Library Lit Book Reviews: June 2011

Thursday, June 30, 2011

THE FIREFLY LETTERS - (Book Review for TWU LS 5603 class)

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Engle, Margarita. 2010. THE FIREFLY LETTERS: A SUFFRAGETTE’S JOURNEY TO CUBA. ISBN: 9780805090826

PLOT SUMMARY
Engle has written a free verse poetry novel based on the diaries of Fredricka Bremer, a suffragette from Sweden who travels to Cuba in 1851 to observe and learn of women’s issues there. Her travels and encounters are told through the voices of three main characters: Fredricka, Cecilia – a 15-year old married and pregnant slave of an aristocratic family who is charged with translating and escorting Fredricka around Cuba, and Elena – the 12-year old aristocratic daughter. These three women form a bond as they travel around the city and countryside, each of them learning, growing, or changing their beliefs about their own future roles in a society of slavery, male dominance, and women’s rights.

CRITICAL ANALYSISThe free verse style of writing allows a lot to be said in just a few words. Some of it flows like a (death) sentence “at the ornately barred window,/embroidering curlicues/ like the fancy ironwork/ that separates me/ from the rest of the word”(110). The staccato lines help to accentuate the emotions, “as people – the strangers/ who came with guns/ to seize children/ or with goods/ to buy children” (49).

This story takes the huge role of slavery and makes it appear to be something that a young person can ‘fix’ with a simple solution. Elena’s desire to help Cecilia came about too quickly; the resolution to sell all her hope chest work was too handy; being able to collect enough money was too effortless.

However, the storyline depicting life in Cuba at that time is fascinating. The glimpses into the personal lives of the different classes of people are enlightening. The changes that Fredricka wanted to enable are admirable. It is a sweet story of three women who connect (despite age and social differences) and then achieve the ultimate accomplishment of securing freedom for one slave.

AWARDS
ALSC Notable Children's Book
IRA Notable Books for a Global Society
Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year
Jane Addams Award
Pura Belpre 2011Author Honor
Capitol Choices Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens
Texas TAYSHAS High School Reading List

REVIEW EXCERPTS
KIRKUS REVIEWS – “effectively alternates the voices of the three protagonists … and demonstrates how each character affects the others, all learning a measure of freedom”

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY- “opens the door to discussions of slavery, women's rights, and the economic disparity between rich and poor”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL – “. The easily digestible, poetic narrative makes this a perfect choice for reluctant readers, students of the women's movement, those interested in Cuba, and teens with biography assignments.”

BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S BOOKS - “The author has a gift for imbuing seemingly effortless text with powerful emotions. . . .This uncommon story will resonate when placed in the hands of the right reader.”

THE HORN BOOK - “The imagistic, multiple first-person narrative works handily in revealing Bremer, an alert and intelligent woman in rebellion against her background of privilege.”

BOOKLIST - “Through this moving combination of historical viewpoints, Engle creates dramatic tension among the characters, especially in the story of Elena, who makes a surprising sacrifice.”

CONNECTIOINSAlcott, Louisa May. LITTLE WOMEN (Classic Starts Series). ISBN 978-1402712364 Engle, Margarita. THE SURRENDER TREE: POEMS OF CUBA’S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM. ISBN 9780805033157
Flores-Galbis, Enrique. 90 MILES TO HAVANA. ISBN 9781596431683
Frost, Helen. DIAMOND WILLOW. ISBN 9780312603830Nelson, Marilyn. THE FREEDOM BUSINESS. ISBN 9781032425574
Preus, Margi. HEART OF A SAMURAI. ISBN 9780810989818
Reedy, Trent. WORDS IN THE DUST. ISBN 9780545261258

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Book Review - Poetry - Remember the Bridge

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Weatherford, Carole Boston. 2002. REMEMBER THE BRIDGE: POEMS OF A PEOPLE. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN: 0399237267

PLOT SUMMARY
Carol Weatherford takes us on an African-American journey: from the motherland of Africa, across the ocean, to the United States of America; from freedom to slavery to freedom again. These poems celebrate the lives of both the known and the unknown, the individual and the group, the failures and the successes of African-Americans. Each individual, whether alone or as part of a group, has helped to shape the history and the future of their people.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Weatherford’s poetic talent covers a wide range from free verse through several rhyming schemes. The majority are quatrains/ballad stanzas (ABCB) closely followed by rhymed couplets (AABB).¹ However, there is one poem – Brand-New Roller Skate Blues - whose pattern is more creative; she repeats and then rhymes several of her last words (ABABCB: know, fine, know, fine, stardom, nine).

