The House You Pass On The Way

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Woodson, Jacquelin. 1997. THE HOUSE YOU PASS ON THE WAY. New York, NY: Delacorte Press. ISBN 038532189.

PLOT SUMMARY
Fourteen year old Staggerlee, was a lonely young lady, who longed to find out who she actually was. She was a biracial child being raised in an all black town called Sweet Gum. She was born Evangeline Ian Canan ,but she had given herself the name Staggerlee . She was just like her mamma “quiet and kept to herself”. She finally had made a friend and sparks flew, her name was Hazel. Staggerlee had different feelings towards Hazel. The next thing she knew, she and Hazel had shared a kiss. Staggerlee’s friendship was short lived and Hazel moved away. Staggerlee once again was left alone.

Soon a letter from her estranged aunt was asking if she could have her niece come visit for the summer. She was just Staggerlee’s age, and her named was Tyler. All Staggerlee could think about was that she might have a new friend. As it turns out, Tyler (also known as Trout) and Staggerlee became inseparable. Staggerlee falls in love with Tyler and they share all of their secrets. Their summer by the river comes to an end as Tyler returns home. To Staggerlee’s dismay she learns that Tyler finds a boyfriend when she returns to her home. Staggerlee wonders did their summer really mean anything ?

Critical Analysis
Jacqueline Woodson brings readers a touching story of a teenager’s struggle with coming of age. Her story has several story lines; one that depicts prejudice in a small town. “Why was the word white that hung on people’s lips”? This isolation made her feel unaccepted, “ Some people go crazy if they feel like they don’t have any type of community or close friends”.

Woodson gently talks of sexuality but it is not the entire storey line. As she said “No one ever told me I had to lie about it or had to keep it quiet, but somehow I just knew”. Once Staggerlee shares with Tyler her feelings of sexuality, it was like setting her free from isolation. Just like locals talk of the healing power of the Sweet Gum, so was sharing her secret.

The setting of this story was in the South , in an all African-American town. Staggerlee’s family lived in her grandparent’s old house in the country. The river ran through the back of their property and it represents a little of Staggerlee, wild and free. Woodson’s chapter titles seem to resemble a river falling down the page.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist- “ What many teens will relate to is the uncertainty, the sense that Staggerlee doesn't know who she is becoming and where her journey will take her.”

Kirkus - “A newfound confidante and a breath of common sense clears away a teenager's guilt and dismay over her dawning sexual preference in this thoughtful, deceptively low-key story from Woodson.”

Other Books by Jacqueline Woodson
Woodson, Jacqueline. From the notebooks of Melanin Sun. ISBN 9780590458801.
Woodson, Jacqueline. Hush. ISBN 9780141315997.

Moses Goes to a Concert

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Millman, Isaac. 1998. Moses Goes To A Concert. Ill. Isaac Millman, New York, NY: Frances Foster Books. ISBN 9780374453664.

PLOT SUMMARY
Moses is going on a field trip with his classmates. They are just like all kids, except they are deaf. Mr. Samuels is taking Moses and his classmates to concert just for kids. Moses is excited about going to the concert because he loves music, especially the drums. As the children board the bus, they notice that their teacher is carrying a large black bag. The only thing Mr. Samuels will say is that is that it is a surprise. The children are lead into the first row of the performance hall where they are excited for the show to start. It is then that Mr. Samuels opens his black bag to reveal balloons. He passes out a balloon for each child to place into their laps so they can feel the vibrations of the music. This is not the only surprise, the children then notice that one of the percussionists is just wearing sock and that she, too is deaf. After the performance the children are invited on stage to experiment with instruments and they are able to ask her questions. The percussionist tells the children that she worked hard at becoming a percussionist because her “heart was set” on it and they too, could do anything they set their minds to.

