Genre 6: Fiction, Fantasy, and YA

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
1. Bibilography
Gaiman, Neil. 2008. The Graveyard Book. Ill. by Dave McKean. New York: HarperCollins.
ISBN: 978-0-06-053093-8
Dewey Classification: Fic
Reading Level: 5.1



2. Summary
Nobody "Bod" Owens is raised in the graveyard after his family is murdered. Bod is given full reign of the graveyard to roam, play and learn but is told he cannot leave the graveyard because he is in danger. Bod grows to the age of 18 and becomes the adventurer he has dreamed of becoming after solving the mystery of who is after him.

3. Critical Analysis
This story begins on such a graphic note, I wondered if I would get through it. This is not the normal type of book that I enjoy reading. As I continued into the story and read how Bod shows up at the graveyard and is adopted, not just by a set of parents, and his guardian, Silas, but by the whole graveyard, I began to get hooked into the mystery of the story. Everyone in the graveyard played a part in raising Bod, showing him how to stay safe from the person that killed his family and was still after him. An adventurer at heart, he thrived on reading and discovering anything he could about the"outside" world of the living. Because of his years of learning how to navigate the graveyard, he was able to protect himself at the age of 18 when the killer returned for him. His explorer spirit finally leads him out of the graveyard and into a different chapter of his life among the living. The theme of good vs. evil prevails in this type macabre tale. Bod is protected by the citizens of the graveyard and is taught to defend himself for when the time comes. The dialogue of the story is easy to follow and pulls you in to the story. The black and white illustrations by Dave McKean add to the storyline by guiding you into the next part of Bod's life through pictures.

4. Reviews
Newbery Medal Winner 2009
Horn Book
After fortuitously escaping the murder of his family, a toddler is taken in by the ghostly denizens of a local graveyard. Growing up in this strange setting entails many adventures, leading to a final showdown with the murderer. Occasional art enhances the otherworldly atmosphere with a flowing line and deep grays and blacks. This ghost-story-cum-coming-of-age novel is both bittersweet and action-filled.
Booklist
Grades 6-10. While a highly motivated killer murders his family, a baby, ignorant of the horrific goings-on but bent on independence, pulls himself out of his crib and toddles out of the house and into the night. This is most unfortunate for the killer, since the baby was his prime target. Finding his way through the barred fence of an ancient graveyard, the baby is discovered by Mr. and Mrs. Owens, a stable and caring couple with no children of their own—and who just happen to be dead. After much debate with the graveyard’s rather opinionated denizens, it is decided that the Owenses will take in the child. Under their care and the sponsorship of the mysterious Silas, the baby is named “Nobody” and raised among the dead to protect him from the killer, who relentlessly pursues him. This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming. Although marketed to the younger YA set, this is a rich story with broad appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages.

5. Connections
Ideas: Watch the preview to the book and listen to Neil Gaiman talk about how he came up with the ideas for the book and have students write a scary story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_UUVwTaemk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9Dz90e883Q&feature=fvw
Books by the same author:
Gaiman, Neil. Coraline. ISBN: 978-0-380-97778-9
Gaiman, Neil. Interworld. ISBN: 978-0-06-123896-3
Gaiman, Neil. M is for Magic. ISBN: 978-0-06-118642-4
Gaiman, Neil. The Wolves in the Walls. ISBN: 978-0-380-97827-4
Gaiman, Neil. The Dangerous Alphabet. ISBN: 978-0-06-078334-1
Gaiman, Neil. Anansi Boys. ISBN: 978-0-06-051519-5


The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
1. Bibliography
Johnson, Angela. 2003. The First Part Last. New York: Simon &Schuster.
ISBN: 978-0-689-84922-0
Dewey Classification: Fic
Reading Level: 4.9


2. Summary
The heart wrenching story shows the new life that Bobby has to live when he becomes a single parent at the age of 16. The story tells of his confusion of learning to be a responsible adult while still yearning for the teenager that is lost.

3. Critical Analysis
This was an excellent book. I completed it in one day because I did not want to put it down. I liked the "Now" and "Then" way the chapters are written. You see what is happening in Bobby's life before he found out he was going to be a father and what it was like after his world completely changes. Your heart goes out to this teenager who was not ready to give up his life of freedom to become a father. You live through his turmoil of sleep deprived school days and the responsibility of being a dad to his daughter, Feather. But somewhere in the middle of all the mistakes made, he learns the beauty of innocence and trust through his baby and begins to see the man inside the kid. The setting plays into the urban scene and artwork done on sides of building, as Bobby plays out his life in a scene painted on a wall. As he becomes a dad, he realizes that moving to a suburban town would be a better place for him to raise his family. Unfortunately, this story is so true to life and so many teenagers are facing parenthood before they are ready. But I like the way the author showed the dad raising the daughter and showing the difficulties of pregnancy when the mom slipped into a coma that she will not ever come out of.
4. Reviews
Coretta Scott King Award
Michael L. Printz Award
Horn Book
Sixteen-year-old Bobby and his girlfriend, Nia, had planned to put their baby, Feather, up for adoption, but Feather becomes impossible to relinquish after, as the reader learns at book's end, pregnancy-related eclampsia leaves Nia in an irreversible coma. What resonate in this prequel to the Coretta Scott King Award-winning Heaven are the sacrifices Bobby makes for Feather's sake.
Booklist
Gr. 6-12. Bobby, the teenage artist and single-parent dad in Johnson's Coretta Scott King Award winner, Heaven (1998), tells his story here. At 16, he's scared to be raising his baby, Feather, but he's totally devoted to caring for her, even as she keeps him up all night, and he knows that his college plans are on hold. In short chapters alternating between "now"and "then,"he talks about the baby that now fills his life, and he remembers the pregnancy of his beloved girlfriend, Nia. Yes, the teens'parents were right. The couple should have used birth control; adoption could have meant freedom. But when Nia suffers irreversible postpartum brain damage, Bobby takes their newborn baby home. There's no romanticizing. The exhaustion is real, and Bobby gets in trouble with the police and nearly messes up everything. But from the first page, readers feel the physical reality of Bobby's new world: what it's like to hold Feather on his stomach, smell her skin, touch her clenched fists, feel her shiver, and kiss the top of her curly head. Johnson makes poetry with the simplest words in short, spare sentences that teens will read again and again. The great cover photo shows the strong African American teen holding his tiny baby in his arms.

