FIRST GROUP
Informational Book:
Actual Size by Steve Jenkins
Biography:
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Picture Books / Easy Readers:
The Book with No Pictures by B. J. Novak
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Go, Dog. Go! by P. D. Eastman
Realistic Fiction:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Inspirational / Religious:
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, translated by J. Alison James
Mystery / Suspense:
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Paper Towns by John Green
Multicultural & International:
Islandborn by Junot Diaz, illustrated by Leo Espinosa
Romance & Poetry:
The Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder, illustrated by Garth Williams
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Fantasy:
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
SECOND GROUP
Graphic Novels:
El Deafo by Cece Bell
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Awards:
The Little Red Fort by Brenda Maier, illustrated by Sonia Sanchez (TLA 2x2 Award)
Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech (TLA Texas Bluebonnet Award)
Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall (Caldecott Medal Winner)
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey (Caldecott Honor Book)
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (Newbery Medal Winner)
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater, illustrated by Robert Lawson (Newbery Honor Book)
In the Shadow of the Sun by Anne Sibley O'Brien (TLA Lone Star Award)
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover (TLA Tayshas Award)
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia (Coretta Scott King Award Winner)
LGBTQIA+:
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole
Science Fiction:
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Horror:
The Witches by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake
Historical Fiction:
Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
Note:
Throughout these thirty blog posts, I referred to two sources, one for the evaluation section and the second for the reader response questions. Below are the citations for these sources.
Tunnell, M. O., Jacobs, J. S., Young, T. A., & Bryan, G. (2016). Children's literature, briefly (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Williamson, O. M. (n.d.) How to write a reaction paper or reader response. Retrieved from www.utminers.utep.edu/omwilliamson/engl0310link/readerresponse.htm
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Historical Fiction: Crispin: The Cross of Lead
Image:
Evaluation of the book:
Unfortunately, although I know Crispin: The Cross of Lead has won the Newbery Medal and that Avi is a well-loved author, I found the language in this book to be particularly and painfully awkward. For example: “When his light finally retreated did I pick myself up and flee” (p. 9). I think Avi is trying to imitate how one might have talked in medieval times, but it misses the mark and makes the story difficult to get into a follow.
In addition, the book is narrated by Crispin in the first person who turns out to be a rather unreliable narrator. For example, he sees things he claims to have “never beheld before” and yet he knows they’re “Moscovy furs; Toledo daggers; Flemish hats; Italian gloves” (p. 166). It’s hard to believe a narrator who says he knows nothing and then goes on to say exactly what each item is.
Finally, the rapid growth of Crispin’s character over the course of the rather short book is hard to keep up with. I agree wholeheartedly with Crispin’s friend, the Bear when he says: “‘Crispin . . . for one so unwilling to see the world when first we met, perhaps you notice too much now’” (p. 195). In the first few pages we learn that Crispin has no name and is shunned by those around him; two hundred short pages later, with not much action in the middle, Crispin has embraced his name, is the son of a Lord, and saves the day by facing the man who made him cower in fear in the beginning. Normally, I love some good character growth, but in this book it seems to happen a little too fast.
Response:
How did you learn, and how much were your views and opinions challenged or changed by this text, if at all?
This is a historical fiction novel, and I definitely felt it did a good job describing the horrors and injustice present in the medieval feudal system. Despite the other faults in character and language, the historical part was fascinating to me.
Critique?
My critique is fairly obvious from the evaluation of the text. I found the writing a little awkward, the narrator unreliable, and the characters a little unbelievable. While I did eventually get very invested in Crispin’s story, this book was, overall, not my favorite of the semester.
How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?
Like I said above, I did eventually get into Crispin’s story and I wanted to see how it would end. I learned a bit about England’s feudal system and felt my heartstrings tugged by Bear’s love for little Crispin. I did enjoy the text, even if I didn’t love it.
Conclusion:
Despite its little flaws, I would still recommend this book to young historically minded readers because it does a good job talking about medieval England without being overly textbook-ish. A lover of medieval history and folklore will enjoy the text.... I could easily imagine Robin Hood living in the forests that Crispin runs through.
APA Style Reference:
Avi. (2002). Crispin: The cross of lead. New York, NY: Scholastic.
Evaluation of the book:
Unfortunately, although I know Crispin: The Cross of Lead has won the Newbery Medal and that Avi is a well-loved author, I found the language in this book to be particularly and painfully awkward. For example: “When his light finally retreated did I pick myself up and flee” (p. 9). I think Avi is trying to imitate how one might have talked in medieval times, but it misses the mark and makes the story difficult to get into a follow.
In addition, the book is narrated by Crispin in the first person who turns out to be a rather unreliable narrator. For example, he sees things he claims to have “never beheld before” and yet he knows they’re “Moscovy furs; Toledo daggers; Flemish hats; Italian gloves” (p. 166). It’s hard to believe a narrator who says he knows nothing and then goes on to say exactly what each item is.
Finally, the rapid growth of Crispin’s character over the course of the rather short book is hard to keep up with. I agree wholeheartedly with Crispin’s friend, the Bear when he says: “‘Crispin . . . for one so unwilling to see the world when first we met, perhaps you notice too much now’” (p. 195). In the first few pages we learn that Crispin has no name and is shunned by those around him; two hundred short pages later, with not much action in the middle, Crispin has embraced his name, is the son of a Lord, and saves the day by facing the man who made him cower in fear in the beginning. Normally, I love some good character growth, but in this book it seems to happen a little too fast.
Response:
How did you learn, and how much were your views and opinions challenged or changed by this text, if at all?
This is a historical fiction novel, and I definitely felt it did a good job describing the horrors and injustice present in the medieval feudal system. Despite the other faults in character and language, the historical part was fascinating to me.
Critique?
My critique is fairly obvious from the evaluation of the text. I found the writing a little awkward, the narrator unreliable, and the characters a little unbelievable. While I did eventually get very invested in Crispin’s story, this book was, overall, not my favorite of the semester.
How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?
Like I said above, I did eventually get into Crispin’s story and I wanted to see how it would end. I learned a bit about England’s feudal system and felt my heartstrings tugged by Bear’s love for little Crispin. I did enjoy the text, even if I didn’t love it.
Conclusion:
Despite its little flaws, I would still recommend this book to young historically minded readers because it does a good job talking about medieval England without being overly textbook-ish. A lover of medieval history and folklore will enjoy the text.... I could easily imagine Robin Hood living in the forests that Crispin runs through.
APA Style Reference:
Avi. (2002). Crispin: The cross of lead. New York, NY: Scholastic.
Horror: The Witches
Image:
Evaluation of the book:
Quentin Blake’s illustrations and Roald Dahl’s stories are a match made in heaven. Blake’s illustrations in The Witches perfectly reinforce text by being just as creepy as written descriptions. Absurd sketches of bald, pimply, toe-less women make the idea of witches in real life even more horrific than simply reading about them.
The tone of The Witches is very matter of fact. Told from the point of view of a little boy whose grandmother knows all about witches, this little boy tells his story directly, without embellishing. Because of this tone, it makes the reader look twice at the women around them because, after all, witches are not ridiculous ideas, they’re very real.
This book touts the heroism of a little child. Even in the most horrific of situations and after suffering from horrific things, it’s the little boy protagonist who has the idea - and actually goes through with the idea - of how to abolish the witches once and for all. The protagonist of The Witches remains unnamed throughout, making it easy for any child to put themselves into his heroic shoes. Any child can be a hero.
Response:
Critique?
I honestly don’t know how Roald Dahl can get away with telling a story so creepy and yet it becomes a childhood favorite and classic. The little hero, his wise grandma, and the horrific witches are beloved to all readers of the book, new and old. There’s something about Roald Dahl’s writing that just captivates the reader, no matter the horrors he’s writing about.
How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?
When I was a kid, I think this book gave me nightmares for a week. I might not have been able to finish it, I was too creeped out (and that’s a big deal because I finish everything I start reading). And yet, when faced with a list of horror titles to read for this class, I immediately chose to re-read The Witches because there is something about it that is bewitching (pardon the pun). Yes, I did enjoy the book as entertainment.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
Confusion. Disturbed. Amazed. These are a few reactions I have when I read this book. On the one hand, it is ridiculous enough to be a fun read. On the other hand, it’s just realistic enough to be horrifying. That’s the tension that I think Roald Dahl is master of, and the tension that keeps bringing readers back to him.
