BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kadohata, Cynthia. 2006. WEEDFLOWER. New York: Atheneum Books. ISBN 1416975667
PLOT SUMMARY
Sumiko is a young girl, who was born in America to Japanese parents. When she was young her parents died in a car accident. Leaving her and her younger brother to live with their Aunt, Uncle, Cousins and Grandfather on their flower farm. Sumiko was the only Japanese American girl at her school and felt loneliness and isolation as a result of not having many friends. Life on the farm was happy until the day Pearl Harbor was bombed. Within a few days her Uncle and Grandfather were sent to Prison Camp in the North due to the fact that they were born in Japan. The family burned all of their belongings that would imply that they are loyal to Japan. A few months later the family was evacuated to Arizona.
When Sumiko arrived in Arizona, her life changed. It was hot, very hot. Not at all like the cool southern California weather that she was used to. The family was relocated to a camp that had been placed on an Indian reservation. The transition to the sand and harsh conditions took time to get used to. Sumiko made friends with other children, but had a hard time understanding how the children did whatever they wanted, often not listening to their parents. She also became friends with an Indian boy who was interested in learning about irrigation. Sumiko’s neighbor planted a garden complete with flowers thanks to Sumiko who had brought carnation seeds. When the time comes to leave Sumiko is sad to leave her friends and the place she called home in the middle of the desert.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This is an incredible story of how a young girl finds happiness during a sad and uncertain time in her life. The character is developed to become a young girl finding her way during a time when her family has been placed in a prison camp because they are Japanese descendants. She is not bitter or angry, but she is lonely. Loneliness and boredom can be powerful and cause you to lose focus. The reader is taught that anything is possible, even in the harshest of conditions. Sumiko helped her neighbor build a beautiful garden by willingly helping to transport water to the site. What resulted was a garden that she was proud of and it kept her and her mind busy during a time in which there was little to do. She found peace in the structure of the camp, and was unhappy to leave and face a future of uncertainty that came with moving.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Reviewed in School Library Journal: “Kadohata brings into play some complex issues, but they realistically dovetail with Sumiko’s growth from child to young woman”
Reviewed in Publishers Weekly: “Kadohata clearly and eloquently conveys her heroine’s mixture of shame, anger and courage. Readers will be inspired…”
CONNECTIONS
*Invite students to write a story about how life was different during World War II.
*Other books by Cynthia Kadohata:
Kadohata, Cynthia. KIRA-KIRA. ISBN 0689856407
Kadohata, Cynthia. CRACKER!: THE BEST DOG IN VIETNAM. ISBN 141690638X
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
O’Dell, Scott.1960. ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395536804
PLOT SUMMARY
In the early 1800’s a young girl named Karana lived for 18 years on an Island all by herself, with a dog as a companion. This is the story of the young girl who watched her father be confronted by the foreign men who came to hunt otters on the island for their pelts. Her father and many of the other men died in the battle. Resulting in the new leader leaving in search of a new home for the remaining tribe. He sent a ship back for the tribe, in the confusion loading the boat the young girls brother does not board the ship. The brave young girl dives in the water to return to the island and wait with her brother for the ship to return. The young boy dies early the next morning when he is attacked by a pack of wild dogs. For eighteen years the girl lives on the Island learning to love it after experiencing so much sorrow. She befriends the lead dog of the wield pack after, she almost killed it. The dog becomes her constant companion. During her time on the Island she learns to do all of the skills which were only taught to the men. Through her resourcefulness she survived alone, until she was rescued many years later.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The story is told in such a way that the reader is able to feel the young girls mourning and loss. The character is developed into a strong woman, who is fearful of strangers who come to her Island, and is able to learn what is necessary to survive on the island alone for so many years. The loneliness that she faced in her early days alone was challenging. Extreme Sorrow and agony. She learned to forgive the leader of the wild dog pack and befriend him. The dog developed into her constant companion. The story flows quickly keeping the reader engaged through Karana’s continual resourcefulness. She was able to keep herself busy in a quiet and lonely place. The reader will learn the history of the Indian girl from San Nicolas Island through this engaging story.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
John Newbery Medal. 1961Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. 1961
School Library Journal, Books That Shaped the Century. 2000
Reviewed in Library Journal: “a haunting and unusual story”
Reviewed in the Sunday Chicago Tribune: “This extraordinary book ... has the timeless, enduring quality of a classic."
CONNECTIONS
*Invite students to create their own story based on historical information.
