Biography
Freedman, Russell. 2004. The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780618159765
Plot Summary
On Easter Sunday 1939, a large crowd gathered along the Mall in Washington in anticipation of hearing the voice of the nation’s finest contralto float across the chilly Potomac breeze. But this crowd had shown up for more than a brilliant vocal performance; it was silently demonstrating support for our country's civil rights. Marian Anderson did not consider herself to be a crusader, yet as she stood in the watchful shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, she shone as a beacon for racial justice everywhere. The Voice that Challenged the Nation is a biographical account of the inspiring life of classical vocalist, Marian Anderson. It tells of her humble beginnings in one of Philadelphia’s many multicultural neighborhoods, and it follows her rising career as she travels extensively throughout the Jim Crow infected South: “The Anderson’s bags were taken to the first coach on the train headed south—the Jim Crow coach reserved for blacks. As Marian recalled, the car was dirty inside and out, the windows were badly in need of washing, and the ventilation and lighting were poor.” Unwavering in her musical pursuits, Anderson became a heavily sought-after vocalist and was esteemed by European royalty as well as President Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor. So when Anderson was racially spurned by The Daughters of the American Revolution, the public backlash peacefully came to a head on that fateful and historic Easter morning.
Critical Analysis
Russell Freedman paints a beautiful portrait of Marian Anderson. Using precision and a thorough presentation, Freedman details the famed vocalist’s life and the events that led to one of the most poignant moments in our nation’s turbulent history. He opens the book with a nearly poetic account of Anderson’s performance at the Lincoln Memorial: “Clouds, which had shadowed the monument, skittered away to the north, and the late-afternoon sun broke through to bathe the reflecting pool and shine on the gaily dressed Easter crowd.” He continues the book in chronological order of her life, borrowing from Anderson’s autobiography and other first-person accounts. Written for a youthful (ages 12 and up) audience, Freedman succeeds in presenting a richly simplified rendition of Anderson’s bounteous life. He also includes an ample cornucopia of photos that seem to animate the text. A selected bibliography for further reading and a discography of Anderson’s available releases complete this inspiring and historically relevant work.
Review Excerpts
2005 Newbery Honor Book
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award
School Library Journal: “This inspiring work once again demonstrates Freedman’s talent for showing how a person’s life is molded by its historical and cultural context.”
Kirkus Review: “Well-chosen, well-placed archival photographs, clear writing, abundant research, and careful documentation make an outstanding, handsome biography.”
Connections:
*Excellent choice for required reading at the junior high level.
*Other books about Marian Anderson:
Anderson, Marian. My Lord, What a Beautiful Morning: An Autobiography. ISBN 9780252070532
Keiler, Allan. Marian Anderson: A Singer's Journey. ISBN 9780252070679
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Review of SHIPWRECK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD by Jennifer Armstrong
Biography
Armstrong, Jennifer. 1998. Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World. New York, NY: Crown Publishers. ISBN 9780517800133
Plot Summary
Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World chronicles the inconceivable true events of Captain Ernest Shackleton and his crew as they are trapped by the perilous glacial grasp of Antarctica’s frozen wasteland. Shackleton and his men set sail from England in the summer of 1914 on an urgent quest to become the first explorers to sail Antarctica from tip to tip. But, just as they neared the southern most continent, their ship Endurance, became entrapped by large masses of ice. Stranded with no means of outside communication, Shackleton and his 27 men hunkered down for a long winter aboard Endurance. Several months passed, and the warming air of spring blew hope for a yielding sea to carry them home. In unanticipated horror, the melting glaciers shifted and crushed the hardy ship “like a walnut.” What followed was to become history’s most remarkable feats of survival that have ever been recorded. In the end, Captain Shackleton and all of his men miraculously survived unrelenting blizzards, subzero temperatures, a monstrous hurricane, and dangerous treks across unmapped regions of the Southern Hemisphere.
Critical Analysis
Jennifer Armstrong takes the reader on an icy voyage with the captain and crew of the explorer ship Endurance. Written in form like a suspenseful novel, Armstrong presents a factual blow-by-blow account of Captain Ernest Shackleton and his team’s harrowing decent to the frozen Antarctic Ocean and the staggering events that followed. Miraculously salvaged photos of the Endurance crew are strategically placed throughout the book, adding depth and chilling reality to this extraordinary story. In one such photo, we see first officer Lionel Greenstreet donning a mustache of icicles while draped in remnants of soggy, waterlogged wool. What is most telling of this portrait is the warm smile that is peering from beneath its frosty frame. This is the pervading theme of this true tale—optimism in the face of mind-blowing peril.
