Looking for Alaska - book by John Green, Book Trailer by Sandy Schultz

GOING BOVINE by Libba Bray - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY Bray, Libba. 2009. Going Bovine.  New York, NY: Delacorte Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780385733977.

PLOT SUMMARY

Cameron, a "slacker" high school student whose life seems to be crumbling, finds out he has Mad Cow Disease.  His journey from diagnosis through trying to save the world from the disease is a comedic adventure, often dark.  His companions are entertaining, each in their own right, as they travel his journey together, unwilling to give up simply because he is their friend.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Cameron is a quiet, edgy sophomore with a sharp wit.  While he’s usually over looked and non-descript, contracting “mad cow disease” has tossed him into the center of attention.  His quick witted, sharp comeback personality makes him someone you want to be around, to see what will happen next, as you start to care about him and the fact that mad cow disease is fatal.

The story took an interesting and original look at the progression of the disease and how someone deals with it.  Throughout the reading I often wondered if these things were actually happening to the main character, or if while his mind was being turned to “Swiss cheese,” he was hallucinating the entire thing.  The wild adventure that he embarks on embraces dreams, wishes, and desires that I believe hit people when the frailty of life becomes reality.

Set in today’s world, it is easy to slip into the story and embrace the characters.  The realism is all too familiar in a teenage world, details quite accurate.  Looking at death so blatantly isn’t something that is fun to do, especially for invincible teens, but this certainly hit hard and will create some thought in readers, even though it may not be the type of thinking they want to do, the adult kind.

I completely enjoyed the author’s unique voice in this story.  Fans of her other works will find a fresh new view in this book.  Bray accurately depicts the various teenagers: outcast, popular, jock, druggies, to name a few.  As the mom of teenagers, I found the reality and language to be quite accurate, although shocking for some that are not ensconced in that world.  I think teens will find themselves in a comfortable world that Bray creates while exploring an uncomfortable subject.  Definitely recommend this for teens and their parents.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2009 Children's Book Sense Pick

Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the Year 2009

Booklist Books for Youth Editors' Choice in 2009

Michael L. Printz Award Winner 2010

School Library Journal  "Bray blends in a hearty dose of satire on the road trip as Cameron leaves his Texas deathbed—or does he?—to battle evil forces with a legendary jazz horn player, to escape the evil clutches of a happiness cult, to experiment with cloistered scientists trying to solve the mysteries of the universe, and to save a yard gnome embodying a Viking god from the clutches of the materialistic, fame-obsessed MTV-culture clones who shun individual thought. It's a trip worth taking, though meandering and message-driven at times. Some teens may check out before Cameron makes it to his final destination, but many will enjoy asking themselves the questions both deep and shallow that pop up along the way.

Booklist, starred review "An unforgettable, nearly indefinable fantasy adventure."

CONNECTIONS

The most obvious connection is to read Going Bovine, then follow up with Don Quixote, which is referenced throughout the book.  I find that references to other literary works make that referenced work almost irresistible. 
 

THE ARRIVAL by Shaun Tan - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY Tan, Shaun. 2007. The Arrival.  New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books. ISBN 9780439895293.

PLOT SUMMARY
A wordless graphic novel that tells the story of an immigrant.  The story follows a man leaving his family and traveling to a new land where everything is foreign.  The confusion and frustration accompanying being an immigrant are portrayed well, even without words.  Follow the man's journey into his new homeland.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The main character is a man who leaves his family and home to travel to a strange new land.  While we’ve all done this to some degree or another, he enters a land where he does not know the language and customs are unfamiliar to him.  Through him, we are able to identify with immigrants and how scary and overwhelming their lives are when new to a foreign country.  Without words, Tan illicit a sense of concern about how he will survive and deal with the hardships.

Very believable, seen through the eyes of an immigrant.  The creativity Tan uses in creating the setting, the language, people, creatures and customs foreign and alien to anyone who would read this, draws the reader in.  Tan does an excellent job making the reading feel as an immigrant would, language totally foreign and alien, every letter, and every bit of asking for help.  The difficulties encountered are well documented.  As the story unfolds, it is a wonderful sense of accomplishment that I felt as the man started being able to communicate and get around and help others.

This is a book that lends itself to repeated readings. The drawings are so detailed, that there is more to be gleaned with each reading.  Something as simple as the title page sets the tone for the book to take off from.  The title is in some unknown characters and the author’s name is in characters that are somewhat recognizable though altered.  The rest of the book takes off from here, as the sense of being able to read “something” (author’s name) soon disappears. 

Though this is a young adult book, I think it spans the age classification.  Adults should definitely read this book to aid in giving empathy about the plight of immigrants.  It could be any of us in a new situation or country and this book helps spread appreciation for being in that situation and for me, generates thinking on how I might make someone in that situation feel more comfortable.  Highly recommended.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S) 

