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