Reviews of Christmas gift books coming to the blog in 2015!
Friday, December 26, 2014
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Rules
Catherine is a realistic twelve-year-old girl who wants to have a normal life, or maybe even a storybook-perfect life: the best friend living right next door, the brother who doesn’t embarrass her all the time, parents who pay attention to her. How she alternately loves and hates her brother is especially understandable; everyone with a sibling has felt this way, but it seems especially fragile when the sibling in question has a disability. I think the way Catherine thinks about and acts towards her brother will help young adults understand how to act towards people with disabilities, instead of just keeping their distance.
Plot.
Catherine is determined to live as normal a life as she can, and that starts with making the new girl next door her best friend. She’s tired of the boy on the corner making fun of her brother, but she’s torn between protecting David and distancing herself from him. Catherine is also trying to get attention from her parents, wanting to be noticed and appreciated even as she’s growing into a teenager. Everything is in a delicate balance, and she has to figure out how to handle it all and what type of person she wants to become.
Setting.
The setting is a small town, any town, or it might just seem that way because the story is told from Catherine’s point of view. Only a few places are noteworthy, like her house, the neighbor’s house, the bully on the corner, the video store (David’s favorite place), and David’s physical therapy. In my opinion, setting doesn’t play a huge role in this story, but it works that way because the characters step up and take center stage, as they should.
Theme.
Catherine wants to be carefree like the girls at her school, but with her brother being different, she can’t quite pull it off. She spends her time drawing and wishing her world didn’t have to revolve around David. When she goes with her mother and brother to physical therapy, she meets Jason, a boy who has more severe disabilities than David - yet she is immediately drawn to him. He values her art and how she understands him, and Catherine is able to see herself through his eyes, and realizes she has more to offer than other girls who might not have such varied life experiences. The theme is very subtle, but once it’s realized, I think it’s very powerful. Catherine standing up for her brother and Jason is very emotional, and gives me hope that children reading this will start accepting people with disabilities more widely than that population has experienced in the past.
Style.
The style of the book is casual and conversation, but there are great unique elements that really stand out. Catherine’s inner dialogue and thoughts are very strong, and I like how they often contradict what she says vocally. I also thought the way she conversed with Jason, using his communication book, was interesting because the author had to keep it simple, using a limited set of words to convey emotion, but still managed to add some humor.
Awards include the Newbery Honor Medal, Schneider Family Book Award, Sunshine State Young Readers Book, Great Lakes Great Books Award, Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award, and an ALA Notable Children’s Book.
The Al Capone series by Gennifer Choldenko
Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Marcelo In The Real World by Francisco X. Stork
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians
Lunch Lady is the main character, but it’s hard to really identify with her. Then again, she is a superhero, and it’s hard to ever really know the truth about superheroes. Betty is her sidekick, both in the lunchroom and when fighting evil. Dee, Hector, and Terrence are the students who know Lunch Lady is a superhero, and they make up the Breakfast Bunch. The kids are fun and realistically portrayed, and I think young readers could easily see themselves in these characters.
Plot.
The Breakfast Bunch has a feeling the librarians are up to something, so they tip off Lunch Lady, who starts investigating on her own. The librarians have been stealing money from the school’s other departments, like the cheerleaders, and want to destroy all video games so children will have to read books. Can the Lunch Lady and her lunch-related gadgets beat the librarians and their book weapons?
Setting.
Most of the book takes place in the school, which will draw in readers because they can identify with the setting, and picture the events occurring in their own school. Lunch Lady’s turf is, of course, the lunchroom, and the Read-a-thon takes place in the library. The showdown between Lunch Lady and the librarians takes place on the docks, where the video game shipment is delivered. The illustrations really bring the settings to life, without being so detailed that readers can’t use their own imaginations.
Theme.
Since Lunch Lady is a superhero and the problems she faces are a bit fantastical, it’s hard to pinpoint a theme in these graphic novels. Lunch Lady is fighting for what is right for the school and the students, but she does so by using weapons - clever, lunch-themed weapons, sure, but weapons nonetheless - and violence.
Style.
Graphic novels have more illustrations than typical illustrated novels, and the pictures actually help move the story along. I think young readers, whether they enjoy reading or not, would like picking up extra elements to the story that are somewhat hidden in the illustrations. Krosoczka uses black and white drawings with minimal shading and color - only yellow inside the book, and yellow, green, and purple on the cover. I think the lack of color and matte pages make this book stand out over more traditional comic books. It looks more like a novel, which probably makes kids feel more accomplished reading it than they do with flimsier comic books.
