Author: Salman Rushdie
Year: 1991
Publisher: Viking
Pages: 219
Reading Level: Young Adult
Awards: 1992 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature
Genre: Fantasy
Location: On Earth, in a city that has forgotten its name in the mythical country of Alifbay; Also, the mythical moon Kahani
Time Period: Once upon a time (but in the near past)
Plot: Rashid Khalifa is a storyteller who is so good at his craft that people clamor for his stories from miles around. However, when his wife leaves him and his son, Haroun, Rashid loses the will to tell another story. Alarmed, Haroun decides to go on a quest to restore his father's storytelling ability. With the help of the water genie Iff and his mechanical Hoopoe bird Butt, Haroun flies to the moon Kahani, where the source of all stories, the Ocean of the Streams of Story, is located. There, Haroun finds trouble is brewing. The evil villain Khattam-Shud is poisoning the streams of story, and plotting to put a stopper in the wellsprings of the ocean. Khattam-Shud has also captured Princess Batcheat, and he is threatening to sew up the lips of her and her rescuers in an attempt to rule the world and turn it into a place of eternal silence and darkness. It is up to Haroun and his friends to defeat Khattam-Shud before it becomes too late. SPOILER! Haroun and his friends succeed when Haroun manages to get the moon to start turning again, assuring that no one will ever be in complete darkness forever. Khattam-Shud's evil lairs of ice and shadow are ruined in the sunlight. Because Haroun has helped save Kahani, the people of Kahani offer Haroun a boon. He wishes for a happy ending, and arrives home to find that everyone is happy, Rashid's powers of storytelling have been rekindled, and Haroun's mother has come back home.
Comments: I read this book for book club, and it was interesting to see the different opinions people had about it. One person loved it. Another person couldn't stand the writing style. The book had many elements of a classic hero adventure tale, which is something I love, but I could see where the person who didn't like the book was coming from.
Rushdie's writing style is very epic and exotic. He frequently repeats the same idea three times in three different ways. For example, Rashid the storyteller is an Ocean of Notions, the Shah of Blah, given the Gift of Gab, etc. The repetition sets the tone of the story nicely, but it also has an edge of humor in it. This is, after all, designed as a child's tale. The humor can be somewhat off-putting because it is sometimes silly, but it is something that children should love.
This is a story that I think adults would appreciate too. Despite the sometimes silly humor and repetition, there are many layers of meaning to the story. What goes on in Kahani can be directly related to what is going on down on Earth below. The book also tries to raise the question, "what's the use of stories if they're not real?"
Haroun is a likeable character whose braveness is fueled by his love for his father and by his yearning for Rashid to be happy. Most of the other characters are somewhat cookie-cutter characters, but that works for this type of story.
I liked the story a lot, and I would recommend it to others. The ending left a little something to be desired because it all ended so suddenly and so neatly, but it is the classic happy ending that a tale of good vs. evil should have.
Themes: The power of Storytelling, Good vs. Evil
Red Flags: Haroun's mother leaves Rashid for the upstairs neighbor, who ends up being Khattam-Shud.
Multicultural Elements: Although this is a fairy tale, the characters and storytelling elements are very much influenced by an Indian/Asian storytelling influence.
Showing posts with label multicultural. Show all posts
Showing posts with label multicultural. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Read All About It!
Authors: Lara and Jenna Bush
Illustrator: Denise Brunkus
Year: 2008
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book
Location: Good Day Elementary School
Time Period: Present Day (2008)
Plot: Tyrone loves school. He loves hanging out with his friends and solving math problems and watching the science teacher make things explode. However, there is one thing he doesn't like—reading books. Tyrone doesn't pay attention when it is time for story time. But one day, even Tyrone becomes enthralled with the book Miss Libro reads to the children for story time. Suddenly, the characters in the books seem to pop right out of the pages and visit with the schoolchildren. SPOILER! When the children's favorite story character, a pig strongly reminiscent of Wilbur, disappears, Tyrone and his friends go on a search for him. They eventually find the pig and all of the other characters they have met throughout the year in the school library.
Comments: I don't usually read the picture books written by celebrities. It seems highly likely that the books are getting published not because they have any literary merit, but because the author's name is popular and thus profitable. However, I do have a soft spot for Laura Bush since she's a fellow librarian, so I thought I'd try the children's book she wrote with her daughter.
On the whole, but book was cute. The message of finding good friends in a book (and in the library) was a little contrived, but isn't that one reason why I read? I like meeting new people and wondering what it would be like to be them. The pictures were bright and clear and interesting, and there were a lot of fun details specific to each page that were fun to find. For example, the class Book List and Class Rules changed on each page.
The most distracting thing for me was a small thing that most readers wouldn't even think twice about: All of the signs, books, posters, etc. in the artwork used fonts that you'd find in word processing software. They weren't painted in like the rest of the picture, but were obviously added in digitally later. It was just slightly jarring to me. But on the whole, I think this is a good book that young elementary-age readers will enjoy.
Themes: Reading, Story Characters, Libraries
Multicultural Elements: One or two of the children in the classroom are obviously of different races, but that is it.
Illustrator: Denise Brunkus
Year: 2008
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book
Location: Good Day Elementary School
Time Period: Present Day (2008)
Plot: Tyrone loves school. He loves hanging out with his friends and solving math problems and watching the science teacher make things explode. However, there is one thing he doesn't like—reading books. Tyrone doesn't pay attention when it is time for story time. But one day, even Tyrone becomes enthralled with the book Miss Libro reads to the children for story time. Suddenly, the characters in the books seem to pop right out of the pages and visit with the schoolchildren. SPOILER! When the children's favorite story character, a pig strongly reminiscent of Wilbur, disappears, Tyrone and his friends go on a search for him. They eventually find the pig and all of the other characters they have met throughout the year in the school library.
Comments: I don't usually read the picture books written by celebrities. It seems highly likely that the books are getting published not because they have any literary merit, but because the author's name is popular and thus profitable. However, I do have a soft spot for Laura Bush since she's a fellow librarian, so I thought I'd try the children's book she wrote with her daughter.
On the whole, but book was cute. The message of finding good friends in a book (and in the library) was a little contrived, but isn't that one reason why I read? I like meeting new people and wondering what it would be like to be them. The pictures were bright and clear and interesting, and there were a lot of fun details specific to each page that were fun to find. For example, the class Book List and Class Rules changed on each page.
The most distracting thing for me was a small thing that most readers wouldn't even think twice about: All of the signs, books, posters, etc. in the artwork used fonts that you'd find in word processing software. They weren't painted in like the rest of the picture, but were obviously added in digitally later. It was just slightly jarring to me. But on the whole, I think this is a good book that young elementary-age readers will enjoy.
