The Book Thief

Bibliography:

Zusak, Markus. 2006. The Book Thief. New York: Alfred Knopf. ISBN: 0375931007.

Summary:
Just before the outbreak of World War II, Liesel goes to live with foster parents Hans and Rosa in a German town. Her brother and parents are gone, and Liesel is distraught. Hans patiently calms her fears and teaches her how to read using The Gravedigger’s Handbook, a book she stole by the gravesite of her brother. Reading opens up magical new worlds for Liesel, but books are scarce. She steals from Nazi book burnings and from the library of the mayor’s wife (who knows about and secretly aids Liesel’s thefts). Liesel also finds a best friend and love interest in Rudy, who sometimes helps her steal books. As the war comes closer to their town, Liesel reads to the whole community in the basement during air raids. She and her foster family are soon in more danger by taking in Max, a Jewish man, and hiding him in the basement. When Hans is punished for sympathizing with the Jews, Max has to leave and is eventually caught by the Nazis. Tragically, a bomb later falls on their street, and Liesel is the only one who survives. Max also survives his own ordeal and finds Liesel after the war.

Analysis:

This is a book for older readers who can handle reading about the horrors of war. The author takes a very unique approach in this book by having it narrated by Death. Death appears as a character who comes into contact with Liesel often and finds the book in which she wrote her life story. He has a creative and compelling narrative style. The author uses wonderful language and imagery, which is very appropriate in a book that highlights the power of words to both save and condemn, and shows the depths of both human brutality and beauty. Zusak has created a fascinating storyline and memorable characters that the reader cares about, even when Death’s habit of foreshadowing reveals that they will not survive. In the face of great tragedy, Liesel’s courage, kindness, and hunger for knowledge are an inspiration.

Reviews/Awards:

Michael Printz Honor Book
ALA Best Books for Young Adults Winner

“Zusak not only creates a mesmerizing and original story but also writes with poetic syntax, causing readers to deliberate over phrases and lines, even as the action impels them forward. Death is not a sentimental storyteller, but he does attend to an array of satisfying details, giving Liesel’s story all the nuances of chance, folly, and fulfilled expectation that it deserves. An extraordinary narrative.”
School Library Journal, starred review

“This hefty volume is an achievement-a challenging book in both length and subject, and best suited to sophisticated older readers. The narrator is Death himself, a companionable if sarcastic fellow, who travels the globe “handing souls to the conveyor belt of eternity.” Death keeps plenty busy during the course of this WWII tale, even though Zusak (I Am the Messenger) works in miniature, focusing on the lives of ordinary Germans in a small town outside Munich.”
Publisher’s Weekly

Connections:
* Discuss World War II from different perspectives, such as one or more of the following: Germans living in Germany, Germans who fled Germany, Americans, British, Danish, and more. There are books for children and young adults from all these perspectives.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Bibliography:

Lin, Grace. 2009. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. New York: Little, Brown, and Company. ISBN: 9780316114271.

Summary:
Minli’s family is very poor, and she knows this is especially hard on her mother. Her father’s stories tell her that the Man in the Moon is the only one who can answer all questions and change her family’s fortune. So when Minli meets a talking goldfish who tells her how to find the Man in the Moon, she decides to set out on a journey and bring good fortune back to her family. Along the way, Minli befriends a dragon who cannot fly, meets a king, tricks a group of monkeys, and has many other adventures. When she finally climbs the Never-Ending Mountain and sees the old Man in the Moon, Minli can only ask one question. But she realizes her journey has already taught her what she needs to know, and so she asks a question on behalf of her dragon friend instead. Now that he can fly, he takes Minli home and in the process he finds his true destiny and blesses Minli’s entire valley with good fortune.

Analysis:

Imagined folk stories with Chinese characters and themes are told by many of the characters, and fit perfectly with the main story. The author describes the overall setting well, and creates a mystical land for Minli’s quest – full of talking animals, a greedy and evil tiger, trees with magical flowers, strings of destiny, and much more. Beautiful and richly colored illustrations accompany some of the chapters and stories, adding further detail for the setting. Minli is a strong heroine, a good friend, and a daughter who just wants to help her parents. Children will be able to identify with her and delight in her adventures. After Minli’s journey, and before riches come her way, she learns that family is the most important good fortune and that contentment is a valuable virtue. The story also highlights the importance of courage, kindness, faith, and gratitude. This book is creatively imagined and well-written.