5. Connections
Ideas: Have students journal their feelings about growing up and the problems they could face when they get into high school and how they could handle the situation.
http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=118852&title=The_First_Part_Last_Preview
Books by the same author:
Johnson, Angela. Heaven. ISBN: 978-0-689-82229-2
Johnson, Angela. Bird. ISBN: 978-0-8037-2847-9
Johnson, Angela. A Cool Moonlight ISBN: 978-0-14-240284-9
Johnson, Angela. Sweet, Hereafter. ISBN: 978-0-689-87385-0
Johnson, Angela. Looking for Red. ISBN-13: 978-0-689-86388-2

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal by Jeff Kinney

1. Bibliography
Kinney, Jeff. 2007. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal. New York: Amulet Books.
ISBN: 978-0-8109-9313-6
Dewey Classification: Fic
Reading Level: 5.0


2. Summary
Greg Heffley is a typical pre-teen boy that wants so much to be noticed, but not noticed. We see his everyday happenings of normality through this cleverly written journal of his 7th grade year of Junior High, living with his bully of an older brother (Roderick), his perfect little brother (Manny) that got everything he wanted, and his best friend Rowley, who begins to get the attention that Greg strives for.
3. Critical Analysis
Jeff Kinney began this series of books, that are now a popular set with many boys and girls, as a journal of thoughts and drawings. He kept this idea, even in the publishing of the book, as a journal seen through the eyes of our main character, Greg. Greg writes about his trials and tribulations of wanting to be popular, noticed in his school , and living through his older brother's tormenting. Greg's best friend, Rowley, starts off being the dork friend that Greg tries to change into a cool person. But once Greg is ratted out by Rowley and the two stop being friends, Rowley becomes the semi-popular person that Greg wanted to become. Greg realizes that Rowley's a great friend because he doesn't try to be anything more than what he is and ends up standing up for him to stop him from being embarrassed. The story revolves around the average student wanting to be more and learning how to become that person. The author depicts this tumultuous time period in a clever way so that any child reading it can relate to what is going on in Greg's life.
4. Reviews
Horn Book
"First of all, let me get something straight: This is a JOURNAL, not a diary." Greg Heffley chronicles a year of middle school through hilarious journal entries and accompanying cartoon sketches. His experiences--having to perform in a school play, dealing with bullies and changing friendships--are made fresh by Greg's over-the-top narration. Kinney's writing and illustrations are filled with laugh-out-loud kid humor.
Booklist
The first year in the middle-school life of Greg Heffley is chronicled in this laugh-out-loud novel that first appeared on the Internet. Greg tells his story in a series of short, episodic chapters. Most revolve around the adolescent male curse: the need to do incredibly dumb things because they seem to be a good idea at the time. Yet, unlike some other books about kids of this age, there's no sense of a slightly condescending adult writer behind the main character. At every moment, Greg seems real, and the engrossed reader will even occasionally see the logic in some of his choices. Greatly adding to the humor are Kinney's cartoons, which appear on every page. The simple line drawings perfectly capture archetypes of growing up, such as a preschool-age little brother, out-of-touch teachers, and an assortment of class nerds. Lots of fun throughout.

5. Connections
Idea: After watching the clips for the books and listening to how the author came up with the idea, have students write and draw in their own journal, writing about everything that happens for one week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxpdnjsyI4Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWGfLux0E9A&feature=related
Books by the same author:
Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. ISBN: 978-0-8109-9473-7
Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Do-it-Yourself Book. ISBN: 978-0-8109-7977-2
Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw. ISBN: 978-0-8109-7068-7
Kinney, Jeff. Dog Days Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 4. ISBN: 978-0-8109-8391-5

Genre 5 - Historical Fiction

Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata
1. Bibliography
Kadohata, Cynthia. 2006. Weedflower. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
ISBN: 978-0-689-86574-9
Dewey Classification: Fic
Reading Level: 5.0



2. Summary
This beautifully written story is about a young Japanese girl living with the prejudice and outcast society after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The story leads you through her family being shipped from their home to camps in ohter states until matters calm down around the world. This journal of her trials through this time are tender and heartbreaking, but make for a great read.

3. Critical Analysis
The main character is so real to life in this story, you feel you are there with Sumiko, going through her disappointement when she is not allowed to go to the birthday party, her fear when they had to burn all their belongings and get on a bus with darkened windows to travel to a "camp" with other people they did not know, and her joy of finding a true friend in the field around the camp. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Sumiko was scared of what would happen to her uncle, grandfather and the many elders that lived in their community, when they were arrested and taken far north. But Sumiko learns to embrace her cultural differences and accept that she is a gardener of flowers and loves the earth. Her dream of becoming a flower shop owner became her goal once she realized her self-worth. The author writes a well written story of a time of hardship through a dark period of time for Japanese - Americans.

4. Reviews
Bluebonnet Book Award 2007 - 2008
Horn Book
Kadohata follows her Newbery-winning Kira-Kira (rev. 3/04) with a novel about a Japanese-American girl, Sumiko, who is twelve in 1941. Though her parents died years before, Sumiko doesn't feel like an orphan; she loves her family's California flower farm, where she lives contentedly with her younger brother, aunt, uncle, cousins, and beloved grandfather. Life changes dramatically when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor; first Sumiko's grandfather and uncle are arrested, and then the rest of the family ends up in an internment camp in Poston, Arizona. The writing is mostly, though not consistently, compelling, with numerous details of camp life seamlessly woven into the story. Kadohata also adds some depth with a friendship between Sumiko and a Mohave boy (the camp is on tribal lands). The low-key tone and subdued dramatic arc fit the story, in which camp life is mainly an uneventful struggle against boredom; the novel also reveals why people such as Sumiko's family quietly accepted arrest and internment. Kadohata again creates a sympathetic, believable young protagonist and a vividly realized setting.
Kirkus Review
Post-Pearl Harbor Japanese-American internment is seen from the eyes of a young girl who eventually manages to bloom after she is uprooted and planted in the Arizona desert. Twelve-year-old Sumiko and her little brother Tak-Tak live with their aunt and uncle on a flower farm in California. The only Japanese student in her class, Sumiko longs for friends and acceptance. She loves the fields of "weedflowers" and dreams of owning her own flower shop. After Pearl Harbor, Sumiko and her family are removed from their land and transported to an internment camp on an Indian reservation in Poston, Ariz. Surrounded by fields of dust, Sumiko's "dream was gone and she didn't know what would take its place," until she teams up with her neighbor Mr. Moto to make the desert bloom and escape the "ultimate boredom" of the camp. And when Sumiko meets Frank, a Mohave boy who resents the Japanese on his land, she finds an unlikely, but true friend. Like weedflowers, hope survives in this quietly powerful story.

