5603 - Children's Book Reviews

Final Project - Going Bovine Book Trailer

2010-12-04T14:02:00.000-08:00

Stitches: A Memoir by David Small

2010-11-30T21:09:00.000-08:00

Genre 6 - Fiction, Fantasy, and Young Adult Literature

"Read one of the following graphic works:"

Plot Summary

Stitches chronicles the author's life from birth to adulthood, revealing along the way myriad secrets that shaped his family environment. Everyone within the family has their own way of coping with the taciturn family ways. As a sickly child, David received various experimental treatments on a regular basis from his father the doctor. He also encountered various frightening medical specimens and photos as a result of spending time around hospitals and medical books. David tries to escape from these horrors by indulging himself in the fantasy of Alice in Wonderland. When he develops a lump on his throat, his mother, scared of the costs of the operation, puts off treatment of it and instead indulges in a shopping spree. When it is finally operated on, David finds he has lost his voice after the operation. His family has told him nothing about his surgery, but he discovers a letter from his mother to his grandmother that says it was cancer. He begins a downward spiral of skipping school, running away, and eventually ends up living alone at 16 as he finishes high school and indulges himself entirely in art. David finally finds support in a friendly therapist, portrayed as a white rabbit, who helps him to make sense of the many secrets his family has hidden over the years. Reconciliation is

Critical Analysis

The lack of colors in the black and white drawings shaded only with gray washes works to convey visually the harsh emotional environment of family experiences in a void of communication. Various flashback, dream, and nightmare sequences are integrated visually into the narrative of the book, skillfully lending greater insight into the character's unspoken motivations throughout. Metaphors are also conveyed both visually and within the text to more fully depict the emotions behind them.

As a solo work of art and writing, the book works exceptionally well as a whole. The graphic-memoir format is also particularly well suited to an author who has won the Caldecott medal for his artwork in children's picture books. While it is certainly not a cheerful childhood tale, it is so skillfully executed as to provide great insight into the workings of non-communicative families in general, and David Small's in particular.

Connections

Find out more about living with cancer.

Grace: A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery (Coping With Illness) by Melinda Marchiano
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
Read more graphic memoirs.

The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale (No 1) by Art Spiegelman
The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Read more about growing up with dysfunctional families.

Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas
A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive by Dave Pelzer
Explore the history of radiology and medicine.

Naked To The Bone: Medical Imaging In The Twentieth Century by Bettyann H. Kevles
Under the Radar: Cancer and the Cold War (Critical Issues in Health and Medicine) by Ellen Leopold

Awards/Reviews

National Book Award Finalist 2009
ALA Notable Book 2010

From Publishers Weekly:

In this profound and moving memoir, Small, an award-winning children's book illustrator, uses his drawings to depict the consciousness of a young boy. . . Small's black and white pen and ink drawings are endlessly perceptive as they portray the layering of dream and imagination onto the real-life experiences of the young boy. Small's intuitive morphing of images, as with the terrible postsurgery scar on the main character's throat that becomes a dark staircase climbed by his mother, provide deep emotional echoes. Some understanding is gained as family secrets are unearthed, but for the most part David fends for himself in a family that is uncommunicative to a truly ghastly degree. Small tells his story with haunting subtlety and power.

From Library Journal:

"Stitches" refers to the clumsy sutures on 14-year-old David's neck after a cancer operation he wasn't supposed to know was cancer-an operation that renders him mute for a long time. More subtly, "stitches" could allude to how David's family members clumsily hold together their outwardly normal but unhappy lives: dad a stiff radiologist taking refuge in the liberal application of "healing" X-rays, mother a furious, cruel force, the cranky and feisty grandmother. Amidst enforced family silence about the parents' marriage and this unexpected handicap, a psychiatrist tells David a simple truth, freeing him to find his voice in art and, later, win awards for children's picture books. In fact, it's Small's art that lifts his memoir into the extraordinary. His seemingly simple black-and-white wash captures people, emotions, relationships, and plot subtleties with grace, precision, and a flawless sense of graphic narration. Verdict In no way the latest ho-hum episode of Dysfunctional Family Funnies, Stitches is compelling, disturbing, yet surprisingly easy to read and more than meets the high standard set by the widely praised Fun Home. With some sexual issues; highly recommended for older teens up.

From School Library Journal:

Small is best known for his picture-book illustration. Here he tells the decidedly grim but far from unique story of his own childhood. Many teens will identify with the rigors of growing up in a household of angry silences, selfish parents, feelings of personal weakness, and secret lives. Small shows himself to be an excellent storyteller here, developing the cast of characters as they appeared to him during this period of his life, while ending with the reminder that his parents and brother probably had very different takes on these same events. The title derives from throat surgery Small underwent at 14, which left him, for several years, literally voiceless. Both the visual and rhetorical metaphors throughout will have high appeal to teen sensibilities. The shaded artwork, composed mostly of ink washes, is both evocative and beautifully detailed. A fine example of the growing genre of graphic-novel memoirs.-Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

From Booklist:

Prolific, Caldecott Medal-winning Small makes the leap to the graphic novel with a spare and unflinching memoir. . . The suffocating silences of the household swell in grays and blacks with more nuance than lesser artists achieve with full rainbows of color, and Small's stark lines and intricacies of facial expression obliterate the divide between simplicity and sophistication. Like other important graphic works it seems destined to sit beside think no less than Maus this is a frequently disturbing, pitch-black funny, ultimately cathartic story whose full impact can only be delivered in the comics medium, which keeps it palatable as it reinforces its appalling aspects. If there's any fight left in the argument that comics aren't legitimate literature, this is just the thing to enlighten the naysayers.--Chipman, Ian

Bibliography

Small, David. Stitches: a memoir. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2009. ISBN 9780393068573.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

2010-11-30T19:15:00.000-08:00

Genre 6 - Fiction, Fantasy, and Young Adult Literature

"Read one of the following Newbery Award winners/honor books"

Plot Summary

Miranda is a rather average twelve year old girl dealing with shifting friendships and loyalties in middle school. At home, her mother is preparing for a game show appearance with Miranda's help. Miranda has also received several mysterious notes telling her to do certain things, among which is to write down everything that happened. This is her description of everything that happened. Miranda documents such things as the mysterious appearance of a crazy laughing man on the route to school, the loss of her best friend, her mother's invitation to the game show, and details about her lunch-hour job at a nearby sandwich shop. As Miranda discovers the origins of the notes, she also regains her best friend and gains insight into the world of the laughing man and then puts it all down in her written account and delivers it to the right time-traveling person so it can all happen just as it's written.

Critical Analysis

The conversational format of this book is intriguing at first. Addressed to a mysterious "you", the language is accessible. It feels as though the narrative is the letter mentioned in the first pages, but the actual letter is not included within the book itself. Nevertheless, it reads as if it is an epistolary novel due to the early and consistent mention of writing a letter to "you".

While at first the book just seems as if there is an odd mystery behind it, we soon find the mystery is far greater than average. Time travel has been brought into play in the book in such a subtle way that it might just sneak past the radar of those who dislike science fiction long enough to hook them into the story. The climactic rescue scene finally reveals who the mysterious "you" is that our narrator has been addressing.

The shifting loyalties of middle school are portrayed accurately here, with just the right mix of sappy and sinister motivations behind the characters' actions. Our narrator bounces around between replacement best friends just as quickly as things actually happen in middle school.

Connections

Learn more about physics and the possibility of time travel through more fiction.

The Time and Space of Uncle Albert by Russell Stannard
George's Secret Key to the Universe by Stephen Hawking and Lucy Hawking
Read Miranda's favorite book, which also won a Newbery Award.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Explore New York City through non-fiction books.

Eyewitness Kids' Travel Guides: New York by DK Publishing
Let's Explore Central Park by Zachary Malott

Awards/Reviews

2010 Newbery Award

From Publishers Weekly:

Twelve-year-old Miranda, a latchkey kid whose single mother is a law school dropout, narrates this complex novel, a work of science fiction grounded in the nitty-gritty of Manhattan life in the late 1970s. . . Eventually and improbably, these strands converge to form a thought-provoking whole. Stead (First Light) accomplishes this by making every detail count, including Miranda's name, her hobby of knot tying and her favorite book, Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. It's easy to imagine readers studying Miranda's story as many times as she's read L'Engle's, and spending hours pondering the provocative questions it raises.