Reviews/Awards:

Newbery Honor Book
2010 Massachusetts Book Award for Children’s/Young Adult Literature

“Interwoven with Minli's quest are tales told by her father and by those she meets on the way. While these tales are original to Lin, many characters, settings, and themes are taken from traditional Chinese folklore. The author's writing is elegant, and her full-color illustrations are stunning. Minli's determination to help her family, as well as the grief her parents feel at her absence, is compelling and thoroughly human.”
School Library Journal, starred review

“In this enchanted and enchanting adventure, Minli, whose name means “quick thinking,” lives with her desperately poor parents at the confluence of Fruitless Mountain and the Jade River. While her mother worries and complains about their lot, her father brightens their evenings with storytelling. One day, after a goldfish salesman promises that his wares will bring good luck, Minli spends one of her only two coins in an effort to help her family.”
Booklist, starred review

Connections:
* Read Chinese folktales such as Chinese Children’s Favorite Stories and discuss how they are like the stories told in Lin’s book.

Rapunzel's Revenge

Bibliography:

Hale, Shannon and Dean Hale. 2008. Rapunzel’s Revenge. Ill. by Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN: 159990070.

Summary:

This is the story of Rapunzel like you’ve never heard it before. Set in the Wild West, this graphic novel is also a fractured fairy tale. As a little girl, Rapunzel was stolen from her real mother and raised by Gothel, an evil witch. Gothel, through her magic, has imprisoned the land and the people around her. When Rapunzel finds out the truth, Gothel locks her up in a tree tower. Due to growth magic in the forest, Rapunzel’s hair gradually grows long enough that she can let herself down from the tower and escape. She soon meets up with Jack (yes, from the Jack and the Beanstalk story) and together they make their way to Gothel’s dwelling. It is the Wild West, and with Rapunzel’s long hair as a weapon, the two find themselves fighting outlaw gangs, breaking out of prison, stealing horses, and seeing their faces on “Most Wanted” posters. Rapunzel rescues her mother, and then destroys the source of Gothel’s magic, and thus Gothel herself. The land returns to its normal condition and the people are free. Rapunzel and Jack share in the happy ending, but that’s another story.

Analysis:

The authors have created a unique retelling of the classic story, and will reach a wide audience with the graphic novel format. Rapunzel is a strong female heroine, and Jack is a loyal and humorous sidekick. As with any graphic novel, much of the book is illustrations, and they are colorful, engaging, and show action well. The illustrations especially serve to show the setting of the story and make it possible to envision Rapunzel as a cowgirl in the Wild West. The text is well-written, and though more emphasis is placed on action than character development, Rapunzel and Jack are still fleshed out characters with whom readers can identify. The ending is satisfying, and the story’s themes include loyalty, honesty, family ties, courage, and persistence.

Reviews/Awards:

“While the witch's castle is straight out of a fairy tale, the nearby mining camps and rugged surrounding countryside are a throwback to the Wild West and make sense in the world that the authors and illustrator have crafted. The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive.”
School Library Journal, starred review

“This graphic novel retelling of the fairy-tale classic, set in a swashbuckling Wild West, puts action first and features some serious girl power in its spunky and strong heroine.”
Booklist

Connections:
* Read other versions of Rapunzel and discuss similarities and differences.

Lily's Crossing

Bibliography:

Giff, Patricia Reilly. 1997. Lily’s Crossing. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN: 0385321422.

Summary:

Every summer, Lily goes with her father and grandmother to Rockaway Beach, on the Atlantic Ocean. She’s full of excitement and plans for this summer, but then everything changes. It’s 1944, and though she doesn’t fully comprehend what she hears on the radio, she knows her father is leaving for Europe and that there’s a war going on. Lily’s sure her grandmother doesn’t understand her, and she feels alone. Then she meets Albert – a boy her age who happens to be a Hungarian refugee. He lost his parents, and his younger sister is sick somewhere in France. During that summer, Lily and Albert grieve and mature together, becoming close friends. They have fun too, swimming in the bay, sneaking into the movies, and rescuing a cat. At the end, both Lily’s father and Albert’s sister return, which is perhaps a bit contrived, but happy nonetheless.

Analysis:

Lily is a well-developed character with whom young kids can identify. She hates practicing the piano, she tells lies sometimes, she misses her mother, and she can’t wait for school to get out so she can escape her teacher. The historical details develop naturally: at the beginning, war is something distant, but it moves closer as people Lily knows become involved. From clues in her father’s letters, she figures out he is in France, and she studies a map of France while listening to the news. She listens to Albert’s story of the Nazis taking his parents and feels empathy for him. Though her father survives, her best friend’s brother does not, so Lily does experience the loss associated with war. Except for the refugee, the author loosely based the story on the experience of her own childhood at Rockaway Beach during the war, and the setting feels authentic.