5. Connections
Ideas: Journal Sumiko's feelings about how she is treated and how she feels about moving from camp to camp.
Websites:
http://suzyred.com/2007weedflower.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UWwvJjsMSs
Books about the same topic or by the same author:
Raven, Margot Theis. Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot. ISBN: 978-1-58536-069-7
Lemke, Donald B. Captured Off Guard:The Attack on Pearl Harbor. ISBN-13: 978-1-43420-443-1 Kadohata, Cynthia. Kira-Kira. ISBN: 978-0-689-85639-6
Kadohata, Cynthia. A Million Shades of Gray. ISBN: 978-1-41691-883-7


A Jar of Dreams by Yoshiko Uchida
1. Bibliography
Uchida, Yoshiko. 1993. A Jar of Dreams. Oklahoma: Aladdin Paperbacks.
ISBN: 978-0-689-71672-0
Dewey Classification: Fic
Reading Level: 5.6


2. Summary
When Rinko's aunt from Japan visits for the first time, Rinko is a little apprehensive. After she gets to know her aunt, she learns that her aunt coming was a blessing in disguise and showed her what a wonderful family she has.
3. Critical Analysis
Rinko is a typical 11 year old becoming a teenager and learning about the world and people around her. The story takes place 6 years before Pearl Harbor, yet our characters see the prejudice shown toward them for being "different" even before Japanes became outcasts after the war began. Rinko learns, from her Aunt Waka, that being different is ok. Her aunt shows her how strong each family member is and how each one has something special they contribute. Aunt Waka was the changing force that made this family turn from the rut they were in and start living their dreams. Her dad opened his mechanic/repair show, her brother, Cal, was returning to college to become an engineer, her mom started her laundry business and Rinko still wanted to be a teacher. I could only imagine how Rinko and her family felt living in this time around people who were not always nice to people from other countries. "Bullies" trying to knock them out of business by making threats and even killing their dog. The author demonstrates the trials of living in this tumultuos time.
4. Reviews
Horn Book
An ingenious simplicity and grace mark the first-person telling of the story of 11-year-old Rinko and her Japanese family in Berkeley, California. Times are hard for everyone in 1935, but being Japanese is, for Rinko, an added burden.
Wilson's Children
A young girl grows up in a closely-knit Japanese American family in California during the 1930's, a time of great prejudice.

5. Connections
Ideas:
Just like Rinko's aunt sent a letter about her visit, write a letter to someone special that you would like to visit. Tell about the things you would go see and do.
Websites:
http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/100import/uchida.html
http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/Byrnes-famous/YOSHIL1.html
http://www.janm.org/exhibitions/fft/m/EI_timeline.htm
Books by the same author:
Uchida, Yoshiko. The Best Bad Thing. ISBN: 978-0-689-71745-1
Uchida, Yoshiko. Journey Home. ISBN: 978-0-689-71641-6
Uchida, Yoshiko. Two Foolish Cats. ISBN: 0-689-50397-0
Uchida, Yoshiko. Sumi's Prize. ISBN: 0-684-13157-9
Uchida, Yoshiko. Sea of Gold. ISBN: 0-88739-056-0


Elijah of Buxton by Christpher Paul Curtis
1. Bibliography
Curtis, Christopher Paul. 2007. Elijah of Buxton. New York: Scholastic.
ISBN: 978-0-439-02344-3
Dewey Classification: Fic
Reading Level: 5.6



2. Summary
This wonderful story of Elijah growing up as the first freeborn in the Settlement of Canada shows the trials of freed slaves escaping through the Underground Railroad to Canada, becoming a part of the community, starting their own farm and learning to trust other people. Elijah is the young boy learning to become a man and not a "frag-gile ninny". This story leads him through many discoveries about the world and about himself.

3. Critical Analysis
The time of slavery and slaves escaping is the background setting for this wonderfully written story. Elijah Freeman was the first free born baby in the Settlement (the town, Buxton, founded for the escaped slaves and noted in the author's note at the end of the book) and, at the age of 12, began trying to show how he has grown-up. Like any typical boy, he went to school to learn to read, went to church every Sunday, worked everyday cleaning stalls, went fishing when he could and played with firends. The "Preacher" that visited their community is the one person that they found out could not be trusted. Elijah knew him best from time spent with him while fishing and going to the carnival. Elijah saw the darker side of this man that was not really a preacher. When the preacher steals money from Mr. Leroy, one of the members, Elijah helps him try to find the Preacher. They travel to America to look for him. When Mr. Leroy dies, he promises to find the Preacher and belly shoot him. Elijah sees a different way of life (slavery) that he had never seen, only heard of, when he finds the preacher, dead, and discovers 6 runaway slaves that had been caught and were being sent back. He ends up saving the baby of the group and returns to Buxton. The many historical facts written around this story make it a very enjoyable read. Christopher Paul Curtis has a way of writing that is entertaining and informative.

4. Reviews
Newbery Award
Coretta Scott King Award
Kirkus Review
Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman is known for two things: being the first child born free in Buxton, Canada, and throwing up on the great Frederick Douglass. It's 1859, in Buxton, a settlement for slaves making it to freedom in Canada, a setting so thoroughly evoked, with characters so real, that readers will live the story, not just read it. This is not a zip-ahead-and-see-what-happens-next novel. It's for settling into and savoring the rich, masterful storytelling, for getting to know Elijah, Cooter and the Preacher, for laughing at stories of hoop snakes, toady-frogs and fish-head chunking and crying when Leroy finally gets money to buy back his wife and children, but has the money stolen. Then Elijah journeys to America and risks his life to do what's right. This is Curtis's best novel yet, and no doubt many readers, young and old, will finish and say, "This is one of the best books I have ever read." (author's note) (Fiction. 9+)
Booklist
Grades 6-8. After his mother rebukes him for screaming that hoop snakes have invaded Buxton, gullible 11-year-old Elijah confesses to readers that “there ain’t nothing in the world she wants more than for me to quit being so doggone fra-gile.” Inexperienced and prone to mistakes, yet kind, courageous, and understanding, Elijah has the distinction of being the first child born in the Buxton Settlement, which was founded in Ontario in 1849 as a haven for former slaves. Narrator Elijah tells an episodic story that builds a broad picture of Buxton’s residents before plunging into the dramatic events that take him out of Buxton and, quite possibly, out of his depth. In the author’s note, Curtis relates the difficulty of tackling the subject of slavery realistically through a child’s first-person perspective. Here, readers learn about conditions in slavery at a distance, though the horrors become increasingly apparent. Among the more memorable scenes are those in which Elijah meets escaped slaves—first, those who have made it to Canada and, later, those who have been retaken by slave catchers. Central to the story, these scenes show an emotional range and a subtlety unusual in children’s fiction. Many readers drawn to the book by humor will find themselves at times on the edges of their seats in suspense and, at other moments, moved to tears. A fine, original novel from a gifted storyteller.
5. Connections
Ideas: Students write about what they would do if faced with the same problems as Elijah - slavery, stealing.
Websites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHKT7-igYNU
http://suzyred.com/2008elijah.html
http://content.scholastic.com/browse/collection.jsp?id=49
Books by the same author:
Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy. ISBN: 978-0-385-32306-2
Curtis, Christopher Paul. The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963: A Novel. ISBN-13: 978-0-440-41412-4
Curtis, Christopher Paul. Mr. Chickee's Funny Money. ISBN-13: 978-0-440-22919-3
Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bucking the Sarge. ISBN-13: 978-0-385-90159-8

Genre 4 - Nonfiction and Biography

The Boy on Fairfield Street : How Ted Geisel Grew up to Become Dr. Seuss by Kathleen Krull

1. Bibliography
Krull, Kathleen. 2004.The Boy on Fairfield Street : How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss ; Ill. by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher; with decorative illustrations by Dr. Seuss. New York: Random House.
ISBN: 978-0-375-92298-5
Dewey Classification: 813
Reading Level: 3.9

2. Summary
In this wonderful story, you learn how the famous writer and illustrator, Dr. Seuss, came to be. You see how he grew up, what he learned and how it influenced the person he became. You see where the child inside this imaginative writer and illustrator started.