Themes: Reading, Story Characters, Libraries
Multicultural Elements: One or two of the children in the classroom are obviously of different races, but that is it.
Friday, December 12, 2008
The Book of Boys (for Girls) and the Book of Girls (for Boys)
Author: David T. Greenberg
Illustrator: Joy Allen
Year: 2005
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Poetry
Location: Anywhere, U.S.A.
Time Period: Present Day (2005)
Plot: Starting off with the classic nursery rhymes stating what little boys and girls are made of, this book turns into a battle of the sexes, with girls on left pages talking about what they don't like about boys, and boys on right pages talking about what they don't like about girls. Peace is restored when each gender discusses the things they like about the other.
Comments: The text on the inside flap of this book states that it is intended as two books in one. "Boys can read the Book of Girls (for Boys) on the left side, and the girls can counter by reading the Book of Boys (for Girls) on the right." Text isn't always lined up this way, however, so it might be hard for two people to read the different parts at the same time. It's a very fun idea, however, and the rhymes are creative. The watercolor and pencil drawings are fun and bright, and they show a lot of action. Children who are entering the "cootie" stage would enjoy this book.
Themes: Boys, Girls, Getting Along, Looking for the Good in Others.
Red Flags: A few burp and fart jokes, Children misbehaving
Multicultural Elements: Children of many different cultures are depicted
Illustrator: Joy Allen
Year: 2005
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Poetry
Location: Anywhere, U.S.A.
Time Period: Present Day (2005)
Plot: Starting off with the classic nursery rhymes stating what little boys and girls are made of, this book turns into a battle of the sexes, with girls on left pages talking about what they don't like about boys, and boys on right pages talking about what they don't like about girls. Peace is restored when each gender discusses the things they like about the other.
Comments: The text on the inside flap of this book states that it is intended as two books in one. "Boys can read the Book of Girls (for Boys) on the left side, and the girls can counter by reading the Book of Boys (for Girls) on the right." Text isn't always lined up this way, however, so it might be hard for two people to read the different parts at the same time. It's a very fun idea, however, and the rhymes are creative. The watercolor and pencil drawings are fun and bright, and they show a lot of action. Children who are entering the "cootie" stage would enjoy this book.
Themes: Boys, Girls, Getting Along, Looking for the Good in Others.
Red Flags: A few burp and fart jokes, Children misbehaving
Multicultural Elements: Children of many different cultures are depicted
Monday, December 8, 2008
Kensuke's Kingdom
Author: Michael Morpurgo
Year: 1999
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 164
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Adventure/Survival
Location: An island somewhere in the Indian Ocean
Time Period: 1988
Plot: When eleven year-old Michael's parents decide to leave their home in England to pursue their dreams by sailing around the world for eighteen months, Michael is ecstatic. One stormy night halfway through the voyage Michael and his dog Stella are thrown overboard. Michael and Stella are miraculously saved by a seventy-four year-old Japanese man who lives on a nearby island. Even though the Japanese man provides Michael with food every day, he does nothing else with Michael, dividing the island into two separate parts and refusing to allow Michael to build a signal fire. Months go by. Frustrated with his imprisonment on the island, Michael avoids the man's warning not to swim in the ocean, and is attacked by a deadly jellyfish. The man rescues Michael, and the two finally bond as the man, named Kensuke, cares for Michael's wounds. SPOILER! Michael learns that Kensuke was washed up on the island during the World War II when the ship he was serving on was attacked by American bombers. Kensuke has had some contact with the outside world—enough to know that his home, Nagasaki, was destroyed by an atomic bomb, which most likely also killed his family. He also hid on the island when men came to the island on a hunting trip. Left alone for years and years, Kensuke has come to the conclusion that man is innately cruel. This is why he avoided Michael at first. As they get to know each other, Michael encourages Kensuke to learn to hope again and to consider going back to Japan. When Michael's parents finally find the island, Kensuke refuses to come with Michael, convinced that he needs to stay with his new family, a group of orangutans. Kensuke makes Michael promise that he won't share his story for ten years. When Michael finally speaks out about his experience, he learns that Kensuke's family is still alive.
Comments: As I was writing the outline of this story, I realized how depressing it sounds. Michael meets a man who has decided that man will always want to kill one another, and he doesn't want to live in that kind of society any more. This, however, is not the point of the story. Although the book does have a somewhat sad tone, it also has a stronger hopeful one. Kensuke has worthwhile goals in life. He takes pride in beauty, and he does everything with care. He has come to learn to love his neighbors the orangutans, and he stays on the island out of a want to protect them instead of out of fear of the unknown. This story has many different elements that should appeal to a wide range of readers. This book reads a lot like a modern day Robinson Crusoe. There's the adventure aspect, with details of a life at sea and the courage it takes to life a life of survival on a deserted island. The book also has a philosophical side, discussing the need of man to stop and reflect and learn to love his surroundings. I also liked how some harder issues such as the bombing of Nagasaki and man's cruelty to animals was brought up. It was a very well-written book and I enjoyed reading it.
Themes: Life at Sea, Shipwreck, Survival, Leaving the world a better place than you found it.
Red Flags: Men come on the island to kill the adult monkeys and steal the babies. Seagulls trying to eat baby turtles, Jellyfish attack, Michael is thrown overboard and separated from his parents.
Multicultural Elements: Kensuke is Japanese
Year: 1999
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 164
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Adventure/Survival
Location: An island somewhere in the Indian Ocean
Time Period: 1988
Plot: When eleven year-old Michael's parents decide to leave their home in England to pursue their dreams by sailing around the world for eighteen months, Michael is ecstatic. One stormy night halfway through the voyage Michael and his dog Stella are thrown overboard. Michael and Stella are miraculously saved by a seventy-four year-old Japanese man who lives on a nearby island. Even though the Japanese man provides Michael with food every day, he does nothing else with Michael, dividing the island into two separate parts and refusing to allow Michael to build a signal fire. Months go by. Frustrated with his imprisonment on the island, Michael avoids the man's warning not to swim in the ocean, and is attacked by a deadly jellyfish. The man rescues Michael, and the two finally bond as the man, named Kensuke, cares for Michael's wounds. SPOILER! Michael learns that Kensuke was washed up on the island during the World War II when the ship he was serving on was attacked by American bombers. Kensuke has had some contact with the outside world—enough to know that his home, Nagasaki, was destroyed by an atomic bomb, which most likely also killed his family. He also hid on the island when men came to the island on a hunting trip. Left alone for years and years, Kensuke has come to the conclusion that man is innately cruel. This is why he avoided Michael at first. As they get to know each other, Michael encourages Kensuke to learn to hope again and to consider going back to Japan. When Michael's parents finally find the island, Kensuke refuses to come with Michael, convinced that he needs to stay with his new family, a group of orangutans. Kensuke makes Michael promise that he won't share his story for ten years. When Michael finally speaks out about his experience, he learns that Kensuke's family is still alive.