Conclusion:
I recommend this book to young readers of a strong mind and spirit, like the protagonist of the book itself. Little people who are able and willing to be brave should read this book; those who are more squeamish and prone to already seeing dangers around them? Maybe pick a different one.
APA Style Reference:
Dahl, R. & Blake, Q. (1985). The witches. New York, NY: Puffin Books. (Original work published 1983).
Evaluation of the book:
Quentin Blake’s illustrations and Roald Dahl’s stories are a match made in heaven. Blake’s illustrations in The Witches perfectly reinforce text by being just as creepy as written descriptions. Absurd sketches of bald, pimply, toe-less women make the idea of witches in real life even more horrific than simply reading about them.
The tone of The Witches is very matter of fact. Told from the point of view of a little boy whose grandmother knows all about witches, this little boy tells his story directly, without embellishing. Because of this tone, it makes the reader look twice at the women around them because, after all, witches are not ridiculous ideas, they’re very real.
This book touts the heroism of a little child. Even in the most horrific of situations and after suffering from horrific things, it’s the little boy protagonist who has the idea - and actually goes through with the idea - of how to abolish the witches once and for all. The protagonist of The Witches remains unnamed throughout, making it easy for any child to put themselves into his heroic shoes. Any child can be a hero.
Response:
Critique?
I honestly don’t know how Roald Dahl can get away with telling a story so creepy and yet it becomes a childhood favorite and classic. The little hero, his wise grandma, and the horrific witches are beloved to all readers of the book, new and old. There’s something about Roald Dahl’s writing that just captivates the reader, no matter the horrors he’s writing about.
How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?
When I was a kid, I think this book gave me nightmares for a week. I might not have been able to finish it, I was too creeped out (and that’s a big deal because I finish everything I start reading). And yet, when faced with a list of horror titles to read for this class, I immediately chose to re-read The Witches because there is something about it that is bewitching (pardon the pun). Yes, I did enjoy the book as entertainment.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
Confusion. Disturbed. Amazed. These are a few reactions I have when I read this book. On the one hand, it is ridiculous enough to be a fun read. On the other hand, it’s just realistic enough to be horrifying. That’s the tension that I think Roald Dahl is master of, and the tension that keeps bringing readers back to him.
Conclusion:
I recommend this book to young readers of a strong mind and spirit, like the protagonist of the book itself. Little people who are able and willing to be brave should read this book; those who are more squeamish and prone to already seeing dangers around them? Maybe pick a different one.
APA Style Reference:
Dahl, R. & Blake, Q. (1985). The witches. New York, NY: Puffin Books. (Original work published 1983).
Science Fiction: Cinder
Image:
Evaluation of the book:
The plot of Cinder by Marissa Meyer is, you guessed it, a retelling of the story of Cinderella. Ish. This book takes the familiar storyline of orphaned-servant-girl-turned-princess and gives it a science fiction and dystopian twist. Cinder the character is hated because she’s cyborg, part robot and, in the end, she becomes a princess not because she marries the prince (though their romance is as juicy as you’d want) but because she finds out she’s the niece of the moon queen and the moon’s rightful heir. Cinderella is a lot less predictable when you throw in the dystopian plague and hovercrafts.
Although the narration of this book is told in the third person, the point of view is uniquely Cinder’s (with a few glimpses into Prince Kai’s world). Because of Cinder’s perspective, we’re given a firsthand glimpse into what it’s like to be hated simply because you’re different. We see, through the POV, that Cinder is just a normal teenage girl and yet, for some reason, those around her hate her simply because she’s cyborg, part robot. This point of view helps us see the injustice of it all and to stand by Cinder as she makes each of her decisions.
Not only is this book science fiction in nature - cyborgs, hovercrafts, androids, oh my! - but it also has a dystopian setting. It’s set in a city called New Beijing in a country called the Commonwealth. The Earth has been divided into four allied ruling countries after the end of World War IV. People live on the moon because they fled that war. By setting her story in the real, though futuristic world, Meyer adds the finishing touch on our empathy for Cinder. She lives on earth, just as we live on earth. Even after we discover she’s from the moon, it’s too late for our loyalties to change. We see ourselves in Cinder.
Response:
How well does it address things that you, personally, care about and consider important to the world?
This book does a good job showing that hatred or fear of differences - cyborg or Lunar, in Cinder’s case- is wrong. As readers, we like Cinder, we empathize with her, and yet everyone around her hates what she is. We know that there is nothing hateful about her, but all her fellow countrymen can see is her differences. We feel this injustice just as Cinder feels it; hopefully we will take that feeling outside of our reading and make the world a better place by being more empathetic and inclusive.
Critique?
Cinder is a very fun book. It’s a clever take on the Cinderella story that is made more exciting by science fiction and dystopian elements. Despite its familiar storyline, the book’s plot is unpredictable and enjoyable due to new elements like space travel, moon-dwellers, cyborgs, and more. Overall, a very well-crafted novel.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
I wish this book existed when I was younger, it’s exactly the type of book I loved to read - fairy tales with a twist. Reading it now, as an adult, brought back that former love of fairy tales and made me want to re-read all of my favorites (and the rest of the Lunar Chronicles!).
Conclusion:
I recommend this book to any teenager who, like me, can’t get enough of fairy tale remixes. I’d also recommend this book to any science fiction or dystopia fans who want a fresh take from those genres. With its fairy tale, science fiction, and dystopian elements, this book is sure to please a wide variety of readers. Add in Cinder’s relatable plight and there’s no one who can (or should) resist this fun story.
APA Style Reference:
Meyer, M. (2012). Cinder: The Lunar chronicles. New York, NY: Feiwel and Friends.
Evaluation of the book:
The plot of Cinder by Marissa Meyer is, you guessed it, a retelling of the story of Cinderella. Ish. This book takes the familiar storyline of orphaned-servant-girl-turned-princess and gives it a science fiction and dystopian twist. Cinder the character is hated because she’s cyborg, part robot and, in the end, she becomes a princess not because she marries the prince (though their romance is as juicy as you’d want) but because she finds out she’s the niece of the moon queen and the moon’s rightful heir. Cinderella is a lot less predictable when you throw in the dystopian plague and hovercrafts.
Although the narration of this book is told in the third person, the point of view is uniquely Cinder’s (with a few glimpses into Prince Kai’s world). Because of Cinder’s perspective, we’re given a firsthand glimpse into what it’s like to be hated simply because you’re different. We see, through the POV, that Cinder is just a normal teenage girl and yet, for some reason, those around her hate her simply because she’s cyborg, part robot. This point of view helps us see the injustice of it all and to stand by Cinder as she makes each of her decisions.
Not only is this book science fiction in nature - cyborgs, hovercrafts, androids, oh my! - but it also has a dystopian setting. It’s set in a city called New Beijing in a country called the Commonwealth. The Earth has been divided into four allied ruling countries after the end of World War IV. People live on the moon because they fled that war. By setting her story in the real, though futuristic world, Meyer adds the finishing touch on our empathy for Cinder. She lives on earth, just as we live on earth. Even after we discover she’s from the moon, it’s too late for our loyalties to change. We see ourselves in Cinder.
Response:
How well does it address things that you, personally, care about and consider important to the world?
This book does a good job showing that hatred or fear of differences - cyborg or Lunar, in Cinder’s case- is wrong. As readers, we like Cinder, we empathize with her, and yet everyone around her hates what she is. We know that there is nothing hateful about her, but all her fellow countrymen can see is her differences. We feel this injustice just as Cinder feels it; hopefully we will take that feeling outside of our reading and make the world a better place by being more empathetic and inclusive.
Critique?
Cinder is a very fun book. It’s a clever take on the Cinderella story that is made more exciting by science fiction and dystopian elements. Despite its familiar storyline, the book’s plot is unpredictable and enjoyable due to new elements like space travel, moon-dwellers, cyborgs, and more. Overall, a very well-crafted novel.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
I wish this book existed when I was younger, it’s exactly the type of book I loved to read - fairy tales with a twist. Reading it now, as an adult, brought back that former love of fairy tales and made me want to re-read all of my favorites (and the rest of the Lunar Chronicles!).
Conclusion:
I recommend this book to any teenager who, like me, can’t get enough of fairy tale remixes. I’d also recommend this book to any science fiction or dystopia fans who want a fresh take from those genres. With its fairy tale, science fiction, and dystopian elements, this book is sure to please a wide variety of readers. Add in Cinder’s relatable plight and there’s no one who can (or should) resist this fun story.
