"Book" your Destination

Inclusive Literature for Children: Marina Budhos, ASK ME NO QUESTIONS

2009-08-09T22:45:00.004-05:00

Bibliography:
Budhos, Marina. 2006. Ask Me No Questions. New York: Simon & Schuster Publishing Group. ISBN: 9781416903512

Summary:
Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos is based on immigration issues, particularly those of Arabian descent, after September 11, 2001. According to the endnote, “In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. government began crackdown on illegal immigrants and an investigation of Muslim communities… If they were found to be residing illegally, or if they had any minor infractions on their visas, they were jailed, detained, or deported. … Although this is a work of fiction, these are the events that inspired this book.” The story told within the book is presented through the voice of fourteen year-old Nadira, daughter of a Bangladeshi man who was detained by INS at the Canadian-American border. Nadira and her older sister, Aisha, must leave their parents behind (The mother stays in a shelter near the prison to try and argue for her husband’s freedom.) and go back to New York as if nothing ever happened, but they are Bangladeshi and “They always say that no matter what happens to Bangladeshis – floods, storms, droughts, riots, strikes – we keep going.” So Nadira and Aisha must work together, despite their differences, to save their father and their family’s citizenship.

Critical Analysis:
Even though Marina Budhos’ book, Ask Me No Questions, is a fictional story, Budhos writes with such conviction that the story feels real. Budhos eloquently depicts a story of illegal aliens here in the United States, in which the children are taught to live their lives unnoticed. “You can’t tell which ones aren’t legal. We try to get lost in the landscape of backpacks and book reports. To find us you have to pick up on the signals… We all agree not to notice.”

Throughout the story, Budhos reveals many cultural markers that link the characters to their Middle Eastern heritage. Some obvious cultural markers are the characters’ names, including the fact that they call their father “Abba,” and references to their native foods, “Coconut flakes, Ma jokes. We’ll go outside and scoop them up, and I’ll make you some polao.” The descriptions of the women’s clothes, such as the “shalwar kameez,” and stories of the girls early childhood in Bangladesh are also mingled into the story. However, there are not only cultural markers for their heritage, but markers about their immigration status and experience as well, such as the banging on the door by the INS in the middle of the night to take away the girls’ uncle. Or dealing with a lawyer who takes their money but does not properly file for their visas, which is the reason they become illegal in the first place.

Furthermore, it’s not simply the fact that this story portrays one of illegal aliens here in the United States that make it an incredible book, but the fact that it’s a story of two sisters who otherwise don’t get along find a way to appreciate each others’ strengths and differences that make this a story that any young girl can relate to. Budhos does an excellent job of tapping into a multi-faceted story to develop a book that will sit well with many young adolescents.

Reviews from the Experts:
Kirkus Reviews
“Illegal immigrant sisters learn a lot about themselves when their family faces deportation in this compelling contemporary drama. Immigrants from Bangladesh, Nadira, her older sister Aisha and their parents live in New York City with expired visas. Fourteen-year-old Nadira describes herself as "the slow-wit second-born" who follows Aisha, the family star who's on track for class valedictorian and a top-rate college. Everything changes when post-9/11 government crack-downs on Muslim immigrants push the family to seek asylum in Canada where they are turned away at the border and their father is arrested by U.S. immigration. The sisters return to New York living in constant fear of detection and trying to pretend everything is normal. As months pass, Aisha falls apart while Nadira uses her head in "a right way" to save her father and her family. Nadira's need for acceptance by her family neatly parallels the family's desire for acceptance in their adopted country. A perceptive peek into the lives of foreigners on the fringe.”

VOYA
“Budhos's descriptive writing style helps the story seem more realistic. Nadira's conflicting emotions are portrayed in such a way that even though teens might not identify with her situation, they can easily relate to her feelings. The topics addressed in this book are very relevant in today's society, and teens will quickly be able to make real world connections. Although not all teens would choose to read this book on their own, it could be effectively used in the classroom.”

Connections:
Author Website:
http://www.marinabudhos.com/

Other Books by Marina Budhos:
House of Waiting, ISBN 9780964129221
The Professor of Light, ISBN 9780399144738
Remix: Conversations with Immigrant Teenagers, ISBN 9781556356100

Inclusive Literature for Children: Cynthia Lord, RULES

2009-08-09T22:33:00.006-05:00

Bibliography:
Lord, Cynthia. 2008. Rules. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 9780439443838

Summary:
As a parent of a child with autism, author Cynthia Lord writes from the heart in her first novel Rules. It is a story narrated by twelve year-old Catherine who struggles with self-conflicting battles and her feelings towards her younger brother, David, who has autism. In order to help her brother, Catherine creates rules and teaches them to David to prepare him for social situations and spare her some embarrassment. Then, as if Catherine needs more conflicts in her life, she meets Jason, a paraplegic boy her age who communicates through picture and word cards. Through her friendship with Jason, Catherine realizes that her rules are not only for David but for herself, and sometimes rules are meant to be broken.

Critical Analysis:
As a mother of two children, the youngest with autism, Cynthia Lord writes Rules from an insider’s perspective. She and her family understand first-hand what it’s like living with someone like David in the story. As an insider her descriptions on David's behaviors and words adequately depict a child with autism. For example, when David is unable to find his own words to speak, he mimics the words from his favorite story, Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel. By portraying the family’s difficulties through twelve year-old Catherine’s eyes, Lord puts the story into terms that today’s youth can relate. Even if the reader does not have a relative with autism, the reader may connect the story with a friend’s family or a classmate. Perhaps the reader, young or old, knows no one with autism; the reader will still find the story enlightening and learn about acceptance.

The story effectively depicts many cultural markers representing books about characters with disabilities. In this case, Lord uses the relationship between eight year-old David with autism and his older sister, Catherine, to demonstrate the toll an autistic family member may take on a family. Catherine is often left in charge of David when her parents are busy. In order to avoid the unusual actions of David, like continually putting toys in the fish tank, Catherine creates rules for David. “That’s [Catherine’s sketchbook] where I keep all the rules I’m teaching David so if my someday-he’ll-wake-up-a-regular-brother wish doesn’t ever come true, at least he’ll know how the world works, and I won’t have to keep explaining things.” As Catherine makes rules to help prepare David for social situations (“A boy can take off his shirt to swim, but not his shorts.”), she also makes rules for herself. “I have rules, too, and one of mine is: Sometimes you’ve gotta work with what you’ve got.” Each chapter title is a rule in which applies to the chapter’s situation. These rules created by Catherine demonstrate her love for David (she wants to take care of him), but they also represent a struggle within herself (she doesn’t want to be embarrassed by David’s actions).

Furthermore, Lord pursues Catherine’s inner struggle to accept David’s differences by channeling Catherine’s focus on a new friend named Jason. Jason is a twelve year-old paraplegic who cannot orally communicate and therefore relies on picture cards with words written at the top. Lord effectively sheds light on Jason’s feelings as Catherine makes more expressive word cards, like embarrassed, murky, and dazzling, for him to add to his book. As Catherine and Jason’s friendship develops, Catherine slowly begins to accept others for who they are.

Reviews from the Experts:
School Library Journal
“… Catherine is an endearing narrator who tells her story with both humor and heartbreak. Her love for her brother is as real as are her frustrations with him. Lord has candidly captured the delicate dynamics in a family that revolves around a child's disability. Set in coastal Maine, this sensitive story is about being different, feeling different, and finding acceptance. A lovely, warm read, and a great discussion starter.”

Publishers Weekly
“ … In the able hands of the author, mother of an autistic child, Catherine's emotions come across as entirely convincing, especially her alternating devotion to and resentment of David, and her guilt at her impatience with him. Through her artwork, the heroine gradually opens up to Jason, a wheelchair-bound peer who can communicate only by pointing to words on cards. As she creates new cards that expand Jason's ability to express his feelings, their growing friendship enables Catherine to do the same. A rewarding story that may well inspire readers to think about others' points of view.”

Connections:
Author Website:
http://www.cynthialord.com/
Author Blog:
http://cynthialord.livejournal.com/

Other Books by Cynthia Lord:
Hot Rod Hamster, coming February 2010
Touch Blue, coming September 2010

Classroom or Library Activities:
Visit these websites for Resources for Educators and Autism
C.A.R.E.
http://www.careumw.com/links.htm
Department of Health and Human Services http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/resources/educatorresources.htm
National Association of Special Education Teachers
http://www.naset.org/autism2.0.html
Web Toolbox for Educators and Parents
http://www.ed.sc.edu/caw/toolboxautism.html

Inclusive Literature for Children: Ken Setterington, MOM AND MUM ARE GETTING MARRIED

2009-08-09T22:26:00.003-05:00

Bibliography:
Setterington, Ken. 2004. Mom and Mum Are Getting Married. Ill. by Alice Priestley. Ontario: Second Story Press. ISBN: 9781896764849

Summary:
Ken Setterington presents the story of a same-sex wedding told from the perspective of Rosie, a young girl. In preparation for the small wedding, Rosie is determined to be a part of the wedding and develops the perfect plan to allow her and her little brother to carry the rings and throw flower petals. “In no time, Uncle Peter and I had done it! Jack and I each had a basket filled with petals. And in each basket there was a perfectly wrapped little present, tied to the handle with a bow.”

Critical Analysis:
Literature for elementary-age students about gay and lesbians is few in number, but books like Ken Setterington’s Mom and Mum Are Getting Married may help increase the numbers in school libraries. Setterington portrays the story through the eyes of Rosie, a young girl who is so excited to be a part of a wedding that the same-sex relationship is easily infused into the story. Many children, especially girls, will relate to Rosie’s flower girl enthusiasm, placing the focus on Rosie and not solely on the wedding between two women.

Being able to see yourself within a story or relate to a story’s characters is what draws many readers into a book. There are children who are not only able to relate to Rosie’s wedding excitement, but relate to having same-sex parents as well. It is this feature that makes Mom and Mum Are Getting Married an important piece of literature. A child with two moms or two dads may discover this book and celebrate that their family is finally represented in a picture book. Perhaps the book may even provide comfort to a child whose friend has two moms or two dads; it may show the child that his or her friend’s family is not so different.

Evidence of the homosexual relationship beyond the book’s title is intertwined throughout the text, (“They [Mom and Mum] unwrapped the rings and put them on each other’s fingers. Then they kissed.”) as well as the illustrations. The first picture of the two women together shows them holding hands. After the wedding ceremony, the couple is portrayed embracing one another with their wedding guests around them. Illustrator, Alice Priestley, uses bright colors to depict a happy moment in this family’s life.

Reviews from the Experts:
School Library Journal
“Rosie's two mothers are going to get married. When Mom tells her daughter about their plans, the youngster asks if she can be a bridesmaid or a flower girl, but Mom just wants a small celebration. Rosie offers another option-she and her brother, Jack, will carry the rings. Predictably, when the big day arrives, the rings are temporarily misplaced (by the couple). Rosie comes up with a solution to prevent them from getting lost a second time, and the wedding comes off without a hitch. "A perfect day," says Mum. The ink-and-colored pencil drawings are somewhat flat but colorful. While the story is slight and not particularly engaging, libraries needing to augment their collections on gay lifestyles may want to consider it.”

Kirkus Reviews
“Gay picture books are unfortunately still rare enough that they all matter regardless of literary and artistic quality. This one happens to be stilted and static. Rosie's Mom and Mum are getting married. Rosie's only concern is whether or not she'll get to be a flower girl, ring-bearer, or something else crucial to the ceremony (which she wishes would be bigger and fancier than it is). The concept and rightness of this two-mother family (and the same-sex marriage itself) are never questioned; there is no antagonist of the type often created specifically to facilitate a tolerance message. However, Setterington's text plods along, feeling forced. Priestley's drawings, though brightly colored, lack vibrancy and feel stale. This clearly deliberate piece has a worthy agenda and will stand in until better quality versions come along. Artistically tepid but socially valuable.”

