Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
2004 Caldecott Honor
Also:
Don't let the Pigeon Stay Up Late
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy
I have to admit, I think Mo Willems is brilliant. He has a way of getting in the brains of young people like few others. My daughter age 7 LOVES his books, particularly the Knuffle Bunny series and the Pigeon series, both of which seem to be based on his "hands on" experiences with his own daughter.
He has a couple of websites worth checking out. He has one: Mo Willems
and the Pigeon (and other characters) have their own! : Pigeon Presents! Starring Mo Willems' Pigeon!
Anyhow, back to the book report. The pigeon books are funny. Based on a one sided conversation full of all the things kids say. "Hey, can I drive the bus?" "Please?" "I'll be careful."
In a cartoony style with "talk bubbles".
At my house our favorite hands down, is Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late. I have read that one to my 7 year old daughter at least once or twice a day since it arrived from the library. And I'm afraid there are reasons she finds it funny (but I won't go into the bedtime issues at our house at this time!)
I've just about memorized it, in fact if I'm not getting these quotes exactly right it's because the book is downstairs beside the bed, and I"m quoting from memory, but I think you'll get the idea!
"But I'm not tired! In fact, I'm in the mood for a hot dog party! What do you say? . . . NO?! . . . humpf."
"How about five more minutes? . . . What's FIVE MINUTES IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS?"
"YAWN . . . That was NOT a yawn! I was stretching!"
"It's the middle of the day in China!"
etc.
Hilarious. I recommend Mo Willems in general and Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late in particular!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The Treasure
The Treasure by Uri Shulevitz
1980 Caldecott Honor
This is a retelling of a folktale that involves a dream coming to a man telling him where treasure lies. A long journey is made to the place of the treasure. And in the end we discover where treasure really lies. "Sometimes one must travel far to discover what is near."
Uri Shulevitz has won Caldecott Honor's more than once (Snow; The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship; How I Learned Geography)
The story is told very simply and I personally find the retelling of the story a bit spare.
The Treasure is illustrated with luminous little watercolor paintings and, for me, these are what carry the book.
1980 Caldecott Honor
This is a retelling of a folktale that involves a dream coming to a man telling him where treasure lies. A long journey is made to the place of the treasure. And in the end we discover where treasure really lies. "Sometimes one must travel far to discover what is near."
Uri Shulevitz has won Caldecott Honor's more than once (Snow; The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship; How I Learned Geography)
The story is told very simply and I personally find the retelling of the story a bit spare.
The Treasure is illustrated with luminous little watercolor paintings and, for me, these are what carry the book.
My Friend Rabbit
My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann
2003 Caldecott Medal
A very likable book about a well meaning rabbit, told by his friend mouse. "My friend Rabbit means well. But whatever he does, where ever he goes, trouble follows." The story is told in both text and pictures. I like that in a picture book, when the pictures don't just "illustrate" the story, but carry the story line all by themselves in part. I looked up Eric Rohmann's website and he said this: "This book also began with many words and as I made the images I saw that the silliness was best left to the pictures." Glad he figured that out!
His website is a fun visit: Eric Rohmann - Author & Illustrator - My Friend Rabbit
I like the pictures in the book a lot. They are hand colored relief prints and I'm partial to that bold "wood block print" look.
In the end you just like the two characters a lot, and their friendship. Rabbit is plucky, "Not to worry, Mouse. I've got an idea!" Mouse is loyal. "But Rabbit means well. And he is my friend."
2003 Caldecott Medal
A very likable book about a well meaning rabbit, told by his friend mouse. "My friend Rabbit means well. But whatever he does, where ever he goes, trouble follows." The story is told in both text and pictures. I like that in a picture book, when the pictures don't just "illustrate" the story, but carry the story line all by themselves in part. I looked up Eric Rohmann's website and he said this: "This book also began with many words and as I made the images I saw that the silliness was best left to the pictures." Glad he figured that out!
His website is a fun visit: Eric Rohmann - Author & Illustrator - My Friend Rabbit
I like the pictures in the book a lot. They are hand colored relief prints and I'm partial to that bold "wood block print" look.
In the end you just like the two characters a lot, and their friendship. Rabbit is plucky, "Not to worry, Mouse. I've got an idea!" Mouse is loyal. "But Rabbit means well. And he is my friend."
An Apple for Harriet Tubman
An Apple for Harriet Tubman bu Glennette Tilley Turner, illustrated by Susan Keeter
no award that I know of, though I don't see why not!
I love this book. It's based on stories told to the author by Harriet Tubman's great niece Alice Brickler, who learned it from Harriet herself. I like it when stories about big people and big events have specific little details that pull us in.
Harriet Tubman loved apples. Who knew?
This story carries her from picking apples while being forbidden to eat any, and getting whipped for taking a bite of one. . . . to owning her own land in NY and planting a row of apple trees that she ate her fill of shared with her neighbors.
Both of my children (age 10 and 7) enjoyed the book also.
no award that I know of, though I don't see why not!
I love this book. It's based on stories told to the author by Harriet Tubman's great niece Alice Brickler, who learned it from Harriet herself. I like it when stories about big people and big events have specific little details that pull us in.
Harriet Tubman loved apples. Who knew?
This story carries her from picking apples while being forbidden to eat any, and getting whipped for taking a bite of one. . . . to owning her own land in NY and planting a row of apple trees that she ate her fill of shared with her neighbors.
Both of my children (age 10 and 7) enjoyed the book also.
Pura Belpre Award
Another children's book award I'll be tracking-----
The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
Here is a link to the website:
The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
Here is a link to the website:
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Interrupting Chicken
Interupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
2011 Caldecott Honor
This is definitely a book on the light side. In fact it's silly! It was bedtime for the little red chicken. Her Papa says "And of course you are not going to interrupt the story tonight are you?"
"Oh no, Papa. I'll be good."
But, you guessed it. . . she interrupts every story!
This book will be best appreciated by people who are familiar with the traditional stories that are interrupted!
Hansel and Gretel . . . "out jumped a little red checkin, and she said 'DON'T GO IN! SHE'S A WITCH!' So Hansel and Gretel didn't. THE END!"
Little Red Riding Hood . . . "Out jumped a little red checkin, and she said 'DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS!' So the Littel Red Riding Hood didn't. THE END!"
etc.
This type of story honestly isn't my cup of tea, but I did appreciate the ending. . . Papa falls asleep before the little red chicken. Something I can certainly relate to!
2011 Caldecott Honor
This is definitely a book on the light side. In fact it's silly! It was bedtime for the little red chicken. Her Papa says "And of course you are not going to interrupt the story tonight are you?"
"Oh no, Papa. I'll be good."
But, you guessed it. . . she interrupts every story!
This book will be best appreciated by people who are familiar with the traditional stories that are interrupted!
Hansel and Gretel . . . "out jumped a little red checkin, and she said 'DON'T GO IN! SHE'S A WITCH!' So Hansel and Gretel didn't. THE END!"
Little Red Riding Hood . . . "Out jumped a little red checkin, and she said 'DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS!' So the Littel Red Riding Hood didn't. THE END!"
etc.
This type of story honestly isn't my cup of tea, but I did appreciate the ending. . . Papa falls asleep before the little red chicken. Something I can certainly relate to!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Rosa
Rosa by Nikki Giovanni, illustrated by Bryan Collier
2006 Caldecott Honor Book
2006 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award
More poets should write history for children. This is a splendid and powerful book. And beautifully written. I suspect that Nikki Giovanni was able to talk with Rosa and others in the story personally. The text is full of intimate details about what people were thinking and doing through out first days of the historic events of the bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama.
"Jo Ann Robinson was at the PIggly Wiggly when she learned of the arrest. She had stopped in to purchase a box of macaroni and cheese. She always served macaroni and cheese when she baked red snapper for dinner. A sister member of the Women's Political council approached her just as she reached the check out lane.
'Not Mrs. Parks!' Mrs Robinson exclaimed. She then looked furtively around. 'Pass the word that everybody should meet me at my office at ten o'clock tonight," she said."
I love the person of Rosa Parks. Her long life lived with dignity and strength.
Pete Seeger tells a story about being at a training for civil rights activists at the Highlander Folk School in Tennessee. On the last day, they went around the circle and everyone said what they were going to do when they got home. Several "movers and shakers" were there, and each person spoke about their plans. But one woman, when it was her turn, said she just didn't know what she would do. That, was Rosa Parks.