New South Wales Premier's Literary Award

2006 Cybils Award

Bologna Ragazzi Award, Special Mention
Spectrum Award
Junior Library Guild Selection
World Fantasy Artist of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2007
A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2007
Amazon.com's Best Teen Book of 2007
2007 Parents' Choice Gold Award
A Book Sense Winter 2007-2008 Top Ten Children’s Pick
A New York Public Library Best Book for Reading and Sharing
A New York Times Notable Children’s Book of 2007
Rocky Mountain News, A Top Ten Book of the Year
The Columbus Dispatch, A Best Book of 2007
Booklist Editors' Choice 2007
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2007
A Washington Post Best Book for Young People for 2007
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon for Fiction
ALA Notable Children's Book, 2008
ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults, 2008
ALA Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2008
Horn Book Fanfare Book 2007
Metropolitan Home Magazine's Design 100, 2008
An IRA Notable Book for a Global Society, 2008
2008 Locus Award, Best Art Book
2008 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, special citation for excellence in graphic storytelling
CCBC Choices 2008
Nominated for an International Horror Guild Award, Illustrated Narrative

Publishers Weekly, starred review  “By flawlessly developing nuances of human feeling and establishing the enigmatic setting, he compassionately describes an immigrant’s dilemma. Nearly all readers will be able to relate—either through personal or ancestral experience—to the difficulties of starting over, be it in another country, city, or community. And few will remain unaffected by this timeless stunner."

Booklist, starred review "Soft brush strokes and grand art deco architecture evoke a time long ago, but the story’s immediacy and fantasy elements will appeal even to readers younger than the target audience, though they may miss many of the complexities. Filled with both subtlety and grandeur, the book is a unique work that not only fulfills but also expands the potential of its form."

CONNECTIONS

The Arrival is an awesome lead in to a unit on immigration, studying Ellis Island and the people coming through.  Perhaps on what it takes to become a US citizen, learning some of the basic things required that many of us actually miss in school or take forgranted such as how bills are made, the judicial system, Constitution and more.  

THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman, illustrations by Dave McKean - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY Gaiman, Neil. 2008. The Graveyard Book.  Ill. by Dave Mckean.  New York, NY: Harper Collins Children's Books. ISBN 9780060530921.

PLOT SUMMARY 
His family having been murdered when he was a toddler, Nobody "Bod" Owens lives in a graveyard.  He's been raised and educated by the occupants.  The story follows Bod's growth and learning to live in the graveyard and the big world outside.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
While Bod is a human, he does learn some of the skills of the dead, such as how to fade.  He'd be an absolutely normal little boy if he hadn't been raised by the dead, although he is easy to relate to.  His curiosity is high and along with his sense of adventure, leads him out into the "real" world and some situations that compromise the life he's known in the graveyards with his unusual family.

Neil Gaiman creates a plot that fully takes charge of your fantasy, linking the believable with the not so believable into a world of fascination and imagination.  Gaiman's story telling and attention to detail bring the graveyard and the individual crypts and tunnels to life for both Bod and the reader.  When Bod meets Scarlett and pulls her into his world where she meets "the Indigo Man," the reader can easily put themselves in Scarlett's place and experience the story with her.  Gaiman makes the characters believable in this land of fantasy.

In spite of the evil start to his life, Bod's story is one that shows that good triumphs in the end.  The graveyard seems a scary, evil place sometimes, but the good and wonderful about it are brought out and emphasized, shaping Bod into who he is.

Gaiman is what I think of as a "bit off center" which is something I truly enjoy in a storyteller.  Taking a story and twisting and turning, putting odd situations and characters into it, stretches the imagination.  The Graveyard Book did not disappoint in this.  I'd encourage readers to delve into this book and see how Bod, a child with a very rough start in life and raised by the dead, manages to triumph in the end.  The twists and turns will have you hanging on for the next chapter, wondering where your imagination will be taken next.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Newbury Medal 2009 winner

Hugo 2009 Best Science Fiction novel

Boston Glob Horn Book Award - finalist 2009 Fiction and Poetry, Honor

Newbury Medal 2008 - Children's Literature

Carnegie Medal 2010

Bookmarks Magazine  “Neil Gaiman's fantasies have entranced both younger readers and adults; this gothic fantasy, a coming-of-age story modeled after The Jungle Book and with slight nods to Harry Potter, will appeal to all ages. By juxtaposing the world of the dead with the world of the living, Gaiman creates a fantastical world where the thoughtful protagonist comes to understand the power of family as he experiences the fear, pains, confusions, and joys of growing up. Critics praised each illustrated chapter as its own little gem, with moments both tender and terrifying—and each equally exciting. ”

Booklist, starred review "This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming. Although marketed to the younger YA set, this is a rich story with broad appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages. "

CONNECTIONS

Reading the first chapter, to entice students to read the book on their own, or reading the entire book aloud to a class is a wonderful prelude to a history lesson.  A field trip to a graveyard could be coordinated, crayon etchings done on stones, history looked up or "imagined" based upon what the kids found in the graveyard.  Some people deem a graveyard creepy, I have always loved the rich history in them and the way my mind starts putting stories together upon seeing names and information on the stones.  Makes me very curious about the people who once lived in the area.  What a fun, local history lesson this could be.

HATTIE BIG SKY by Kirby Larson - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY Larson, Kirby. 2006. Hattie Big Sky.  New York, NY: Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780385733137

PLOT SUMMARY

It's 1918, there is a war in Europe, 16 year-old orphan Hattie has inherited a homestead from an uncle she had never met.  Eager to "prove" herself as required within 10 months, Hattie is alone and building fences, cultivating land and simply trying to survive the harsh weather in Montana.  She learns not only about the land and homesteading but out people and relationships along the way.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book was very "little house on the prairie-ish" to me, but with an extremely strong, though slightly hard to believe 16 year-old that is on her own in the harsh Montana landscape.  I personally had a bit of trouble accepting that, though a strong female heroine on her own, making her way in the cruel hard world is somewhat of a fantasy for many young girls.  What a great escape.  Accuracy seemed to be represented in the history of World War I and the effect it had on the states.  