Connections:
Other Books by Ken Setterington:
Clever Katarina: A Tale in Six Parts, ISBN 9780887767647
Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen, ISBN 9780887764974
The Wild Swans: An Adventure in Six Parts, ISBN 9780887764974

Classroom or Library Activities:
Students can paint a family picture and participate in a discussion on how families can be different and alike. Students can also write a response to the following question: “How would the story be different if the wedding rings were lost?”

Asian American Literature for Children: Laurence Yep, COCKROACH COOTIES

2009-07-31T23:07:00.006-05:00

Bibliography:
Yep, Laurence. 2000. Cockroach Cooties. New York: Hyperion. ISBN: 9780613457309

Summary:
In the novel Cockroach Cooties Laurence Yep portrays the Asian American culture through the eyes of two young brothers, Teddy age 9 and Bobby age 8. They share the typical bond between brothers: “However, there was one part of brotherhood I took seriously. In fact, it was the privilege of all big brothers. Nobody could do serious damage to my little brother except me.” So when it comes down to the school bully, Teddy feels he must protect his little brother. However, it’s Bobby who manages to find a way to outsmart the bully known as “Arnie-zilla.” The boys learn that it takes bugs and brains to ward off the bully and in the process they also learn what it is that makes Arnie so mean. “I [Teddy] wondered what it would be like with no father and almost no mother. He had no one to get rid of the bugs like our parents did. Or protect us. If I grew up on my own, I guess I’d have to be pretty tough, too.”

Critical Analysis:
When portraying the Asian American culture in children’s literature, there are very few authors who can write as seamlessly as Laurence Yep. From Yep’s realistic fiction novels, like Cockroach Cooties, to his fantasy novels, he is able to share a story without overloading it with cultural markers yet the reader still grasps the ways of many Chinese Americans. Perhaps it’s because he is writing from within his own culture and has lived the journey of many of his characters.

In Yep’s short novel Cockroach Cooties there are cultural markers present; however, the reader must pay close attention to notice them because they are embedded so fluently into the story. Yep does not describe the physical appearance of the characters or portray religious practices, but he does depict the surroundings. For example, as Yep describes the setting the reader can visualize Chinatown and its very crowded environment. “… the sun was shining. It hardly ever made it past all the buildings in Chinatown. So I just stood there and soaked up the warmth.” There are also references to the Chinese American foods as the boys walk through the streets of Chinatown. “There were always plenty of fresh vegetables and meat and fish and fruit.”

Furthermore, Yep infuses Chinese culture through the boys’ school lessons. The school that the boys attended provides one hour of Chinese each day, in which the students learn about their Chinese heritage, including the government and the language. Many of the sub-characters names seem to lend themselves to Asian descent as well, including the landlord Mr. Wong and the teachers Miss Lee and Mr. Chin.

Reviews from the Experts:
School Library Journal
“Set in the Chinatown section of San Francisco, this modern-day tale is about two brothers, eight and nine, previously featured in Later, Gator (Hyperion, 1995). Teddy, the older child, narrates. Bobby feels responsible for getting Teddy involved with a treacherous bully at school, so he devises a plan to scare the fiend with a cockroach that he obtains from "The Bug Lady," a neighbor studying entomology. The plan is effective until the roach meets with an unfortunate end, but Bobby has a new secret plan that brings Arnie to his knees. Eventually, they realize that his tough attitude is a result of uncaring parents and a difficult home life, and a tentative friendship is formed.”

Publishers Weekly
"There are two kinds of people in this world--the bullies and the victims," Teddy tells his younger brother, Bobby; the two have just incurred the wrath of their schoolmate Arnie, better known as Arnie-zilla. "Guess which bunch we belong to?" However, the boys inadvertently discover that the bully is afraid of cockroaches, and the tables turn. Bobby promptly adopts a critter, which he names Hercules, and introduces Teddy to their eccentric neighbor, the Bug Lady, with whom Bobby has long shared a passion for all things creepy-crawly. Brains win out over brawn as Bobby uses cookies with a mystery ingredient to trick Arnie into a peace treaty--and compassion wins out over vengeance, as the brothers discover that Arnie is more to be pitied than feared.”

Connections:
Author Interview:
http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/yep

Other Books by Laurence Yep:
Dragonwings, ISBN 9780064400855
The Earth Dragon Awakes, ISBN 9780060008468
Hiroshima, ISBN 9780590208338
Later, Gator, ISBN 9780786800599
Skunk Scout, ISBN 9780786806706
The Tiger’s Apprentice, ISBN 9780060010157

Classroom or Library Activities:
Visit these websites for Lesson Ideas Against Bullying
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson191.shtml
http://www.goodcharacter.com/GROARK/Bullying.html
http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/8493.aspx
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=377

Asian American Literature for Children: Lensey Namioka, YANG THE YOUNGEST AND HIS TERRIBLE EAR

2009-07-31T23:02:00.007-05:00

Bibliography:
Namioka, Lensey. 1992. Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear. New York: Random House, Inc. ISBN: 9780329588786

Summary:
Lensey Namioka shares the story of a newly immigrated Chinese family in her novel, Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear. Yingtao, the youngest Yang, born into a family of musicians tries to convince his family that he does not have an ear for music but instead has other talents. However, his father insists that he continue to practice and partake in the family’s music recital.

Critical Analysis:
Lensey Namioka knows what it’s like to move to a new country at a young age (She moved from China to the United States at the age of nine.); and therefore, is able to flawlessly write stories like Yang the Youngest and the Terrible Ear and share the experiences from an insider’s perspective. Readers will be able to endure the challenges of learning a new language and new culture through the eyes of Yingtao and the rest of the Yang family; a story portraying Chinese immigrants adjusting to a new way of life in the United States.

Cultural characteristics are interspersed throughout the book depicting the Yang’s Chinese heritage. One of the most obvious cultural markers is the names of the Yang family in which Namioka describes at the beginning of the story: “I’m the youngest in our Yang family of four children. According to our Chinese custom, I’m not allowed to call my elder brother and my two sisters by their given names. Instead, I have to address them as Eldest Brother, Second Sister, and Third Sister. They call me Fourth Brother.” Namioka also addresses the family’s adjustment to American names, “Hi, my name is Mary,’ interrupted Third Sister. I stared at her. I didn’t even know she had an American name. She must have picked it without telling the rest of the family. Maybe she felt it would be easier for her new friends to remember.”

Other cultural markers present in the story that demonstrate an immigrant family adapting to an American lifestyle include the Yang family learning the English language (Third Sister kept a notebook on which she wrote English words and phrases.), differences in foods and customs, as well as differences in living arrangements (“In China, all four of us had to share one bedroom. We ate our meals in the living room, and that’s where my parents slept at night. At least we were lucky and had our own kitchen.”). Furthermore, Yingtao (or Fourth Brother) learned additional American customs by learning to play baseball with his newfound friend Matthew and shared his family’s culture through their musical talents. While there are many cultural markers that depict a Chinese American family immigrating to America, it is not only a book for American immigrants to enjoy but any reader who can appreciate a humorous story about friendship and light family matters will enjoy the book as well.

Reviews from the Experts:
School Library Journal
"... Joining Matthew at practice, Yingtao discovers he's a natural athlete. Namioka uses their growing friendship to explore cultural differences and the problems of adjustment to a new society with a light but sure touch. Warm, humorous black-and-white sketches illuminate each character with casual, but astute, perception. Simpler and less incisive than Bette Bao Lord's In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson (HarperCollins, 1984), which is set in an earlier era, this multicultural music and sports story will have a broad appeal for young readers."

Horn Book
“Namioka explores issues of diversity, self-realization, friendship, and duty with sensitivity and a great deal of humor.”

Connections:
Author Website:
http://www.lensey.com/home.html

Other Books by Lensey Namioka:
PICTURE BOOKS:
The Hungriest Boy in the World, ISBN 9780823415427
The Laziest Boy in the World, ISBN 9780823413300
The Loyal Cat, ISBN 9780152000929

THE YANG FAMILY SERIES:
Yang the Third and Her Impossible Family, ISBN 9780440412311
Yang the Second and Her Secret Admirers, ISBN 9780316597319
Yang the Eldest and His Odd Jobs, ISBN 9780316590112

Classroom or Library Activities:
Literature Comparison:
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord, ISBN 9780064401753
After reading both books, students and teacher/librarian can compare and contrast the two stories. Teacher/librarian can lead discussion about how baseball helped both main characters learn to speak English.

Asian American Literature for Children: Allen Say, GRANDFATHER’S JOURNEY

2009-07-29T23:10:00.004-05:00

Bibliography:
Say, Allen. 1993. Grandfather’s Journey. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN: 9780547076805

Summary:
In this picture book, Allen Say combines his soft water color palette with his concise words to depict a story of a Japanese American man as he recalls his grandfather’s journey from Japan to America. “Of all the places he visited, he liked California best. He loved the strong sunlight there, the Sierra Mountains, the lonely seacoast.” Eventually, the grandfather returns to his native land in Japan. The narrator, who was born in Japan, also makes the journey to America. “After a time, I came to love the land my grandfather had loved, and I stayed on and on until I had a daughter of my own.”

Critical Analysis:
Allen Say uses his artistic talents to portray an immigration story. One could almost infer the entire story through Say’s simplistic yet powerful pictures. The pictures alone portray a man traveling from one side of the world to the other. The story begins with a man wearing traditional Japanese clothing on one page, then wearing a hat, tie, and trench coat in the next picture as he stands on a ship. The backgrounds in the pictures depict scenery from the mountains and ocean-sides of the United States, as well as the mountains and villages in Japan. These images demonstrate the differences and similarities in Japan and the United States.

However, Say’s text strengthens the story line as he describes the history of his family moving to (“The more he traveled, the more he longed to see new places, and never thought of returning home.”) and from America (“Finally, when his daughter was nearly grown, he could wait no more. He took his family and returned to his homeland.”). Throughout the story the reader understands, based on text and images, that migrating to a new country takes courage and, in this case, desire. However, it is also evident that one never forgets where he came from. “But I also miss the mountains and rivers of my childhood. I miss my old friends. So I return now and then, when I can not still the longing in my heart.”

While Grandfather’s Journey is a story of immigration from Japan to the United States, there are not many cultural markers in the text that portray the Japanese culture. The text does however follow a very sequential order like many other Asian American stories and lacks a strong problem and resolution that is typical in most Western literature. Furthermore, there are only a few cultural markers in the pictures that connect the book to Japan: the small, dark eyes on each of the faces, dark-smooth hair, robe-like clothes and wooden flip-flops. There is one particular picture of the grandfather in Japan that does reflect the Japanese culture rather vividly: He is sitting on the floor wearing Japanese clothing, legs and arms crossed, with a small tea pot next to him, bamboo-like shades hanging in the windows, and paved stones outside near a man-made pond. This image clearly depicts the Japanese culture.

Reviews from the Experts:
School Library Journal
“A personal history of three generations of the author's family that points out the emotions that are common to the immigrant experience. Splendid, photoreal watercolors have the look of formal family portraits or candid snapshots, all set against idyllic landscapes in Japan and in the U.S.”

Horn Book
“Say's grandfather travels throughout North America as a young man but, unable to forget his homeland, returns to Japan with his family, where the author is born. Say now lives in California and returns to his native land from time to time. "The funny thing is, the moment I am in one country, I am homesick for the other. I think I know my grandfather now." The immigrant experience has rarely been so poignantly evoked as it is in this direct, lyrical narrative, accompanied by soft-toned watercolors.”

