizen confused about the war and the local anti-German bias that endangers her new friends.”

SHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Starred Review: “Larson creates a masterful picture of the homesteading experience and the people who persevered.”

CONNECTIONS (found in the “Further Reading” section)
*For further reading about Montana in this time period
-Presser, Marvin. 1997. WHEN YOU AND I WERE YOUNG, WHITEFISH. Billings, MT: Montana Historical Society Press. 0917298438.
-Lucey, Donna. 2001. PHOTGRAPHING MONTANA 1894-1928: THE LIFE AND WORK OF EVELYN CAMERON. Mountain Press Publishing Company.



*Learn more about World War I at www.firstworldwar.com
*Learn more about your own family and state history at www.usgenweb.com

What to do About Alice?

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kerley, Barbara. 2005. WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE? Ill by Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439922313

PLOT SUMMARY
Even before he became President, Theodore Roosevelt had his hands full with his daughter Alice.  She enjoyed exploring the world whether it was through reading books, dancing the turkey trot, or watching sumo wrestling in Japan. Children will enjoy reading about the adventures Alice had throughout her life.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE is an easy read for young students who want to learn more about a President’s daughter.  I don’t think this book contains enough facts for a student to read and do a report over, but it is written in a way that will make students want to find out more about her life.  The way this book is written will help children see that children of President’s can have fun too.  The bibliography has 5 books and a newspaper that were used as references for this book. The illustrations help the reader see how animated and active Alice was.  The newspapers shown with real headlines from Alice’s day make the story seem more real.  This book is an ALA Notable Book and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
BOOKLIST Starred Review: “Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was....The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art.”

KIRKUS Starred Review: "Theodore Roosevelt s irrepressible oldest child receives an appropriately vivacious appreciation in this superb picture book.... Kerley s precise text presents readers with a devilishly smart, strong-willed girl who was determined to live life on her own terms and largely succeeded."

CONNECTIONS
*If students are interested in Alice Roosevelt, encourage them to find more information by using databases.
*Other books about President’s children:

McCullough, Noah. FIRST KIDS: THE TRUE STORIES OF ALL THE PRESIDENTS’ CHILDREN. ISBN: 0545033691

We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Nelson, Kadir. 2005. WE ARE THE SHIP: THE STORY OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL. New York: Jump at the Sun. ISBN 0786808322

PLOT SUMMARY
WE ARE THE SHIP: THE STORY OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL is not a story that many young people know.  This book shows how hard it was for Negro baseball players, but also how much they enjoyed playing baseball.  Told by an unnamed narrator, the story spans from the beginning of baseball in the late 1800’s through the integration of the major leagues in 1947.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Kadir Nelson wrote and illustrated this very informative book on the history of Negro League Baseball.  This book won the 2009 Coretta Scott King Author Award and the 2009 Sibert Medal.  The book is divided into nine innings, similar to a baseball game, each telling a different part of the story.  The full color paintings emphasize some of the more important parts of the history such as the picture showing the first night game being played and another picture showing that there were separate cabins for colored people.  The endnotes lead the reader to specific places quotes and details were taken from.  There is also a bibliography to show where general information was found for this book.

REVIEW EXCERPT
BOOKLIST Starred Review: “Award-winning illustrator and first-time author Nelson’s history of the Negro Leagues, told from the vantage point of an unnamed narrator, reads like an old-timer regaling his grandchildren with tales of baseball greats…”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “A lost piece of American history comes to life in Kadir Nelson's elegant and eloquent history of the Negro Leagues and its gifted baseball players.”

CONNECTIONS
*Other books about the history of baseball:
Morelli, Jack. HERORES OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES. ISBN: 0810994348
Christopher, Matt. GREAT MOMENTS IN BASEBALL HISTORY. ISBN 0316141305
Stewart, Mark. BASEBALL: A HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL PAST TIME. ISBN: 0531114554
*Encourage students to study the history of another sport or activity they enjoy.