*Other engaging books by Scott O’Dell:
O’Dell, Scott. THE BLACK PEARL. ISBN 0440411467 O’Dell, Scott. SING DOWN THE MOON. ISBN 0440979757
O’Dell, Scott.1960. ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395536804
PLOT SUMMARY
In the early 1800’s a young girl named Karana lived for 18 years on an Island all by herself, with a dog as a companion. This is the story of the young girl who watched her father be confronted by the foreign men who came to hunt otters on the island for their pelts. Her father and many of the other men died in the battle. Resulting in the new leader leaving in search of a new home for the remaining tribe. He sent a ship back for the tribe, in the confusion loading the boat the young girls brother does not board the ship. The brave young girl dives in the water to return to the island and wait with her brother for the ship to return. The young boy dies early the next morning when he is attacked by a pack of wild dogs. For eighteen years the girl lives on the Island learning to love it after experiencing so much sorrow. She befriends the lead dog of the wield pack after, she almost killed it. The dog becomes her constant companion. During her time on the Island she learns to do all of the skills which were only taught to the men. Through her resourcefulness she survived alone, until she was rescued many years later.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The story is told in such a way that the reader is able to feel the young girls mourning and loss. The character is developed into a strong woman, who is fearful of strangers who come to her Island, and is able to learn what is necessary to survive on the island alone for so many years. The loneliness that she faced in her early days alone was challenging. Extreme Sorrow and agony. She learned to forgive the leader of the wild dog pack and befriend him. The dog developed into her constant companion. The story flows quickly keeping the reader engaged through Karana’s continual resourcefulness. She was able to keep herself busy in a quiet and lonely place. The reader will learn the history of the Indian girl from San Nicolas Island through this engaging story.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
John Newbery Medal. 1961Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. 1961
School Library Journal, Books That Shaped the Century. 2000
Reviewed in Library Journal: “a haunting and unusual story”
Reviewed in the Sunday Chicago Tribune: “This extraordinary book ... has the timeless, enduring quality of a classic."
CONNECTIONS
*Invite students to create their own story based on historical information.
*Other engaging books by Scott O’Dell:
O’Dell, Scott. THE BLACK PEARL. ISBN 0440411467 O’Dell, Scott. SING DOWN THE MOON. ISBN 0440979757
THE GREEN GRASS SEA
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Klages, Ellen. 2006. THE GREEN GRASS SEA. New York: Viking. ISBN 0670061344
PLOT SUMMARY
Dewey Carrigan is an 11 year old girl who has been raised by her grandmother, since her mother left when she was young and her father spends most of his time away at work. When her grandmother dies she is sent by train to join her father in New Mexico. She finds it lonely to live in a place that does not really exist, according to the government. Dewey finds comfort in her strong relationship with her dad and his support in her quest to build things out of gadgets. She has created her own radio. Dewey finds herself an outsider at school, with few friends. She does enjoy meeting the many scientists that lived at the hill, who were working on the top secret “gadget”. Dewey’s world is shattered when her father dies suddenly and she is left living with a fellow classmate’s family. Through the pain, Dewey finds a place in her classmate’s family. As the gadget is successfully tested and the family learns of its intended use and is distraught to learn of the government’s plans.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The story is set in 1943 During World War II, when the American Military was developing a “gadget” to end the war. Dewey’s character felt much pain in her lifetime. She was developed as a girl who did not easily fit in with the other students. Los Alamos became a home to her; she was thrilled to be living with her father again after so many years. The book gives the reader a real impression of what life was like on the hill for the children. Life was not easy for the children, bored and often unsupervised. The children learned quickly that it was a sacrifice for their country, and that the gadget was important. The secrets of Los Alamos are slowly revealed in the book, educating the reader on what life was like for the families and scientists who lived there. Young readers will learn the historical significance of Los Alamos; it is a real place with a real purpose, and that the mystery gadget was the atomic bomb which was used to end World War II.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Scott O’Dell Award: Historical Fiction 2007
School Library Journal: “Clear prose brings readers right into the unusual atmosphere of the secretive scientific community, seen through the eyes of the kids and their families.”
Booklist: “the characters are exceptionally well drawn, and the compelling, unusual setting makes a great tie-in for history classes.”
CONNECTIONS
*Other books about Los Alamos; invite students to learn more about life on “the hill”.
Broder, Bernice. TALES OF LOS ALAMOS; LIFE ON THE MESA 1943-1945. ISBN 0941232174.