Connections:
Author Website:
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/authors/allensay/

Other Books by Allen Say:
The Bicycle Man, ISBN: 9780395506523
Emma’s Rug, ISBN: 9780618335237
Erika-San, ISBN: 9780618889334
How My Parents Learned to Eat, ISBN: 9780395442357
The Lost Lake, ISBN: 9780395630365
Stranger in the Mirror, ISBN: 9780395938836
Tea with Milk, ISBN: 9780547237473

Classroom or Library Activities:
Origami boats:
Students can learn and create an origami boat, like the one on the title page. Then, the teacher or librarian can display a world map and students can “float” their boats from Japan to California on the map. Students can then recreate a map and illustrate the path traveled.

Native American Literature for Children: Cynthia Leitich Smith, INDIAN SHOES

2009-07-19T22:22:00.005-05:00

Bibliography:
Smith, Cynthia Leitich. 2002. Indian Shoes. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN: 9780060295318

Summary:
In Cynthia Leitich Smith’s short novel, Indian Shoes, Ray Halfmoon and Grampa Halfmoon share many heartwarming moments together. The two characters depict a contemporary lifestyle for Seminole-Cherokees. From taking care of neighbors’ pets during the Christmas holidays to playing in a youth baseball game, Grampa and Ray Halfmoon are there for each other.

Critical Analysis:
Ray and Grampa Halfmoon’s life is perfectly portrayed in such a way, by author Cynthia Leitich Smith, which children from all cultures can relate to the mild trials and simple moments of glory. While Ray Halfmoon is Seminole-Cherokee, his life is parallel to any other young boy growing up in today’s modern society. Adding a modern aspect to the characters’ American Indian ancestry makes Indian Shoes an authentic representation of contemporary fiction by a Native author.

Other than the Native author and the characters’ Native American heritage, there are other cultural markers that deem this book as an authentic Native American literature piece. For starters, the characters’ names, particularly the last name “Halfmoon,” note the American Indian heritage. Also, Grampa tells of his family living in Oklahoma, one of the most popular states in which Natives reside in today. Images by Jim Madsen throughout the story depict Grampa Halfmoon with a long ponytail, a physical trait linking the character to his Native ancestry.

Furthermore, the Seminole moccasins, that Ray traded his hightops for in order to get the moccasins as a gift for Grampa, also link the contemporary story to the Native past; hence the book's title. There are also other characters with different Native American ancestry mentioned in the chapter “Don’t Forget the Pants!” Jonah, the Groom from Polish-Menominee from Chicago, was marrying Nancy Lee, a Choctaw girl from Oklahoma and a friend to Ray and Grampa. In the “Night Fishing” chapter Ray is described with “a Cherokee Seven Clans quilt wrapped him cozy and safe.” It is these simple cultural representations that portray the story as an authentic Native American literary work, proving that a book does not have to be oozing with cultural markers to make it authentic.

Reviews from the Experts:
School Library Journal
“Smith adds her voice to the precious few authors portraying realistic contemporary life for Indian children. Although she tells little of his background, the author uses six vignette chapters to introduce Ray, an affable mixed-blood Cherokee-Seminole boy living in Chicago with his Grampa Halfmoon. … There are no mystical nature spirits or cathartic history lessons, only the everyday challenges common to any contemporary kid, as experienced by an Indian boy who is firmly grounded in his own family's heritage. With its unadorned portrayal of urban Indian life, Shoes is a good book for any elementary-aged reluctant reader, and a necessity for indigenous children everywhere.”

Kirkus Reviews
“… Ray and Grampa have a warm and loving intergenerational bond that's an added treat. With a nod toward contemporary Native Americans, Grampa tells Cherokee and Seminole family stories, and when Ray gets to be in a wedding party, the groom is Polish-Menominee and his bride is Choctaw. An excellent choice for younger readers from the author of the bittersweet Rain Is Not My Indian Name (2001).”

Connections:
Author Website:
http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/

Other Books by Cynthia Leitich Smith:
Eternal, ISBN 9780763635732
Jingle Dancer, ISBN 9780688162429
Rain Is Not My Indian Name, ISBN 9780739380185
Santa Knows, ISBN 9780525477570
Tantalize, ISBN 9780763627911

Classroom or Library Activities:
Book Extension Activity:
Students can create a new chapter to add to the book depicting Ray and Grampa Halfmoon in a new situation. The teacher or librarian should brainstorm with the class prior to writing to ensure that students continue with an authentic contemporary portrayal of the Native Americans.

Native American Literature for Children: Sherman Alexie, THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN

2009-07-19T21:40:00.007-05:00

Bibliography:
Alexie, Sherman. 2007. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. Ill. by Ellen Forney. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN: 9780316013680

Summary:
As a fourteen year-old boy and member of the Spokane Indians, Junior realizes that in order to better himself he must leave the Spokane reservation and attend a neighboring all-white farm town high school, Reardan. Despite the turmoil this creates, “I woke up on the reservation as an Indian, and somewhere on the road to Reardan, I became something less than Indian. And once I arrived at Reardan, I became something less than less than less than Indian.” Junior uses his artistic abilities to cope with death, alcoholism, racism, puberty, poverty, and life.

Critical Analysis:
Sherman Alexie earns the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature through his abilities to portray the emotions and thoughts of a teen-age boy in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. The cartoon-like illustrations by Ellen Forney bring the text to life, adding depth to the reader’s visual comprehension, and perfectly match Alexie’s witty words. It is the combination of the teen boy’s perspective and the comic-like feel of the book that place this book on many reading lists for boys, such as Amazon’s Book Talks for Teenage Boys, as well as best books for teens, Teen Reads.

As a teenage boy, Junior faces racism (even within his own people), bullying (“Everybody on the rez calls me a retard about twice a day. They call me retard when they are pantsing me or stuffing my head in the toilet or just smacking me upside the head.”), death, self-identity crisis, alcoholism, and even poverty. Alexie describes the effects of poverty on the reservation through Junior’s family, “I know my mother and father had their dreams when they were kids. They dreamed of being something other than poor, but they never got the chance to be anything because nobody paid attention to their dreams.” Perhaps those words even foreshadow the moment in which Junior decides that he must leave the reservation in order to escape the poverty cycle. Despite the tough times that are presented in the story, Alexie and Forney’s words and images simultaneously portray Junior as a smart and artistically talented young man who is able to cope by finding humor in even the most unexpected circumstances.

While the book takes place on the Spokane Indian reservation, the book’s focus is not entirely on the Native Americans. However, when evaluating the story for its cultural markers, there are several embedded throughout the book that reveals the Spokane Indian traditions. For example, when Junior’s sister sends him an email from Montana, she describes ordering and eating fry bread a Native food: “So I ordered up two pieces [of fry bread]. I didn’t think it would be any good, especially not as good as grandma’s.” Religious practices and celebrations are revealed in the death of Junior’s grandmother. Her funeral, which lasted more than ten hours, was referred to as a “wake” in which nearly two-thousand Indians came to celebrate her life and say good-bye by sharing stories, one of which was about pow-wows. Later in the story Junior and his parents go to visit the gravesites of their loved ones, and this is Junior’s thoughts on death, “We Indians know how to celebrate with our dead.” Thus, there are cultural markers that link this story to the Spokane Indians; however, it is a story that readers from a variety of cultures and backgrounds will enjoy.

Reviews from the Experts:
Publishers Weekly“… Unlike protagonists in many YA novels who reclaim or retain ethnic ties in order to find their true selves, Junior must separate from his tribe in order to preserve his identity. Jazzy syntax and Forney's witty cartoons examining Indian versus White attire and behavior transmute despair into dark humor; Alexie's no-holds-barred jokes have the effect of throwing the seriousness of his themes into high relief.”

VOYA
“This book would really appeal to high school and junior high boys for casual and interesting reading. People who are interested in reservation life would find that this book gives a wonderful insight to Native American culture. Alexie makes a good storyteller. The pictures in the book give great detail to the story and writing. Within the story, there are two worlds that a boy must distinguish between and live in.”

Connections:
Author Website:
http://www.fallsapart.com/index.html

Other Books by Sherman Alexie:
Face, ISBN: 9781931236706
Flight, ISBN: 9780802170378
The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, ISBN: 9780802141675
Reservation Blues, ISBN: 9780802141903
Ten Little Indians, ISBN: 9780802141170

Other Winners of the National Book Award, Young People’s Literature:
http://www.nationalbook.org/index.html
Godless – 2004, ISBN 9781416908166
Homeless Bird – 2000, ISBN 9780064408196
Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida – 1996, ISBN 9780064471862
What I Saw and How I Lied – 2008, ISBN 9780439903462

Classroom or Library Activities:
Comic Creator:
Using the online Comic Creator, http://www.readwritethink.org/MATERIALS/comic/, students can write a digital comic strip. Comic strips can be used for students to illustrate their understanding of specific chapters or students can reflect on something in their own life and create a diary-like comic just as Junior does.

Native American Literature for Children: Joseph Bruchac, HIDDEN ROOTS

2009-07-18T23:20:00.006-05:00

Bibliography:
Bruchac, Joseph. 2004. Hidden Roots. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 9780439353588

Summary:
In Joseph Bruchac’s novel, Hidden Roots, eleven year-old Sonny is unsure of himself and unaware of the hidden truths that have been buried deep within his family. Sonny and his mother are victims of domestic abuse, and he doesn’t understand what it is that sends his father into fits of rage or what it is that makes him so different from his classmates at school. He would also like to know why his parents are always whispering and what it is about his Uncle Louis that makes his father’s anger heighten. However, Sonny knows not to ask questions, “I’d learned that not asking [questions] kept things more peaceful.” But when an accident happens at the mill where his father works, things begin to change for Sonny, at home and at school. Uncle Louis comes around a lot more and begins to reveal the “hidden roots.” Sonny learns that he and his family are Abenaki Indians and Uncle Louis is not really his uncle.

Critical Analysis:
While the book, Hidden Roots is fiction, Joseph Bruchac embeds pieces of truth from America’s past; truth that may not be easy to swallow, but truth all the same. The Author’s Note in the back of the book links the fictional story to the “Vermont Eugenics Project” which started in 1931 and continued through the early 1960’s. During this time frame “Families with ‘diseased germ plasm’ were identified throughout the state for ‘voluntary sterilization.” In other words people who were deemed as “feeble-minded” by the government, which included the Abenaki Indians, were sterilized in order to prevent procreation. Thus, real families, like the fictional family in Hidden Roots, chose to “stop being Indian as far as the outside world was concerned.”

Despite the fact that Sonny’s family ignored their Native American roots, Bruchac eloquently tells a story that intertwines a piece of American history with a story of an Abenaki Indian family. There are cultural markers revealing the Abenaki people even if Sonny, whose real name is Howard, was unaware of his heritage. Sonny’s knowledge of Indians was dependent upon what he learned at school or saw on the movies, which means that Sonny learned about the stereotypical Indians that hunted buffalo, lived in tepees, and wore feathers. Sonny was oblivious to the cultural markers that surrounded him connecting him to his Native Indian ancestry.

While Sonny's family hides his Native roots, there are cultural markers present in the book. The book is separated into sections according to the seasons of the moon (Moon of Ripening, Moon of Leaves Changing, Moon of Leaves Falling, Freezing Moon, and Moons of Long Nights). The description of Uncle Louis reflects that of Native American ancestry, “His white hair was longer than most men wore it, almost down to his shoulders. His face was tanned darker, too, than the faces of most of the people in our town. … his eyes, which were squintier than mine [Sonny’s] were as black as a night with no moon or stars.” Sonny’s mother and Uncle Louis have a way of greeting one another that probably links back to an Abenaki tradition, “He patted his chest with his left hand and then placed that hand on Mom’s right shoulder.”

Joseph Bruchac not only reveals Sonny’s Native American ancestry, but Bruchac also reveals through a conversation between Sonny and Uncle Louis a time in American history when Natives were treated harshly. “Some places, Indians been treated like they aren’t even human. Or they’d say that all Indians was thieves and you could never trust them. Sometimes they’d have their land taken away from them, and they’d be made to move on, just because they was Indian.”