In all fairness, I have to say this wasn’t my favorite Lunch Lady book, just because I’m biased - I prefer print books! I’m not saying that people shouldn’t play video games, but I was more on the side of the “evil” librarians than Lunch Lady in this case!
The rest of the Lunch Lady series by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Babymouse by sister-brother team Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm
Squish also by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm
The Baby-Sitters Club Graphix by Ann M. Martin and Raina Telgemeier (Thrilled one of my childhood favorites is back - now as a graphic novel!)
Monday, December 1, 2014
I Am the Messenger
Ed Kennedy is a perfect character, because he is so imperfect. He lied about his age to get a job as a cab driver after his dad died from alcohol abuse. He lives in a shack - and drinks coffee- with his dog, the Doorman. He regularly plays cards with three friends, one of whom he’s in love with. His life seems to have no purpose, and this doesn’t really bother him until he realizes there’s more out there. The messages he interprets show him that he is a good person, and deserves to live a good life. He is easy to identify with regardless of the reader’s age, but I think young adults will really take a shining to him. His friends are also complex, interesting characters with great backstories the reader learns right along with Ed.
Plot.
The book opens on a bank robbery; Ed and his friends are inside, on the floor, watching the incompetent thief trying to get his hands on the money. Ed foils the robbery, somewhat accidentally, and just as incompetently. He is, however, lauded as a hero in his hometown, and enjoys a bit of fame as a result. Once the attention dies down, he returns to his job as a cab driver and wonders what is the point of his life. When playing cards are delivered to his shack with brief instructions, Ed finds himself delivering messages he learns on his own. It seems to be an unlikely plot, but after Ed’s name being all over the news due to the robbery, it’s not hard to believe that someone would pick him to do good all over town. Ed realistically struggles to decipher each message, and learns something from each, while still suffering through his own problems.
Setting.
Ed and his friends live in a small town in Australia. It’s easy to picture the small town, especially if you’re hearing Marc Aden Gray’s Australian accent in the audiobook! The description is shown by Ed being able to walk from his shack to his job, as well as many other places in town, but needing to drive to a few places that seem to be out in the country. This setting is perfect for the story, because it’s believable that people in a small town would hail Ed a hero for stopping a thief, but Ed himself wouldn’t know everyone he was delivering messages to.
Theme.
When we first meet Ed, he is wasting time by living his life passively. He works as a cab driver, a job he only got because he lied about his age. He lives in a shack with a smelly dog, and spends most of his time with the same three friends - one of whom he’s in love with, but never makes a move. Ed’s transformation is slow, which makes it realistic. He learns life lessons with each message he delivers, and he looks at his own life differently and tries to figure out what he wants. There is no sudden epiphany, and the ending is left open for him to grow even more. I think this approach is best because there is no heavy-handed moral or lesson that will make young adult readers feel preached to, but they can relate to Ed’s gradual change of heart.
Style.
Zusak’s writing style is casual and conversational, which fits the story and theme perfectly. There is some Australian slang thrown in, which is one of the main reasons I’d suggest listening to the audiobook. Hearing the dialect spoken aloud helps the book read smoother, and helps the reader understand the slang with context clues. Ed’s dog “talking” to him seemed a little far-fetched for this book, because that’s the only magical or fantastical element, but it didn’t ruin the story.
The audiobook was well-done, but I would have loved this story regardless of how I read it. There was a bit of suspense and mystery throughout the whole story, and I really identified with Ed. The ending, however, has to be one of my favorite book endings ever. I kep thinking about it - and that’s all I’ll say! Read it for yourself and you’ll understand why it might have ruined me for all other books!
I love reading different reviews; it’s like listening to a book club discussion! Booklist disliked the ending, saying “Zusak is too clever by half. He offers too few nuts-and-bolts details before wrapping things up with an unexpected, somewhat unsatisfying recasting of the narrative.”
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Dead End in Norvelt
Listening to the audiobook on my phone, thanks to Overdrive via the Memphis Library
Jack Gantos is a fantastic narrator - both as a character in the story, and for the audiobook! His audible and written voice brings the past to life, inviting us to explore small town life in the summer of 1962. He gets into a lot of trouble because he loves reading - and reenacting! - history, instead of focusing on the present.
Plot.