The flow of the storyline is topical (slavery, music, sports, individuals, explorers) and very loosely chronological, beginning with slavery and ending her hopes for the future. However, I had to research most of the individuals to understand the time-frame and some of the topics (sports, explorers) were not chronological.

Weatherford’s illustrations of primarily antique engravings and old photos are moving; however, some of the individual photos are simply prosaic. The mainly black/white or sepia tones and the African brown borders compliment the flavor of the text, reminding us that ‘color’ has paid a high price in this world.

AWARDSNorth Carolina Juvenile Literature AwardTeachers' Choices, International Reading Association
Notable Book, National Council for the Social Studies
Notable Book of the English Language Arts
Bank Street College Best Children's Books of 2003
Center for Children's Books Best Books of 2002
Poetry Pick, Voices of Youth Advocates

REVIEW EXCERPTS
BOOK REPORT: “Illustrations show the struggles and pride of a people, and heartfelt poems tell their story.”

KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Almost all of these poems are rhymed, with many fairly shouting to be read out loud with a strong beat…some of the poems will work for younger children….other selections will find a place in middle school and high school classrooms”

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “profiles individuals, both imagined and historical…subjects are sometimes anonymous, sometimes prominent….her poetry at times becomes pedestrian and clichéd…order of the material is confusing…visual momentum eventually dissipates”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “text and art flow through this volume…poems are written in free verse or rhyme and meter (and not always smoothly executed), and aren’t always as inspiring as the illustrations…some of them [illustrations] need more explanation”

BOOKLINKS: “uses a bridge metaphor to inspire readers to learn more about African American’s long journey toward freedom”

CONNECTIONSOther books to read

· Brimmer, Larry Dane. BIRMINGHAM SUNDAY. ISBN: 978-1590786130

· Weatherford, Carole Boston. THE SOUND THAT JAZZ MAKES. ISBN: 978-0761457329

· Weatherford, Carole Boston. SINK OR SWIM: AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFESAVERS OF THE OUTER BANKS (CAROLINA YOUNG PEOPLE). ISBN: 978-1928556039

Lessons (found at http://www.astropix.com/HTML/C_SPRING/URSAS.HTM)

·
The poem, "The Conductor Was a Woman," follows Harriett Tubman on the Underground Railroad. Since slaves didn't have compasses, they used the North Star, also known as Polaris, to guide them to freedom. The two outer stars that form the bowl of the Big Dipper point to the North Star at the tip of the handle of the Little Dipper. The North Star is always in the North.

The folk song "Follow the Drinking Gourd" (another name for the Big Dipper) was a coded song that gave directions on the escape route from Alabama and Mississippi. Read it to the class (http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/ltc/special/mlk/gourd2.html).

Then go back to http://www.astropix.com/HTML/C_SPRING/URSAS.HTM, hover over the night skymap to show the dippers and Polaris. Have students plot the Big Dipper, Little Dipper and the North Star on black or blue construction paper with chalk or adhesive stars.

· The poem, "Slaves' Chores," depicts a hard day's work on the plantation. Ask students to list chores they do around the house and the steps involved in each task. Using these notes, the students will write a poem about housework. The poem may focus on one chore or several.

¹ Loske, Boris. "Poetry.....Rhyme." Boris Loske . www.loske.org/html/school/english/rhyme.pdf (accessed June 25, 2011).

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

BOOK REVIEW – TRADITIONAL LITERATURE - THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS

BOOK REVIEW – TRADITIONAL LITERATURE

THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS

(This is for an assignment: LS 5603 @ TWU)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lowell, Susan. 1992. THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS. Ill. by Jim Harris. Flagstaff, Arizona. ISBN 0329035118

PLOT SUMMARY

Lowell’s THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS is an adaptation of THE THREE LITTLE PIGS with a similar storyline. Each javelina seeks his own way in the world. The first and second javelinas do not put much thought into how well-built their house is or if it will protect them. They build their houses with whatever materials are handy and easy to use. The third javelina built her house based on her discernment of the world and its dangers. She wisely built a strong house to withstand many dangers. All three javelinas, in turn, are hounded by a coyote. The third javelina outwits the coyote and all three of them ‘live happily ever after.’ The fate of the coyote is ambiguous.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Lowell has taken a classic folktale and transformed it into a southwestern tale. She has done her research by using vocabulary that comes from the Spanish (javelinas, adobe, si), the Native American/Indian (saguaro, ha’u), the American English (tumbleweed), and the *American Spanish (coyote). This folktale is both a beast tale and a fairy tale with magic and a happy ending.

