The First Part Last



BIBLIOGRAPHY
Johnson, Angela. 2003. THE FIRST PART LAST. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689849222.

PLOT SUMMARY
Bobby is your typical care-free teenager until his sixteenth birthday. This is when he finds out that his girlfriend Nia is pregnant. His world changes as he goes from hanging out with the boys to going to doctor’s appointments and trying to decide if he is ready to raise a baby. He shares his struggles as he tries to juggle parenthood, school and friends. This sincere first person narrative shows us how hard parenthood is at such a young age.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
This book switches from “Then” which is before the baby is born to “Now” which is after the baby is born. The alternating points of time show the reader just how much Bobby’s life has changed now that he is a father. At times I had to go back and reread chapters because I got confused by the sequence of events skipping around.

There are really only two pieces of information in the book that would lead you to think this is African-American literature. There is a picture of an African American teenager on the cover and Bobby makes some references to different characters skin tones. Other than that this book could be literature from any culture. It is a story that could happen in the African American, Hispanic, Chinese or American culture.

Bobby is a positive parenting example in a culture where men, especially teenage men, are stereotypically absent parents. Although Bobby doesn’t really know how to be a parent he is committed to giving his daughter the best life possible. The story shows how he loves his daughter deeply but at times also wants his mom to do everything for him.

This book also has some cultural markers for the inner-city. The characters use of slang terms such as “vator” for elevator, and “getting a jones” for wanting something are indicative of people living in the inner city. Another marker of inner-city living is that Bobby and his friends have a favorite past time of painting graffiti on the walls of buildings. You can also tell this book is set in a bigger city because Bobby often refers to switching subways to get from place to place.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Winner of 2004 Printz award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Brief, poetic, and absolutely riveting, this gem of a novel tells the story of a young father struggling to raise an infant.”
BOOKLIST: “Bobby, the teenage artist and single-parent dad in Johnson's Coretta Scott King Award winner, Heaven (1998), tells his story here. At 16, he's scared to be raising his baby, Feather…Johnson makes poetry with the simplest words in short, spare sentences that teens will read again and again.”

CONNECTIONS
Have students write a reaction to the book. Did it change their view of teen pregnancy? Or have students write about what they think happens to Bobby and Feather in the next few years.

Other books by Angela Johnson:
Johnson, Angela. HEAVEN. ISBN 9781442403420
Johnson, Angela. SWEET, HEREAFTER. ISBN 9780689873867

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hill, Laban Carrick. 2010. DAVE THE POTTER: ARTIST, POET, SLAVE. Ill. by Bryan Collier. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 9780316107310.

PLOT SUMMARY
DAVE THE POTTER is the story of a slave who uses ordinary dirt to make pottery. He sees beauty in the clay that he will work to make a jar. He leaves us bits and pieces of his story in the words and poems in inscribes in his pottery. This book gives us a different look at the life of this unique slave.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
This nonfiction book is based on the few facts that are known about Dave’s life. The bibliography at the end of the book shows the reader where the information for the book was found. There is also a list of three websites you can visit to get more information about Dave the Potter. The authors note at the back describes more about the life of this particular slave and why some information was kept out of the book. There are more examples of what Dave wrote in his pottery and what the words might have meant.

DAVE THE POTTER shows a different kind of life for a slave than is found in most books written about this time period. Dave was educated enough to be able to write on his pottery. He also seemed to be doing a task that he enjoyed as opposed to working in the house or in the fields. This book also differs from other books I have read about slaves because there is no master directing Dave to do his work or overseeing the work he is doing.

Collier’s illustrations really bring to life the process of creating pottery. The detailed paintings and collages show the step-by-step process to transform ordinary dirt into works of art. Readers will feel like they have a better understanding of the pottery making progression by looking at the illustrations of each step, especially the way Dave’s hands are working to mold the clay. One particularly moving illustration is that of Dave with his face to the sky and arms outstretched remembering the family and friends that are no longer with him.

To me this book is more about an artist creating a masterpiece than a slave who is working. If you really want to know about Dave’s life you have to read the pages at the end of the book with the heading “Dave: A Life.” These pages are too difficult for a young child to read so I’m not sure that they would really understand that it was amazing that Dave could write and was allowed to write just by reading the story. I think this book would be a good, gentle introduction to slavery for young children. You do get some glimpses of the life others are living when you see people working in the fields.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Winner of the 2011 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award
2011 Caldecott Honor Book
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The life of an astonishingly prolific and skilled potter who lived and died a slave in 19th-century South Carolina is related in simple, powerful sentences that outline the making of a pot. An inspiring story, perfectly presented and sure to prompt classroom discussion and projects. Outstanding in every way”
BOOKLIST: “The book’s quiet dignity comes from its refusal to scrutinize life as a slave; instead, it is nearly a procedural, following Dave’s mixing, kneading, spinning, shaping, and glazing. Collier’s gorgeous watercolor-and-collage illustrations recall the work of E. B. Lewis—earth-toned, infused with pride, and always catching his subjects in the most telling of poses. A beautiful introduction to a great lost artist..”