This book is a fun mix of crazy fictional adventures and genuine history. It will probably be hard for children to tell what is true and what isn’t, because it was hard for me! But it is a fun, engaging story, and you learn history without realizing it. Gantos gives just enough information to draw the reader in, but stops short of making it seem like a history lesson. Since it’s such an easy, light-hearted book (despite all the blood!), readers will more than likely be curious enough about the history mentioned to research on their own!
Setting.
There’s something about a small town that seems timeless, and Norvelt, Pennsylvania is a small town. It’s great to hear how young Jack goes from driving a tractor, to driving a car, to decently driving a car in such a short span - only in a small town! Learning about how Norvelt was founded, and what values it was founded on, helps readers better envision the town, the citizens that inhabit it, and the era when all of this occurred.
Theme.
A boy getting in enough trouble to be “grounded for life” is the most timeless theme I can think of! Jack’s curiosity about history and the world around around him will certainly inspire contemporary readers to explore their own lives for story, and will more than likely inspire some historical research along the way.
Style.
This is a fun read, and it only helped things seem more cheerful (even with all the death!) to have the author reading it himself. The story was told the way you would share life stories with friends and family, and hearing the author use timely slang like “cheese-us-crust” only makes the audiobook experience more enjoyable.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
The Midwife's Apprentice
Initially, Brat is hard to relate to. She lives in a vastly different time period, and has grown up differently than most people are familiar with. As the story goes on, and as her name changes, the reader becomes more involved with Beetle’s life and dreams. She wants to belong, to be cared for, to have a name. More specifically, she wants “a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world” (81) - something everyone can identify with.
Plot.
You don’t have to be a history buff to know that Cushman has done her research. She presents this story in an era where midwives were a necessity, and class didn’t matter - whether you could pay in gold, or pay in potatoes, you would be treated the same by the matter-of-fact midwife. The subject matter is presented very honestly, and might be better for older children who have an understanding of childbirth and hardships.
Setting.
The setting was described very vividly. Readers will have no problem envisioning the poor village where Beetle learns her trade, from the dung pile where she once slept, to the somewhat-isolated inn where she works.
Theme.
The overarching theme of this book is that every person has value. Beetle grew up poor and homeless, unable to care for herself, and that turns around completely by the end of the book. However, realizing she can be a midwife even if she has previously failed should a major turning point, but the most important part seems to be that Beetle is pretty underneath all the dirt. That theme is relevant today, of course, but I would have expected something more revolutionary from a historical book that tackles such a unique topic.
Style.
The language is a bit stilted, and might be hard for children to read on their own, or even understand when read aloud. It doesn’t hinder the story since it seems historically accurate, but it might prevent readers from diving right in to the book.
Catherine, Called Birdy, ISBN 9780547722184
The Ballad of Lucy Whipple, ISBN 9780547722153
Matilda Bone, ISBN 9780440418221
Will Sparrow’s Road, ISBN 9780544336322
Alchemy and Meggy Swann, ISBN 9780547577128
Monday, November 10, 2014
Turtle in Paradise
Turtle is a relatable character - a fun girl with a sharp wit who can dish it out as good as she gets it. As flippant as her comebacks can be, she has a lot of heart, and loves her mother and pet cat more than anything. The boys she eventually befriends are also extremely believable; they act like frustrating young boys until you get under their tough exterior and find their quirks. The adults all act like real people as well, though they play minor roles - the author lets the kids run the show.
Plot and Setting.
This book feels timeless, like it could be set in any era. The town’s slow pace and sense of community come across as typical island lifestyle, but references to the Great Depression, Ernest Hemingway, and the Labor Day Hurricane pinpoint the year as 1935. The shabbiness is contrasted by the vibrant plant life: “Truth is, the place looks like a broken chair that’s been left out in the sun to rot” (13), but it looks like “Mother Nature is trying to pretty up the place” (14).
Theme.
Turtle wants a home she and her mother can call their own. She’ll do whatever she can to help make that happen. This was a common aspiration in the aftermath of the Great Depression, and is still relevant today, as our economy struggles to balance after a crash. Regardless of upbringing, books about childhood are universal, inspiring memories of striving to fit in, long days of play, and the possibility of treasure.
Style.
The carefree tone of the narration fits perfectly with the island lifestyle. The dialect is integrated smoothly so all ages can follow it without tripping over strange sounds; context clues help define any unknown words, and the custom of giving unique nicknames to everyone helps the reader easily slip into the story.