Larson vividly described the sparse Montana frontier, the disappointment met by many setting out to stake their claim, the hard work, bitter cold, harsh conditions.  The underlying storyline seemed to be prejudice.  Hattie's closest neighbor, Karl was born in Germany and many in the area were very prejudiced against him and his family.  As the story unfolds, Hattie starts to see the ugliness manifested in it.  This keeps the story quite relevant for readers today as we still deal with this issue.  

The writing definitely reflected the early 1900's when accepting a ride to church with a gentleman was reserved for a courting couple, neighbors making an effort to stop by were offered coffee and all chores were stopped.  A pleasant surprise were some recipes at the back of the book and a bibliography with further information on the American west and homesteading.

Overall, this was a pleasant read, fun to escape into and imagine having to live as Hattie did, grueling hard work day after day, never knowing what hardships are going to pop up in your face.  I did find it a bit unrealistic and hard to believe though, this young girl alone and surviving.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S) 

2007 Newbery Honor Book

2006 Montana Book Award

School Library Journal starred review

Booklist starred review

School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

Book Links Lasting Connections of 2006 title

Barnes & Noble Teen Discover Title

Borders Original Voice

2006 Cybils nomination

2007-2008 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award nomination

School Library Journal, starred review  “Larson creates a masterful picture of the homesteading experience and the people who persevered.”

Booklist, starred review "Larson, whose great-grandmother homesteaded alone in Montana, read dozens of homesteaders' journals and based scenes in the book on real events. Writing in figurative language that draws on nature and domestic detail to infuse her story with the sounds, smells, and sights of the prairie, she creates a richly textured novel full of memorable characters." 

CONNECTIONS

Hattie has a strong connection to the Little House books and could be compared/contrasted with them.  Starting a unit on WWI with this book could lead focus on impact at home, or simply a unit on prejudice would be a good accompaniment.

 

BOUND by Donna Jo Napoli

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Napoli, Donna Jo, Simms. 2004. BOUND.  New York, NY: Atheneum Books. ISBN 9780689861758.

PLOT SUMMARY

Xing Xing's father dies, leaving her to her stepmother and stepsister.  Keeping to the traditional Cinderella story, Xing Xing is not her stepmother's favorite and is left out and often belittled.  Then comes the day the prince comes looking for the owner of the golden shoe.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The typical Cinderella story, set in ancient China.  Women are not of great value and their beauty is often judged by their tiny, bound feet.  Xing Xing hasn't had her feet bound and is thus thought lacking by her stepmother, who also harbors resentment that Xing Xing's deceased father favored her.

The tale is rich in historical information and details of culture and customs.  It also deals with the very personal issues that Xing Xing faces, growing up under a resentful stepmother, dealing with the loss of her entire biological family, being made to constantly feel inferior, all during a time of discovery and growth.  Her skills in poetry and calligraphy help her hold on to who she is and emerge, especially when the Prince comes calling.  Seeing Xing Xing stand up for who she is and how she makes her decisions was inspiring.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Starred review from BOOKLIST:  "Teens and teachers will want to discuss the layered themes of freedom, captivity, love, human rights, and creative endeavor within this powerful survival story, which, like the yin and yang forces Xing Xing thinks about, balances between terror and tenderness, and is both subversive and rooted in tradition. "

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL  "Napoli retains the pattern of the traditional Chinese tale with only a few minor changes: she sets the story in the northern province of Shaanxi during the Ming dynasty rather than in a minority community in southern China. She fleshes out and enriches the story with well-rounded characters and with accurate information about a specific time and place in Chinese history; the result is a dramatic and masterful retelling."

CONNECTIONS
In studying traditional stories or writing and how certain themes are used repeatedly in different ways, this could be used to illustrate the Cinderella theme.  Using the book Beauty by Susan Wilson to illustrate the Beauty and Beast theme would be a nice pairing.  There is also a young adult novel called Beastly by Alex Finn that would also pair nicely for a telling that would appeal to young men as well as young ladies.

THE STORM IN THE BARN by Matt Phelan - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY  Phelan, Matt.   2009.   THE STORM IN THE BARN. Sommersville, MA: Candlewick. ISBN 978-0763636180.

PLOT SUMMARY
Set in Kansas in 1937, this graphic novel tells the story of one family during the Dust Bowl.  Jack is a young boy trying to "find" himself, and is heavily weighed down by his sisters illness and the despair that accompanies the Dust Bowl. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Surprisingly full of emotion and strong feelings for a graphic novel, in my opinion.  Matt Phelan does a phenomenal job portraying his story very strongly through his illustrations.  Using simple pencil and watercolor to tell the story, it is the use of color that sticks out and makes quite an impression.  Illustrated mainly in earthtones to portray the dust bowl years, blue hues emerge when water and storms are spoken of, when an issue arises with rabbits, brilliant red emerges.  Upon Mom's reflection of the prosperous years prior, the illustrations are full of brilliant colors.  