APA Style Reference:
Meyer, M. (2012). Cinder: The Lunar chronicles. New York, NY: Feiwel and Friends.
LGBTQIA+: And Tango Makes Three
Image:
Evaluation of the book:
The illustrations in And Tango Makes Three are made of soft watercolor paintings. On the pages with people in Central Park and the Zoo, the illustrations are very colorful, showing families of different sizes, shapes, and ethnicity. These colorful illustrations silently express that diversity is a good thing, even though that theme is never directly addressed in the book.
The theme that is directly addressed in the book is that of same-sex relationships and their families and how they are not very different from other families. This theme is addressed through the story of two male penguins who are attracted to each other. The illustrations on the pages that contain penguins show that all of the penguin couples - both the “normal” male and female couples, and the same-sex couple of Roy and Silo - look exactly the same. Roy and Silo are indistinguishable from the rest of the penguins; this reinforces the text that says that there is nothing different about Roy and Silo.
Although the book is primarily focused on the theme of same sex attraction, it also contains cute little lessons on penguin behavior and mating rituals. These lessons on penguin behavior help the book not seem overly didactic and in-your-face with regard to the controversial theme. In addition to defending same-sex relationships, this book teaches children how penguins meet, mate, and sit on their eggs.
Response:
How much does the text agree or clash with your view of the world, and what you consider right and wrong?
I do not personally agree with same-sex relationships and the idea that they should raise children of their own, despite the fact that nature has not allowed them to procreate. That being said, it is important for children to learn at a young age to be accepting of all different people, including those who might have same-sex attraction or who might have same-sex parents. This book is a cute way to show that we all have more similarities than differences, and that’s what should be focused on in life.
Critique?
And Tango Makes Three is well written and has beautiful illustrations; it’s lesson on same-sex relationships, although contrary to my own personal beliefs, is well-expressed and not overly in-your-face. Overall, I found it to be a cute children’s book with adorable pictures.
How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?
I really liked the illustrations in this book. I found the soft colors and adorable penguins very pleasing to look at, and I lingered on each page to soak them in. The story itself is cute as well and it’s cool to know that it’s a true story. I enjoyed the book, even if I might not read it to my own children.
Conclusion:
In an effort not to practice self-censorship, I would definitely have this book on the shelves of my children’s library. It expresses beautifully the differences and similarities in same-sex marriages and relationships, as well as teaches about penguins and illustrating diversity among people. It’s a good book and does not shove ideas down your throat, as some books on similar themes do.
APA Style Reference:
Richardson, J., Parnell, P., & Cole, H. (2005). And Tango makes three. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Evaluation of the book:
The illustrations in And Tango Makes Three are made of soft watercolor paintings. On the pages with people in Central Park and the Zoo, the illustrations are very colorful, showing families of different sizes, shapes, and ethnicity. These colorful illustrations silently express that diversity is a good thing, even though that theme is never directly addressed in the book.
The theme that is directly addressed in the book is that of same-sex relationships and their families and how they are not very different from other families. This theme is addressed through the story of two male penguins who are attracted to each other. The illustrations on the pages that contain penguins show that all of the penguin couples - both the “normal” male and female couples, and the same-sex couple of Roy and Silo - look exactly the same. Roy and Silo are indistinguishable from the rest of the penguins; this reinforces the text that says that there is nothing different about Roy and Silo.
Although the book is primarily focused on the theme of same sex attraction, it also contains cute little lessons on penguin behavior and mating rituals. These lessons on penguin behavior help the book not seem overly didactic and in-your-face with regard to the controversial theme. In addition to defending same-sex relationships, this book teaches children how penguins meet, mate, and sit on their eggs.
Response:
How much does the text agree or clash with your view of the world, and what you consider right and wrong?
I do not personally agree with same-sex relationships and the idea that they should raise children of their own, despite the fact that nature has not allowed them to procreate. That being said, it is important for children to learn at a young age to be accepting of all different people, including those who might have same-sex attraction or who might have same-sex parents. This book is a cute way to show that we all have more similarities than differences, and that’s what should be focused on in life.
Critique?
And Tango Makes Three is well written and has beautiful illustrations; it’s lesson on same-sex relationships, although contrary to my own personal beliefs, is well-expressed and not overly in-your-face. Overall, I found it to be a cute children’s book with adorable pictures.
How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?
I really liked the illustrations in this book. I found the soft colors and adorable penguins very pleasing to look at, and I lingered on each page to soak them in. The story itself is cute as well and it’s cool to know that it’s a true story. I enjoyed the book, even if I might not read it to my own children.
Conclusion:
In an effort not to practice self-censorship, I would definitely have this book on the shelves of my children’s library. It expresses beautifully the differences and similarities in same-sex marriages and relationships, as well as teaches about penguins and illustrating diversity among people. It’s a good book and does not shove ideas down your throat, as some books on similar themes do.
APA Style Reference:
Richardson, J., Parnell, P., & Cole, H. (2005). And Tango makes three. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Awards: One Crazy Summer
Image:
Award: Coretta Scott King Award Winner
Evaluation of the book:
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia addresses a few heavy and important themes in its short 215 pages. The two main themes are those of racial equality and motherly love. Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern, the three sister-protagonists of the book, are surrounded by evidence of racial inequality - their grandmother is constantly afraid that they might stand out among white people, tourists in California take pictures of them instead of the sights, their mother prints posters and poems for the Black Panthers, etc. Racial issues are everywhere in this book. In addition, the sisters are in California in the first place in order that they might meet their mother. The book explores the bond between daughters and mothers and the importance of motherly love. The girls’ mother already has a love for her “black nation” children, but this book shows her learning to love her very own flesh-and-blood daughters.
The characters Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern also share with the readers the beauty of a sisterly bond. This bond between the three of them is never spoken of outright, it is simply shown and taken as fact. “When my sisters and I speak, one after the other, it’s like a song we sing, a game we play. We never pass signals. We just fire off rat-a-tat-tat-tat. Delphine. Vonetta. Fern” (p. 77). Race and mothers might be in question, but sisters are never doubted.
Finally, this book of important themes shares one equally important, though unexpected, insight: it’s OK for Delphine to be a child even in the midst of the grown up themes that make up her daily life. As the oldest sister, and abandoned by her mother, she feels responsible for her sisters and doesn’t let herself have fun or be a child. The unexpected insight comes at the end when Delphine’s mother says, “Be eleven, Delphine. Be eleven while you can” (p. 210). Although racial inequality and an absent mother have made Delphine’s life hard and made her grow up fast, it’s OK for her to be a child and to enjoy the simpler times in life.
Response:
What does the text have to do with you, personally?
I am the oldest of three sisters and Delphine’s struggle with being the responsible, sometimes hated, oldest sister resonated with me. Although I don’t deal with racial inequality and an absent mother, I certainly relate to feeling bossy and knowing what’s best for my younger sisters. I also relate to the closeness between the sisters; my sisters are my best friends.
How well does it address things that you, personally, care about and consider important to the world?
The themes that this book address - racial inequality, motherly love, enjoying childhood - are all themes that I consider important in this world. One Crazy Summer does an excellent job expressing these heavy themes in a way that a child can read and relate to. Williams-Garcia does not simplify these issues; she makes them approachable and understandable to her young readers.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
This book does a really good job depicting important themes on a level that children can both understand and relate too. My overall reaction to the text was one of awe that a book so short and for such a young audience could express so well these important issues. This book truly helps you see those who are different than you in a new light.
Conclusion:
I’d recommend this book to just about anyone - child or adult. It expresses important themes and instills empathy for different struggles that we and others go through in life. For children, it’s an important reminder that even though life is filled with struggles, it’s OK to just be a child. For adults, it’s an important reminder that even though children are young, they can handle difficult themes and topics.
APA Style Reference:
Williams-Garcia, R. (2010). One crazy summer. New York, NY: Amistad.
Award: Coretta Scott King Award Winner
Evaluation of the book:
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia addresses a few heavy and important themes in its short 215 pages. The two main themes are those of racial equality and motherly love. Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern, the three sister-protagonists of the book, are surrounded by evidence of racial inequality - their grandmother is constantly afraid that they might stand out among white people, tourists in California take pictures of them instead of the sights, their mother prints posters and poems for the Black Panthers, etc. Racial issues are everywhere in this book. In addition, the sisters are in California in the first place in order that they might meet their mother. The book explores the bond between daughters and mothers and the importance of motherly love. The girls’ mother already has a love for her “black nation” children, but this book shows her learning to love her very own flesh-and-blood daughters.