When her father commits suicide after losing everything in the Great Depression, Frances lives as a hobo in Nowhere to Call Home by Cynthia DeFelice. ISBN 9780380733064
Mary Alice leaves Chicago to spend a year with her grandmother in a small Illinois town in A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck. ISBN 9780803725188
A drought forces Billie Jo to leave her home in Oklahoma during the Great Depression in Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. ISBN 9780590371254
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
The Tarantula Scientist
The book is clearly well-researched, since Sy Montgomery conducted much of her research right alongside Sam Marshall. The book ends with a lot of information about handling (or not…) tarantulas, spider statistics, and a breakdown of terms used throughout the book. There is also a section about how the book was researched, giving details about the author and photographer and how they compiled the book. There is also a bibliography, as well as websites to further research tarantulas.
Organization.
Montgomery has the perfect approach to this book: he writes to the reader as if they already know everything, yet explains things in ways that build them up to actually know everything. Difficult words are spelled out phonetically in parenthesis, and a lot of terms and methods are explained, but not in a way that makes readers feel dumb. Chapters are creatively titled, but not listed in a table of contents.
Design.
It is hard to speak to the book’s attractiveness, since I personally am creeped out by tarantulas despite learning that they are not harmful to humans. Trying to be diplomatic, I must say that Nic Bishop’s photographs are amazing. There are extreme close-ups, showing the true beauty of tarantulas. The photographs aren’t limited to tarantulas, also showing wasp nests and Marshall at work in his lab. There are photos on every page, even if it’s a text-heavy page with just a few tarantulas “crawling” up the margins.
Style.
This book was a little more cut-and-dried than the others I read for the informational genre, but that didn’t make it hard to read. It gave a lot of great information about tarantulas, as well as gorgeous (I have to admit!) photographs. The author didn’t seem especially passionate about the subject, but I think in this case, it worked to have some distance from the author and the subject. I think an author who loved tarantulas too much might have made the subject harder to handle, but the book was written as a perfect mix of knowledge and passion.
From Booklist: “Enthusiasm for the subject and respect for both Marshall and his eight-legged subjects come through on every page of the clear, informative, and even occasionally humorous text. Bishop's full-color photos, which concentrate on detail, not scale, are amazing--Marshall coaxing an elusive tarantula into the open or bringing readers literally face-to-face with a hairy spider. […] Readers will come away armed with facts about spiders in general and tarantulas in particular, but even more important, they'll have a clear understanding of how the answers derived from research become the roots of new, intriguing questions.”
Hidden Worlds: Looking Through a Scientist’s Microscope by Stephen Kramer and Dennis Kunkel. ISBN 9780618354054
The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity by Elizabeth Rusch. ISBN 9780547478814
Eruption!: Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives by Elizabeth Rusch and Tom Uhlman. ISBN 9780547503509
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
The Giant and How He Humbugged America
Jim Murphy’s bio states that he carefully researches his nonfiction and has won awards such as two Newbery Honors, a Sibert Medal, and the Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award. I feel like these accomplishments give him credentials worthy of the book he’s written.
The book does not have in-text citations, but the last few pages of the book are Source Notes, divided by chapter, that give extra details on things mentioned in the text. Since information is not given as parenthetical documentation or footnotes, I feel like this is the best way to appeal to children, and I feel like they would read the entire book, including the source notes.
Organization.
The book is told chronologically, from the time the giant was discovered until he was retired in a museum. There are a few flashbacks to explain how the giant was created and planted, and the book ends by focusing on a modern day hoax that National Geographic fell for. The book starts with a cast of characters and what parts they played. Chapters are titled according to the major action that occurs during the text. After the conclusion of the giant’s story, there are brief summaries of other famous hoaxes. Source notes are included, as well as a bibliography, photo credits, and an index. There is also a detailed section about the author’s research process.
Design.
This book is fairly text-heavy, but the font is larger and more spaced out than typical 12 point, single-spaced formats. This makes it easier to read - even on the pages where there are no photographs or illustrations. All of the artwork included in this book is historical; it’s not illustrated like an informational storybook. The photographs have dates and credits, the illustrations are most frequently political comments from newspapers of the time, and scans of relevant promotional booklets and posters are included. Though even the artwork is informational, the book does not seem boring or a heavy-handed history book.
Style.
The book is written fairly formally, but it does not make it hard to read. Because the subject is so interesting, it’s hard to feel like you’re learning something as you read this book. In “A Word About My Research,” Jim Murphy explains that he became interested in the topic because he wanted to learn about Bernie Madoff and his Ponzi scheme. I think this is a great way to engage readers because he portrays himself as a regular guy, curious about the things around him. I think children can relate to this, and might even suggest reading this section before starting the book, as interesting as the hoax topic is on its own.
