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.

Jingle Dancer

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Smith, Cynthia Leitich. 2000. JINGLE DANCER. Ill by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu. New York: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688162428

PLOT SUMMARY-Jenna a young Muscogee girl living in modern times dreams to one day dance like her Grandmother Wolfe. Jenna watches her Grandmother Wolfe’s videotapes of her jingle dancing “again and again”. Sadly, Jenna learns that her regalia of hand rolled jingles could not be made in time for her to dance in this year’s powwow. Jenna wished that she could have four rows of jingles so her dress would be able to “sing” and goes in search of more jingles from relatives. The sun guides her way as she visits her family members carefully inheriting just enough jingles for “her dress to be able to sing”. Jenna is careful not to take too many jingles from her relative’s dresses so their “dresses would not loose their voice”. Jenna carries on her family’s traditions and proudly dances at the powwow in honor of all of her ancestors.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Jingle Dancer is set in modern day America and shows the reader how a young Muscogee girl blends her rich heritage with everyday life. Yes she is a young girl who wears blue jeans, but she is also a girl who dreams of dancing at the powwow like her grandmother did.

Cultural markers are present throughout the book referring to traditional dishes, such as “fry bread” or the telling of traditional tales of the Muscogee Creek like “The Great Ball Game”. Smith cleverly moves the story along using the sun to advance the reader, like “As a Sun fetched morning”, “As the Sun arrived at midcircle”, or “As Sun caught a glimpse of Moon”. The Sun has traditionally been an important figure in to Native Americans.

The water color illustrations help depict life in an “intertribal community”. The illustrations help show their modern life but with hints of their heritage, for example “woven blankets over the couches”, “paintings”, “earrings worn” and even a “dream catcher” placed in the corner of a bookshelf.
The author’s note at the conclusion of the story gives the reader more information about jingle dresses and their heritage. Smith also providers her readers with a glossary to help understand vocabulary used within her story.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist- “This contemporary Native American tale highlights the importance of family and community through a young girl's dream of joining the dancers at the next powwow”

Children’s Literature- “The blending of contemporary and traditional, the feel of a child secure in that embrace, the changing face of art and craft and tradition itself--these are refreshingly and unobtrusively depicted here.”

Other Books by Cytnhia Leitich Smith:
Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Indian Shoes. ISBN 9780060295325.
Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Rain is not my Indian name. ISBN 9780807204290.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Tingle, Tim. 2006. Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship & Freedom. Ill. Jeanne Rorex Bridges. El Paso: Cinco Puntos Press. ISBN 9780938317777

PLOT SUMMARY-This Choctaw tale accounts the unlikely friendship between a young Choctaw girl, Martha Tom and “Little Mo”, a young child of a slave. This “by chance” friendship was the result of Martha Tom being sent on a journey to collect blackberries for her mother. This quest resulted in Martha crossing the forbidden Bok Chitto River that separated the Choctaw tribe and the southern plantation owners. One side was freedom and the other shore represented the cruel life of slavery. It was on this quest where she became lost because her guiding sun was blocked by the clouds. Her journey seemed pre-destined “like spirit voices, whispering” to her and connecting Martha Tom with “Little Mo” and his family. This was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.

Little Mo soon learned that his mother was to be sold and an escape plan was hatched to cross the Bok Chitto River to freedom. Little Mo had never crossed the river at night and in desperation turns to young Martha Tom and her tribe for help in their escape to freedom.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This story is set in rural Mississippi , “in the days before the War between the States, in the days before the Trial of Tears” near a river that represents a boundary of two vary different ways of life. Tim Tingle does a remarkable job helping the readers understand that one side represented freedom, while the other side represented the unbearable life of slaves. The peaceful Choctaw tribe seemed to understand what this river stood for and quietly built a secret stone path that helped in the crossing of the Bok Chitto River.
Tim Tingle’s Choctaw tale is filled with cultural markers, for example he describes the two circles of the wedding ceremony where the Choctaw women wore “cotton dresses that skimmed the ground and their long shiny black hair fell well below their waists”. He draws the reader in further by having the elders chant their Choctaw wedding song:

“Way, hey ya hey ya”
“You a hey you ay”
“A hey ya a hey ya!”

Tingle also highlights many similarities between the Choctaw and African-American slaves. He expresses the importance of religion to the slave families as Martha encounters the “forbidden slave church” as hundreds of slaves seem to appear from within the trees and sing. “Martha had never heard music like this before, but it touched her deeply”. This importance of religious ceremonies is also shared among the Choctaw tribe and “Little Mo” could hear “the sound of chanting, he thought it must be the heartbeat of the earth” but it was the elders of the tribe calling the Choctaw to a wedding ceremony.

Jeanne Rorex Bridges’ acrylic painting draws the readers into the story. Her scenes of the “forbidden slave church” empty and then filled on the next page- conveys magical images to the readers. The character’s skin tones and cultural markers jump off the page as if the characters were real. Just maybe a reader could be lucky enough to imagine wiping a tear from “Little Mo” or feel the mist from the river. Her paintings are mystical; readers will enjoy watching Little Mo’s family disappear right before the plantation owner’s eyes and her illuminating white gowns of the Choctaw women seemingly walking on water.