Biggest, Strongest, Fastest

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jenkins, Steve. 1995. BIGGEST, STRONGEST, FASTEST. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395697018

PLOT SUMMARY

BIGGEST, STRONGEST, FASTEST is a book that Steve Jenkins wrote for his son who was always asking him about the extremes when it came to animals.  Some of the extremes he explores which animals are the smallest, slowest, largest, and fastest.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This is a great informational book for beginning readers and also for more advanced readers.  There is a short sentence describing each animal such as, “There are many kinds of large snakes, but the anaconda is the biggest.” Then there are longer explanations to the side if children want more information about the animal.  One of the neat things this book does is it shows the animal in relation to a human.  With the snake, there is a picture showing how much longer the snake is than the human.  This is great for children because they are not yet abstract thinkers, so there is a concrete example for them to see.  If students are interested in a particular animal there is a chart at the back of the book that gives more information about the animals found in the book.

The paper collage pictures are very detailed and fun to look at.  For example, you can see the tiny hairs on the ant’s legs and the scales on the anaconda.  The pictures help bring the size of the animals into perspective.  The picture of the sun jellyfish, which is the longest animal, stretches out for three pages and the picture of the shrew, which is the smallest animal, is lying in a spoon.

Steve Jenkins has written many books about animals and science. This book in particular was named an Outstanding Science Trade Book in 1996 by the National Science Teachers Association.  There is a bibliography of five books that Jenkins used to gather information for this book, showing students the importance of basing informational books on facts.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

BOOKLIST: “The book's design makes it accessible at many levels. The youngest can identify the various creatures. Preschoolers can enjoy the one-sentence descriptions in large type. Older kids will love thinking about the additional facts regarding scale and proportion that are printed in small type.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Large, clear print; fascinating facts; and beautiful, detailed, cut-paper collages make this excellent title a delight.”

CONNECTIONS

*Encourage students to read more about one of the animals they find interesting.

*Have students research different animals and compare them to a human

Mirror Mirror

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Singer, Marilyn. 2010. MIRROR MIRROR. Ill. By Josee Masse. NewYork: Dutton Children’s Book. ISBN 0525479015

PLOT SUMMARY
Using a new form of poetry called reverso, Singer tells many well known fairy tales from two different points of view. Reverso poetry has readers read the poem the traditional way, from top to bottom, then it reverses the order of the lines to tell another side of the poem. Singer uses this form of poetry to tell the story of Little Red Riding Hood from Red’s point of view, and then when the poem reverses it’s from the Wolf’s point of view. She also tells the stories of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Goldilocks from two different points of view. Students will enjoy reading and rereading the poems to see the different viewpoints.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The cover artwork for this book gives readers a hint that it is going to tell opposing points of view of a story. The illustrations are a strong point in this book, giving the reader an idea of who is going to be sharing their point of view. The way the pages are split in half gives a visual cue to go along with each version of the poem. The simple shading of the text page also separates the two poems.

The change of punctuation from one version to the other emphasizes the changes in meaning. Such as: “But a girl mustn’t dawdle. After all, Grandma’s waiting” when told from Red’s point of view, but “After all, Grandma’s waiting, mustn’t dawdle…But a girl!” when told from the Wolf’s point of view. Singer also stresses different words by changing the font slightly.

Each word was chosen very carefully to fit into this style of poetry. I imagine that Singer spent many, many hours choosing the words needed to make these poems make sense reading them down and reading them up.

I have shared this book with the ELA teachers' from my school and they have all found it very interesting. We have decided to use it during “Teen Read Week” and have students try to write their own simple reverso poem.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY review: “Singer uses "reverso" poems, a form of her creation, to show that there are two sides to every fairy tale”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “The vibrant artwork is painterly yet unfussy and offers hints to the characters who are narrating the poems. An endnote shows children how to create a "reverso" poem. This is a remarkably clever and versatile book that would work in any poetry or fairy-tale unit. A must-have for any library.”
BOOKLIST Starred review: “This ingenious book of reversos, or poems which have one meaning when read down the page and perhaps an altogether different meaning when read up the page, toys with and reinvents oh-so-familiar stories and characters, from Cinderella to the Ugly Duckling.”