Publishers Weekly says “Although a significant number of players are involved, the narrative’s 12 chapters move swiftly, with period photos helping to break up the text-heavy pages (printed in brown ink). Contextualizing this scam against the wider backdrop of the Gilded Age, Murphy adeptly explains how hoaxes like the Cardiff Giant helped accelerate reforms, such as the establishment of professional scientific organizations and journals.”
Jim Murphy has written many other books that children may be interested in, such as:
The Great Fire. ISBN 9780439203074
Blizzard!: The Storm That Changed America. ISBN 9780590673105
An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. ISBN 9780395776087
Monday, October 27, 2014
What To Do About Alice?
In her bio, author Barbara Kerley mentions how and why she became familiar with Alice Roosevelt. This leads one to believe that the book was a labor of love, researched because the author was enthralled with her subject. Kerley has written other picture book biographies.
The book ends with an author’s note, giving information about why her father’s second family might have prompted Alice to act out and what she did with her life past the scope of the book’s text. There is a small section that gives attribution to sources of various quotes, and a note that both the text and illustrations were fact-checked, though only a name is given, not a title or affiliation.
Organization.
This informational storybook is organized like a fictional storybook, which will certainly engage young readers. Though it’s nonfiction, the book doesn’t seem boring or fact-laden; Alice is as bright and energetic as any fictional character. There is not a page without an illustration, and the text is formatted to look aesthetically pleasing as well, with different layouts, fonts, and font sizes. Since it reads in chronological order like a traditional storybook, there is no need for chapter headings or an index.
Design.
This book is beautifully done. Edwin Fotheringham’s illustrations help the book read almost like a comic or graphic novel, yet are gorgeous enough to be framed. The text is straight-forward and almost basic compared to the illustrations, but the elements work together to give a more rounded story overall. For instance, after being warned by her father to avoid publicity, the next page simply reads “‘Oh, Alice.’” If only the text were being heard, this page would sound boring; when shown the illustrations, however, there is a two-page spread where Alice is being surrounded by newspapers with headlines all about her. There are also jokes in some of the illustrations that are missed when reading the text alone. I think this is a great approach because it seems sly and humorous, just like Alice herself.
Style.
The style of this book is fun and lighthearted. This is clear from the front cover all the way to the author’s bio in the back. It’s clearly a project that both the author and illustrator were passionate about. The illustrations are playful and the text gives a broad overview of Alice Roosevelt’s life, encouraging further exploration by giving just enough information to pique the reader’s curiosity. The summary on the end pages complete the story of Alice’s life, but overall the book seems to be a great introduction to biographies in general and Alice Roosevelt in particular. I think it will encourage further reading.
In a Booklist starred review: “Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was... Kerley's text has the same rambunctious spirit as its subject, grabbing readers from the first line... The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art." Publishers Weekly also gave it a starred review, saying “It's hard to imagine a picture book biography that could better suit its subject than this high-energy volume serves young Alice Roosevelt.”
This quote has been attributed to many noteworthy women, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Marilyn Monroe, and Anne Boleyn. The earliest version that could be found was in a 1976 academic paper by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. Ulrich is now a Pulitzer-Prize-winning professor at Harvard, but was a student at the University of New Hampshire when she wrote the article in question. (Read more here.)
Have students check out more biographies about other women who spent their lives “eating up the world.”
I Am Amelia Earhart by Brad Meltzer. ISBN 9780803740822
Eleanor by Barbara Cooney. ISBN 9780670861590
Joan of Arc by Diane Stanley. ISBN 9780064437486
Bon Appetit! The Delicious Life of Julia Child by Jessie Hartland. ISBN 9780375969447
Thursday, October 16, 2014
REVOLVER by Marcus Sedgwick
My midterm project for LS5603 Literature for Children and Young Adults was to create a book trailer. I picked Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick. I loved the book, and hope my book trailer convinces you to read it!
My Review
Read it for yourself!
Sedgwick, Marcus. 2009. Revolver. New York: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9781596435926
My Review
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
World Rat Day
The illustrations perfectly match the poems - not just as illustrations go nicely with a story, but the drawing style itself. Anna Raff uses watercolors and line drawings to bring Lewis’s poems to life. In most cases, the illustrations add another layer of story to the written poem. This makes the book excellent not only to read aloud, but also to take time inspecting the pages.