Comments: As I was writing the outline of this story, I realized how depressing it sounds. Michael meets a man who has decided that man will always want to kill one another, and he doesn't want to live in that kind of society any more. This, however, is not the point of the story. Although the book does have a somewhat sad tone, it also has a stronger hopeful one. Kensuke has worthwhile goals in life. He takes pride in beauty, and he does everything with care. He has come to learn to love his neighbors the orangutans, and he stays on the island out of a want to protect them instead of out of fear of the unknown. This story has many different elements that should appeal to a wide range of readers. This book reads a lot like a modern day Robinson Crusoe. There's the adventure aspect, with details of a life at sea and the courage it takes to life a life of survival on a deserted island. The book also has a philosophical side, discussing the need of man to stop and reflect and learn to love his surroundings. I also liked how some harder issues such as the bombing of Nagasaki and man's cruelty to animals was brought up. It was a very well-written book and I enjoyed reading it.
Themes: Life at Sea, Shipwreck, Survival, Leaving the world a better place than you found it.
Red Flags: Men come on the island to kill the adult monkeys and steal the babies. Seagulls trying to eat baby turtles, Jellyfish attack, Michael is thrown overboard and separated from his parents.
Multicultural Elements: Kensuke is Japanese
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
The Arrival
Author/Illustrator: Shaun Tan
Year: 2006
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Pages: 128
Reading Level: Young Adult
Awards: 2008 ALA Notable Book, 2007 New York Times Best Illustrated award, 2008 Ten Best Books for Young Adults, and many many others
Genre: Graphic Novel/Fantasy
Location: A new land
Time Period: late 1800s/early 1900s
Plot: A man travels by steamship to a new and exotic land, where the animals, food, words, currency, and almost everything else about the place are completely unfamiliar to him. SPOILER! With the help of friendly people and the companionship of an odd gilled animal that resembles half lizard half dog, the man builds a new life in the country, and sends for his family to join him there.
Comments: This wordless graphic novel was completely different from what I expected it to be. Tan captures the immigrant experience in a somewhat disturbing, surrealistic style, but that is how a person feels when they've moved to a strange new place. The pictures are absolutely beautiful. Depicted in rich sepias and dark blacks and grays, Tan even gives the book the feeling of an old photo album by making some pages look crumpled and mold-spotted, and by including cracks and tears in the pictures. It is obvious that he spent a lot of time on this book, and I appreciated the note he included in the back that talked about all the research he did and how he tried to model his pictures after old photographs of Ellis Island, the Titanic, and other subject-appropriate depictions of the past.
Themes: Immigration, Coping with Change, New Places, Oppression, Friendship
Red Flags: Disturbing images of what immigrants to the new country have left behind: a battlefield strewn with skeletons, large men who are setting the city on fire, long tentacled arms looming over a city.
Multicultural Elements: The main character is Caucasian, but he meets many different people from many different cultures.
Year: 2006
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Pages: 128
Reading Level: Young Adult
Awards: 2008 ALA Notable Book, 2007 New York Times Best Illustrated award, 2008 Ten Best Books for Young Adults, and many many others
Genre: Graphic Novel/Fantasy
Location: A new land
Time Period: late 1800s/early 1900s
Plot: A man travels by steamship to a new and exotic land, where the animals, food, words, currency, and almost everything else about the place are completely unfamiliar to him. SPOILER! With the help of friendly people and the companionship of an odd gilled animal that resembles half lizard half dog, the man builds a new life in the country, and sends for his family to join him there.
Comments: This wordless graphic novel was completely different from what I expected it to be. Tan captures the immigrant experience in a somewhat disturbing, surrealistic style, but that is how a person feels when they've moved to a strange new place. The pictures are absolutely beautiful. Depicted in rich sepias and dark blacks and grays, Tan even gives the book the feeling of an old photo album by making some pages look crumpled and mold-spotted, and by including cracks and tears in the pictures. It is obvious that he spent a lot of time on this book, and I appreciated the note he included in the back that talked about all the research he did and how he tried to model his pictures after old photographs of Ellis Island, the Titanic, and other subject-appropriate depictions of the past.
Themes: Immigration, Coping with Change, New Places, Oppression, Friendship
Red Flags: Disturbing images of what immigrants to the new country have left behind: a battlefield strewn with skeletons, large men who are setting the city on fire, long tentacled arms looming over a city.
Multicultural Elements: The main character is Caucasian, but he meets many different people from many different cultures.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
The Adventures of Captain Underpants
Author/Illustrator: Dav Pilkey
Year: 1997
Publisher: Blue Sky Press
Pages: 121
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Comedy/Graphic Novel
Series Information: First Book in the Captain Underpants series
Location: Jerome Horwitz Elementary School
Time Period: Present Day (1997)
Plot: George Beard and Harold Hutchins are best friends who attend fourth grade at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School. They love to play practical jokes and they love to create a comic book series called Captain Underpants ("Fighting for truth, justise, and all that is pre-shrunk and cottony"). When the school principal, Mr. Krupp, catches George and Harold playing a practical joke, he punishes them by making them his servants. In order to get out of their punishment, George and Harold order a hypno-ring, hoping to hypnotize Mr. Krupp so he will do their bidding instead. When they jokingly use the hypno-ring to make Mr. Krupp become Captain Underpants, Mr. Krupp takes off most of his clothes, uses the red curtains as a cape, and runs out of the school, looking for someone to save. George and Harold follow Mr. Krupp, and the three find themselves in the middle of a plot by Dr. Diaper to take over the world. SPOILER! George, Harold, and Captain Underpants work together to thwart Dr. Diaper and his evil robot henchmen, and they head back to school. George and Harold figure they should probably undo the hypnosis on Mr. Krupp, but they can't find the hypno-ring's instructions, and they end up throwing water on Mr. Krupp to wake him up. Since Mr. Krupp was awakened from his hypnosis the wrong way, any time someone snaps their fingers he becomes Captain Underpants again, setting up the premise for the rest of the series.
Comments: I can certainly see why Captain Underpants is so popular. The story has a lot of things in it that young boys find appealing: superheroes, practical jokers, jokes about bowel movements, and more. Pilkey tells a fun story, and he keeps readers' attention with his sense of humor, cartoon drawings, and one can never forget the Flip-O-Rama, which allows children to make the pictures on the pages move in actions scenes. Some parents might not want to let their children read these books because of some of the jokes, but most of the jokes stay on the clean side and are harmless. A good suggestion for reluctant male readers.