Reviews/Awards:

Newbery Honor Book

“To Lily, World War II has been little more than an annoyance (the scarcity of candy) or an excuse for elaborate lies (claiming her aunt is a spy). Then Lily receives the first of many blows the war will deliver. Her only friend, Margaret, announces her family is moving to Detroit so her father can work in a war plant. Lily's father enlists in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Left alone with her bossy grandmother, Lily begins to realize the depth of tragedy the war can cause.”
School Library Journal

“When Lily's father has to leave to fight in France, she is so hurt and furious that she refuses even to say good-bye to him. As she gets to know Albert, an orphaned Hungarian refugee, she learns about his secret anguish: he is guilt-stricken about the younger sister he left behind (he, also, didn't say good-bye), and he is determined, somehow, to cross the ocean and find her.”
Booklist

“Closely observed, quickly paced and warmly told, this has all the ingredients that best reward readers.”
Publisher’s Weekly

Connections:
* Read The Little Ships by Louise Borden. Both books involve a young girl, her father, ships, and World War II. Discuss the differences, including the settings on opposite sides of the ocean.

Hattie Big Sky

Bibliography:

Larson, Kirby. 2006. Hattie Big Sky. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN: 0385733135.

Summary:

Hattie has been an orphan nearly as long as she can remember, shuffled around from relative to relative. Her life with Aunt Ivy isn’t easy, so when she gets a mysterious letter from a long-lost uncle, she jumps at the chance to escape. Her uncle died and left Hattie his claim in Montana. The year is 1917, and she has 10 months to “prove up” on the claim, meaning build a fence, plant crops, and pay the fees. Life is hard on the Montana prairie, especially for a girl of 16 living by herself. But Hattie is strong and determined, and she takes everything life throws at her. She writes of her adventures to her school chum, Charlie, who is fighting in the war. She also makes friends with her good-hearted neighbors, who need support against the anti-German sentiment around them. Though tragedy occurs and Hattie is unable to keep the claim, in those 10 months she discovers the family she always wanted and she finds herself as well.

Analysis:

The first-person narrative is lively and well-written. Hattie’s spunk and her many adventures will keep both girls and boys interested. The author’s description of life on the claim is realistic and at times humorous. Hattie deals with extreme cold, fights off a wolf and wild horses, milks a bad-tempered cow, and even delivers a neighbor’s baby. In a note, the author explains that Hattie is based on a real-life relative of hers, but though her relative did keep the Montana claim, she felt it was unrealistic to allow Hattie to do so. The ending is at the same time sad and hopeful. The book deals with many themes, including friendship, courage, integrity, and working hard.

Reviews/Awards:

Newbery Honor Book
Montana Book Award

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

“The authentic first-person narrative, full of hope and anxiety, effectively portrays Hattie's struggles as a young woman with limited options, a homesteader facing terrible odds, and a loyal citizen confused about the war and the local anti-German bias that endangers her new friends.”
Booklist, starred review

Connections:
* Discuss the recipes printed in the back of the book and what it would have been like to live on a homestead.
* Look at the pictures in Photographing Montana 1894-1928: The Life and Work of Evelyn Cameron.

The Game of Silence

Bibliography:

Erdrich, Louise. 2005. The Game of Silence. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN: 0060297891.

Summary:

Omakayas, or Little Frog, lives with her parents, her lovestruck older sister, and her annoying little brother. She is a member of the Ojibwe tribe and they live on an island in Lake Superior. She plays with her cousins, helps plant a garden, goes on adventures with her pet crow and dog, and listens to her grandmother's stories around the fire. Life is full of ups and downs for Omakayas, but when her father goes missing, she discovers she has a special gift - the ability to see things through dreams. Her father is found, but another difficult time is on the way for the tribe. The white people are kicking them out of the land, breaking their peace treaty and sending them further west. Omakayas worries about losing “something so important that they never even knew that they had it in the first place” - her home. Still, the book ends with the hope of adventure and a new life as they sail away in canoes.

Analysis:

The author creates memorable characters: the feisty, independent Old Tallow who lives with her perfectly trained dogs; the Angry One, a boy with a tragic past who discovers kindness and healing; and Two Strike, a girl who wants to be a boy and proves herself by hunting and attacking. Words, phrases, customs, and stories of the tribe are woven seamlessly into the text. The author provides an endnote and a glossery about the Ojibwe language. The book has a good balance of historical detail, adventure, and humor. Stereotyping is avoided by showing kind white people as well as those forcing the tribe out of their home. The author's pencil illustrations are a wonderful accompaniment to the text and provide a look at the characters and setting described.

