A STEP FROM HEAVEN

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Na, An. 2001. A STEP FROM HEAVEN. Asheville, N. C.: Front Street. ISBN 978188690584

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
This is a story of survival. Young Ju is a Korean immigrant whose family left Han Gook to come to America (specifically California) for a better life. Young Ju is suspended between adopting American ways and keeping her Korean heritage alive. Young Ju adjusts to school and a little brother as well as the rules, the words and the accents of a new country. Her parents work multiple jobs in order to fulfill their dreams of owning their own home and living the American dream. The pressure on her father pushes him to drinking and physical abuse of Young Ju and her mother. Her father becomes abusive and an alcoholic. Her mother is obedient but strong. Young Ju is trying to cover up her reality and her brother is rebelling against everything. What becomes of this family makes a compelling story of how much a family can endure and overcome.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
An Na’s tale of poverty, acculturation and abuse is told in first-person present-tense narration. Na uses brief sections that are more like titled anecdotes than chapters. Her inclusion of Korean terms requires the reader to employ the use context clues and possibly some rereading at the beginning but they then become almost unnoticed as the story continues. She also allows the reader to experience what it is like to be in a new situation and not being able to understand what is being said, like when Young Ju first arrived at school (“Tees es Yung,” the witch teacher says. “Wah ko um, Yung,” they say.) Nu integrates each character’s development into the unfolding of the story. It is clear that Apa’s temper and expectations for his son affect the boy’s ability to show emotion, and his desire to escape and avoid anything he doesn’t like as he grows into a young adult. Young Ju is portrayed as an intelligent girl who continues to thrive despite her situation. She receives moral support to succeed from her mother (“I am proud of you, Young Ju, Uhmma says, looking down into my eyes. You are a smart girl and someday you will be a smart woman.”) As the story ends, the reader sees the connection between Young Ju and her mother and fully understand where they have come from. It taught us about Korea's culture and about the challenages of immigration. Over all it was a great book to learn both a little Korean and about how hard it is to immigrate or move to a different place.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
*Starred review in Booklist
"As in the best writing, the particulars make the story universal.”
*Starred review in Publishers Weekly
“Equally bright are the prospects of this author; readers will eagerly await her next step.”
*Starred review in School Library Journal
“A beautifully written, affecting work.”
*Review in Horn Book
“Each of these vignettes displays an astonishing and memorable force.”
*Review in VOYA
“This beautifully written book, a tale of both tragedy and eventual triumph, is likely to bring tears to the eyes of any reader.”

5. CONNECTIONS:
*Discuss questions raised by immigration with students and have them write a response to how they feel about immiration.
*Other Korean American fiction titles:
Lee, Marie G. Finding My Voice. ISBN 9780395621349
Recorvits, Helen. My Name is Yoon. ISBN 9780374351144
Shin, Sun Yung. Cooper’s Lesson. ISBN 9780892391936
Son, John. Finding My Hat. ISBN 9780439435383

THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Patron, Susan. 2006. THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY. Ill. by Matt Phelan. New York: Antheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 97814169091945

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
Lucky Trimble is a ten year old girl who has lost her mother and lives with her guardian. She holds several jobs in her small desert town and is searching for her Higher Power. Lucky frequently overhears the twelve-steppers in the town talking about how they found their Higher Power, and Lucky is certain that she will gain all the wisdom and courage in the world if she finds hers. Lucky is concerned that Brigitte wants to return to France and she will have to go to an orphanage and become a ward of the state. Lucky’s concern leads her to run away hoping to cause worry, sadness, and a change in Brigitte’s heart (“Lucky liked the idea that by running away she could make people do things they wouldn’t do otherwise.”). She runs away during a desert dust storm and when the air finally clears, so does the haze of Lucky’s uncertainty.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Patron uses interesting language to describe Lucky’s feelings, such as the folds in her brain and the mean valve in her heart. These unique and somewhat profound ways of describing how one feels are relatable to the age group. The setting of the story in fictional Hard Pan, California tends to give the reader a confusing idea of the time period. One might think at the beginning that the story takes place in the mid-20th century, or even perhaps further back. However, Patron slowly mentions the most modern technology such as a Jeep and a laptop. This affirms to the reader that Lucky lives in contemporary rural America, which is much the same as our reality, just on a smaller scale and dustier. Many readers will identify with her feeling that some times she “wanted to change everything, all the bad things that had happened, and some times she wanted everything to stay the same forever.” The plot is revealed as Lucky goes through a typical day in her small town. Details of the past are provided in Lucky’s thoughts and memories. Patron’s style of revealing the story in parts maintains the interest of the reader. The small, subtle illustrations compliment the plot well. Students will enjoy reading this great book!