Critical Analysis
Isaac Millman brings readers a welcoming tale of inspiration for people with challenges. In a lighthearted tale that promotes understanding by all. Many culture markers can be found in this story. Millman starts off his story with an author’s note that explaining to readers that most deaf people communicate using American Sign Language (ASL). He goes on to describe to his readers how sign language is composed and what movement or facial expressions mean. Is detailed Author’s Note also explains “How to read the arrows and symbols” of the hand motions. Millman has Moses explain to readers that he can not hear music , but he “can feel vibrations of the drum through his hands”. Children will connect to the main character when he tells his reader that he “takes off his shoes so he can feel it through his feet, too.”
With the help of the main character, Millman correctly conveys the message that even though children that are deaf, they too, have the same feelings that all children do. All children are curious; he shows this by “As the children climb onto the bus, they wonder what is inside Mr. Samuel’s black bag.” This makes all readers at ease. At the end of this story young readers will love to look at the hand alphabet and try to make the symbols.

Millman’s cartoon strip illustrations help add a personal touch as if Moses is telling a side story directly to the readers. This side story also gives the readers a chance to practice decoding the American Sign Language. Each water- colored page opens up a whole new world through his pictures of movement and facial expression, which is consistent with helping people understand the story.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Kirkus- “The power of Millman's book comes from the simple fact that he levels the playing field; of course deaf children go to concerts, but conveying how they enjoy music removes yet one more barrier between those who can hear and those who cannot”

Booklist - “This breakthrough picture book about a deaf child works so well that you wonder why there aren't lots more books like it.”

Other Books by Isaac Millman
Millman, Isaac. Moses Goes To School. ISBN 9780374350697.
Millman, Isaac. Moses Goes To The Circus. ISBN 9780374350642.

Habibi

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Nye, Naomi Shihab. 1999. Habibi. New York, NY: Simon Pulse. ISBN 0689285234 (pbk).

PLOT SUMMARY
Life for Liyana Abboud was changing, not only did she just have her first kiss but she soon finds out that her family will be moving across the world. Liyana and her family move from St. Louis to her father’s homeland in a small village outside of Jerusalem. When they land in this new country, Liyana suffers from culture shock. She could no longer wear her “short shorts”, kiss boys and everything was much more primitive. How was she going to survive?

Liyana’s adventurous spirit leads her to explore the language, customs and politics of the differing cultures. As she starts to warm up to the country she opens up and let’s her grandmother “Sitti” share more of the history of her beloved country. Liyana’s heart soon takes a leap when she meets a boy in town, his name was Omer. She soon discovers that Omer speaks Hebrew and is from the Jewish side of town and associating is taboo. But, Omer is different he has an open heart and mind. It is with the free spirit of Liyana and Omer’s open mind that we are left with the hope of repair to this spiritual land.

Critical Analysis
Naomi Shihab Nye brings readers a charming, celebration of young love that has been wrapped delicately around tough historical issues. Her story has a multi story lines; one of a teenager coming of age, a historical look at the Jewish and Arab tensions, and one of character that is discovering who she by the powerful use of words. Liyana’s day by day account of her new life in a foreign land will captivate her young readers. Children will be able to digest the complicated history between the Arab/Jewish conflicts.

Cultural Markers are present in the dialogue with phrases for example that help explain the title of the book “Habibi , meaning darling or Habibti, the feminine term for darling”. Nye describes authentic spices “oregano, mint, sumac and thyme” that are gathered by the villagers and how the tables were filled with “olives, purple marninated turnips, plates of baba ghanouj and hummus, hot flat breads.” She even informs the reader of how they make traditional bread “Sitti motioned for Poppy and Liyana toward the mounded oven called a taboon” Naomi Shihab Nye helps show cultural images to the reader by explaining how traditionally in some cultures they ask for hands in marriage or the sounds that some of the culture gestures. “Sitti suddenly through her head back, rolled her tongue high up in her mouth, and began trilling wildly.” Nye has Poppy explain that this is “her traditional cry of an announcement that is used in weddings and funerals”