The characters Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern also share with the readers the beauty of a sisterly bond. This bond between the three of them is never spoken of outright, it is simply shown and taken as fact. “When my sisters and I speak, one after the other, it’s like a song we sing, a game we play. We never pass signals. We just fire off rat-a-tat-tat-tat. Delphine. Vonetta. Fern” (p. 77). Race and mothers might be in question, but sisters are never doubted.
Finally, this book of important themes shares one equally important, though unexpected, insight: it’s OK for Delphine to be a child even in the midst of the grown up themes that make up her daily life. As the oldest sister, and abandoned by her mother, she feels responsible for her sisters and doesn’t let herself have fun or be a child. The unexpected insight comes at the end when Delphine’s mother says, “Be eleven, Delphine. Be eleven while you can” (p. 210). Although racial inequality and an absent mother have made Delphine’s life hard and made her grow up fast, it’s OK for her to be a child and to enjoy the simpler times in life.
Response:
What does the text have to do with you, personally?
I am the oldest of three sisters and Delphine’s struggle with being the responsible, sometimes hated, oldest sister resonated with me. Although I don’t deal with racial inequality and an absent mother, I certainly relate to feeling bossy and knowing what’s best for my younger sisters. I also relate to the closeness between the sisters; my sisters are my best friends.
How well does it address things that you, personally, care about and consider important to the world?
The themes that this book address - racial inequality, motherly love, enjoying childhood - are all themes that I consider important in this world. One Crazy Summer does an excellent job expressing these heavy themes in a way that a child can read and relate to. Williams-Garcia does not simplify these issues; she makes them approachable and understandable to her young readers.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
This book does a really good job depicting important themes on a level that children can both understand and relate too. My overall reaction to the text was one of awe that a book so short and for such a young audience could express so well these important issues. This book truly helps you see those who are different than you in a new light.
Conclusion:
I’d recommend this book to just about anyone - child or adult. It expresses important themes and instills empathy for different struggles that we and others go through in life. For children, it’s an important reminder that even though life is filled with struggles, it’s OK to just be a child. For adults, it’s an important reminder that even though children are young, they can handle difficult themes and topics.
APA Style Reference:
Williams-Garcia, R. (2010). One crazy summer. New York, NY: Amistad.
Awards: In the Shadow of the Sun
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Award: TLA Lone Star
Evaluation of the book:
Mia and Simon Andrews, the two protagonists of In the Shadow of the Sun, are just two normal kids. They fight like all brothers and sisters; Simon has his fair share of teenage angst; Mia is discovering her own identity. These two characters are extremely relatable, extremely normal, and yet, they go through some pretty incredibly un-relatable experiences. By making her characters so normal, O’Brien helps make the craziness of North Korea’s regime readable for her normal readers.
Because the book is told from the point of view of normal Mia, the flashes to Korean people that are found every once in a while throughout the book help add severity and depth to the overall story. Mia’s relatability helps the reader get into the story; the flashes to Korean misery and difficulty help the reader understand the severity of the story.
Finally, this tension between normal teenagers and severe North Korea help us as readers understand the actual tension that’s going on in North Korea every day. The North Korean citizens are just normal people suffering under a severe regime and cruel leaders. When reading about the horrors of North Korean leaders, it’s easy to forget the normal people who suffer under those horrors. The tension between normal and severity is present in real North Korea, just as it’s present in the pages of this book.
Response:
How did you learn, and how much were your views and opinions challenged or changed by this text, if at all?
I learned a lot about North Korea and the horrors that are present there today. It’s incredible to me that in our 21st century world a regime as cruel as North Korea’s can survive and continue. There are real people suffering in North Korea, and, what’s worse is that some of them don’t even realize the absurdity that is their government. This book taught me that brainwashing is a very scary, very real, thing.
Critique?
Although I found the language and writing style of this book to be a little awkward and difficult to get into at first, I eventually found myself turning the pages as rapidly as I could to see what would happen next. O’Brien manages something very difficult when she takes normal teenagers, puts them through incredible circumstances, and still makes the story believable.
How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?
After I overcame my distaste for the writing style and particularly of the voice of Mia, I enjoyed this book very much. I hate to admit that I’ve never really spent much time considering the conditions in North Korea, but this book made me hungry to know more, turning the pages as fast as I could to see if Mia and Simon would make it.
Conclusion:
I’d recommend this book to any middle schooler and above who might be interested in history, but sick of World War stories, or to someone who might want a contemporary, action-filled novel. This book, with its relatable protagonists and incredible descriptions of North Korean cruelty, appeals to both the normal young person and the more historically- or politically-minded young person. Regardless, it’s a good read for anyone to understand the importance of what’s happening on the other side of the world.
APA Style Reference:
O’Brien, A. S. (2017). In the shadow of the sun. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books.
Awards: Educated: A Memoir
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Award: TLA Tayshas
Evaluation of the book:
This book, being a memoir, is told, of course, from the point of view of Tara herself. However, unlike other memoirs or autobiographies that I have read, Tara does not often let out any hints about her future life and what was to come after the difficulties she described on each page. Because of this, the reader learns right along with narrator Tara; we’re right there with her when she’s a kid on the hill, when she begins to sing, when she decides she wants to go to college, when her brother abuses her, when she travels to England the first time, etc. It’s a bumpy road and Tara’s point of view drags us right along.
As Tara’s story gets further and further along, she presents us with flashbacks that keep bringing us back to stories of her deeper past. These flashbacks and the overall timeline of the story let us know that Tara’s past is still very much a part of her, even though she may have overcome the particular difficulties. She doesn’t let us forget that her past is what made her who she is.
Tara’s use of understatement also helps show us what she feels is truly important in her memoir. She mentions only offhand how good her grades are and that she wins scholarships, fellowships, and awards, but her focus is always on her family. We know, based on the fact that we’re reading her very well-written book, that she succeeded academically; what we don’t know is how her familial tensions led her to where she is today. That’s what her memoir shows is important by understating her own academic achievements.
Response:
What does the text have to do with you, personally?
I was homeschooled. Unlike Tara, I used a very structured curriculum and my mother was very attentive to my studies and my father checked in every day to make sure I was doing my schoolwork and learning a lot. That being said, I grew up hearing about “Unschoolers” and “Noschoolers” like the Westovers and was always a bit envious of them. Needless to say, this book made me appreciate the areas of my own homeschooling that made me into the person I am today while also appreciating the structure and care that my parents put into my education.
How much does the text agree or clash with your view of the world, and what you consider right and wrong?
I believe it was right for Tara to break away from her family. In my opinion, she should have done it sooner. However, this book does a good job expressing the difficulties of filial obligation and familial love. Only family can simultaneously drive us insane and yet still be the first people we want to talk to every day. Tara’s family might be crazy, but in them the reader of this book can see bits and pieces of his/her own family and can begin to understand that it’s perfectly normal to have difficulty breaking away in order to be one’s own person.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
My immediate reaction to this text was to be disturbed. But now I find myself recommending it to everyone - especially any of the people I know who have connections to homeschooling. This book sticks with you and teaches valuable lessons on the power of the mind and the strength of familial love and obligation.
Conclusion:
Tara’s story is incredibly unique. Through this memoir, she shows the incredible difficulty of choosing oneself over one’s family, even if that family is a disaster. I’d recommend this book to any reader, high school and above, who might need or want to consider their own familiar and educational situation in a new light. Tara’s story can’t help but make you feel grateful for the good that you have, or hopeful for the good that you know you can achieve.
APA Style Reference:
Westover, T. (2018). Educated: A memoir. New York, NY: Random House.
Award: TLA Tayshas
Evaluation of the book:
This book, being a memoir, is told, of course, from the point of view of Tara herself. However, unlike other memoirs or autobiographies that I have read, Tara does not often let out any hints about her future life and what was to come after the difficulties she described on each page. Because of this, the reader learns right along with narrator Tara; we’re right there with her when she’s a kid on the hill, when she begins to sing, when she decides she wants to go to college, when her brother abuses her, when she travels to England the first time, etc. It’s a bumpy road and Tara’s point of view drags us right along.