From School Library Journal:

Rebecca Stead's novel (Wendy Lamb Books, 2009) pivots around the day Sal gets punched by an unknown classmate and shifts the order of the universe. She skillfully weaves written notes into each scene and repeats clues when necessary. The climax is full of drama and suspense. This story about the intricacies of friendship will be a hit with students.-Ann Crewdson, Issaquah Library-KCLS, WA

From Booklist:

If this book makes your head hurt, you're not alone. Sixth-grader Miranda admits that the events she relates make her head hurt, too. Time travel will do that to you. . . Miranda's first-person narrative is the letter she is sending to the future. Or is it the past? It's hard to know if the key events ultimately make sense (head hurting!), and it seems the whys, if not the hows, of a pivotal character's actions are not truly explained. Yet everything else is quite wonderful. The '70s New York setting is an honest reverberation of the era; 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. Just as Miranda rereads L'Engle, children will return to this.--Cooper, Ilene

Bibliography

Stead, Rebecca. When you reach me. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, 2009. ISBN 9780385737425.

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

2010-11-16T14:15:00.000-08:00

Genre 6 - Fiction, Fantasy, and YA

"Read one of the following Michael Printz YA Award winners"

Plot Summary

Any description of this book is going to sound scattered. It's a quixotic journey that is well worth taking. Cameron, diagnosed with the deadly mad cow disease, escapes from his hospital bed in Texas and embarks on a journey to find a doctor with a cure at the behest of his guardian punk-rock angel love interest, Dulcie. He takes his hospital roommate Gonzo the hypochondriac dwarf with him, and the trip to Florida takes several dozen odd turns all driven by random coincidences. Flashbacks of hospital scenes throughout the journey bring the reader to question which version is reality.

Critical Analysis

I've had this one set aside to read for a while now, and thought it would be a bit too random for me. But after diving into it, it was a compelling story that I couldn't put down and I really liked the random.

There is so much packed into this book that it is hard to analyze it beyond "wow. Wow. The same word backward and forward. (Bray 480)" Bray does an amazing job of making everything count. Everything mentioned in Cameron's day to day life of making it through high school comes back in the picture as he travels across the country.

The language is accessible, the conversations believable. The coincidences Cameron follows are the biggest stretch of the imagination, but since he's given the mission of following them to find a cure, it's hardly questioned.

Don Quixote is a definite influence in the hallucinatory journey which Cameron undertakes. Not only is he reading it in class, but elements of it come back in the hallucinations. Dulcie is his guardian punk-rock angel love interest and the car he acquires is named Rocinante; both are based on Cervantes' Dulcinea and Rocinante respectively. It really is a modern day version of Don Quixote that just might inspire a few to try the original.

Connections

Read more exciting books about diseases.

The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story by Richard Preston
The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
Try a few more hallucinatory journeys:

Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe
Check out some more road trip stories.

On the Road (Penguin Great Books of the 20th Century) by Jack Kerouac
Travels with Charley in Search of America: (Centennial Edition) by John Steinbeck
Lose yourself in other absurdist writings.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Awards/Reviews

2010 Michael L. Printz Award

From Publishers Weekly:

What takes place after he is hospitalized is either that a gorgeous angel persuades him to search for a cure that will also save the world, or that he has a vivid hallucination brought on by the disease. Either way, what readers have is an absurdist comedy in which Cameron, Gonzo (a neurotic dwarf) and Balder (a Norse god cursed to appear as a yard gnome) go on a quixotic road trip during which they learn about string theory, wormholes and true love en route to Disney World. Bray's surreal humor may surprise fans of her historical fantasies about Gemma Doyle, as she trains her satirical eye on modern education, American materialism and religious cults (the smoothie-drinking members of the Church of Everlasting Satisfaction and Snack 'N' Bowl). Offer this to fans of Douglas Adams's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy seeking more inspired lunacy.

From Library Journal:

When fate deals you a one-in-five-billion blow, do you go out living or dying? You are advised to keep a Cliff's Notes edition of Don Quixote handy as you read-though instead of windmills, Cameron tilts at Disney's Tomorrowland. Bray has not written a teen problem novel about mad cow disease. She swims in deeper water, defending the importance of friendship, family, and life purpose in the face of mediocrity.-Angelina Benedetti, King Cty. Lib. Syst., WA

From School Library Journal:

Filled with slang, four letter words, humor, pathos, satire, absurdities, sex, drugs, rock 'n roll, and the fight between good and evil, this is not a journey for the faint of heart.-Roxanne Spencer, Educational Resources Center, Western Kentucky University Libraries, Bowling Green

From The Horn Book:

Bray gleefully tosses a hallucinogenic mix of elements into the adventure -- snow globes, fire demons, a talking yard gnome, a demon-fighting New Orleans jazz musician, and more -- but their origins can all be found in Cameron's mundane pre-diagnosis life. So is his trip "just a ride," as his Mom once told him about "It's a Small World"? Readers will have a great time trying to sort everything out and answer the question at the heart of it all: even if Cameron's experiences are all a dream, are they any less real?

From Booklist:

Talking yard gnomes, quantum physics, cults of happiness, mythology, religion, time travel, the blues, Disney World, the vacuous machine behind reality TV shows, and spring break's beer-and-bikini culture all figure prominently in the plot, and readers may not feel equally engaged in each of the novel's lengthy episodes. But Bray's wildly imagined novel, narrated in Cameron's sardonic, believable voice, is wholly unique, ambitious, tender, thought-provoking, and often fall-off-the-chair funny, even as she writes with powerful lyricism about the nature of existence, love, and death. Familiarity with Don Quixote certainly isn't necessary, but those who know the basic plot will want to start over from the beginning and pick up on each sly allusion to the classic story.

Bibliography

Bray, Libba. Going bovine. New York: Delacorte Press, 2009. ISBN 9780385733977.

The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 By Laurence Yep

2010-11-08T14:54:00.000-08:00

Genre 5 - Historical Fiction

"Read any historical novel by Karen Cushman, Donna Jo Napoli, Patricia Reilly Giff, Jennifer Holm, Kathryn Lasky, Ruth White, Graham Salisbury, Geraldine McCaughrean or Laurence Yep (Be sure it is HISTORICAL, not just a fictional novel)"

Plot Summary

The novel begins by introducing the characters of Henry and Chin and their relationship; Chin's father works for Henry's parents, and so the children spend a good amount of time together. The morning of [insert date here] Henry and Chin's families both survive the giant earthquake and begin to make their way out of their houses and then the city as the fires engulf San Francisco. By the end of their narrative, Henry and Chin both view their own fathers as heroes more than their previous hero Wyatt Earp.

Critical Analysis

The novel is presented in consistent third person present tense narrative with terse, immediate phrasing. This portrays a very immediate and pressing situation at first. However, because this pacing continues throughout the novel, it feels repetitive far before the end rather than compelling. The lack of varied sentence length and structure leaves it flat and bland.

The historical events portrayed are accurate in their descriptions. An afterword and photos are included at the end to explain similar actual events to the fictionalized versions. Chinese mythological belief in the Earth Dragon corresponds with the movements of the earthquake within the narrative, pulling in philosophical views along with the science of the earth's movements.

Connections

Learn more about earthquakes.

Earthquakes (reillustrated) (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2) by Franklyn M. Branley
Earthquakes by Seymour Simon
Explore the Asian-American experience in the early 20th century and beyond.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
YELL-Oh Girls! Emerging Voices Explore Culture, Identity, and Growing Up Asian American by Vickie Nam
Coolies by Yin
Find out more about San Francisco and its history.

This is San Francisco [A Children's Classic] by Miroslav Sasek
Larry Gets Lost in San Francisco by Michael Mullin
Life in San Francisco's Chinatown (Picture the Past) by Sally Senzell Isaacs

Awards/Reviews

From School Library Journal:

Yep looks at the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 from two points of view. . . Yep's research is exhaustive. He covers all the most significant repercussions of the event, its aftershocks, and days of devastating fires, and peppers the story with interesting true-to-life anecdotes. The format is a little tedious-one chapter visits Henry's affluent neighborhood, the next ventures to Chin's home in Chinatown, and back again-and the "ordinary heroes" theme is presented a bit heavy-handedly. Throughout the text, the boys compare their fathers to Wyatt Earp. But the story as a whole should appeal to reluctant readers. Its "natural disaster" subject is both timely and topical, and Yep weaves snippets of information on plate tectonics and more very neatly around his prose. A solid supplemental choice.-Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC

From The Horn Book:

Alternating the story of two fictional families with short segments of factual information, Yep creates a frightening sense of immediacy in this docudrama about San Francisco's destruction in the 1906 earthquake and ensuing firestorm. . . Yep uses the growing friendship between the two boys to underscore pointed discussions of race relations at the time, which works well for the most part. The final scene is a bit forced: Henry and Chin forgo a copy of a once-cherished ""penny dreadful"" because they now see their own parents as the real heroes. Yep follows up with a brisk afterword that details the extent of the earthquake's damage, a bibliography of adult sources, and a section of archival photographs.