Reviews from the Experts:
Library Journal
“ … This purposeful but discerning book will prompt discussion and further research into the plight of the Native people from the Green Mountain State. Yet within this historical framework of the shameful deeds of man, pride and integrity hold the family together.”

Kirkus Reviews
“Eleven-year-old Howard's tiny New York town has 1954's post-war and Cold War concerns, but Howard's family has more complex scars. A silence surrounding their ancestry involves parental shame and forced ignorance: Howard has no idea what's going on, only that most questions are forbidden. Physical abuse from his father enforces the tense silence.”

Connections:
Author Website:
Joseph Bruchac http://www.josephbruchac.com/

Other Books by Joseph Bruchac:
Arrow over the Door, ISBN 9780141305714
Bearwalker, ISBN 9780061123092
Code Talker, ISBN 9780142405963Skeleton Man, ISBN 9780064408882
Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s Back: A Native American Year of Moons, ISBN 9780698115842
Whisper in the Dark, ISBN 9780060580896
The Winter People, ISBN 9780142402290

Classroom or Library Activities:
Internet Scavenger Hunt: Using this website (http://www.bigorrin.org/abenaki_kids.htm), or another reputable site about Native Americans, the teacher or librarian can create an Internet Scavenger Hunt for the students to complete and learn about the Abenaki Indians.

Hispanic/Latino American Literature for Children, Pura Belpre Award: Pam Munoz Ryan, ESPERANZA RISING

2009-07-10T18:54:00.004-05:00

Bibliography:
Ryan, Pam Munoz. 2002. Esperanza Rising. New York: Scholastic, Inc. ISBN: 9780439120425

Summary:
Thirteen year-old Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their wealthy lifestyle in Mexico after the death of her father and learn a new way of life in California. This new life brings on hard work in the migrant farm lands, financial struggles due to the Great Depression, harsh living conditions, and friction among Esperanza and the families who have been working the farm lands for quite some time. Esperanza eventually adapts to her new life and learns that family bonds are still strong with or without money.

Critical Analysis:
Pam Munoz Ryan effectively sheds light into the lives of migrant farmers in California during the early 1930’s in Esperanza Rising, a story closely based on Ryan’s grandmother. Chapter titles pay tribute to the harvest seasons and are named (in English and Spanish) for the fruit or vegetable of that season (such as, Las Uvas or Grapes); and therefore represent the reliance on farming during this time period. Ryan even describes the heat, and the sun’s effects on the workers’ skin as well as the toil it takes on their bodies. In fact, Esperanza’s own mother becomes a victim to the sun with “Valley Fever,” which in turn leaves Esperanza working harder and longer hours, something she never had to do back on her family’s ranch in Mexico.

The story depicts many cultural markers representing the Hispanic American culture. At the beginning of the book, two Mexican proverbs are written: "He who falls today may rise tomorrow." "The rich person is richer when he becomes poor, than the poor person when he becomes rich." These proverbs give a glimpse into the beliefs of Esperanza and her family, and foreshadow what lies ahead in the story. Ryan integrates Spanish phrases and words (vaqueros, campesinos, mi reina, la sala, fiesta, etc.) throughout the book just as they would naturally be spoken by many bilingual Americans. Even the characters’ names represent a Latino or Hispanic heritage: Esperanza, Miguel, Abuelita, Hortensia, Tio Luis, Marta, etc.

In addition to the language, the celebrations and religious practices mentioned throughout the story also depict the Hispanic culture. At the beginning of the story, Esperanza and her friends are dreaming about their Quinceaneras, a Mexican celebration to present a girl making the transformation from girl to woman. After the death of Esperanza’s father, Ryan mentions the rosaries and masses, which are part of the Catholic beliefs which many Hispanics follow. Also, the foods in which Esperanza and her family ate (papaya, coconut, and lime salad) reflect a Hispanic culture.

Furthermore, Pam Munoz Ryan writes with such elegant detail that the reader’s mind is filled with images to match her near poetic text. Here Ryan describes Esperanza’s features: “Esperanza was almost as tall as Mama and everyone said she would someday look just like her beautiful mother. Sometimes, when Esperanza twisted her hair on top of her head and looked in the mirror, she could see that it was almost true. There was the same black hair, wavy and thick. Same dark lashes and fair, creamy skin. But it wasn’t precisely Mama’s face, because Papa’s eyes were there too, shaped like fat, brown almonds.”

Review from the Experts:
Kirkus Review
“… But her style is engaging, her characters appealing, and her story is one that—though a deep-rooted part of the history of California, the Depression, and thus the nation—is little heard in children's fiction. It bears telling to a wider audience.”

Publishers Weekly
"With a hint of magical realism, this robust novel set in 1930 captures a Mexican girl's fall from riches and her immigration to California."

Connections:
Author’s Website: Pam Munoz Ryan http://www.pammunozryan.com/

Other Books by Pam Munoz Ryan:
Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, ISBN 9780590960755
Becoming Naomi Leon, ISBN 9780439269971
Hello Ocean, ISBN 9780881069884
Paint the Wind, ISBN 9780545101769

Other Children’s Books set in the Great Depression:
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis, ISBN 9780553494105
Dust for Dinner by Ann Turner, ISBN 9780064442251
The Gardener by Sarah Stewart, ISBN 9780312367497
Nothing to Fear by Jackie French Koller, ISBN 9780152575823
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse, ISBN 9780590371254
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor, ISBN 9780140384512
What You Know First by Patricia Maclachlan, ISBN 9780064434928
Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck, ISBN 9780142300701

Classroom or Library Activities:
Fruit Basket:
Each chapter is named after a fruit or vegetable. The teacher or librarian can bring in the fruit for each title and discuss with the class the significance of the fruit to that particular portion of the story. If possible, bring enough fruit/vegetables for students to taste.

Hispanic/Latino American Literature for Children: Gary Soto, PETTY CRIMES

2009-07-09T19:58:00.003-05:00

Bibliography:
Soto, Gary. 2006. Petty Crimes. Orlando: Harcourt. ISBN: 9780152054373

Summary:
Gary Soto’s Petty Crimes is a short story collection of pre-teen and teen Hispanic Americans growing up in California. Each character has a story and it is their stories that are shared here. Many of the characters commit a petty crime, such as La Guera who begins stealing, or are trying to defeat the crime around them, such as Norma who is trying to protect the doll she was given for a school assignment.

Critical Analysis:
Through the youth of California, Soto depicts the life of Hispanic Americans by telling ten short stories. Each story is a representation of what life is like as a Hispanic American youth, which in the case of Soto’s characters life is not always easy. His words of similes and metaphors vividly portray a picture in the mind of the reader. “Outside the school, the world was marked with graffiti, boom boxes, lean dogs behind fences, and gangsters with tattooed arms and chests… Everywhere litter scuttled like rats in the streets, and the houses around the school were collapsing like mushrooms.” It is these words in the story of La Guera that Soto depicts the harsh environment that surrounds the Hispanic Americans.

It is not only the detailed description of the setting that Soto uses to depict the Hispanic American culture in this area of California. There are many cultural markers throughout each short story. The names used reflect a Hispanic nature: Sylvia, Jose, Ricardo, Miguel, Angel, Priscilla, etc. Spanish language is intertwined within the text (vato, primo, buena suerte, etc.), especially in the dialogue. “How about your shoes? You keep some coins there, que no?” (The bully’s words as he takes money from Miguel in “If the Shoe Fits.”) There is also the description of the characters’ skin tones, the heavy eye makeup worn by the young Latino girls, and thumbs marked by tattoos that reflect the hard lives of these Hispanic American youths.

Furthermore the events and problems in each story reflect a Hispanic American culture. In “Born Worker” the description of Jose and his family represent a culture that is willing to accept laborious jobs in order to support the family. Jose at a very young age was thought to be “born” to work. “They said that Jose was born with a ring of dirt around his neck, with grime under his fingernails, and skin calloused from the grainy twist of a shovel.”

Review from the Experts:
School Library Journal
“Rich in simile and metaphor and sprinkled with Spanish words and phrases that can be understood from context, these simply told memorable stories about Hispanic teens resonate with realism because they deal with concerns most young people have"Who am I?" and "Am I doing the right thing?"

Publishers Weekly
“With a rare mix of compassion and irony, Soto (Buried Onions) crystallizes moments signifying the loss of innocence. His pithy last liners ("The vatos locos walked slowly away, their heads directed toward the future, and their bodies already half dressed for their funerals") will stop readers in their tracks, leaving them to digest the meaning of his words and ponder the fates of his protagonists.”

Connections:
Author’s Website: Gary Soto http://www.garysoto.com/

Other Books by Gary Soto:
The Afterlife, ISBN 9780152052201
Baseball in April and Other Stories, ISBN: 9780152025670
Buried Onions, ISBN 9780152062651
Neighborhood Odes, ISBN 9780152053642
Taking Sides, ISBN 9780152046941

Hispanic/Latino American Literature for Children: Pat Mora, ABUELOS

2009-07-09T18:38:00.007-05:00

Bibliography:
Mora, Pat. 2008. Abuleos. Ill. by Amelia Lau Carling. California: Groundwood Books. ISBN: 9780888997166

Summary:
Set in the mountains of New Mexico, Pat Mora’s Abuelos tells the story of “Los Abuelos,” a tradition from the northern mountain villages. Mora brings the story to life through a young girl, Amelia, and her family, who just moved to the mountains in New Mexico. Los abuelos are old men who come down the mountains to see if little boys and girls are minding their parents. Amelia is afraid of the Los Abuelos and is continually scrutinized by her older brother Ray about the coming of Los Abuelos. Despite Ray’s antagonizing ways, Amelia still takes up for her brother and protects him when he is nearly captured by one of Los Abuelos.

Critical Analysis:
In order to share an authentic story about a tradition from the history of the villagers in New Mexico, Pat Mora visited museums in northern New Mexico and read about their customs (As noted in her “Author’s Note” in the back of the book.). In this book, Abuelos, Mora adequately depicts the life and traditions of the people in the New Mexico Mountains.

While the book is not bilingual, Mora sprinkles Spanish words and phrases throughout the book (pueblo, Que frio! , por favor, etc.) to reflect the spoken language. Even the names of the characters (Papa, Amelia, Raymundo, tio, etc.) represent the Hispanic heritage of the people in this area. Mora also uses other cultural markers to show the Hispanic American culture, such as the foods they ate (bizcochitos and empanadas) during the celebration at the end of the story. The tradition of Los Abuelos is, in itself, a reflection on their cultural traditions.

Illustrator Amelia Lau Carling also portrays the Hispanic influence in her watercolor portraits. The characters skin tone, dark hair, and the bold patterns on their clothes and party decorations represent their Hispanic American culture. When painting the scenes of the mountains and the abuelos, Carling uses a soft color palette illustrating a cold climate in the mountains and giving a ghost-like feel to the abuelos. The homes have an adobe look to them with a curved fireplace on the inside both reflecting a Hispanic influence.

Reviews from the Experts:
School Library Journal
“Mora, as always, is a master storyteller. In her hands the framing story of Amelia's family and the retelling of the folktale blend seamlessly. This book is not bilingual, but there are many Spanish phrases throughout the family's conversations.”

Kirkus Reviews
“Perfect for those who want a gently scary story embedded in a fascinating and little-known "bogeyman" tradition from Hispanic New Mexico. The author's note provides additional information, and places the story in the context of universal cautionary tales.”

Connections:
Author Website:
http://www.patmora.com/

Classroom or Library Activities:
• Lights, Camera, Action! – Students could dramatize the story to bring it to life. They could perform it during a multicultural celebration or a family night.
• Vocabulary and Inferences – As the teacher/librarian reads the book aloud, pause after reading a word (English or Spanish) that the students may not know the meaning. Then, read all of the text around the words and direct student to draw conclusions to determine the word’s meaning. Example: “Outside, people are building a huge luminaria.” From the next sentence, students can determine the meaning of the word. “Our friends call us to run around the bonfire with them.”