Although written for adolescents, Armstrong uses graphic suspense that is strong enough to intrigue adults young and old. The narration reads smoothly as Armstrong utilizes descriptions that are vivid and beautifully effective: “Killer whales cruised the open leads, blowing sprouts of icy spray. The tricks of the Antarctic atmosphere brought mock suns and green sunsets, and showers of jewel-colored crystals.” The narration also has a feel of intimacy due to Armstrong’s ample use of quotes taken directly from Captain Shackleton and his crew’s diaries. Shackleton had ordered his men to keep diaries chronicling their expedition. Even through the most turbulent of situations, Shackleton managed to keep a maticulous account of his journey. Referring to the crushing of his beloved Endurance, Shackleton wrote, “Mighty blocks of ice, gripped between meeting floes, rose slowly until they jumped like cherry and stones squeezed between thumb and finger.”
With an uncanny eye for detail, Armstrong brilliantly captures the humor and passionate spirit of Shackleton and his team. She includes stories of the crew putting on plays and comical productions while confined to a frozen ship. Accompanied by photos of the men dressed in costumes and holding props, the reader is transported to a cozy little room within the heart of Endurance. There she tells of the team’s Christmas aboard as they jokingly toasted “To our sweethearts and wives—may they never meet!” Just as the reader is lulled into a sense of refuge, Armstrong ominously adds, “Outside in the darkness, the endless mass of pack ice was grinding against itself like a restless giant breaking mountains in its sleep.” Boldly honest, beautifully told, and elegantly designed, Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World is an exceptionally artful work of nonfiction.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: “This is a very effective presentation of not only how the disaster occurred, but of the toll it took on the crew and how they rose to the challenge.”
Boston Globe-Horn Honor Book
Kirkus Review: “This unbelievable story is enhanced by the vigorous prose; from the captivating introduction through the epilogue, it is the writing as much as the story that will rivet readers."
Starred Review in Publisher’s Weekly: "Armstrong's absorbing storytelling, illustrated with dramatic black-and-white photographs, makes this an enthralling adventure."
Connections
*Can be used within the context of a thematic unit in the classroom.
*Due to the books heavy use of scientific and mathematical references, it would provide a concrete example for math and science classes.
*Would make a perfect selection for assigned reading for junior high and high school students.
*Could be used as an opening to conversations about the human spirit and the fight for survival as well as the value of strong leadership.
*For additional reading:
Alexander, Caroline. Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition. ISBN 9780375404030
Armstrong, Jennifer. 1998. Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World. New York, NY: Crown Publishers. ISBN 9780517800133
Plot Summary
Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World chronicles the inconceivable true events of Captain Ernest Shackleton and his crew as they are trapped by the perilous glacial grasp of Antarctica’s frozen wasteland. Shackleton and his men set sail from England in the summer of 1914 on an urgent quest to become the first explorers to sail Antarctica from tip to tip. But, just as they neared the southern most continent, their ship Endurance, became entrapped by large masses of ice. Stranded with no means of outside communication, Shackleton and his 27 men hunkered down for a long winter aboard Endurance. Several months passed, and the warming air of spring blew hope for a yielding sea to carry them home. In unanticipated horror, the melting glaciers shifted and crushed the hardy ship “like a walnut.” What followed was to become history’s most remarkable feats of survival that have ever been recorded. In the end, Captain Shackleton and all of his men miraculously survived unrelenting blizzards, subzero temperatures, a monstrous hurricane, and dangerous treks across unmapped regions of the Southern Hemisphere.
Critical Analysis
Jennifer Armstrong takes the reader on an icy voyage with the captain and crew of the explorer ship Endurance. Written in form like a suspenseful novel, Armstrong presents a factual blow-by-blow account of Captain Ernest Shackleton and his team’s harrowing decent to the frozen Antarctic Ocean and the staggering events that followed. Miraculously salvaged photos of the Endurance crew are strategically placed throughout the book, adding depth and chilling reality to this extraordinary story. In one such photo, we see first officer Lionel Greenstreet donning a mustache of icicles while draped in remnants of soggy, waterlogged wool. What is most telling of this portrait is the warm smile that is peering from beneath its frosty frame. This is the pervading theme of this true tale—optimism in the face of mind-blowing peril.