Nye is able to carrying off this difficult historical tale because of her strong characters. Liyana starts off as a uncomfortable foreigner in her new land, but later grows into a passionate, patriot for peace. She also portrays this through Poppy , the physician who returns to his homeland to help his people and also in Omer who is Jewish and wants to reach out and learn about the Arab countryside. These valiant characters will steal the hearts of readers. Reader’s will enjoy finding the title to each new chapter with a poetic type greeting that helps transition the reader into the next chapter.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Kirkus- “The sights, sounds, and smells of Jerusalem drift through the pages and readers glean a sense of current Palestinian-Israeli relations and the region's troubled history.”

Booklist - “The story is steeped in detail about the place and cultures: food, geography, history, shopping, schools, languages, religions, etc..”

Other Books by Naomi Shihab Nye
Nye, Naomi Shihab. Sitti’s Secret. ISBN 97800276846055.
Nye, Naomi Shihab. The space between our footsteps: poems and paintings from the Middle East. ISBN 9780689812330.

The Earth Dragon Awakes

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Yep, Laurence. 2006. THE EARTH DRAGON AWAKES: THE SAN FRANCISO EARTHQUAKE OF 1906. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN006027525.

PLOT SUMMARY-This historical fictional novel is chronicled through the eyes of eight year old Henry, a son of a banker and Ching, the son of a Chinese Immigrant who works for Henry’s father. Both Ching and Henry enjoyed reading action novels and together wished that their fathers were heroes, but “neither were exciting”. Little did the boys know that life would soon be changing, “underneath their feet, the earth begins to stir”. As both boys retire to their homes on opposites sides of town an earthquake strikes. As both families struggle to survive the aftermath, each boy begins to realize that their father’s are heroes. The Earth Dragon Awakes details the horrific 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the fires that followed the admirable acts of human kindness, and the heart warming story of true friendship.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Laurence Yep has authored a historical fiction novel that details the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 aimed at young readers. He reaches these readers by discussing his character's love of comic books or as Mrs. Travis would say "Penny Dreadfuls". Yep takes a unique perspective by telling his story through alternating views of his two young characters, Henry and Sing. Yep titles each page with entries like, “ 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 17th, 1906 …Travis Household…..Sacremento Street Area” this allows for young readers to understand where they are in the story and from what perspective it is being told. Laurence Yep does a great job blending history, culture and fiction seamlessly for young readers. He outlines many facts to the readers, such as “twenty thousand people have fled San Francisco” and goes on to include an afterword complete with facts and pictures.

Yep’s novel includes cultural markers through out his novel. He explains that Ching and his father Ah Sing live in Chinatown in a “tenement”. Ching remarks that his tenement (building) is different from his home in China- “Most are American looking, they look plain compared to the ones at home”. Yep tells readers the importance of the Chinese immigrants still connecting to their culture. He does this by having Ching complain that his father drags him all over Chinatown to run errands, to pick up “Chinese newspapers” and to talk with people of his community. You can infer the pride Ah Sing has when he has the opportunity to visit with friends. It is within these conversations that we meet Ah Quon , the butcher. Ah Quon tells Sing and Ah Sing about “asking heaven to keep the Earth Dragon quiet”. As he moves his character among Chinatown Yep informs the reader of culturally authentic games. Ching comments that he can hear “mahjong tiles clacking” as they approach their home. These are sounds of comfort to his character.

Yep does a nice job of developing his characters from the beginning Henry and Sing are portrayed as young boys but he shows how their maturity has grown as a result of life changing events. This book unfolds nicely and truly shows readers the characteristics of good citizenship and friendship beyond cultural lines.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist- “Told in the present tense, the narration provides a "you are there" sense of immediacy and will appeal to readers who enjoy action-packed survival stories.”

Horn Book Review- “Alternating a fictional story with short segments of factual information, Yep creates a frightening sense of immediacy in this docudrama about San Francisco's 1906 earthquake.”