The author’s note is extensive and speaks to the knowledge of his background.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist- “In a picture book that highlights rarely discussed intersections between Native Americans in the South and African Americans in bondage, a noted Choctaw storyteller and Cherokee artist join forces with stirring results”

Library Media Connections- “Tingle, a superb storyteller, tells a tale of friendship and freedom about the great river, Bok Chitto, that divides two very different worlds prior to the American Civil War.”

Other Books by Tim Tingle:
Tingle, Tim. When Turtle Grew Feathers: A Folktale From the Choctaw Nation. ISBN 9780874837773.
Tingle, Tim. Walking the Choctaw Road. ISBN 9780938317746.

The Skirt

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Soto, Gary. 1992. The Skirt. Ill. by Eric Velasquez. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780385306652.

PLOT SUMMARY
Miata Ramirez, a fourth grader has a great memory when it comes to her spelling test, but when it comes to little things like “erasers, marbles, shoes” she has problems remembering. One Friday, Miata took her Folklorico skirt to school to show the other children what she was going to wear for her up-coming dance on Sunday, but she never made it home with her skirt. Miata left it on the school bus. This was not just her folklorico skirt for Sunday, but her mother’s childhood skirt that she too wore when she was little in Mexico. Miata was not able to tell her family of her loss, so she desperately enlists the help of her friend “Ana” to recover her missing skirt. Miata decides that they must get into the bus yard and retrieve the skirt. The girls escape being noticed by her father, who surprisingly was there to work on one of the buses. Bravely Miata returns home only to be surprised by a present from her mother….a new folklorico skirt. Even though the new skirt was bold with colors the old one held such memories, what was she to do? Time would soon tell of Miata’s decision and on that Sunday “Miata twirled like a pinwheel, the old skirt showing under the new skirt.”

Critical Analysis
Gary Soto brings early fluent readers a simple story of family values. He presents text that is understandable to early readers like “The driver strained as he worked the steering wheel like the horns of a bull”. Soto’s understanding of young children is evident by statements describing their actions, such as, “They were walking with cans smashed onto the heels of their shoes, laughing and pushing each other”. Children will giggle as they connect to this pastime.

Cultural markers are highlighted through-out this text. Soto blends in culturally authentic language that helps set the scene “ Little and Alex were lined of to race, Miata counted uno…dos….tres.” and verbal exchanges of “Que Paso” or “Que Bueno”. Gary Soto brings to the reader the life of a hard working family that has moved from Mexico and shows the reader the love the family has for each other. He briefly engages his characters in conversations in the neighborhood and shows the reader the common middle class bonds that sports bring- reporting sadness when the “Los Giagantes” were playing and not the Dodgers. The basis of this book was about a folklorico skirt which is traditional Mexican dance and importance of carrying on family traditions. Soto’s character is full of pride of her family and country.

Illustrator Eric Velasquez offers the readers eight pencil drawings that give the readers a quick look at what the characters look like. His illustrations help the reader’s pacing by using his illustrations to break up this beginning chapter book while adding vision and depth to the characters.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Horn Book- “In this cheery snapshot of a Mexican-American family in California.”

Booklist - “A good beginning chapter book, this uses simple words without sounding too simplistic.”

Other Books by Gary Soto
Soto, Gary. Chato’s Ktichen. ISBN 9780698116009.
Soto, Gary. Baseball in April. ISBN 9780152057206.

Mice and Beans

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ryan, Pam Munoz. 2001. MICE AND BEANS. Ill. by Joe Cepeda. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439183030

PLOT SUMMARY
To Rosa Maria family means everything. >“She had a big heart, a big family and more than anything, she loved to cook big meals for them.” Even though Rosa Maria had a big heart, she had no room for a mouse in her house. She had important things to prepare for, like a special birthday for her soon to be seven year old granddaughter. Rosa Maria made her plans for each day in order to get ready for the celebration. But each day would not be complete until she set an ever disappearing mousetrap before she went to bed. Little by little things were disappearing or were they, Rosa Maria just didn’t know? The day of the party comes and Rosa Maria thinks she has everything ready until….the children yell for the piñata. She rushes to the piñata because she hadn’t filled it with candy yet, as it cracks open candy spills to the ground. How could this be? Rosa Maria soon realizes she must have had help from small friends. As she wraps up her day , Rosa Maria decides that >“there’s room in the house….EVEN for a mouse!”/em>strong>

Critical Analysis
Pam Munoz Ryan brings readers a charming, celebration tale that all readers can cherish. Her story has a dual story line; one that depicts Rosa Maria’s day by day account of preparation for her granddaughter’s birthday party while she has a quiet undertone of the mice’s own celebration going unnoticed. Children will giggle at the character’s seemingly forgetfulness "I am so busy that I'm forgetting to remember!" knowing the real truth of her sneaky house companions.

Cultural Markers are present in the dialogue with phrases like >“Que boba soy! Silly me or by providing readers with context clues in the text like “stopping at the “pasteleria to order the cake”. Munoz describes authentic foods and even informs the reader of how the food it is made >“ She dipped the tortillas in red sauce, filled them with cheese, and rolled them into fat little bundles.” Illustrator Cepeda helps show cultural images if the reader looks closely at the street signs they will notice surnames like >“Silva”/em>strong> and >“Arvelo”. The author provides a brief glossary and pronunciation guide is follows the story.