Mason, Katrina. CHILDREN OF LOS ALAMOS: AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE TOWN WHERE THE ATOMIC AGE BEGAN. ISBN 0805791388
*Other books by Ellen Klages;
Klages, Ellen. WHITE SANDS, RED MENACE. ISBN 0670062359
Klages, Ellen. PORTABLE CHILDHOODS. ISBN 0670062359
Klages, Ellen. 2006. THE GREEN GRASS SEA. New York: Viking. ISBN 0670061344
PLOT SUMMARY
Dewey Carrigan is an 11 year old girl who has been raised by her grandmother, since her mother left when she was young and her father spends most of his time away at work. When her grandmother dies she is sent by train to join her father in New Mexico. She finds it lonely to live in a place that does not really exist, according to the government. Dewey finds comfort in her strong relationship with her dad and his support in her quest to build things out of gadgets. She has created her own radio. Dewey finds herself an outsider at school, with few friends. She does enjoy meeting the many scientists that lived at the hill, who were working on the top secret “gadget”. Dewey’s world is shattered when her father dies suddenly and she is left living with a fellow classmate’s family. Through the pain, Dewey finds a place in her classmate’s family. As the gadget is successfully tested and the family learns of its intended use and is distraught to learn of the government’s plans.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The story is set in 1943 During World War II, when the American Military was developing a “gadget” to end the war. Dewey’s character felt much pain in her lifetime. She was developed as a girl who did not easily fit in with the other students. Los Alamos became a home to her; she was thrilled to be living with her father again after so many years. The book gives the reader a real impression of what life was like on the hill for the children. Life was not easy for the children, bored and often unsupervised. The children learned quickly that it was a sacrifice for their country, and that the gadget was important. The secrets of Los Alamos are slowly revealed in the book, educating the reader on what life was like for the families and scientists who lived there. Young readers will learn the historical significance of Los Alamos; it is a real place with a real purpose, and that the mystery gadget was the atomic bomb which was used to end World War II.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Scott O’Dell Award: Historical Fiction 2007
School Library Journal: “Clear prose brings readers right into the unusual atmosphere of the secretive scientific community, seen through the eyes of the kids and their families.”
Booklist: “the characters are exceptionally well drawn, and the compelling, unusual setting makes a great tie-in for history classes.”
CONNECTIONS
*Other books about Los Alamos; invite students to learn more about life on “the hill”.
Broder, Bernice. TALES OF LOS ALAMOS; LIFE ON THE MESA 1943-1945. ISBN 0941232174.
Mason, Katrina. CHILDREN OF LOS ALAMOS: AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE TOWN WHERE THE ATOMIC AGE BEGAN. ISBN 0805791388
*Other books by Ellen Klages;
Klages, Ellen. WHITE SANDS, RED MENACE. ISBN 0670062359
Klages, Ellen. PORTABLE CHILDHOODS. ISBN 0670062359
Saturday, July 18, 2009
THE WALL: GROWING UP BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sis, Peter. 2007. THE WALL: GROWING UP BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN. New York: Frances Foster Books. ISBN 9780374347017
PLOT SUMMARY
Peter Sis grew up in Czechoslovakia during the time in which it was ruled by the Soviets. As a child he loved to draw and sketch. As he grew in age and ability, so did the strong hold of the communists. “Children are encouraged to report on their families and fellow students” at this stage he only draws what he is told to draw. The Berlin wall is built in 1961, dividing the city in half. As he grew older he began to question what he had been taught. Painting in secret and joining a rock band. Censorship is slowly lifted and he is able to experience the Beatles, Coca Cola and blue jeans it was the summer of 1968.
Over time the censorship returned and he realized that his dreams were safe, yet his drawings could be used against him. He discovered peace in painting the interior of his home, including his refrigerator. The Berlin wall fell in 1989. He now lives in America with his family, yet returns to Czechoslovakia to visit his extended family. Peter Sis finds it challenging to put into words what the beautiful country was like when he was growing up. Full of suspicion, fear, and lies, a world he preferred to see through his drawings, a comfort in uncertain times.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Peter Sis uses crosshatched black-and-white drawings of parades and what life was like growing up in Prague. The additions of color add another dimension to this representation of what life was like through his eyes. Even with the obvious color, the black ink allows the reader to feel and experience the oppression of the time. When oppression is lifted, colors and experiences abound. This story of Peter Sis’s experience of growing up gives us a rare glimpse into the world behind the iron curtain.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Reviewed in BOOKLIST: “terrific design dramatizes the conflict between conformity and creative freedom”
Starred Review in Publishers Weekly:”the author pairs his remarkable artistry with journal entries, historical context and period photography to create a powerful account of his childhood.”
Caldecott Honor Book: 2008
Sibert Award Winner: 2008
CONNECTIONS
*Have students read several books by Peter Sis, and have students write a story about their own childhood, and create their own black and white sketch drawing.