African American Literature for Children, Featured Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney, BLACK COWBOY, WILD HORSES: A TRUE STORY

2009-06-28T22:00:00.005-05:00

Bibliography:
Lester, Julius. 1998. Black Cowboy, Wild Horses: A True Story. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. New York: Dial Books. ISBN: 9780803717879

Summary:
When a herd of wild mustangs is running violently across the plains, there is only one cowboy and horse duo that can round up those horses and lead them into captivity. It is Bob Lemmons and his horse Warrior and it is their story being told by author Julius Lester and illustrator Jerry Pinkney in Black Cowboy, Wild Horses: A True Story. This children’s picture book portrays the life of a real African American cowboy and his innate abilities to single-handedly capture herds of wild horses as he patiently and calmly blends himself into his surroundings and is accepted into the herd.

Critical Analysis:
“The sky was curved as if it were a lap on which the earth lay napping like a curled cat.” Through beautiful figurative language like this, author Julius Lester tells a piece of history about an African American cowboy, Bob Lemmons, who can round up wild horses that no white cowboy could catch. However, if it weren’t for the beautifully illustrated pictures by Jerry Pinkney, there are very few clues that let the reader know that Bob Lemmons is a cowboy of color. In fact, the only evidence of cultural markers in the text is these words: “Some people learn from books. Bob had been a slave and never learned to read words.” The rest of the text throughout the story does not provide language, religious beliefs, names of characters, food, nor celebrations that would identify a specific culture in the story. Perhaps it was with intention to show that Bob Lemmons, despite his skin color, is a true cowboy just like his light-skinned counterparts.

In contrast to the text, Jerry Pinkney’s watercolor illustrations do portray the story of a cowboy of color and depict the essence of the African American culture. In fact, in the story’s very first scene we see Bob Lemmons atop the hill while his white counterparts are down below, almost as if this scene sets the stage for the differences in skin color and abilities. In appearance, Bob Lemmons has the large flattened nose, thick jet-black hair beginning to form into a curly Afro, and dark brown skin that portray him as an African American. However, his body structure and clothing suit those of any cowboy regardless of skin color.

Looking beyond the multicultural markers, the illustrations are so incredibly detailed that the muscles in the horse are very well defined. Pinkney has the ability as an artist to show the beauty in wild horses stampeding across the plains. My favorite picture in the book is one of which the text and illustration are so appropriately matched that it took my breath away. “For Bob there was only the bulging of the horses’ dark eyes, the quivering of their flesh, the rippling of muscles and bending of bones in their bodies. He was now sky and plains and grass and river and horse.” The picture shows the horses racing across the prairie on the ground and traces of horses running through the clouds in the sky, almost as if the ground and the sky were one in the same.

Reviews from the Experts:

Horn Book Magazine“In vivid, poetic prose, Lester tells the tale of a uniquely talented man, cowboy Bob Lemmons. Lester first told the story as "The Man Who Was a Horse" in his collection Long Journey Home: Stories from Black History (rev. 4/73). While that version includes more historical background and detailed information on Lemmons's life, this picture-book narrative appropriately conveys Lemmons's character through a particular (fictionalized) incident, telling a well-shaped tale with a dramatic climax.”

Kirkus Reviews
“… The text is ably matched by Pinkney's big, dappled watercolor scenes of open prairie and muscular, galloping horses. Lemmons may not have the name recognition of Nat Love or Bill Pickett, but his exploits were no less spectacular.”

Connections:
Author website http://members.authorsguild.net/juliuslester/
Illustrator website http://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/frameset.html

Websites about Cowboys of Color:
African Online http://www.africanaonline.com/slavery_black_cowboys.htm
Black Cowboys.com http://www.blackcowboys.com/
Famous Texans, Bill Pickett biography http://www.famoustexans.com/billpickett.htm
National Cowboys of Color Museum http://www.cowboysofcolor.org/

Classroom or Library Activity:
Using an online free webquest software, such as Zunal (http://zunal.com/), the teacher or librarian could create a webquest about the history of African American cowboys. Students could then work in partners to complete the webquest and to learn about the influence of African Americans in the history of cowboys and rodeos.

African American Literature for Children, Featured Author: Nikki Grimes, SHOE MAGIC

2009-06-28T21:46:00.007-05:00

Bibliography:
Grimes, Nikki. 2000. Shoe Magic. Ill. by Terry Widener. New York: Orchard Books. ISBN: 9780531302866

Summary:
Nikki Grimes uses shoes as her subject of poetry in Shoe Magic. From cleats or baby shoes to work boots or bedtime slippers, with each pair of shoes there is a poem to match. Many of the poems depict a young child trying on a pair of shoes and dreaming about a future career that the shoes may lead to or how a pair of shoes connects them to their past.

The following is an excerpt from the book representing the thoughts a pair of shoes might evoke in a child’s mind.

“Brandi’s Baby Shoes”
Why Mom keeps
My bronze baby shoes
Buffed and brilliant
On the mantel
Is a mystery.
But lately
I’ve been thinking:

1.
Maybe Mom set
My shoes in metal
So I’d know
Baby days were over
And I might as well grow.

And

2.
Lucky for the rest of me
She ran out of bronze.

Critical Analysis:
While the poetry in Shoe Magic is written by an African American author, Nikki Grimes, it is not limited to the African American culture. The book portrays some cultural markers that connect it to many different cultures, including Asian American, Mexican American, and African American. By simply reading the titles of some of the poems an analytical eye can recognize that the poem is linked to a specific culture, “When Devin and Dina Go Hiking,” “Talisha’s Toe Shoes,” “Salena’s Sandals,” and “Golf Shoes for Lu and Yu,” either because of the spelling (such as “Dina” is a spelling more common to African Americans than the more commonly used “Deena” just as “Lu” is an Asian American spelling for the traditional “Lou”) or because the name is one common to a specific culture (such as “Selena” is to the Mexican Americans just as “Talisha” is to African Americans).

However, it is not the language in the poems that reflects the various cultures, but more so the illustrations. Within the bold and vibrant illustrations by Terry Widener a variety of cultural traits are depicted. For example, the deep dark brown skin color, black hair, and large nose of the boy from “The Shoe Rack” or the girl from the poem “Slippers” show their African American heritage. Yet the lighter brown skin color of the girl in “Selena’s Sandals” show her Mexican American heritage, both in contrast to the pale skin and blonde hair on the boy in “Aaron’s Hair.” There is also the appearance of slanted eyes on the boys in “Golf Shoes for Lu and Yu” and “Here Comes the Clowns” that may lead the reader to recognize that they are of Asian American descent.

Regardless of the skin color, hair type, or eye shape each poem depicts a child with a dream and his or her connection to shoes. And overall the book sends a message that it does not matter where your heritage comes from, we are all alike in that we can dream of what our future will be like, and in this case it is the “magic” of shoes that joins us together.

Review from the Experts:

School Library Journal
A multicultural cast of boys and girls engage in sports activities, perform onstage, and enjoy the outdoors. Their elongated arms and legs seem to be in constant motion and make an interesting contrast to the rounded shape of their faces. This collection clearly celebrates its child readers.

Booklist
“The poetry is uneven, mixing tightly rhymed couplets and loosened rhythm and rhyme with occasionally forced results; many poems work better out loud. But the voices convey a joyful purpose as they describe the hard work of the present and dreams about the future. The bright, foot-centric artwork, brimming with fanciful, stylized shapes, plays up the diverse speakers' exuberance and energy, though the pictures work best when paired with a poem on a white background. Then the words have more room to create their own images. Young ones struggling to express their own experiences in art and sports will find inspiration here.”

Connections:
Author website http://www.nikkigrimes.com/

Poetry websites:
Children’s Poetry Archive http://www.poetryarchive.org/childrensarchive/home.do (Listen to poems read aloud by authors!)
Giggle Poetry http://www.gigglepoetry.com/ (Kids can read, evaluate, and write poetry, as well as play some poetry games.)
Poetry for Children Blog by Dr. Vardell http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com/
Poetry Power http://www.geocities.com/murphyseaglets/index.html (a resource for teachers and librarians)
A School Library’s Webpage dedicated to poetry http://www.websterschools.org/classrooms/state_library/poetry.html

Classroom or Library Activities:
Students and teacher can bring in various shoes from home. (It may be necessary to set a limit of no more than 2 shoes per student, but be sure you collect a variety of shoes and there is a ratio of 2 shoes per total number of students.) Shoes should be placed on display around the room. Students will travel around the room with their writing journal taking time to stop at each shoe and jot notes about its description and their thoughts about where it has been or where it could go. Then, students choose two different shoes to write a poem or short story about using Shoe Magic as a model.

African American Literature for Children: FEATHERS by Jacqueline Woodson

2009-06-28T21:43:00.005-05:00

Bibliography:
Woodson, Jacqueline. 2007. Feathers. New York: Penguin Group. ISBN: 9780399239892

Summary:
“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune – without the words,
And never stops at all.”
Emily Dickinson

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson is a fictional story of an eleven year-old African American girl, Frannie, and her struggles to find hope during a time of segregation. While Frannie lives in an all black community just across the highway is an all white community, but these sides have yet to cross paths in Frannie’s life until a white boy with long curly hair walks into Frannie’s classroom. They call him “Jesus Boy” because of his exterior differences and the fact that he is able to ignore the harsh words of the school bully. After all, “If there was a world for Jesus to need to walk back into, wouldn’t this one be it?” asks Frannie’s best friend Samantha. It is through Emily Dickinson’s poetic words about feathers and hope, Frannie’s “conversations” with her deaf brother, and her new friendship with Jesus Boy that Frannie begins to view life a little differently and catch a glimpse of hope for herself and her family.

Critical Analysis:
Jacqueline Woodson brilliantly uses Frannie, an eleven year-old girl, to shed light on the subject of racism and hope in her novel, Feathers which is set during the early 1970’s when parts of America were still enforcing segregation. Young adults of all skin types will be able to relate to Frannie’s pre-adolescent struggles of friendship, religion, and family matters as she tries to determine her role in society. Woodson’s characterization techniques of Frannie’s internal thought process and conversations and interactions with other characters truly depict these ongoing struggles and demonstrate why this novel was chosen as a Newbery Honor book.

While there is something for every young adolescent to connect with in this story, Woodson writes from within her own race to share the African American culture. Through the description of hairstyles of cornrows and Afros, the fried chicken and greens that Frannie’s family ate for dinner, the descriptions of the Graffiti on the buildings, and the “jive” language spoke by the young characters as they called each other “cat” or “brother-man” it was evident that the story was depicting life from the African American viewpoint. Even the names of some of the characters, such as “Rayray” or “Maribel” add to the story’s cultural representation. However, if from these things a reader did not gather that the story is about African Americans, then the continual mentioning of “Black Power” and “Black Panthers” among the characters or the t-shirt with “Black is Beautiful” written across it are the more obvious cultural markers that truly show the time frame in which this story is set as well as the fact that African Americans are the cultural focus of this story.

Furthermore, Woodson poses various religious viewpoints in the story to show cultural traits not only true to African Americans but others as well because religion or a type of belief system is evident in all cultures. In this story, there’s Frannie’s Bible carrying grandmother who attends two churches on Sundays and uses her Bible to try knocking some sort of faith into Frannie by hitting her on the head with it. Then there is Samantha, a preacher’s daughter and Frannie’s best friend, who finds it surreal that Jesus Boy came from across the highway looking for a place to fit in just as “Jesus wandered the earth that same way – looking for a place where he could be accepted.” In contrast to both Samantha and Frannie’s grandmother, Frannie finds any possible excuse not to go to church and “never thought of Jesus as being much of anything.”