Although written for adolescents, Armstrong uses graphic suspense that is strong enough to intrigue adults young and old. The narration reads smoothly as Armstrong utilizes descriptions that are vivid and beautifully effective: “Killer whales cruised the open leads, blowing sprouts of icy spray. The tricks of the Antarctic atmosphere brought mock suns and green sunsets, and showers of jewel-colored crystals.” The narration also has a feel of intimacy due to Armstrong’s ample use of quotes taken directly from Captain Shackleton and his crew’s diaries. Shackleton had ordered his men to keep diaries chronicling their expedition. Even through the most turbulent of situations, Shackleton managed to keep a maticulous account of his journey. Referring to the crushing of his beloved Endurance, Shackleton wrote, “Mighty blocks of ice, gripped between meeting floes, rose slowly until they jumped like cherry and stones squeezed between thumb and finger.”
With an uncanny eye for detail, Armstrong brilliantly captures the humor and passionate spirit of Shackleton and his team. She includes stories of the crew putting on plays and comical productions while confined to a frozen ship. Accompanied by photos of the men dressed in costumes and holding props, the reader is transported to a cozy little room within the heart of Endurance. There she tells of the team’s Christmas aboard as they jokingly toasted “To our sweethearts and wives—may they never meet!” Just as the reader is lulled into a sense of refuge, Armstrong ominously adds, “Outside in the darkness, the endless mass of pack ice was grinding against itself like a restless giant breaking mountains in its sleep.” Boldly honest, beautifully told, and elegantly designed, Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World is an exceptionally artful work of nonfiction.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: “This is a very effective presentation of not only how the disaster occurred, but of the toll it took on the crew and how they rose to the challenge.”
Boston Globe-Horn Honor Book
Kirkus Review: “This unbelievable story is enhanced by the vigorous prose; from the captivating introduction through the epilogue, it is the writing as much as the story that will rivet readers."
Starred Review in Publisher’s Weekly: "Armstrong's absorbing storytelling, illustrated with dramatic black-and-white photographs, makes this an enthralling adventure."
Connections
*Can be used within the context of a thematic unit in the classroom.
*Due to the books heavy use of scientific and mathematical references, it would provide a concrete example for math and science classes.
*Would make a perfect selection for assigned reading for junior high and high school students.
*Could be used as an opening to conversations about the human spirit and the fight for survival as well as the value of strong leadership.
*For additional reading:
Alexander, Caroline. Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition. ISBN 9780375404030
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Review of OUT OF THE DUST by Karen Hesse
Bibliography
Hess, Karen. 1977. Out of the Dust. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780590360807
Plot Summary
Out of the Dust is a novel about a young girl and aspiring pianist named Billie Jo. Written in free-verse poems, Billie Jo narrates the tumultuous story of her life. Raised in the Oklahoma Panhandle during the Dust Bowl Era, we follow Billie Jo from the time she was “born at home, on the kitchen floor.” As a series of unfortunate events unfold, Billie Jo begins to wonder if life will ever afford her a break. Left with the scars of losing her mother, Billie Jo begins to lose what she holds most dear in life, playing the piano. Billie Jo’s adventures take her on a journey of self-discovery where she learns that true strength lies in perseverance.
Critical Analysis
Karen Hesse’s novel about fourteen-year-old Billie Jo transports the reader to the Oklahoma Panhandle during the Great Depression. Hesse’s poetry wraps us in the sandy gusts of the bleak Dust Bowl. Engulfed in stark images of perpetual desolation and dust-carrying winds, readers may find themselves taking a deep breath for unadulterated oxygen: “It wasn’t until the dust turned toward the house, like a fired locomotive, and I fled, barefoot and breathless, back inside, it wasn’t until the dust hissed against the windows, until it ratcheted the roof, that Daddy woke.”
Hesse writes the novel in free-form verse, and each poem is crafted in succession to tell the chronological story of Billie Jo. The voice of the novel is given to Billie Jo, and she begins her story with her mother giving birth to her on the kitchen floor: “Ma crouched, barefoot, bare bottomed over the swept boards.” Hesse quickly gives the impression that Billie Jo’s world consist of Billie Jo, her mother, her father, …and dust. Hesse writes with eloquent prose that is rich in imagery: “The wind snatched the snow right off the fields, leaving behind a sea of dust.” The use of free-form verse allows Billy Jo to tell her story with an artful beauty that only poetry can convey.