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
*From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6–When Lucky's mother is electrocuted and dies after a storm, Lucky's absentee father calls his ex-wife, Brigitte, to fly over from France to take care of the child. Two years later, the 10-year-old worries that Brigitte is tired of being her guardian and of their life in Hard Pan (pop. 42) in the middle of the California desert. While Lucky's best friend ties intricate knots and the little boy down the road cries for attention, she tries to get some control over her life by restocking her survival kit backpack and searching for her Higher Power. This character-driven novel has an unusually complicated backstory, and a fair amount of exposition. Yet, its quirky cast and local color help to balance this fact, and the desert setting is fascinating. Lucky's tendency to jump to conclusions is frustrating, but her struggle to come to terms with her mother's death and with her new life ring true. Phelan's cover and line drawings are simple and evocative, a perfect complement to the text. Fans of novels by Deborah Wiles and Katherine Hannigan will be happy to meet Lucky.–Adrienne Furness, Webster Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
*Starred review in Kirkus
“Readers will gladly give themselves over to Patron, a master of light but sure characterization and closely observed detail. A small gem.”
*Review in Booklist
“Lucky is a true heroine, especially because she’s not perfect: she does some cowardly things, but she takes pains to put them to rights.”
*Review in Horn Book
“Patron’s episodic tale of a grieving insecure little girl is never heavy-handed or maudlin, due in part to quiet bursts of humor.”

5. CONNECTIONS:
*Students to discuss what things would they include in their survival-kit backpacks and why.
*Students to write a response to the story.
*Other titles by Susan Patron:
Five Bad Boys, Billy Que, and the Dustdobbin. ISBN 9780531059890
Bobbin Dustbobbin. ISBN 9780531054680
Maybe Yes, Maybe No, Maybe Maybe. ISBN 9780531054826
Burgoo Stew. ISBN 9780531059166

THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES:THE FIELD GUIDE

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Black, Holly and Tony DiTerlizzi. 2003. THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES:THE FIELD GUIDE. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780689859366

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Field Guide is a story that begins with Mallory, Jared and Simon (the Grace Children) moving into a new home with their Mother. The house is old, creepy and the children soon find themselves immersed into a world of fairies and strange happenings. They express in different ways, such as Jared gets into fights at school, Simon shuts them all out by immersing himself in the animal world, and Mallory furiously practices her fencing. These problems create an interesting interplay with the fantasy elements, as they see aspects of themselves expressed in the faerie world. The house has a secret room where one of the fairies lives and the tale of finding out who that fairy is, keeps you on your toes till the end of the story.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
The Spiderwick Chronicles is a briskly paced story with just enough darkness to chill young readers without scaring them into nightmares. Spiderwick is a narrative compression of the beloved, best-selling series of books by author Holly Black and illustrator Tony Diterlizzi. It is an enjoyable adventure fantasy that is sure to cast a spell over its audiences. But just as importantly, it weaves a story that resonates with spiritual truth. The Spiderwick Chronicles is a thrilling adventure for children of all ages.

The book is papered in dark colors with titles in suitably spidery antique font, and Tony DiTerlizzi's artwork is splendid. The black-and-white in depth illustrations that appear on almost every two page spread compliment the text while bringing the strange world the Spiderwick Estate alive. A table of contents, a list of “full-page” illustrations, a map of the Spiderwick Estate, and an introductory letter from the authors as well as a copy of the original letter to Mrs. Black and Mr. DiTerlizzi from the Grace children can be found at the beginning of the text. It is a delightful story that captures the interest of children and those of us young at heart.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
*From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6 - In this the dramatic conclusion to The Spiderwick Chronicles (Random, 2004), Holly Black continues the breathtaking action of the previous volumes. This episode begins with the Grace siblings, 13-year-old Mallory and nine-year-old twins Jared and Simon, returning to their home from the underground kingdom of the dwarfs, only to find it ransacked and their mother missing. Concluding that the terrible ogre Mulgarath is behind the chaos, the children join forces with Thimbletack the house-brownie, Hogsqueal the hobgoblin, and Byron the griffin in order to find Mulgarath and save their mother. They bravely rush into the world of faeries, hobgoblins, dragons, and elves, and to the junkyard realm of the goblins and the castle of the terrible Mulgarath. They are armed only with a sword and bits of nearly-forgotten advice from Arthur Spiderwick, the long-lost author of The Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You, who makes an all-too-brief but magical appearance. Each fantastic and terrifying creature is brought to life by Mark Hamill's excellent vocal characterizations, clearly differentiating all the hobgoblins. Hamill also does a superb job of creating the innocent, eager voices of the young siblings on a quest. The series ends (is it really the end?) with a dramatic rescue and the demise of Mulgarath. - MaryAnn Karre, Horace Mann Elementary School, Binghamton, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
*Starred review in Kirkus
“Readers who are too young to read Harry Potter independently will find these have just the right amount of menace laced with appealing humor and are blessed with crisp pacing and, of course, DiTerlizzi’s enticingly Gothic illustrations.”
Starred review in Publishers Weekly: “Appealing characters, well-measured suspense and an inviting package will lure readers on to The Seeing Stone...Youngsters may well find themselves glancing over their shoulders as they eagerly follow the events.”
*Review in VOYA
“Nearly every second page is embellished with the ink drawings of DiTerlizzi, evoking a delicious classical sense in this modern fantasy. Black...keeps the dialogue snappy and the children’s personalities distinct.”
*Review in Horn Book
“The individual books do not stand alone and the first mostly sets the stage, but the writing is fast paced and action-packed. Retro black-and-white spot art adds atmosphere.”