She also develops a rhythm for the protagonist’s and main character’s dialog by repeating three phrases: “Little pig, little pig, let me come in.”; “Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin!”; “Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in!” This repetition can easily be vocalized by children of all ages to give them a part in the story and to keep them focused on the story.

Mr. Harris’ paintings are full of cute western costumes and humorous facial expressions. He captures the antics of the characters perfectly: coyote blowing, the house and javelina tumbling, the javelinas sweating and running, the magic of the coyote’s disguise, and the frightened javelinas.

AWARDS

Jim Harris has been honored with these awards for his illustration of THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS:

Arizona Young Readers Award 1994
PBS Reading Rainbow 1994
Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award Finalist 1996
OneBookAZ 2010.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (9/14/92): “Lowell spices the story with elements of Native American. Mexican and Old West culture”

TEACHER BOOK WIZARD: “Harris's exuberant illustrations give a realistic picture of the landscape, but depict the characters with playful exaggeration, dressing the dapper javelinas in snazzy western duds.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “This engaging retelling appears in both Spanish and English, and has many accurate regional details. The text is fast-paced and witty in both languages, and is accompanied by energetic, full-page illustrations done in rich earthy tones that evoke the setting as faithfully as the text. Whether read aloud or in amused solitude, this is a picture book that will be enjoyed again and again.”

CONNECTIONS

BOOK REVIEW – TRADITIONAL LITERATURE – JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT

BOOK REVIEW – TRADITIONAL LITERATURE –

JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT

(This is for an assignment: LS 5603 @ TWU)

BIBLIIOGRAPHY

Taback, Simms. 1999. JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT. New York: Viking. ISBN 0670878553

PLOT SUMMARY

Joseph is an industrious man who knows the value of thriftiness. He recycles his original coat to its fullest, until it is completely depleted. Even with nothing, Joseph created a valuable channel to share with others, this book which also teaches “you can always make something out of nothing.”

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Taback uses repetition of three key word phrases, “Joseph had a little”, “It got old and worn” and “So he made” to give this positive, upbeat story a rhythm that children can enjoy while participating in an interactive read aloud experience. With the turn of each page the reader anxiously awaits to see each new article of clothing; and each one is an understatement of what can be accomplished/made with what ‘little’ a person owns. Joseph’s handiwork is resourceful and functional as he wears it to a multitude of events. Just when you think this fun story is gone and over, Joseph surprises us with his optimistic vision by creating this book.

The ingenuity of using dye-cuts for this revised edition sparks intrigue and imagination for children as they anticipate what will appear on the next page. The bright vivid colors and the many details of each illustration capture the reader’s attention to look in every nook and cranny to see what can be discovered. The storyline itself does not tell the reader that Joseph lives in Poland or that his heritage is Jewish, but there is a plethora of objects to infer this information – such as a letter, poster, newspaper, card, book, menorah, clothing, music, picture, and more.

AWARDS

Winner of the 2000 Caldecott Award.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

HORN BOOK MAGAZINES (Jan/Feb 2000): “the book is as much a tribute to a vanished way of life as it is a story, but the tribute only enriches the tale”

PUBLISHERS WEEKLEY (11-1-1999): “bustling mixed-media artwork, highlighted by the strategically placed die-cuts, that steals the show”

BOOKLIST (1/1/2000): “a true example of accomplished bookmaking--from the typography and the endpapers to the bar code, set in what appears to be a patch of fabric”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (1/1/2000): “The rhythm and repetition make it a perfect storytime read-aloud”

CONNECTIONS

Vocabulary lesson – identify the word, learn its usage, and learn its associations (found at http://pbskids.org/lions/cornerstones/joseph/objectives/)

Video – Between the Lions video Titled TWO COATS, ONE GOAT, AND ONE BOAT (found at http://pbskids.org/lions/cornerstones/joseph/objectives/)

Art lesson – make yourself a vest (found at http://faculty. Salisbury.edu/~elbond/overcoat.htm)

Writing lesson – write a story about when you made something that you wanted but did not own (found at http://faculty. Salisbury.edu/~elbond/overcoat.htm)

BOOK REVIEW – TRADITIONAL LITERATURE – BETWEEN EARTH & SKY

BOOK REVIEW – TRADITIONAL LITERATURE –

BETWEEN EARTH & SKY: LEGENDS OF NATIVE AMERICAN SACRED PLACES

(This review is for a class assingment: LS5603 @ TWU)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bruchac, Joseph. BETWEEN EARTH & SKY: LEGENDS OF NATIVE AMERICAN SACRED PLACES. Ill. by Thomas Locker. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0152000429

PLOT SUMMARY

Uncle Old Bear and Little Turtle are on a journey to a pow-wow of Delaware Indian ancestors. On the way, Old Bear shares with Little Turtle ten legends about different Native American sacred places in the United States and within us.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Bruchac weaves imagery, symbolism, personification, simile, and metaphor into his verse-written legends. These tales are from ten different Indian tribes and each describes one of the Seven Directions and other sacred places. A sprinkling of native words from some of the tribes is thrown in and a pronunciation guide is available at the end. He also provides a map of North America with the location of these ten nations represented by symbols and many other tribe sites noted.