She wasn't just a worn out seamstress. She was an activist making a choice. A spontaneous choice! But one very much in keeping with her participation in the movement.
Here is a link to her website: Rosa Louise Parks Biography
The illustrations strong and luminous, by Bryan Collier, someone who has won a bunch of awards before and since. I like his work and his choices about what he illustrates, often powerful stories from African American History. Here is a link to Bryan Collier's website. I enjoyed learning about him, especially his dedication to community service and empowerment of young people. Bryan Collier | Bio
I personally liked this book a bit better than the 2006 Medal winner! And would definitely recommend it!
2006 Caldecott Honor Book
2006 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award
More poets should write history for children. This is a splendid and powerful book. And beautifully written. I suspect that Nikki Giovanni was able to talk with Rosa and others in the story personally. The text is full of intimate details about what people were thinking and doing through out first days of the historic events of the bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama.
"Jo Ann Robinson was at the PIggly Wiggly when she learned of the arrest. She had stopped in to purchase a box of macaroni and cheese. She always served macaroni and cheese when she baked red snapper for dinner. A sister member of the Women's Political council approached her just as she reached the check out lane.
'Not Mrs. Parks!' Mrs Robinson exclaimed. She then looked furtively around. 'Pass the word that everybody should meet me at my office at ten o'clock tonight," she said."
I love the person of Rosa Parks. Her long life lived with dignity and strength.
Pete Seeger tells a story about being at a training for civil rights activists at the Highlander Folk School in Tennessee. On the last day, they went around the circle and everyone said what they were going to do when they got home. Several "movers and shakers" were there, and each person spoke about their plans. But one woman, when it was her turn, said she just didn't know what she would do. That, was Rosa Parks.
She wasn't just a worn out seamstress. She was an activist making a choice. A spontaneous choice! But one very much in keeping with her participation in the movement.
Here is a link to her website: Rosa Louise Parks Biography
The illustrations strong and luminous, by Bryan Collier, someone who has won a bunch of awards before and since. I like his work and his choices about what he illustrates, often powerful stories from African American History. Here is a link to Bryan Collier's website. I enjoyed learning about him, especially his dedication to community service and empowerment of young people. Bryan Collier | Bio
I personally liked this book a bit better than the 2006 Medal winner! And would definitely recommend it!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
2008 Caldecott Medal
2007 National Book Award Finalist
This book gets a very large WOW! distinction from me. Everything about this book totally captivated me and it is fair to say I have never ever seen or read a book like it.
2008 Caldecott Medal
2007 National Book Award Finalist
This book gets a very large WOW! distinction from me. Everything about this book totally captivated me and it is fair to say I have never ever seen or read a book like it.
The book is more than 525 pages long. Let me just remind you that the Caldecott award is for picture books. The award is actually granted to the illustrator. Most Caldecott awards go to typical picture books that are written for young children. This is a middle school novel. BUT 284 pages of it are PICTURES. It is the coolest book ever. The introduction asks us to close our eyes and imagine we are in a movie theatre, the curtain opens as we zoom in on the sun rising. . . in Paris. . . to a train station. . . we enter the station, crowded with people. . . The book IS like a movie.
And then every once in a while, there are a couple of pages of text. The pictures aren't illustrating the text. The pictures TOGETHER with the text tell the story. There is a whole case scene in the book that is told only in pictures, for example. So, it's part movie, part graphic novel, part conventional novel. But the pictures and layout aren't like a typical graphic novel. It's not cartooney. The pictures are full double page pencil drawings.
So, the novelty of the actual physical book is exciting. . . but that is not the only thing it's riding on. The illustrations and layout are wonderful. But it's a good story too! It tells the story of a real film maker from France in the early days of film; but through the eyes of a boy named Hugo Cabret and his friend Isabelle who are entirely the authors invention. The story has mystery and magic in it. And the characters are completely fascinating.
Hugo comes from a family of clock makers. His uncle maintains all the clocks in the train station. When Hugo's father dies in a tragic fire, he is taken in by his uncle, who has a serious drinking problem. Turns out that clock makers are often magicians. Both require the same level of intense dexterity. Hugo learns magic and makes magic. Before his father died he was working on repairing a mechanical man who sat with pen and ink and was about to write. Hugo tries to take up this work and succeeds in repairing the automaton. And then discovers it's maker.
I have told more people about this book than any other I've read recently, because it is so unusual and because I think so many people would enjoy it.
In fact, my son Jabu who is 10, and a bit of a reluctant reader and tends towards things like Captain Underpants in his reading choices, loved it. My DAD age 92 who absolutely NEVER EVER reads fiction saw it on the table while Jabu was reading it, and read the entire book cover to cover in one sitting! Dad's normal fair in the reading dept. is economics, global warming, world health issues. . . but he thought it was excellent. I also loved it. If three readers who are as different from one another in their reading inclinations all loved this book, that right there is an amazing testimony!
Highly recommended!
Here is a cool interview with the author from the National Book Award site:
The National Book Foundation
Here is a cool interview with the author from the National Book Award site:
The National Book Foundation
The author has a second book in this same style. I ordered it from the library, but there are 39 people in line ahead of me! Can't wait to see it though!
Love, Louise
Zora and Me
Zora and Me by Victoria Bond and T. R. Simon
2011 Corretta Scott King new talent award
I didn't realize this was an award winner until just now. I was going to post about it anyhow, because I thought it was very good. I found it because I was looking for books about Florida to share with the kids before we traveled there earlier this fall. This book caught my eye while I was searching because Zora Neale Hurston's book Their Eyes Were Watching God is one of my all time favorite books, and this book is a fictionalized account of her growing up years in Eatonville Florida.
It's based on her writing and other historical info and is true enough to fact that it is the only project to be endorsed by the Zora Neale Hurston Trust that was not written by Hurston herself.
I read this one aloud to Jabu (age 10) and we both enjoyed it. I was a little worried about selling him on it at first, but I shouldn't have been concerned. . . the first chapter tells the story of an alligator attack! He was hooked from that point on!
The characters of Zora and her friends (one of whom is telling the story), the people of Eatonville both distinguished and odd, were all people I was glad to meet and the authors did a great job of bringing them to life.
There were several strands of the story that I appreciated very much. One featured a misunderstood loner named Mr. Pendir who the kids in the book spent most of the story being completely afraid of. Turns out "All the time Mr. Pendir had lived in Eatonville knocking around in his old house, alone and weary-looking, he had been making things, and the things he made were beautiful."
But the one that still stays with me the strongest (I'm writing this actually a couple of months after reading the book) involved a sister and a brother of mixed race. The brother was brown, the sister could "pass" and DID. The price of turning away from her people was very dear and watching Jabu come to realize that as the story unfolded was definitely worth the read all by itself.
I liked this book very much and would recommend it.
2011 Corretta Scott King new talent award
I didn't realize this was an award winner until just now. I was going to post about it anyhow, because I thought it was very good. I found it because I was looking for books about Florida to share with the kids before we traveled there earlier this fall. This book caught my eye while I was searching because Zora Neale Hurston's book Their Eyes Were Watching God is one of my all time favorite books, and this book is a fictionalized account of her growing up years in Eatonville Florida.
It's based on her writing and other historical info and is true enough to fact that it is the only project to be endorsed by the Zora Neale Hurston Trust that was not written by Hurston herself.
I read this one aloud to Jabu (age 10) and we both enjoyed it. I was a little worried about selling him on it at first, but I shouldn't have been concerned. . . the first chapter tells the story of an alligator attack! He was hooked from that point on!
The characters of Zora and her friends (one of whom is telling the story), the people of Eatonville both distinguished and odd, were all people I was glad to meet and the authors did a great job of bringing them to life.
There were several strands of the story that I appreciated very much. One featured a misunderstood loner named Mr. Pendir who the kids in the book spent most of the story being completely afraid of. Turns out "All the time Mr. Pendir had lived in Eatonville knocking around in his old house, alone and weary-looking, he had been making things, and the things he made were beautiful."
But the one that still stays with me the strongest (I'm writing this actually a couple of months after reading the book) involved a sister and a brother of mixed race. The brother was brown, the sister could "pass" and DID. The price of turning away from her people was very dear and watching Jabu come to realize that as the story unfolded was definitely worth the read all by itself.
I liked this book very much and would recommend it.