CONNECTIONS

*Have students try to write a short reverso poem
*Use when studying point of view with students

The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Engle, Margarita. 2008. THE SURRENDER TREE: POEMS OF CUBA’S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM. NewYork: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 0805086749

PLOT SUMMARY

In this free verse novel Margarita Engle tells the story of Cuba from 1850-1899.  Most of the story is told through Rosa, a “freed” slave who uses plants from the jungle to heal people.  She used to heal people for her owner, now that she has been freed; she heals people in hidden caves.  She does not discriminate among anyone; Rosa heals slaves, Spaniards, and Cubans.  Rosa’s husband, Jose, also tells part of the story.  He tells about trying to keep everyone safe and how hard it is on Rosa to lose some of the people she is trying to save.  Silva, a freed slave who has lost her family finds Rosa and starts learning how to heal people on her own.  Lieutenant Death is another person who tells part of the story.  He is a slave hunter who brings slaves back alive for money or brings their ear back as proof they are dead.  All of these points of view tell of the struggle that has been happening in Cuba for too long.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Engle uses a lot of sensory language to tell about Cuba’s struggle.  Her words paint a picture that is hard to read at times. Rosa describes their hospital saying, “The caves, this stench, the bat dung, urine, frogs, fish, lizards, maja snakes…”

She uses back and forth rhythm to show the sides of the fight such as when Lieutenant Death says: “They attack. We retreat. They hide. We seek.”  Engle also writes some words in Spanish.  There does not seem to be a pattern for the use of the Spanish words, but it does bring some of the Cuban culture into the book.

The different points of view show students how the struggle effects different groups of people.  On one page the Captain describes a new game he is playing and how he wants to buy it after he has won the war. On the previous page Silvia tells that everyone is so hungry they sing about making an ajiaco stew.

The use of poetry is a great way to tell another side of the story in Cuba.  Students often don’t learn the story from the point of view of the slaves.  Using only the necessary words to tell the story, the reader gets to the point quicker making this book a quick read.  It might be hard for some students to keep up with the changing point of view from page to page, but once they figure that out, they will learn so much from this story that will help them understand Cuba’s struggle for freedom.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “The Surrender Tree is hauntingly beautiful, revealing pieces of Cuba's troubled past through the poetry of hidden moments”

BOOKLIST Starred Review: “Engle's new book is written in clear, short lines of stirring free verse. The switching perspectives personalize the dramatic political history.”

 

CONNECTIONS

*Read in history class before studying the history of Cuba.

*Other books by Margarita Engle:

Engle, Margarita. THE POET SLAVE OF CUBA: A BIOGRPAHY OF JUAN FRANCISCO MANZANO. ISBN 0312659288

Engle, Margarita. THE FIREFLY LETTERS: A SUFFRAGETTE’S JOURNEY TO CUBA. ISBN 0805090827



Red Sings from the Treetops

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sidman, Joyce. 2009. RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS: A YEAR IN COLORS. Ill. By Pamela Zagarenski. NewYork: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN 0547014945

PLOT SUMMARY
RED SINGS FROM THE TREETOPS is a wonderful free verse poetry book for students learning about the seasons. Most books about seasons discuss how the weather changes, but this book takes a new approach and describes the colors associated with each season.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book has the best illustrations of any of the books I have read so far. The abstract paintings will keep students on a page much longer than it takes to read the words. There are so many details in the paintings that students can find such as how the color is used in the clothing and the changing hats worn by the animals. It is also interesting how Zagarenski uses words on some of the clothing that represent the season as well.

The sensory language in this book helps the reader see how the colors are associated with each season. When describing the sun Sidman writes: “Yellow melts everything it touches…” In fall, “Green sighs with relief: I’ve ruled for so long. Time for Brown to take over” describing the leaves changing colors in the fall. This paints a vivid picture for children as to what is happening in each season. When reading this poem aloud, the short stanzas give it a quicker pace than other poems.