There is one full page illustration for each page of text. Locker’s oil paintings capture many of the places with a wispy aspect that reminds the reader they are looking at the land through eyes of the past. He also uses a combination of muted and bright colors for different geographical regions to bring out the feelings of heat, wet, cold, refreshing, day and night,

This book, with its combination of words and pictures, makes me want to go visit each of these places and experience for myself the beauty and wonder of this nation and its rich history.

AWARDS

Notable Books for a Global Society, 1997

REVIEW EXCERPTS

APPLESEEDS (Mar 2002): “offers legends and dramatic paintings of sacred places such as Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon”

READING TEACHER (Dec 97/Jan 98): “this book will raise thoughtful discussions about what we each see "through the eyes of our hearts."

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (July 96): “these selections point to the richness possible in looking at the Earth in a spiritual way”

HORN (May/Jun 96): “all places are sacred if ‘we always carry the teachings with us,’ thus emphasizing the importance of the place Within”

CONNECTIONS

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Book Review - Picture Book - Make Way for Ducklings

BOOK REVIEW – PICTURE BOOK – MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

McCloskey, Robert. 1969. MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS. New York: The Viking Press. ISBN 0670451495

PLOT SUMMARY

McCloskey’s plot of finding the right home and raising a family is from the traditional view of his time with both a mom and a dad. The mom makes all the ‘home’ and ‘raising’ decisions. She is very vocal and her decisions are supported by dad.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The reader is introduced to the Mallards and to Boston with a birds-eye view of several favorite locations: the Public Gardens, Beacon Hill, the State House, Louisburg Square, and the Charles River. Imagery is used to describe why the pond in the Public Gardens isn’t suitable for eating, “fished for their breakfast in the mud.” Later, the fact that they don’t find their own food is glossed over with an understatement, “called on Michael every day.” Mrs. Mallard and the ducklings are given human attributes to some of their actions, “marching in a line……so proud she tipped her nose in the air….to say thank you.” All of the duckling’s names rhyme and onomatopoeia – honk, quack, tweet - is used in the scene describing the chaos caused by the family trying to cross the road.

The illustrations by the author begin on the fly pages with a simple seven-step depiction of a duck hatching and they never slow down. The monochrome line drawings take us on a journey with the Mallards, creating a gentle and friendly atmosphere in Boston. The human characters have individual physical traits (fat, skinny, short, tall, old, young); they are all Caucasian, and their clothing along with the style of automobiles dates this book to its 1930-1940s eras.

AWARDS
Caldecott 1942 Medal Winner

REVIEW EXCERPTS

HORN BOOK MAGAZINE ( Nov/Dec2000): “It's a comforting story about being safe under your mother's wing”

BOOK LINKS (July 2006): “…the artist positions the viewer far away, up close, in the air, ….these changes create……dramatic composition…”

CONNECTIONS

SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA ACTIVITIES MONTHLY (Apr 2009):

(1) an interview with Robert McCloskey http://www.hbook.com/history/radio/mccloskey.asp,

(2) history of the swan boats http://www.friendsofthepublicgarden.org/,

(3) information about the statue(s) commemorating this bookhttp://www.schon.com/public/ducklings-boston.php,

(4) art/drawing activity http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=10548,

(5) flashcard activity with ducklings name http://www.teachervision.fen.com/fiction/activity/1733.html

Other books:

Flack, Marjorie. 2000. THE STORY ABOUT PING. Ill. by Kurt Wiese. New York: Grosset & Dunlap. ISBN-13: 978-0448421650

Sunday, June 12, 2011

BOOK REVIEW: PICTURE BOOK – ANIMAL SNACKERS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lewin, Betsy. 2004. ANIMAL SNACKERS. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 0805067485

PLOT SUMMARY

There is no plot. Betsy Lewin uses humorous poetry with one basic fact about each individual animals eating habit.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Preschool – Grade 3

Betsy Lewin has revised her own 1980’s version; she takes 12 animals from around the world and entertains children with one of their unique eating habits. She accomplishes this through imagery: (“koalas decorate the trees”, “tongue is long and sticky”), understatement (“snack on tender bamboo shoots”, “stone….he must swallow so indigestion does not follow”), and simile (“His snout is like a hose”). She also uses different rhyming patterns: 1^st and 2^nd lines rhyme, 3^rd and 4^th lines rhyme, 1^st and 3^rd lines rhyme, and the 2^nd and 4^th lines rhyme. The text includes some vocabulary for older children such as brutes, carnivorous, indigestion, eucalyptus, derring-do, herring, kelp, brine, and abalone.