Phelan's simple drawings portray so much emotion, the melancholy of these desperate times, Jack's beaten and worthless feelings, his feeling responsible for more than he should, taking on the "weight of the world" as many are prone.  In telling the story, there is no sugar coating, the harshness of the times are portrayed well through the sparse words and impactful pictures, authenticity abounds.  Phelan was inspired to create this book by some pictures and videos he'd been exposed to that had haunted him.

This seems to be a good book for introduction to a graphic novel, or introduction to the history of the dust bowl times.  It was my first exposure to this tidbit of history that I had somehow missed in my education.  This book would get recommended for nothing but the pictures if the storyline didn't work, but fortunately it does and Phelan does a great job with it.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Winner of the 2010 Scott O'Dell Award
An American Library Association Notable Children's Book selection
YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens selection 

Publisher's Weekly : "The big novelty here is the Dust Bowl setting, and Phelan's art emphasizes the swirling, billowing clouds of fine grit that obscure even nearby objects. Older readers might have appreciated more text to make up for the lack of visual clarity, but kids will identify with Jack and appreciate his success."

School Library Journal, starred review:  "Children can read this as a work of historical fiction, a piece of folklore, a scary story, a graphic novel, or all four. Written with simple, direct language, it's an almost wordless book: the illustrations' shadowy grays and blurry lines eloquently depict the haze of the dust. A complex but accessible and fascinating book."

CONNECTIONS

Two very natural connections seem to jump out at me. 
First, Jack's sister is taken with the OZ books by Baum.  It would be natural to read The Storm in the Barn first, then follow up with OZ once the intrigue is set.

Second, what a wonderful prelude to a history unit on the 1930's and the midwest.  The conditions were deplorable and the effect on the farmers and culture had quite an impact. 

 

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Lee Stone - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY Stone, Tanya Lee. 2008. ALMOST ASTRONAUTS: 13 WOMEN WHO DARED TO DREAM. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 9780618616800.

PLOT SUMMARY
This non-fiction multiple award winner documents the "Mercury 13" as they were called, the 13 women who won admission to the astronaut training program in the early 1960's.  The opposition they received is brought to light through their journey. 
 
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
I'd classify this book as a social history as it presents the information of these 13 women and their impact on society.   Sidman hands us a lot of factual information adorned by photographs of the women, including snapshots of newspaper articles from the period, cartoons that ran in magazines and newspapers, and telegrams as well.  This book is definitely geared toward the older reader, aged 9 and up.  

Ms. Stone is known for her works on strong women and this text does not disappoint.  There is so much factual matter covered in the book I could see it being used as a main focus for a study unit.  At the back of the book is found information for further reading, a webliography, an appendix of the Lovelace tests and a summary of results as well as further sources. 

Probably the most intriguing little tidbit of information to me, was when Ms. Stone was doing an interview with Jerrie Cobb, one of the 13 women.  Cobb revealed a very prejudicial comment against women, African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians which was made by Lyndon B. Johnson.  This information, along with a letter that had a very opinionated comment scrawled across the bottom by Johnson, had been hidden away for almost 40 years.

It is research such as this that makes this book such a hard hitter.  The facts that have been pulled together and compiled on one edition make this subject very intriguing.  I'd recommend this book as a read-together for families or classrooms.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Honor

Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor

NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor

Bank Street Flora Stieglitz Straus Award 
2010 Sibert Medal Award

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL starred review:   "Illustrated with sheaves of photos, and based on published sources, recently discovered documents, and original interviews with surviving members of the "Mercury 13," this passionately written account of a classic but little-known challenge to established gender prejudices also introduces readers to a select group of courageous, independent women." 

BOOKLIST:  "The chatty, immediate style (“Picture this”) and full-page photos make for a fast read, and the crucial civil-rights history will stay with readers. The long, spacious back matter is part of the story, with detailed chapter notes and a bibliography."

CONNECTIONS
During a lesson on the space program, this book would be a great one to read prior to studying the Columbia tragedy.  The women portrayed in this book shaped the way for the women on that shuttle.

MARS by Seymour Simon - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY Simon, Seymour. 1987. MARS.  New York, NY: William Morrow and Company. ISBN 0688065848.

PLOT SUMMARY
Non-fiction book whose text and photographs give factual detail on the planet Mars.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Seymour Simon has won numerous awards and has 200 highly acclaimed science books published.  Over half these books have been named "Outstanding Science Trade Book by the National Science Teachers Association.  Obviously, he's credible and has his facts straight.

MARS is a photo essay style book that took my breath away with the pictures and the facts that were made so  understandable, relating them to things we can grasp and understand.  To relay size, Simon says that "if the Earth were hollow, seven planets the size of Mars could fit inside."  Tidbits like this make it easy to understand and Simon continues this throughout the book, making it such that children can learn and understand easily.

He touches on aliens/martians and the debate if they exist, concluding that scientists are still uncertain.  One thing that stands out that I learned, is that Mars was named by the Romans for their god of war, since the red color made the Romans think of blood and war. 
A very easy to read and understand book, children will find this book enjoyable with the phenomenal and breathtaking pictures as well as text that is engaging.  I had not considered reading this at storytime in the past, but find that I have this book on my mind and am considering the dialogic reading that will emerge. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "The text in each provides basic statistics on its subject (e.g., size, orbit, rotation, moons, rings, atmosphere, surface, etc.) as well as information on the exploration to date of each planet. Once again, although the texts are serviceable, it is the full-color NASA photos that are the main attraction."