The words for the color are always shown in that color. For example, red is written in red font. I think this will help children learn to spell these words when they see them directly associated with the color.

I feel that there are so many details in the pictures that the children lose sight of beautiful words in the poem. The children I showed the book to were more interested in looking at the pictures than reading the words.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Children will find many small stories waiting to be told within the detailed paintings and enjoy looking at them over and over. This poetic tribute to the seasons will brighten dull days.”
BOOKLIST Starred review: “The changing seasons have been the subject of many a picture book, but this one has a particularly unique take on the topic. Each season is explored in terms of how it encompasses colors.”

CONNECTIONS
*Other books about seasons:
Rose, Deborah Lee. ALL THE SEASONS OF THE YEAR. ISBN 0810983958
*Use in art class to show the meanings of different colors
*Have students use colors to describe their favorite season
*Have students identify the items in the book that are being described

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Scieszka, Jon.  1989.  THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS.  Ill. by Lane Smith.  New York:  Viking Penguin. ISBN  0670827592

PLOT SUMMARY

THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS is a version of the original story told from Al's point of view.  A. Wolf was making a birthday cake for his sweet Granny when he realized he needed a cup of sugar.  He does what anyone would do and walks to his neighbor’s house to see if he can borrow a cup of sugar.  While there, he has a sneezing fit and accidentally blows the pig’s house over and kills the pig.  Not wanting to waste good meat, he decides to eat the pig.  He still needs a cup of sugar so he walks to the next neighbor’s house.  While there, he gets another sneezing fit and again accidentally blows the house down and kills another pig.  Even though he was full, he didn’t want to see good meat go bad, so he ate this pig as well.  The third pig told him he didn’t have sugar and as Al was walking away, the pig starting talking bad about his Granny.  This aggravated Al so he tried to break into the pig’s house.  This is when the police showed up and of course they only listened to the pig’s side of the story.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This comical version of The Three Little Pigs is told from a new point of view.  While this book is funny for those that know the original story, it might be confusing for students who are not familiar with the more traditional version. Although it strays from the original storyline, you can still see how it follows the more traditional versions.  I enjoyed seeing how Scieszka got most of the more famous lines into Al’s version of the story.  The straw house and the stick house get blown down by his “huffing and puffing,” but Al was only at their houses to borrow a cup of sugar.  It’s not his fault the houses fall down because “who in his right mind would build a house of straw?”  The second pig won’t let Al in because he is “shaving the hairs on my chinny chin chin.”

The water color illustrations from this book seem more abstract than illustrations I’ve seen in other books.  These illustrations really help tell the wolf’s side of the story.  You see him whistling while he walks down the path to the first pig’s house as he tossing his cup into the air.  It makes it seem as if the wolf doesn’t have a care in the world.  The illustrations also make the third pig seem like the villain by the look on his face while the wolf is just trying to keep from sneezing. 

REVIEW EXCERPT

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review: “Designed with uncommon flair, this gaily newfangled version of the classic tale takes sides with the villain.”

CONNECTIONS

-Use when studying point of view

-Have students re-write another well known story from a different point of view.

-Discuss with students when studying how the media often only tells one side of the story.

The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story retold by Joseph Bruchac

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bruchac, Joseph.  1993.  THE FIRST STRAWBERRIES: A CHEROKEE STORY.  Ill. by Anna Vojtech.  New York:  Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN  0803713312

PLOT SUMMARY

THE FIRST STRAWBERRIES is a retelling of a Cherokee folktale.  In this version the first man and woman are living happily together enjoying each other’s company until the husband gets upset when his wife decides to pick flowers instead of cook dinner and speaks very harshly to her.  The wife decides to leave her husband and walks away as fast as she can.  The husband goes after her but can’t catch her so the sun takes pity him and tries to help him.  The sun puts raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries in front of the woman in an attempt to get her to stop so the husband can catch her.  In her anger, she passes each of them by.  But, when the sun puts creates a brand new fruit, strawberries, and places them in front of her she stops to admire and taste them.  They are so sweet that they remind her of how happy she was with her husband before they argued.  As she is picking some to share with her husband he is able to catch up to her and apologize.  This story reminds us to be kind to those we love and that friendship and respect are as sweet as the taste of strawberries.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

I found several versions of this story online.  They all had the same plot line with only slight variations.  Some had the man and woman arguing over different things, in some the man chased the woman immediately and in others he waited until nightfall.  All the stories had the same moral at the end that eating strawberries reminds us to be sweet and kind to each other.