An accidental fire that leads to the crippling of Billy Jo’s hands and the death of her mother is a pivotal point in the story. A deep despair falls heavy upon the characters as Billie Jo notes that “It rained a little everywhere but here.” Hesse lets the reader know that the drought has withered up more than the landscape. The limits of the human spirit are taunted, and Billy Jo must choose to stand strong or blow away with the Oklahoma winds.
Review Excerpts
Newbery Medal Winner
Starred review in Publishers Weekly: "This intimate novel, written in stanza form, poetically conveys the heat, dust and wind of Oklahoma."
Children's Literature Review: "The novel is harsh and ugly, strong stuff that made my eleven-year-old cry when read aloud."
Kirkus Review: "Hesse presents a hale and determined heroine who confronts unrelenting misery and begins to transcend it."
Connections
*Would make an excellent required reading for older students.
*Could be used to in association with a history lesson about the Great Depression or the Dust Bowl.
*Could be used as an introduction to novels and to poetry novels.
*Students could think of a trying time in their lives and write a poem or series of poems about it.
Hess, Karen. 1977. Out of the Dust. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780590360807
Plot Summary
Out of the Dust is a novel about a young girl and aspiring pianist named Billie Jo. Written in free-verse poems, Billie Jo narrates the tumultuous story of her life. Raised in the Oklahoma Panhandle during the Dust Bowl Era, we follow Billie Jo from the time she was “born at home, on the kitchen floor.” As a series of unfortunate events unfold, Billie Jo begins to wonder if life will ever afford her a break. Left with the scars of losing her mother, Billie Jo begins to lose what she holds most dear in life, playing the piano. Billie Jo’s adventures take her on a journey of self-discovery where she learns that true strength lies in perseverance.
Critical Analysis
Karen Hesse’s novel about fourteen-year-old Billie Jo transports the reader to the Oklahoma Panhandle during the Great Depression. Hesse’s poetry wraps us in the sandy gusts of the bleak Dust Bowl. Engulfed in stark images of perpetual desolation and dust-carrying winds, readers may find themselves taking a deep breath for unadulterated oxygen: “It wasn’t until the dust turned toward the house, like a fired locomotive, and I fled, barefoot and breathless, back inside, it wasn’t until the dust hissed against the windows, until it ratcheted the roof, that Daddy woke.”
Hesse writes the novel in free-form verse, and each poem is crafted in succession to tell the chronological story of Billie Jo. The voice of the novel is given to Billie Jo, and she begins her story with her mother giving birth to her on the kitchen floor: “Ma crouched, barefoot, bare bottomed over the swept boards.” Hesse quickly gives the impression that Billie Jo’s world consist of Billie Jo, her mother, her father, …and dust. Hesse writes with eloquent prose that is rich in imagery: “The wind snatched the snow right off the fields, leaving behind a sea of dust.” The use of free-form verse allows Billy Jo to tell her story with an artful beauty that only poetry can convey.
An accidental fire that leads to the crippling of Billy Jo’s hands and the death of her mother is a pivotal point in the story. A deep despair falls heavy upon the characters as Billie Jo notes that “It rained a little everywhere but here.” Hesse lets the reader know that the drought has withered up more than the landscape. The limits of the human spirit are taunted, and Billy Jo must choose to stand strong or blow away with the Oklahoma winds.
Review Excerpts
Newbery Medal Winner
Starred review in Publishers Weekly: "This intimate novel, written in stanza form, poetically conveys the heat, dust and wind of Oklahoma."
Children's Literature Review: "The novel is harsh and ugly, strong stuff that made my eleven-year-old cry when read aloud."
Kirkus Review: "Hesse presents a hale and determined heroine who confronts unrelenting misery and begins to transcend it."
Connections
*Would make an excellent required reading for older students.
*Could be used to in association with a history lesson about the Great Depression or the Dust Bowl.
*Could be used as an introduction to novels and to poetry novels.
*Students could think of a trying time in their lives and write a poem or series of poems about it.
Review of DINOTHESAURUS by Florian Douglas
Bibliography
Florian, Douglas. 2009. Dinothesaurus. Ill. by Florian Douglas. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781416979784.
Plot Summary
In his humorous and surprisingly factual collection of poems, Douglas Florian pens fun-loving odes to the prehistoric creatures of the Cretaceous period. The book begins with "The Age of Dinosaurs," which serves as an introduction to the next seventeen poems. At the turn of each page, the reader is introduced to a different dinosaur where Florian playfully provides historical facts: "Stegosaurus, Herbivorous, dined on plants inside the forest." With the concluding poem “The End of Dinosaurs,” Florian asks the reader, "What made the dinosaurs die out? Why don’t they still parade about?" His thought provoking questions are sure to spark the readers’ imaginations, both young and prehistoric!