3. Critical Analysis
The amazing Dr. Seuss is seen as the normal child, Theodor Geisel, growing up on Fairfield Street in Springfield, Massachusetts. You read through his life of birthday parties, visiting the zoo where his father worked and the stories or non-sense lists he and his mother would do at bedtime. The story reads almost as a fictional story until you get to the author's note entitled, On Beyond Fairfield Street. The author talks about the life and times of the gifted writer and illustrator after the story ended. She states, "He wrote and drew to please himself." This statement sums up the person we all She cites all the great works written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss and shows what book each Seuss drawing found on each page came from. Extra sources and further readings are also added to the end of this book for those that are fascinated by Dr. Seuss. The beautifully colorful paintings done by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher face each page of writing to further enhance the story of the normalcy of Ted Geisel's childhood through college.

4. Reviews
Bluebonnet Award Book 2005 -2006
Horn Book
With additional illustrations by Dr. Seuss. This affectionate survey centers on Geisel's boyhood, plus a bit on his brush with higher education, concluding with the first months of his career. The high points are summarized, but the real story here is of a boy who couldn't stop doodling. Krull does a good job of linking such early propensities with what turned up later in Geisel's books. Nostalgic full-page paintings nicely recall illustrations of the period.
Library Media Connection
Kathleen Krull presents a touching view of the life of Ted Geisel from early childhood visiting the zoo to his young adult years at Dartmouth College, as well as the poignant events that shaped his life. Geisel's unique view of the world while growing up in Springfield, Massachusetts marked him by many members of the community as a dreamer, but his imagination and supportive German-immigrant parents enabled him to create fanciful creatures that reflected positive and negative human behaviors. Although most teachers and peers considered him a mediocre student, he proved to his detractors that he could be a successful author and illustrator, which encouraged children to read....

5. Connections
Idea: Have students tell about their favorite Dr. Seuss story and draw a picture to make a classroom book of Dr. Seuss.
Websites:
http://suzyred.com/2005seuss.html
http://www.seussville.com/main.php?section=home&isbn=&catalogID=&eventID
Books by the same author or topic:
Seuss, Dr. The Cat in the Hat. ISBN: 978-0-394-90001-8
Floran, Jill. Dr. Seuss. ISBN: 978-1-59036-028-6
Weidt, Maryann N. Oh, The Places He Went : A Story About Dr. Seuss-- Theodore Seuss Geisel. ISBN: 978-0-87614-823-5


The Paper Airplane Book by Seymour Simon
1. Bibliography
Simon, Seymour. 1976. The Paper Airplane Book ; Ill. by Byron Barton. London: Puffin.
ISBN: 978-0-14-030925-6
Dewey Classification: 745.592
Reading Level: 3.9

2. Summary
Have you ever wondered what type of paper airplane would fly the best? Or how a large jumbo jet stays in the air? This informative book tells all the background information about how an airplane (paper and real) flies. Then the step by step instructions help you make the perfect paper airplane while explaining why each fold,cut or paper weight works the best.

3. Critical Analysis
The many experiments conducted and tested to see how wind currents and weight effect the flight of the plane. The way the author consistently compares actual airplanes and paper airplanes and principles behind how they fly is the consistent theme throughout this book. The in-depth information behind the theory of flight is explained in relate-able and understandable terms for any age, as I can attest to with my own children taking the book and making the airplanes shown in the book. The sources are cited in the back of the book and are from reputable organizations. The pencil drawing illustrations by Byron Barton enhance the book to show step-by-step directions on how to fold different paper airplanes.

4. Reviews
Children's Literature
It's a natural progression from planes in books to planes in the air-paper planes, that is. Mr. Simon manages to impart lots of information about the principles of flight and the "hows" and "whys" of airplane design along with his experiments.
Booklist
"The principles of flight and airplane design are elucidated in this book of entertaining experiments with paper airplanes".

5. Connections
Ideas: Have students make paper airplanes and test how well they fly. Measure the distance and see what made that plane fly further.
Websites:
http://www.seymoursimon.com/
http://www.amazingpaperairplanes.com/Favorites.html
Books by this author or related to this topic:
Schmidt, Norman. Best Ever Paper Airplanes. ISBN: 978-1-895569-83-4
Simon, Seymour. From Paper Airplanes to Outer Space. ISBN: 978-1-57274-374-8
Harbo, Christopher. The Kids' Guide to Paper Airplanes. ISBN: 978-1-42962-274-5


We Are The Ship : The Story of Negro League Baseball words and paintings by Kadir Nelson

1. Bibliography
Nelson, Kadir. 2008. We Are The Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball; with words and paintings by Kadir Nelson. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion.
ISBN: 978-0-7868-0832-8
Dewey Classification: 796.357
Reading Level: 6.0

2. Summary
You have to really want to play a game bad enough to go through what the men on the Negro League Baseball went through. The historical background information learned through the eyes of the players of the Negro League Baseball is spectacular. You learn the hardships and love of playing the game in a time when segregation was extremely harsh on these talented ball players.

3. Critical Analysis
Instead of the ordinary chapter, you are thrown into the baseball game by reading each "Inning". Each Inning talks about the time period from the 1st Inning where the Negro Baseball League began to the Extra Innings where the Negro Leagues ended. The forward by Hank Aaron, an all-time impressive black baseball player, sets the tone for this book by talking about how the game was played because they loved it : not for the money, fame or glory. As Hank Aaron says, "...Baseball has been my passion," which is the theme stated throughout this informational book. The multitude of informative stats from the Negro Leaguers who make it to the Major Leagues and into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the inspirational Author's Note, acknowledgements and Bibliography make the total package of this book an excellent source for research about this topic. The end notes state where the author received most of his information for this book. Voices from the Great Black Baseball Leagues looks like one of the books that shows many of the players from this time period in our history. The beautiful color paintings done by the author add to the depth and love of the heartwarming story told through the eyes of the players during this glorious time in their lives.