The combination of well represented cultural aspects, the excellent portrayal of common pre- adolescent struggles, and the interwoven message of religion truly makes this book one worth sharing with young adults.

Review from Experts:
VOYA
“Frannie sees the humanity in the seams of her family-from her deaf brother's struggle to fit in to her mother's preparation for a new baby. The Jesus Boy also forces the youth to examine the wavering lines defining race. Is he really white, and if he is, why did he not simply stay across the highway? Maybe there is something magical about the Jesus Boy or perhaps the magic lies within the young people whom he encounters. Either way, this book is dynamic as it speaks to real issues that teens face. It is a wonderful and necessary purchase for public and school libraries alike.”

Publishers Weekly“Set in 1971, the book raises important questions about religion and racial segregation, as well as issues surrounding the hearing-impaired (Frannie's brother is deaf).”

Connections:

Jacqueline Woodson’s website:
http://www.jacquelinewoodson.com/index.shtml

Other books for children about racism:
Fox, Mem. Whoever You Are. ISBN: 9780152060305
Katz, Karen. The Colors of Us. ISBN: 9780805071634
Spinelli, Jerry. Maniac Magee. ISBN: 9780316809061
Twain, Mark. Huckleberry Finn. ISBN: 9780794516031
Tyler, Michael. Skin You Live In. ISBN: 9780975958001

International Literature for Children: ESIO TROT

2009-06-19T23:11:00.000-05:00

Bibliography:
Dahl, Roald. 1990. ESIO TROT. Ill. by Quentin Blake. New Jersey: Penguin Group. ISBN 9780142413821

Summary:
To what extent will Mr. Hoppy go to win the love of his life, Mrs. Silver? Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot is a humorous story of Mr. Hoppy’s plan to win the love of Mrs. Silver, his downstairs neighbor. Mrs. Silver has a tortoise, Alfie, of which is her only companion and is the recipient of all of her love and attention. In order to re-direct Mrs. Silver’s attention from Alfie to himself, Mr. Hoppy devises a plan, complete with a “special chant” for Mrs. Silver to repeat to Alfie. Will this plan be the cupid that brings Mr. Hoppy and Mrs. Silver together?

Critical Analysis:
Using his English ways, Roald Dahl, who was born in Wales, England, unravels a love story between two neighbors. The England cultural markers are certainly present in Esio Trot and depict life in England without interfering with the American understanding. For example, the use of language and English vocabulary such as flat (instead of apartment), Mummy, titchy, and parlour are used throughout the book to depict an English culture yet these words do not interfere with the meaning. Foods such as “biscuits and tea” are eaten as a snack representing a typical England staple. Even the spelling of some words have the English spelling, such as “colour.” Furthermore, I noticed that “Mr” and “Mrs” were not followed by a period when used in the book; something of contrast to how we write these labels in the United States.

Quentin Blake’s black and white illustrations add to the humor in the story and give a visual representation of the balconies. Despite the variety of cultural markers present in the book, children of non-England descent will still be able to connect the story. Perhaps the pet turtle and the silly tortoise chant will draw the attention of the young audience and keep them reading until the very end.

Review from the Experts:
Publishers Weekly“Adults and older children will appreciate Dahl's superior storytelling skills, and will chuckle at Blake's animated, cartoony drawings. But the book's length and subtle humor make it less suitable for beginning readers.”

Horn Book
“Mr. Hoppy plots to impress his secret love, who only has eyes for her pet tortoise; he gives her a special backward chant which he claims will help her pet grow bigger. His plan involves stealing her animal and replacing it with larger tortoises until Mrs. Silver is convinced of his cleverness and agrees to marry him. A slight, amusing story, full of trickery.”

Connections:
Roald Dahl’s official website: http://www.roalddahl.com/
Library or Classroom Activities:
Classroom teacher or librarian can adopt a pet turtle for the students to take care of and make observations in their science journals. Students and teacher can track and graph the weight of the turtle each six weeks.

Other fiction children’s books with turtles:
Blume, Judy. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, ISBN 9780142408810
Suess, Dr. Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories, ISBN 9780394800875

Other books by Roald Dahl:
James and the Giant Peach, ISBN 9780140374247
Magic Finger, ISBN 9780141302294
Matilda, ISBN 9780142402535
The Twits, ISBN 9780142410394

Batchelder Award: THE SHADOWS OF GHADAMES by Joelle Stolz

2009-06-19T22:37:00.000-05:00

Bibliography:
Stolz, Joelle. 2004. THE SHADOWS OF GHADAMES. New York: Random House Children’s Books. ISBN 9780385731041

Summary:
Set in Libya during the nineteenth century, The Shadows of Ghadames is a coming of age story for a young girl named Malika. At nearly twelve year’s old, which is nearly an acceptable age to get married, Malika learns of the restrictive lifestyle that women must endure, confining them to city rooftops and preventing them from gaining skills like reading. This is all in comparison to her brother’s freedoms of walking the city streets and learning to read and write. However, Malika learns of the powerful bond of womanhood as her two mothers join together to defy the traditional Ghadames’ beliefs and hide and care for a fugitive of the night. This fugitive, a man who comes to the city to share his religious beliefs from the outside world, begins to open Malika’s eyes to life beyond the city as she helps harbor him in their house while her father is away on business.

Critical Analysis:
Despite the fact that The Shadows of Ghadames was written by a French journalist, the author Joelle Stolz did an excellent job portraying the ways of the Libyan people during the 19th century. Through the descriptive imagery, the reader can “see” the shapes of the rooftops and the wardrobe of the people.

Traditions, celebrations, and religious ceremonies are apparent in the Libyan culture and are represented with authenticity in the text. As Malika learns about and attends special ceremonies, we the reader can learn as well. Another cultural marker truly important to the Libyan people of this time is the use of language. While some of the words may certainly be difficult for a young adult to pronounce and understand, the terms are certainly vital to the story, adding cultural authenticity.

As the reader, we must remember that the story focuses primarily on the lives of women during a time of segregation in Libya. Men and women were not treated equally. Stolz continually portrays the customs that heighten the awareness of these gender differences. For example, the Libyan women remove all of their jewelry until their husband returns from his travels.

Review from the Experts:
Kirkus Reviews
“Setting her tale at the end of the 19th century, Stolz not only weaves the sights, sounds, and daily rhythms of life in Ghadames into a vivid tapestry, she creates a cast of distinct characters, each of which displays a unique blend of strengths and weaknesses, as well as sometimes unexpected intelligence and compassion.”

Connections:
Library or Classroom Activities:
The teacher or librarian can use Google Earth to show where Libya is located, and then students can research Libya to learn more about the climate, beliefs, etc. Then students can explore the distance from their hometown to Libya, the cost of an airplane ticket to fly round trip to Libya, and determine what type of materials (clothing, supplies, etc.) they would need for a two week trip to Libya. Finally, half of the students can create a travel brochure for Libya, while the other half plan a travel itinerary.

Children’s nonfiction books about Libya:
DiPiazza, Francesca Davis. Libya in Pictures, ISBN 9780822525493
Hasday, Judy L. Libya, ISBN 9781422200834
Rozario, Paul A. Libya, ISBN 9780836831115
Willis, Terri. Libya, ISBN 9780531124802

Other Batchelder Award books:
Holub, Josef. An Innocent Soldier. (2006 Winner), ISBN 9780439627719
Mourlevat, Jean-Claude. The Pull of the Ocean. (2007 Winner), ISBN 9780385736664
Rabinovici, Schoschana. Thanks to My Mother. (1999 Winner), ISBN 9780141305967

International Author: Mem Fox, POSSUM MAGIC

2009-06-19T16:20:00.000-05:00

Bibliography:
Fox, Mem. 1990. POSSUM MAGIC. Ill. by Julie Vivas. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 9780152632243

Summary:
What kind of magic would it take to make an invisible possum reappear? To find the answer, Grandma Poss and Hush must travel around, or shall I say eat their way around the Australian continent. It all started when Grandma Poss turned Hush invisible to protect the baby possum from snakes. Being invisible was lots of fun for Hush, but she longed to know exactly what her little possum-self looked like. It was this desire to be visible that sent Hush and Grandma Poss on a magical adventure all over Australia, in which eating was the solution to break the invisibility spell.

Critical Analysis:
As Australia’s best selling picture book ever (according to Mem Fox’s website), Possum Magic set high standards for children’s literature in “The Outback.” Mem Fox set out to write a “very Australian book” and achieved her goal in this delectable picture book.

Native animals (i.e. possums, koalas, dingoes, etc.), the menu of foods (i.e. vegemite, lamington, etc.), and the names of the places (i.e. Sydney, Darwin, etc.) are among the cultural markers incorporated in the story. Mem Fox has created a story in which American children and children around the globe can learn something about Australia all from a little possum named Hush. The book concludes with an Australian map and glossary, leaving the reader with a desire to follow Hush and Grandma Poss’ trail around the Australian continent. It is the combination of these ingredients that makes Fox’s Possum Magic an authentic Australian storybook feast!

The soft color palette on a simple white background used by illustrator, Julie Vivas, allows the reader to focus in on the story of Hush and Grandma Poss. Vivas depicts the Australian animals in such a manner that a young child can picture the animals in real-life, yet she adds a cartoon-like flair to match the characters’ personalities in Fox’s story. This makes the Vivas and Fox duo a perfect team to depict the adventures of the Australian animals.

Review from the Experts:
School Library Journal
“Although the characters, locales, and vocabulary are thoroughly Australian, Possum Magic has universal appeal. Fox chooses her words carefully, making readers believe that certain foods just might be magical. Vivas uses a variety of techniques, including splatter painting and washes to create full- and double-page watercolor illustrations which complement the text and will entrance readers. A perfect choice for storytimes, but also useful for curriculum enrichment; thanks to a simplified map and glossary.”

Horn Book
“Mem Fox and Julie Vivas provide a delightful story about the trials of an invisible possum as they take readers on a romp all over Australia. They fuse text and illustrations together so masterfully that it seems like a sleight of hand. Presto change-o: one enchanting book.”

Connections:
Website of Mem Fox: http://www.memfox.com/welcome.html

A “Different” Kind of Celebration (Library or Classroom Activity)
Pairs of students choose one of the Australian animals featured in a book by Mem Fox and research the animal using online and text resources. Then, partners share the basic information about their animal with the class. Finally, students write a poem depicting how their animal is different from the other Australian animals for a wall display. The teacher will then lead the class in a discussion to tie in how each animal is different and has a different purpose in the animal kingdom, yet each can exist in the world together. Then the teacher should guide the students to apply their knowledge of the animal society to celebrate the differences of each human-being.

Other Australian animal books for children by Mem Fox:
Koala Lou, ISBN 9780152000769
Wombat Divine, ISBN 9780152020965
Hunwick’s Egg, ISBN 9780152163181

Books for educators and parents by or related to Mem Fox:
Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever, ISBN 9780156035101
Teaching with Favorite Mem Fox Books, ISBN 9780439635219
Radical Reflections: Passionate Opinions on Teaching, Learning, and Living, ISBN 9780156079471

Book Reviews for Multicultural Lit

2009-06-13T23:15:00.000-05:00

I am an elementary librarian and am nearing the end of my masters' degree in Library and Information Sciences. This and all upcoming posts through July are to meet requirements for one of my final courses at Texas Woman's University. I am taking Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults (LS 5653), and will therefore be reading and reviewing quality multicultural and/or international literature.

My House is Haunted!

2008-05-22T21:35:00.000-05:00

Book 1 in the Araminta Spookie series is spooky AND funny. Araminta is a young girl living with her cranky aunt and quirky uncle in a house filled with ghosts and ghouls. When Aunt Tabby announces she wants to sell the house and move to a more modern location, Araminta develops a plan to scare away any potential buyers.

Geared for children grades 3 through 5, this spook-tacular series is destined to attract readers of all kinds.