Critical Analysis
Douglas Florian writes and illustrates his homage to primordial reptiles in his vividly inventive book of poems, Dinothesaurus. Florian’s rhymes are rhythmically inviting as the meters whimsically play off the tongue: "One hundred million years before us, lived the gig-not-o-saurus. Gigantic, titanic, enormous, colossal—what once was humongous is now just a fossil." He also cleverly wraps historical facts in a package of humorous wordplay and irreverently funny stanzas: "A fine meal of mollusk taste jolly delicious. But we aren’t vicious, we’re very polite—We always say please before we might bite."
The illustrations are an integral part of Dinothesaurus, as they play off of the poems and mirror their cheeky humor. In a stanza from "Gigantosaurus," Florian writes: "When it was hungry or got into fights, it opened its jaws and took giga-bites." Accompanying this poem is an illustration of a bionic-looking dinosaur. This brightly painted gigantosaurus fittingly spans the length of two pages. Tumbling from his mouth is a collage of modern electronics including a cell phone, calculator, and laptop computer. Parts of the dinosaur’s flesh are cut out to reveal an anatomy composed of computer chips and wires. Florian’s illustrations are creatively crafted from a variety of mediums, including watercolors, chalk, paper bags, and magazine clippings. The viewer will also pleasingly find irony in many of the pictures. For example, in the illustration of a micropachycephalosaurus, Florian places the tiny 20-inch dinosaur under a gigantic collage of letters that spell out its long, tongue-twisting name (Florian mercifully provides pronunciations below the name of each dinosaur).
Keeping in line with his fact-filled poems, Florian thoughtfully includes a "glossarysaurus," a list of dinosaur museums and fossil sites, and suggestions for further reading. With its ingenious mix of facts and fun, Dinothesaurus is sure to educate and entertain children for years to come.
Review Excerpts
Starred review in Publishers Weekly: “Florian's free-flowing, witty collection of poems and collages about dinosaurs is a giganotosaurus delight—perhaps his best work ever.”
Starred review in School Library Journal: “This smart marriage of dinosaurs and poetry will delight a wide audience.”
Kirkus review: “A set of dinophile-pleasing verses penned by a poet with a rare knack for wordplay and silly rhymes finds apt visual setting fronting playful images of monsters rearing up from extinction to grin toothily at young viewers.”
Connections
*Could be used to introduce children to dinosaurs or prehistoric times.
*Could be used to introduce children to poetry.
*The illustrations would be great examples for children to see how different methods of art can be used (i.e. collage, painting, and drawing).
*Students could write a poem about their favorite animal and make a collage to illustrate the poem.
Florian, Douglas. 2009. Dinothesaurus. Ill. by Florian Douglas. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781416979784.
Plot Summary
In his humorous and surprisingly factual collection of poems, Douglas Florian pens fun-loving odes to the prehistoric creatures of the Cretaceous period. The book begins with "The Age of Dinosaurs," which serves as an introduction to the next seventeen poems. At the turn of each page, the reader is introduced to a different dinosaur where Florian playfully provides historical facts: "Stegosaurus, Herbivorous, dined on plants inside the forest." With the concluding poem “The End of Dinosaurs,” Florian asks the reader, "What made the dinosaurs die out? Why don’t they still parade about?" His thought provoking questions are sure to spark the readers’ imaginations, both young and prehistoric!
Critical Analysis
Douglas Florian writes and illustrates his homage to primordial reptiles in his vividly inventive book of poems, Dinothesaurus. Florian’s rhymes are rhythmically inviting as the meters whimsically play off the tongue: "One hundred million years before us, lived the gig-not-o-saurus. Gigantic, titanic, enormous, colossal—what once was humongous is now just a fossil." He also cleverly wraps historical facts in a package of humorous wordplay and irreverently funny stanzas: "A fine meal of mollusk taste jolly delicious. But we aren’t vicious, we’re very polite—We always say please before we might bite."