4. Reviews and Awards
Bluebonnet Award Book 2009-2010
Coretta Scott King Award
The Robert F. Sibert Medal
Booklist
Award-winning illustrator and first-time author Nelson’s history of the Negro Leagues, told from the vantage point of an unnamed narrator, reads like an old-timer regaling his grandchildren with tales of baseball greats Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and others who forged the path toward breaking the race barrier before Jackie Robinson made his historic debut. The narrative showcases the pride and comradery of the Negro Leagues, celebrates triumphing on one’s own terms and embracing adversity, even as it clearly shows the “us” and “them” mentality bred by segregation. If the story is the pitch, though, it’s the artwork that blasts the book into the stands. Nelson often works from a straight-on vantage point, as if the players took time out of the action to peer at the viewer from history, eyes leveled and challenging, before turning back to the field of play....For students and fans (and those even older than the suggested grade level), this is the book to accomplish just that.
Library Media Connection
Through text and artwork that pulses with life, Nelson has created a book that brings personality to the Negro Baseball League. Using the voice of "Everyman" in the league, this book will attract readers because of the full and double-page vibrant, realistic oil paintings, and immerse the reader in the compelling story being told. The author brings out interesting details about the league such as bus trips where players would relieve a sleepy driver and players would entertain their teammates. The reader meets famous players, like Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson, and the equally talented lesser known players. One enters the world of joy in the game of baseball and the hurt of segregation through stories that take place away from the ballpark as well as on the field. One need not be a baseball fan to enjoy this book, because it's more than a sports story. It's a story of real people enduring more than many of us can imagine, playing a game they love. The book's title comes from "We are the ship; all else is the sea" a quote from Rube Foster, the founder of the Negro National League. Highly Recommended. Nelda Brangwin, Cherry Valley Elementary School, Duvall, Washington

5. Connections
Ideas: Have students write a letter to a former player (whether mailed or kept in class) and talk about how the book inspires the love of baseball.
Websites:
http://suzyred.com/2009-we-are-the-ship.html
http://www.negroleaguebaseball.com/
Books related to the topic:
Auch, Mary Jane. One-Handed Catch. ISBN: 978-0-8050-7900-5
Lord, Bette. In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson. ISBN: 978-0-06-024004-2
Golenbock, Peter. Hank Aaron : Brave in Every Way. ISBN: 978-0-15-202093-4

Genre 3 - Poetry

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
1. Bibliography
Hesse, Karen. 1997. Out of the Dust. New York: Scholastic, Inc.
ISBN: 978-0-590-36080-7
Dewey Classification: Fic
Reading Level: 4.5


2. Summary
A book done in verse poetry, tells of BillieJo's hardships of living in the dust bowl during the depression era. You learn of her heartaches, regrets and love of the home she has always known. A beautifully written story told from a young girl's point of view.
3. Critical Analysis
What a wonderful story Karen Hesse leads you through in this book of free-verse poems. You are taken in by Billie Jo's views of her life in the dust-bowl. She describes how the wind and sand seep through the cracks and leave a film of dust on everything, why the dishes were turned face-down until ready for use, and the image of the dust storm coming towards her. Your heart goes out to her when she loses her mother and baby brother because of a mistake that she has to live with and learn to forgive herself and her dad. Her scars are constant reminders of what could have been and what she lost, as in the chapter titled Let Down: "My hands wouldn't work. / I just sat on the piano bench,/ staring down at the keys." Then she learns, after she tries to leave, that the place she thought she wanted to get away from, was actually the place she could never leave - home. Each chapter of this book could stand alone as a single poem, yet the whole story leads you through a time in history through the eyes of a child.
4. Reviews
Newbery Medal/Honor 1998
Horn Book
In first-person free-verse poems fourteen-year-old Billie Jo Kelby relates her Depression-era experiences in the Oklahoma panhandle. Billie Jo's aborted escape from the dust bowl almost gets lost in a procession of bleak events, instead of serving as the book's climax. Yet her voice, nearly every word informed by longing, provides an immediacy that expressively depicts both a grim historical era and one family's healing.
School Library Journal
After facing loss after loss during the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, Billie Jo begins to reconstruct her life. A triumphant story, eloquently told through prose-poetry.
5. Connections
Listen to the audio tape performed by Marika Mashburn.
http://www.eduscapes.com/newbery/98a.html for additional ideas to share with this book.
*More books like this one or by this author:
Burg, Ann E. All the Broken Pieces : A Novel in Verse. ISBN: 978-0-545-08092-7
Hesse, Karen. Witness. ISBN: 978-0-439-27199-8


This is Just to Say : Poems of Apology and Forgiveness
by Joyce Sidman
1. Bibliography
Sidman, Joyce. 2007. This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness. Ill. by Pamela Zagernski. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Company.
ISBN: 978-0-618-61680-0
Dewey Classification: 811
Reading Level: 3.9

2. Summary
The book of poetry presented in two parts: apologies and responses, is clever, heartwarming and cute. The students write their apologies for certain things done or said to other students, teachers or family. The second part has responses (sometimes forgiveness) to the apologies. Some are comical, sad, and humble. A wonderful book to share by reading from both parts of the book.
3. Critical Analysis
This poetry book contains a number of different types of poems. There are haikus, a two person poem, and rhythm and rhyme poems. The clever format of the book is what makes this book so appealing: first part is the apology letter/poems and the second part is the forgiveness or response poems. The reader has to flip from part 1 to part 2 to keep up with the paired writings. For example, in part 1, the poem It Was Quiet, Tenzin writes to his dog that he just lost, "I'm sorry we had to do this./ We wanted to save you some pain./ I hope we did the right thing." In part 2, the poem Losing Einstein, the custodian writes to Tenzin, "You were loving him, and he was loving you back. / That's how he went. / And that's how a dog should go." One of my favorite responses is based on a familiar rhyme entitled, Roses are Red: "Roses are red,/ violets are blue./ I'm still really pissed off at you." This poem was written as a response between sisters! The apology poem is called The Black Spot and talks of how she stabbed her sister with a pencil and the lead remains in her sisters' hand. Some of the letters are funny, some are sad, some are just honest words spoken and written in poetry form.
The artwork done by Pamela Zafarenski shows the faces of the imaginary students in this book and makes them seem real to the reader by having pictures that look like they were done by the students in the book.
4. Reviews
Bluebonnet Award Book 2008-2009
Horn Book
This book is a collection of "sorry poems" and responses, ostensibly (but not always believably) written, illustrated, and collected by a sixth-grade class. Though the poems are not as varied in tone or style as could be desired, they provide intimate, often touching glimpses of relationships by which real classes might be inspired.
Library Media Connection
Every school should purchase a copy of this book of poetic apologies and responses. The title poem by William Carlos Williams sets the tone. Sidman sought help in writing a poem to her mother from a group of fourth graders in one of her writing workshops, which became the impetus for this book. Zagarenski uses typical schoolchildren materials as a background for her colorful, whimsical drawings that brighten the pages of this book. She captures the essence of childhood on each page. The poems reflect different stages of resolution; some apologies are sincere, others not. Some of the responses are more forgiving than others. Some of the poems are humorous, some sad, and some of the responses are unexpected....
5. Connections
*Have students write their apology letter to someone special and the response they would like to get back.
http://suzyred.com/2008apologyandforgivenesspoems.html A website with many activities to go along with this book.
*Other books by this author:
Sidman, Joyce. Just Us Two Poems About Animal Dads. ISBN: 978-0-7613-9809-7
Sidman, Joyce. The World According to Dog : Poems and Teen Voices. ISBN: 978-0-618-28381-1

