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.