It is interesting to me to see how in this story the first man and first woman resemble members of the Cherokee tribe.  As I was thinking through this I decided that the first man and woman probably look different in every culture.  They portray the characteristics of that culture with their skin tone, hair color and body shape.

The pictures in this book help tell the story, but I do not think they are as good as other illustrations I have seen.  You could see how the characters felt by the expressions on their faces and that the sun wanted to help them reconcile, but the scenery seemed fairly plain.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review: “This legend explains the origins of strawberries, grown by the sun to help the first man and woman patch a quarrel

KIRKUS review: “Quietly luminous watercolors capture details of dress, dwelling, implements, flora, and fauna against an open landscape of rolling hills.

CONNECTIONS

-Read with students when learning about how to treat each other

-Have students research other Indian folktales

Noah's Ark by Jerry Pinkney

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Pinkney, Jerry.  2002.  Noah’s Ark.  Ill. by Jerry Pinkney.  New York:  Seastar Books. ISBN  1-58717-202-X

PLOT SUMMARY

Noah’s Ark is a retelling of a story from the Bible. God is not pleased with how His people are treating themselves and each other.  As a result he decides to flood the earth to “sweep away all living things.”  Noah has found favor with God and is commanded to build an ark and fill it with his family and two of every living animal.  Although he is ridiculed, Noah continues building the ark and filing it with food and animals.  As it starts to rain he gathers his family in the ark and closes the door.  It rains for 40 days and nights and all the land is flooded.  After the flood waters have receded and Noah’s family has left the ark, God makes a promise to never flood the earth again.  He gave us the rainbow as a reminder of his promise.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In this Caldecott Honor retelling of a well-known Bible story, Jerry Pinkney brings the words to life with this watercolor and pencil artwork.  Children will be able to learn more about the culture during this time by studying the clothing the people are wearing and how they are working.  If you are familiar with this story, you are able to experience the story through the artwork without even reading the words.  Children will begin to understand the vastness of the ark by reading “it rose of their heads, it rose over the treetops” and studying the artwork in the book.

After looking through several translations of the Bible, I have found that this version follows the original storyline very closely.  There are minor changes, but nothing that changes the overall moral of the story.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review: “Pinkney unfurls some of the finest illustrations of his career in this lush, not-to-be-missed version of the perennially popular Bible story.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Pinkney provides a fresh perspective on an often-interpreted story without introducing unusual characters.”

CONNECTIONS

-Read with children to help teach the story of Noah’s Ark

-Compare and contrast different versions of the story

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

  

Bibliography
Sendak, Maurice. 1963. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. Ill. by Maurice Sendak. Scranton, PA: HarperCollins. ISBN 0064431789
 

Plot Summary
In this Caldecott Medal winner, Max, a mischevious boy playing in his wolf suit, gets sent to bed without his supper for talking rudely to his mother.  While in his room trees start to grow and a jungle is formed.  He travels across the ocean and arrives at the land of the wild things, where he is quickly appointed king of where the wild things are.  After a while he gets lonely and decides it time to come home.  When he gets back to his room he discovers that supper is there waiting for him, and it’s still warm.
 

Critical Analysis
Sendak writes about a boy who is upset about being sent to his room “without his supper.”  Children will relate to Max as he “travels” away from his house when he gets into trouble.

The whimsical illustrations in this book will make children want to read this book over and over.  While he makes the “Wild Things” look like monsters, they are not too scary for young children.  Sendak does a great job showing how Max’s feelings change throughout the book.  Children will be able to identify with Max when he is mad and is sent to his room, happy when he is having fun during the “wild rumpus,” and lonely when he remembers he’s away from his family. 
 