From Booklist:

Henry and [Chin's] stories are told in alternating chapters with a few interruptions for the insertion of earthquake information. Told in the present tense, the narration provides a you are there sense of immediacy and will appeal to readers who enjoy action-packed survival stories. --Linda Perkins

Bibliography

Yep, Laurence. The earth dragon awakes: the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. New York: HarperCollinsPublishers, 2006. ISBN 0060275243.

The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

2010-11-08T14:53:00.000-08:00

Genre 5 - Historical Fiction

"Read one of the following Scott O’Dell Award winning books"

Plot Summary

During the dust bowl, Jack has been unable to prove his worth on the farm to his father because there is no farming going on. His older sister is suffering from dust pneumonia and he is suspected of having dust dementia because he begins to see things. Jack and his little sister happen upon a rain spirit living in a nearby barn, waiting for the situation outside to become so dire that the people begin to worship him as a god. Jack steals from him the source of the rain and releases it, thus bringing rain to the region and ending the drought. His father then welcomes him and his assistance on the farm.

Critical Analysis

The mystical aspects of this novel are conveyed well through the visuals. The sketchiness of the lines coincide with the roughness of the situation. The muted sepia and gray tones of the artwork also convey the feel of long ago. However, the subtlety of many scenes paired with the near wordlessness of the book make it difficult to fully comprehend what the author is trying to communicate through the combination.

The historical environment, however, includes an introduction to many aspects of the dust bowl era that may have been previously overlooked or unknown to readers. The medical conditions of dust pneumonia and dust dementia compounded on top of the general hopelessness of the era give a more complete picture of how society actually reacted to the natural disaster caused by over-farming.

Connections

Learn more about the dust bowl era.

Dust to Eat: Drought and Depression in the 1930s by Michael L. Cooper
Children of the Dust Bowl: The True Story of the School at Weedpatch Camp by Jerry Stanley
Explore various rain mythologies.

Awards/Reviews

Winner of Scott O'Dell Historical Fiction Award

From Publishers Weekly:

The big novelty here is the Dust Bowl setting, and Phelan's art emphasizes the swirling, billowing clouds of fine grit that obscure even nearby objects. Older readers might have appreciated more text to make up for the lack of visual clarity, but kids will identify with Jack and appreciate his success.

From School Library Journal:

Children can read this as a work of historical fiction, a piece of folklore, a scary story, a graphic novel, or all four. Written with simple, direct language, it's an almost wordless book: the illustrations' shadowy grays and blurry lines eloquently depict the haze of the dust. A complex but accessible and fascinating book.-Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

From The Horn Book:

Illustrator Phelan's graphic novel debut brings 1937 Kansas, wracked by drought and hardship, to life, adding a supernatural twist that fits well with the extremities of the Dust Bowl. Populated with Phelan's trademark loose-lined, sparely sketched, emotive characters, this is the story of eleven-year-old Jack, who hasn't seen rain since he was seven. . . The minimalist approach to text complements the measured, masterful panel pacing; whole spreads are wordless, forcing the reader to slow down and follow the visual details of the action. Phelan's use of color is simply stunning; his palette of sepias, dusty browns, and charcoal grays perfectly evokes the desolate landscapes of the Dust Bowl and makes the occasional pop of color -- memories of green fields, stylized depictions of folktales, the angry blood-red of a "rabbit drive" -- that much more striking. The emotional landscape is equally well developed: an older sister who suffers from "dust pneumonia" and reads Ozma of Oz aloud, between coughing fits, to her younger siblings; a father who too easily dismisses his son, who never had an opportunity to prove himself on the farm, as useless. The potent subtext informs both Jack's climactic showdown with the rain figure and the book's tender, triumphant resolution.

From Booklist:

Phelan (illustrator of the Higher Power of Lucky, 2006) turns every panel of this little masterpiece into a spare and melancholy window into another era, capturing an unmistakable sense of time and place as found in James Sturm's Satchel Paige (2007) even as he takes full, masterful advantage of the medium's strengths by using fantasy elements to enrich the deep, genuine emotional content, much as Shaun Tan did in The Arrival (2008). All the more impressive is how he balances fleet pacing (thanks to low word density) with a thoughtful, contemplative homage to storytelling and storytellers, which, in the tradition of the greatest tall tales, presents an empowering message that all a child needs to change the world is courage and ingenuity. Great for a wide range of readers, this will work particularly well as a gentle introduction for those new to graphic novels or as an elegant argument on the format's behalf against dubious naysayers. A single warning: there is a restrained depiction of a rabbit slaughter, which could upset more sensitive readers.--Karp, Jesse

Bibliography

Phelan, Matt. The storm in the barn. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-7636-3618-0.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

2010-11-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

Genre 5 - Historical Fiction

"Rea[d] one of the following historical novels"

Plot Summary

Moose's family moves to Alcatraz island so that his father can work as an electrician for the prison and his sister can go to a nearby school that works with autistic children. Unfortunately, his sister does not work out in the school well enough and Moose is stuck caring for her more than he would like. Moose is socially forced to go along with the warden's manipulative daughter's plans, such as sneaking schoolmates' clothes into their own laundry done by the prisoners, and often ends up in trouble as a result. Over the course of the novel Moose helps his sister to grow and adapt, and the two of them convince their family that she is no longer the little girl they keep trying to pass her off as.

Critical Analysis

The social stigma and other problems associated with living with an autistic sibling before autism was recognized is well portrayed in this novel. The historical era's reaction to and treatment of the unknown mental condition is fairly accurate. The historical representation of Alcatraz was also quite accurate, both in the prison inmates and the worker's housing environment. This book shows what life was like for those who worked at the prison facility and their families, an often overlooked portion of Alcatraz's history.

Choldenko has quite clearly done her homework as regards Alcatraz and autism, as evidenced by her authors notes and bibliography which disclose that she worked as a docent on Alcatraz for a year in the late nineties and grew up with an autistic sister of her own. Any inaccuracies are explained also in her author's note as she explains that the weather is not exact to 1935, but is instead general weather for the area, and that the Esther P. Marinoff School is fictional, but based on the concept of schools for children with disabilities.

Connections

Discover more about Alcatraz prison.

The Children of Alcatraz: Growing Up on the Rock by Claire Rudolph Murphy
Mysteries Unwrapped: The Secrets of Alcatraz by Susan Sloate
Learn more about Al Capone.

Al Capone and His Gang (Famous Dead People) by Alan MacDonald
Al Capone: And the Roaring Twenties (Notorious Americans and Their Times) by David C. King
Investigate autism.

In My Mind: The World through the Eyes of Autism by Adonya Wong
Explaining Autism (Explaining.) by Robert Snedden
Autism and Me: Sibling Stories by Ouisie Shapiro

Awards/Reviews

From Publishers Weekly:

Choldenko captures the tense, nuanced family dynamics touched off by the narrator's sister's disability as skillfully as she handles the mystique of Alcatraz.

From School Library Journal:

Family dilemmas are at the center of the story, but history and setting-including plenty of references to the prison's most infamous inmate, mob boss Al Capone-play an important part, too. The Flanagan family is believable in the way each member deals with Natalie and her difficulties, and Moose makes a sympathetic main character. The story, told with humor and skill, will fascinate readers with an interest in what it was like for the children of prison guards and other workers to actually grow up on Alcatraz Island.-Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public Library

From The Horn Book:

When his father gets a job as an electrician at Alcatraz, Moose's family moves to the famous prison island. Against this vividly evoked setting, Moose butts heads with the warden's scheming daughter and gets help from a surprising source for his older sister, who exhibits the symptoms of autism (the book is set in 1935, before the disease was identified). The solid novel concludes with a historical note.

From Booklist:

With its unique setting and well-developed characters, this warm, engaging coming-of-age story has plenty of appeal, and Choldenko offers some fascinating historical background on Alcatraz Island in an afterword. --Ed Sullivan

Bibliography

Choldenko, Gennifer. Al Capone Does My Shirts. New York: Putnam Juvenile, 2004. ISBN 039923861.

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Lee Stone

2010-10-28T10:22:00.000-07:00

Genre 4 - Non-Fiction

"Read one of the following Orbis Pictus/Sibert Award winning/honor books"

Plot Summary

Almost Astronauts follows the beginnings of and subsequent trials of 13 highly qualified females secretly vying for a spot among NASA's team of astronauts. After pilot Jerrie Cobb undergoes the full battery of tests to which male astronauts are subjected and performs excellently on them, twelve other women are recruited and tested in part before behind-the-scenes political workings shut it all down abruptly. Details are given about the congressional hearings and the reasons the program was stopped. The book does not end with the trials of the Mercury 13 women, however; it goes on to detail the advances into space made by women after the Mercury 13 were shut down.