BOOKLIST: "In the same handsome format as Simon's other books on the planets, this volume offers a timely update of knowledge and speculation about the red planet."

CONNECTIONS
In kicking off a unit on the solar system, Simon's books could be used as an introduction.  As a whole, his collection carries great impact via the pictures.  MAGNIFICENT MARS by Ken Crosell would be another book full of phenomenal pictures of Mars that would pair well.  

 

What to do About Alice by Barbara Kerley, Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY Kerley, Barbara. 2008. WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE?  HOW ALICE ROOSEVELT BROKE THE RULES CHARMED THE WORLD AND DROVE HER FATHER TEDDY CRAZY.  Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780439922319.

PLOT SUMMARY
This non-fiction book about Alice Roosevelt tells about her outrageous, uncontrollable behavior, under scrutiny by the world.  Being the daughter of the President, her father tried to "tame" her, however the public grew to love her exploits.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

What a wonderful and fun book to read!  I found myself exclaiming out loud and reading bits to co-workers.  Obviously I wasn't the only person enchanted with this book, as evidenced by the myriad of awards it has received.  

The author, Barbara Kerley, boasts other multiple award winning books (THE DINOSAURS OF WATERHOUSE HAWKINS) and can be counted on for her factual accuracy.   As I was left with a curiosity as to how unconventional Alice "really" was, I did my own research to uncover more stories. What I found is that Ms. Kerley did a terrific job portraying what she did and condensing the person Alice was.  There are plenty of stories and the ones included in the book are ones that appeal to kids and whet your appetite for more.

Inside the back cover is the author's note which is a must read.  Included are more facts about Alice, which gives a jumping off platform for further reading.  The book is illustrated in a way that is appropriate for the time Alice lived, done in digital media but made to look like the late 1800's and earlier 1900's.  They are whimsical and definitely portray the times accurately in clothing and style.

Definitely a must have for all libraries, a must read for all children, as evidenced by all the attention and awards it has received.  I definitely was left with a curiosity to know more about this unconventional woman's life and suspect I'm not alone in that.  I personally think this is a MUST READ.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S) 
Sibert Honor Book
Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book
Irma Black Award Honor Book
Parents Choice Award
Washington State Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award
California Collections
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
An ALA Notable Book
Capitol Choices
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Nominated for Young Reader awards in Texas, Illinois, Utah and Tennessee

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL starred review:   "Kerley’s text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject’s antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp her style, dives fully clothed into a ship’s swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father’s trusted advisers. Fotheringham’s digitally rendered, retro-style illustrations are a superb match for the text."

BOOKLIST starred review:  "Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was....The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art." 

CONNECTIONS

Pair this book with others that are full of fun-filled information for a look at lesser known facts about public figures, which can make history fun and full of laughter. Stand Tall, Abraham Lincoln, by Judith St. George is one of these that would pair nicely, as is George Washington's Teeth by Katherine Stier.

 

Bees, Snails, & Peacock Tails: Patterns & Shapes...Naturally by Betsy Franco, Illustrated by Steve Jenkins - Review for TWU

BIBLIOGRAPHY  Franco, Betsy. 2008. BEES, SNAILS & PEACOCK TAILS: PATTERNS & SHAPES...NATURALLY. Ill. by Steve Jenkins. New York, NY: Margaret K. Elderry Books. ISBN 9781416903864.

PLOT SUMMARY
A collection of two page spreads illustrations with poetry, describing the geometry and color found in nature.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This topical collection is in a simple, readable format, each animal being addressed in a two page spread.  The illustrations often bright and colorful with the text occasionally emphasizing shapes or patterns, such as a swirl of a snail shell or the roundness of a puffer fish.  I particularly liked the spread on beehives and the spider's web and geese with the eye catching and bright illustrations.  Collage is the medium in which the illustrations are done. 


The poems themselves were done in rhyme, in varying beats and meters, although I must say there were times I personally found the rhymes a bit flat or lacking, the rhyme not quite there that was tried for.  The poems evoked a fun, carefree, discovery feeling, making them a great choice for reading aloud to children.  The poems and way the words often interact with the illustrations make for great dialogic reading.

Overall, the book makes for a fun read with children and a good introduction to geometry, shapes, and color, all found in nature.  What a wonderful way to start a unit on exploring the beauty of our world.  

The last two pages of the book are full of facts on the animals mentioned, which is a do not miss.  This adds to the books entirety and will aid in any lessons in which the book is featured.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

BOOKLIST starred review: "The duo behind Birdsongs (2007) teams up again in this winning introduction to the patterns and shapes found in the natural world. From the dazzling eyes of the male peacock’s feathers to the hexagonal chambers of the bee’s hive, Franco’s spirited poems explore the many forms and functions of nature’s geometry."

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY:  "The pair behind Birdsongs tackles another science topic-geometry in the animal world. Whether addressing hexagonal beehive cells or a snail's spiral shell, brisk rhymes draw attention to nature's math"

CONNECTIONS
Terrific for pairing with a lesson on geometry, shapes, or nature.  I could also see pairing this book with any of Douglas Florian's books, such as BEAST FEAST or ON THE WING, due to the similar nature of fun and simple rhymes where the text often follows or emphasizes the illustrations.