The illustrations are an integral part of Dinothesaurus, as they play off of the poems and mirror their cheeky humor. In a stanza from "Gigantosaurus," Florian writes: "When it was hungry or got into fights, it opened its jaws and took giga-bites." Accompanying this poem is an illustration of a bionic-looking dinosaur. This brightly painted gigantosaurus fittingly spans the length of two pages. Tumbling from his mouth is a collage of modern electronics including a cell phone, calculator, and laptop computer. Parts of the dinosaur’s flesh are cut out to reveal an anatomy composed of computer chips and wires. Florian’s illustrations are creatively crafted from a variety of mediums, including watercolors, chalk, paper bags, and magazine clippings. The viewer will also pleasingly find irony in many of the pictures. For example, in the illustration of a micropachycephalosaurus, Florian places the tiny 20-inch dinosaur under a gigantic collage of letters that spell out its long, tongue-twisting name (Florian mercifully provides pronunciations below the name of each dinosaur).
Keeping in line with his fact-filled poems, Florian thoughtfully includes a "glossarysaurus," a list of dinosaur museums and fossil sites, and suggestions for further reading. With its ingenious mix of facts and fun, Dinothesaurus is sure to educate and entertain children for years to come.
Review Excerpts
Starred review in Publishers Weekly: “Florian's free-flowing, witty collection of poems and collages about dinosaurs is a giganotosaurus delight—perhaps his best work ever.”
Starred review in School Library Journal: “This smart marriage of dinosaurs and poetry will delight a wide audience.”
Kirkus review: “A set of dinophile-pleasing verses penned by a poet with a rare knack for wordplay and silly rhymes finds apt visual setting fronting playful images of monsters rearing up from extinction to grin toothily at young viewers.”
Connections
*Could be used to introduce children to dinosaurs or prehistoric times.
*Could be used to introduce children to poetry.
*The illustrations would be great examples for children to see how different methods of art can be used (i.e. collage, painting, and drawing).
*Students could write a poem about their favorite animal and make a collage to illustrate the poem.
Review of THANKS A MILLION by Nikki Grimes
Bibliography
Grimes, Nikki. Thanks a Million. Ill. by Cozbi A. Cabrera. New York, NY: HarperCollins. ISBN 978068817293
Plot Summary
Nikki Grimes pens a lovely book of poems that softly exalt the virtue of appreciativeness. The book contains many endearing poems that warm the heart: "The turkey lies waiting while we bow for grace, to offer up thanks, for this time and place." But, the book does not limit itself to catchy and charming rhymes, many profound verses are situated among the lighter poems. One such poem is titled “Shelter”. In this poem, we hear the voice of a young boy who lives at a shelter with his mother and young brother: “Things could be worse, I know. At least, I’m not alone. My mom and brother hold me tight when I cry late at night.” Touching and heartfelt, Thanks a Million reminds us to be grateful and to find the good in every situation.
Critical Analysis
Thanks a Million is a charming book dedicated to evoke an attitude of gratefulness. Nikki Grimes gracefully presents her poetic gratitude journal in the form of eighteen poems. Each poem is unique from the others in style and form, yet the common theme of thankfulness resonates from cover to cover. The titles of the poems are fittingly unpretentious, spanning topics such as “Reward”, “Weekends”, and “Lunch Box Love Notes.” The diversification of poetic forms play to the reader’s need for variety. This is especially essential when a solitary theme permeates every poem. Poems such as “The Lunchroom” and “Shoe Surprise” ascribe to longer verse while “Even the Trees” is a haiku that is celebratory in its simplicity. Thanks a Million has a simmering effect and provides a soothing read. That said, its reclined pace may not hold the attention of younger children.
Contrasting the often-delicate ripple of endearing words, Cozbi Cabrera paints the pages of this book with bold colors and beautifully haunting images. The cover of the book depicts a young boy who is the color of warm, dark chocolate. His ebony skin tone is starkly highlighted against a bright yellow backdrop. In his possession are a single flower and a gentle smile. The celebration of multiculturalism is beautifully apparent as children from disparate ethnicities are painted in inspiring harmony. Reminding us of the power of a simple “thank you”, Grimes and Cabrera succeed in showing us the beauty of gratefulness.
Review Excerpts
Children’s Literature: “I think of books like this as enhancing basic life lessons—good for all of us.”
School Library Journal: “A lovely book for reflection and discussion.”
Kirkus Review: “One can envision this collection stimulating discussions about the need to say "thank you," as well as encouraging young writers to try their hand at expressing their thoughts in poetry. Good job.”
Connections
*Can be used to begin a discussion about thankfulness.
*Teachers can ask children to write a poem about something that they are thankful for.
*The wide representation of ethnicities makes this book a perfect addition to promote multiculturalism in the classroom.