Themes: Superheroes, Practical Jokes
Red Flags: Jokes about bowel movements, Adults dressed only in underwear or diapers.
Multicultural Elements: Although very much a cartoon, George is also an African-American
Year: 1997
Publisher: Blue Sky Press
Pages: 121
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Comedy/Graphic Novel
Series Information: First Book in the Captain Underpants series
Location: Jerome Horwitz Elementary School
Time Period: Present Day (1997)
Plot: George Beard and Harold Hutchins are best friends who attend fourth grade at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School. They love to play practical jokes and they love to create a comic book series called Captain Underpants ("Fighting for truth, justise, and all that is pre-shrunk and cottony"). When the school principal, Mr. Krupp, catches George and Harold playing a practical joke, he punishes them by making them his servants. In order to get out of their punishment, George and Harold order a hypno-ring, hoping to hypnotize Mr. Krupp so he will do their bidding instead. When they jokingly use the hypno-ring to make Mr. Krupp become Captain Underpants, Mr. Krupp takes off most of his clothes, uses the red curtains as a cape, and runs out of the school, looking for someone to save. George and Harold follow Mr. Krupp, and the three find themselves in the middle of a plot by Dr. Diaper to take over the world. SPOILER! George, Harold, and Captain Underpants work together to thwart Dr. Diaper and his evil robot henchmen, and they head back to school. George and Harold figure they should probably undo the hypnosis on Mr. Krupp, but they can't find the hypno-ring's instructions, and they end up throwing water on Mr. Krupp to wake him up. Since Mr. Krupp was awakened from his hypnosis the wrong way, any time someone snaps their fingers he becomes Captain Underpants again, setting up the premise for the rest of the series.
Comments: I can certainly see why Captain Underpants is so popular. The story has a lot of things in it that young boys find appealing: superheroes, practical jokers, jokes about bowel movements, and more. Pilkey tells a fun story, and he keeps readers' attention with his sense of humor, cartoon drawings, and one can never forget the Flip-O-Rama, which allows children to make the pictures on the pages move in actions scenes. Some parents might not want to let their children read these books because of some of the jokes, but most of the jokes stay on the clean side and are harmless. A good suggestion for reluctant male readers.
Themes: Superheroes, Practical Jokes
Red Flags: Jokes about bowel movements, Adults dressed only in underwear or diapers.
Multicultural Elements: Although very much a cartoon, George is also an African-American
The London Eye Mystery
Author: Siobhan Dowd
Year: 2007
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Pages: 323
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Mystery/ Children as Detectives/Locked Room Mystery
Location: London, England
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: When a mysterious stranger walks up to Ted, Kat, and their cousin Salim as they are waiting in line to buy tickets for the London Eye, the three are conflicted. The stranger is offering a free ticket for one of them with no strings attached, but they know they shouldn't accept gifts from strangers. After they accept the ticket, Ted and Kat are extremely confused and worried when they see Salim get on the London Eye, but they never see him get off. The police are called to investigate Salim's disappearance, but no one will listen to the children's theories. Not content with waiting for the police to find Salim, Ted and Kat make up a list of theories of what could have happened to their cousin, and they set out to investigate each one. SPOILER! Ted eventually figures out that Salim must have staged his own disappearance by changing his clothes while he was on the London Eye. Although Ted's parents, his aunt and uncle, and even Kat won't listen to him, the police pick up his tip, which leads them on the correct trail. They find out that Salim had thought about running away from home so he wouldn't have to move to New York with his mother, but he changed his mind and got lost on the way back home. Ted and Kat figure out where Salim must have gotten lost, and Salim is reunited with his family.
Comments: The London Eye Mystery is proof that good classic mysteries are still being written. Dowd does a good job of slowly giving out clues that will keep the reader guessing what happened until the very last pages. SPOILER! I was very impressed with Dowd's version of how Salim got off of the London Eye without getting the attention of Kat and Ted, but the end clue of Salim happening to slip into a condemned building without getting caught right when Ted's father was locking up the building was a little thin to me. I don't think this will be a detraction for most young readers, however. end spoiler One thing that makes this book different from most classic mysteries is Dowd's narrator, Ted. Ted is a very smart person, but there is an air of mystery about him since his family always talks about his unnamed brain disorder that makes him very good with facts, but not so good at reading people. This gives an edge to the story, but it isn't creepy. In fact, it makes the reader want to root for Ted more. Children will like trying to figure out this mystery along with Ted and Kat, and will enjoy the surprise ending.
Themes: London Eye, Missing People, Mysteries, Divorced Parents, Moving
Red Flags: A dead body is discovered that Ted's dad has to identify, but it isn't accompanied by any sort of description.
Multicultural Elements: Salim is half Pakistani, and his father is Pakistani, but this doesn't play into the story at all.
Year: 2007
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Pages: 323
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Mystery/ Children as Detectives/Locked Room Mystery
Location: London, England
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: When a mysterious stranger walks up to Ted, Kat, and their cousin Salim as they are waiting in line to buy tickets for the London Eye, the three are conflicted. The stranger is offering a free ticket for one of them with no strings attached, but they know they shouldn't accept gifts from strangers. After they accept the ticket, Ted and Kat are extremely confused and worried when they see Salim get on the London Eye, but they never see him get off. The police are called to investigate Salim's disappearance, but no one will listen to the children's theories. Not content with waiting for the police to find Salim, Ted and Kat make up a list of theories of what could have happened to their cousin, and they set out to investigate each one. SPOILER! Ted eventually figures out that Salim must have staged his own disappearance by changing his clothes while he was on the London Eye. Although Ted's parents, his aunt and uncle, and even Kat won't listen to him, the police pick up his tip, which leads them on the correct trail. They find out that Salim had thought about running away from home so he wouldn't have to move to New York with his mother, but he changed his mind and got lost on the way back home. Ted and Kat figure out where Salim must have gotten lost, and Salim is reunited with his family.
Comments: The London Eye Mystery is proof that good classic mysteries are still being written. Dowd does a good job of slowly giving out clues that will keep the reader guessing what happened until the very last pages. SPOILER! I was very impressed with Dowd's version of how Salim got off of the London Eye without getting the attention of Kat and Ted, but the end clue of Salim happening to slip into a condemned building without getting caught right when Ted's father was locking up the building was a little thin to me. I don't think this will be a detraction for most young readers, however. end spoiler One thing that makes this book different from most classic mysteries is Dowd's narrator, Ted. Ted is a very smart person, but there is an air of mystery about him since his family always talks about his unnamed brain disorder that makes him very good with facts, but not so good at reading people. This gives an edge to the story, but it isn't creepy. In fact, it makes the reader want to root for Ted more. Children will like trying to figure out this mystery along with Ted and Kat, and will enjoy the surprise ending.