Reviews/Awards:

“Although the story is set on an island in Lake Superior in 1850, readers will identify with the everyday activities of the Ojibwa, from snowball fights to fishing excursions, providing a parallel to their own lives while encouraging an appreciation for one that is very different. The action is somewhat slow, but Erdrich's captivating tale of four seasons portrays a deep appreciation of our environment, our history, and our Native American sisters and brothers.”
School Library Journal

“In addition to an abundance of details about life through the seasons, Erdrich deals with the wider meaning of family and Omakayas' coming-of-age on a vision quest. Just on the edge of the child's daily life and coming ever closer are the whites--among them, a Catholic "soul-stealer" priest and a friendly teacher who helps the children learn to read and write both Ojibwe and English.”
Booklist, starred review

Connections:
* This book is a sequel to The Birchbark House. Read both together and discuss.
* Compare to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series, set in the same time period.

Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World

Bibliography:

Jenkins, Steve and Robin Page. 2008. Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World. Ill. by Steve Jenkins. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 9780618375967.

Summary:

Animals have families too. Sometimes animal sisters and brothers act much like human kids, but others act very differently. Armadillos are always identical quadruplets, but termites have millions of siblings. Cheetahs and falcons use their brothers and sisters to practice hunting, being careful not to hurt each other. Did you know that whiptail lizards have only sisters, or that black widow spiders eat their siblings?

Analysis:

Jenkins and Page present an informative and fascinating book for children interested in animals. Each page has a title (“Living together,” “Sibling rivalry”), a block of text, and a collage picture of the animals. There is plenty of white space to keep the book from being overwhelming. Lots of facts about siblings and the daily life of these animals are presented in a compact way, and additional facts are given in the back of the book. Children will identify with sibling fights and play, and be wide-eyed at other habits, such as crocodiles hiding in their mother’s mouth.

Reviews/Awards:

“Enough data is afforded to satisfy many children, and adults are offered some further readings to suggest to the insatiably curious. Eye-catching, and with an interesting approach to the animal world, this book should appeal to a wide variety of ages and interests.”
School Library Journal, starred review

“Most talk about animal families focuses on the parent-child relationship, but this riveting picture book, illustrated in Jenkins’ signature style, is packed with amazing facts about how young animals nurture one other or compete for survival and leave home.”
Booklist, starred review

Connections:
* Read other books about animals by Steve Jenkins, such as Never Smile at a Monkey and Actual Size.

What To Do About Alice?

Bibliography:
Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What To Do About Alice? Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 0439922313.

Summary:

Alice Roosevelt was a girl who wanted to “eat up the world.” She wanted to see, learn, and do everything, no matter how crazy it sounded. Her father Teddy said, “I can be president of the United States or I can control Alice. I cannot possibly do both.” As a child, Alice jumped on the sofa, roamed the streets of Washington, and taught herself using her father’s library. She was seventeen when her father became president. Although many still considered her behavior outrageous for a young lady, she thought it was fun. She became a trusted advisor to Teddy Roosevelt, went on diplomatic trips overseas, and “charmed the world.”

Analysis:

This picture book is a charming biography of Alice Roosevelt that covers most of her life in brief. The text is minimal but informative, and quotes are attributed. Sometimes the text becomes part of the illustrations, as newspaper headlines convey information. The full-page pictures are full of color and show action well – the vivacious Alice sometimes seems to be bouncing off the page. Young girls especially will be inspired by Alice’s wit and determination. Older readers can do additional research, as the author has not covered everything about Alice.

Reviews/Awards:

“Theodore Roosevelt’s irrepressible oldest child receives an appropriately vivacious appreciation in this superb picture book.... Kerley’s precise text presents readers with a devilishly smart, strong-willed girl who was determined to live life on her own terms and largely succeeded.”
Kirkus, 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.”
School Library Journal, starred review

Connections:
*Read in conjunction with a biography about Alice’s father, such as Theodore Roosevelt For Kids: His Life and Times.

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

Bibliography:

Nelson, Kadir. 2008. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. New York: Hyperion. ISBN: 0786808322.



Summary:

In the early days of baseball, African-American players were not allowed on the white teams, so they formed their own league. This book is their story. The league officially began in 1920, although teams were playing long before that. Players endured a lot of hardship on the field and on the road, from name-calling to segregation that wouldn’t allow them a place to eat or sleep. The book covers team owners, all-star players, and some of the peculiarities of Negro baseball. There are chapters on playing in Latin America and on playing against white teams. Some white owners tried to pass off black players as Cuban or Native American, but integration didn’t really begin until Jackie Robinson joined the Dodgers in 1945.