This is Just to Say by Joyce Sidman, Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski - review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY  Sidman, Joyce. 2007. THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 9780618616800.

PLOT SUMMARY
Mrs. Merz gives her class an assignment to write poems apologizing.  The sixth graders like the assignment so much, they assemble them in book form and ask those to whom they apologized to write a note of forgiveness back, also included in the book. 
 
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
A very original concept, many forms of poetry are in this book, which makes it enjoyable to read as it is not repetitive.  There is even a pantoum which I had never before heard of.  The apologies and forgiveness notes range from things the kids are not really sorry for to deep, heartfelt and moving.  The illustrations are done a mixture of mediums it looks like, collage, pen and ink, water color.  Each page is a different color, leaving the words as focus, the pictures adding to them but not the main draw of the book by any means.  Often, the abundance of empty space give impact to the sparse amount of words on the page.

I very much enjoyed this book of poetry.  From simple rhymes like roses are red to haiku to pantoums, it covered a wide variety of styles.  I found the illustrations very appealing personally, and they added to the poetry, complimenting it rather than being a focus in themselves.  As I read I found myself laughing at time, my heart aching at times, and occasionally commenting out loud at the way the words portrayed emotion.  This book has helped cement in me that poetry can relay quite a lot of emotion or meaning in few words.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee 2007

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:   "Her skill as a poet accessible to young people is unmatched. Zagarenski's delicately outlined collage drawings and paintings are created on mixed backgrounds–notebook paper, paper bags, newspaper, graph paper, school supplies. This is an important book both for its creativity and for its wisdom." 

KIRKUS REVIEWS:  "Packed with the intensity of everyday pain and sorrow, kids and adults exchange the words that convey grief, delight, love and acceptance of themselves and others."

CONNECTIONS
For an opening unit on Poetry this would be incredible simply for the examples of all the different types there are.  It also could be used as a springboard in a writing lesson on either poetry or letters (a lost art).

Diamond Willow Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Frost, Helen. 2008. DIAMOND WILLOW.  New York, NY: Farrar, Strauss and Girouox.  ISBN 978-0-374-31776-8.

PLOT SUMMARY
Willow is a 12 year old girl in Alaska who is trying to find herself.  She sees nothing special in herself and wants to prove to her parents that she is grown and can mush the dogs responsibly.  On the trip to her grandparents, there is an incident which sparks a dramatic change in Willow.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The most surprising thing to me about this book was that it is in the poetry category for the class.  It is nothing like poetry I have read before and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so much so that I want to toss open the doors to the library I work in and shout to the town to read this book.  It is not a thick book and the words per page are sparse but pack a punch.  Willow's words are in the shape of a Diamond Willow scar and within the shape formed, are bolded words that form a separate message, which I often found to be an even stronger message than all the other words on the page.  Some sections of the book were told by animals, which were reincarnates of Willow's family and friends.  

The entire book circled around and completed itself with all its interlocking parts that put me in awe at Ms. Frost's ability to tell a wonderful story while imparting the culture and ways of the Alaskan people, as well as a young girl growing up and accepting responsibility and maturity.  I happened to read this book about 5 weeks ago so that I would get all my reading for the class done and the impact it has made on me still resonates. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Texas LoneStar Award 2009 
 

BOOKLIST:  "Frost, who spent years teaching in Alaska, blends the young teen’s viewpoint with a strong sense of place and culture. The casual diamond shape of the poems reflects how precious jewels of wisdom can grow around painful scars. Willow’s bond with Roxy is the heart of the tale."

Starred Review from BULLETIN for Center of Children's books:  "Frost invents an ingenious poetic form for her story that is both stable and fluid; like the diamond willow branches that she is imitating, the diamond shapes of her poems vary. . . . Frost has spun metaphoric gold out of an evocative natural landscape, and she knows just how to craft it into an elegant and moving story of a young girl's deepening understanding of the relationships she shares with those around her."

CONNECTIONS

Definitely worth pairing with traditional poetry books for a compare and contrast lesson in forms poetry takes.  It could also be introduced as supplemental material for a unit on Alaska or dog sledding. 

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback - Book Review for TWU Course

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Taback, Simms. 1999. JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT.  New York, NY: Viking. ISBN 9780670878550.

PLOT SUMMARY
Joseph has an overcoat that gets worn and is repurposed into a jacket.  As each item he creates from the original overcoat wears, he finds a new something to create until he loses his final creation.  But, the story isn't over yet!

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

A sight for the eyes, this book is full of illustrations done in watercolor, Goache, pencil, ink and collage.  From the opening pages, there is much to see and read and explore.  Among the illustrations are bits of writing occasionally, sometimes humorous.  The title page has a little handwritten blurb that says (and there's a moral, too!)  Some of the collage is of newspaper pages, letters or sayings upon the walls.  The abundance of detail on each illustration makes it a fun book to read and explore, leaving it open to lots of speculation and conversation.  Also in many of the illustrations are die cut cutouts, changing each piece of clothing as he alters it.

The story obviously takes place in an earlier time in history as evidenced by the clothing and furniture in the pictures, and in a different culture as well.  By reading all the little letters and newspapers layring around in the illustrations, it becomes apparent that this is the Jewish culture in Poland.  If you don't take time to observe all the little details, that may never become apparent.  