As Tara’s story gets further and further along, she presents us with flashbacks that keep bringing us back to stories of her deeper past. These flashbacks and the overall timeline of the story let us know that Tara’s past is still very much a part of her, even though she may have overcome the particular difficulties. She doesn’t let us forget that her past is what made her who she is.
Tara’s use of understatement also helps show us what she feels is truly important in her memoir. She mentions only offhand how good her grades are and that she wins scholarships, fellowships, and awards, but her focus is always on her family. We know, based on the fact that we’re reading her very well-written book, that she succeeded academically; what we don’t know is how her familial tensions led her to where she is today. That’s what her memoir shows is important by understating her own academic achievements.
Response:
What does the text have to do with you, personally?
I was homeschooled. Unlike Tara, I used a very structured curriculum and my mother was very attentive to my studies and my father checked in every day to make sure I was doing my schoolwork and learning a lot. That being said, I grew up hearing about “Unschoolers” and “Noschoolers” like the Westovers and was always a bit envious of them. Needless to say, this book made me appreciate the areas of my own homeschooling that made me into the person I am today while also appreciating the structure and care that my parents put into my education.
How much does the text agree or clash with your view of the world, and what you consider right and wrong?
I believe it was right for Tara to break away from her family. In my opinion, she should have done it sooner. However, this book does a good job expressing the difficulties of filial obligation and familial love. Only family can simultaneously drive us insane and yet still be the first people we want to talk to every day. Tara’s family might be crazy, but in them the reader of this book can see bits and pieces of his/her own family and can begin to understand that it’s perfectly normal to have difficulty breaking away in order to be one’s own person.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
My immediate reaction to this text was to be disturbed. But now I find myself recommending it to everyone - especially any of the people I know who have connections to homeschooling. This book sticks with you and teaches valuable lessons on the power of the mind and the strength of familial love and obligation.
Conclusion:
Tara’s story is incredibly unique. Through this memoir, she shows the incredible difficulty of choosing oneself over one’s family, even if that family is a disaster. I’d recommend this book to any reader, high school and above, who might need or want to consider their own familiar and educational situation in a new light. Tara’s story can’t help but make you feel grateful for the good that you have, or hopeful for the good that you know you can achieve.
APA Style Reference:
Westover, T. (2018). Educated: A memoir. New York, NY: Random House.
Award: Number the Stars
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Award: Newbery Medal Winner
Evaluation of the book:
Even though we as readers of Number the Stars and knowers of World War II history know about the Jewish holocaust and Nazi terror, protagonist Annemarie does not. We might be able to guess what will happen or what Annemarie will discover, but Lowry does a good job using understatement to ensure that we are discovering these things all over again through Annemarie’s eyes.
The plot of Number the Stars is a simple World War II narrative, but through it the reader learns a valuable history lesson. Through Annemarie’s story and simple act of courage, the readers of this book learns how the Danish people helped almost all of the Danish Jews escape across the sea to Sweden.
Annemarie’s character is admirable: she is observant, obedient, brave, and a good friend. Even though she is only ten years old, she is an example to her readers of how even the most ordinary of people might be called to perform an extraordinary action. Annemarie, a simple girl, saved her friend by standing up to the soldiers; Denmark, a country, saved its population of Jews by standing up to the Nazis.
Response:
How did you learn, and how much were your views and opinions challenged or changed by this text, if at all?
I learned a lot about Denmark’s actions during World War II. Even though the story was told from the point of view of ten-year-old Annemarie, who knew nothing about the greater repercussions of Nazi terror, my own knowledge of WWII history helped me read between the lines to see just how amazing it was that Danish Jews were able to flee to Sweden with the help of their countrymen.
How well does it address things that you, personally, care about and consider important to the world?
Number the Stars is a beautiful example of the importance of true friendship. Although we don’t have as many opportunities to truly stand up for our friends in the same way that Annemarie stood up for Ellen, we must always remember that a true friendship comes with sacrifice. We must focus a little less on “self care” and remember that our loved ones need some care and attention too.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
This book was beautiful, enlightening, and enjoyable to read. I learned a lot about history and I felt like I became part of the Johansen family and the Danish people. This book helped remind me that sometimes even the smallest moments of bravery can have enormous results.
Conclusion:
By discovering Nazi terror and the Jewish plight through the eyes of Annemarie and her moment of courage, Number the Stars is both a history lesson and a lesson in virtue mixed into one beautiful story. This book should be read by any elementary school class studying World War II history, any child interested in history, and any child who needs help being brave.
APA Style Reference:
Lowry, L. (1989). Number the stars. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Award: Newbery Medal Winner
Evaluation of the book:
Even though we as readers of Number the Stars and knowers of World War II history know about the Jewish holocaust and Nazi terror, protagonist Annemarie does not. We might be able to guess what will happen or what Annemarie will discover, but Lowry does a good job using understatement to ensure that we are discovering these things all over again through Annemarie’s eyes.
The plot of Number the Stars is a simple World War II narrative, but through it the reader learns a valuable history lesson. Through Annemarie’s story and simple act of courage, the readers of this book learns how the Danish people helped almost all of the Danish Jews escape across the sea to Sweden.
Annemarie’s character is admirable: she is observant, obedient, brave, and a good friend. Even though she is only ten years old, she is an example to her readers of how even the most ordinary of people might be called to perform an extraordinary action. Annemarie, a simple girl, saved her friend by standing up to the soldiers; Denmark, a country, saved its population of Jews by standing up to the Nazis.
Response:
How did you learn, and how much were your views and opinions challenged or changed by this text, if at all?
I learned a lot about Denmark’s actions during World War II. Even though the story was told from the point of view of ten-year-old Annemarie, who knew nothing about the greater repercussions of Nazi terror, my own knowledge of WWII history helped me read between the lines to see just how amazing it was that Danish Jews were able to flee to Sweden with the help of their countrymen.
How well does it address things that you, personally, care about and consider important to the world?
Number the Stars is a beautiful example of the importance of true friendship. Although we don’t have as many opportunities to truly stand up for our friends in the same way that Annemarie stood up for Ellen, we must always remember that a true friendship comes with sacrifice. We must focus a little less on “self care” and remember that our loved ones need some care and attention too.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
This book was beautiful, enlightening, and enjoyable to read. I learned a lot about history and I felt like I became part of the Johansen family and the Danish people. This book helped remind me that sometimes even the smallest moments of bravery can have enormous results.
Conclusion:
By discovering Nazi terror and the Jewish plight through the eyes of Annemarie and her moment of courage, Number the Stars is both a history lesson and a lesson in virtue mixed into one beautiful story. This book should be read by any elementary school class studying World War II history, any child interested in history, and any child who needs help being brave.
APA Style Reference:
Lowry, L. (1989). Number the stars. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Award: Mr. Popper's Penguins
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Award: Newbery Honor Book
Evaluation of the book:
Mr. Popper’s character in Mr. Popper’s Penguins is crazy and unbelievable, but, as one reads the book, it becomes clear that he is beloved by all who meet him. His wife, Mrs. Popper, puts up with his antics even though she worries about practical things; his children adore him and his penguins; Admiral Drake sends him a penguin simply because he wrote a letter; and we, the readers, follow in the other characters’ footsteps by falling in love with Mr. Popper and his craziness, too! Mr. Popper may be absurd, but he certainly knows how to pull on some heartstrings.
There is a tension between the absurdity of story and some very real observations of life that happen simultaneously. For example, when Mr. Popper freezes over the floor in his living room to make an ice skating rink, the narrator notes that “It was hard at first to move the furniture, because the feet of the chairs had frozen into the ice” (p. 72). There is no comment on how ridiculous making an ice rink in the living room is; there is simply the real observation of how hard moving frozen furniture is. These bits of real life thrown into the absurd situations make the story lighthearted and extra fun.
Every couple of pages in this book contain an illustration or two. These illustrations are absolutely adorable and help set the mood by showing Mr. Popper with his ridiculous mustache, Mrs. Popper with her hat and spectacles, frozen living rooms, and the penguins marching, playing, and performing. Just as the story is memorable and beloved for whoever has read it; so too are the images of Mr. Popper, his mustache, and his penguins.
Response:
How did you learn, and how much were your views and opinions challenged or changed by this text, if at all?
This book sings the message that it’s OK to be ridiculous loud and clear. I personally found myself relating to poor Mrs. Popper, always worried about the more practical things in life, Mr. Popper’s antics making me slightly uncomfortable. But, in the end, I found that the book taught me that, even though being ridiculous is not my usual attitude, sometimes it’s a ton of fun.