CONNECTIONS
-Read in an art class before students make pottery. Have them inscribe something into their pottery.
-Read and discuss how even though Dave was a slave he still found something he liked to do. Discuss the importance of doing things you enjoy.

Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schroeder, Alan. 1996. MINTY: A STORY OF YOUNG HARRIET TUBMAN. Ill. By Jerry Pinkney. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0803718896.

PLOT SUMMARY
MINTY is a fictional story of Harriet Tubman’s childhood years. Harriet is a young, strong-willed slave who dreams of escaping to freedom. She recites Bible stories to her rag doll, gets sent to work in the fields for angering Mrs. Brodas, and learns from her father how to survive when she does escape. This heartfelt depiction of Tubman’s childhood shows us the beginnings of one of the most famous women in American history.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
A note at the beginning of the book notes that this book is a work of fiction. Parts of the book are based on fact, such as Harriet’s “cradle” name and the name of the plantation where she was a slave. The rest of the story Schroeder made up based on what was known of her childhood.

Pinkney’s watercolor illustrations do an amazing job of capturing the different facial expressions of Harriet and her parents. They show the determination in her face as she is learning to swim, the concern in her mother’s face after she is whipped and the care in her father’s face as he is teaching her how to survive when she escapes. The illustrations, along with the text, also show the setting of the plantation and the difference between the living conditions for the plantation slaves and the owners. The slaves sleep on the floor huddled together and have rags for clothes and the plantation owners wear much nicer clothing and have a beautiful table in their living room.

One cultural marker is that Harriet is not content to stay a slave. She has a mind of her own and knows that one day she wants to be free. This is a contrast to other books that show slaves blindly following their masters.

One aspect of this story that crosses all cultures is Harriet’s family supporting each other during difficult times. Her mother cares for her wounds after she has been whipped and her father teaches her everything she will need to know to survive when she escapes. This occurs in every culture, but was probably more important to slaves who only had each other.


REVIEW EXCERPTS
Winner of 1997 Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration
ALA Notable Book

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “This fictionalized account of Tubman's childhood on a Maryland plantation provides a cruel snapshot of life as a slave and the horrid circumstances that fueled the future Underground Railroad leader's passion and determination. Pinkney's (John Henry) full-bodied watercolors evoke a strong sense of time and place.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “This beautifully illustrated and moving fictional story can be used to introduce Harriet Tubman and the injustice of slavery to young audiences.”
BOOKLIST: “Set on the Maryland plantation where Harriet Tubman ("Minty" ) was raised a slave, this fictionalized story dramatizes what daily life was like for her as a child. Schroeder's words are clear and strong.”

CONNECTIONS
Before you read this book to your class ask students what they already know about slavery. After reading the book ask students if they learned anything about slavery.

Other children’s books about Harriet Tubman:
Adler, David. A PICTURE BOOK OF HARRIET TUBMAN. ISBN 9780823410651
Weatherford, Carole. MOSES: WHEN HARRIET TUBMAN LED HER PEOPLE TO FREEDOM. ISBN 978-0786851751

Oops!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Fromental, Jean and Joelle Jolivet. 2010. OOPS! New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780810987494

PLOT SUMMARY

OOPS! is a energetic book about how a chain of events impedes a family’s trip to Djerba. As they rush to get into a taxi a bar of soap flying out the window sets off the chain of events. They try everything they can think of to make it to the airport on time for their flight. They ride in a taxi, on the subway, run, ride bikes, pile on a scooter, and run through the sewer. As they finally make it to their gate at the airport they see their plane taking off. Defeated they return to their home to find unexpected guests that make sure they make it to Djerba.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Fromental has written an action-packed book that will keep children trying to figure how each event was caused. The cheat sheet might be a bit confusing for younger children trying to determine the chain of events.

Jolivet’s brightly colored retro drawings take away from the text of the story. They are so busy you spend most of your time trying to figure out what is happening in each two page spread. The illustrations are definitely eye catching. My 3 year old son picks up this book anytime he sees it to look at the pictures.

I didn't find any cultural markers to show that this book was written by a French author or set in France.