Joe Cepeda bright, colorful pages match the author’s humor filled story. Children will enjoy turning each page searching to see what the mice are up to next, enjoying the small details such as Rosa Maria’s brightly painted finger nails and inferring the point of view of the mice by watching the eyes of the mice.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Horn Book- “Readers of this clever story will chuckle at the skillful collaboration between author and artist.”

Booklist - “The story is charming, but what makes it special is the quiet authenticity of the Hispanic characterizations.”

Other Books by Pam Munoz Ryan
Ryan, Pam Munoz. Amelia and Eleanor go for a ride: based on a true story. ISBN 9780590960755.
Ryan, Pam Munoz. Riding Freedom. ISBN 9780590957663.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mora, Pat. 1999. The Rainbow Tulip. Ill. Elizabeth Sayles. New York: Viking. ISBN 9780670872916

PLOT SUMMARY
Estelita, otherwise known as, Stella is different from the other first graders in her American school. Her parents are from Mexico and speak another language. Despite these differences Stella is accepted at school by her teacher and classmates. She was excited to be tulip with “all the spring colors” for their upcoming class May parade and enlisted the help of her aunt to make the perfect rainbow tulip costume. When Stella arrives for her performance she is the only one wearing a multi-colored colored costume, she is uncomfortable with yet again another difference. She concentrates on having a good performance so her teacher, friends and mother will be proud of her. Stella soon learns that being different can sometimes be hard but being different allows for sweet, quiet rewards.

Critical Analysis
The Rainbow Tulip was based on Pat Mora’s family memories and gently conveys the struggles of a Mexican immigrant child caught between her two worlds; her Mexican home and her English world. “At home I’m Estelita. At school my name is Stella.” Stella explains that she knows her mother is different from the other mothers, “She does not wear make-up” “Her hair is tied in a bun and her dresses are long”. She wishes her mother could be more like her American friend’s mothers and also be able to communicate with her teacher, so her mother would know what a good student she was. Mora reaches her young readers by offering a mirror for immigrant children and provides American children an opportunity to better understand their classmates that have dual heritage.

Mora blends Spanish words with natural stroke “My father gives us an abrazo, a hug” and “I’ll be the most beautiful tulip, el tuipan mas lindo, in the whole world, en todo el mundo.” Readers can easily follow along by providing the readers with these context clues.

Elizabeth Sayles’ illustrations are of soft water colors that mirror the stories gently storyline. Sayles’ facial expressions tell a story within itself. Her illustrations seem to grow gradually from muted colors to brighter colors as the story’s character grows in confidence with her differences.

The Author’s Note at the conclusion of this book provides the reader with information about the immigration of almost one million Mexicans that entered the United States Between 1880 and the Great Depression. She also shares family memories and reminds readers that these immigrants remained in this country to become “productive citizens, proud of their dual heritage.”

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Library Journal- “Mora succeeds in creating a quiet story to which children will respond.”

Kirkus - “With warmth and directness, Mora celebrates diversity, but provides a balanced view of assimilation as well, Sayles's softly colored illustrations, by turns wistful and vibrant; capture the times and the tone as a young child finds her place in her parents' new country.”

Other Books by Pat Mora
Mora,Pat. Tomas and the library lady. 9780679904014.

Mora, Pat. Pablo’s Tree. ISBN 9780027674019.

African-American Literature Review- Book #3

Come Sunday

By: Nikki Grimes

Illustrated By: Michael Bryant

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Grimes, Nikki.1996. Come Sunday. Ill. Michael Bryant. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 9780802851345

Plot Summary
LaTasha’s Sundays at Paradise Baptist are chronicled in fourteen poems from sun-up “Come Sunday, Mommy wakes me up with whispers” to Sun-down “Mommy tucks me. I shake my head, still wondering where the long day went”. These poems depict different elements and activities of church through a little girl’s eyes.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Nikki Grimes uses short verse poems to help describe LaTasha’s Sunday’s at church. She reaches her young readers as LaTasha describes avoiding being pinched by the “Blue Haired Ladies”…..”Come here , you precious thing, --That’s why I run the other way,” and is sure to leave children with a recognizing giggle. Grimes uses kid friendly language that is sure to put a picture in the readers head “Mommy’s chocolatey- brown skin peeks through the white-lace gloves she likes to wear”. She cleverly steps the reader through LaTashas day and will leave the reader ready to turn the page to hear the next intriguing poem.

Michael Bryant’s full page, vivid water colored pictures brings to life the beauty of a southern, African-American church. The color of the church’s stained glass windows spills on to each page, illuminating the soul of the book. The authentic clothes, facial expression, and church images capture the important celestial spirit of LaTasha’s culture.


Cultural Markers are present when Grimes describes the authentic process of LaTasha getting her hair ready for church, “I rise and wander to the kitchen—where Mommy makes my hair and scalp tingle with oil and comb and brush. If only she didn’t weave the braids so tight.” She describes and captures the beauty of the hats worn by African-American women to church in a poem titled “Ladie’s Hats” – “I could admire them for hours—hats with feathers, bows and flowers, satin ribbons, black as jet, broad silk bands, and lacy net that ladies hide behind”. Grimes conveys to importance of sharing the spirit with music in church in her poem titled “Jubilation” that has a sing-song rhythm. Children will love spending the day at Paradise Baptist Church with LaTasha.