Toasting Marshmallows : Camping Poems
by Kristine O'Connell George
1. Bibliography
George, Kristine O'Connell. 2001. Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems. Ill. by Kate Kiesler. New York. Clarion Books.
ISBN: 978-0-618-04597-6
Dewey: 811
Reading Level: 2.8
2. Summary
The wonderful memories made on a camping trip are colorfully worded in the poems of this book. All the many things you can see, hear and do on a camping trip are found in this collection of poems by Kristine O'Connell George.
3. Critical Analysis
This classic view of going camping shares the sights, sounds and sensations of a camping trip in the woods through poetry. The many verses in this book describe beautifully, and creatively, what can be seen, heard, felt and happen on a camping trip. The wide variety of cute, funny, thoughtful and surprising poems make this a great book to share. Who has not gotten dressed while in a sleeping bag or sat by a fire and felt hot on the front and cold on the back? The many animals experienced while on this camping trip: a doe, a moose, a chipmunk are all described beautifully in this book. Scooter, the dog, is cleverly described as "loose-boned, easy" while asleep on the floor at home, but in the woods, hair standing up and teeth bared, "Tonight, Scooter/ is Timer Wolf." Some of the poems talk about the quiet peacefulness of being in a place all alone. In the poem Sleeping Outside, she talks about how small she feels compared to the big wide opened sky.
The gorgeous paintings that accompany the poems, bring them to life. The picture of the poem Wild Mustard, shows the beauty of the yellow flowers blooming in an open field. The artistry of the illustrations add to the overall depth of the poems in this wonderful book.
4. Reviews
Bluebonnet Award Book 2008-2009
Horn Book
The pleasure and surprises of going camping are conveyed in eighteen brief poems. Familiar camping experiences--including pitching a tent, sleeping in a sleeping bag, and watching a chipmunk--are described, in addition to more unusual experiences like walking through a field of mustard, seeing a moose, and discovering a cave. Richly colored paintings enhance the verses.
School Library Journal
George has penned 30 sublimely simple poems that capture the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations of a family's camping trip, from pitching the tent to pulling up stakes and returning home. All of the selections convey a child-focused sense of wonder as the campers explore the lakefront and surrounding terrain, enjoy the marvels of the natural world, relish meals round the campfire, and toast marshmallows ("This is art-/a time of serious reflection/as my pillowed confection/slowly reaches golden perfection"). The poems are varied and inventive, replete with marvelous images and universal truths....
5. Connections
*Have students draw a picture of their favorite camping trip and then write a small sentence to describe their trip - make their sentence into a line of poetry studying (Haiku, Concrete...).
http://suzyred.com/2003toastingmarsh.htm A great website with more resources to go along with this book.
*More books like this one or by this author:
George, Kristine O'Connell. Old Elm Speaks : Tree Poems ISBN: 978-0-395-87611-4
Hundal, Nancy. Camping. ISBN: 978-1-55041-686-2 (a free verse poem)

Genre 2 - Traditional Literature

Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats by Nina Simonds, Leslie Swartz & The Children's Museum, Boston
1. Bibliography
Simonds, Nina, Swartz, Leslie and The Children’s Museum, Boston. MOONBEANS,DUMPLINGS AND DRAGON BOATS: A TREASURY OF CHINESE HOLIDAY TALES, ACTIVITIES AND RECIPES. Orlando, FL: Harcourt, Inc.
ISBN 978-0-15-201983-9
Dewey Classification 394.26
Reading Level: 5.8

2. Summary
This collection of history, legends, recipes and crafts is a wonderful addition to any library. The background information (or folklore) given why holidays such as The Dragon Boat Festival, The Lantern Festival, and the Harvest Moon Festival are celebrated, the kinds of foods associated with the holiday and crafts that represent the special day are all explained in this beautifully decorated book. Find out the meanings behind the Chinese Zodiac animals and read about how they were chosen. Challenge yourself to make a Lantern Riddle as celebrated during the Lantern Festival.

3. Critical Analysis
Nina Simonds, Leslie Swartz and The Children's Museum, Boston compiled an extraordinary treasure of tales, traditions, recipes and crafts that celebrate Chinese holidays. The set-up for this book is unique. It gives you background information regarding the celebrated holiday, the legend that goes along with why the holiday came to be, recipes of special foods and activities or art that accompanies the celebration. The book is meant for sharing between child and parent by giving the ideas of activities to make and share. I found myself becoming absorbed into the traditional tales told throughout the books, looking to read the next one and make the connection to the tradition still held for the holiday. Meilo So's watercolor artwork is a beautiful accompaniment to the stories told and she exquisitely demonstrates the intricate patterns in the Chinese calligraphy titled on each page next to the holiday name.

4. Reviews
Horn Book (Spring, 2003)
A suitable addition to any multicultural holiday collection, this volume includes folktales, recipes, and activities for celebrating Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival, Qing Ming and the Cold Foods Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. Accompanying the stories and activities are So's stylized watercolors, some of which evoke the brushwork of Chinese calligraphy. Bib.

Booklist (October 15, 2002 (Vol. 99, No. 4))
Gr. 4-6. This brightly illustrated, large-format book introduces Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival, Qing Ming and the Cold Foods Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. Each section explains the holiday, tells stories related to it, and offers at least one activity and one recipe. Attractively designed, the pages include plenty of white space, creating a fine background for So's brilliantly colored, stylized paintings. The recipes, some of which require the use of food processors and hot woks, are often beyond the culinary skills of the average child, though interested adults can use them to broaden their children's experience of Chinese culture. The activities--riddles to tell and paper lanterns to make, among them--look like fun for young people. Lists of books and Web sites and a pronunciation guide round out the treatment.

5. Connections
*Share traditions shared by families, activities, food, holidays.
*Read Fire Up for Reading by Toni Buzzeo
*Read any books about Chinese customs, holidays, traditions and compare/contrast the foods and crafts.