Critical Analysis

The narrative form of the text is compelling to read. It details not only the events immediate to Jerrie Cobb and the rest of the Mercury 13 but also the media and political climate during the era. Even though this is a story of these particular women, it gives a good idea of the politics of the era as surrounds womens rights and space travel.

The photographs are varied enough in size and layout to break up the extensive text into less intimidating chunks. Their placement coincides with the mention of their photographic subjects so that they flow well with the text itself. Political cartoons and television stills are also included to show the media climate and reactions to the female astronaut candidates.

Connections

Explore the political climate of the 1960s.

Gidgets and Women Warriors: Perceptions of Women in the 1950s and 1960s (Images and Issues of Women in the Twentieth Century) by Catherine Gourley
The 1960s Decade in Photos: Love, Freedom, and Flower Power (Amazing Decades in Photos) by Jim Corrigan
Examine various women's rights movements throughout history.

With Courage and Cloth: Winning the Fight for a Woman's Right to Vote (Jane Addams Award Book (Awards)) by Ann Bausum
33 Things Every Girl Should Know About Women's History: From Suffragettes to Skirt Lengths to the E.R.A by Tonya Bolden
Learn more about space travel evolution and advancements.

Laika by Nick Abadzis
T-Minus: The Race to the Moon by Jim Ottaviani

Awards/Reviews

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award 2010
Nominated for Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards 2009
Nominated for NCTE Orbis Pictus Award 2010
Nominated for Jane Addams Children's Book Award 2010
Nominated for Beehive Children's Informational Book Award 2011

From Publishers Weekly:

Enlivened by numerous b&w and color photographs, this thorough book takes readers back to the early 1960s . . . Readers with an interest in history and in women's struggle for equality will undoubtedly be moved.

From School Library Journal:

Stone adopts a tone of righteous indignation in chronicling the quixotic efforts of 13 women to win admission into NASA's initial astronaut training program in the early 1960s. . . Illustrated with sheaves of photos, and based on published sources, recently discovered documents, and original interviews with surviving members of the "Mercury 13," this passionately written account of a classic but little-known challenge to established gender prejudices also introduces readers to a select group of courageous, independent women.-John Peters, New York Public Library

From The Horn Book:

The story of the ultimately unsuccessful effort to get women into NASA's Mercury astronaut training program is meticulously researched and thrillingly told by Stone using first- and second-hand sources, including interviews with many of the women who participated in Lovelace's tests, and a set of outstanding historical photographs. . . There is no sugarcoating here -- Stone presents the full story of early-sixties public discourse about women's capabilities and clearly shows the personal, political, and physical risks taken by the women in pursuit of their dream. The details will likely be a revelation for the intended middle- and high-school audience, who may be surprised to find the world of their grandmothers' childhoods a far cry from their own. Extensive bibliographies and endnotes are appended.

From Booklist:

Space gals. Astronettes. Astrodolls . . . Who do these women think they are? The media mocked them. Male astronauts did not want them, and neither did then vice-president Lyndon Johnson. If they were to let women into the space program, blacks and other minorities would be next. Nearly 20 years before the U.S. officially admitted women into the astronaut program, 13 women, known as the Mercury 13, fought for the right to soar into space. This dramatic, large-size photo-essay covers their stories, along with the exciting politics of the women's liberation struggle in the 1950s and '60s ( What is a woman's place? ) and the breakthrough science and technology surrounding space exploration, including details of the would-be astronauts' tests and training. The chatty, immediate style ( Picture this ) and full-page photos make for a fast read, and the crucial civil-rights history will stay with readers. The long, spacious back matter is part of the story, with detailed chapter notes and a bibliography.--Rochman, Hazel

Bibliography

Stone, Tanya Lee. Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream. Library Binding ed. Cambridge: Candlewick, 2009. ISBN 9780763636111.

Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea by Sy Montgomery, photos by Nic Bishop

2010-10-28T06:41:00.000-07:00

Genre 4 - Non-Fiction

"Read one nonfiction book by Steve Jenkins or Sy Montgomery or Seymour Simon"

Plot Summary

Quest for the Tree Kangaroo follows a team of field scientists through their preparations and into the cloud forest of Papua New Guinea to track, capture, tag, and release the Matschie's tree kangaroo. Descriptions and photos are given of the entire crew and equipment before and during the expedition.

Critical Analysis

The photographs are gorgeous and relevant. However, the photos of area wildlife appear far from their textual descriptions which makes it difficult to associate the two during reading, and there are descriptions of things that would be enhanced by a photo where there is none. It's as though the photos and the text are related, but not complementary.

The text is well written and laid out chronologically through the expedition. Equal time is given to the wildlife and environment and the people on and around the expedition. The focus of everyone is on the Matschie's tree kangaroo, and the text expands to focus on the people in search of the tree kangaroo.

Connections

Explore biodiversity in various regions.

Biodiversity by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth (CitizenKid) by Rochelle Strauss
Explore conservation efforts around the world.

The Wildlife Detectives: How Forensic Scientists Fight Crimes Against Nature by Donna M. Jackson
National Geographic Investigates: Animals on the Edge: Science Races to Save Species Threatened With Extinction (National Geographic Investigates Science) by Sandra Pobst
Explore other fascinating geographic locations.
Find out more about marsupials.

Pocket Babies And Other Amazing Marsupials (Junior Library Guild Selection) by Sneed B. Collard
Nic Bishop Marsupials by Nic Bishop

Awards/Reviews

Winner of NCTE Orbis Pictus Award 2007
American Library Association Notable Books for Children 2007
Nominated for Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award 2007
Nominated for Maine Student Book Award 2007
Nominated for Beehive Children's Informational Book Award 2009
Nominated for Young Hoosier Book Award 2009

From School Library Journal:

Montgomery and Bishop continue their outstanding collaboration to introduce readers to scientists at work. . . Bishop's photographs capture the expedition in detail. Stunning close-ups of plants, insects, and birds vie for attention with panoramas of moss-draped trees in the eerie, ancient forest. Montgomery describes both the hardships and exhilaration of the enterprise. She also introduces readers to some of the local people dedicated to conservation efforts. Dabek's pursuit of her interest in animals despite problems with asthma and her suggestions about exploring the natural world should encourage young scientists. The book's fascinating glimpses into a little-explored region will hold the attention of anyone interested in unusual creatures and the efforts to study them.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato

From The Horn Book:

Montgomery and Bishop team up again (The Tarantula Scientist, rev. 7/04) on a Scientists in the Field nature adventure, this time traveling with scientist Lisa Dabek to the remote mountains of New Guinea in search of the rare Matschie's tree kangaroo. . . Montgomery describes the trip in detail, including arriving at the field site on a tiny missionary plane, visiting a local school to observe a conservation lesson, hiking deep into the cloud forest, and eventually examining and tagging several tree kangaroos. Montgomery's friendliness and curiosity set the tone: she enthusiastically engages with the people, plants, and animals she encounters on the trip. The realities of field work, with long periods of not much happening scientifically, give her time to include descriptions of camp life in a remote location, such as campfire cooking and bathing in streams. Bishop's photography is, as always, outstanding, and seamlessly integrated into the narrative. The brilliant colors and sharp focus capture a host of rainforest plants and animals up close, including the adorably fuzzy tree kangaroos. Equally absorbing are his photos of the local residents and the research team as they visit and camp together. Dabek's advice to young naturalists, websites for further information, a list of words and phrases in the local language, and an index are useful additions.

From Booklist:

Montgomery and Bishop follow award-wining titles such as The Tarantula Scientist (2004) with another beautifully illustrated entry in the Scientists in the Field series. This time, they join researchers on a grueling expedition in Papua New Guinea to track the rare Matschie's tree kangaroo. Montgomery gives a chronological, sometimes moment-by-moment account of the challenging climb into the remote cloud forest, the conditions in camp (rice-and-fern dinners, icy waterfall showers), and the awe-inspiring encounters with barely studied animals. The text occasionally veers into a casual tone (a leech dropped into Lisa's eye. Yuck! ) that seems aimed at a young audience, while the small font, exacting detail, and meandering narrative may demand older readers. Still, Montgomery gives an unusually strong, visceral sense of the work and cooperation fieldwork entails and the scope and uniqueness of this particular mission. She also communicates the thrill of studying animals in the wild, making observations, and discovering new information. As usual, Bishop's color photographs are exemplary and extend the excitement in stunning close-ups of creatures and of the team at work. Web resources, notes about conservation, and a glossary of Tok Pisin (the language spoken by the team's Papuan members) are appended. --Gillian Engberg

Bibliography

Montgomery, Sy. Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea (Scientists in the Field Series). Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. ISBN 0618496416.