REVIEW EXCERPTS
Kirkus Review- “Composed as a suite of pitch-perfect poems, Grimes (Portrait of Mary, 1994, etc.) affectionately portrays a young girl's enjoyment of the spirit and practice of Sunday services in her community's church”

Publishers Weekly- “Reverent, funny and wildly energetic all at the same time, this is a wonderful book for introducing children to church life.”

Other Books By Nikki Grimes
Grimes, Nikki. Danitra Brown Leaves Town. ISBN 9780688131555.
Grimes, Nikki. My Man Blue: Poems. ISBN 9780803723269.

African-American Literature Review- Book #2

Miracle's boys

By: Jacqueline Woodson

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Woodson, Jacqueline. 2000. Miracle's boys. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 0399231137.

Summary
Twelve year old Lafayette Bailey wishes his life was like the good old days, when he had a mother, a father and two loving older brothers. All he has left is memories, pictures and wishes of a better tomorrow. This story is told as a narrative through the eyes of Lafeyette Bailey, an African-American/Puerto Rican child growing up in New York. After his father dying in an accident , his middle brother Charlie away at a boys home serving time for committing a crime and his mother “Milagro” (Miracle) passing away from complications of diabetes, little Lafeyette feels like life will never be the same. He is left to be raised by his oldest brother Tyree and middle brother Charlie returning home, but this is not the Charlie he knew this was the “NewCharlie”. The NewCharlie “Hated my guts since Momma died” and was left to feel “Like a stranger in your house, like everything that used to mean something doesn’t anymore.” Lafayette chronicles their struggle to repair their family and together “brother-to-brother” become Miracle’s Boys once again.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jacqueline Woodson tells an intimate tale of a family’s love and will to survive all challenges. Woodson reaches her intended young audience by having her main character, Lafeyette , a twelve year old tell his family’s story. She connects with young readers by using text that kids understand, for example when describing the heavy troubles on NewCharlie’s back she uses expressions like “It’s more like Charlie carries around a gorilla on his back, than a monkey.” The audience can understand the feeling the character has. Woodson does a nice job unfolding the story to readers with flashbacks, sharing characters feelings ,along with easy conversations to follow.

Cultural Markers are present in Woodson’s novel, such as the language used by the characters. As Lafeyette and his older brother Tyree walk the neighborhood block greetings are exchanged “W’s up”, Me and Tyree said “What’s up back, this reminded my of “Newcharlie and his friends hanging out on the corner of my block”. She also paints a picture of what Newcharlie looks like by having Lafeyette describe him “He’s light brown with thick black eyebrows and Mama’ nose.” Jacqueline Woodson goes to great lengths to authenticate the setting by his father’s accident set in New York’s Central Park and using a MetroCard to ride the train.

Even with this book having the focus of African-American characters Jacqueline Woodson does a great job expressing that feelings are real and that family pain is universal. Woodson shares the sorrows and emotional baggage of each character, “All the tears were jamming themselves together and pushing their way out”. She slowly heals her characters, sets their souls free and leaves them feeling, “ good and safe and free”.

Awards:
2001 Coretta Scott King Award

REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal- “The narrative is told through dialogue and Lafayette's introspections so there is not a lot of action, but readers should find this story of tough, self-sufficient young men to be powerful and engaging.”

Children’s Literature- “The book lyrically relays Lafayette's evolving feelings, leading the reader to the surprising end. Once again, Woodson demonstrates her unique mixture of extraordinary writing and story.”

Other Books By Jaqueline Woodson
Woodson. Jaqueline. The Other Side. ISBN 9780399231162.
Woodson. Jaqueline. Lena. ISBN 9780385323086.

African-American Literature Review- Book #1

African American Literature Review

Minty

By: Alan Schroeder

Illustrations By: Jerry Pinkney

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schroeder, Alan. 1996. MINTY. Ill. Jerry Pinkney. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 0803718896

PLOT SUMMARY-
This fictional account of a young Harriet Tubman documents the struggles of slavery in the early 1820’s. Harriet, better known by her cradle name, “Minty” is a spirited and brave child that frequently rebels against the idea of slavery. Her mumblings of dissatisfaction and thoughts like, “I’m gonna runaway” grew more frequent with beatings and threats of being “sold South”. With her father recognizing her youthful, yet mature desire to escape North to freedom, he began to secretly teach his young daughter skills that would allow her to be successful on her journey. Minty contemplates several escape attempts, but falls short with fear. Although the story concludes before Harriet reaches her destiny, the reader is left with the hope of her freedom “She dreamed of sunflowers and stars, and the call of the whippoorwill, and a road through the forest that one day, when she had the courage, would carry her to freedom……”

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Alan Schroeder does a remarkable job capturing young readers with relatable images of childhood. He connects with readers by describing the reaction of his young, playful yet rebellious character which giggles at the summons of her “missus”. Schroeder explains “She stuck out her tongue just as far as it could go” and sharing Harriet’s inner thoughts of “I’ll come when I’m good and ready”.

Cultural Markers are evident by both the author and illustrator throughout this book. Schroeder’s dialect is culturally authentic for this time period with phrases like “Don’t lie to me girl, ‘less you want a whippin’ “ or Minty’s desperate pleas of “ No, Misus” and quick retorts by the Mrs. Brodus “That’ll learn you”. Schroeder has characters carrying out activities that were natural duties of this time period, for example having Mrs. Brodus on the porch cracking walnuts to wearing bandannas in the field to help with sweat and heat of the South. Jerry Pinkey illustrates the authentic clothes of slaves of patchwork , cloth scraps to the correct depiction of the table setting in the master’s house to the jewelry worn by the missus.