Little Gold Star A Spanish American Cinderella Tale retold by Robert D. SanSouci
1. Bibliography
SanSouci, Robert D. Little Gold Star: A Spanish American Cinderella Tale. HarperCollins Publisher, New York.
ISBN: 978-0-688-14780-1
Dewey Classification: 398.2
Reading Level: 3.2

2. Summary
This Cinderella tale retold by Robert D. San Souci takes on a new twist to an old favorite. Teresa is our Cinderella that must endure the wicked step-mother and the dreaded step-sisters' cruelty. She meets her "Fairy Godmother" which has a religious connection: Blessed Mary, Saint Joseph, and the Holy Child, the Baby Jesus. Because of her kind heart shown toward Joseph and the baby, Blessed Mary bestowed a gold star shining upon her forehead. When the two step-sisters were approached by Blessed Mary and asked to do something nice, they chose not to and received horns and donkey ears for their unkindly acts. The "prince" in this story is Don Miguel, a wealthy and handsome man. He seeks to find the "Little Gold Star" to marry. Through the magic of the talking cat that leads Miguel to Teresa, the step-family decide to live better lives by following Teresa's example.

3. Critical Analysis

This Cinderella variant follows many of the literary traits of a traditional folktale/fairytale. The main character, Teresa, is presented with a problem and tries to solve her problem through the obstacles presented (by her step-family) and comes out victorious. The cultural connections of Spanish/Mexican traditions and religious connections such as the washing of the fleece, the connection of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus, and the use of Spanish words used in the story help this folktale retain its traditional heritage. The story is unique because it shows how Teresa's example of goodness changes the step mom and stepsisters to also become good. The use of a talking animal also marks the trait of a folktale. The cat leads Miguel to find Teresa by talking to him and telling him where she was locked up. I enjoy the use of the Spanish words (and the definition) to enhance the story and make it a Spanish American tale. Sergio Martinez's beautiful paintings of the characters and the setting of the poor and wealthy homes for this picture book show how the story unfolds and how the gold star is a blessed mark.

4. Reviews
Horn Book starred (Spring 2001)
This Southwest "Cinderella" story includes elements of European fairy tales, Christian imagery, and Spanish folklore. When her father marries a haughty widow with two vain daughters, Teresa's life becomes miserable. A "woman in blue" comes to the rescue in exchange for Teresa's kindness to an old man and a baby. Golden light suffuses the watercolor paintings, while accurate details root the story in the colonial Spanish tradition.


Booklist (October 1, 2000 (Vol. 97, No. 3))
Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. The author of Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella (1998) and the new Cinderella Skeleton [BKL S 1 00] here gives the ever-popular picture-book tale a Southwestern flavor. While washing the fleece of a lamb her cruel stepmother has killed, Teresa meets the Blessed Mary, who asks her to tend old Joseph and the Holy Infant. When Teresa is finished, Mary returns and rewards her with a touch that places a gold star on her forehead. When her callous, clumsy sisters rush off for similar decorations, they are given not stars but goat horns and donkey ears. In Sergio Martinez's elegant Hispanic settings, Teresa and her beau, Don Miguel, are slender, graceful figures, comically juxtaposed against Teresa's lumpish, elaborately dressed stepmother and stepsisters, who are portrayed with exaggerated expressions of dismay or annoyance. Mary reappears to help Teresa secure her stepmother's permission to marry, and by the unalloyed happy ending, horns and hairy ears have vanished, too. Cinderella fans have to be rapid readers to keep up with the steady stream of new renditions, but this consolidation of old and new published versions mixes laughter and romance in pleasing proportion--and features an unusual (to say the least) fairy godmother. A source note is provided.


5. Connections

*Read other cultural Cinderella books and compare/contrast.

*Have students list the traits of each fairytale.


Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
1. Bibliography
Young, Ed. Seven Blind Mice. New York: Philomel Books.
ISBN: 0-399-22261-8
Dewey Classification: 398.24
Reading Level: 2.4



2. Summary

This retold folktale of "The Blind Men and the Elephant" is clever story of colorful blind mice discovering an unusual object piece by piece. Each mouse "sees" their piece as something different than the next one. This story not only teaches the lesson of looking at an object as a whole, but also teaches numbers, colors and days of the week.

3. Critical Analysis
This story is based on an Indian fable of seven blind men finding an elephant. It is beautifully retold and illustrated using black background to enhance the colorful paper piece pictures done by the author/ illustrator, Ed Young. Each day of the week, a different color mouse explores the object and explains as they picture it to be. Each piece discovered, represents the color of the mouse that makes the prediction. The problem of guessing the mysterious object by their pond, leads to a wonderfully imaginative tale of discovery. Finally, one mouse "looks" at the whole object, not just one piece, and by incorporating all their predictions, comes up with the actual object- an elephant. The use of numbers and colors add to the traits of making this a traditional folktale.

4. Reviews

Caldecott Honor Book
Horn Book starred (September, 1992)
In the Indian fable, each blind mouse visits the elephant and declares that he has discovered a pillar, a snake, a cliff, a spear, a fan, or a rope. But a seventh mouse, the only one to investigate the whole "something," is able to discern that it is an elephant. The spareness of the text is echoed in the splendid collages. Immensely appealing.

Booklist starred (Vol. 88, No. 15 (April 1, 1992))
...Graphically, this picture book is stunning, with the cut-paper figures of the eight characters dramatically silhouetted against black backgrounds. White lettering and borders provide contrast, but the eye is always drawn to the mottled, beige tones of the elephant and the brightly colored mice, vibrant against the large, black pages. Playing with color and line, light and dark, and with the concepts of sightlessness and visualization, Young designs a title page spread with only the mice's colorful tails appearing against the blackness; like the blind mice themselves, viewers will call on their imaginations to fill in the rest. What does one see? Curved lines? Tails? Mice? At once profound and simple, intelligent and playful, this picture book is the work of an artist who understands the medium and respects his audience.


5. Connections

*Listen to the tale being read at http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/media.jsp?id=482

*Have students make their own 8 page book of animals discovering a large animal, piece by piece and showing their guesses.

Genre 1 - Picture Books

The Invention of Hugo Cabret: a novel in words and pictures by Brian Selznick
1. Bibliography
Selznick, Brian. The Invention of Hugo Cabret: a novel in words and pictures. Scholastic Press: New York.
ISBN 978-0-439-81378-5
Dewey Classification: Fiction
Reading Level: 5.2

2. Summary
Orphaned Hugo, finds himself in his own mystery to discover, not only what message his father left him through an automaton, but what kind of person he is meant to be. Through his quest to make the automaton reveal the lost message, he learns how resourceful he can be. He meets a young girl and her grandfather that change his whole outlook. The things he discovers by unveiling the mysteries reveal what he has been looking for - family.

3. Critical Analysis
Through words and pictures, Brian Selznick tells a remarkable story of a boy that secretly lives behind the walls of the train station. He learns to take care of himself, how to receive help and to become the honest person he could be. The intricate pencil drawn pictures not only enhance the story, they also tell part of the story. The depth of detail that is put into the picture tells part of the story without words. The mysterious automaton's message is what drives this character (Hugo) to steal, work for what he wants and needs, and finally learn how to trust.