The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Greg Couch

2010-10-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

Genre 4 - Non-Fiction

"Read one of the following BIOGRAPHIES"

Plot Summary

The Boy Who Invented TV begins by setting the stage for readers and letting them know what entertainment was available before TV was invented. We follow Philo Farnsworth as he explores technology and learns about trains and inventors and electricity. The narrative briefly touches on Philo's musical interests and the bullying he experienced at the hands of other kids. We learn of Philo's self-learned expertise with electrical gadgetry and his fascination with popular science. And finally, we get to the invention of television and his inspiration that occurred while plowing fields, the explanation of the electrical television concept to his high school teacher, funding received to build the first one, failure, and finally success. An author's note at the end explains the legal battles against RCA that Philo faced regarding his invention and patents, the evolution of television past its initial invention, and Philo's eventual death.

Critical Analysis

Greg Couch's splotchy illustrations convey well the feel of the time period. The blurry softness of the images feel a bit like early television and its limited resolution. Lots of sepia tones also contribute to the aura of long ago times.

The writing is simplistic, but conveys well the life of Philo Farnsworth without exceeding the reading abilities of the target audience. Technological advances are skimmed over without much explanation of their workings. The book is primarily about Philo and not so much about how television works. Overall the presentation is engaging and compelling, even if it is highly simplified.

Connections

Learn about other inventors.
Explore the workings behind television.
Explore electricity.

Awards/Reviews

Nominated for Beehive Children's Informational Book Award 2011
Parents' Choice Award Nonfiction 2009
School Library Journal Best Books 2009

From Publishers Weekly:

This entertaining book explores the life of inventor Philo Farnsworth, who discovered how to transmit images electronically, leading to the first television. . . Krull's substantial, captivating text is balanced by Couch's warm, mixed-media illustrations. His muted tones suggest the grainy light of early TV screens and bring home the message about curiosity and perseverance.

From School Library Journal:

Endpapers featuring a photo collage of generations of televisions from the earliest oval-screened version to modern flat screens set the book's context. Then, readers are asked to imagine life when there was no TV, radio was only for the military, news was hard to come by, and people studied the Sears, Roebuck catalog to make their purchases. Juxtaposing the staid images of farm life with fanciful ones depicting Farnsworth's broadening vision, Couch draws, paints, and digitally enhances the story. To show the boy learning about inventors as he studies the stars, Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell appear among the constellations like ancient Greek heroes. . . Krull's focus is on the boy genius becoming an inventor like his heroes, and only in a note does she mention his struggles with RCA and his bitterness later in life. The facts aren't new, but with Krull building the story and Couch's exceptional images, it's one to inspire young audiences with the vast possibilities that imagination and diligence can accomplish.-Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library

From The Horn Book:

To help young readers -- raised with the Internet, iPods, and instant messaging -- understand and appreciate Philo Farnsworth's groundbreaking invention, Krull first asks her audience to imagine life in 1906 (the year of Farnsworth's birth): "No refrigerators, no cars, few phones, hardly any indoor bathrooms...Movies -- no. Radio -- no...And there was no television. That's right. NO TV." . . . Muted and grainy, Couch's mixed-media illustrations are illuminated with startling splashes of light, such as the glow from a light bulb, the sun -- or a television.

From Booklist:

In an attention-holding narrative, Krull explains how Farnsworth held on to his dream to develop television, and in smart, concise fashion ably explains scientific concepts behind it. It will take reading the afterword, however, to understand how RCA virtually took the patent away from him. Philo usually looks more like a man than a boy in the pictures, but the oversize artwork cleverly incorporates images from Sears, Roebuck catalogs and scientific diagrams to extend the story.--Cooper, Ilene

Bibliography

Krull, Kathleen. The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth. Ill. by Greg Couch. New York: Knopf Books For Young Readers, 2009. ISBN 9780375845611.

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

2010-10-13T21:04:00.000-07:00

Genre 3 - Poetry

"Read one of the following novels in verse"

Plot Summary

What My Mother Doesn't Know follows Sophie's many romances from first kisses with Lou, the boy she didn't really like, to Murphy, the skinny homely boy she can't keep her mind off of. It also chronicles the events that made Sophie, Grace, and Rachel best friends, and the declining state of her parent's marriage and their relationships with her. Poems about getting her first period, shopping with mom, school dances, and interfaith relationships are all given fair treatment in this verse novel. Eventually, Sophie sorts her emotions out and decides that the boy she's fallen for over winter break, even though he is shunned by others at school, does not have to remain a secret.

Critical Analysis

In this tale Sones has captured the idealism and youth of our poetic narrator Sophie. She accurately represents the fickle lust of an adolescent girl and her many different relationships, of all varieties. The events and feelings within the story are representative of those any adolescent girl might encounter as she tries to make sense of herself and the world around her.

The free verse form feels so raw and truthful it's as though we're reading through the diary of a young, idealistic girl as she figures out the nuances of love and relationships. This poetic narrative flows so well in natural speech patterns that the story flies past in what feels like moments. The different voices of Sophie and her friends are printed in different typefaces, so as to lend an additional bit of personality to each one, even though we mostly hear from Sophie throughout the novel.

Connections

Compare themes and styles with other novels in verse.

Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Hate That Cat: A Novel by Sharon Creech
The Simple Gift by Steven Herrick
Could use as a teachable moment to introduce, depending on the age of the audience, sexual maturation and related concerns, dating, interpersonal relationships, or any other topics brought up through the text.

Sex, Puberty, and All That Stuff: A Guide to Growing Up by Jacqui Bailey
The Ten Commandments of Dating: Student Edition by Ben Young
Building Relationships, Developing Skills for Life by David H. Olson

Awards/Reviews

American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults 2002
American Library Association Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers 2002
Iowa Teen Award
Nominated for SCASL Book Award (South Carolina)
Nominated for Volunteer State Book Award

From Publishers Weekly:

Drawing on the recognizable cadences of teenage speech, 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.

From School Library Journal:

Sonya Sones's novel (S & S, 2001) draws listeners into the private thoughts and longings of a ninth grade girl on the verge of finding love and learning what it means to mature. . . Although the reading is sometimes too rapid for listeners to absorb the changes in topics, girls will relate to the author's honest prose and Sophie's angst. An excellent addition to YA collections.-Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT

From The Horn Book:

Sones tries a little too hard to be hip and her style is sometimes contrived, but overall the voice is fresh and honest, often transcending cool to realistically portray adolescent vulnerability.

From Booklist:

In a fast, funny, touching book, Sones uses the same simple, first-person poetic narrative she used in Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy (1999), but this story isn't about family anguish; it's about the joy and surprise of falling in love. . . 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. --Hazel Rochman

Bibliography

Sones, Sonya. What My Mother Doesn't Know. 1st ed. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0689841140.

Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems by John Grandits

2010-10-13T20:51:00.000-07:00

Genre 3 - Poetry

"Read one of the following award winning poetry books"

Plot Summary

Blue Lipstick begins on the cover with Jessie's exploration into wearing blue lipstick, and continues through her experiments with blue hair and her self-styled punk outfits. In these poems she argues with her brother, babysits her cousin, swoons over a boy named Elton, plays volleyball, cello, and generally bucks the prevailing trends by doing things her own way both at school and elsewhere. The poems don't follow a particular storyline beyond the progression through the school year, but the narrator Jessie does show growth between the first and the last pages.

Critical Analysis

Grandits' subjects, typefaces, and layouts are primarily playful and engaging. A glimpse through the book does not begin to hint at the actual growth and emotion that the poems convey upon reading. Because the poems themselves also serve as the illustrations, there are multiple layers of meaning within each one. The typeface and colors of text add varied emphasis and interest to the subjects portrayed through the shapes.

The poetic language encompasses many of the characteristics and patterns of typical informal speech among teenagers, which keeps the characterization within each one believable. The unique character of Jessie shares her viewpoint of school through an unusual blue lens which really brings her to life for the reader.

Connections

Explore concrete or shape poetry of both modern and classic forms.
Read the companion volume of concrete poetry by the same author.

Technically, It's Not My Fault: Concrete Poems by John Grandits
Rewrite and reread one of the poems without its shape and discuss how the shape affects the feel of the poem.