Series by Angie Sage, author of the Septimus Heap series.

"If they aren't alive, how can one of them be "dead?"

2008-03-18T13:44:00.000-05:00

The Ghost Children by Eve Bunting is a spine tingler you don't want to miss! After the death of their mother, Matt and Abby move to California with their great-aunt Gerda, whom they've never met. Aunt Gerda is a sweet old lady who lived all alone, well almost alone. She has seven life-size "children" who live out on the front lawn. Unfortunately, these dolls seem to be disliked by the neighbors and are the target of many crimes. But why? And why is there one buried in the backyard? If the vandalism and criminal activity continues, Matt, Abby, and Aunt Gerda may be forced out of their home for good! How can Matt protect "the children" and Aunt Gerda when he's not sure about them himself?

The suspense built by Eve Bunting in this mysterious novel kept me turning the pages. And when the creator behind the criminal activity is discovered, I went into a reading frenzy to finish the book.

Keywords: dolls, children, orphans, mystery, vandalism, death

Suggested Audience: grades 3rd-6th

Learning to Drive

2007-07-30T21:22:00.000-05:00

In Joan Bauer's Rules of the Road, it's not only about learning to drive, but learning the "rules" of life. As a teenage shoe salesman, Jenna Boller is confident and successful, but as a new driver and when it comes to dealing with family matters, Jenna is less than prepared for what lies around the corner. That is until she accepts a summer job as a chauffeur for the president of the shoe store company, grumpy old Madeline Gladstone. The two have a lot to offer and a lot to learn, but together they make one solid team!

Dealing with an unpredictable alcoholic father is not easy, but Jenna learns to cope with her family matters through her part-time job at a local shoe store. Then as she drives cross-country with the rigid shoe store owner, Jenna learns additional lessons about life and it's unexpectancies. Joan Bauer has a special talent in writing about issues that plague teenagers and Rules of the Road is a phenomenal example of her abilities. I look forward to reading the sequel, Best Foot Forward. Readers, ages twelve and older, will gain insight into life's ups and downs and find comfort in this book through the characters and their actions.
Keywords related to this book: teen life, teen driving, retail, alcoholism, family matters

The quest is on!

2007-07-30T20:11:00.000-05:00

Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach is a thrilling story about a young girl trying to find her place in the world. With little help from her Shakespearean name and her antagonizing classmates, Hero Netherfield finally finds comfort in her afternoon chats with her elderly neighbor and the hopes of finding a million-dollar diamond possibly hidden somewhere in her house. It is the history behind this million-dollar diamond mystery and it's connection to the most popular boy in school that save Hero from complete dismay.

Author Elise Broach combines mystery with history in this adventuresome novel. I became so involved with the intertwining stories of the unsolved history behind the diamond, it's connection to Shakespeare, and the characters in the story that I couldn't put this book down! Readers, ages ten and older, will find this book intriguing and may possibly strike an interest in the history of Shakespeare. Girls especially will find comfort in the book, as Hero learns how to overcome teasing by her judgmental classmates. Great read for all!

Keywords related to this book: Shakespeare, girl detectives, mysteries, diamonds, neighbors, authorship

What would you do?

2007-07-30T17:18:00.000-05:00

The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker by Cynthia DeFelice is a chilling story about the horrific toll of a wicked disease and a possible mysterious cure during the mid 1800's. After losing his entire family to consumption (known today as Tuberculosis), an emotional, twelve year-old Lucas Whitaker abandons his family's farm and the grave sites of his loved ones to wander aimlessly away from the memories and pain. At last he ends up at the door of Doc Beecher, who takes Lucas in as his apprentice. While working for Doc Beecher, Lucas regains his strength emotionally and physically and begins to learn about healing others. The same disease that took his family is now spreading into the patients of Doc Beecher, along with the tale of the desperate cure that calls for unearthing of the ill-inflicted deceased. When Lucas learns of this dark cure, he is certain he and Doc Beecher can save the people. However, the doctor believes the cure is not a cure at all. Will Lucas be able to save the people from consumption or will his apprenticeship save him from the dark side?

What would you do? Could you join the desperate survivors in this unthinkable task? This historical novel reveals a time of disease and medicine before the scientific advancements of today. A time where hygiene and cleanliness were not seen as a preventative of disease. Readers will experience the life before hospitals and doctors offices in this compelling tale of the history of tuberculosis and how quickly it consumed the lives of early Americans. Through Cynthia DeFelice's powerful word choice and her strong character development, I shared Lucas' pain and desperation. Readers, ages ten and up, will appreciate this moving story.

Keywords related to this book: tuberculosis, disease, science, medicine, orphans, history

Yee-haw!

2007-07-23T23:16:00.000-05:00

Another entertaining twist to the classic Cinderella story! Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella by Susan Lowell adds gumption to the original version. Cindy Ellen is a talented cowgirl who is blessed with a gutsy fairy godmother, who gives Cindy Ellen the encouragement and magic she needs to stand up to her nasty stepmother and stepsisters. At the biggest rodeo and the fanciest square dance for miles and miles, Cindy Ellen knocks the boots right off that handsome prince and his court. But when the clock strikes midnight and Cindy Ellen has to head for the hills, what little clue does she leave behind?

Just reading this book aloud is a lot of fun! Children will be thrilled when hearing and reading this surprising version of Cinderella. Susan Lowell portrays life-like cowgirls, cowboys, and rodeo festivities and the use of the cowboy lingo for her readers to experience the "cowboy way" in their minds. This is one of my favorite Cinderella versions! I admire Cindy Ellen's grace and her fairy godmother's spunk. Elementary teachers around the world should definitely add this to their fairy tale collection!

Keywords related to this book: Cinderella, cowgirl, cowboys, fairy tales, folklore

Lesson learned!

2007-07-23T22:47:00.001-05:00

In Paul Galdone's Henny Penny a lesson is definitely learned! It all starts off when an acorn falls from a tree and lands on the head of Henny Penny, who immediately rations that "the sky is falling!" As she sets out on her journey to share the news with the king, she is joined by Cocky Locky, Ducky Lucky, Goosey Loosey, and Turkey Lurkey. Before arriving at the king's palace, the flock of birds stumble upon Foxy Loxy, who has a mission of his own. Who really learns the lesson in this tale, is it Henny Penny and her feathered friends or the sly Foxy Loxy?

This fast-paced tale of fowl and foe presents a fun, rhythmic pattern with the characters' names and repetitive text. Young children, particularly early readers, can be heard saying the names over and over again with great delight. Galdone's illustrations add a "larger than life" feel to the feathered friends portraying a close up view of these barnyard animals. I can hear my father's voice reading and telling the story of Henny Penny to a group of wide-eyed children, but am a bit unsure how a group of kindergartners would react to the book's ending.

Keywords related to this book: birds, chicken, foxes, animals, folklore

"I have been loved"

2007-07-23T17:29:00.000-05:00

How are a pocket watch, a young girl, and a toy rabbit connected? In The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo a young girl is the proud owner of a toy rabbit, Edward Tulane who is made almost entirely of china. Each morning when the young girl, Abilene, left for school she would wind the golden pocket watch, set Edward up in a dining chair facing the street, and place the watch on Edward's lap. As she left, Abilene whispered to Edward, "when the the big hand is on the twelve and the little hand is on the three, I will come home to you." However, Edward was too proud of a toy rabbit to realize the love Abilene felt for him, and soon he becomes separated from his owner. This leads Edward on an unexpected journey meeting an array of people who take care of and love him just the way Abilene once did. Will Edward open his heart to the love of his owners or will he remain a cold-hearted toy rabbit forever?

While this novel is a fantastical story of a toy rabbit, there is a message to be learned for the human reader, a theme of friendship and endearment. Through Edward's journeys the reader is introduced to a variety of characters, including a fisherman and his wife, a hobo and his dog, and a sickly little girl and her courageous big brother. Each character pours their love into Edward, but are the feelings mutual? It was through DiCamillo's use of characterization that pulled me into the book. I felt each moment of sadness, happiness, and fear as the characters emotions were portrayed through Edward's travels. The book reminded me of a more in-depth version of The Velveteen Rabbit, both sending a similar message to their youthful readers. Readers in the early stages will appreciate cuddling up to a loved one to hear the book aloud, while more fluent readers in third grade and above will enjoy reading the book on their own. After all, most children own a stuffed animal in which they share a special bond with, creating an immediate connection between reader and rabbit.

Keywords related to this book: toys, love, rabbits, journey

The power of education!

2007-07-17T00:22:00.000-05:00

Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard is set in the post Civil War era when African Americans were officially granted the freedom of an education. At the beginning of each week, Virgie's brothers set out for their week long journey to receive schooling away from home. While the boys were off learning to read and write, Virgie stayed behind helping her parents with tasks around their house. Finally, after a great deal of persistence from Virgie, her parents grant her permission to walk the seven-mile trek to go to school with her brothers. Is school all Virgie hoped it would be?

Closing with factual information about the real-life Virgie, the author explains the history behind Virgie's story and her connection to Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard. Reading this book will provide teachers and students with insight to life as an African American child being empowered through education. As I read the book, I empathized with Virgie as she watched her brothers go off to school. Being an advocate for lifelong learning, I am saddened by the fact that someone would deprive a child of an education. Thank goodness we have moved beyond any racial or stereotypical taboos in education!

Keywords related to this book: African Americans, Schools, Civil Rights Movement, Gender role

The Greatest Escape Artist!

2007-07-16T23:44:00.000-05:00

Houdini: World's Greatest Mystery Man and Escape King by Kathleen Krull is an intriguing biography revealing the life of "The Great Houdini." Krull's words and Eric Velasquez's illustrations shine light on the magic behind the scenes, as Houdini matures and perfects his amazing escape feats. Can you imagine being locked inside a glass case filled with water? How about hanging from your feet upside down into the water-filled case? Discover the magic behind it all as you read this biography, but don't expect all of Houdini's secrets to be revealed! (After all, "the most important part of being a magician is that you never tell your secrets.") Kathleen Krull has portrayed Houdini's life in a remarkable manner; alternating from acts performed by Houdini to the life in which he lived behind the scenes. The book even includes a bibliography for further reading and research.

Reading about such a mysterious man is sure to appeal to children of all ages. As I read the book, I felt as if I was there watching the magic unfold before my eyes. My favorite fact in which I learned from this book: Houdini hired his own personal librarian to organize and manage his vast library of books on magic. Houdini knew how to attract an audience and it is from his masterful performances that has had the greatest impact in the history of magic. Children would certainly be inspired to experiment with a little magic of their own after reading this book!

Keywords related to this book: Houdini, magic, escape artists, magicians

A to Z in the heat of the Desert!

2007-07-16T22:40:00.000-05:00

The Desert Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta explores the phenomenal characteristics of the desert. Pallotta, a prolific author of alphabet books for children, has written another enticing book! From cover to cover, the book is filled with fascinating desert facts appealing to readers of all ages. These facts not only reveal the extreme desert temperatures, but also presents desert wildlife and their characteristics for survival. Text and illustrations mingle about the pages, depicting the desert's beauty; encouraging the reader to think beyond the pages. Furthermore, Pallotta doesn't stop with sharing only twenty-six facts to coincide with the alphabet; he embeds a great deal of other interesting facts throughout the book. What will you learn about the desert? Will it be the fact that ninety percent of Australia is covered with desertlands?!

Reading this book brought me new knowledge; creating a greater understanding of what really lies out there among the desert sand. Jerry Pallotta adds such personality to the desert life, I feel as if I am a tourist on the back of a camel gazing across a sea of sand. (Thank goodness I'm not! I don't know if I could stand the extreme temperatures!) Realistic illustrations by Mark Astrella add depth and wonder to the words on the page.