The Hello Goodbye Window; Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie
The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster, illustrated by Chris Raschka
2006 Caldecott Medal
Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie by Norton Juster, illustrated by Chris Raschka
Both of these books feature a girl and her visits to her Grandpa and Nanna. The Hello, Goodbye Window got the award, but at our house we LOVE Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie even more! Sourpuss and Sweetie pie discusses the very relevant topic of rapid mood changes in young people! My seven year old daughter has asked us to read it multiple times each day for the past couple of weeks!
Both feature these wonderful loose colorful illustrations by Chris Raschka. And a really fun connected loving relationship between the grandparents and kid. There is humor and wisdom which is a combination I favor. I'd recommend both books, but especially Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie!
2006 Caldecott Medal
Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie by Norton Juster, illustrated by Chris Raschka
Both of these books feature a girl and her visits to her Grandpa and Nanna. The Hello, Goodbye Window got the award, but at our house we LOVE Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie even more! Sourpuss and Sweetie pie discusses the very relevant topic of rapid mood changes in young people! My seven year old daughter has asked us to read it multiple times each day for the past couple of weeks!
Both feature these wonderful loose colorful illustrations by Chris Raschka. And a really fun connected loving relationship between the grandparents and kid. There is humor and wisdom which is a combination I favor. I'd recommend both books, but especially Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie!
Time-Traveling Twins
Time Traveling Twins by Diane Stanley
I've read Roughing It on the Orgeon Trail
and Joining the Boston Tea Party
No awards that I know of, but I just enjoyed these books and so did both of my children (Jabu age 10 and Makayla age 7). It reminds me of the Magic School Bus books, but about history.
The Time Traveling Twins go to see their grandma, they select an ancestor they'd like to visit, they dress accordingly, the grandma puts on her time traveling hat, they hold hands, someone grabs the dog, and they find themselves in another time and place! They have their adventures, and then return to Grandma's house.
Lot's of pictures, and a cartoon element on each page with "talk bubbles" coming from the characters in the illustrations (including the dog!)
A fun way to learn some history!
I've read Roughing It on the Orgeon Trail
and Joining the Boston Tea Party
No awards that I know of, but I just enjoyed these books and so did both of my children (Jabu age 10 and Makayla age 7). It reminds me of the Magic School Bus books, but about history.
The Time Traveling Twins go to see their grandma, they select an ancestor they'd like to visit, they dress accordingly, the grandma puts on her time traveling hat, they hold hands, someone grabs the dog, and they find themselves in another time and place! They have their adventures, and then return to Grandma's house.
Lot's of pictures, and a cartoon element on each page with "talk bubbles" coming from the characters in the illustrations (including the dog!)
A fun way to learn some history!
Ella Sarah Gets Dressed
Ella Sarah Gets Dressed by Margaret Chodos-Irvine
2004 Caldecott Honor
My daughter loves to dress up and I enjoyed sharing this book with her. It's a story about a little girl who gets up and says "I want to wear my pink polka-dot pants, my dress with orange-and-green flowers, my purple-and-blue striped socks, my yellow shoes, and my red hat."
Mom, Dad, and big sister all try and talk her out of it, but it turns out to be the perfect outfit!
The pictures are prints (looks like silk screens to me, but the book says "a variety of printmaking techniques." And are bold and colorful.
I can't rave about this book, it's not that exciting for me, but it's a sweet read.
2004 Caldecott Honor
My daughter loves to dress up and I enjoyed sharing this book with her. It's a story about a little girl who gets up and says "I want to wear my pink polka-dot pants, my dress with orange-and-green flowers, my purple-and-blue striped socks, my yellow shoes, and my red hat."
Mom, Dad, and big sister all try and talk her out of it, but it turns out to be the perfect outfit!
The pictures are prints (looks like silk screens to me, but the book says "a variety of printmaking techniques." And are bold and colorful.
I can't rave about this book, it's not that exciting for me, but it's a sweet read.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Ninth Ward
Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes
2011 Corretta Scott King Honor
Lenesha is 12 and lives in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans and this is her story. And the story of the 9 days stretching from the Sunday before Hurricane Katrina to the Tuesday after the storm hit. It's also the story of Mama Ya-Ya, the midwife, seer, and healer that has raised Lanesha since birth; a boy named TaShon and his dog Spot. Lanesha shares the gift of sight with her Mama Ya-Ya, so the story includes the ghosts that visit her.
This story is beautifully written and conceived. The author says in her acknowledgements "Books were my lifeline during a difficult childhood. For my entire writing life, I've been waiting to grow up enough to write what I hoped would be a good book for young audiences." I think she's achieved that.
First of all, you will love Mama Ya-Ya and Lanesha. They are both fascinating and likable people. Mama Ya-Ya is wise and loving. Lanesha is smart and sweet and determined. They are complex characters with their share of hard times, but the love between them is sure and strong.
What I admire most about this book is the balance between the devastation, terror, and drama of the hurricane and the levees breaking---- and the love between the characters (both living and dead), the will to survive and the coming of age that comes of that effort, and the hope remaining intact in the midst of all the destruction and chaos.
It describes the intensity of the storm from the mayor announcing the mandatory evacuation. . . "Mama Ya-Ya bites her lip, shakes her head muttering, 'How can it be mandatory if I don't have a way to go?'"
To the earth shaking force of the hurricane passing over. . . "The house shakes, teetering, in the wind and rain's violent game. Dodgeball. Tug-of-war. Shakes Sways and I swear, it's going to fall. . . fall. . . fall over. Down. The bed is rattling, creeping across the floor like it grew feet."
To the water rising . . . " I sit and count, 'One, one thousand, two, one thousand, three, one thousand. . .' I count until my mouth cracks dry. I watch the black liquid crawling up the steps. Sixty-one one thousands equals a minute. I count six hundred minutes. That's ten minute for the water to rise halfway up a step. Another ten to cover a new step. Twenty minutes for each whole step. There are twelve steps to the attic floor.
Twenty minutes times twelve. We've got two hours left.
Survive."
But through out all that intensity is a cord of loving wisdom and fortitude that is like a torch passed from Mama Ya-Ya to Lanesha. "As time slips by, as the water rises, I try to think about what's next, about what Mama Ya-Ya would want me to do.
8 + 4 = 12. Spiritual strength. Real strength, Lanesha. Like butterflies."
I very much enjoyed this book and can recommend it!
2011 Corretta Scott King Honor
Lenesha is 12 and lives in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans and this is her story. And the story of the 9 days stretching from the Sunday before Hurricane Katrina to the Tuesday after the storm hit. It's also the story of Mama Ya-Ya, the midwife, seer, and healer that has raised Lanesha since birth; a boy named TaShon and his dog Spot. Lanesha shares the gift of sight with her Mama Ya-Ya, so the story includes the ghosts that visit her.
This story is beautifully written and conceived. The author says in her acknowledgements "Books were my lifeline during a difficult childhood. For my entire writing life, I've been waiting to grow up enough to write what I hoped would be a good book for young audiences." I think she's achieved that.
First of all, you will love Mama Ya-Ya and Lanesha. They are both fascinating and likable people. Mama Ya-Ya is wise and loving. Lanesha is smart and sweet and determined. They are complex characters with their share of hard times, but the love between them is sure and strong.
What I admire most about this book is the balance between the devastation, terror, and drama of the hurricane and the levees breaking---- and the love between the characters (both living and dead), the will to survive and the coming of age that comes of that effort, and the hope remaining intact in the midst of all the destruction and chaos.
It describes the intensity of the storm from the mayor announcing the mandatory evacuation. . . "Mama Ya-Ya bites her lip, shakes her head muttering, 'How can it be mandatory if I don't have a way to go?'"
To the earth shaking force of the hurricane passing over. . . "The house shakes, teetering, in the wind and rain's violent game. Dodgeball. Tug-of-war. Shakes Sways and I swear, it's going to fall. . . fall. . . fall over. Down. The bed is rattling, creeping across the floor like it grew feet."
To the water rising . . . " I sit and count, 'One, one thousand, two, one thousand, three, one thousand. . .' I count until my mouth cracks dry. I watch the black liquid crawling up the steps. Sixty-one one thousands equals a minute. I count six hundred minutes. That's ten minute for the water to rise halfway up a step. Another ten to cover a new step. Twenty minutes for each whole step. There are twelve steps to the attic floor.
Twenty minutes times twelve. We've got two hours left.
Survive."
But through out all that intensity is a cord of loving wisdom and fortitude that is like a torch passed from Mama Ya-Ya to Lanesha. "As time slips by, as the water rises, I try to think about what's next, about what Mama Ya-Ya would want me to do.