Jerry Pinkney’s, colored pencils and water colored illustrations beautifully depict life on a plantation during the 1820’s. His full-page illustrations pull the reader into the setting soaking up the full effect of the struggles of Harriet. Pinkney grabs the readers with the eye contact of his character, facial expressions and by depicting events of the story. If the reader looks closely enough they even see the cider that was spilt by poor Minty dripping off the table as Mr. Brodus quickly wipes it up. His realistic illustrations has the reader feeling the pain of the “whippin” through the eyes of Minty, recognizing the illuminating glows of comfort inside the master’s house or her gaze into the big, night sky. Readers can imagine spotting their own North Star that will eventually carry Minty to her freedom.

Schroeder’s respect for having the reader’s understand the plight of Harriet Tubman is evident by providing a foreword explaining the fictional embellishments that he created, but by also having a Author’s Note and the end that gives the reader additional factual information about Harriet Tubman.


Awards:
1997 Coretta Scott King Award

REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal- “This beautifully illustrated and moving fictional story can be used to introduce Harriet Tubman and the injustice of slavery to young audiences.”

Kirkus starred review- “This exquisitely crafted book resonates well beyond its few pages.”

Other Books About Harriet Tubman
Ringgold, Faith. Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky. ISBN 978051758768.
Weathorford, Carole Boston. Moses : When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom. ISBN 9780786851751

International Literature- Book 3

International Book Review

The Pull of the Ocean

By Jean-Claude Mourlevat

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mourlevat, Jean-Claude, and Y. Maudet. 2006. THE PULL OF THE OCEAN. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780385733489

PLOT SUMMARY
Yann Doutreleau was the youngest of seven children. He was special not because he was the youngest child but because he was small compared to his older brothers who were “tall for their age”. Some even said “he looked too much like a large doll” or called him a “midget”, but Yann also was a mute. Even though Yann was the youngest, smallest, and quietest he was the brightest and the unanimous leader of all the brothers. The Doutreleau brothers lived in poverty and by the urging of their youngest brother Yann on a dark and stormy night -they believed their lives were in danger from their parents. They escaped that very night and within a few seconds they were “drenched, freezing and lost”. This was the beginning of their journey west to meet the ocean. Their adventures of brotherly love are chronicled through the eyes of their brothers or the people that encountered the Doutreleau boys in the midst of their “Pull to the Ocean”.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jean-Claude Mourlevat’s modern spin on Charles Perrault‘s classic Tom Thumb is a mystical trip into a tale that captures the true spirit of brotherhood. He helps the readers understand the life of poverty and abuse the Dourtreleau boys endured, their food was meager “a piece of stale bread to soak in water”, or the sharp punishment to keep their children in line, “He smacked him a good one across the nose, it even bled”. These examples help set the tone for the believable message young Yann delivers to his older brothers -that their lives were endangered by their parents and they must leave at once.

This award winning author tells of the Doutreleau’s journey through different points of view. By doing this Jean Claude cleverly allows the readers to get to know the characters. For example, the social worker Natalie Josse recounts that she was one of the last people to see Yann and can remember how he looked in her back seat “wedged deep in the seat, fiddling with his hands, his funny little baby hands, red and plump” or Daniel Sanz’s –a truck driver’s remembrance of what the boys looked like “in the dark of the night, this brood of kids fell from the sky like lost kittens. Poor Kids”. These accounts help move the story along as the reader gets acquainted with all the characters by understanding their struggle and they even will enjoy watching the characters grow. Character growth is exhibited by the mother “Marthe’ll”, at the beginning she is disconnected but by the time they were finally reunited she calls they boys her children for the first time in the novel.

From cultural markers readers will gather that this novel is set in the French countryside. The first and last names of the characters such as; "Yann, Faubien, Remy, Jean-Michael, Sanz, and Doutrleau " give the readers insight to character’s French heritage. Mourlevat has the children travel the French country side visiting cities like "Bordeaux". The author does a nice job depicting the uneducated dialect of the French countrymen of the Doutrleaus as the text has the father referring to his wife as “The Marthe’ll” and using improper speech structure for example “I can’t remember no more, ‘cause I don’t keep track”.

This novel is led by the tiny but powerful character Yann as he brings the reader along for their journey west through the little window into the Doutrleau’s world. This novel shows the struggle for the young , small and mute boy realizing that there is more to their small, poor, and uneducated world through their window. Yann opens the door for his family “Over there is west.” “The sky is bigger than here, and then comes the ocean”.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Horn Book- “A powerful portrait of poverty and sibling solidarity”

Kirkus- “This French recasting of Perrault's Tom Thumb into a surreal contemporary version is both mesmerizing and strange”

CONNECTIONS

Children would enjoy writing another chapter expanding on Yan’s travel west. They could use their imagination of the adventures Yan would encounter is journey into the new world.

The teacher could bring to life this French drama by having the children simulate an interview of the accounts of their encounters with the Doutreleau children.

Extension for higher level children could read Charles Perault’s Tom Thumb and compare the two books.