The writing is repetitive so that children anticipate and become involved in the story, and yes, as the author states on the title page, there is a moral. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist:  "true example of accomplished bookmaking--from the typography and the endpapers to the bar code, set in what appears to be a patch of fabric. Taback's mixed-media and collage illustrations are alive with warmth, humor, and humanity. Their colors are festive yet controlled, and they are filled with homey clutter, interesting characters, and a million details to bring children back again and again. "

Publishers Weekly:  "With its effective repetition and an abundance of visual humor, this is tailor-made for reading aloud."

CONNECTIONS

Pairing this book with his THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY, which also has the die cut cutouts.  This feature keeps the story focused.  

This story could lead into art projects such as collage work, or it could be paired for a lesson on stories with morals and a creative writing assignement to create a story with a moral.

The Story of Lightening & Thunder by Ashley Bryan - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bryan, Ashley. 1993. THE STORY OF LIGHTNING & THUNDER. New York, NY; Athenum. ISBN 0689318367.

PLOT SUMMARY

A retelling of an African folktale, Ma Sheep Thunder and her son Ram Lightning are important villagers due to their ability to bring the rain.  Ram Lightning keeps getting himself into mischief and eventually he and his mom are banned from the village altogether, explaining why thunder and lightning live in the sky.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The illustrations are the first thing of notice about this book.  The use of bright, clear colors and very geometric shapes and lines is representative of native African artwork, so it lends to the story well, reflecting the culture the story is set in.  There is a magical quality that Ma Thunder and Ram Lightning exhibit in their ability to bring the rain.  This traditional tale is set in towns in Africa to  bring authenticity.

Ashley Bryan's retelling takes on a very lyrical, sing-song quality at times with fun, silly rhymes and words thrown in such as uh-huh and the sound of thunder as baa-ba-lam!  This does not detract from the story, but at times emphasizes what is happening with the repetition and rhyming she invokes.  It makes for a fun book to read aloud to children. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Kirkus Reviews:  "Written to be read aloud (perhaps to a rambunctious child), with bits of rhyme and unexpected wordplay--the King scolds Lightning: ``It is an outrage at your age to go on such a rampage!'' There is one of Bryan's uniquely vibrant, swirling, light-filled paintings on every page. "

Publishers Weekly:  "Bryan takes a highly conversational, genial tone, with frequent interjections of "uh-huh" and "uh-uh," that quickly develops camaraderie between the reader, the narrator, the sprited ram, and his frazzled mother. Brilliantly colored and ingeniously patterned, Bryan's illustrations are a playful take on stained glass."

CONNECTIONS

Pairing this book with other folktales on thunder and lightning would be fun for a storytime or lesson exploring folktales.  HOW THUNDER AND LIGHTNING CAME TO BE: A CHOCTAW LEGEND by Beatrice Orcutt Harrell would be one good choice.  This book could also be paired with mythology and stories of Thor, exploring how cultures explain things. 

The Three Pigs by David Wiesner - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Wiesner, David. 2001. THE THREE PIGS. New York, NY; Clarion Books. ISBN 9780618007011.

PLOT SUMMARY

The book starts out with the basic story of the Three Little Pigs as we all know it, the repetitive lines drawing children in.  Midway, the story takes a twist as the pigs break out of the storybook and explore a different world, meeting up with other familiar characters, such as the cow who jumped over the moon and the cat and the fiddle.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This is the story of the three pigs as not seen before, the traditional tale, with a twist.  The traditional tale is illustrated with flat, simple illustrations, transforming into incredibly detailed, almost lifelike illustrations as the pigs make their way out of the pages of the book. The illustrations are done in watercolor, gouache, pencil, colored pencil, and colored inks, per the verso page.  The lifelike images help the story become more alive as the unexpected takes place.  The theme of good triumphs over evil is preserved, but with a bit of humor and fun thrown in. The fun, silly and lighthearted theme makes the familiar story comforting, but allows children to embellish and use their imaginations.

This adaptation offers a wonderful chance for dialogic reading in literacy.  Being the story has been "hijacked" much of it is now open to interpretation in the pictures and oft wordless pages. The open ended quality of the story leaving it up for interpretation and the ability to create a story as desired.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Caldecott Medal Award 2002

ALA Notable Children's Book 2002

BOOKLIST starred review:  "Wiesner's latest is a post-modern fantasy for young readers that takes Scieszka's fragmentation a step further: it not only breaks apart and deliciously reinvents the pigs' tale, it invites readers to step beyond the boundaries of story and picture book altogether."

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY:  "brilliant use of white space and perspective (as the pigs fly to the upper right-hand corner of a spread on their makeshift plane, or as one pig's snout dominates a full page) evokes a feeling that the characters can navigate endless possibilities--and that the range of story itself is limitless."

CONNECTIONS

Pairing this book with Jon Sciezscka's THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS would give the same story told from the wolf's point of view

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein - Book Review for TWU

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gerstein, Mordicai. 2003. THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS. Brookfield, CT; Roaring Book Press. ISBN 9780761317913.

PLOT SUMMARY
This children's picture book is based on a real event that occurred in 1974. Phililppe Petit was a tightrope artist who could not resist the allure of the twin towers of the World Trade Center In New York City. He managed to sneak a cable between the two towers during the dark hours and during the morning rush hour spent an hour walking, dancing and performing a quarter mile in the sky, between the two towers.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The story told in this book is amazing, a man plotting to walk on a tightrope between the twin towers? Then, to relate to children that this really did happen, how exciting that makes the story. The imagination seemed to go into overtime as I read the book seeing it as if it was happening right in front of me, imagining the plotting and coordination to get the reels of cable and equipment to the rooftops and not be stopped.