REVIEW EXCERPTS (AWARDS)

Horn Book Honor Award

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "In this cumulative, confounding comedy, a family races to catch a plane... The busy sequence exudes high anxiety, yet the chaotic crowd scenes are nearly illegible. At the conclusion, a gatefold titled "the chain of catastrophes" provides thumbnails of every spread and explains why the events took place."

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Published in the same large format and featuring the same family as 365 Penguins (Abrams, 2006), this book attempts to demonstrate the law of unintended consequences. The family's struggle to catch a flight is complicated when a bar of errant soap flies out of their apartment window and becomes the impetus for an ever-increasing and chaotic chain of disasters."

CONNECTIONS

-Use this book to show chain of events to students

-Read this book to students who are building a Rube Golberg machine.

The Pull of the Ocean

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Mourlevat, Jean-Claude. 2006. THE PULL OF THE OCEAN. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 0385903642.

PLOT SUMMARY

Yann is the youngest of 7 brothers, the older 6 are 3 sets of twins. Although he is the youngest and the smallest he is the leader of his brothers. One night after overhearing an argument between his parents he wakes his brothers and tells them they must run away before something bad happens. As they trudge through the countryside they grow together as a family and help each other.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

I enjoyed reading this book from multiple points of view. Mourlevat did a fantastic job of weaving the first person narratives together to tell the story of the brothers trek westward to the ocean. With every switch in point of view you learned more about what each brother was thinking as well as how the group looked to people they encountered. The different points of view led to the book being fast paced and a quick read. As I read the book I imagined what hand signals Yann was using to communicate with his brothers.

There are several cultural markers that help the reader know this book was set in France. The family's last name is Doutreleau and other characters name's are Jean-Michael, Francios, Pierre, Remy and Marthe. Some of the cities in the book were Perigueux and Bordeaux. Without these names it would be hard to know the setting of this book.

REVIEW EXCERPTS (AWARDS)

Mildred L. Batchelder Award
ALA Notable Book

Prix Sourcieres Winner (A French award for Children's Literature)

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Starred Review: “Indeed, Mourlevat enchantingly blends the harshly real and the make-believe, with the latter tipping the balance as this effectively haunting, fluidly translated tale comes to a close”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Starred Review: ”A well-crafted mystery awaits anyone reading this fabled jigsaw puzzle. Multiple narratives, each from the point of view of the cast of characters, meticulously reveal pieces of the puzzle while the story slowly unfolds.”

BOOKLIST: “French author Mourlevat tells the story from multiple points of view. He also invests it with some symbolic weight…the story is intriguing, and the relationship among the brothers is heartwarming.”

CONNECTIONS

-Have students read a version of TOM THUMB then compare and contrast the two books.

-Have students write about sterotypes and what they first thought about Yann's character when they found out he was a midget and how that changed as they read the story.

Koala Lou

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Fox, Mem. 1988. KOALA LOU. Ill. by Pamela Lofts. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace Jovanonich. ISBN 0152005021.

PLOT SUMMARY

Koala Lou loves spending time with her mother and loves to hear her mother say “Koala Lou, I DO love you!” But as more siblings arrive in the family, Koala Lou’s mom gets busier and busier and doesn’t have as much time for Koala Lou. Koala Lou decides to join the Bush games so she can win an award and make her mom proud. However when she doesn’t win her event her mom comes and finds her which helps remind her that her mother always loves even if she is busy.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Although this book is set in an Australian bush it is not necessarily limited to the Australian culture. KOALA LOU tells a story that children in most cultures can relate to, especially children with siblings. Fox and Lofts do a great job of leading children through Koala Lou's struggles of feeling unloved by busy parents. The book introduces readers to animals and plants such as the emu, platypus and the gum tree, which are all native to Australia.

Lofts colored-pencil illustrations show the reader what the plants and animals of Australia look like and the pictures are not too busy that they take away from the story. The facial expressions of Koala Lou will help children relate to how she is feeling during the story.

REVIEW EXCERPTS (AWARDS)

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Lofts's colored-pencil drawings portray the Australian flora and fauna beautifully, including a few of the more exotic species…Koala Lou celebrates the eternal love of a mother for her child”

CONNECTIONS

-Suggest this book for parents to read to older children if they have younger siblings or new siblings on the way.

-Teachers can read this book to younger students if they are learning about Australia. It is a easy way to introduce the flora and fauna.

Other books about Australian flora and fauna:

Clarke, Ginjer. PLATYPUS! ISBN 0375824170

Vaughan, Marcia. WOMBAT STEW. ISBN 1865046612

Dennard, Deborah. KOALA COUNTRY: A STORY OF AN AUSTRALIAN EUCALYPTUS FOREST. ISBN 1568998899