How well does it address things that you, personally, care about and consider important to the world?
Real issues and complete absurdity are found hand in hand in this book; it’s a good example of real life. If this book were entirely made up of practical observations about how the Poppers were going to afford food, or conversely made up entirely of crazy antics like freezing living rooms it wouldn’t be half as enjoyable. Life, like this book, is filled with craziness and practicality. You can’t have one without the other or else life would be no fun!
How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?
Mr. Popper’s Penguins is a classic for good reason - it’s a laugh-out-loud good time read. I enjoyed it immensely as entertainment; it has survived the many years as a classic because of its blending of well-written art and fun-times entertainment.
Conclusion:
Even though there is a tension between the actions of dreamer Mr. Popper and practical Mrs. Popper, the overall tone of the story makes it clear that this book is meant to be entirely lighthearted and fun. I’d recommend this book to any hesitant reader who needs a completely ridiculous, easy-to-read book to nudge them along their reading journey.
APA Style Reference:
Atwater, R., Atwater, F., & Lawson, R. (1994). Mr. Popper’s penguins. New York, NY: Scholastic. (Original work published 1938).
Mr. Popper’s character in Mr. Popper’s Penguins is crazy and unbelievable, but, as one reads the book, it becomes clear that he is beloved by all who meet him. His wife, Mrs. Popper, puts up with his antics even though she worries about practical things; his children adore him and his penguins; Admiral Drake sends him a penguin simply because he wrote a letter; and we, the readers, follow in the other characters’ footsteps by falling in love with Mr. Popper and his craziness, too! Mr. Popper may be absurd, but he certainly knows how to pull on some heartstrings.
There is a tension between the absurdity of story and some very real observations of life that happen simultaneously. For example, when Mr. Popper freezes over the floor in his living room to make an ice skating rink, the narrator notes that “It was hard at first to move the furniture, because the feet of the chairs had frozen into the ice” (p. 72). There is no comment on how ridiculous making an ice rink in the living room is; there is simply the real observation of how hard moving frozen furniture is. These bits of real life thrown into the absurd situations make the story lighthearted and extra fun.
Every couple of pages in this book contain an illustration or two. These illustrations are absolutely adorable and help set the mood by showing Mr. Popper with his ridiculous mustache, Mrs. Popper with her hat and spectacles, frozen living rooms, and the penguins marching, playing, and performing. Just as the story is memorable and beloved for whoever has read it; so too are the images of Mr. Popper, his mustache, and his penguins.
Response:
How did you learn, and how much were your views and opinions challenged or changed by this text, if at all?
This book sings the message that it’s OK to be ridiculous loud and clear. I personally found myself relating to poor Mrs. Popper, always worried about the more practical things in life, Mr. Popper’s antics making me slightly uncomfortable. But, in the end, I found that the book taught me that, even though being ridiculous is not my usual attitude, sometimes it’s a ton of fun.
How well does it address things that you, personally, care about and consider important to the world?
Real issues and complete absurdity are found hand in hand in this book; it’s a good example of real life. If this book were entirely made up of practical observations about how the Poppers were going to afford food, or conversely made up entirely of crazy antics like freezing living rooms it wouldn’t be half as enjoyable. Life, like this book, is filled with craziness and practicality. You can’t have one without the other or else life would be no fun!
How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?
Mr. Popper’s Penguins is a classic for good reason - it’s a laugh-out-loud good time read. I enjoyed it immensely as entertainment; it has survived the many years as a classic because of its blending of well-written art and fun-times entertainment.
Conclusion:
Even though there is a tension between the actions of dreamer Mr. Popper and practical Mrs. Popper, the overall tone of the story makes it clear that this book is meant to be entirely lighthearted and fun. I’d recommend this book to any hesitant reader who needs a completely ridiculous, easy-to-read book to nudge them along their reading journey.
APA Style Reference:
Atwater, R., Atwater, F., & Lawson, R. (1994). Mr. Popper’s penguins. New York, NY: Scholastic. (Original work published 1938).
Monday, December 2, 2019
Award: Blueberries for Sal
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Award: Caldecott Honor Book
Evaluation of the book:
Every page of Blueberries for Sal is filled with monochromatic illustrations in, you guessed it, the color blue. In a book titled Blueberries for Sal that tells the story of blueberry picking (and munching!) on Blueberry Hill, the color blue is honestly the only appropriate color for the illustrations.
Onomatopoeia makes up a large and important part of the story. Words and sounds like “kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk,” “caw, caw, caw,” “munch, munch,” “gulp,” and “garumpf” are the only thing that differentiate between the different species in this story. “Kuplink” is the sound that tells the mother bear that it is Sal following behind her; after Sal’s mother discovers the baby bear behind her, the baby bear just continues “munching” away. Sal and the baby bear aren’t bothered by the differences in their mothers; their mothers are bothered by the wrong noises following behind them.
The parallel stories between Sal and her mother and the baby bear and his mother are parallel not just in plot, but in sentence structure as well. One page describes Sal and her mother’s activities, the next page describes, in almost identical language, the baby bear and his mother’s activities. Because of this, when Sal begins to follow the bear and the baby bear begins to follow Sal’s mother, the reader is almost not surprised by the lack of panic in the two infants’ reactions. Their activities and language are so similar; they’re almost not different species at all.
Response:
What does the text have to do with you, personally?
I grew up in Maine and have spent every summer of my life picking blueberries, most of the time with my mother. Although I never encountered a mother bear and/or her baby bear, Sal’s story resonates with me - I, too, usually ate just about every blueberry I could get my hands on. To this day, blueberries are my favorite food and blueberry picking is one of my favorite activities.
Critique?
McLoskey tells a simple story of a simple activity that could seem to get a bit complicated when bears and humans mix up, but happily the story ends well with babies safely returned to the correct mothers. It’s easy to see how this simple, gripping, beautiful story has become an enduring and beloved children’s classic.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
For as long as I can remember, Blueberries for Sal has been a favorite book of mine and now, as an adult, it’s no different. I love blueberry picking; I love reading Blueberries for Sal. I just hope I never encounter a bear!
Conclusion:
I recommend this book to any child, whether they’re from Maine or not. It’s an easy and captivating story that is perfect for parents, teachers, or librarians to read aloud to young children. Children themselves will be caught up in the beautiful, very blue, illustrations. If you’ve never read this book, please do it now.
APA Style Reference:
McCloskey, R. (1976). Blueberries for Sal. New York, NY: Puffin Books.
Award: Caldecott Honor Book
Evaluation of the book:
Every page of Blueberries for Sal is filled with monochromatic illustrations in, you guessed it, the color blue. In a book titled Blueberries for Sal that tells the story of blueberry picking (and munching!) on Blueberry Hill, the color blue is honestly the only appropriate color for the illustrations.
Onomatopoeia makes up a large and important part of the story. Words and sounds like “kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk,” “caw, caw, caw,” “munch, munch,” “gulp,” and “garumpf” are the only thing that differentiate between the different species in this story. “Kuplink” is the sound that tells the mother bear that it is Sal following behind her; after Sal’s mother discovers the baby bear behind her, the baby bear just continues “munching” away. Sal and the baby bear aren’t bothered by the differences in their mothers; their mothers are bothered by the wrong noises following behind them.
The parallel stories between Sal and her mother and the baby bear and his mother are parallel not just in plot, but in sentence structure as well. One page describes Sal and her mother’s activities, the next page describes, in almost identical language, the baby bear and his mother’s activities. Because of this, when Sal begins to follow the bear and the baby bear begins to follow Sal’s mother, the reader is almost not surprised by the lack of panic in the two infants’ reactions. Their activities and language are so similar; they’re almost not different species at all.
Response:
What does the text have to do with you, personally?
I grew up in Maine and have spent every summer of my life picking blueberries, most of the time with my mother. Although I never encountered a mother bear and/or her baby bear, Sal’s story resonates with me - I, too, usually ate just about every blueberry I could get my hands on. To this day, blueberries are my favorite food and blueberry picking is one of my favorite activities.
Critique?
McLoskey tells a simple story of a simple activity that could seem to get a bit complicated when bears and humans mix up, but happily the story ends well with babies safely returned to the correct mothers. It’s easy to see how this simple, gripping, beautiful story has become an enduring and beloved children’s classic.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
For as long as I can remember, Blueberries for Sal has been a favorite book of mine and now, as an adult, it’s no different. I love blueberry picking; I love reading Blueberries for Sal. I just hope I never encounter a bear!