The pictures in the book tell much of the story and portray the excitement, anticipation and angst as the event unfolds. The words are almost an afterthought, aiding by laying down a storyline. The passage of time was clearly defined by the illustrations. While the plan was to have this event take place before dawn, watching the lightening of the pictures by a rising sun brought excitement and apprehension that it would not be accomplished.

The illustrations are detailed and almost tell the story on their own. They lend themselves to further exploration and talk with children, asking about the details, posing questions as to "how do you think they felt when the cable fell," etc. There are two fold out pages in the book making for three page spreads which did a great job to emphasize the height of the towers and the cable Philippe was walking on, and the distance between the towers. I can honestly say that looking at the pictures gave me a slight feeling of vertigo.

The final illustration in the book is the one that impacted me the most. It is an illustration of the New York City skyline, without the towers standing, but with a faint imprint of them as if in our memory. For me, that single image was the most powerful of the book, pulling the entire thing toether and making the feat Philippe accomplished much more wonderful and something that needs to be shared as it can never be duplicated.


REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Winner 2004 Caldecott Medal

From School Library Journal: "With its graceful majesty and mythic overtones, this unique and uplifting book is at once a portrait of a larger-than-life individual and a memorial to the towers and the lives associated with them."

From Booklist: "Gerstein uses varied perspectives to tell the story--from the close-up jacket picture of one foot on the rope to the fold-out of Petit high above the traffic, swaying in the wind. Then there's a quiet view of the city skyline now, empty of the towers, and an astonishing image of the tiny figure high on the wire between the ghostly buildings we remember. "

CONNECTIONS
This is a book that I have a harder time pairing with another book except in the manner of a Caldecott storytime. I think the book can better be paired with a lesson plan on the World Trade Center, or the events of September 11, 2001. Bringing this children's book into a high school room and reading it to the class would have a great impact, I believe.

Let's Eat by Pat Mora, illustrated by Maribel Suarez - Book Review for TWU

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mora, Pat. 2008. LET'S EAT!/ ¡A COMER! Ill. by Maribel Suárez. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN 9780060850388.

PLOT SUMMARY
A family (Mom, Dad, Grandma, three children and a dog) sit down to dinner. With lots of good food on the table, the main character asks her father if they are rich. Father's reply confirms the girls observation, in ways not relating to food.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Told in both English and Spanish, this simple book is full of colorful pictures that emphasize the text. This would be an excellent book to throw into a storytime, exposing English speakers to Spanish, and treating the Spanish speakers who do not often get to hear a storytime in their own language. The pictures emphasize the text which will aid children in associating the unfamiliar word with its meaning.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Kirkus Reviews: "Kids who know either English or Spanish can be introduced to this book and encouraged to try to learn some words or sentences in the unfamiliar language."

Criticas: " The minimal text is straightforward, and the pleasing … colorful watercolors add to the sweetness of the story. A well-executed … appealing story that is recommended for all libraries with Spanish collections."

CONNECTIONS
For a food/bilingual storytime a good pairing is Yum! Mmmm! Que Rico! Americas' Sproutings by Pat Mora.

Flotsam by David Wiesner - Book Review for TWU

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Wiesner, David. 2006. FLOTSAM. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780618194575.

PLOT SUMMARY
In this picture book without words, a young boy finds a camera, washed up on the beach. Curious, he develops the film to find some very unusual pictures of sea creatures and one particular picture of interest The picture is of a child, holding a picture of a child, holding a picture of a child, to many degrees. As the boy realizes what has been recorded in this camera and explores the pictures, he decides to become part of this elaborate record.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The pictures in this book are phenomenal, bright and highly detailed, with each "reading" revealing more detail. One of my favorite pictures is of a fish family in their living room, the children fish packed like sardines on the couch; the light bulbs in the lamps are sturgeon fish with their natural glowing bulbs; a fishbowl on the table, the pets swimming in and out of it. The pictures are whimsical with some humor thrown in. Multiple readings bring new aspects to light, new details, which can be expanded upon. It can be as simple or elaborate as the reader would like. Being a wordless picture book, the story can change with each person reading the book, or even with each re-reading.

The concept portrayed by the picture within a picture is fascinating for older readers to expand upon, imaginations can run wild. For the youngest readers, I believe the concept is a bit beyond them, but the glorious pictures give liberty to read and interpret a story as simple as you wish. It would be fun to re-read with a child as they grow and watch their ability to grasp concepts change.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Caldecott Medal Recipient 2007.

Starred Review in KIRKUS: "From arguably the most inventive and cerebral visual storyteller in children's literature comes a wordless invitation.....not to be resisted."

Starred Review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: This wordless books vivid watercolor paintings have a crisp realism that anchors the elements of fantasy.

CONNECTIONS Pair this with other works by Wiesner for a visual feast. TUESDAY, THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, or FREE FALL to name a few, for an illustrator themed reading. For a wordless picture book theme, SIDEWALK CIRCUS by Paul Fleishman, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes and THE RED BOOK by Barbara Lehman would be good choices.