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