Themes: London Eye, Missing People, Mysteries, Divorced Parents, Moving
Red Flags: A dead body is discovered that Ted's dad has to identify, but it isn't accompanied by any sort of description.
Multicultural Elements: Salim is half Pakistani, and his father is Pakistani, but this doesn't play into the story at all.
Monday, December 1, 2008
The Secret Olivia Told Me
Author: N. Joy
Illustrator: Nancy Devard
Year: 2007
Publisher: Just Us Books Inc.
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2008 ALA Coretta Scott King Award
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction/Christian Fiction
Location: A schoolyard in urban America
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: When Olivia tells her best friend a secret, the secret gets spread around the schoolyard, getting bigger and stranger with each telling. SPOILER! Olivia's friend must confess that she told the secret in order to keep their friendship intact.
Comments: Joy, a popular urban Christian fiction writer, addresses the issue of being trustworthy with a simple, catchy rhyme that children should enjoy. However, it is the pictures that are the most interesting part of this book. Most of the pictures are black and white, showing silhouettes of each child. The secret is depicted in the form of a bright red balloon, with a string trailing from the mouth of the child who told it. As the secret is spread, the balloon gets bigger and bigger. The balloon pops when Olivia's friend confesses that she told the secret.
Another interesting part of this book was the list of questions provided at the end of the book. The questions are designed to help parents open up a discussion with their children as to why it is wrong to tell secrets about other people. This could be a heavy topic for some parents and children, but it may be useful for those parents who are having trouble explaining to their children why one should not tell lies and secrets.
Themes: Lies, Friendship, Urban Christian Fiction
Red Flags: None
Multicultural Elements: The book includes children of many races, but most of the children are African-American.
Illustrator: Nancy Devard
Year: 2007
Publisher: Just Us Books Inc.
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2008 ALA Coretta Scott King Award
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction/Christian Fiction
Location: A schoolyard in urban America
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: When Olivia tells her best friend a secret, the secret gets spread around the schoolyard, getting bigger and stranger with each telling. SPOILER! Olivia's friend must confess that she told the secret in order to keep their friendship intact.
Comments: Joy, a popular urban Christian fiction writer, addresses the issue of being trustworthy with a simple, catchy rhyme that children should enjoy. However, it is the pictures that are the most interesting part of this book. Most of the pictures are black and white, showing silhouettes of each child. The secret is depicted in the form of a bright red balloon, with a string trailing from the mouth of the child who told it. As the secret is spread, the balloon gets bigger and bigger. The balloon pops when Olivia's friend confesses that she told the secret.
Another interesting part of this book was the list of questions provided at the end of the book. The questions are designed to help parents open up a discussion with their children as to why it is wrong to tell secrets about other people. This could be a heavy topic for some parents and children, but it may be useful for those parents who are having trouble explaining to their children why one should not tell lies and secrets.
Themes: Lies, Friendship, Urban Christian Fiction
Red Flags: None
Multicultural Elements: The book includes children of many races, but most of the children are African-American.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad
Author: Ellen Levine
Illustrator: Kadir Nelson
Year: 2007
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2008 Caldecott Honor Book
Genre: Picture Book/Historical Fiction
Location: Richmond, Virginia/Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Time Period: 1840's
Plot: A retelling of a true story, Henry Brown was a slave in Virginia. When his wife and children were sold by their owner, Henry decided he needed to figure out a way to become free. With the help of a few friends, Henry stowed away in a crate and was mailed to Philadelphia, where he could be free. Because of his journey, Henry earned the name Henry "Box" Brown.
Comments: This is definitely an example of a picture book that tells more through the pictures than it does through the words. Nelson's artwork, inspired by an old lithograph of the actual Henry "Box" Brown, uses very dark, rich colors. In fact, it's sometimes hard to read Levine's simple but well-written text because of the artwork. However, this is a very well told story, and the pencil/watercolor/oil pictures do compliment the mood of the story. My favorite picture is a cross-section of Henry in the box, which shows Henry's forehead and hand as if they are pressed against glass instead of against the side of a crate. Children will enjoy the pictures and the fact that this is a true story.
Themes: Slavery, Underground Railroad, Henry "Box" Brown
Red Flags: Slavery, Children and others sold and separated from their families
Multicultural Elements: African Americans
Illustrator: Kadir Nelson
Year: 2007
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2008 Caldecott Honor Book
Genre: Picture Book/Historical Fiction
Location: Richmond, Virginia/Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Time Period: 1840's
Plot: A retelling of a true story, Henry Brown was a slave in Virginia. When his wife and children were sold by their owner, Henry decided he needed to figure out a way to become free. With the help of a few friends, Henry stowed away in a crate and was mailed to Philadelphia, where he could be free. Because of his journey, Henry earned the name Henry "Box" Brown.
Comments: This is definitely an example of a picture book that tells more through the pictures than it does through the words. Nelson's artwork, inspired by an old lithograph of the actual Henry "Box" Brown, uses very dark, rich colors. In fact, it's sometimes hard to read Levine's simple but well-written text because of the artwork. However, this is a very well told story, and the pencil/watercolor/oil pictures do compliment the mood of the story. My favorite picture is a cross-section of Henry in the box, which shows Henry's forehead and hand as if they are pressed against glass instead of against the side of a crate. Children will enjoy the pictures and the fact that this is a true story.
Themes: Slavery, Underground Railroad, Henry "Box" Brown
Red Flags: Slavery, Children and others sold and separated from their families
Multicultural Elements: African Americans
Monday, November 17, 2008
Kira-Kira
Author: Cynthia Kadohata
Year: 2004
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
Pages: 244
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 2005 Newbery Medal
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Location: Chesterfield, Georgia
Time Period: 1950s or 1960s
Plot: Five year-old Katie is upset when she discovers that she and her Japanese-American family are moving from their home in a Japanese community in Iowa to a small, grungy apartment in Georgia. Her family is a close-knit one, however, so they weather the storms together. Katie's parents work long hours at a chicken processing plant in an attempt to make ends meet, so Katie and her younger brother Sammy must look to their older sister Lynn for care and guidance. When Lynn falls ill, Katie must take up her sister's role as psychological head of the family in order to keep the family together. SPOILER! When Lynn dies, the family almost falls apart. Katie, her brother Sammy, and her parents must each realize that Lynn would want them to move on in life and enjoy the beauties of the world instead of mourning.
Comments: I think I would have been very depressed if this was an adult novel instead of a story written for older children. Katie's family goes through a lot, and I kept thinking to myself, "what else is going to happen to this family?!" As it is, Kadohata glosses over some of the more depressing aspects of the story, and tries to focus on the one good thing this family has: each other. The family's unity was actually one of the most relatable parts of the book for me, and one of the parts I could appreciate the most. This isn't a story about the trials this family goes through, instead it's a story about how they stick together through it all.