Betsy’s illustrations are child-like watercolors of the animal and what they are eating. These pictures are fun to look at (not scary), full page, and easily recognizable. They make eating look fun and may inspire children to try new foods.

AWARDS
None

REVIEW EXCERPTS

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (Spring 2005): “whimsical poems… colorful creatures… lighthearted verses… delectable book”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (Oct 2004): “her poems have a greater simplicity, making them more accessible to a younger audience… the new art offers clearer and more naturalistic images of the snacking creatures”

KIRKUS REVIEWS (8-15-2004): “It's a light brush with natural history that will leave young readers and listeners rolling in the aisles”

CONNECTIONS

Turner, Barrie Carson. CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS : POEMS INSPIRED BY SAINT-SAËNS' MUSIC. ISBN 978-0-8050-6180-2

Frampton, David. MY BEASTIE BOOK OF ABC : RHYMES AND WOODCUTS. ISBN 0-06-028823-X

Ghigna, Charles ANIMAL TRUNK: SILLY POEMS TO READ ALOUD. ISBN 0-81094200-3

This book can be used in a science class to introduce students to animal adaptations for survival in the eco systems in which they live (ways animals have evolved to take advantage of the food source around them).

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

DAVE THE POTTER

BOOK REVIEW: PICTURE BOOK - DAVE THE POTTER

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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

PLOT SUMMARY

Dave is a slave; he is a talented and visionary potter; he is also a writer. His story takes us through simple steps of creating clay pots during the 1800’s in the South. The author also shares some of Dave’s pottery poetry; very little of it still exists.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The author uses imagery, hyperbole, symbolism, simile, and metaphor in his writing. Most of the imagery are pictures that children can conjure up: “gritty grains”, “clouds of dust”, “ropes of clay”; but there is also adult symbolism: “it was clay…he learned to form a life…”. The simile used on the fold-out pages is especially poignant and graphic: “Like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, Dave's hands, buried in the mounded mud, pulled out the shape of a jar.”

The painted illustrations create pictures of the time period and show-off different sizes and shapes of everyday clay pots. The earth-tone hues of browns and greens for text background keep readers focused on the words and compliment the accompanying pictures. The blue and purple text backgrounds add a touch of colorful variety. The fold-out page is a surprise and offers a nice uninterrupted look at forming a pot.

AWARDS
Caldecott 2011 Honors, Illustrator
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner

REVIEW EXCERPTS

The New York Times Book Review (Nov. 7, 2010):…” a difficult subject for a picture book… restrained and respectful treatment of the historical facts… a gentle way for adults to introduce slavery to young children… Much more stirring are the watercolor and collage illustrations”

The Horn Book Magazine (Mar.-Apr. 2011) : Caldecott Honor Books; 2011 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award

The Horn Book Guide (Spring 2011): The book's pacing is especially well conceived, the illustrations shown in tempo with the text's descriptions of throwing a pot.

Booklist (Nov. 1, 2010): “T he book's quiet dignity comes from its refusal to scrutinize life as a slave”

Kirkus Reviews (Aug. 15, 2010): “an accomplished, visually stunning homage to an important African-American artist”

CONNECTIONS

Todd, Leonard. CAROLINA CLAY: THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF THE SLAVE POTTER DAVE. ISBN 978-0-393-05856-7

RESEARCH ON SLAVE OPENS DOORWAY TO WRITER'S PAST (Audio file, Broadcast transcript, Interview) found at

http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2126/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CA187787055&v=2.1&u=txshracd2583&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

AN EDUCATOR’S GUIDE TO DAVE http://www.digitaltraditions.net/html/D_Resources%20.cfm

ONLINE BIOGRAPHY OF DAVE www.usca.edu/aasc/davepotter.htm

WEBSITE OF DAVE BIOGRAPHER LEONARD TODD http://www.leonardtodd.com/

Piper, Watty. THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD. ISBN: 0-448-40520-2