8 + 4 = 12. Spiritual strength. Real strength, Lanesha. Like butterflies."
I very much enjoyed this book and can recommend it!
Monday, November 14, 2011
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? and more by Steve Jenkins
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
2004 Caldecott Honor
Big and Little by Steve Jenkins
What Do You Do When Someone Wants to Eat You? by Steve Jenkins
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this author illustrator. Since I also have environmental education in my bag of tricks, I have a particular appreciation for these books that convey fascinating information about animals together with beautiful paper cut collages made from hand painted water colored paper. Luscious combination!
The illustrations remind me a little of Eric Carle, these are also paper cut collages, but the papers used for the collages are more delicate--- water colored and hand made paper, and the results are a little more refined. (Make no mistake I love Eric Carle!)
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? talks about unusual animal body parts. Noses of platypuses, elephants, star nosed moles, hyenas, and alligators. Ears, tails, eyes, feet, mouths of an array of other animals. The format gives close ups of the featured body parts first, and then you turn the page to learn more. That way you can guess at what's going on before turning the page. I like a book that is interactive that way. At the end of the book there is more information about each animal. I love it when facts are so amazing they read like poetry. . . . "The platypus closes it's eyes under water and uses its sensitive bill to detect the faint electric pulses emitted by its prey." Or "The entire human body has more than 600 muscles, but there are as many as 100,000 muscles in an elephant's trunk."
What Do You Do When Someone Wants to Eat You? Introduces us to 14 animals peculiar defense mechanisms. "The blue-tongued skink startles attackers. . . by sticking out it's large, bright blue tonuge and wiggling it from side to side." Or, "The basilisk lizard is known in South America as the Jesus Christ lizard. It can escape it's enemies. . . by running across the surface of ponds and streams, using its large feet and great speed to keep it from sinking into the water."
Again the wonderful paper cut illustration and "wow" inspiring fascinating facts!
Big and Little is about animals that are related to one another but very different in size. The animals are illustrated to scale for comparison (one inch equals 8 inches). "The capybara, the world's largest rodent, weighs as much as one thousand deer mice." OK, I'm totally a sucker for this kind of thing. I love it.
He also has a page of silouettes that are at the scale of one inch equals two and a half feet. With a human being included to compare all the animals at once. And there is a couple of pages of additional information about each animal. I always find this "additional information" to be really interesting, but also hard to get through for some reason and I wonder how many young readers actually get to read it. My kids never have the patience for that kind of thing!
Anyhow, I can totally recommend this author illustrator and look forward to seeking out more of his books! Plus I'll be sharing these with my outdoor explorer campers tomorrow!
2004 Caldecott Honor
Big and Little by Steve Jenkins
What Do You Do When Someone Wants to Eat You? by Steve Jenkins
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this author illustrator. Since I also have environmental education in my bag of tricks, I have a particular appreciation for these books that convey fascinating information about animals together with beautiful paper cut collages made from hand painted water colored paper. Luscious combination!
The illustrations remind me a little of Eric Carle, these are also paper cut collages, but the papers used for the collages are more delicate--- water colored and hand made paper, and the results are a little more refined. (Make no mistake I love Eric Carle!)
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? talks about unusual animal body parts. Noses of platypuses, elephants, star nosed moles, hyenas, and alligators. Ears, tails, eyes, feet, mouths of an array of other animals. The format gives close ups of the featured body parts first, and then you turn the page to learn more. That way you can guess at what's going on before turning the page. I like a book that is interactive that way. At the end of the book there is more information about each animal. I love it when facts are so amazing they read like poetry. . . . "The platypus closes it's eyes under water and uses its sensitive bill to detect the faint electric pulses emitted by its prey." Or "The entire human body has more than 600 muscles, but there are as many as 100,000 muscles in an elephant's trunk."
What Do You Do When Someone Wants to Eat You? Introduces us to 14 animals peculiar defense mechanisms. "The blue-tongued skink startles attackers. . . by sticking out it's large, bright blue tonuge and wiggling it from side to side." Or, "The basilisk lizard is known in South America as the Jesus Christ lizard. It can escape it's enemies. . . by running across the surface of ponds and streams, using its large feet and great speed to keep it from sinking into the water."
Again the wonderful paper cut illustration and "wow" inspiring fascinating facts!
Big and Little is about animals that are related to one another but very different in size. The animals are illustrated to scale for comparison (one inch equals 8 inches). "The capybara, the world's largest rodent, weighs as much as one thousand deer mice." OK, I'm totally a sucker for this kind of thing. I love it.
He also has a page of silouettes that are at the scale of one inch equals two and a half feet. With a human being included to compare all the animals at once. And there is a couple of pages of additional information about each animal. I always find this "additional information" to be really interesting, but also hard to get through for some reason and I wonder how many young readers actually get to read it. My kids never have the patience for that kind of thing!
Anyhow, I can totally recommend this author illustrator and look forward to seeking out more of his books! Plus I'll be sharing these with my outdoor explorer campers tomorrow!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Jane Addams Children's Book Award
I just found another list of books to add to my project!
What is the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award?
The Jane Addams Children’s Book Award is an annual award that honors children’s books of literary and
artistic merit that invite children to think deeply about peace, social justice, world community and
gender and racial equality. The Jane Addams Peace Association has presented the Jane Addams
Children’s Book Award since 1953. The association is the educational arm of the Women's International
League for Peace and Freedom founded by on April 28th in 1915 with Addams as its first president. The
Awards are announced each year on April 28. Information about the Addams Award can be found at
www.janeaddamspeace.org or by contacting the
Jane Addams Peace Association,
777 United Nations Plaza, 6th Floor,
New York, NY 10017
(212) 682-8830
japa@igc.org
Henry's Freedom Box; A True Story from the Underground Railroad
Henry's Freedom Box; A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
2008 Caldecott Honor Book
This is a powerful book worth reading and sharing. It's not a happy book and deals with gritty real life issues. Henry is a slave that successfully puts himself in a box and mails himself to freedom. But the "success" of that plan is against the backdrop of his dispair after his wife and children have been sold, never to be seen again.
The illustrations by Kadir Nelson are beautiful and convey the emotions of the story well. The text is also excellent. There is depth and sensitivity in how she shares the story. She doesn't overplay any of the painful elements, she tells it like it is, but in a steady poets voice, without punishing us with the facts.
"His friend James came into the factory. He whispered to Henry, "Your wife and children were just sold at the slave market."
"No!" cried Henry. Henry couldn't move. He couldn't think. He couldn't work.
"Twist that tobacco!" The boss poked Henry.
Henry twisted tobacco leaves. His heart twisted in his chest.
The pictures and stories together also convey well the closeness in the bonds between mother and child, husband and wife. I also appreciate the white people in the story who don't believe in slavery and assist in the plan, especially the character of Dr. Smith, who helped Henry mail himself to Philadelphia.
Slavery is something I have discussed with my children starting in pre-school. I think it's a necessary discussion and I appreciate this and other picture books for giving us the jumping off places and the context and details for those conversations. My son LOVED learning about history from a young age and developed a keen sense of justice from reading this kind of book, and we read a lot of books about African American history. My daughter is more inclined towards fantasy than non-fiction, so we haven't done as MUCH of this kind of reading, but I intentionally include this kind of book in the mix.
I recommend this book.
2008 Caldecott Honor Book
This is a powerful book worth reading and sharing. It's not a happy book and deals with gritty real life issues. Henry is a slave that successfully puts himself in a box and mails himself to freedom. But the "success" of that plan is against the backdrop of his dispair after his wife and children have been sold, never to be seen again.
The illustrations by Kadir Nelson are beautiful and convey the emotions of the story well. The text is also excellent. There is depth and sensitivity in how she shares the story. She doesn't overplay any of the painful elements, she tells it like it is, but in a steady poets voice, without punishing us with the facts.
"His friend James came into the factory. He whispered to Henry, "Your wife and children were just sold at the slave market."
"No!" cried Henry. Henry couldn't move. He couldn't think. He couldn't work.
"Twist that tobacco!" The boss poked Henry.
Henry twisted tobacco leaves. His heart twisted in his chest.
The pictures and stories together also convey well the closeness in the bonds between mother and child, husband and wife. I also appreciate the white people in the story who don't believe in slavery and assist in the plan, especially the character of Dr. Smith, who helped Henry mail himself to Philadelphia.