I have one small complaint about this novel: Glossing over some important issues may make this book more appropriate for children, but it also made it harder to follow in some instances. The best example of this I have is that I know time was passing in the novel, but I wasn't sure how fast. I spent much of the book thinking that Katie was a little older than five, when she was actually around ten. This was especially confusing when Katie was talking about making dinner for the family and taking care of both Lynn and Sammy. I guess this vagueness gives a more accurate view of how children are presented with the world when their parents are trying to protect them from something, but it was still frustrating.
Themes: Cancer, Unions, Racism, Death, Unfair Working Conditions, Mourning, Illness, Family Unity, Sisters
Red Flags: Death, Sammy's leg gets caught in a bear trap, Katie's father crashes a windshield
Multicultural Elements: Japanese-Americans
Year: 2004
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
Pages: 244
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 2005 Newbery Medal
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Location: Chesterfield, Georgia
Time Period: 1950s or 1960s
Plot: Five year-old Katie is upset when she discovers that she and her Japanese-American family are moving from their home in a Japanese community in Iowa to a small, grungy apartment in Georgia. Her family is a close-knit one, however, so they weather the storms together. Katie's parents work long hours at a chicken processing plant in an attempt to make ends meet, so Katie and her younger brother Sammy must look to their older sister Lynn for care and guidance. When Lynn falls ill, Katie must take up her sister's role as psychological head of the family in order to keep the family together. SPOILER! When Lynn dies, the family almost falls apart. Katie, her brother Sammy, and her parents must each realize that Lynn would want them to move on in life and enjoy the beauties of the world instead of mourning.
Comments: I think I would have been very depressed if this was an adult novel instead of a story written for older children. Katie's family goes through a lot, and I kept thinking to myself, "what else is going to happen to this family?!" As it is, Kadohata glosses over some of the more depressing aspects of the story, and tries to focus on the one good thing this family has: each other. The family's unity was actually one of the most relatable parts of the book for me, and one of the parts I could appreciate the most. This isn't a story about the trials this family goes through, instead it's a story about how they stick together through it all.
I have one small complaint about this novel: Glossing over some important issues may make this book more appropriate for children, but it also made it harder to follow in some instances. The best example of this I have is that I know time was passing in the novel, but I wasn't sure how fast. I spent much of the book thinking that Katie was a little older than five, when she was actually around ten. This was especially confusing when Katie was talking about making dinner for the family and taking care of both Lynn and Sammy. I guess this vagueness gives a more accurate view of how children are presented with the world when their parents are trying to protect them from something, but it was still frustrating.
Themes: Cancer, Unions, Racism, Death, Unfair Working Conditions, Mourning, Illness, Family Unity, Sisters
Red Flags: Death, Sammy's leg gets caught in a bear trap, Katie's father crashes a windshield
Multicultural Elements: Japanese-Americans
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Gracias the Thanksgiving Turkey
Author: Joy Cowley
Illustrator: Joe Cepeda
Year: 1996
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Thanksgiving Story
Series Information: Not Part of a Series
Location: New York City
Time Period: Present Day (1996)
Plot: When Miguel's father sends Miguel a live turkey as a present, Miguel names the turkey Gracias and the two become fast friends. Miguel starts to get worried because everyone he meets says they want to eat his new friend for Thanksgiving dinner. SPOILER! When Gracias follows Miguel to church one Sunday, the Father sees Miguel's pet turkey, and he gives both Miguel and Gracias a blessing. The family decides they can't eat Gracias now that he's been blessed, and they decide to have turkey as a guest for dinner instead of as the main dish.
Comments: This is a cute story, even though the ending is obviously contrived and a bit of a logical stretch. The real appeal of the story actually lies not in the plot or even in the pictures, which are bright and fun, but in its accurate depiction of a Puerto Rican-American family. I like the fact that this family isn't eating beans and rice or tortillas for thanksgiving, but they're showing their American side by planning on eating turkey. A few Spanish words such as amigo, gracias, and padre are sprinkled throughout the text, and they are found in a nice glossary in the back of the book for quick reference.
Themes: Thanksgiving, Friendship, Pets, Family
Red Flags: Turkey-napping (like kidnapping, but with turkeys)
Multicultural Elements: Puerto Rican-American family
Illustrator: Joe Cepeda
Year: 1996
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Thanksgiving Story
Series Information: Not Part of a Series
Location: New York City
Time Period: Present Day (1996)
Plot: When Miguel's father sends Miguel a live turkey as a present, Miguel names the turkey Gracias and the two become fast friends. Miguel starts to get worried because everyone he meets says they want to eat his new friend for Thanksgiving dinner. SPOILER! When Gracias follows Miguel to church one Sunday, the Father sees Miguel's pet turkey, and he gives both Miguel and Gracias a blessing. The family decides they can't eat Gracias now that he's been blessed, and they decide to have turkey as a guest for dinner instead of as the main dish.
Comments: This is a cute story, even though the ending is obviously contrived and a bit of a logical stretch. The real appeal of the story actually lies not in the plot or even in the pictures, which are bright and fun, but in its accurate depiction of a Puerto Rican-American family. I like the fact that this family isn't eating beans and rice or tortillas for thanksgiving, but they're showing their American side by planning on eating turkey. A few Spanish words such as amigo, gracias, and padre are sprinkled throughout the text, and they are found in a nice glossary in the back of the book for quick reference.
Themes: Thanksgiving, Friendship, Pets, Family
Red Flags: Turkey-napping (like kidnapping, but with turkeys)
Multicultural Elements: Puerto Rican-American family
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Does My Head Look Big in This?
Author: Randa Abdel-Fattah
Year: 2005
Publisher: Orchard Books
Pages: 360
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Realistic Fiction/High School
Series Information: Not part of a series
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Time Period: Present (2005)
Plot: Eleventh grader Amal is an Australian-Palestinian who has decided to display her dedication to her faith by wearing the hijab full time. But how can she convince those around her that being true to the tenets of her faith does not mean she needs to be an outcast to society? How can she overcome the prejudices people have about her faith? On top of these issues, Amal has to deal with the regular problems any normal teenager has to deal with: school, boys, bullies, friends, parents, neighbors, self-image, and more. SPOILER! At the end of the year, Amal understands more about who she is, who she wants to become, and the role religion plays in her life.