Other Books by Laurence Yep:
Yep, Laurence. The Case of the Lion Dance. ISBN 9780060244477.
Yep, Laurence. The Khan's daughter : a Mongolian folktale. ISBN 9780590483902.

Lon Po Po

BIBLIOGRAPHY
A. Bibliography
Young, Ed. 1996. Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China. New York, NY: Penguin Group, Inc. ISBN 0698113829

PLOT SUMMARY
In this Chinese variant of Red-Riding Hood, translator and illustrator Ed Young introduces readers to this mysterious and stunning tale. A long time ago, a mother left her three young children, “Shang, Tao and Paotze” while she went to visit their grandmother. She warns the children to “close the door tight at sunset and latch it well”. As night falls, a clever wolf approaches and raps on the door. The children inquire “Who is it?” to which the wolf responds, “My jewels, it is your grandmother”…. “Po Po” cried the children in confusion. The children eventually let in their grandmother “Po Po” (who really is a wolf). After a few confusing events like “Po Po, your foot has a brush”? The children quickly figure out that this is not their “Po Po” but a wolf! They lure the wolf/grandmother out to a Ginkgo tree telling the wolf that the tree would provide eternal life. With the wolf’s mouth watering the children coax him to climb into a basket so they can lift him into the tree. It was this basket that led to the wolf’s death. On the next day, their mother returned where they shared the story with their mother the “Po Po” that came visiting.

Critical Analysis
Ed Young stays true to his culture and presents culturally authentic markers. These markers are not bold but gentle. His rendition of this variant of a Chinese folktale is subtle with characters having names like “Shang” or “Tao” and using terms like “Po Po”. He sets the tone for this suspenseful tale at the very beginning by providing the reader with a quote “To all the wolves of the world for lending their good name as a tangible symbol for our darkness.” Readers will sit on the edge of their chairs turning each page with eerie delight.

This Red-Riding Hood story is well told and is refreshingly entertainging. The plot is familar tale of good versus evil and children will follow along easily. The story is set in the country side of China. Children will enjoy retelling this story to friends, because we are all intrigued by the big bad wolf.

Young’s water color and pastel illustrations correctly casts darkness against light depicting the struggle of good versus evil. He presents his illustrations in multi panel panes that move the story along. Young captures the character’s feelings in their eyes and close ups of the wolf’s eyes. His color choices provoke a deep artistic thought several layers deep.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal- "A gripping variation on Red Riding Hood that involves three little sisters who outsmart the wolf.”

Publishers Weekly- “The juxtaposition of abstract and realistic representations, the complicated play of color and shadow, and the depth of the artist's vision all help transform this simple fairy tale into an extraordinary and powerful book.”

Other Books by Ed Young
Young, Ed. Seven Blind Mice. ISBN 9780399222610.
Young, Ed. The Lost Horse. ISBN 9780152010164.

Grandfather's Journey

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Say, Allen. 1993. GRANDFATHER’S JOURNEY. Boston, Mass: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 0395570352.

PLOT SUMMARY

Grandfather’s Journey is based on Allen Say’s own grandfather and his struggle with conflicting feelings for the country he grew up in –Japan, versus the country he immigrated to-America. He chronicles his journey west, where he boards a boat and “he wore European clothes” for the first time. His grandfather traveled to America by “train and river boat, and often walked for days on end”. He finally settled on California for his new home, but after a time he returned to his homeland to marry. He returned to California with his new bride where he would raise his family and stay for many years. But, soon he finds that he could not suppress his memories of his homeland even though “he surrounded himself with songbirds, he could not forget”. He takes his family and returns to Japan where he once again “laughed with friends”. He shared stories with his grandchildren about California and missed the mountains, so he scheduled a trip. Unfortunately he was never made the trip due to war. When his grandson finally grows up, he too leaves to discover the land that his grandfather so fondly spoke of. He had to see California for “himself” and it is on this journey he learns to understand the lifelong struggle his grandfather had for his love of two countries.