Grimes, Nikki. Thanks a Million. Ill. by Cozbi A. Cabrera. New York, NY: HarperCollins. ISBN 978068817293
Plot Summary
Nikki Grimes pens a lovely book of poems that softly exalt the virtue of appreciativeness. The book contains many endearing poems that warm the heart: "The turkey lies waiting while we bow for grace, to offer up thanks, for this time and place." But, the book does not limit itself to catchy and charming rhymes, many profound verses are situated among the lighter poems. One such poem is titled “Shelter”. In this poem, we hear the voice of a young boy who lives at a shelter with his mother and young brother: “Things could be worse, I know. At least, I’m not alone. My mom and brother hold me tight when I cry late at night.” Touching and heartfelt, Thanks a Million reminds us to be grateful and to find the good in every situation.
Critical Analysis
Thanks a Million is a charming book dedicated to evoke an attitude of gratefulness. Nikki Grimes gracefully presents her poetic gratitude journal in the form of eighteen poems. Each poem is unique from the others in style and form, yet the common theme of thankfulness resonates from cover to cover. The titles of the poems are fittingly unpretentious, spanning topics such as “Reward”, “Weekends”, and “Lunch Box Love Notes.” The diversification of poetic forms play to the reader’s need for variety. This is especially essential when a solitary theme permeates every poem. Poems such as “The Lunchroom” and “Shoe Surprise” ascribe to longer verse while “Even the Trees” is a haiku that is celebratory in its simplicity. Thanks a Million has a simmering effect and provides a soothing read. That said, its reclined pace may not hold the attention of younger children.
Contrasting the often-delicate ripple of endearing words, Cozbi Cabrera paints the pages of this book with bold colors and beautifully haunting images. The cover of the book depicts a young boy who is the color of warm, dark chocolate. His ebony skin tone is starkly highlighted against a bright yellow backdrop. In his possession are a single flower and a gentle smile. The celebration of multiculturalism is beautifully apparent as children from disparate ethnicities are painted in inspiring harmony. Reminding us of the power of a simple “thank you”, Grimes and Cabrera succeed in showing us the beauty of gratefulness.
Review Excerpts
Children’s Literature: “I think of books like this as enhancing basic life lessons—good for all of us.”
School Library Journal: “A lovely book for reflection and discussion.”
Kirkus Review: “One can envision this collection stimulating discussions about the need to say "thank you," as well as encouraging young writers to try their hand at expressing their thoughts in poetry. Good job.”
Connections
*Can be used to begin a discussion about thankfulness.
*Teachers can ask children to write a poem about something that they are thankful for.
*The wide representation of ethnicities makes this book a perfect addition to promote multiculturalism in the classroom.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Review of THE RUNAWAY TORTILLA by Eric Kimmel
Kimmel, Eric A. 2000. The Runaway Tortilla. Ill. by Randy Cecil. New York, NY: Winslow Press. ISBN 9781890817183
Plot Summary
Tía Lupe and Tío José are proprietors of a popular Mexican restaurant in a Texas border town. Tía Lupe, known for her infamously light tortillas, gets a shocking surprise when one of her tortillas leaps from the griddle and makes a mad dash for freedom. Exclaiming, “I’m too beautiful to eat!” the vain little tortilla begins her rolling journey across the barren Texas plains. Tía Lupe and Tío José chase after their rebellious creation while she tauntingly says, “Run as fast as fast can be. You won’t get a bite of me. Doesn’t matter what you do. I’ll be far ahead of you!” Over and over she rolls, passing two horned toads, three donkeys, four jackrabbits, five rattlesnakes, and so on. Each creature is in hot pursuit of the runaway tortilla, and each is taunted by her repetitive “Run as fast as can be” anthem. Finally, the little tortilla reaches the edge of a canyon, or arroyo. There she is met by a sly fox who implores the tortilla to help dislodge a grasshopper from his throat in exchange for great treasure. Reluctantly, the tortilla rolls into Señor Coyote’s throat when “Snap!” the runaway tortilla makes a beautiful little snack for the coyote.