*Other books by Peter Sis:
Sis, Peter. MADELENKA. ISBN 0374399697
Sis, Peter. THE THREE GOLDEN KEYS. ISBN 0374375259
Sis, Peter. 2007. THE WALL: GROWING UP BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN. New York: Frances Foster Books. ISBN 9780374347017
PLOT SUMMARY
Peter Sis grew up in Czechoslovakia during the time in which it was ruled by the Soviets. As a child he loved to draw and sketch. As he grew in age and ability, so did the strong hold of the communists. “Children are encouraged to report on their families and fellow students” at this stage he only draws what he is told to draw. The Berlin wall is built in 1961, dividing the city in half. As he grew older he began to question what he had been taught. Painting in secret and joining a rock band. Censorship is slowly lifted and he is able to experience the Beatles, Coca Cola and blue jeans it was the summer of 1968.
Over time the censorship returned and he realized that his dreams were safe, yet his drawings could be used against him. He discovered peace in painting the interior of his home, including his refrigerator. The Berlin wall fell in 1989. He now lives in America with his family, yet returns to Czechoslovakia to visit his extended family. Peter Sis finds it challenging to put into words what the beautiful country was like when he was growing up. Full of suspicion, fear, and lies, a world he preferred to see through his drawings, a comfort in uncertain times.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Peter Sis uses crosshatched black-and-white drawings of parades and what life was like growing up in Prague. The additions of color add another dimension to this representation of what life was like through his eyes. Even with the obvious color, the black ink allows the reader to feel and experience the oppression of the time. When oppression is lifted, colors and experiences abound. This story of Peter Sis’s experience of growing up gives us a rare glimpse into the world behind the iron curtain.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Reviewed in BOOKLIST: “terrific design dramatizes the conflict between conformity and creative freedom”
Starred Review in Publishers Weekly:”the author pairs his remarkable artistry with journal entries, historical context and period photography to create a powerful account of his childhood.”
Caldecott Honor Book: 2008
Sibert Award Winner: 2008
CONNECTIONS
*Have students read several books by Peter Sis, and have students write a story about their own childhood, and create their own black and white sketch drawing.
*Other books by Peter Sis:
Sis, Peter. MADELENKA. ISBN 0374399697
Sis, Peter. THE THREE GOLDEN KEYS. ISBN 0374375259
ENCANTADO: PINK DOLPHIN OF THE AMAZON
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Montgomery, Sy. 2002. ENCANTADO: PINK DOLPHIN OF THE AMAZON. Photographs by Dianne Taylor-Snow. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618131035
PLOT SUMMARY
The Encantado, pink dolphin of the Amazon is an elusive animal. It is able to survive in the Amazon River by having a flexible body that is able to maneuver the often times dense and dark Amazon River. The dolphin is a rare sight since they swim low and never jump out of the water. The illusiveness of the dolphins makes them special and magical to the people who live along the river. The author takes readers on a trip down the river to understand the people, culture, and the importance of preserving the rainforest.
The author documents in second person what it would be like to study these animals based on her own observations. Some days there were many sightings, and on one particular day “They surfaced at the same moment within fifty yards of the canoe, a big pink mother and a little gray young one.” They also live among many other amazing animals. Piranhas, and electric eels will cause you think twice before swimming in the murky water to look for the Encantado. The water is also home to armored catfish which are descendants from the Devonian era 400 million years ago.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Photographs taken by Dianne Taylor-Snow are bright and colorful. The photographs bring reality to a rather elusive animal. They also allow the reader to connect to how people live in different parts of the world. The Encantado photographs in the book were taken of the Encantado that resides at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Readers are intrigued by the numerous topics and photographs that the author relates to the environment in which the Encantado lives.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Reviewed in BOOKLIST: “children with a taste for adventure will enjoy this enthusiastic field trip to the rainforest and chance meetings with everything from cute monkeys to stinging black ants.”
Reviewed in School Library Journal: “a magical environment as readers accompany the author and a guide on a voyage to investigate these little-known animals.”
CONNECTIONS
*Invite students to participate in a lesson that compares and contrasts Dolphins and Encantados.
*Other books by Sy Montgomery:
Montgomery, Sy. JOURNEY OF THE PINK DOLPHINS: AN AMAZON QUEST. ISBN 0743200268Montgomery, Sy. THE TARANTULA SCIENTIST: SCIENTIST IN THE FIELD. ISBN 061891577X
Montgomery, Sy. 2002. ENCANTADO: PINK DOLPHIN OF THE AMAZON. Photographs by Dianne Taylor-Snow. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618131035
PLOT SUMMARY
The Encantado, pink dolphin of the Amazon is an elusive animal. It is able to survive in the Amazon River by having a flexible body that is able to maneuver the often times dense and dark Amazon River. The dolphin is a rare sight since they swim low and never jump out of the water. The illusiveness of the dolphins makes them special and magical to the people who live along the river. The author takes readers on a trip down the river to understand the people, culture, and the importance of preserving the rainforest.