Review Excerpts
Winner of the Caldecott Medal
 

Starred review in BOOKLIST: “This simply written but subtle book became a classic not only because it legitimized children's angry feelings and their ability to use their imaginations to deal with those feelings but also because it showed punishment and love coexisting in a parent-child relationship.”
 

Connections
*Parents can talk with children about how they feel when they get in trouble.
*Teachers can read this book with their students and have them draw their own “wild things.”

Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

 

Biblioghrapy
Henkes, Kevin. 2004. KITTEN’S FIRST FULL MOON. Ill. by Kevin Henkes. Scranton, PA: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0060588284
 

Plot Summary
Kitten sees her first full moon and she mistakes it as a big bowl of milk.  Kitten tries to reach the bowl of milk by first jumping for it, then chasing it, and finally trying to climb up to it.  She ends up wet, sad, tired, and hungry and still hasn’t gotten her bowl of milk.  Finally, Kitten gives up and goes back home where she discovers what she was looking for was at home all along.
 

Critical Analysis
Henkes uses imagery to help us follow Kitten on her journey.  As children listen to this book they are able to picture Kitten running and jumping and imagine how she never gets closer to the moon.  Children of all ages can relate to Kitten as she tries to get her bowl of milk “down the sidewalk, through the garden, past the field, and by the pond.”

Henkes black and white drawings and use of the page are able to captivate young children.  The drawings of Kitten staring at the moon after each attempt help you feel what the cat is feeling when she never got closer to the moon.  The paneling on some pages really brings the story to life.  It almost seems as if Kitten is jumping off the page.   
 

Review Excerpts
Winner of The Caldecott Medal
 

Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The rhythmic text and delightful artwork ensure storytime success.”
 

Starred review in BOOKLIST: “Henkes creates another winner in this simple, charming story about a naive little kitten who mistakes a round, shining moon for a bowl of milk.”
 

Connections
*Discuss with students what the moon likes at different times during the month

*Discuss with students a time when they really wanted something or tried really hard to get it.  What did they do, how did they feel?

Grump by Janet Wong

Bibliography

Wong, Janet. 2001. GRUMP. Ill. by John Wallace. New York, New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. ISBN 0689834853

Plot Summary

In a picture book all parents and children can relate to, Janet Wong writes about a mother going through a day with her baby. She describes how mom feels as she cleans up baby’s mess and as baby decides not to take a nap. The ending of this book will make parents and their children smile. This book reminds us that even though moms get tired and grumpy, they still love their babies.

Critical Analysis

Wong uses repetition in this book to make a point. When mom is ready for baby to take a nap she says “Baby’s going to take a nap now, Baby’s going to take a nap now, Baby’s going to take a nap now. Take a nap now, little lump.” She also uses contrast to show the difference between the “smart, good Baby” and the “tired and frumpy, Grouchy chumpy” mom. The rhyming of the –mp words in this book keeps the child’s attention. By using her own experiences as a mother, Janet is able to relate to mothers and children everywhere.

John Wallace’s watercolor illustrations bring the story to life. The bright color Wallace uses captures the reader’s attention. Parents and children will relate to the changing expression on the mother’s face. His illustrations will help young readers decode new words they encounter in the book.

Review Excerpts

Review for School Library Journal “A poetic yet accessible text blends with appealing watercolor paintings to tell the tale of a bright-eyed baby and his exhausted parent”

Review in Booklist: “New mothers will appreciate this as much as their babies.”

Review in Kirkus Review: “An enjoyable romp for little ones and a compassionate reassurance for their exhausted parents.”

Connections

*Another book about children and parents: Schwartz, Amy. SOME BABIES. ISBN 0531302873

*Read with student’s when teaching the –mp sound.

*Parents and children can read together and discuss how mom will always love her children even when tired and grumpy.

Children and Young Adult Literature

This blog has been created as a requirement for my Children and Young Adult Literature class at Texas Woman's University. Please join me this semester as I review different genre's of books. Up first is picture books.