Analysis:

The illustrations really make this book. They are paintings that take up the whole of a large page, or often a two page spread or a fold-out. Some of Nelson’s individual paintings from this book have been shown in museums. They are full of color and really capture the emotion on players’ faces and the excitement of the ball game. The text is beautiful as well; as Nelson says in an author’s note, the narrator is a collective “we,” honoring all the players in the Negro leagues. This book celebrates their achievements and their strength, and gives readers a chance to hear about all-star players that never made it to the major leagues. It’s organized into nine “innings,” each chapter covering another aspect of playing in the league. Extra material and a bibliography are in the back. For readers in grade 5 and up.

Reviews/Awards:

Sibert Medal
Coretta Scott King Award

“Nelson’s extensive research (including interviews with former players) yields loads of attention-grabbing details: how much money players made; where, when, and how often games took place; who the standout owners, managers, and players were; and so on. And not surprisingly, he often returns to the impact of racism on the leagues, teams, and individual athletes. His grand slam, though, is the art: Nelson’s oil paintings have a steely dignity, and his from-the-ground perspectives make the players look larger than life.”
Horn Book, starred review

“A gatefold depicting the first “Colored World Series” is particularly exquisite—a replica ticket opens from the gutter to reveal the entire line-ups of both teams. And while this large, square book (just a shade smaller than a regulation-size base) succeeds as coffee-table art, it soars as a tribute to the individuals, like the legendary Josh Gibson, who was ultimately elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame without ever playing in the major leagues. As Nelson's narrator says, “We had many Josh Gibsons in the Negro Leagues.... But you never heard about them. It's a shame the world didn’t get to see them play.””
Publisher’s Weekly, starred review

Connections:
*Read other books illustrated by Nelson, such as Testing the Ice: A True Story about Jackie Robinson.

The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom

Bibliography:

Engle, Margarita. 2008. The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN: 0805086749.

Summary:

In 1850, Rosa was a young slave in Cuba, learning how to heal using plants and natural remedies. In 1868, she was freed along with other slaves as a declaration of independence from Spain. Yet she was not really free, as this began the first of three wars. For the next 30 years, Rosa and other refugees hid in the jungle, escaping from the Spanish soldiers. With a price on her head, Rosa and her husband nursed many wounded people back to health, including some of their enemies. They took in those who escaped from the brutal “reconcentration camps,” and they survived to see Cuba free from Spain but purchased by the United States.

Analysis:

This is a verse novel where the poems are in the first-person and narrated by various characters: Rosa, her husband Jose, a young refugee Sylvia, an enemy slavehunter, and others. The free verse poems are full of beautiful language and haunting imagery, and they tell the story well. Often concise, the poems convey powerful messages about war, freedom, courage, hardship, compassion, and much more. Because of the book’s length and the violence present in some poems, this is a story for older readers. Rosa the healer and most of the other characters were real people, though some of the details are fictionalized. The author’s great-grandparents were refugees in Cuba during these events, bringing additional meaning to the story.

Reviews/Awards:

Pura Belpre Author Award
Newbery Honor Award

“Engle’s new book is written in clear, short lines of stirring free verse. This time she draws on her own Cuban American roots, including stories from her grandmother, to describe those who fought in the nineteenth-century Cuban struggle for independence. At the center is Rosa, a traditional healer, who nurses runaway slaves and deserters in caves and other secret hideaways.”
Booklist, starred review

“Often, popular knowledge of Cuba begins and ends with late-20th-century textbook fare: the Cuban Revolution, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Fidel Castro. The Surrender Tree, however, transports readers to another, though no less tumultuous, era. Spanning the years 1850–1899, Engle's poems construct a narrative woven around the nation's Wars for Independence.”
School Library Journal

Connections:
*Pair this book with Engle’s The Poet Slave of Cuba.

Messing Around on the Monkey Bars and Other School Poems for Two Voices

Bibliography:

Franco, Betsy. 2009. Messing Around on the Monkey Bars and Other School Poems for Two Voices. Ill. by Jessie Hartland. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 9780763631741.

Summary:

As the title indicates, these are all poems about school, specifically elementary school. They include poems on riding the bus, giving reports, standing in the lunch line, searching the lost and found, playing at recess, and many more. The author incorporates a variety of voices with fun results, such as two bikes having a conversation at the bike rack.