The author documents in second person what it would be like to study these animals based on her own observations. Some days there were many sightings, and on one particular day “They surfaced at the same moment within fifty yards of the canoe, a big pink mother and a little gray young one.” They also live among many other amazing animals. Piranhas, and electric eels will cause you think twice before swimming in the murky water to look for the Encantado. The water is also home to armored catfish which are descendants from the Devonian era 400 million years ago.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Photographs taken by Dianne Taylor-Snow are bright and colorful. The photographs bring reality to a rather elusive animal. They also allow the reader to connect to how people live in different parts of the world. The Encantado photographs in the book were taken of the Encantado that resides at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Readers are intrigued by the numerous topics and photographs that the author relates to the environment in which the Encantado lives.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Reviewed in BOOKLIST: “children with a taste for adventure will enjoy this enthusiastic field trip to the rainforest and chance meetings with everything from cute monkeys to stinging black ants.”
Reviewed in School Library Journal: “a magical environment as readers accompany the author and a guide on a voyage to investigate these little-known animals.”
CONNECTIONS
*Invite students to participate in a lesson that compares and contrasts Dolphins and Encantados.
*Other books by Sy Montgomery:
Montgomery, Sy. JOURNEY OF THE PINK DOLPHINS: AN AMAZON QUEST. ISBN 0743200268Montgomery, Sy. THE TARANTULA SCIENTIST: SCIENTIST IN THE FIELD. ISBN 061891577X
THE BOY ON FAIRFIELD STREET: HOW TED GEISEL GREW UP TO BECOME DR. SEUSS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Krull, Kathleen. 2004. THE BOY ON FAIRFIELD STREET: HOW TED GEISEL GREW UP TO BECOME DR. SEUSS. Ill. by Steve Johnson & Lou Fancher. New York: Random Mills. ISBN 0375822984
PLOT SUMMARY
Dr. Seuss grew up on Fairfield Street. His family were German immigrants, which left him misunderstood by many in his school and community. He grew up hearing stories at dinner about animals at the zoo and his mother dreamed of him going to college, so she told him verse poetry stories at bedtime. Ted Geisel is his real name; he grew up frustrating teachers with his constant doodling in class, and was told by an art teacher that he had no talent, since he was changing all the rules of typical art. Dr. Seuss adopted his pen name after college, and moved to Greenwich Village to begin his career.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Kathleen Krull writes an engaging Biography about Ted Geisel also known as Dr. Seuss. She engages the reader quickly as you learn about Dr. Seuss’s childhood and the obstacles he overcame to refine his talents and become a well known children’s author. He became inspired to find a career that utilized his talents for doodling and writing verse. At the age of twenty two he decided “he could share his own love of reading, animals, and justice” with children around the world and on Fairfield Street.
The paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher cast a nostalgic light with old fashioned paintings. They enable you to believe that you are in 1915. The illustrations enable the reader to journey with Ted as he grows up to have life experiences that enable him to become the well known Dr. Seuss. Many of the experiences are shown through full page illustrations which emphasize the importance of the event to the reader. The look of disgust on his teachers face when he is doodling in class and the injustice which he experienced on the playground as a child. These experiences led him to create such unique stories and animals.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Reviewed in BOOKLIST:”delightful picture-book biography about Giesel that chronicles how he became an innovative writer and illustrator beloved by readers young and old.”
Reviewed in HORN BOOK: “the real story here is of a boy who couldn't stop doodling.”
CONNECTIONS
*Invite children to share their favorite Dr. Seuss story.
*Other books by Dr. Seuss
Seuss Geisel, Theodor. THE CAT IN THE HAT. ISBN 039480001X
Seuss Geisel, Theodor. GREEN EGGS AND HAM. ISBN 0545002850
Krull, Kathleen. 2004. THE BOY ON FAIRFIELD STREET: HOW TED GEISEL GREW UP TO BECOME DR. SEUSS. Ill. by Steve Johnson & Lou Fancher. New York: Random Mills. ISBN 0375822984
PLOT SUMMARY
Dr. Seuss grew up on Fairfield Street. His family were German immigrants, which left him misunderstood by many in his school and community. He grew up hearing stories at dinner about animals at the zoo and his mother dreamed of him going to college, so she told him verse poetry stories at bedtime. Ted Geisel is his real name; he grew up frustrating teachers with his constant doodling in class, and was told by an art teacher that he had no talent, since he was changing all the rules of typical art. Dr. Seuss adopted his pen name after college, and moved to Greenwich Village to begin his career.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Kathleen Krull writes an engaging Biography about Ted Geisel also known as Dr. Seuss. She engages the reader quickly as you learn about Dr. Seuss’s childhood and the obstacles he overcame to refine his talents and become a well known children’s author. He became inspired to find a career that utilized his talents for doodling and writing verse. At the age of twenty two he decided “he could share his own love of reading, animals, and justice” with children around the world and on Fairfield Street.
The paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher cast a nostalgic light with old fashioned paintings. They enable you to believe that you are in 1915. The illustrations enable the reader to journey with Ted as he grows up to have life experiences that enable him to become the well known Dr. Seuss. Many of the experiences are shown through full page illustrations which emphasize the importance of the event to the reader. The look of disgust on his teachers face when he is doodling in class and the injustice which he experienced on the playground as a child. These experiences led him to create such unique stories and animals.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Reviewed in BOOKLIST:”delightful picture-book biography about Giesel that chronicles how he became an innovative writer and illustrator beloved by readers young and old.”
Reviewed in HORN BOOK: “the real story here is of a boy who couldn't stop doodling.”
CONNECTIONS
*Invite children to share their favorite Dr. Seuss story.
*Other books by Dr. Seuss
Seuss Geisel, Theodor. THE CAT IN THE HAT. ISBN 039480001X
Seuss Geisel, Theodor. GREEN EGGS AND HAM. ISBN 0545002850
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
OUT OF THE DUST
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hesse, Karen. 1997. OUT OF THE DUST. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0590376195
PLOT SUMMARY
Billie Jo is growing up in Oklahoma in the 1930 when the panhandle was having many struggles with dust storms. The verse novel discusses the hard life style that Billie Jo had growing up. Her father attempts to grow wheat off of the land, yet the dust and lack of rain destroy all hopes of a good crop. Billie Jo’s father leaves a pot of kerosene on the stove and her ma and baby brother dies from the burns that resulted from Billie Jo trying to get rid of the kerosene by throwing it out the front door. Left behind are Billie Jo with severely burnt hands and her father. The story follows them through their struggles and mourning their losses. When Billie Jo finally decides to run away, she realizes that there is no place like home and is quick to return and repair the relationship with her father and help him rebuild their farm.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Karen Hesse’s utilization of verse in the writing of this novel makes it very readable and enjoyable. She utilizes first person to enable the reader to feel connected to what she is writing. The content is bleak at times, yet the book is fast paced due to the free verse writing style. I found Billie Jo to be a strong character; she went through a lot in a short period of time. The pain she must have felt after she burnt her hands. She states “I keep my raw and stinging hands behind my back when he comes near, because he stares when he sees them.” At 14 she had suffered so much, yet she found strength in herself to push forward and find peace at home. This book will help students understand what life was like in 1930 and how different it is from today.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Reviewed in Horn Book: “nearly every word informed by longing, provides an immediacy that expressively depicts both a grim historical era and one’s family healing.”
Reviewed in Booklist: “This is an excellent book for discussion, and many of the poems stand alone sufficiently to be used as powerful supplements to a history lesson.”
Newberry Medal Winner, 1998, Notable Children’s Books, 1998, Best Books for Young Adults, 1998, and Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth, 1997.
CONNECTIONS
*Incorporate writing verse poetry into an upcoming lesson plan, allow students to write about a topic important to them relating to family.
*Other engaging verse novels:
Frost, Helen. DIAMOND WILLOW. ISBN 9780374317768
Hesse, Karen. ALEUTIAN SPARROW. ISBN 0689861893
Hesse, Karen. Witness. ISBN 0439271991
Hesse, Karen. 1997. OUT OF THE DUST. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0590376195
PLOT SUMMARY
Billie Jo is growing up in Oklahoma in the 1930 when the panhandle was having many struggles with dust storms. The verse novel discusses the hard life style that Billie Jo had growing up. Her father attempts to grow wheat off of the land, yet the dust and lack of rain destroy all hopes of a good crop. Billie Jo’s father leaves a pot of kerosene on the stove and her ma and baby brother dies from the burns that resulted from Billie Jo trying to get rid of the kerosene by throwing it out the front door. Left behind are Billie Jo with severely burnt hands and her father. The story follows them through their struggles and mourning their losses. When Billie Jo finally decides to run away, she realizes that there is no place like home and is quick to return and repair the relationship with her father and help him rebuild their farm.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Karen Hesse’s utilization of verse in the writing of this novel makes it very readable and enjoyable. She utilizes first person to enable the reader to feel connected to what she is writing. The content is bleak at times, yet the book is fast paced due to the free verse writing style. I found Billie Jo to be a strong character; she went through a lot in a short period of time. The pain she must have felt after she burnt her hands. She states “I keep my raw and stinging hands behind my back when he comes near, because he stares when he sees them.” At 14 she had suffered so much, yet she found strength in herself to push forward and find peace at home. This book will help students understand what life was like in 1930 and how different it is from today.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Reviewed in Horn Book: “nearly every word informed by longing, provides an immediacy that expressively depicts both a grim historical era and one’s family healing.”