International Literature- Book 2

International Literature Review

The Snow Lady: A Trotter Street Tale

Authored and Illustrated by: Shirley Hughes

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hughes, Shirley. 1990. The Snow Lady: The Tale of Trotter Street. Great Britain, Walker Books Inc. ISBN 0688098746

PLOT SUMMARY
Everyday Sam, (formerly Samantha) has to spend her afternoons after school with her tidy and strict neighbor, Mrs. Dean until her “Mum” returned home from work. Samantha does not look forward to these visits, because her super clean house intimidated a young child with her “snowy white curtains and the floor that was polished like a skating rink” and not to mention her cat “Fluff” did not get along with precious dog “Mick”. It seemed no matter what Sam did she always got in trouble from her elderly neighbor Mrs. Dean, “Sam , a little less noise , dear, please!” When a Christmas snow arrived, Sam and her friends have a grand time playing in the snow and end up creating a frowning snow lady- and in child like fashion decide to make her name out of stones “Mrs. Mean” instead of “Mrs. Dean”, the children agreed this was a fitting name for the lady made of ice. Samantha’s day was busy and when evening came she stood looking at this lonely snow figure and was overcome with “quite the shock”, what had she done? This would hurt Mrs. Dean’s feelings and Sam makes great efforts to keep Mrs. Dean from seeing her mistake.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Author Shirley Hughes creates another tale of the Trotter Street series that is warm-hearted and filled with light humor. She writes with a great understanding of the behavior of young children and their relationships. She re-creates warm stories that have a child like spirit that helps readers relate to her characters. She expresses this when she has her young character Sam exclaim “Hurrah!” as young Sam watches her complaining neighbor pack her bags. Her writing has small, common childhood problems in which the character grows in very big ways.

Her books have cultural markers through-out especially evident in the authentic British vocabulary. She fondly calls the mom , “mum” and uses phrases like “He and Fluff go on very badly” or terms like “dust bin” to refer to the trash can. The author also talks of children eating “biscuits and milk” instead of cookies and milk. Hughes gives the reader some background information about terms used in this book that might not be familiar to American children.

Shirley Hughes' illustrations pay close attention to the details showing the connections of her characters. Her drawings reflect individuality, which is evident in her drawings of Trotter Street children outside playing and all looking very different. She draws with emotion and blends in slight humor especially when she shows Sam and Mrs. Dean sitting on the sofa in the perfectly clean house “not” enjoying each others company. This picture is sure to get a few giggles. Hughes captures her hometown drawing with spilt pictures of beautifully downtown street scenes sprinkled with very subtle seasonal delights.

Shirley Hughes’ gentle compassion for children reaches beyond borders and speaks directly to their hearts.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Kirkus- “This third book about a realistic yet exemplary neighborhood is blessed as usual with Hughes's masterful compositions and characterizations and her warmhearted humor”

School Library Journal- “Whether as a yuletide adventure or a year-round story of compassion, this is a first-rate addition to picture book collections”

CONNECTIONS:
This is a great book to share during the holiday season and would be a valuable character building community circle to discuss how our action can speak louder than words.

Other Books By Shirley Hughes:

Hughes, Shirley. Giving. ISBN 9781564021298.
Hughes, Shirley. Stories by Firelight . ISBN 9780688045685.

International Literature- Book 1

International Literature Book Review

Hunwick's Egg

By: Mem Fox Illustrated by: Pamela Lofts

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Fox, Mem. 2005. HUNWICK’S EGG. Ill. Pamela Lofts. Florida: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 0152163182
PLOT SUMMARY-
In a “wide and dusty desert” lived an old bandicoot named Hunwick. After a wild, Australian desert storm blows through Hunwick finds a mysterious egg near his burrow. To Hunwick’s dismay none of his neighbor friends knew where this beautiful egg belonged. Hunwick decided that he would give this egg a home. So back at his burrow he “bustled about, making things cozy.” Hunwick took great care of his egg, but anticipation grew about when his egg might hatch. His friends, the Echidna, Cockatoo and the Emu began to worry about Hunwick because his precious egg would never hatch, “not ever”. But Hunwick was not worried because he had a new friend and they shared a secret. His egg was “not an egg at all, but a stone of perfect shape, size, and color” and he loved it as it was- a stone secret.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Mem Fox brings this Australian “Once Upon a Time” tale to readers and tells a great story of acceptance and friendship. She uses the Australian desert and native creatures to tell her enduring tale of caring for others. This theme surfaces when Hunwick admits he knows his precious egg is a stone, “I don’t mind, I love it as it is” Mem Fox brings her readers up close to animals they might not be familiar with, but find their home in her native land. Mem Fox has done extensive research on her main character the bilby (Hunwick) and it is evident in her work.
Pamela Loft’s artistic work of illustrating with watercolor pencil brings the native home of the Australian desert to life. She introduces readers to the animals, insects and plant life of the region crawling across pages, in full page spreads and framed illustrations. Loft captures young reader’s attention by the adorable eyes of her animals and their facial gestures. The night sky of the Australian desert helps the readers see the days pass as Hunwick cares for his egg.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist- “This picture book explodes with the exotic plants and animals of Australia”

Library Media Connection- “Simple story about unconditional love and acceptance is sure to become a favorite read-aloud for the preschool and early elementary audience”

CONNECTIONS
The main character of this book is a Bilby, otherwise known as the rabbit-eared bandicoot. This animal makes his home in Australia and is on the endangered list. It would be a great link to pull some non-fiction books on endangered species or reference the World Wildlife Website at www.worldwildlife.org/endangered.