Critical Analysis
Allen Say’s Caldecott winning picture book helps readers have a personal look at how immigrants might feel when they are torn between two countries. He does a great job adding a personal touch by sharing his grandfather’s story, yet not making it the main focus of the story. Say’s watercolor illustrations give off the impression of a family photo album. This personal touch portrays itself, as if the narrator himself where sitting side by side with the reader sharing his story. It is exciting to see that some pictures almost glow with the emotion he is feeling.
Being that Allen Say is telling his family’s story of immigration his cultural markers are authentic showing proper landscapes, skin tones, and housing during Grandfather’s Journey. He cleverly pulls the reader in sharing his excitement for the new land and people he met, “he met many people along the way”. Allen Say did choose an interesting choice of words describing the different people he met; he tells the reader he shook hands with “black men and white men, with yellow men and red men”.

Readers will cherish this family tale while thinking fondly of their own heritages. This story has a dual setting, both in California and Japan. Allen Say develops his plot with such gentleness that readers will automatically understand his story. This is touching story sharing the importance of family and patriotism.


REVIEW EXCERPTS
Horn Book- “The immigrant experience has rarely been so poignantly evoked as it is in this direct, lyrical narrative, accompanied by soft-toned watercolors.”

Children’s Literature - “Many immigrants must experience the same conflicting emotions as Say's grandfather in his Caldecott Award book. Homesick for Japan when in California; yet, longing to return when at home in Japan. It was his grandson, Allen, who made the journey here and now lives in San Francisco. The paintings are haunting evocations of a time past and appear as an intimate part of a family's album. The range of emotions make this book suitable for older children and adults.”

Other Books by Allen Say
Say, Allen. Tree of Cranes. ISBN 9780395520246.
Say, Allen. Tea with Milk. ISBN 9780395904954.

The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bruchac, Joseph. 1993. THE FIRST STRAWBERRIES: A CHEROKEE STORY. Illustrated by Anna Vojtech. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0803713320.

PLOT SUMMARY-In this simple, creation tale it is explained of how the first strawberries came into existence. It was “long ago when the creator made a man and a woman” they lived for many years in happiness until one day the man grew angry at his wife for picking flowers in the field instead of preparing his dinner. In response to his words, she too became angry and fled out into the fields. No matter how fast he tried to catch up to his wife, he could not. The Sun understood how sorry the man was and tried to use his energy to create different berries to stop his wife. After the first few unsuccessful attempts, the sun’s energy created strawberries. “They glowed like fire in the grass” and she stopped when she saw them. This allowed her husband to catch up and together they shared in the sweetness of the strawberries and to this day Cherokee people are reminded to be kind to one another when they eat strawberries.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Joseph Bruchac created a beautiful retelling of this Cherokee traditional folktale. With words alone there are not many cultural markers, except for it being a creation story which is presented by the Sun playing a prominent role. The last line "To this day, when the Cherokee poeple eat strawberries, they are reminded to always be kind to each other" is when without seeing pictures the reader becomes aware of the being a Cherokee tale.

Anna Vojtech helps bring to life this cultural tale with vivid watercolor pictures. The skintones are authentic, as well as, the setting in the hills of wildflowers that are blooming. It was these wildflowers that sparked the first argument between husband and wife. The two- page spread picture of the Cherokee man looking towards the Sun is breathtaking. The illustrator’s research is evident in the villages drawn, dress and hair that are displayed in this folktale.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Kirkus - “Complete harmony of text and pictures: altogether lovely”

Horn Book- “The brief, readable story, accompanied by strong and spare illustrations, carries a valuable message about friendship and respect.”

Other Books by Joseph Bruchac:
Bruchac, Joseph. The great ball game: a Muskogee story. ISBN 9780803715400.
Bruchac, Joseph. Crazy Horse’s Vision. ISBN 9781880000946.