Rhythm.
The rhythms vary throughout this collection, but each poem has a distinct one. Many are extremely choppy, such as “A Flamingo” (23), which is a single sentence, and “The Rat Is” (10), which is two short metaphors. Both of these poems are very funny, so they seem to be short in order to simply deliver the joke. “A Thousand Baby Star” (12) and “Bats” (13), on the other hand, have longer lines and longer stanzas that give the poems a leisurely flow.
Rhyme.
Lewis uses a variety of rhyme schemes, including couplets, ABCB, ABB, and more. Some poems, such as “Eight Table Manners For Dragons” (2) are free verse; the jokes are puns within the lines themselves.
Sound.
These poems are funny, so the reader can do a lot with his or her voice while reading aloud to ensure children are captivated. Lewis uses a lot of alliteration, consonance, assonance, and onomatopoeia to give his poems personality.
Language.
The language in this collection has clearly been carefully chosen to be approachable for children to read on their own, but also to sound interesting when read aloud. Words like “boomerang” and “airmailed” aren’t found much in children’s books, but they can be read easily, without a child stumbling over the word, and add a great sound to the lines they’re in.
Imagery.
When a poet uses the phrase “electrified confetti” to describe fireworks (12), you know he’s got some great imagery in the rest of his poems! Even if the illustrations in this book were not spot-on, Lewis would help the reader imagine the subjects of every poem. Who else would describe a bulldog as “The sumo of canines / The semi of runts” (14)?
Emotions.
The poems in this book aren’t especially emotional, as Lewis seems to focus more on humor. There are some unexpectedly beautiful lines, though, such as “murmurs to moonbeams / And whispers on wings” (13).
- Have children pick their favorite illustration and really look at it. Have them tell or write a story about what’s happening in the picture that isn’t told in the poem.
- Have children pick their favorite holiday from the book and write a poem as if they were celebrating.
- Have children make up their own strange holiday and write a poem about it.
- Since this collection is so humorous and random, invite the children to read other approachable poetry collections.
Falling Up by Shel Silverstein. ISBN 9780060248024
If You’re Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand by Kalli Dakos, illustrated by G. Brian
Karas. ISBN 9780689801167
It’s Raining Pigs & Noodles by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by James Stevenson.
ISBN 9780060763909
Press. ISBN 9780763654023
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
The Llama Who Had No Pajama
Rhythm.
The cadence of these poems is perfect for children because it has a natural up and down flow, encouraging the reader to raise and lower their tone throughout each line. There are a variety of poems - some long, some short, some with long lines, some with choppier lines. This assortment is a great way to keep children interested because no two poems are alike.
Rhyme.
The poems in this collection rhyme, which is ideal for children. The rhymes create a natural rhythm, which makes reading poetry more fun. Rhymes also help grab their interest, and may even help in memorizing poetry, or just help them feel included by being able to chime in with the rhyming words! Many different rhyme schemes are employed throughout the book. Hoberman primarily writes in couplets and simple 4-line rhymes, but also plays with assonance, consonance, and alliteration in the lines.
Sound.
Hoberman employs great use of sound throughout this collection. For example, in the poem “Worm:”
“SquigglyThe words are playful and encourage the reader to squirm along, becoming more and more antsy with each additional adverb. Many of Hoberman’s animals poems are written this way, helping the reader picture how the animal looks, feels, and sounds.
Wiggly
Wriggly
Jiggly
Higgly
Piggly
Worm” (15).
Language.
Not many metaphors and similes are used throughout the poems because the writing is very straight-forward and realistic. Hoberman chooses vivid words to accurately portray the experiences written about, such as birthdays, vacations, weather, and family relationships. The words are nicely chosen because they are not juvenile, even though the poems are aimed at children. The words are not over their heads, but they encourage the children to use context clues to derive meanings.
Imagery.
Even if this collection was not illustrated, Hoberman’s language alone would bring the poems to life. Her word choice, when describing anything from a birthday bus to a termite, makes the reader not only visually imagine the subject, but also approach it with the other senses by conveying the scent, sound, and touch of objects written about.
Emotions.
Since the collection is intended for children, Hoberman keeps the mood light. The poems don’t delve into deep emotions, but they are not all overly perky. They have a upbeat tone, but the happiness of the poems does not undercut the quality of the writing by making it seem too silly or lighthearted.
Browndeer Press. ISBN 9780152001117
Monday, October 6, 2014
Hideous Love
Rhythm.