Other Books By Mem Fox:

Fox, Mem. Possum Magic. ISBN 9780949641052.
Fox, Mem. Wilford Gordon McDonald Patridge . ISBN 9780916291044.
Fox, Mem. Time For Bed. ISBN 9780152881832.

Genre 6 - Fantasy- Book 1

Fantasy Book Review

The Spiderwick Chronicles:The Field Guide

By: Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Black, Holly and Tony DiTerlizzi. 2003. THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES: THE FIELD GUIDE. New York: Simon & Schuster Books. ISBN 0689859368

PLOT SUMMARY

Everything is changing for the Grace children. First their parents divorce, then they have to leave their New York home and move into their great-aunt Lucinda’s house. The only problem was that it was old, huge and dilapidated. Jared Grace “looked up at it and squinted. Maybe it would look better blurry.” He tried to keep his chin up because this was going to be a fresh start for the family. But, the looks of this old house was not the only problem….the kids believe that they are not alone and there are noises in the walls. That first night at the Spiderwick Estates strange things start to happen to the Grace children, Jared, Simon and Mallory. The children explore the Victorian house where they uncover an odd book which takes them into a secret world of fairies and brownies.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black take their readers into the fantasy world of the Spiderwick Estates. Before readers start their journey they are greeted with a letter from the authors and one from the Grace children stoking the flames of what lies within the invisible world. The readers are drawn to a whimsical map of the Spiderwick Estates where their minds can race with what excitement might live among the vast estate. DiTerlizzi and Black do a nice job presenting characters that children can connect too. Whether it is Simons collecting “Tadpoles” or having pet mice “Lemondrop and Jeffrey”, to Mallory having a hobby of fencing and sympathizing with Jared’s personal struggles to overcome his parent’s divorce. By having such normal, relatable children as characters makes the reader just wonder if there could be a secret world. There are ink drawings scattered through out the book that only leave the reader wanting more glimpses into the secret world. This fast paced novel leaves the readers with a cliff hanger, with this warning from a befriended “Bogart”- “Be it through violence or through charm. Throw the book away, toss it in a fire. If you do not heed, you will draw their ire.” Willl the Grace children return the field journal as warned? This will have all readers in search of the next Spiderwick Chronicle book.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Kirkus- Readers who are too young to read Harry Potter independently will find these have just the right amount of menace laced with appealing humor and are blessed with crisp pacing and, of course, DiTerlizzi's enticingly Gothic illustrations

Library Media Connection- This novel is written with imagery and interesting vocabulary, allowing the young reader to love the story while building reading skills

CONNECTIONS
Have your class make a field guide about your school.
Have the students create their own imaginary world that lives in their school walls.
Other Books In the Spiderwick Chronicles Series

DiTerlizzi, Tonny and Holly Black. The Seeing Stone. ISBN 0689859376.
DiTerlizzi, Tonny and Holly Black. Lucinda’s Stone . ISBN 0689859384.

Genre 6 - Realistic Fiction- Book 2

Realistic Fiction Book Review

Joey Pigza Loses Control

By: Jack Gantos

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gantos, Jack. 2000. Joey Pigza Loses Control. New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374399891

PLOT SUMMARY
In this sequel to Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key- Joey and his sidekick "Pablo" (his Chihuahua) goes to spend the summer with his estranged father and his grandmother. Joey approached his summer visit with anticipation because the last time he had seen his Grandmother she had put him in the “refrigerator” and his mother’s words of caution about his father kept ringing in his head “He can be, you know, wired like you, only he’s bigger.” Joey Pigza is a child that suffers from ADHD, but lately his life has been in more control since he had been wearing a patch with his medication. His somewhat since of normalcy abruptly changes once his visit with his dad begins. His dad’s reckless behavior puts Joey’s new found normalcy in danger by flushing his patches down the toilet. Joey struggles to win his father’s love without medication and by trying to be a winner by winning the baseball championship for him. Joey soon learns that winning the love of some of the dearest people is not worth putting yourself in jeopardy.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jack Gantos’ protagonist Joey Pigza is character that adults and children alike can easily connect with. His portrayal of a child that suffers from ADHD is remarkable. “I saw Dad’s foamy shaving cream on the counter and suddenly thought it was a great time to something I have wanted to try.” There are many children today that are dealing with feeling normal, let alone with disabilities, divorced parents, alcohol problems and illnesses. This book offers a place where children can come to age with connections to their own problems. Gantos depiction of Joey’s life is plausible and will grab the reader’s attention from the first page. His gentle humor has the readers laughing out loud and cheering for Joey Pigza, even when he loses control.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred review Booklist- Ganto's skillful pacing, sly humor, and in-depth characterization make it a truly memorable read.

Horn Book- Readers will be drawn into Joey's drama by his ability to feel compassion as he struggles to maintain balance in an out-of-control world

CONNECTIONS
This book presents a great book to explore in a literature circle so dialogue can develop of how young people deal with problems.

Other Books By Jack Gantos:
Gantos, Jack. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. ISBN 9780786229123.
Gantos, Jack. What Would Joey Do? . ISBN 9780060544034.