Reviewed in Booklist: “This is an excellent book for discussion, and many of the poems stand alone sufficiently to be used as powerful supplements to a history lesson.”
Newberry Medal Winner, 1998, Notable Children’s Books, 1998, Best Books for Young Adults, 1998, and Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth, 1997.
CONNECTIONS
*Incorporate writing verse poetry into an upcoming lesson plan, allow students to write about a topic important to them relating to family.
*Other engaging verse novels:
Frost, Helen. DIAMOND WILLOW. ISBN 9780374317768
Hesse, Karen. ALEUTIAN SPARROW. ISBN 0689861893
Hesse, Karen. Witness. ISBN 0439271991
TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
George, Kristine O’Connell. 2001. TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS. Ill. by Kate Kiesler. New York: Clarion. ISBN 061804597X.
PLOT SUMMARY
A young girl travels to the mountains with her family. She describes what her adventures are like through the eyes of a child. You are given a sense of what it would be like to row a boat, see a moose, pitch a tent, and toast marshmallows. When it comes time to travel home, the young girl brings a rock home as a promise to return again soon, and she keeps her favorite flannel shirt in her bottom dresser drawer to always remind her of the smells of the mountains.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This 30 piece collection of poetry forms the perfect family story of a summer camping trip to the mountains. The young girl feels at home in the outdoors, and enjoys the various adventures she has with her family. In the poem The Best Paths, she writes that “the best paths hide themselves until the right someone comes along.” The poems express common things that a family would do or see while camping and exploring their surroundings. The poems allow students to envision themselves camping, even if they have never been before.
Kate Kiesler uses inviting oil paintings to visualize each of the poems. She creates a cast of characters in the perfect setting. The continually changing vistas offer a sense of surprise as the pages are turned. In Sleeping Outside, you get the feeling of camping high up the sierras among the trees and stars. The brightness and closeness of the stars enables the reader to feel as though the stars are in reach. The illustrations portray a realistic experience of a family adventure high in the mountains.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Reviewed in School Library Journal: “The poems are varied and inventive, replete with marvelous images and universal truths.”
Starred Review in Booklist: “fine collection brings the outdoors up close…direct, satisfying poems that will engage kids at school, across the curriculum, or at home.”
Reviewed in Horn Book: “The pleasure and surprise of going camping are conveyed in thirty brief poems.”
CONNECTIONS
*Invite children to write a poem about camping.
*Other engaging books of poetry about the great outdoors:
Asch, Frank. CACTUS POEMS. ISBN 0152006761
Bates, Katharine Lee. AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL. ISBN 0399238859
George, Kristine O’Connell. 2001. TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS. Ill. by Kate Kiesler. New York: Clarion. ISBN 061804597X.
PLOT SUMMARY
A young girl travels to the mountains with her family. She describes what her adventures are like through the eyes of a child. You are given a sense of what it would be like to row a boat, see a moose, pitch a tent, and toast marshmallows. When it comes time to travel home, the young girl brings a rock home as a promise to return again soon, and she keeps her favorite flannel shirt in her bottom dresser drawer to always remind her of the smells of the mountains.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This 30 piece collection of poetry forms the perfect family story of a summer camping trip to the mountains. The young girl feels at home in the outdoors, and enjoys the various adventures she has with her family. In the poem The Best Paths, she writes that “the best paths hide themselves until the right someone comes along.” The poems express common things that a family would do or see while camping and exploring their surroundings. The poems allow students to envision themselves camping, even if they have never been before.
Kate Kiesler uses inviting oil paintings to visualize each of the poems. She creates a cast of characters in the perfect setting. The continually changing vistas offer a sense of surprise as the pages are turned. In Sleeping Outside, you get the feeling of camping high up the sierras among the trees and stars. The brightness and closeness of the stars enables the reader to feel as though the stars are in reach. The illustrations portray a realistic experience of a family adventure high in the mountains.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Reviewed in School Library Journal: “The poems are varied and inventive, replete with marvelous images and universal truths.”
Starred Review in Booklist: “fine collection brings the outdoors up close…direct, satisfying poems that will engage kids at school, across the curriculum, or at home.”
Reviewed in Horn Book: “The pleasure and surprise of going camping are conveyed in thirty brief poems.”