Slavery is something I have discussed with my children starting in pre-school. I think it's a necessary discussion and I appreciate this and other picture books for giving us the jumping off places and the context and details for those conversations. My son LOVED learning about history from a young age and developed a keen sense of justice from reading this kind of book, and we read a lot of books about African American history. My daughter is more inclined towards fantasy than non-fiction, so we haven't done as MUCH of this kind of reading, but I intentionally include this kind of book in the mix.
I recommend this book.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Knuffle Bunny
Knuffle Bunny; A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems
2005 Caldecott Honor Book
Knuffle Bunny Too; a Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems
2008 Caldecott Honor Book
Knuffle Bunny Free; An Unexpected Diversion by Mo Willems
I love the Knuffle Bunny books and so does everyone in my family. They are worth reading again and again. They are hilarious and deal with the stuff real kids care about!
The series begins with Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale where in our hero Trixie is a pre-verbal toddler and on a trip to the laundry mat with her dad, her beloved Knuffle Bunny gets thrown in with the wash. After a frantic race through the neighborhood back to the laundry mat, the bunny is recovered.
The pictures in these books are extra cool. They have black and white PHOTOS of real places with cartoon characters "playing" in these photographed "sets." So, there is, for example a photo of a city block with cartoon people walking down the real sidewalk and Trixie's mom standing on the front steps waving. There is something really fun about this juxtaposition of real and imaginary. I love the luscious art work of many other picture books. These illustrations are not that. They are silly. Profoundly, wonderfully, silly.
I viewed an interview with Mo Willems on you tube and he said that he purposely tried to draw his main characters so SIMPLY that a small child could make a reasonably good drawing of Knuffle Bunny or Trixie themselves, and thus extend their adventures into their own imaginative play.
In Knuffle Bunny Too Trixie is a little older and she and Dad are walking throught the neighborhood on the way to Pre-K at the local school. Trixie is excited to be taking her one-of-a-kind Knuffle Bunny to meet all her friends at school. When she gets there another girl Sonja has Knuffle Bunny too! "Suddenly, Trixie's one-of-a-kind Knuffle Bunny wasn't so one-of-a-kind anymore."
So many conflicts arise that the teacher takes the bunnies! And returns them at the end of the day. In the middle of the night Trixie realizes "That is not my bunny!" at which point Trixies daddy tried to exaplain what "2:30 a.m." means. Another race through the neighborhood in the middle of the night returns the bunnies to their rightful owners. And a new friendship is forged!
Knuffle Bunny Free concludes the saga. When Knuffle Bunny is left in an airplane after an international flight. And then miraculously FOUND on the way home. And then even more amazingly, then given to a small baby who was crying on the plane.
The books acknowledgements refer to "The real Trixie and her mommy" and I very much WANT these to be true stories. I searched for the answer to my question (Did this really happen? Is Trixie your little girl? Are YOU the Dad?) In his FAQ someone asks "Are the Knuffle Bunny stories true?" and he replies "They are completely true, except for the parts I make up."
Friday, November 11, 2011
A River of Words
A River of Words; The Story of William Carlos Willams by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
2009 Caldecott Honor Book
Ever since my son Jabu, now 10 years old, was little (like 3 or 4) he has loved picture book biographies. And I have loved them right along with him. Our children are adopted and African American (I am Japanese American-Russian American mixed, and my husband is European American). I used my sons interest in biographies to share lots of African American history with him. I don't know if there were as many great picture book biographies when I was little, but I sure didn't discover them if there were! I can honestly RAVE about many of them that I have read. It's just a part of the library worth spending time in!
OK, now to the book at hand! This is a picture book biography of the poet Willam Carlos Williams. I can DISTINCTLY remember being introduced to his poetry in a high school English class and loving it immediately. I can remember especially the poem:
The Red Wheelbarrow
so much depend
upon
a red wheel
barrow
glazed with rain
water
beside the white
chickens
******
I loved this poem! So I was excited to learn more about this poets life! He was a doctor. And a Dad. He wrote his poetry, several volumes of it, on top of all those other responsibilities, until the end of his life when he'd had some health difficulties that allowed him to curtail his medical career but still allowed him to write.
The illustrations in this book are a combination of drawings, paintings and collage. Many of the illustrations have his poetry embedded in them, either hand lettered or typewritten on an old fashioned typewriter. All in all a pleasing combination!
There is also a cool time line in the back of the book that has three columns, one for events of his life, one for the poems he published, and one for world events. It's amazing to think about the years his life spanned, from 1883 to 1963, going all the way from the first car to space capsules orbiting the earth .
I think older children (8 and up?) would be most likely to enjoy this book. I wouldn't hesitate to share it with my 10 year old.
2009 Caldecott Honor Book
Ever since my son Jabu, now 10 years old, was little (like 3 or 4) he has loved picture book biographies. And I have loved them right along with him. Our children are adopted and African American (I am Japanese American-Russian American mixed, and my husband is European American). I used my sons interest in biographies to share lots of African American history with him. I don't know if there were as many great picture book biographies when I was little, but I sure didn't discover them if there were! I can honestly RAVE about many of them that I have read. It's just a part of the library worth spending time in!
OK, now to the book at hand! This is a picture book biography of the poet Willam Carlos Williams. I can DISTINCTLY remember being introduced to his poetry in a high school English class and loving it immediately. I can remember especially the poem:
The Red Wheelbarrow
so much depend
upon
a red wheel
barrow
glazed with rain
water
beside the white
chickens
******
I loved this poem! So I was excited to learn more about this poets life! He was a doctor. And a Dad. He wrote his poetry, several volumes of it, on top of all those other responsibilities, until the end of his life when he'd had some health difficulties that allowed him to curtail his medical career but still allowed him to write.
The illustrations in this book are a combination of drawings, paintings and collage. Many of the illustrations have his poetry embedded in them, either hand lettered or typewritten on an old fashioned typewriter. All in all a pleasing combination!
There is also a cool time line in the back of the book that has three columns, one for events of his life, one for the poems he published, and one for world events. It's amazing to think about the years his life spanned, from 1883 to 1963, going all the way from the first car to space capsules orbiting the earth .
I think older children (8 and up?) would be most likely to enjoy this book. I wouldn't hesitate to share it with my 10 year old.
A Sick Day for Amos McGee
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead, Illustrated by Erin E. Stead
2011 Caldecott Medal
The illustrations in this book are pencil drawings combined with blocks of color. It's a sweet whimsical story of an old man zoo keeper and his daily visits with various animals in the zoo. He runs races with the (who never lost), played chess with the elephant (who thought and thought and thought before a move, etc. When he gets a cold, the animals take the bus to his house and return the favor.
I might have passed this by if I'd not known it was a medal winner. But it is warm story of devotion in friendship and the bonds that that creates.
2011 Caldecott Medal
The illustrations in this book are pencil drawings combined with blocks of color. It's a sweet whimsical story of an old man zoo keeper and his daily visits with various animals in the zoo. He runs races with the (who never lost), played chess with the elephant (who thought and thought and thought before a move, etc. When he gets a cold, the animals take the bus to his house and return the favor.
I might have passed this by if I'd not known it was a medal winner. But it is warm story of devotion in friendship and the bonds that that creates.
First The Egg
First The Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
2008 Caldecott Honor Book
This book will appeal to the very youngest reader, but is definitely not lost on me! The very simple text and pictures are elegant, as well as simple. And although it has that little kid appeal, there is no "talking down" which I appreciate. It also has a playful "a book can be a toy" aspect. . . each page has a cut out and the pages lead to one another in a way that invites participation and predicting what comes next.
For example, the first pages read "First the EGG" and there is a cut out shape of a white egg. You turn the page and read "then the CHICKEN". The cut out egg shape now flips over and becomes the yellow body of the chick that just hatched out of the egg. The white of the egg on the previous page was the white mama chicken you see on this page.
So, when you get to the next page and it says "First the tadpole" small children want to guess "then the FROG!" Plus it's fun and intriguing to see how the same cut out shape becomes different things as the page turns. And the last line. . . "First the CHICKEN" (turn the page) "then the EGG!"
2008 Caldecott Honor Book
This book will appeal to the very youngest reader, but is definitely not lost on me! The very simple text and pictures are elegant, as well as simple. And although it has that little kid appeal, there is no "talking down" which I appreciate. It also has a playful "a book can be a toy" aspect. . . each page has a cut out and the pages lead to one another in a way that invites participation and predicting what comes next.