Conclusion:
I recommend this book to any child, whether they’re from Maine or not. It’s an easy and captivating story that is perfect for parents, teachers, or librarians to read aloud to young children. Children themselves will be caught up in the beautiful, very blue, illustrations. If you’ve never read this book, please do it now.
APA Style Reference:
McCloskey, R. (1976). Blueberries for Sal. New York, NY: Puffin Books.
Sunday, December 1, 2019
Award: Hello Lighthouse
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Award: Caldecott Award Winner 2019
Evaluation of the book:
Hello Lighthouse has some of the most gorgeous illustrations that I have ever seen in a children’s picture book. The pages alternate with an illustration of the outside of the lighthouse (always on the left page)and an illustration of the life inside of the lighthouse (always with roundness emphasized). These illustrations serve both to establish the setting - the lighthouse - and the mood - the cyclical, rhythmic, beautiful life within the lighthouse. The lighthouse keeper and his wife feel drawn to the lighthouse; the reader is drawn right into that fascination through these beautiful pages.
The cyclical language of the book also set the mood. Life is simple and rhythmic both inside and outside the lighthouse. Outside, the flashing light calls “hello, hello, hello” and inside, the lighthouse keeper “tends the light and writes in the logbook” every day, no matter what happens.The reader is drawn into this rhythm, because, if either of these stops, the story cannot go on.
The illustrations tell the story of what’s happening more than the words do; the words are cyclical and repetitive, the life that happens in the story, shown by the illustrations, is not. The lighthouse keeper’s world and routine might be small and repetitive, like the words on the page, but his life is full and beautiful, like the illustrations that show it.
Response:
What does the text have to do with you, personally?
I was born and raised in Maine and have always had a deep love for the lighthouses that litter my home state’s coast line. This book was a captivating peek into what life inside of those lighthouses might have been like back in the days of lighthouse keepers and lanterns. Needless to say, this book had me at “Hello Lighthouse.”
How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?
I enjoyed every inch of this book, and will be re-reading it when I’m done writing this blog post so that I can study each and every page of beautiful illustrations and captivating, poetic language. This book is 100% a work of art that should be enjoyed by everyone.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
I loved it! There aren’t enough synonyms for “beautiful” to describe it.
Conclusion:
I recommend this as a read aloud in any setting - school, library, or home. The stunning illustrations and poetic language come together to tell a mesmerizing story of life on a lighthouse. Any child’s imagination will come alive when presented with this book.
APA Style Reference:
Blackall, S. (2018). Hello lighthouse. New York, NY: Little, Brown, and Company.
Award: Caldecott Award Winner 2019
Evaluation of the book:
Hello Lighthouse has some of the most gorgeous illustrations that I have ever seen in a children’s picture book. The pages alternate with an illustration of the outside of the lighthouse (always on the left page)and an illustration of the life inside of the lighthouse (always with roundness emphasized). These illustrations serve both to establish the setting - the lighthouse - and the mood - the cyclical, rhythmic, beautiful life within the lighthouse. The lighthouse keeper and his wife feel drawn to the lighthouse; the reader is drawn right into that fascination through these beautiful pages.
The cyclical language of the book also set the mood. Life is simple and rhythmic both inside and outside the lighthouse. Outside, the flashing light calls “hello, hello, hello” and inside, the lighthouse keeper “tends the light and writes in the logbook” every day, no matter what happens.The reader is drawn into this rhythm, because, if either of these stops, the story cannot go on.
The illustrations tell the story of what’s happening more than the words do; the words are cyclical and repetitive, the life that happens in the story, shown by the illustrations, is not. The lighthouse keeper’s world and routine might be small and repetitive, like the words on the page, but his life is full and beautiful, like the illustrations that show it.
Response:
What does the text have to do with you, personally?
I was born and raised in Maine and have always had a deep love for the lighthouses that litter my home state’s coast line. This book was a captivating peek into what life inside of those lighthouses might have been like back in the days of lighthouse keepers and lanterns. Needless to say, this book had me at “Hello Lighthouse.”
How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?
I enjoyed every inch of this book, and will be re-reading it when I’m done writing this blog post so that I can study each and every page of beautiful illustrations and captivating, poetic language. This book is 100% a work of art that should be enjoyed by everyone.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
I loved it! There aren’t enough synonyms for “beautiful” to describe it.
Conclusion:
I recommend this as a read aloud in any setting - school, library, or home. The stunning illustrations and poetic language come together to tell a mesmerizing story of life on a lighthouse. Any child’s imagination will come alive when presented with this book.
APA Style Reference:
Blackall, S. (2018). Hello lighthouse. New York, NY: Little, Brown, and Company.
Awards: Saving Winslow
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Award: TLA Texas Bluebonnet Award
Evaluation of the book:
The plot of Saving Winslow is simple enough: Louie’s father brings home a dying baby donkey and Louie, unable to bear the thought of losing another pet, decides to “accept the mission” (p. 4) of keeping the donkey alive. In the end, the donkey Winslow, lives. It’s a straightforward plot (at least on the surface) for its young readers.
In contrast to the plot, the characters in Saving Winslow are rather complex for being so young. Louie, the protagonist of the story who takes in a sickly baby donkey and is determined to nurse it back to health, both misses his brother Gus who is away at the army and struggles with the fact that he too was once a sickly newborn baby fighting for his life. Maybe Louie misses Gus so much because Gus was there to nurse him when he was a baby, and now Louie has to be the one to do the nursing? In addition, Louie and Winslow the donkey befriend Nora, a troubled little girl who also has an experience with a struggling baby - her own baby brother - who, unlike Louie and Winslow, didn’t make it. These issues of life and death are hard ones for any person to deal with, especially young children like Louie and Nora.
The text of the book is primarily dialogue. The voices of Louie, Nora, the adults, and even Winslow tell their own stories. Because the text is mostly dialogue, the reader is reminded again and again that, even though the main characters might be going through some complex stuff as discussed above, they are just children. The dialogue lets the children’s innocence and simplicity shine.
Response:
How did you learn, and how much were your views and opinions challenged or changed by this text, if at all?
It’s easy for adults, like me, to assume that because children are young they are not as affected by serious matters as we are. We don’t include them in our discussions, our grief, our feelings. This book challenged that attitude and made me realize that children, no matter how young, feel things deeply and have the right to be heard when they are going through something difficult.
How well does it address things that you, personally, care about and consider important to the world?
It’s important for the world not to take the strength and determination of a child for granted. Louie decided to accept the mission of keeping Winslow alive and, through his determination and hard work, he did just that. We adults have a lot to learn from this story!
How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?
I didn’t personally enjoy the book; I found it overly simplistic in writing, but overly complicated in underlying themes, most of which didn’t seem to be resolved at any point. That being said, the themes are all important ones and the writing, though simple, is clear and good. It’s a cute story, even if I didn’t personally find it entertaining.
Conclusion:
I’d recommend Saving Winslow to any child who might need a mission in life to figure out his or her place in this world. The simple plot and complex characters will attract a reader who wants to see that he or she is not alone in going through difficult things in life. Besides, what child could resist a cute baby donkey?
APA Style Reference:
Creech, S. (2018). Saving Winslow. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children’s.
Awards: The Little Red Fort
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Award: TLA 2x2
Evaluation of the book:
The illustrations of picture book The Little Red Fort appear to be drawn out of a combination of art supplies, like crayons and colored pencils. They look like they could have been drawn by a very young, creative artist. Since this book celebrates the story of Ruby, a little girl who decides to build herself a fort and succeeds in doing so even though her older brothers refuse to help, the child-like illustrations are very appropriate. The childlike illustrations help reinforce the story that celebrates childlike creativity.
In this story, all adult characters are silent. When Ruby asks her brothers to help, they each say no. Ruby then declares that she can do it herself, but each page of her actually doing it shows an adult silently helping or supporting her. In much the same way that the illustrations support childlike creativity, so too do these silent adults allow Ruby to be creative for herself. The adults don’t say no and they don’t do it for Ruby; they just silently support her in everything she does.