CONNECTIONS
*Invite children to write a poem about camping.
*Other engaging books of poetry about the great outdoors:
Asch, Frank. CACTUS POEMS. ISBN 0152006761
Bates, Katharine Lee. AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL. ISBN 0399238859
Family Reunion
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Singer, Marilyn. 1994. FAMILY REUNION. Ill. by R. W. Alley. New York: Macmillan. ISBN 0027828832
PLOT SUMMARY:
On a summer afternoon in a small park, a family reunion takes place. The story is a collection of 14 poems that describe in humorous detail the goings on at the party. The poems create a wonderful story of a family that loves to spend time together. The poems cover the many silly antics and games. The narrator describes all the silly games the children play. Including searching for Beavers in the pond, and this year they found Uncle Bill’s hairpiece. In closing the narrator reflects on the fun the family had together and the special memories that he has, and on the anticipated arrival of a family photo.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
The book is full of poems which allow the reader to feel as though they are part of reunion themselves. In the poem Aunt Alicia, “I wish that someday she’d startle us in sneakers” the narrator talks about how different their Aunt is from everyone else, and how they love her just the way she is. The poems are full of life and fun including Slow-Motion Sprint, in which “it’s hard so hard inching along like worms in a wheat field…that in the end we no longer care who the winner is.” The family comes together and enjoys each other, including their differences.
The illustrations with their cartoon like feel, add to the whimsical feeling of this book. The watercolor and ink drawings allow children to feel connected to the different poems. Each page is illustrated in a way that allows a child’s imagination to think about how fun it would be if they were at the family reunion.
REVIEW EXCERPTS:
School Library Journal: “Family love and humor make this book a winner to share with children.”
Booklist: “Anyone who has been to a summertime family reunion will recognize the people, events, tastes, and smells captured in this lively collection of 14 poems.”
Horn Book: “Alley's whimsical pen and wash illustrations capture the humorous idiosyncrasies of the various characters.”
CONNECTIONS:
*Invite children to write a poem about their own family.
*Other engaging books of poetry for children:
Aber, Linda Williams. THE BIG GOLDEN BOOK OF LAUGHS: A TREASURY OF POEMS, JOKES, RIDDLES, AND RHYMES. ISBN 0-307-14902-1 Agard, John, Nichols, Grace & Jabar, Cynthia. NO HICKORY, NO DICKORY, NO DOCK: CARIBBEAN NURSERY RHYMES. ISBN 1567021564
Singer, Marilyn. 1994. FAMILY REUNION. Ill. by R. W. Alley. New York: Macmillan. ISBN 0027828832
PLOT SUMMARY:
On a summer afternoon in a small park, a family reunion takes place. The story is a collection of 14 poems that describe in humorous detail the goings on at the party. The poems create a wonderful story of a family that loves to spend time together. The poems cover the many silly antics and games. The narrator describes all the silly games the children play. Including searching for Beavers in the pond, and this year they found Uncle Bill’s hairpiece. In closing the narrator reflects on the fun the family had together and the special memories that he has, and on the anticipated arrival of a family photo.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
The book is full of poems which allow the reader to feel as though they are part of reunion themselves. In the poem Aunt Alicia, “I wish that someday she’d startle us in sneakers” the narrator talks about how different their Aunt is from everyone else, and how they love her just the way she is. The poems are full of life and fun including Slow-Motion Sprint, in which “it’s hard so hard inching along like worms in a wheat field…that in the end we no longer care who the winner is.” The family comes together and enjoys each other, including their differences.
The illustrations with their cartoon like feel, add to the whimsical feeling of this book. The watercolor and ink drawings allow children to feel connected to the different poems. Each page is illustrated in a way that allows a child’s imagination to think about how fun it would be if they were at the family reunion.
REVIEW EXCERPTS:
School Library Journal: “Family love and humor make this book a winner to share with children.”
Booklist: “Anyone who has been to a summertime family reunion will recognize the people, events, tastes, and smells captured in this lively collection of 14 poems.”
Horn Book: “Alley's whimsical pen and wash illustrations capture the humorous idiosyncrasies of the various characters.”
CONNECTIONS:
*Invite children to write a poem about their own family.
*Other engaging books of poetry for children:
Aber, Linda Williams. THE BIG GOLDEN BOOK OF LAUGHS: A TREASURY OF POEMS, JOKES, RIDDLES, AND RHYMES. ISBN 0-307-14902-1 Agard, John, Nichols, Grace & Jabar, Cynthia. NO HICKORY, NO DICKORY, NO DOCK: CARIBBEAN NURSERY RHYMES. ISBN 1567021564
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)