For example, the first pages read "First the EGG" and there is a cut out shape of a white egg. You turn the page and read "then the CHICKEN". The cut out egg shape now flips over and becomes the yellow body of the chick that just hatched out of the egg. The white of the egg on the previous page was the white mama chicken you see on this page.
So, when you get to the next page and it says "First the tadpole" small children want to guess "then the FROG!" Plus it's fun and intriguing to see how the same cut out shape becomes different things as the page turns. And the last line. . . "First the CHICKEN" (turn the page) "then the EGG!"
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The Red Book; The Museum Trip; The Secret Box
The Red Book by Barbara Lehman
2005 Caldecott Honor Book
Also by the same author---
The Museum Trip
The Secret Box
I am pretty excited to be introduced to this author who I was previously unfamiliar with. I looked up The Red Book because it was a Caldecott Honor book, and when I saw it was a wordless picture book, I got everything on the shelf that she had written! My kids like wordless picture books. Jabu (age 10) likes graphic novels and comic books and these are akin to that somehow. And Makayla (age 6) is just learning to read, so to be able to "read" a book entirely on her own is satisfying to her.
Some wordless picture books are designed with pre-readers, that is VERY YOUNG children in mind. But this author/illustrator is more in the ilk of David Weisner (Flostsom, and Tuesday, among others). She creates, through pictures alone, COMPLEX, intriguing story lines that are engaging for all ages, including adults!
Her illustration style is very different from David Weisner. His pictures are very fine and detailed. Her pictures are warm and simple. But The Red Book really does remind me of Flotsom.
All three of these books I read this evening by Barbara Lehman involve the characters entering into pictures or pages and thus entering other worlds. So, there is a surreal, fantastical element.
In The Red Book a girl finds a book and sees a boy finding a book and looking at HER in the book, while she looks at HIM in her book. It's all a little twisted and hard to wrap your mind around ---- in a good way!
The Musuem Trip shows a boy getting lost on an art museum field trip, entering a little door to a small room where there are pictures of mazes in a glass case. He runs onto the paper, and works the mazes, running each one's route successfully, into the center and out again.
In The Secret Box three children find a small collection of treasures left by a child long ago. They travel into the world of the clues left in the box. . . some ticket stubs, a postcard, etc.
All very cool stuff. Much cooler than I'm able to describe here. I like this author A LOT. And am so very happy to have discovered her as a result of this project!
2005 Caldecott Honor Book
Also by the same author---
The Museum Trip
The Secret Box
I am pretty excited to be introduced to this author who I was previously unfamiliar with. I looked up The Red Book because it was a Caldecott Honor book, and when I saw it was a wordless picture book, I got everything on the shelf that she had written! My kids like wordless picture books. Jabu (age 10) likes graphic novels and comic books and these are akin to that somehow. And Makayla (age 6) is just learning to read, so to be able to "read" a book entirely on her own is satisfying to her.
Some wordless picture books are designed with pre-readers, that is VERY YOUNG children in mind. But this author/illustrator is more in the ilk of David Weisner (Flostsom, and Tuesday, among others). She creates, through pictures alone, COMPLEX, intriguing story lines that are engaging for all ages, including adults!
Her illustration style is very different from David Weisner. His pictures are very fine and detailed. Her pictures are warm and simple. But The Red Book really does remind me of Flotsom.
All three of these books I read this evening by Barbara Lehman involve the characters entering into pictures or pages and thus entering other worlds. So, there is a surreal, fantastical element.
In The Red Book a girl finds a book and sees a boy finding a book and looking at HER in the book, while she looks at HIM in her book. It's all a little twisted and hard to wrap your mind around ---- in a good way!
The Musuem Trip shows a boy getting lost on an art museum field trip, entering a little door to a small room where there are pictures of mazes in a glass case. He runs onto the paper, and works the mazes, running each one's route successfully, into the center and out again.
In The Secret Box three children find a small collection of treasures left by a child long ago. They travel into the world of the clues left in the box. . . some ticket stubs, a postcard, etc.
All very cool stuff. Much cooler than I'm able to describe here. I like this author A LOT. And am so very happy to have discovered her as a result of this project!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
The Wall; Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain
The Wall; Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis
2008 Caldecott Honor Book
I found this book fascinating. It is a first person narrative about growing up in Czechoslovakia and spans from the late 1940's through the 70's, and references the wall coming down in 1989. I love learning about history through a personal lens, and this book definitely provides that. I found the journal entries especially powerful.
I read it aloud to Jabu, my 10 year old, and he both didn't much like it and had no patience at all for the journal entries (my favorite part). I don't know if I just caught him at the wrong time, or what, Jabu usually really likes biographies and books based on history.
Looking at it again today, I think the problem might have been that the layout/format of this book doesn't lend itself to reading ALOUD. The story doesn't run in a straight line. And this is actually part of what makes it an interesting book. There are definitions in small print running along the edges of some pages (Cold War, Communism, Iron Curtain). The introduction gives a great overview of the historic context of the book, but for a read aloud listener is not story-like at all. There is a thread of text about the authors own life "As long as he could remember, he had loved to draw."that is "interrupted" by captions giving historic details beside the frames of cartoon like pictures "1948. The Soviets take control of Czechoslovakia and close the borders." And all of this is "interrupted" or (in my opinion supported) by pages of journal entries that are interspersed occasionally.
Here are a few examples from the journal entries:
"April 1956 My father's cousin Lamin is in prison as an enemy of the state. My grandmother talks to my parents about it in German so my sister and I won't understand. But we understand some of it. He was on a national volleyball team that was going to a tournament in the West, and the players were all planning to stay there. The secret police found out. Lamin is twenty years old and will be in prison for the rest of this life."
"1961 We watch an American movie called On the Bowery at school. It shows poor people sleeping in the street. We're told this is how people in a capitalist country live."
"May 19665 Allen Ginsberg, the American beat poet, comes to Prague. Students make him our Kral Majales (King of May). Then the secret police accuse him of subversion and deport him."
The picture Peter Sims paints of life behind the Iron Curtain is not pretty. It sounds pretty scary and oppressive. I'm have my concerns about capitalism as well, but what he grew up with would not be an attractive alternative!
Anyhow, a very interesting read. Possibly a better book for ADULTS than children. But, in the Afterward I learned that the book was written in an attempt to explain his childhood to his own children. "Now when my American family goes to visit my Czech family in the colorful city of Prague, it is hard to convince them it was ever a dark place full of fear, suspicion, and lies. I find it difficult to explain my childhood; it's hard to put it into words, and since I have always drawn everything, I have tried to draw my life---before America--- for them."
2008 Caldecott Honor Book
I found this book fascinating. It is a first person narrative about growing up in Czechoslovakia and spans from the late 1940's through the 70's, and references the wall coming down in 1989. I love learning about history through a personal lens, and this book definitely provides that. I found the journal entries especially powerful.
I read it aloud to Jabu, my 10 year old, and he both didn't much like it and had no patience at all for the journal entries (my favorite part). I don't know if I just caught him at the wrong time, or what, Jabu usually really likes biographies and books based on history.
Looking at it again today, I think the problem might have been that the layout/format of this book doesn't lend itself to reading ALOUD. The story doesn't run in a straight line. And this is actually part of what makes it an interesting book. There are definitions in small print running along the edges of some pages (Cold War, Communism, Iron Curtain). The introduction gives a great overview of the historic context of the book, but for a read aloud listener is not story-like at all. There is a thread of text about the authors own life "As long as he could remember, he had loved to draw."that is "interrupted" by captions giving historic details beside the frames of cartoon like pictures "1948. The Soviets take control of Czechoslovakia and close the borders." And all of this is "interrupted" or (in my opinion supported) by pages of journal entries that are interspersed occasionally.
Here are a few examples from the journal entries:
"April 1956 My father's cousin Lamin is in prison as an enemy of the state. My grandmother talks to my parents about it in German so my sister and I won't understand. But we understand some of it. He was on a national volleyball team that was going to a tournament in the West, and the players were all planning to stay there. The secret police found out. Lamin is twenty years old and will be in prison for the rest of this life."
"1961 We watch an American movie called On the Bowery at school. It shows poor people sleeping in the street. We're told this is how people in a capitalist country live."
"May 19665 Allen Ginsberg, the American beat poet, comes to Prague. Students make him our Kral Majales (King of May). Then the secret police accuse him of subversion and deport him."
The picture Peter Sims paints of life behind the Iron Curtain is not pretty. It sounds pretty scary and oppressive. I'm have my concerns about capitalism as well, but what he grew up with would not be an attractive alternative!