On the last page of the book, author Brenda Maier and illustrator Sonia Sanchez include a “build a fort of your own” that illustrates how the young readers of this book can continue the creativity of fort-building outside of the book’s pages in their own way. Sofa forts, kitchen-chair forts, snow forts, and bunk-bed forts are all ways to encourage creativity to continue even after the book is finished.
Response:
What does the text have to do with you, personally?
Myself being one of six kids, Ruby’s story of determination resonated with me. I could feel her frustration when her brother’s refused to help her; I could understand her determination to do it herself anyway. Young people and children are capable of so much; the world needs more stories that tells them this, without expecting them to change for those around them.
Critique?
The text and illustrations are a perfect combination to celebrate the importance of creativity in children’s lives. The text takes the story of the Little Red Hen and changes it into Ruby’s story building the little red fort. The illustrations look like they were drawn from children’s drawing supplies. Both take something childlike (a nursery rhyme and art supplies) and use them to tell Ruby’s story of creativity. The Little Red Fort is a very well-done picture book.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
I loved this book! I can’t wait to read it to my niece and nephew and to build forts with them afterwards.
Conclusion:
The combination of creative illustrations, rewritten nursery rhyme, and Ruby’s spunk and grit make this adorable picture book the perfect addition to any children’s library collection. I’d recommend it to any young child who might need to be encouraged in his or her creativity.
APA Style Reference:
Maier, B., & Sanchez, S. (2018). The little red fort. New York, NY: Scholastic.
Award: TLA 2x2
Evaluation of the book:
The illustrations of picture book The Little Red Fort appear to be drawn out of a combination of art supplies, like crayons and colored pencils. They look like they could have been drawn by a very young, creative artist. Since this book celebrates the story of Ruby, a little girl who decides to build herself a fort and succeeds in doing so even though her older brothers refuse to help, the child-like illustrations are very appropriate. The childlike illustrations help reinforce the story that celebrates childlike creativity.
In this story, all adult characters are silent. When Ruby asks her brothers to help, they each say no. Ruby then declares that she can do it herself, but each page of her actually doing it shows an adult silently helping or supporting her. In much the same way that the illustrations support childlike creativity, so too do these silent adults allow Ruby to be creative for herself. The adults don’t say no and they don’t do it for Ruby; they just silently support her in everything she does.
On the last page of the book, author Brenda Maier and illustrator Sonia Sanchez include a “build a fort of your own” that illustrates how the young readers of this book can continue the creativity of fort-building outside of the book’s pages in their own way. Sofa forts, kitchen-chair forts, snow forts, and bunk-bed forts are all ways to encourage creativity to continue even after the book is finished.
Response:
What does the text have to do with you, personally?
Myself being one of six kids, Ruby’s story of determination resonated with me. I could feel her frustration when her brother’s refused to help her; I could understand her determination to do it herself anyway. Young people and children are capable of so much; the world needs more stories that tells them this, without expecting them to change for those around them.
Critique?
The text and illustrations are a perfect combination to celebrate the importance of creativity in children’s lives. The text takes the story of the Little Red Hen and changes it into Ruby’s story building the little red fort. The illustrations look like they were drawn from children’s drawing supplies. Both take something childlike (a nursery rhyme and art supplies) and use them to tell Ruby’s story of creativity. The Little Red Fort is a very well-done picture book.
What is your overall reaction to the text?
I loved this book! I can’t wait to read it to my niece and nephew and to build forts with them afterwards.
Conclusion:
The combination of creative illustrations, rewritten nursery rhyme, and Ruby’s spunk and grit make this adorable picture book the perfect addition to any children’s library collection. I’d recommend it to any young child who might need to be encouraged in his or her creativity.
APA Style Reference:
Maier, B., & Sanchez, S. (2018). The little red fort. New York, NY: Scholastic.
Graphic Novel: American Born Chinese
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Evaluation of the book:
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang is a graphic novel that reads easily but has a complex three-part plot that follows the separate stories of Jin Wang, a Chinese American trying to fit in, Monkey King, wanting to be a god, and Danny, an American teenager who can’t stand his Chinese cousin. Each chapter addresses a different one of these storylines until, in the end, they come together in a surprising plot twist. The three different plots leave the reader turning the pages, anxiously anticipating how they will come together.
The story as a whole is a bit heavy on the dogmatic side; it teaches the lesson of self-acceptance. First the Monkey King, then Jin Wang and Danny must come to accept themselves as they are instead of trying to be something they’re not. Luckily, the different story lines are entertaining and gripping enough to make up for the potentially too-moralistic theme. A lesson might be being shoved down the reader’s throat, but at least it’s entertaining!
The images in this graphic novel are all drawn in muted colors inside of a simple graphic structure. There are only three to four text boxes per page, each containing muted, yet detailed, images that tell the three stories. These images tell the story clearly and allow the reader to focus entirely on the action presented and the message, without being overwhelmed by colors and extensive text. The images are the story; they’re easy to follow.
Response:
How much does the text agree or clash with your view of the world, and what you consider right and wrong?
I agree with the story’s assumption that this world and the people in it need to learn how to be comfortable in their own skin. We can only be the truest versions of ourselves if we accept every aspect of ourselves with no exceptions. Once we’ve done that we can, like the Monkey King, fulfill our true callings in this life.
How well does it address things that you, personally, care about and consider important to the world?
Although it might seem overly dogmatic in style, American Born Chinese does address both well and clearly the important issue of self-acceptance. While I might not suffer from being an ethnic minority, there are many things about my own personal life that I must come to accept even if they are different than I’d like them to be. People cannot be happy on this earth unless they accept themselves as they are; this is an important issue to talk about.
How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?
I’m not much of a graphic novel reader, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one! The story was vastly entertaining; the three overlapping storylines made me keep turning the pages as fast as I could to see what would happen to each of the three main characters.
Conclusion:
Through its alluring three-part storyline and captivatingly simple images, American Born Chinese teaches the lesson of self acceptance in the most entertaining way possible. Who knew that we had so much to learn from a Monkey King and two kids? I’d recommend this book to just about anyone, middle school and up, but especially someone who might be hesitant to try a graphic novel.
APA Style Reference:
Evaluation of the book:
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang is a graphic novel that reads easily but has a complex three-part plot that follows the separate stories of Jin Wang, a Chinese American trying to fit in, Monkey King, wanting to be a god, and Danny, an American teenager who can’t stand his Chinese cousin. Each chapter addresses a different one of these storylines until, in the end, they come together in a surprising plot twist. The three different plots leave the reader turning the pages, anxiously anticipating how they will come together.
The story as a whole is a bit heavy on the dogmatic side; it teaches the lesson of self-acceptance. First the Monkey King, then Jin Wang and Danny must come to accept themselves as they are instead of trying to be something they’re not. Luckily, the different story lines are entertaining and gripping enough to make up for the potentially too-moralistic theme. A lesson might be being shoved down the reader’s throat, but at least it’s entertaining!
The images in this graphic novel are all drawn in muted colors inside of a simple graphic structure. There are only three to four text boxes per page, each containing muted, yet detailed, images that tell the three stories. These images tell the story clearly and allow the reader to focus entirely on the action presented and the message, without being overwhelmed by colors and extensive text. The images are the story; they’re easy to follow.
Response:
How much does the text agree or clash with your view of the world, and what you consider right and wrong?
I agree with the story’s assumption that this world and the people in it need to learn how to be comfortable in their own skin. We can only be the truest versions of ourselves if we accept every aspect of ourselves with no exceptions. Once we’ve done that we can, like the Monkey King, fulfill our true callings in this life.
How well does it address things that you, personally, care about and consider important to the world?
Although it might seem overly dogmatic in style, American Born Chinese does address both well and clearly the important issue of self-acceptance. While I might not suffer from being an ethnic minority, there are many things about my own personal life that I must come to accept even if they are different than I’d like them to be. People cannot be happy on this earth unless they accept themselves as they are; this is an important issue to talk about.
How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?
I’m not much of a graphic novel reader, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one! The story was vastly entertaining; the three overlapping storylines made me keep turning the pages as fast as I could to see what would happen to each of the three main characters.
Conclusion:
Through its alluring three-part storyline and captivatingly simple images, American Born Chinese teaches the lesson of self acceptance in the most entertaining way possible. Who knew that we had so much to learn from a Monkey King and two kids? I’d recommend this book to just about anyone, middle school and up, but especially someone who might be hesitant to try a graphic novel.
APA Style Reference:
Yang, G. L. (2006). American born Chinese. New York, NY: First Second.
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