Analysis:

These nineteen poems are meant to be read by two or more voices, alternating lines or saying them simultaneously. One example is a poem about meeting a new kid (“Where did you come from? / Far away. / Miss your friends? / Every day.”). Because of both the theme and the style, these poems would be perfect for a classroom to read together. Many poems rhyme, and all of them have great rhythm. Some even include sound effects, like tapping, that kids will enjoy. The book has a loose organization that goes from the beginning of the school day to the end, and at the back of the book is a resource for teachers and librarians on different ways to read the poems. The gouache illustrations show a bustling, fun, multicultural school.

Reviews/Awards:

“While the poems in this book can be read silently by one person, they are written for two or more voices and come alive when read aloud. Beginning with a verse about the bus ride to school, the selections cleverly incorporate alliteration and action. Franco adeptly uses meter and rhythm to capture the fast-paced action of jumping rope on the playground, and students will recognize the descriptions of typical classroom sounds that distract them from finishing schoolwork.”
School Library Journal

“Reading aloud is essential for re-enforcing pronunciation, phrasing, vocabulary - but for all those not doing the reading out loud its deadly dull. Thats why Franco’s Messing Around on the Monkey Bars is such a great idea. Two voices can also mean two groups: two rows, boys and girls, back and front. Everyone is engaged because everyone acts and responds.”
ForeWord Magazine

Connections:
*Practice reading the poems in pairs or groups, and pick one to perform.
*Read other poems for two voices, such as Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman.

This Is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness

Bibliography:

Sidman, Joyce. 2007. This Is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 0618616802.


Summary:

A grade school class reads William Carlos William’s poem “This Is Just to Say,” and they decide to write their own poems of apology. These “sorry” poems range from serious to humorous as kids apologize for hurting a sibling, sneaking brownies, and hitting a friend with a dodge ball. Then the people the kids wrote the poems to write their own poems of forgiveness in response.
(Thomas: “I have stolen/ the jelly doughnuts/ that were in/ the teacher’s lounge”; Mrs. Garcia: “Of course I forgive you/ But I still have to call your mother.”)

Analysis:

The book is inventive and touching. It is all from the author’s imagination, I believe, but she successfully captures a variety of child and adult voices, and puts in details that makes it seem like a real class project. Some poems bring up serious issues, like a father’s abandoning his daughter, and the response is moving. There are a variety of poetical forms, though most don’t rhyme, and they flow nicely. All the apology poems are in the first section and the forgiveness poems in the second, but the best way to read it is to flip through and read the corresponding apologies and responses together. Children will enjoy the poems and the colorful illustrations, which are a mix of sketches and collage.

Reviews/Awards:

Claudia Lewis Poetry Award

School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

“Zagarenski’s (Mites to Mastodons) inventive mixed-media illustrations brim with items found in a classroom: a dictionary entry on “apology,” for instance, becomes part of a student's clothing, and white hole reinforcements resemble a character's stolen doughnuts.”
Publisher’s Weekly

“Mrs. Merz assigns her sixth-grade students to write poems of apology, and what emerges is a surprising array of emotions, poetic forms, and subjects from dead pets and biting hamsters to angry siblings and betrayal of trust.”
School Library Journal, starred review

Connections:
*This book lends itself very well to a project like that found in the story – children writing poems of apology and/or forgiveness.
*The author has used many different poetry forms, like haiku and pantoum, and the book can be used to study types of poetry.

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Bibliography:

Taback, Simms. 1999. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. New York: Viking. ISBN: 0670878553.

Summary:

The bottom of Joseph’s overcoat is old and worn, so he cuts it down to make a jacket. Then the jacket becomes patched and frayed, so he makes a vest. This pattern continues through the end of the book, with the original overcoat going all the way down to a button, which is lost (but you can always make a book about it!). On every other page, Joseph does some activity wearing his “new” item of clothing, such as going to the fair or visiting his sister.

Analysis:

The title evokes the Biblical story of Joseph’s coat, and the many colors in the book perhaps allude to this. This Joseph, though, is a more contemporary Jewish man with a plaid coat. He is resourceful and frugal, always finding a new use for his old piece of clothing. The key imaginative feature in this picture book is a series of die cuts that reveal to the watchful reader what type of clothing is coming up next. The text is minimal and based on a Yiddish folk song. The pictures are full of Jewish culture, and some humor as well (a newspaper headline says “Fiddler on roof falls off roof”). Taback’s full-page illustrations are a delightful, vibrant mix of watercolor and collage.