The book is broken up into poems, each titled as a chapter would be in a traditional novel. This division provides a natural break for the reader, as most poems encompass a major event or emotion, then move smoothly to the next experience. The flow of each poem individually is affected by the line breaks, which are well-placed to make the reader pause and think about certain words and ideas. For example:
“I busy myselfThe short lines inspire the reader to ruminate on what is being said, instead of rushing on to the next line. “I busy myself” and “I want to speak” stand out as the actions, implying that Mary is trying hard to come up with a story but can’t, though she wants to get the words out. “Mysterious fears,” “awaken,” and “thrilling horror” stand out in the next two lines, adding urgency and emotion to the stanza. The last line is a let down, deflating after the build-up immediately before.
to think of a story,
but sadly the muse does not
arrive. I want to speak
to the mysterious fears
of our nature and to awaken
thrilling horror.
Nothing comes to me” (126).
Rhyme.
There is no rhyme scheme in the poems of this book; it is written in free verse.
Sound.
The individual poems have no particular sound as far as alliteration, consonance, repeated words, and so on. However, there is the tone (maybe just in my imagination) of a somewhat quiet yet educated voice reading these poems in a level voice.
Language.
The language in this book is perfectly chosen. Each word sounds like one Mary Shelley herself would pick for her writing, so it really helps the reader become immersed in her life story. Most ideas, emotions, and experiences are explained in straight-forward terms without simile or metaphor, but that does not diminish the quality of the story at all. In fact, I think it helps to make the book seem like it is actually from the 1800s.
Imagery.
Sensory words are used to establish the environment of Mary’s childhood home and her overbearing stepmother. It effectively conveys the destitute journeys Mary and Shelley took in the early years of their relationship. And it vividly draws the reader in to Mary’s grief… but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Emotions.
The emotion in this book is my favorite aspect. Mary is so sure of herself as a young teenager, and then falls so helplessly in love, and all of that is shared with the reader. The rocky start to her relationship and all the heartache that comes later is felt in the words of the poems. Though the book is so emotional, it is not heavy-handed, not forcing the reader to shed tears due to sentimentality. Instead, the language stays matter-of-fact and true to Shelley’s style. For example:
“I see my futureSimple language and a simple idea, but beautifully expressed to sweep the reader away with the words.
now not as something
intangible like a dream,
but like a boat
meeting land
after time spent at sea,
a destination I will reach” (38).
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Exploring Popplet
Besides LS5603 Literature for Children and Young Adults, this semester at TWU I am also taking LS5043 Information and Communication Technology. The class has been really interesting - I'm learning about copyright law, how libraries can take advantage of social media, and all about a variety of Web 2.0 tools. In fact, this is the first time I've heard the term Web 2.0 tools. Whether you're a librarian or civilian, a digital native or one trying to resist - have you heard the term before?
Each of my classmates evaluated a different Web 2.0 tool, and I'm eager to explore them all. For now, I'd like to share the Popplet I made. It's just a start - a way to list what books would be best for storytimes in October. This tool has so much potential, and I'm really glad we had this project for class. There are so many ways to share and collaborate with Popplet!
October Storytime Ideas
Each of my classmates evaluated a different Web 2.0 tool, and I'm eager to explore them all. For now, I'd like to share the Popplet I made. It's just a start - a way to list what books would be best for storytimes in October. This tool has so much potential, and I'm really glad we had this project for class. There are so many ways to share and collaborate with Popplet!
October Storytime Ideas
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
The Three Pigs
As the pigs leave their own story, the characters are drawn outside of the margins. There are several nearly-blank pages that show the three pigs on a paper airplane, flying away from their story towards anything else. It’s easy to picture this happening in a child’s room as they explore the bookshelves. As the pigs step into the nursery rhyme, they change from their realistic-looking selves into pudgy, cute nursery variations. The text changes as well, from black to purple, from standard fonts to rounded, kid-friendly letters. As soon as the pigs step off the page, they return to themselves, even if that means their head looks realistic while their backs are still cartoons! The pigs transform into black and white line drawings when they visit the dragon’s tale, and the dragon turns colored and scaly when he returns with the pigs to their realm.