Keywords related to this book: desert, alphabet, desert animals, desert life, Australia, Africa

Innocent until proven guilty

2007-07-03T04:01:00.000-05:00

The Trial: A Novel by Jen Bryant is a historical fiction novel in poetry form based upon the kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh's baby boy during the 1930's. Set in a small, quiet New Jersey town, Jen Bryant portrays a murder trial through the eyes of a twelve year old girl, Katie Leigh Flynn, who is granted a "6 weeks leave of absence" from school to take notes for her reporter uncle and his newspaper, The Democrat.

Due to the free verse format and the suspense built in throughout the trial, this 170 page novel is a book you can't put down. Jen Bryant composes a well-written book for young adults in her first attempt to write a novel for young readers. Through Katie's curiosity, attentiveness, and her independent perspectives towards the other characters, I felt as if I were watching the trial unfold before my eyes. Was justice served in this murder trial? Will you agree with Katie, the jury, or develop a theory of your own?

Keywords related to this book: trial, jury, kidnapping, Charles A. Lindbergh, free verse

A Pocketful of Poems

2007-07-03T03:36:00.000-05:00

A Pocketful of Poems by Nikki Grimes is filled with poetry depicting a young girl's life in the city of Harlem. The book reads much like a picture book as it "travels" through the seasons and special aspects of the city. Grimes also adds depth through the use of Haiku poetry, providing several wonderful examples for children to follow. However, the collage illustrations from Javaka Steptoe truly make this a beautiful book to look at over and over again.

While reading this book, my eyes could not help but stray from the words to the pictures. Each time I looked at a page for a second and third glance, my eyes discovered something new adding more meaning to the text. It's like a family scrapbook filled with warm memories and hidden treasures for readers of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy.

Keywords related to this book: city life, Harlem, poetry, haiku, nature

"A Classic!"

2007-07-03T02:59:00.000-05:00

Please Bury Me in the Library by J. Patrick Lewis is an outstanding poetry book to add to my ever-growing book collection! From the whimsical illustrations to the warm-hearted text, each poem seems to highlight literacy in some form or fashion. For example, "A Classic" and "Great, Good, Bad" provide criteria to determine a good children's book.

"A Classic"

"A children's book is a classic

if at six, excitedly

you read it to another kid

who just turned sixty-three."

Lewis' word choice draws the reader right in to the pages, captivating an audience of all ages. Many of the poems produce rhythmic patterns that roll right off your tongue enticing you to read aloud. I will definitely use this book on my journeys as a new librarian! It is such an interesting format to celebrate reading.

Keywords related to this book: libraries, poetry, books, reading, humor

A picture says a thousand words!

2007-06-23T18:04:00.000-05:00

The Art of Reading: Forty Illustrators Celebrate RIF's 40th Anniversary with a foreword by Leonard S. Marcus was an eye opener to the background of illustrations and literature for children. The book is a compilation of short essays written by 40 talented artists who share their memories of being inspired by a favorite book, author, and/or illustrator. Each artist also creates his/her own visual representation from their favorite childhood book. These illustrations are fascinating and reveal true inspiration and talent!

Reading about well-known writers and illustrators, such as Lynn Cherry, Patricia Polacco, and Chris Raschka, was truly uplifting. Each incredible artist shared how he/she became "hooked on books" and aspired to create emotional illustrations for books of their own. As I looked over each artist's re-creation of his/her favorite book, I was able to get a detailed sense of the artist's perspective. Through the distinguished illustrations and the well-written essays, this book serves it's purpose well: to celebrate reading! After reading this book, I felt the urge to pick up a pencil and white paper to create my own version of one of my favorite books.

This book is geared towards adolescents through adults.

Keywords related to this book: picture books, illustrations, illustrators

Make room for me!

2007-06-19T23:31:00.000-05:00

Move Over, Rover! by Karen Beaumont and illustrated by Jane Dyer is a picture book about a furry dog named Rover. When a storm moves in, Rover and his friends all need a warm place to stay safe from the rain, so where do they all look: Rover's dog house. You better "move over, Rover" and make room for those friends including a cat, a mice, and one surprising guest.

This is a typical predictable pattern book for early readers. Beaumont adds personality to her story with lovable animals and humor. Realistic animal illustrations by Jane Dyer provoke the reader to go beyond the words making it a book for the young, with a desire to read it over and over again! I can hear the giggles now coming from the mouths of young children as the animals all crowd into the dog house. It reminds me of reading My Big Dog to my daughter when she was a toddler. Move Over, Rover! is a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor recipient.

Keywords related to this book: dogs, animals, rhyming books

A wolf who eats vegetables???

2007-06-19T22:55:00.000-05:00

Wolf! Wolf! written and illustrated by John Rocco shines a new light on a sly storybook character, also known as the "Big Bad Wolf." Have you ever wondered what happens to the wolf when he gets old and gray? Why he grows his own garden of course! (After multiple attempts at catching pigs, little girls and their grandmothers, or gobbling up goats, what more could the "Big Bad Wolf" turn to for food?) However, this feeble wolf is not having any more success at growing a garden than he did at catching a swine. His garden is consumed with weeds and his bones will break at even the thought of bending over to pick the weeds from the earth! Until one day, his luck seems to change and his cunning ways seem to be the salvation to his starvation.

Rocco's illustrations depict beautiful representations of the Chinese culture, adding a new element to this is fractured version of The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf. I enjoyed hearing from the wolf's point of view, as he shares exactly how one wolf captures one goat away from it's shepherd. As I read through the book, I was reminded of another wolf's story: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. I will definitely have to add this book to my father's "wolf" collection!

Young children (toddlers up to ten years old) as well as grown adults will be able to appreciate the wolf's method to save his garden.

Keywords associated with this book: wolves, folklore, Chinese picture books, vegetarians

"There is always something glittering in the future"

2007-06-18T13:57:00.000-05:00

Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata is a beautiful story! When a Japanese-American family moves from a Japanese community in Iowa to a southern town in Georgia, the life Katie and her family once knew begins to change. In their new town, with only 31 Japanese members, they are treated as outcasts, the parents work labor intensive jobs, and they can only afford to live in a small apartment. Despite the move, the two sisters, Lynn and Katie, remain close. Lynn, the oldest, is the one who always watches out for, teaches, and encourages Katie. Until one day Lynn becomes extremely ill and Katie's parents are forced to work even more hours so they can finally buy a house in hopes that Lynn will start to feel better. As Lynn's illness becomes terminal, the roles of sisterhood reverse and Katie learns that she too can find "kira-kira" (glittering or shining) in the world around her.

"My sister taught me to look at the world that way, as a place that glitters, as a place where the calls of the crickets and the crows and the wind are everyday occurrences that also happen to be magic."

As I read this book, the author's words seemed to sing in my mind and dive deep into my heart. This is a book from which we can learn many lessons about life. The minute details depict well-developed characters and vivid imagery in my mind; all evidence supporting the Newbery Medal winner decision in 2005. However, there is some mature content in the book and therefore I would not recommend it to readers under the age of 10.

Keywords associated with the book: sisters, friendship, Japanese-American, family, lymphoma

"It looks like a regular window, but it's not!"

2007-06-13T16:58:00.000-05:00

The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster and Chris Raschka is a book that warms the heart! Told from a little girl's point of view, the story portrays the loving bond between grandparents and grandchildren. In this case the bond is strengthened through the "magic" of the grandparents' window. It is the window that connects the child with the memorable times shared with her Nanna and Poppy, including games of peek-a-boo, saying goodnight to the stars, and blowing good-bye kisses. The window allows for special welcomes when you arrive and special good-byes when you leave.

The child-like illustrations in this book add a special touch to this book as it is told by the little girl. (The Hello, Goodbye Window won the Caldecott Medal in 2006!) The writing style depicts characters that are so real, I felt like I could jump right through the window and join the trio. As I read through the book, I was immediately reminded of waving good-bye to my own Nana who had a special window in her kitchen. Children and adults alike will appreciate this book, particularly parents and grandparents. The book is also great for beginning readers, as they will be able to read a great deal of it independently.

Keywords related to the book: grandparents, grandchild, family, girls

Creepy, Crawly Critters!

2007-06-11T19:16:00.000-05:00

The Tarantula in My Purse and 172 Other Wild Pets by Jean Craighead George, I am embarrassed to admit, has rested upon my bookshelf for the past couple of years without me giving it a second look. (I was given the book by a friend for my classroom library, but a book about critters did not appeal to me and therefore I did not "advertise" the book to my students to entice their interests.) Then, upon receiving my required reading book list for my Children's Lit class in my graduate studies, I recognized this title and began my reading.

Immediately, I was engrossed in a biography about the family of Jean Craighead George and their fondness for wild animals. While raising her three children (Craig, Luke, and Twig), the family's household pets were much more complex than a house cat or short-haired dog. Jean and her children were constantly discovering, inheriting, or rescuing animals from the wild including a crow named Crowbar who escorted the children to and from the bus stop and a raccoon named Hands who they trained to use a litter box. The stories told in this book of raising such wild animals allowed me to experience the adventures without having to touch a single creepy crawler or restless rodent!

After moving past the initial "I don't usually read this type of book," I read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it! Jean Craighead George's passion for animals is contagious, though I can only hope that my daughter does not bring home any wild animals for pets. Through the animal adventures, it is apparent to me that humans need animals as much as animals need humans. Much like other books written by this author, the writing is so vivid that I felt as if I were a part of her family. Animal lovers of all ages will appreciate this book, especially those between the ages of 8 and 12.

Keywords related to this book: tarantula, pets, wild animals, nature, biography

Try not to get hit by the Spud gun!

2007-06-11T16:33:00.001-05:00

The Legend of Spud Murphy by Eoin Colfer takes the cake (Or shall I say, potato?)! When two brothers, Marty and William, are summoned to spend time in the public library for the summer, a lot can go wrong. Even worse is the grump of a librarian who seems to dislike Marty and William before they even walked through the door. However, as the boys "test the waters" and get out-smarted every time, they begin to broaden their literacy skills and find out that Spud Murphy, the librarian, is not all bad.

Through the development of Colfer's characters, kids will laugh, whimper, and shout for joy as they devour this book. The suspenseful humor kept me wanting to read more to find out Spud Murphy's next move . I created a mental image of an ogre-like librarian who locked kids in the library's basement until they read every book on the shelf! While that may be one way to get a child to read, there are many other ways to spark a child's interest in books as Spud Murphy finds out.

School-aged children of all levels will enjoy hearing this book read aloud, and students ages 9 and up will not be able to put the book down when reading it on their own. This is one librarians all over will be proud to recommend!

Keywords related to the book: librarian, library, legend, humor, adventure

Watch out for that Pigeon!

2007-06-11T15:46:00.000-05:00

Don't Let the Pigeons Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems is a charming picture book to read again and again. When the bus driver leaves his bus alone, you'll never guess who has high hopes to drive it! Well, maybe the title gives it away, but imagine a pigeon driving a bus??? Told from the pigeon's point of view, this story allows interaction between the reader and the pigeon. A very creative and persistent pigeon asks, begs, and pleads the reader for permission to drive the bus only to be denied over and over again. When at last the bus driver returns, the pigeon is distracted by another idea.

From cover to cover and everything in between, readers of all ages will enjoy this book. The author uses a simple animal and an unimaginable event to catch the readers attention. As you turn through the pages, Mo Willems creates a voice of the pigeon through the cartoon-like illustrations and his words of plea. I can easily hear the voice of a mischievous young child pleading to do the unthinkable as I read this book. It reminds me of the No David! books by David Shannon.

Keywords related to this book: pigeon, bus, drive, humor

"Book" your Destination

2007-06-10T22:52:00.000-05:00

Please join me as I begin posting about my reading adventures for my Children's Literature class at Texas Woman's University. Here on my blog, you will explore a variety of exceptional literature as I log my journey through books.

"Book" your reading destination today and share with me your thoughts about my journey or suggest a book adventure for me to take. Don't wait!