Comments: Randa Abdel-Fattah had a hard job cut out for her: how does one write a novel about a girl dealing with her Muslim beliefs in a post-9/11 world without hitting readers over the head with this fact? Yet Abdel-Fattah succeeded in her goal admirably. While Amal does have to deal with prejudice, that is just one theme in the story. Greater themes include the value of friendship, discovering who you want to be, and chasing your dreams. I felt like I could relate with Amal on a number of issues, one of them even being the aspect of explaining (and sometimes defending) your beliefs to those who do not believe as you do. I also learned more about the Muslim culture, which would probably help readers remove fears about Muslims and their beliefs. This is a well-written book that I would recommend to both young adults and adults alike.
Themes: Religion, Muslim Culture, Friends, Self-Image, Growing Up
Red Flags: Family issues, Discussion of a woman's role in society, A girl running away from home, Discrimination, Smoking
Multicultural Elements: Australian, Muslim
Year: 2005
Publisher: Orchard Books
Pages: 360
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Realistic Fiction/High School
Series Information: Not part of a series
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Time Period: Present (2005)
Plot: Eleventh grader Amal is an Australian-Palestinian who has decided to display her dedication to her faith by wearing the hijab full time. But how can she convince those around her that being true to the tenets of her faith does not mean she needs to be an outcast to society? How can she overcome the prejudices people have about her faith? On top of these issues, Amal has to deal with the regular problems any normal teenager has to deal with: school, boys, bullies, friends, parents, neighbors, self-image, and more. SPOILER! At the end of the year, Amal understands more about who she is, who she wants to become, and the role religion plays in her life.
Comments: Randa Abdel-Fattah had a hard job cut out for her: how does one write a novel about a girl dealing with her Muslim beliefs in a post-9/11 world without hitting readers over the head with this fact? Yet Abdel-Fattah succeeded in her goal admirably. While Amal does have to deal with prejudice, that is just one theme in the story. Greater themes include the value of friendship, discovering who you want to be, and chasing your dreams. I felt like I could relate with Amal on a number of issues, one of them even being the aspect of explaining (and sometimes defending) your beliefs to those who do not believe as you do. I also learned more about the Muslim culture, which would probably help readers remove fears about Muslims and their beliefs. This is a well-written book that I would recommend to both young adults and adults alike.
Themes: Religion, Muslim Culture, Friends, Self-Image, Growing Up
Red Flags: Family issues, Discussion of a woman's role in society, A girl running away from home, Discrimination, Smoking
Multicultural Elements: Australian, Muslim
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Author/Illustrator: Simms Taback
Year: 1999
Publisher: Viking
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginner (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2000 Caldecott Medal
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction
Series Information: Not part of a series
Location: Yehupetz,Poland
Time Period: Hard to determine—1900s?
Plot: Joseph is a farmer in the Polish countryside. When his overcoat gets too worn, he turns it into a jacket, then a vest, the list goes on and on. SPOILER! In the end, Joseph is left with nothing, and he ends up writing a book about it "which shows you can always make something out of nothing."
Comments: Based on a Yiddish folk song which is included in the back of the book, this book can work on two levels. The text is very simple and the repetitious pattern of the words and the surprise ending/moral would be enjoyable to beginning readers. The artwork, however, is a very busy collage which would be offputting to young children, but entertaining to older ones.
The thing that appealed most to me was the fact that each time Joseph makes a new piece of clothing, a cutout of the new garment can be found in the page. These holes in the pages are so craftily done that they blend into the pictures, and it's hard to tell where they are. My favorite cutout was probably the first one, possibly because of the surprise element, but also because it would have been the hardest one to make. A rooster and a turkey with tailfeathers splayed out proudly strut across the page. On the next, a woman wearing a shawl with the same pattern as the birds' tailfeathers can be found.
Red Flags: None
Multicultural Elements: Joseph and this friends are Polish Jews.
Year: 1999
Publisher: Viking
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginner (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2000 Caldecott Medal
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction
Series Information: Not part of a series
Location: Yehupetz,Poland
Time Period: Hard to determine—1900s?
Plot: Joseph is a farmer in the Polish countryside. When his overcoat gets too worn, he turns it into a jacket, then a vest, the list goes on and on. SPOILER! In the end, Joseph is left with nothing, and he ends up writing a book about it "which shows you can always make something out of nothing."
Comments: Based on a Yiddish folk song which is included in the back of the book, this book can work on two levels. The text is very simple and the repetitious pattern of the words and the surprise ending/moral would be enjoyable to beginning readers. The artwork, however, is a very busy collage which would be offputting to young children, but entertaining to older ones.
The thing that appealed most to me was the fact that each time Joseph makes a new piece of clothing, a cutout of the new garment can be found in the page. These holes in the pages are so craftily done that they blend into the pictures, and it's hard to tell where they are. My favorite cutout was probably the first one, possibly because of the surprise element, but also because it would have been the hardest one to make. A rooster and a turkey with tailfeathers splayed out proudly strut across the page. On the next, a woman wearing a shawl with the same pattern as the birds' tailfeathers can be found.
Red Flags: None
Multicultural Elements: Joseph and this friends are Polish Jews.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
The Dragon Prince: A Chinese Beauty and the Beast Tale
Author: Laurence Yep
Illustrator: Kam Mak
Year: 1997
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Fairy Tale (Beauty and the Beast)
Series Information: Not part of a series
Location: Southern China
Time Period: Long Ago
Plot: On his way back from the market, a poor Chinese farmer is captured by a dragon who refuses to let him go unless the farmer will give the dragon one of his daughters as a wife. Six of the farmers’ daughters refuse, but the youngest, Seven, agrees to the deal. The dragon carries Seven away to his castle in the sea, and asks her if she is frightened by him. Seven replies that she is not scared of him, stating, “the eye sees what it will, but the heart sees what it should.” SPOILER! At these words, the dragon confesses that he has been testing Seven’s faithfulness and he transforms into a handsome prince. Seven and the dragon prince live happily together until Seven becomes homesick. When the dragon prince allows Seven to go home for 10 days, Seven’s sister, Three, becomes very jealous. Three pushes Seven in the river and returns to the dragon’s home claiming to be Seven. The dragon is not convinced by the ruse, however, and he searches the world for Seven until he finds her being nursed to health by a kind old woman. Three is sent back to her family in shame, and the dragon prince, Seven, and the old woman all live in the palace under the sea happily ever after.
Comments: Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy tales, partly because it teaches people to look at a person’s heart instead of focusing on their looks. I liked that this version of the story enhanced this message and made both of the characters in the story live up to the same expectations.
The pictures in this book are beautiful and bright. Although there are many of them, there are pages filled simply with text. Because of this, although this book is listed as being appropriate for beginning readers, I would say it is more appropriate for older children than it is for younger children.
Moral: “the eye sees what it will, but the heart sees what it should.”