4. Reviews
Texas Blubonnet Award Book 2008- 2009
Caldecott Award Winner - 2008
Horn Book starred (September, 2007)
Over a sequence of twenty-one double-page wordless, illustrated spreads, a story begins. The tale that follows is a lively one, involving the dogged Hugo, his ally Isabelle, an automaton that can draw pictures, and a stage magician turned filmmaker. The interplay between the illustrations and text is complete genius, and themes of secrets, dreams, and invention play lightly but resonantly throughout.

School Library Journal (March 1, 2007)
"With characteristic intelligence, exquisite images, and a breathtaking design, Selznick shatters conventions related to the art of bookmaking in this magical mystery set in 1930s Paris. He employs wordless sequential pictures and distinct pages of text to let the cinematic story unfold, and the artwork, rendered in pencil and bordered in black, contains elements of a flip book, a graphic novel, and film...." -Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

5. Connections
Idea: Have students tell a story through pictures (that they draw or find) and words.
The Boy of a Thousand Faces by Brian Selznick. New York : Laura Geringer Books, 2000.
The Houdini Box by Brian Selznick. Texas: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1991.
http://suzyred.com/2008hugo.html
B. Selznick interview on Scholastic.com:
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collection.jsp?id=185&FullBreadCrumb=%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.scholastic.com%2Fbrowse%2Fsearch%2F%3Fquery%3DSelznick%26Ntt%3DSelznick%26Ntk%3DSCHL30_SI%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchallpartial%26N%3D0%26_N%3Dfff%22+class%3D%22endecaAll%22%3EAll+Results%3C%2Fa%3E

Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City by Janet Schulman
1. Bibliography
Schulman, Janet. 2008. Pale Male;Citizen Hawk of New York City. Ill. Meilo So. New York, New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
ISBN 978-037-584558-1
Dewey Classification: 598.9
Reading Level: 5.8

2. Summary
This heart-warming story of Pale Male, the red-tailed hawk, is told through the eyes of the observant bird watchers of New York City. The people of this city watched the bird find a mate, build nests (one that was destroyed by the building owners) and become a father. This book shows the love of animals in this busy metropolis through this one bird's story.

3. Critical Analysis
The watercolor and pencil drawings in this picture book not only enhance the storyline, but also tell part of the story by giving examples of what the author is talking about. Even though this story is written at a higher reading level, the illustrations help the reader to comprehend the story. When I first saw the title of this book, I had no idea how interesting it would turn out to be. The story catches your attention and guides you through the life of the now famous hawk, Pale Male.

4. Reviews
Texas Bluebonnet Award Book 2009-2010
Booklist starred (February 15, 2008 (Vol. 104, No. 12))
"...The stunning watercolor-and-pencil illustrations are both whimsical and elegant, and their beautiful contrasting views of the bird soaring above the wild park and the forest of skyscrapers will ignite children’s curiosity in both urban animals and the caring people who help protect them. ..."
Horn Book (March/April, 2008)
"... Narrating in an admirably easygoing and lucid style, Schulman tells Pale Male's story in greater detail (including, for instance, an earlier, aborted nesting attempt and the loss of his first mate), seamlessly integrating it into the context of other city life, animal and human. Though she describes the avid bird watchers and the affection for the hawks that seems to have been shared by all save the building's owners, her primary focus is on the birds themselves,..."

5. Connections

Idea: Have students research information, pictures, descendants of Pale Male.

Birds of Central Park, text and photographs by Cal Vornberger. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2005.

The Tale of Pale Male : A True Story by Jeanette Winter. New York: Harcourt, 2007.

http://suzyred.com/2009-pale-male.html

http://www.palemale.com/

Talking With Artists: conversations with Victoria Chess, Pat Cummings, Leo and Diane Dillon, Richard Egielski, Lois Ehlert, Lisa Campbell Ernst, Tom Feelings, Steven Kellogg, Jerry Pinkney, Amy Schwartz, Lane Smith, Chris Van Allsburg, and David Wiesner
compiled and edited by Pat Cummings.

1. Bibliography
Cummings, Pat. 1992. Talking With Artists. New York, New York: Macmillan.
ISBN 0-02-724245-5

Dewey Classification: 920 CUM

Reading Level: 5.9
2. Summary

Pat Cummings interviews 14 illustrators/artists (including herself) in this informative book about their lives, choices and homes. The cleverly written answer and question format that repeats for each person makes the reader look to see how each person answers the same questions. The background information on each illustrator explains how each person grew up and how they started in the art world. Children of all ages will find this book informative and inspiring.

3. Critical Analysis

This unique form of question and answer highlights the artists and illustrators for this book. The reader learns about the motivation behind what drives each artist to continue and what sparked their interest to begin. The photographs and the illustrations enhance the information given to give the reader a well-rounded sense of who each person really is. Pat Cummings includes herself as one of the highlighted artisits for this book. She formats the book in way that makes it intersting to students by answering questions they would want to ask.

4. Reviews

Texas Bluebonnet Award Book 1993 - 1994

School Library Journal

Conversations with Victoria Chess, Leo and Diane Dillon, Richard Egielski, Lois Ehlert, Lisa Campbell Ernst, Tom Feelings, Steven Kellogg, Jerry Pinkney, Amy Schwartz, Lane Smith, Chris Van Allsburg, and David Wiesner form the content of this book. All say that ``practice, practice, practice'' is the key to success. ... The cumulative result is a short course in how to succeed in the book business, and general agreement that illustration is a tremendously satisfying and enjoyable occupation. Young artists will learn a lot; teachers and other children will also love it. Well designed and well conceived, this book will be welcomed in all those classrooms in which children's literature has become central to the curriculum. --Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Publishers Weekly

In this wide-ranging survey, 14 talented illustrators talk about their childhoods, their work and their daily routines. The broad cross-section includes Caldecott medalists (Chris Van Allsburg, David Wiesner), women (Amy Schwartz, Victoria Chess, Lois Ehlert) and African Americans (Leo Dillon, Jerry Pinkney). Brief autobiographical statements precede interviews that touch on both personal and professional concerns--working conditions, pets, business associates. Each subject is represented by one or two samples of his or her current work and one childhood piece, usually a real charmer. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

5. Connections

Idea: Have students interview famous "artists" in their school, using the same questions/format as presented in the book.

Talking With Artists Volume 2 by Pat Cummings. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1995.

Talking with artists. Volume three :conversations with Peter Catalanotto, Raul Colon, Lisa Desimini, Jane Dyer, Kevin Hawkes, G. Brian Karas, Betsy Lewin, Ted Lewin, Keiko Narahashi, Elise Primavera, Anna Rich, Peter Sis, Paul O. Zelinsky compiled and edited by Pat Cummings. Missouri :Clarion, 1999.

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Welcome to the Book Reviewer. This blog has been created as an assignment for Literature for Children and Young Adolescents LS5603.20 through TWU. Please enjoy the book review information added to this blog