Awards/Reviews

American Library Association Notable Books for Children
Nominated for Beehive Children's Poetry Book Award
Nominated for Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award
Nominated for Garden State Teen Book Award
Nominated for SCASL Book Award

From School Library Journal:

Grandits crafts his collections with the needs of poetry-phobic readers in mind. It isn't even necessary to crack the book, since the first poem, "Blue Lipstick," is cleverly placed on the front cover, surrounding a reflective mirror. . . This irreverent, witty collection should resonate with a wide audience.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

From The Horn Book:

Grandits playfully, and quite effectively, channels a teenage girl's dreams, anxieties, and pet peeves -- all in a series of concrete poems, no less -- in this much stronger follow-up to Technically, It's Not My Fault.

Bibliography

Grandits, John. Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems. 1 ed. New York: Clarion Books, 2007. ISBN 0618568603.

Flamingos on the Roof by Calef Brown

2010-10-13T20:23:00.000-07:00

Genre 3 - Poetry

"Read one book of poetry written by Calef Brown, Betsy Franco, Marilyn Singer or Charles R. Smith, Jr."

Plot Summary

Flamingos on the Roof is a playful collection of miscellaneously humorous poems. The only theme shared between them is that of randomness and absurdity. Each poem is presented by itself on the left side of a two page spread, and accompanied by an illustration filled with bold lines and colors to the right. Topics such as weather, insects, dancing, mythology, bowling, skating, eating, driving, camping, and animals are all represented within the collection.

Critical Analysis

The poems in this collection take various forms and generally have irregular rhyming schemes, which makes them a bit awkward to read aloud at first. Because of the irregularity in the rhyming poems, approaching poetry from this level may not be as intimidating to potential poets as immaculately rhymed verses would be.

Other poetic devices such as alliteration and assonance are used periodically throughout the book. Overall this volume of poems is a fun reading experience, but not thematically or otherwise linked. Because Brown does both the illustrations and poems himself, they go together quite well as a unit on each two-page spread.

Connections

Compare with books by other nonsense poets like Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, or Ogden Nash

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
The New Kid on the Block by Jack Prelutsky
The Best of Ogden Nash by Ogden Nash
Latch onto a favorite theme in any one poem, and find other collections of poems on the same theme.

Weather: Poems for All Seasons by Lee Bennett Hopkins
insectlopedia by Douglas Florian

Awards/Reviews

From Publishers Weekly:

Brown (Polkabats and Octopus Slacks) angles for the Silverstein or Prelutsky mantle in this collection of zany rhymes and funky folk-boho paintings. . . Brown's volume constitutes an uneven variety show, unified by a hearty salute to eccentricity.

From School Library Journal:

These 29 nonsense poems, written in a variety of rhymed meters, are deliciously loaded with alliterative and assonant sounds and filled with delightful doggerel. Brown's playful verses are foolish ("Life is a dream/with a nautical theme/in a barnacle built for two."); preposterous ("Light bulbs on a birthday cake./What a difference that would make!"); exhilarating ("Boogie to the banjo./Bop to the bongo./Freeze like an igloo./Stomp like a buffalo" in the "Combo Tango"); and filled with wordplay ("Allicatter Gatorpillar/by and by/my oh my!/Allibutter Gatorfly!"). The author's strong command of poetic form and his way with words make creating nonsense rhyme look effortless. Full-page, flat acrylic illustrations, most painted in harmonious jewel tones, face single-toned pages of text in a variety of colors. The style is abstract with a folk-art quality, often cartoonish, and always whimsical. The characters have humorous, stylized features and varied skin tones, ranging from pale blue to light green to burnt umber. Packed with amusing details, the paintings consistently expand upon the text. Read aloud, these poems are sure to delight listeners. They also provide a great impetus for inspiring youngsters to write nonsense poetry of their own.-Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

From The Horn Book:

In Calef Brown's world, everything is whimsically surreal. . . Using a variety of poetic forms, Brown takes something familiar and twists it ingeniously to become something new. . . Brown's imaginative wordplay is matched by his acrylic paintings depicting people and places in unusual hues. He also incorporates many quirky details to discover . . . and other surprises. Silly it may be, but all the best kind, prompting the reader to see the world (slightly) askew and to delight in it.

From Booklist:

Brown's lively nonsense rhymes blend the mythic and the contemporary, as do his acrylic illustrations, part folk art, part postmodern. The wry mockery of the haikus will appeal to older readers, but even preschoolers will enjoy acting out poems such as Combo Tango . . . Words and pictures manage to be both clear and weird, an enjoyable mix. --Hazel Rochman

Bibliography

Brown, Calef. Flamingos on the Roof. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. ISBN 0618562982.

The Ugly Duckling by Jerry Pinkney

2010-09-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

Genre 2 - Traditional Literature

"Read one of the following Caldecott award/honor and notable traditional tales"

Plot Summary

As the largest and last egg hatched into a duck family with five normal siblings, the ugly duckling encounters numerous hardships throughout his youth. The duckling first encounters teasing at home by all the other birds, so he leaves home. Then he gets caught up in a wild goose hunt and approached by a hunting dog who passes him by, he suspects because he is so ugly. Next he lives with a woman and her cat and hen who tease him for not being useful, but leaves them to seek out the water. He then spends time on his own, but as winter approaches he is nearly frozen into the lake. He is rescued from the ice by a man and taken home to the man's kind children who he is scared of; he flees, thinking they will also tease him. He spends the rest of the winter on his own, nearly starving. When spring comes, he stretches his wings and finally meets up with a flock of swans where he discovers that he has himself become a beautiful swan.

Critical Analysis

Pinkney's adaptation stays quite true to the original story by Andersen. Some conversations have been reduced from the original translations, and the introductory setting is simplified, but all of the major plot elements remain. Many adaptations simplify the duckling's maturation and keep him in one place through them all, but this story stays true to the original and sends him out on his own to encounter many types of perils.

Pinkney's soft watercolors are strikingly realistic and lend amazing veracity to this story of a growing swan who thinks he's just an ugly duck for so long a time. The illustrations are full of details and emotion, even when the subjects are all animals. Pinkney's artistic style is a great match for a story like The Ugly Duckling, portraying not just the duckling, but also the many different encounters and even the seasonal changes surrounding the duckling.

Connections

Explore and discuss the challenges faced by being different and how to find inner beauty.
Pair with The Sissy Duckling by Harvey Fierstein to help children understand the problems faced by sissy or potentially gay children
Compare and contrast with different retellings to explore many aspects of storytelling, illustrating, or writing.

The Ugly Duckling illustrated by Henri Galeron
The Ugly Duckling adapted by Rachel Isadora
The Ugly Duckling: The Graphic Novel adapted by Martin Powell
The Ugly Duckling adapted by Stephen Mitchell

Awards/Reviews

Caldecott Honor Book
ALA Notable Children's Book

From Publishers Weekly:

Pinkney's (Rikki-Tikki-Tavi) supple, exquisitely detailed watercolors provide a handsome foil to his graceful adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic. . .Pinkney's artwork is a swan song to the beauty of the pastoral, and his lush images flow across the pages in sweeping vistas and meticulous close-ups. Whether depicting the subtle patterns and colors of a duck's feathers, the murky twilight of a freshwater pond or the contrast of red berries against dried grasses etched with snow, Pinkney's keenly observed watercolors honor nature in all its splendor. A flawlessly nuanced performance by a consummate craftsman.

From School Library Journal:

The appeal of this tale is as strong today as it was 150 years ago, and Pinkney has done an admirable job of repackaging it for a new generation. His adaptation of the text succeeds in capturing the gentleness and melancholy of Andersen, although a bit of the social commentary has gone by the wayside. Pinkney does not shy away from including the more disturbing elements, such as the shooting of the geese, recognizing this episode's importance to the fabric of the story. The first glimpse he gives readers of the duckling, having at long last emerged from his shell, exhausted and vulnerable despite his size, foreshadows the events to come and immediately engages children's sympathy. Naturalists will quibble over the artist's choice of birds. This duckling is born into a mallard family, wild, not domestic, and the geese are Canadas, whose range is generally North America. However, these details do not in any way detract from the feast to the eye that these illustrations are, carefully composed and rich in detail. Even those owning The Ugly Duckling as told by Marianna Mayer, illustrated by Thomas Locker (Macmillan, 1987; o.p.)-the most recent "Duckling" of note-will welcome this fresh new version. An artistic tour de force that is worthy of its graceful fine-feathered subject.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

From Booklist:

Like his illustrations for Patricia McKissack's Mirandy and Brother Wind (1989), Pinkney's joyful watercolors set his adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's classic story in an old-fashioned pastoral world. The gorgeous double-page spreads combine realistic light-filled scenes of farmyard and pond life with a focus on one small bird who doesn't fit in, an awkward creature who appears to disrupt the natural harmony but is really part of the wonder of connection and renewal. Andersen's story has inspired outsiders for more than 150 years, and Pinkney tells it here with stirring drama. . . The final picture of the great swan in the water with blooming flowers, leaping fish, and a hovering dragonfly, is a triumph of delicacy and strength, harmony and grace. --Hazel Rochman

From The Horn Book:

Andersen's story of the duckling who became a swan has become part of folklore and as such is suited to retelling and adaptation. A brief note on the copyright page identifies the sources for this version as Lang's Yellow Fairy Book and Andersen's Fairy Tales (originally published as Faery Tales from Hans Andersen). The narrative, obviously crafted with much thought as to the pacing required for picture-book format, emphasizes the actions of the protagonists but omits the social commentary and philosophizing found in Erik Hauggard's translation. Yet the essential tone is retained, and there is more than a hint of Andersen in the diction. The illustrations-gorgeous watercolors-are mesmerizing, and a fitting interpretation of the story. Each spread is a marvel of texture, color, and movement, carefully composed so that it surrounds but does not overwhelm the text. Take, for example, the illustration depicting the duckling frozen in the water: we have a cross-section view of a winter landscape; the ice forms the dividing line between water and air; the duck's head and body rests on the surface, his legs visible in the water. Surely, no more pathetic depiction of his plight could be imagined. The book's size is suitable for sharing with a group-always a consideration for picture-book programs. And shared it should be, for it is a splendid production.

Bibliography

Andersen, Hans Christian, and Jerry Pinkney. The Ugly Duckling (Caldecott Honor Book). New Ed ed. New York: HarperCollins, 1999. ISBN 068815932x.

The Firebird by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Vladimir Vagin

2010-09-26T16:36:00.000-07:00

Genre 2 - Traditional Literature

"Read one folktale retold and/or illustrated in picture book format by Ashley Bryan, Yuyi Morales, Joseph Bruchac, or Jane Yolen"

Plot Summary

This version of a Russian folktale follows the adventures of Prince Ivan, lost in the woods surrounding the mythical garden of Kostchei the Deathless where the princess and her nine maids are held captive. As the Firebird flies past, the starving Prince Ivan captures the mythical beast. In exchange for its release, the Firebird grants Prince Ivan the gift of a feather which can be used to summon the Firebird's assistance. After it is released, Prince Ivan chases the bird through the forest to the fenced edge of Kostchei's garden. Knowing that a fence indicates a house is near, Ivan enters and finds the ten maids in the house. Warned that Kostchei turns anyone who tries to rescue them to stone statues, Ivan remains in the garden and awaits the arrival of Kostchei's demons. During the battle, Prince Ivan is nearly defeated until he remembers the warm feather he is carrying and uses it to defeat the demons and summon the Firebird who brings him a sword which he uses to kill Kostchei. The statues turn back into men, and Prince Ivan is married to the princess to live happily ever after.

Critical Analysis

This version of the Firebird tale is a beautiful picture book based on the ballet by Balanchine based on the suite by Stravinsky based on the Russian folklore. Vagin's brightly colored illustrations portray the folklore on the top three-fourths of the page, and the choreography of the ballet scene on stage below. Through this multi-layered approach to the folklore, portrayed both in the text and the illustrations, the reader simultaneously experiences the traditional folklore and artistic style of Russia and the ballet performance by Maria Tallchief and the New York City Ballet of Balanchine's choreography from 1949.

Because this story was based on the ballet, based on the musical suite, based on the folklore, the folklore here is far from the traditional stories of Kostchei or the Firebird. In this version, Kostchei is easily killed with a sword, but in folklore he can not be killed by such conventional methods; instead, one must find the object within which his soul is stored and destroy that object. This plot mechanism has most recently been seen in popular culture within the tale of Harry Potter and Voldemort's creation of horcruxes to store his soul so he can not be killed.

Connections

Explore the many layers of this story by incorporating books on any of the many aspects, for example, the ballerina Maria Tallchief who was the inspiration for this retelling.

Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina by Maria Tallchief and Rosemary Wells
Combine with other versions of the tale and explore the similarities and differences of the tale and characters

The Tale of The Firebird by Gennady Spirin
The Firebird and other Russian Fairy Tales edited by Jacqueline Onassis
For a teen or adult audience, compare with Firebird by Mercedes Lackey, which is also a book based on the ballet based on the suite by Stravinsky based on the Russian folklore.

Awards/Reviews

From Publishers Weekly:

This gracefully structured picture book introduces readers to the famous Firebird ballet (choreographed by George Balanchine to Igor Stravinsky's music) and the Russian folklore that inspired it. . . Yolen (How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?) crafts her well-paced tale from a variety of sources (listed in an author's note), including her own childhood memory of seeing Firebird danced by Maria Tallchief in 1949. Employing a design that is both stylish and informative, Vagin (The King's Equal) depicts a ballet performance in a panel that runs across the lower portion of each page, while the larger, top portion of the pages contain his dramatic interpretation of the story. From the brilliant, red-plumed Firebird to the sumptuously decorated house of the wizard, Vagin's crisply rendered paintings evoke czarist Russia. The elegant costumes and poses in his ballet scenes may well leave many readers eager to view a live performance.

From School Library Journal:

A well-known character in Russian folklore, the fierce and beautiful Firebird, is also featured in the ballet, set to the music of Igor Stravinsky. It is the ballet version of the story that Yolen and Vagin present in this richly hued picture book. . . The text makes the story clear and exciting, faltering slightly at the rhymed incantations: "Wave the feather in the air- Firebird will be right there." Yolen has based her telling on George Balanchine's choreography, which varies slightly from other versions. The Fokine version, found in Louis Untermeyer's Tales from the Ballet (Golden Press, 1968; o.p.), adds a magical egg holding the powers of Kostchei. The illustrations are especially useful in explicating the ballet. In the large painting at the top of each spread, the action is played out in the forest by the hero, villain, and bird. In the long, narrow artwork below the text, the scene on stage is shown, with costumed dancers portraying the Firebird and demons. Even the pit orchestra is given a scene in the beginning. Not to be confused with two stunningly illustrated titles of different folktales, Demi's The Firebird (Holt, 1994; o.p.) and Ruth Sanderson's The Golden Mare, the Firebird, and the Magic Ring (Little, Brown, 2001), Yolen's Firebird will be most appreciated as an introduction to the ballet.-Ellen Heath, Orchard School, Ridgewood, NJ

From The Horn Book:

Yolen uses quiet humor and well-chosen descriptors to retell the story of the ballet based on the Russian tale in which the magic Firebird rescues a prince from an evil wizard. Vagin's colorful, detailed illustrations portray the action of the story, while artwork along the bottom of each spread follows the ballet from the overture to the final pas de deux. An author's note on the folktale and the ballet includes sources.

From Booklist:

Past picture-book retellings of this famous Russian story have mostly followed either the plot of the original folktale or of the Balanchine-Stravinsky ballet. Yolen's version, explained in a personal note, combines elements of both. . . Yolen offers a dramatic story in language that's spare, immediate, and sprinkled with folksy phrases. It's Vagin's sparkling, gem-colored illustrations that really show the story's two traditions together in split spreads of a fairy-tale world above and ballet scenes drawn below. The result is effective and thought-provoking, much like Loriot's Peter and the Wolf (1986), where Jorg Muller's insets of the orchestra are drawn alongside the story's scenes. Children may want to listen to Stravinsky's music as they pore over the images in this innovative interpretation of a classic tale. Gillian Engberg.

Bibliography

Yolen, Jane. The Firebird. Ill by Vladimir Vagin. New York: HarperCollins, 2002. ISBN 0060285397.

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith

2010-09-24T05:55:00.000-07:00

Genre 2 - Traditional Literature

"Read one picture book variant or version of “The Three Pigs”"

Plot Summary

This is the story of the three little pigs from the wolf's point of view. He's run out of sugar and must seek neighborly assistance to complete the cake for his dear granny, but his sneezing head cold causes problems when it goes off in the vicinity of straw and stick houses and leaves poor dead little piggie dinners lying in the middle of the rubble. Why let good food go to waste? The third piggie is rude and insults the wolf's dear granny, which makes our narrator a bit upset in addition to sneezing. When the news reporters get involved, it's the media that takes the blame for sensationalizing the story and making the wolf out to be so big and bad.

Critical Analysis

Lane Smith's illustrations feel like nostalgic old photos with their sepia tones, splotchy coloring, and thin, ragged black frames. This enhances the tone of the story as a retelling by the wolf, and lends a little more legitimacy to his plight.