Critical Analysis
Eric Kimmel found inspiration for The Runaway Tortilla from the folktale of The Gingerbread Man. Keeping instep with the classic repetitive rhyming catchphrase of the original tale, Kimmel’s runaway tortilla arrogantly teases her pursuers. This singsong type of rhythm quickly captures the attention of children, who are apt to sing along with the tortilla as she rolls through the Texas sand. Kimmel enhances his story with rich multicultural elements such as using the Spanish titles of Tío, Tía, Señor, and Señorita for his characters. He also gives us splashes of Spanish vocabulary on prominent objects such as the restaurant’s name, El Papagayo Feliz. Kimmel sets his tale in a sleepy Texas border town, but quickly shows that the pace of the story is anything but slow. He brings the reader along on a suspenseful quest as Tía Lupe and Tío José run after the runaway tortilla. He also incorporates elements of counting and prediction as the children count the increasing number of pursuers and wonder which one will finally catch the floured fugitive.
Randy Cecil is a cowboy hat-wearing illustrator who hails from Houston, Texas. His Texas influence flows through his paintbrush, creating images of cowboys, cacti, and open plains. He playfully paints the words of the tortilla’s taunting catchphrase like a ribbon that winds delicately around the characters on the pages. Soft muted hues of orange, green, blue, and yellow sweep the scenes as the tortilla with the red painted lips spins across each page. The humorous notion of a runaway tortilla who thinks she is too beautiful for consumption combined with pleasing illustrations is sure to make Eric Kimmel’s story a tale worthy of folklore for generations to come.
Review Excerpts
Kirkus: “How sad. How delicious!”
School Library Journal: “The primitive oil paintings feature a palette of sunset colors, a rotund T'a and T'o, and a lipsticked, scowling tortilla.”
The Midwest Book Review: “Eric Kimmel's Runaway Tortilla pairs Randy Cecil's zany drawings with the take-off on the classic.”
Connections
*Can be used to compare and contrast traditional folktales with contemporary works.
*This is a perfect addition to a multicultural library in the classroom.
*Can be used in teaching thematic units such as Texas, cultural food, or folk stories.
*Students could write their own creative version of a classic story.
Review of AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND: FOLK POETRY FOR EVERYONE
Schwartz, Alvin. 1992. And the Green Grass Grew All Around: Folk Poetry from Everyone. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 9780060227586
Plot Summary
And the Green Grass Grew All Around is a compilation of over 250 folk poems. The introductory chapter reveals Alvin Schwartz’s fascination with silly chants and whimsical folk poems and songs. His interest in folk poems began in childhood where his classmates relentlessly teased him. When he cried on his first day of school, children chanted, “Cry, baby, cry. Stick your finger in your eye. Tell your mother it wasn’t I.” Schwartz being an exceptionally thin child only added fuel as children fired rhymes at him such as: “Skinny bone, skinny bone, in the corner all alone.” Yet, through adversity, Shwartz found comfort in the rhythm of words, and what he presents to us is his personal record of the folk poetry that has rung through the American culture for decades.
Critical Analysis
This 196-page book is divided into fifteen thematic chapters ranging from “People” to “Fun and Games.” Within the pages of And the Green Grass Grew All Around are nearly 300 folk poems and songs that have been handed down generation after generation. While Alvin Schwartz has recorded these poems for posterity’s sake, there is no single author who can be credited for penning these culturally classic rhymes; however, Schwartz includes an extensive “Sources” section that attempts to trace the origins of each rhyme in the book.
The text is printed in simple Times New Roman black font set against cream colored paper. The subtle airiness of the pages lends plenty of space for the fun illustrations of Sue Truesdell. Truesdell accompanies the text with humorous black and white ink drawings that are reminiscent of satirical newspaper cartoons. She also keeps the lines of her drawings loose and fluid—a perfect accessory to the often irreverently playful rhymes.
Each poem is variant in length, many are as short as two lines while others span two or three pages. Songs that have been shunned in our modern “politically correct” era pop up their cheeky little heads with lyrics such as, “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the closing of the school. We have tortured all the teachers, we have broken every rule.” Of course, these old favorites were created in more innocent times. This book is sure to take its adult readers back to a time of beautiful naitivité while causing snickers and giggles among children. A fun read aloud for children and adults of all ages, Schwartz holds a captive audience and continues the folk poetry tradition of “passing it on.”
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: “A marvelous book that is sure to become a classic if children have any say in the matter.”
Kirkus: “It's hard to imagine a child who wouldn't greet this treasure trove with enthusiasm.”
Connections
*Can be used as an introduction to folk poetry and the concept of folk tales.
*This book could be used as an example for children to create their own poem, song, or rhyme.
*Other books containing children’s poetry:
Prelusky, Jack. The 20th Century Children’s Poetry Treasury. ISBN 9780679893141
Sierra, Judy. Schoolyard Rhymes. ISBN 9780375925160
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