25 October 2010

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.

 

11 October 2010

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).

07 October 2010

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.