This retelling of the story lacks the morality tale which more traditional versions maintain. Instead, the media is made out to be the bad guy, and the wolf and pigs are all innocent victims in this variation.

Connections

Could be used to illustrate the concepts of point of view and/or unreliable narrators.
Could be combined with other versions of the Three Little Pigs to compare and contrast style, morality, cultures, or story elements.

The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell
The Three Little Pigs by James Marshall
The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas
The Three Pigs by David Wiesner
The Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale by Steven Guarnaccia
The Three Swingin' Pigs by Vicky Rubin
Three Little Cajun Pigs by Mike Artell
The Three Little Pigs by Steven Kellogg

Awards/Reviews

From School Library Journal:

It's the type of book that older kids (and adults) will find very funny.--John Peters, New York Public Library.

From Booklist:

wickedly illustrated and sophisticated retelling.

From Publishers Weekly:

In this gaily newfangled version of a classic tale, Scieszka and Smith ( Flying Jake ) argue in favor of the villain, transforming the story of the three little pigs into a playfully suspicious, rather arch account of innocence beleaguered. . .Smith's highly imaginative watercolors eschew realism, further updating the tale, though some may find their urbane stylization and intentionally static quality mystifyingly adult. Designed with uncommon flair, this alternative fable is both fetching and glib.

Bibliography

Scieszka, Jon. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!. Ill. by Lane Smith. New Ed ed. New York: Viking Juvenile, 1989. ISBN 0670827592.

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein

2010-09-07T20:50:00.000-07:00

Genre 1 - Picture Books

"Read one of the following recent Caldecott award medal books"

Plot Summary

As the New York World Trade Center's twin towers were being constructed in 1974, a street performing tightrope walker, Philippe, dreams of walking between the towers. Knowing that he would not be allowed to do it officially, he devises a plot to sneak into the towers disguised as a construction worker and string a tightrope between them, a perilous task. Once the tightrope is in place, he begins his performance on the high wire, dancing, twirling, and leaping until the police arrive. Knowing the police won't venture onto his wire, Philippe continues his show until he is satisfied and then he walks to the end of the wire and turns himself over to the police. The book concludes with an image of the current day New York sky line without the towers and a brief reflection on their loss.

Critical Analysis

This beautifully illustrated picture book simplifies the actual planning that went into this spectacular event. However, the subdued pastel color palette keeps a very serious tone, even with the playful scribbly sketchiness of the illustrations. These two different tones convey the story marvelously, as the feat took serious planning and execution, but itself was a playful celebration of the towers.

Time progression of various scales is well-executed throughout the book. The large fold out pages do a great job of showing the progression of time from one scene to the next, with only moments passing between the two. Similarly, the opening illustration shows the towers being constructed, and the final illustrations show the city now without them.

Connections

Could be used to introduce a history lesson on the destruction of the twin towers on September 11, 2001.
Could be paired with other books related to September 11 and its aftermath.

Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey (Picture Puffin Books) by Maira Kalman
14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy
Could be grouped with other books on performing artists of similar or different forms.

Awards/Reviews

Caldecott Award Winner
ALA Notable Children's Book
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Picture Book

From Publishers Weekly:

Gerstein's dramatic paintings include some perspectives bound to take any reader's breath away. Truly affecting is the book's final painting of the imagined imprint of the towers, now existing "in memory"-linked by Philippe and his high wire.

From School Library Journal:

Gorgeous oil-and-ink paintings capture the aerialist's spirited feat and breathtaking perspectives high above Manhattan harbor.

From Booklist:

Here's a joyful true story of the World Trade Center from a time of innocence before 9/11. --Hazel Rochman

Bibliography

Gerstein, Mordicai. The Man Who Walked Between The Towers. 1st ed. New Milford: Roaring Brook Press, 2003. ISBN 0761317910.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Ray Cruz

2010-09-07T19:16:00.000-07:00

Genre 1 - Picture Books

"Read one of the “classic” picture books that you have never read (be honest)"

Honesty disclosure: This was the title I was least familiar with on the list. I had read this one before, but it had been so long I had forgotten the details of it entirely.

Plot Summary

Nothing goes right for Alexander from the time he wakes up to the time he goes to bed. Alexander would really like to just run away from all his problems and go live in Australia. Unlike most books for children about having a bad day and being grumpy, this one has no happy ending. Instead it ends with a very adult lesson, "My mom says some days are like that. Even in Australia."

Critical Analysis

Alexander, expecting it to be a bad day because it started badly, ends up with an even worse day because he finds something wrong in everything that happens. He's looking for the bad things. While I'm not a fan of this mindset, I also know that I and others fall prey to it. Accepting that everyone has days like this is an important lesson to learn, and for that, I applaud this book.

The plain black and white sketches emphasize just what a horrible day it has been for Alexander. In the version that I read, the "Special Limited Edition" with Alexader in color, I feel the color actually detracts from the story. Because this story is mostly about everything that happens around Alexander, having only him in color draws attention away from the rest of the happenings in the illustrations.

Connections

Follow a read-aloud with other books about improving your grumpy mood.

Grumpy Cat by Britta Teckentrup
Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard

Awards/Reviews

ALA Notable Children's Book
George G. Stone Center Recognition of Merit
Georgia Children's Book Award
Reading Rainbow book

Bibliography

Viorst, Judith. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Ill. by Ray Cruz. New York: Atheneum, 2009. ISBN 9781416985952.

The Rainbow Tulip by Pat Mora, illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles

2010-09-07T18:22:00.000-07:00

Genre 1 - Picture Books

"Read one picture book written or illustrated by E. B. Lewis, Pat Mora, Betsy Lewin or Janet Wong."

Plot Summary

Estelita is a bilingual child whose parents only speak Spanish and whose teacher only speaks English. Her family is very different from all of their English speaking neighbors. For the class's May Day celebration, all of the girls must wear tulip costumes, but Estelita can not decide on just one color, so her costume is a rainbow tulip. At the May Day parade Estelita wishes her mother would be more like the other mothers, and worries about her own difference of wearing a rainbow tulip dress. When she talks with her mother after the school day, she expresses that she liked being the only rainbow tulip but that it was hard too, and the mother and daughter bond over a bowl of ice cream and being different.

Critical Analysis

The soft pastel palette of Sayles illustrations make this story from Pat Mora's family history a soothing quiet journey into the challenges faced by Mexican Americans. While the originating story is from the 1920s, the telling in words and pictures here is a timeless portrait of being different and wanting so badly to fit in.

The interspersing of Spanish phrases throughout the text reminds the reader in a very immediate way that our protagonist is bilingual and experiences these two different languages daily. It allows a non-bilingual child to have a snippet of what that experience would feel like.

Connections

Could be combined with other books on the Mexican-American experience.

What Can You Do with a Paleta? by Carmen Tafolla
Papa and Me by Arthur Dorros
Could be paired with other books on being different.

It's Okay To Be Different by Todd Parr
Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts
Could be used to introduce the concept of oral family history.

Awards/Reviews

From Library Journal:

Mora succeeds in creating a quiet story to which children will respond. . .[T]his tale of family love and support crosses cultural boundaries and may remind youngsters of times when their families made all the difference. Pair this with Mary Hoffman's Amazing Grace (Dial, 1991), another story of an irrepressible child supported by a loving family.-Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA

From Booklist:

There's not much story: when she goes to the May parade at school in a tulip costume of many colors, she worries that she looks different from everyone else, only to realize that it's fine to be different.--Hazel Rochman

From Kirkus Reviews:

With warmth and directness, Mora celebrates diversity, but provides a balanced view of assimilation as well. Sayles's softly colored illustrations, by turns wistful and vibrant, capture the times and the tone as a young child finds her place in her parents' new country.

Bibliography

Mora, Pat. The Rainbow Tulip. Ill. by Elizabeth Sayles. New York: Viking Juvenile, 1999. ISBN 0670872911.

5603 - Children's Book Reviews

Final Project - Going Bovine Book Trailer

Stitches: A Memoir by David Small

Genre 6 - Fiction, Fantasy, and Young Adult Literature

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When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Genre 6 - Fiction, Fantasy, and Young Adult Literature

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Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Genre 6 - Fiction, Fantasy, and YA

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The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 By Laurence Yep

Genre 5 - Historical Fiction

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The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

Genre 5 - Historical Fiction

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Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

Genre 5 - Historical Fiction

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Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Lee Stone

Genre 4 - Non-Fiction

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Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea by Sy Montgomery, photos by Nic Bishop

Genre 4 - Non-Fiction

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The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Greg Couch

Genre 4 - Non-Fiction

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What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

Genre 3 - Poetry

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