Red Flags: None
Multicultural Elements: Chinese
Illustrator: Kam Mak
Year: 1997
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Fairy Tale (Beauty and the Beast)
Series Information: Not part of a series
Location: Southern China
Time Period: Long Ago
Plot: On his way back from the market, a poor Chinese farmer is captured by a dragon who refuses to let him go unless the farmer will give the dragon one of his daughters as a wife. Six of the farmers’ daughters refuse, but the youngest, Seven, agrees to the deal. The dragon carries Seven away to his castle in the sea, and asks her if she is frightened by him. Seven replies that she is not scared of him, stating, “the eye sees what it will, but the heart sees what it should.” SPOILER! At these words, the dragon confesses that he has been testing Seven’s faithfulness and he transforms into a handsome prince. Seven and the dragon prince live happily together until Seven becomes homesick. When the dragon prince allows Seven to go home for 10 days, Seven’s sister, Three, becomes very jealous. Three pushes Seven in the river and returns to the dragon’s home claiming to be Seven. The dragon is not convinced by the ruse, however, and he searches the world for Seven until he finds her being nursed to health by a kind old woman. Three is sent back to her family in shame, and the dragon prince, Seven, and the old woman all live in the palace under the sea happily ever after.
Comments: Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy tales, partly because it teaches people to look at a person’s heart instead of focusing on their looks. I liked that this version of the story enhanced this message and made both of the characters in the story live up to the same expectations.
The pictures in this book are beautiful and bright. Although there are many of them, there are pages filled simply with text. Because of this, although this book is listed as being appropriate for beginning readers, I would say it is more appropriate for older children than it is for younger children.
Moral: “the eye sees what it will, but the heart sees what it should.”
Red Flags: None
Multicultural Elements: Chinese
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Author: Sherman Alexie
Illustrator: Ellen Forney
Year: 2007
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 230
Reading Level: Young Adult (grades 7-10)
Awards: 2008 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, 2007 National Book Award for Young People's Literature
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Series Information: Not part of a series
Location: Wellpinit, WA, an Indian reservation; and Reardan, WA
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: Arnold Spirit (a.k.a. Junior) lives on an Indian reservation in the Spokane, Washington area. When Arnold takes his teacher’s advice to transfer to a school that isn’t on the reservation, Arnold suddenly finds himself friendless and in a strange environment. The people on the reservation regard him as a traitor, while the people in his new school are unsure how to treat him. The book follows Arnold as he overcomes this challenge and many others, gains confidence in himself, and dares to make a better life for himself.
Comments: I began wondering what type of book I was reading when, ten pages into the book, Arnold described how his father had to shoot the family dog because he couldn’t afford to take it to the vet. Was this book going to be one of the most depressing things I had ever read? This book does continue on in a similar vein: Arnold’s best friend refuses to speak to him. The reservation turns against him when he transfers to a white school. People Arnold is close to die. Arnold even battles with himself in wondering if he is betraying his tribe by wanting more out of his life than they can give him. Yet, through it all, Arnold never gives up hope. He cracks jokes. He draws cartoons to deal with his grief. He makes friends and discovers new talents. It all combines to give a very realistic, heartwarming view of life that anyone can relate to. The illustrations in the story are also fun, and they help lighten the tension while helping the reader relate to and understand Arnold at the same time.
Because of the language in this book, I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone. The narrator is a 14 year-old boy, and he shares many of his 14 year-old thoughts. However, those willing to deal with the language and subject matter will find a simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking tale that’s worth reading.
Themes: Friendship, Families, Overcoming Trials, Pursuing the American Dream
Red Flags: light Swearing, Drinking, Death, light Sexual References/Slang
Multicultural Elements: Native Americans
Illustrator: Ellen Forney
Year: 2007
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 230
Reading Level: Young Adult (grades 7-10)
Awards: 2008 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, 2007 National Book Award for Young People's Literature
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Series Information: Not part of a series
Location: Wellpinit, WA, an Indian reservation; and Reardan, WA
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: Arnold Spirit (a.k.a. Junior) lives on an Indian reservation in the Spokane, Washington area. When Arnold takes his teacher’s advice to transfer to a school that isn’t on the reservation, Arnold suddenly finds himself friendless and in a strange environment. The people on the reservation regard him as a traitor, while the people in his new school are unsure how to treat him. The book follows Arnold as he overcomes this challenge and many others, gains confidence in himself, and dares to make a better life for himself.
Comments: I began wondering what type of book I was reading when, ten pages into the book, Arnold described how his father had to shoot the family dog because he couldn’t afford to take it to the vet. Was this book going to be one of the most depressing things I had ever read? This book does continue on in a similar vein: Arnold’s best friend refuses to speak to him. The reservation turns against him when he transfers to a white school. People Arnold is close to die. Arnold even battles with himself in wondering if he is betraying his tribe by wanting more out of his life than they can give him. Yet, through it all, Arnold never gives up hope. He cracks jokes. He draws cartoons to deal with his grief. He makes friends and discovers new talents. It all combines to give a very realistic, heartwarming view of life that anyone can relate to. The illustrations in the story are also fun, and they help lighten the tension while helping the reader relate to and understand Arnold at the same time.
Because of the language in this book, I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone. The narrator is a 14 year-old boy, and he shares many of his 14 year-old thoughts. However, those willing to deal with the language and subject matter will find a simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking tale that’s worth reading.
Themes: Friendship, Families, Overcoming Trials, Pursuing the American Dream
Red Flags: light Swearing, Drinking, Death, light Sexual References/Slang
Multicultural Elements: Native Americans
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Yo! Yes?
Author/Illustrator: Chris Raschka
Year: 1993
Publisher: Orchard Books
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 1994 Caldecott Honor Book
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction
Series Information: Not Part of a Series
Location: Anywhere, USA
Time Period: Present (1993)
Plot: Two lonely characters, one black and one white, meet on the street and become friends.
Comments: This book is cleverly put together. Each page has a maximum of two words on it, and most of those words are only comprised of three letters. Despite this, the pictures and text combine to create a cute scenario of two very different people finding things in common and becoming friends. A great book for very beginning readers.
Themes: Friendship
Red Flags: None
Multicultural Elements: African-American
Year: 1993
Publisher: Orchard Books
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 1994 Caldecott Honor Book
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction
Series Information: Not Part of a Series
Location: Anywhere, USA
Time Period: Present (1993)
Plot: Two lonely characters, one black and one white, meet on the street and become friends.
Comments: This book is cleverly put together. Each page has a maximum of two words on it, and most of those words are only comprised of three letters. Despite this, the pictures and text combine to create a cute scenario of two very different people finding things in common and becoming friends. A great book for very beginning readers.
Themes: Friendship
Red Flags: None
Multicultural Elements: African-American
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)