Anyhow, a very interesting read. Possibly a better book for ADULTS than children. But, in the Afterward I learned that the book was written in an attempt to explain his childhood to his own children. "Now when my American family goes to visit my Czech family in the colorful city of Prague, it is hard to convince them it was ever a dark place full of fear, suspicion, and lies. I find it difficult to explain my childhood; it's hard to put it into words, and since I have always drawn everything, I have tried to draw my life---before America--- for them."
When You Reach Me
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
2010 Newbery Medal winner
This story in told in the voice of 6th grader Miranda and takes place in New York City. The story is constructed in a fascinating way, like a puzzle you are trying to solve, and when it all came together in the end, I was flipping back through the book to take a second look at the clues that were being supplied all along.
Miranda's favorite book is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. She reads it continuously, over and over. In this science fiction book time travel is a feature.
When You Reach Me does a great job with characters. Miranda, her friends at school, her mom, her mom's boyfriend, people in the neighborhood, people on the street, are all believable interesting people. The setting of NYC is also a place that I felt I knew better reading this story. Especially the point of view of a child growing up in the city. The relationships of Miranda and all the characters is particularly well done and the relationship are complex and evolve in interesting unpredictable ways.
At some point Miranda starts receiving mysterious little notes from an unknown source. Some of them predict the future. Accurately. The story is in great part a letter to the person sending the notes. And it is an intriguing puzzle to try and figure out who the letter is to and who is doing the sending. There is an element of really not knowing WHAT is going on through out the entire book, but this pulls you along in a fun way. And suddenly at the close of the book it all comes into focus.
I enjoyed the book! I don't think it's one that I'd INSIST anyone read, but it's very good and I can recommend it.
Miranda's favorite book is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. She reads it continuously, over and over. In this science fiction book time travel is a feature.
When You Reach Me does a great job with characters. Miranda, her friends at school, her mom, her mom's boyfriend, people in the neighborhood, people on the street, are all believable interesting people. The setting of NYC is also a place that I felt I knew better reading this story. Especially the point of view of a child growing up in the city. The relationships of Miranda and all the characters is particularly well done and the relationship are complex and evolve in interesting unpredictable ways.
At some point Miranda starts receiving mysterious little notes from an unknown source. Some of them predict the future. Accurately. The story is in great part a letter to the person sending the notes. And it is an intriguing puzzle to try and figure out who the letter is to and who is doing the sending. There is an element of really not knowing WHAT is going on through out the entire book, but this pulls you along in a fun way. And suddenly at the close of the book it all comes into focus.
I enjoyed the book! I don't think it's one that I'd INSIST anyone read, but it's very good and I can recommend it.
Gone Wild an Endanged Animal Alphabet
Gone Wild An Endangered Animal Alphabet by Dave McLimans
2007 Caldecott Honor Book
I often wish books would give more information about the art work. The bold graphic illustrations in this book look like papercuts to me, but I am not entirely sure how they are made.
There is an introduction, explaining a little about endangered species and the different classifications of this (Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable)
Then there is an alphabet. Each LETTER is made into a picture of an endangered animal. M is for Prairie Sphinx Moth and the middle of the letter M is made of the wings and body of the moth. L is for Snow Leopard and the letter L is spotted like a leopard and has a claw on the "foot" of the L. It's a little hard to describe! On each page there is also a box with a smaller picture of the endangered animal and some basic information: Class, Habitat, Range, Threats, Status.
Then, at the very back of the book there are 5 pages with additional REALLY INTERESTING information about each animal (one short completely fascinating paragraph per animal) and some resources listing further reading and organizations that help endangered animals. This is where you learn stuff like: "The boa is a mighty hunter and has heat sensitive pits around its mouth enabling it to hunt for warm-blooded prey in complete darkness." or "Thanks to its large webbed feet, the blue duck can move easily through swift rapids and climb over large boulders."
My 6 year old didn't like this book. She thought the ABC animals "weren't really pictures."
I also wasn't quite satisfied with it. I especially didn't like the choice of the more interesting info about the animals being pulled out and listed separately. I can see why, for purely graphic reasons, it's nice to have the bold black ABC animals floating on an uncluttered white page. But I doubt many people get to reading the dense text at the back of the book. I found the information absolutely amazing, and still had trouble sticking with it for 5 pages. I would have preferred to have the text about the animals included the first time around.
2007 Caldecott Honor Book
I often wish books would give more information about the art work. The bold graphic illustrations in this book look like papercuts to me, but I am not entirely sure how they are made.
There is an introduction, explaining a little about endangered species and the different classifications of this (Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable)
Then there is an alphabet. Each LETTER is made into a picture of an endangered animal. M is for Prairie Sphinx Moth and the middle of the letter M is made of the wings and body of the moth. L is for Snow Leopard and the letter L is spotted like a leopard and has a claw on the "foot" of the L. It's a little hard to describe! On each page there is also a box with a smaller picture of the endangered animal and some basic information: Class, Habitat, Range, Threats, Status.
Then, at the very back of the book there are 5 pages with additional REALLY INTERESTING information about each animal (one short completely fascinating paragraph per animal) and some resources listing further reading and organizations that help endangered animals. This is where you learn stuff like: "The boa is a mighty hunter and has heat sensitive pits around its mouth enabling it to hunt for warm-blooded prey in complete darkness." or "Thanks to its large webbed feet, the blue duck can move easily through swift rapids and climb over large boulders."
My 6 year old didn't like this book. She thought the ABC animals "weren't really pictures."
I also wasn't quite satisfied with it. I especially didn't like the choice of the more interesting info about the animals being pulled out and listed separately. I can see why, for purely graphic reasons, it's nice to have the bold black ABC animals floating on an uncluttered white page. But I doubt many people get to reading the dense text at the back of the book. I found the information absolutely amazing, and still had trouble sticking with it for 5 pages. I would have preferred to have the text about the animals included the first time around.
How I Learned Geography
How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz
2009 Caldecott Honor Book
This story is based on the author/illustrators memories of being a boy during World War II. They had to flee Poland empty handed. As refugees in a strange place, they were often hungry.
One day the boys father going to market to get bread and coming home instead with a map of the world. "I had enough money to buy only a tiny piece of bread, and we would still be hungry" he explained apologetically. Both Mother and Boy were bitterly angry.
But the next day, the Father hangs up the map. It is bright and colorful and takes up a whole wall. The boy spends many hours gazing at the map, making magical incantations out of the names of the cities and countries, and traveling to all the parts of the world in his mind.
There is also an authors note with a photo of the author at this age and a picture he drew at age 10 of Africa. I read it to both of my children (ages 6 and 10) and they both enjoyed it. I like a book that makes kids think and inspires conversations about big topics. I like a book that combines fancy with substance. This book definitely succeeds; recommended!
2009 Caldecott Honor Book
This story is based on the author/illustrators memories of being a boy during World War II. They had to flee Poland empty handed. As refugees in a strange place, they were often hungry.
One day the boys father going to market to get bread and coming home instead with a map of the world. "I had enough money to buy only a tiny piece of bread, and we would still be hungry" he explained apologetically. Both Mother and Boy were bitterly angry.
But the next day, the Father hangs up the map. It is bright and colorful and takes up a whole wall. The boy spends many hours gazing at the map, making magical incantations out of the names of the cities and countries, and traveling to all the parts of the world in his mind.
There is also an authors note with a photo of the author at this age and a picture he drew at age 10 of Africa. I read it to both of my children (ages 6 and 10) and they both enjoyed it. I like a book that makes kids think and inspires conversations about big topics. I like a book that combines fancy with substance. This book definitely succeeds; recommended!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The House in the Night
The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson, pictures by Beth Krommes
2009 Caldecott Medal winner
A lovely picture book with black and white etchings that are simple yet detailed. Each page has gold highlights but no other colors. The illustrations are very pleasing. The text is simple in a "house that Jack built" kind of way. But unlike One Fine Day which also has that familiar pattern, this book has that emotional resonance and poetry that I look for, and the illustrations definitely support that deepening of the simple text in an important way.
My daughter Makayla (age 6) liked the pictures when she "read" it herself (with out reading) and liked hearing me read it as well.
I'm not sure if this is a book that will stay in my mind and insist people read (time will tell!). But I definitely enjoyed it.