Genre 6 - Realistic Fiction- Book 3

Realistic Fiction Book Review

Monster

By: Walter Dean Myers

Illustrated By: Christopher Myers

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Myers, Walter Dean. 1999. Monster. Ill. by Christopher Myers. ISBN 0060280786

PLOT SUMMARY
A sixteen year old, young black male, Steve Harmon sits in his jail cell charged with felony murder. Steve thought he knew who he was, “When I look into the small rectangle, I see a face looking back at me but I don’t recognize it. It doesn’t look like me; I couldn’t have changed that much in a few months. I wonder if I will look like myself when the trail is over.” To escape the nightmares of the jailhouse and unfamiliarity of the legal world Steve uses his talent as a film maker and personal journals to help him cope with reality. Is Steve an innocent victim of being at the wrong place at the wrong time? Did he get caught in the pressure of the neighborhood and serve as a “lookout” or worse is he being framed by neighborhood thugs? This novel takes the reader inside all the scenarios for you to decide if Steve really is the “Monster” the prosecutor calls him.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Walter Dean Myers’ cleverly unfolds the life of Steve Harmon and captivates readers with a fresh style that will instantly grab his young adult audience. He accomplishes this fresh style by narrating through his protagonist using a mixed screenplay/journal format. Myers’ distinguishes the different storytelling formats by using both typewriter font and hand scripting font. This helps make the internal struggle of the character all the more real to the readers. “I couldn’t sleep most of the night after the dream. The dream took place in the courtroom. I was trying to ask questions and nobody could hear me. I was shouting and shouting but everyone went about their business as if I wasn’t there. I hope I didn’t shout out in my sleep.” The setting of this book Walter Myers’ is realistic portraying the struggle of inner city African-American youth trying to make it out all the while navigating the world’s prejudices but also the hope for justice.

Christopher Myers, son of Walter Dean Myers does an excellent job specifically placing black and white photos that have been cropped and digitally modified. This artistic approach brings the reader in to the personal side of Steve Harmon.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist- Booklist (Vol. 95, No. 17 (May 1, 1999))
Gr. 9-12. Myers combines an innovative format, complex moral issues, and an intriguingly sympathetic but flawed protagonist in this cautionary tale of a 16-year-old on trial for felony murder.

Starred Review Horn Book- Myers adeptly allows each character to speak for him or herself, leaving readers to judge for themselves the truthfulness of the defendants, witnesses, lawyers, and, most compellingly, Steve himself.

CONNECTIONS
This novel presents itself to be a natural Readers Theater for older students.
Students can take on the role of a court room reporter and interview Steve Harmon after his acquittal.

Other Books By Walter Dean Myers:
Myers, Walter Dean. Bad Boy: A Memoir. ISBN 9780060295240.
Myers, Walter Dean. The Greatest: Muhammad Ali. ISBN 9780590543422.

Genre 5- Historical Fiction- Book 3

Historical Fiction Book Review

The Midwife's Apprentice

By: Karen Cushman

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 1995. THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. New York: Clarion. ISBN 0395692296

Plot Summary
Karen Cushman’s novel The Midwifes Apprentice is set in Medieval England and opens with a "nameless" and "homeless" girl sleeping in a “dung heap”. The waif is all of thirteen and goes by the name Brat. She is awoken and taken in by a hot tempered woman by the name of Jane Sharp. She is the town’s midwife and Brat is quickly renamed “Beetle”, for she was considered a beetle living in the dung. Beetle worked hard for the midwife all the while learning the midwife’s “skills and spells”. Along the journey she gains courage and renames herself “Alyce”. With Alyce’s new bestowed confidence she tries her hand at midwifery skills but fails. Humiliated she runs away where she rebuilds her inner strength and returns to her village with her head held high and achieves the three things she most wants:" a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world. "

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Cushman’s portrayal of life during the medieval times is easily conveyed to readers. She describes to the reader a typical morning preparing the cottage’s floor, “she swept the cottage’s dirt floor, sprinkled it with water, and stamped it to keep it hard packed”. She explains the pay for a midwife’s assistance with a place to sleep (on the floor), two meals a day that consisted of “onions, turnips, dried apples, cheese, bread, and occasional bits of bacon.” This helps the reader understand the stark life of this time period.

Her careful, character development is easily identifiable with young readers. She connects with the reader with concepts children can understand. For example, hunger- with dialect Cushman helps the reader infer “the kick of a boot in Brat’s belly. Hunger. Brat hated the hunger the most.”
Readers will not only laugh out loud with Brat/Beetle/Alyce as she grows into herself but they will cheer her on as she proclaims “ I be a fine midwife’s apprentice now. I know about babies and birthing, singing songs and cooking chickens, crying and laughing and reading.” ……“Are these not excellent things for a midwife’s apprentice to know?”

Cushman leaves the readers with an informative Author’s Note about the history of the midwife profession.

Awards
Newbery Award Medal

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred Review Booklist- . Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone.
Horn Book Review- The graphic and convincing portrayals afford a fascinating view of a far distant time.

CONNECTIONS

This novel would be a great read aloud for middle school students.
It would be interesting to ask students to journal about when they have to keep their cool and to talk about how we treat people who different than us.

Other Books By Karen Cushman:
Cushman, Karen. Matilda Bone. ISBN 9780786232123.
Cushman, Karen. Catherine Called Birdy. ISBN 9780395681862.