Reviews/Awards:

Caldecott Medal Winner

“Taback's inventive use of die-cut pages shows off his signature artwork, here newly created for his 1977 adaptation of a Yiddish folk song. This diverting, sequential story unravels as swiftly as the threads of Joseph's well-loved, patch-covered plaid coat.”
Publisher’s Weekly

“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.”
Booklist

Connections:
*Read Taback’s There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and discuss similarities between the two books.
*Find a recording of the Yiddish folk song “I Had a Little Overcoat” (Taback has done one) and teach it.

The Three Little Pigs and the Fox

Bibliography:

Hooks, William. 1989. The Three Little Pigs and the Fox. Ill. by S.D. Schindler. New York: Macmillan. ISBN: 0027444317.


Summary:

Mama Pig and her three piglets are living in a holler in the Appalachian Mountains. The two older boys eat all the time, and they get too fat to live at home. One by one, Mama sends them out to seek their fortune, telling them to watch out for the fox, build a strong house, and come visit on Sundays. These not-too-bright boys get caught by the fox, and like Hansel and Gretel, they are locked up to be eaten another day. But their little sister builds a stone house, outsmarts the fox, and rescues them.

Analysis:

This is a clever rendition of the well-known story. The author compiled several oral versions he heard in the Appalachians, and added his own details as well. Local color is provided by the food – hoecakes, dumplings, sweet potato pone – and by the language. The wolf in the traditional story is replaced by “that mean, tricky old drooly-mouth fox.” The ending is happy, since the fox floats downstream in a butter churn and all the pigs go home and visit Mama on Sunday. Large watercolor illustrations show scenery, action, and wonderfully rendered facial expressions.

Reviews/Awards:

An ALA Notable Children’s Book

“The Three Little Pigs retains some of the traditional material but also offers some very funny variations. The illustrations are large and simple; an excellent version for storytelling.”
Horn Book

“The telling here is lively and humorous, with amusing dialogue and details that will make this a good storytelling alternative. Schindler suggests the beauty of the mountain setting while deriving considerable humor from the older pigs' gluttonous self-indulgence and the fox's sly greed.”
Kirkus Book Reviews

Connections:
*Read several versions of the Three Little Pigs and discuss similarities and differences. Have children choose their favorite and say why.
*Read other Appalachian stories. For ideas, see Appalachian Picture Books

Turtle Knows Your Name

Bibliography:
Bryan, Ashley. 1989. Turtle Knows Your Name. New York: Atheneum. ISBN: 0689315783


Summary:
A young boy lives with his grandmother and she teaches him to say his long name and perform a name dance by the sea.

"Upsilimana Tumpalerado,
That's my name.
I took my time to learn it,
Won't you do the same?"

But the boy has trouble teaching his name to his friends or to the animals. Except one. Turtle already knows, and when Granny challenges her grandson to find out HER real name, Turtle is able to help.

Analysis:

Bryan’s retelling of a West Indian folktale is warm and cheerful. The two main characters take pride in their unusual names and thus in their identity. The language is rhythmic and fun to read aloud (“past pig in the pasture, past pawpaw and palm trees”). Children will enjoy the boy’s quest for his grandmother’s real name, without which he won’t get dessert! The full-page watercolor illustrations are packed with vivid colors and smiling faces.

Reviews/Awards:

“With the funny names, abundant dialogue and animal noises, Bryan's lively retelling of this English Antillean story is well-suited to reading out loud. The festive paintings are a visual treat, complementing the text with jewel-like colors and fluid lines.”
Publisher’s Weekly

“The handsome and loving black grandmother and her grandson inhabit a radiant, tropical world and should bring delight to young children and storytellers, who will recognize their proud and loving spirits, and will enjoy chanting the very long names over and over again.”
School Library Journal

Connections:
*Discuss the custom of a name dance, and have children insert their names into the song.

The Dumpster Diver

Bibliography:

Wong, Janet. 2007. The Dumpster Diver. Ill. by David Roberts. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 9780763623807

Summary:

Steve the electrician goes dumpster-diving for cast-off treasures, and three kids in his apartment complex like to help him out. They hose him and the trash off as he climbs out of the dumpster, and then they all work together to create something fun or useful from what he finds. A grouchy old lady says someone will get hurt, and one day Steve does in fact get injured by a dumpster. The kids then decide to collect Useful Junk straight from the source, by knocking on apartment doors and asking instead of waiting until it gets tossed in the trash. They even make something for Steve when he comes home from the hospital!

Analysis:

This is a creative and fun book about recycling and how to make useful things for free. The dumpster-diver in the book is an adult, so it does not encourage kids to do it themselves. I liked the ending, since it’s certainly safer to get treasures before they make it to the dumpster.