Wiesner does a great job of showing how stories differ in illustration and text. This is a great book to take time to inspect, because there are fun elements to catch as you turn the pages. The blank pages don’t seem empty because the pigs are flying across it on their paper plane, and Wiesner is very skilled with making his drawings look 3D. The pigs are flat when they’re in stories, but as they travel around, they look like they’re outside of the book entirely, looking in with you.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Anansi and the Magic Stick
Anansi the spider is always getting into mischief. This time, he’s too lazy to do any work. While his neighbors clean their houses and take care of their gardens, Anansi sleeps. After the neighbors badmouth Anansi, he leaves to find a more peaceful place to
Every page of this book is beautifully illustrated, including the end papers and the author’s pictures! The drawings seem somewhat traditional: the animals are anthropomorphized, but they are portrayed realistically, instead of as cartoon characters. Even though they look realistic, the animals are vividly colored and have a lot of personality shining through. “Steven’s comic creatures with their surprised expressions add kid appeal,” says Publishers Weekly.
Illustrations cover nearly every page, with small blocks of text that encourage exploration of the art in between sentences. The sentences themselves look artistic, with creative spacing across pages, and bold, larger fonts to stress certain things, like when the animals are “working working working” and how the river was “a stream, then a flood, then a mighty river.”
The repetition of the Magic Stick’s rhyme, and the gibberish quality of the spell to make it stop, makes this a fun story to read aloud. This playfulness with the fonts, along with the bright illustrations, is a nice spin on a traditional tale, updating it for younger children to enjoy it now, while still learning lessons along with, er… thanks to Anansi.
I remember loving traditional tales as a child because I always thought the lesson learned was fun (I know, I know - I’m a nerd!). When I had to read it this time, however, I found I was almost dreading it, just because it seemed, well, a little boring. The cover seemed kind of plain, and I had just read a silly book, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs. I was relieved to open the book and find such colorful illustrations, and it seemed more appealing since the drawings covered the majority of every page. I think illustrations are important for traditional tales, because the tales are so wonderful to read aloud and be heard - that means having interesting stuff to look at will pull the children in to the story even more. I also think the silliness of the spells to start and stop the Magic Stick are fun to read aloud, especially when the reader is expressive and stumbles over the forgotten spell with Anansi towards the end. The reader can also speak the animals’ lines in what their voices would sound like, with Hyena’s laugh and Lion’s roar.
Kirkus Reviews says, “Children will delight in Anasi’s escapades as he annoys his neighbors and learns how to control the stick. This is [Kimmel and Stevens’s] fourth Anansi collaboration; has the tricky spider learned his lesson this time? Let's hope not-his stories are too amusing.”
”This tale has a more traditional ring to it than Kimmel and Stevens’s Anansi and the Talking Melon, but whimsical illustrations add a modern-day appearance. The art has a softer focus than in Talking Melon but the same bright colors fill the pages, and the whole adds up to an enjoyable offering that is clever, funny, surprising, and traditional all at once.” from School Library Journal.
Read other Anansi books by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrated by Janet Stevens:
Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock ISBN 9780823407989
Anansi and the Talking Melon ISBN 9780823411672
Anansi Goes Fishing ISBN 9780823410224
Anansi’s Party Time ISBN 9780823422418
Kimmel, Eric A. 2001. Anansi and the Magic Stick. Ill. by Janet Stevens. New York: Holiday House, Inc. 9780823414437
Monday, September 22, 2014
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
With a story told from the bad guy’s point of view, you can’t expect bright colors and smooth drawings! Lane Smith’s art fits The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs perfectly. The colors are mostly dark - maroons and burnt oranges, browns and tans. Each picture looks grainy, but on closer inspection, the marks are a lot of texture added to each drawing, like bumps on bricks, needles of hay, woodgrain on the chalkboard frame. The desaturated colors work well with the few samples of newsprint on the covers and at the end of the book. The illustrations seem a little dark for such a humorous story, but they are effective at setting the mood of an unreliable narrator trying to get you to believe his side of the story.
Publishers Weekly praises the illustrations specifically, saying, “Smith’s highly imaginative watercolors eschew realism, further updating the tale, though some may find their urbane stylization and intentionally static quality mystifyingly adult.” School Library Journal also comments on the overall dark and shadowy drawings, saying, “[…] the bespectacled wolf moves with a rather sinister tonelessness, and his juicy sneezes tear like thunderbolts through a dim, grainy world.”
I think it’s fun to read fractured fairy tales and compare them with the originals. This book is especially fun because the wolf seems sympathetic, wanting to bake a cake for his granny! It’s interesting to see who kids side with, since most know the other story of the three little pigs, and are now faced with looking at it from the bad guy’s point of view.
Books. ISBN 9780140544510
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