2009 Caldecott Medal winner
A lovely picture book with black and white etchings that are simple yet detailed. Each page has gold highlights but no other colors. The illustrations are very pleasing. The text is simple in a "house that Jack built" kind of way. But unlike One Fine Day which also has that familiar pattern, this book has that emotional resonance and poetry that I look for, and the illustrations definitely support that deepening of the simple text in an important way.
My daughter Makayla (age 6) liked the pictures when she "read" it herself (with out reading) and liked hearing me read it as well.
I'm not sure if this is a book that will stay in my mind and insist people read (time will tell!). But I definitely enjoyed it.
Kitten's First Full Moon
Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
2005 Caldecottt Medal Winner
"It was Kitten's first full moon. When she saw it, she thought , There's a little bowl of milk in the sky. And she wanted it."
I read this aloud to Makayla (age 6) and she loved it. She absolutely loved that the kitten thought the moon was a bowl of milk.
The story continues, describing all the different ways that Kitten tries and tries and tries to get that bowl of milk. The black and white drawings have a bold line and simplicity, and do a GREAT job of conveying a full range of emotions on the face of this little kitten.
By the end of the story, and all her efforts to get this big bowl of milk in the sky, Kitten is "wet and sad and tired and hungry." So, she head back home, to find a big bowl of milk waiting for her. "Lucky Kitten!"
It's a sweet book. I like it and recommend it. Especially for little ones. But with enough substance to be pleasing to me as well!
2005 Caldecottt Medal Winner
"It was Kitten's first full moon. When she saw it, she thought , There's a little bowl of milk in the sky. And she wanted it."
I read this aloud to Makayla (age 6) and she loved it. She absolutely loved that the kitten thought the moon was a bowl of milk.
The story continues, describing all the different ways that Kitten tries and tries and tries to get that bowl of milk. The black and white drawings have a bold line and simplicity, and do a GREAT job of conveying a full range of emotions on the face of this little kitten.
By the end of the story, and all her efforts to get this big bowl of milk in the sky, Kitten is "wet and sad and tired and hungry." So, she head back home, to find a big bowl of milk waiting for her. "Lucky Kitten!"
It's a sweet book. I like it and recommend it. Especially for little ones. But with enough substance to be pleasing to me as well!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Tuesday; Art & Max, both by David Wiesner
Tuesday by David Wiesner
1992 Caldecott Medal Winner
Art & Max by David Wiesner
caldecott author
David Wiesner as I've mentioned before has won the Caldecott Medal THREE times (and has a couple of Caldecott Honor books as well) so, after reading Flotsom and The Three Pigs I was eager to see some of his other books. Here are two more. . .
David Wiesner enjoys fantastical journeys of various sorts. Tuesday is another almost wordless visual story involving things fantastical. Mainly, frogs lifting off the pond and flying on their lily pads, all through one Tuesday night.
The next Tuesday it appears to be flying pigs. And in fact it is those very flying pigs that inspired The Three Pigs story (also a Caldecott Medal winner.)
Art & Max I was especially curious about since I'd watched a video interview of the author talking about his creative process with this book. It features two lizards, both artists, one more established one a student and it's a grand and fanciful exploration of different art media.
1992 Caldecott Medal Winner
Art & Max by David Wiesner
caldecott author
David Wiesner as I've mentioned before has won the Caldecott Medal THREE times (and has a couple of Caldecott Honor books as well) so, after reading Flotsom and The Three Pigs I was eager to see some of his other books. Here are two more. . .
David Wiesner enjoys fantastical journeys of various sorts. Tuesday is another almost wordless visual story involving things fantastical. Mainly, frogs lifting off the pond and flying on their lily pads, all through one Tuesday night.
The next Tuesday it appears to be flying pigs. And in fact it is those very flying pigs that inspired The Three Pigs story (also a Caldecott Medal winner.)
Art & Max I was especially curious about since I'd watched a video interview of the author talking about his creative process with this book. It features two lizards, both artists, one more established one a student and it's a grand and fanciful exploration of different art media.
Fun Stuff. I recommend this author in general.
One Fine Day
One Fine Day by Nonny Hogrogian (author and illustrator)
1972 Caldecott Medal
Inspired by an Armenian folk tale, this is a cumulative story about a fox who helps himself to an old woman's milk, get's his tail chopped off as a result, and then goes through a series of efforts in order to repay the old woman so she'll sew his tail back on. (Which does eventually happen.)
It's the kind of "add on" story, like the house that Jack built, that kids would enjoy saying along with the story as the story builds. The pictures are particularly pleasing in a bright, happy, colorful sort of way.
I found it to be a "nice" book, but nothing earth shattering. I go for a little more substance in the story line, so it's not something I could count as a favorite.
1972 Caldecott Medal
Inspired by an Armenian folk tale, this is a cumulative story about a fox who helps himself to an old woman's milk, get's his tail chopped off as a result, and then goes through a series of efforts in order to repay the old woman so she'll sew his tail back on. (Which does eventually happen.)
It's the kind of "add on" story, like the house that Jack built, that kids would enjoy saying along with the story as the story builds. The pictures are particularly pleasing in a bright, happy, colorful sort of way.
I found it to be a "nice" book, but nothing earth shattering. I go for a little more substance in the story line, so it's not something I could count as a favorite.
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marl Frazee
2009 Caldecott Honor Book
I love this book! It's a picture book with a cartooney feel. It's not in traditional comic book frames, but there are "talk bubbles" in the pictures. And it is funny.
It tells the story of a boy named James and a boy named Eamon who go to spend a week with Pam and Bill, who are Eamon's grandparents in order to spend a week at Nature Camp. It's based on real people and real events and is dedicated to Bill, Pam, James and Eamon.
What this book does delightfully and well is juxtapose the "what's expected" of these boys with their honest reality. There are lots of pages where the grown up world and the boys world are shown in their amuzing discordant harmony. Mari Frazee, both author and illustrator, often does this by having the words and the pictures doing two completely different things . . . a couple of examples:
James arrived "with just a couple of his belongings" reads the text. The accompanying picture shows a pile of stuff about three times higher than the boy!
The text reads "They decided to stay home and enjoy Bill and Pam's company." the illustration shows the boys running of the side of the page, leaving Bill and Pam in a cloud of dust!
The heart of the story though, is "as the nature camp week went by, James and Eamon practically became one person. They did everything together in exactly the same way. To save time, Bill began calling them Jamon.
The thing I love about this story is how clearly it shows up adult interest in organized activities for children. . ."On the way back that afternoon, James and Eamon described their first nature camp day to Bill.
James: I thought you are supposed to walk on a hike.
Eamon: Yeah, not stand and look at some flower for an hour."
. . . . In favor of just messing around with your friends!
Pam and Bill tolerate it all with warmth and hugs and stacks of pancakes, and are about as lovable as "Jamon"
Really sweet book. I think 5 and up would enjoy it. Adults and older kids will get more of the jokes.
2009 Caldecott Honor Book
I love this book! It's a picture book with a cartooney feel. It's not in traditional comic book frames, but there are "talk bubbles" in the pictures. And it is funny.
It tells the story of a boy named James and a boy named Eamon who go to spend a week with Pam and Bill, who are Eamon's grandparents in order to spend a week at Nature Camp. It's based on real people and real events and is dedicated to Bill, Pam, James and Eamon.
What this book does delightfully and well is juxtapose the "what's expected" of these boys with their honest reality. There are lots of pages where the grown up world and the boys world are shown in their amuzing discordant harmony. Mari Frazee, both author and illustrator, often does this by having the words and the pictures doing two completely different things . . . a couple of examples:
James arrived "with just a couple of his belongings" reads the text. The accompanying picture shows a pile of stuff about three times higher than the boy!
The text reads "They decided to stay home and enjoy Bill and Pam's company." the illustration shows the boys running of the side of the page, leaving Bill and Pam in a cloud of dust!
The heart of the story though, is "as the nature camp week went by, James and Eamon practically became one person. They did everything together in exactly the same way. To save time, Bill began calling them Jamon.
The thing I love about this story is how clearly it shows up adult interest in organized activities for children. . ."On the way back that afternoon, James and Eamon described their first nature camp day to Bill.
James: I thought you are supposed to walk on a hike.
Eamon: Yeah, not stand and look at some flower for an hour."
. . . . In favor of just messing around with your friends!
Pam and Bill tolerate it all with warmth and hugs and stacks of pancakes, and are about as lovable as "Jamon"
Really sweet book. I think 5 and up would enjoy it. Adults and older kids will get more of the jokes.
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