The illustrations are quirky and brightly-colored. They create the setting of a multicultural, urban environment. One thing that really adds to the “recycled” feel of the book is that the text on each page is printed on a different background of something you could find in the trash: duct tape, torn-up typewriter paper, bandaids, cut-up doilies, etc. This book could lead to discussion about trash and re-using, and then perhaps lead to action!

Reviews/Awards:

“The topsy-turvy artwork keeps things light, but adults will find plenty to talk about with children, from the value of creative conservation to safe modeling of the depicted activities (which include gathering junk from apartment tenants who may or may not be strangers). This will be popular anytime, but especially around Earth Day, when it will inject new possibility into enjoyment to reduce and recycle.” Booklist, starred review

“This urban trash-to-treasure tale will resonate with city dwellers and send suburbanites and kids in rural areas searching for similar adventures.” School Library Journal

Connections:
*Find pictures (online or in other books) of items people have made using “junk” and discuss this method of Reduce-Reuse-Recycle.

Flotsam

Bibliography:

Wiesner, David. 2006. Flotsam. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0618194576

Summary:

A boy is spending the day with his family on the beach. While he’s playing with a crab, a wave washes up a camera next to him. He finds a roll of film inside and gets it developed at a one-hour photo place. When the pictures come back, he is astounded. The following pages show the extraordinary pictures the camera took while underwater, as well as pictures of the other kids who have found the camera washed up on their beach. Finally, he takes a picture of himself and throws the camera back in the water so it can continue its journey.

Analysis:

This is a wordless picture book, but it doesn’t need words. The illustrations tell the story perfectly, and there is a clear story. It’s beautifully illustrated in watercolor, and there is enough detail to keep a patient reader busy for a long time. Some pages are one big picture, meant to capture a scene. Other pages are a series of smaller frames meant to convey action, such as the boy finding the camera, showing his parents, and discovering the film.

The fantastical pictures he finds reveal an ocean we haven’t seen before – miniature aliens, starfish with islands on their backs, and mechanical fish. The author/illustrator enjoys playing with perspective, first showing the reader an extreme close-up of an image and then zooming out, or vice versa. This creative story is circular, since the boy returns the camera to the water for the next child to find.

Reviews/Awards:

The book won the Caldecott Medal in 2007 for excellence in illustration

"From arguably the most inventive and cerebral visual storyteller in children's literature comes a wordless invitation . . . not to be resisted." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"New details swim into focus with every rereading of this immensely satisfying excursion." —Publisher's Weekly, starred review

Connections:
*Read David Wiesner’s other picture books, especially Tuesday.
*Kids will enjoy making up their own stories about the underwater pictures.
*Older readers can try works illustrated by Brian Selznick, who uses a similar style of perspective and action in his drawings.

Make Way for Ducklings

Bibliography:

McCloskey, Robert. 1965. Make Way For Ducklings. New York: Viking Press. ISBN: 0670451495

Summary:

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are looking for a home, and as they fly over Boston, nothing seems quite right until they find an island in the river. Their eight ducklings hatch, and soon Mrs. Mallard takes them on a trip to the Boston Public Garden. But there are busy streets in their path, and the cars just won’t stop! A friendly policeman halts the traffic and the ducks – all in a line - proudly cross the street. They decide to live in the park, where people feed them peanuts.

Analysis:

This book has been popular since its first printing in 1941, and a statue of the ducks now stands in the Boston Public Garden. Kids will enjoy this classic story of the eight little ducklings with names that rhyme. The plot is simple, and the most exciting part is the few pages where the ducks cross the highway.

The text is not evenly distributed between pages, but the balance of text and illustrations is appropriate. The illustrations are beautifully done in sepia, and provide lots of detail. The ducklings, in particular, are shown with various facial expressions and actions. To make his drawings realistic, McCloskey actually brought a family of ducklings to live in his apartment.

Reviews/Awards:

The book won the Caldecott Medal for excellence in illustration

"One of the merriest picture-books . . . told in very few words with a gravity that underscores the delightful comedy of the pictures--fine large pictures, strongly drawn, with a wealth of detail".--The New York Times

Connections:
*Find Boston on a map. This is an ideal book to study for children who live in or are going to visit Boston, as the book talks about specific landmarks and streets. Others can discuss ducks and animals they have seen in their own city.

*Other books dealing with animals in the city:
City Animals by Elizabeth Austin
Chester Cricket’s Pigeon Ride by George Selden