5. CONNECTIONS:
*The students to writed a description and illustration of their personality including likes and dislikes.
*Watch The Spiderwick Chronicles Movie and have the students create a Venn Diagram to list the differences and similiarites between the movie and the books.
*Subsequent titles in this series:
The Seeing Stone. ISBN 9780689859373
The Ironwood Tree. ISBN 9780689859397
The Wrath of Mulgarath. ISBN 9780689859403

THE RIVER BETWEEN US

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Peck, Richard. 2003. The River Between Us. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 9780803727359

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
After a brief but delightful framing device involving a 100-mile car trip in 1916, the story jumps back even further, to the beginning of the Civil War and a little one-horse town on the banks of the Mississippi, Grand Tower. The first half of the story introduces the Pruitt family and their strange new boarders. Tilly Pruitt tells the story of her 16-year-old twin Noah, itching to join the war, her mother, who doesn't know how to prevent it, and her younger sister Cass, whose psychic visions have made her sickly. Also, into their parochial lives come two mysterious refugees from New Orleans, which are the glamorous and ethereal Delphine, and Calinda, who may or may not be her slave. As the war cranks up in the background, and the town is split by partisan feelings, the Pruitt's lives are turned upside down by their fascinating visitors. The tale takes a tragic turn and more secrets are revealed. Before Howard and his family return home, he learns from his father a surprise about his ancestry.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Peck uses the style of a first person narrative, through the voice of Tilly Pruitt, to tell the story of the Pruitt family and the “invasion” of Southerners Delphine and Calinda. When reading the dialogue of Delphine and Calinda, the reader will hear the dialect of 19th century New Orleans. The characters grow and become lifelike through their experiences and the background events. He provides an emotional side to the characters that allows the readers to care about them. Peck describes the characters with style and flair; Cass was, “not much more than breath and britches,” and grandma Tilly had, “a tiny face wrinkled like a walnut.” Peck captures the speech patterns of the time and place, “if we got nekkid and washed ourselves in the wintertime, we’d catch a chill that would carry us off,” while carefully avoiding stereotyping. Peck’s inclusion of a strong female in Delphine causes controversy in Grand Tower but inspires growth in Tilly and her mother. Peck describes Grand Tower, Devil’s Backbone, and Tower Rock with vigilant precision without loosing literary strength, “they were caught in the grip of this place --- they felt the weight of its history, and mystery.” The themes of racism and war provide relevant topics that today’s children can relate too. The backdrop of the Civil War and Peck’s descriptions make the events of the story very believable. By focusing on the theme that, over time and familiarity, people change who you initially think they may be, provides the reader with the knowledge that people should not hate others, especially if they have not bothered to get to know those they dislike. The last few pages of the book denote the extensive research Richard Peck completed to add realistic historical facts to the story. This novel will appeal to older age students and up.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
* From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up-This historical novel set at the beginning of the Civil War actually opens in 1916, as 15-year-old Howard Leland Hutchings recounts his trip in a Model T to visit his father's childhood home in Grand Tower, IL. When he and his younger brothers meet the four elderly people who raised their father, the novel shifts to 1861, and the narrator shifts to 15-year-old Tilly Pruitt, the boys' grandmother. When a steamboat from New Orleans brings two mysterious young ladies, Mama offers them room and board, and the Pruitts' lives are forever changed. Fair and beautiful Delphine Duval, with her fancy dresses and high-society ways, fascinates the family. And what of Calinda, the darker-skinned young woman? Could she be Delphine's slave? On the eve of his 16th birthday, Tilly's twin brother, Noah, leaves to join the Union troops at Camp Defiance and Mama, distraught, sends Tilly and Delphine to bring him home. It is here that Tilly learns of Delphine's heritage. She is a quadroon, part of the colored family of a rich white man. Her mother sent her daughters away from New Orleans, hoping Delphine can pass for white. The novel ends with a return to 1916 and Howard's finding out his father's true parentage. In this thoroughly researched novel, Peck masterfully describes the female Civil War experience, the subtle and not-too-subtle ways the country was changing, and the split in loyalty that separated towns and even families. Although the book deals with some weighty themes, it is not without humor. A scene involving strapping on a corset is worthy of Grandma Dowdel herself.
Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
*Booklist
Gr. 7-12. At the start of the Civil War two mysterious young women get off a boat in a small town in southern Illinois, and 15-year-old Tilly Pruitt's mother takes them in. Who are they? Is the darker-complexioned woman the other woman's slave? Tilly's twin brother, Noah, falls in love with one of them--rich, stylish, worldly Delphine, who shows Tilly a world of possibilities beyond her home. When Noah runs away to war, Tilly and Delphine go after him, find him in the horror of an army tent hospital, and bring him back; but their world is changed forever. Peck's spare writing has never been more eloquent than in this powerful mystery in which personal secrets drive the plot and reveal the history. True to Tilly's first-person narrative, each sentence is a scrappy, melancholy, wry evocation of character, time, and place, and only the character of Delphine's companion, Calinda, comes close to stereotype. A final historical note and a framing device--a grandson writing 50 years after the story takes place--make the reading even better, the revelations more astonishing. It's a riveting story that shows racism everywhere and young people facing war, not sure what side to be on or why. For companion books, see "Civil War--An Update" in the September 2003 issue of Book Links . Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
*Publishers Weekly
Without compromising his superb comedic timing and vibrant portrayals of country folk, Peck (A Long Way from Chicago; A Year Down Yonder) reaches new depth with this Civil War-era novel. Structured as a framed story, the book begins in 1916, as 15-year-old Howard Leland Hutchings travels from St. Louis with his father and young twin brothers to visit their Grandma Tilly, a lifelong resident of Grand Tower, situated on the Mississippi River at the southern tip of Illinois. The narrative then shifts to the dawning of the Civil War, as Howard's grandmother recounts to him the family's history. A then-15-year-old Tilly brings images of a divided state and country to life as she tells of the arrival of a Southern belle, Delphine, traveling by ship with the woman they presume to be her slave, Calinda, in April 1861. Delphine causes a stir in town with her fancy airs and extraordinary sense of fashion. Acting more charitably than most of her neighbors, Tilly's mother opens her home to the stranded New Orleans natives. Peck crafts his characters impeccably and threads together their fates in surprising ways that not only shed light on them but also on the complicated events and conflicts in America at that time. Tilly's younger sister, Cass, often has "visions" of the past but then begins to see images from the future as well ("Boys, blown apart, blue and gray"). Her ability draws her to Calinda, who shares a similar gift. Tilly is in awe of both guests ("I didn't know what to make of that great world she come from, but she made me want more in my small one"), and her twin brother, Noah, becomes smitten with Delphine. Although Delphine initially comes across as a Blanche Dubois type, her strength amazes and inspires everyone when the war begins to take its toll. Even the twins' mother blossoms from Delphine's proximity ("She put some starch in my spine," Tilly's mother says). These relationships cement and then reverberate throughout the novel. A showboat's arrival on the Mississippi, and Tilly and Delphine's trip to the battlefront in search of Noah, occasion further revelations about Delphine and Calinda's background as well as fascinating details of the complex New Orleans society. Through Tilly's conversational narrative, the author also introduces the significance of Bull Run and the Battle of Belmont. Without graphic description, Peck does not shy away from the horrors of war, nor how it divided the families and friends of Grand Tower.Peck's finely tuned writing makes plausible the ways in which these characters come together, putting their human concerns ahead of their political interest. Readers will find themselves turning back to the beginning of the novel to uncover how seamlessly he has laid the foundation for the connections between people and across generations. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
*Publishers Weekly
"The author crafts his characters impeccably and threads together their fates in surprising ways that shed light on the complicated events of the Civil War."
*Kirkus Reviews
“Peck writes beautifully, bringing history alive through Tilly's marvelous voice and deftly handling themes of family, race, war, and history. A rich tale full of magic, mystery, and surprise.”

5. CONNECTIONS:
* The students to write a response to the novel.
* Students create a timeline of historical dates from the novel, such as Lincoln’s Inauguration, the Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Belmont and the attack on Fort Sumter.
*Other historical fiction novels about the Civil War:
Olmstead, Robert. Coal Black Horse. ISBN 9781565125216
Reeder, Carolyn. Shades of Gray. ISBN 9780689826962
Wells, Rosemary. Red Moon at Sharpsburg. ISBN 9780670036387

SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
MacLachlan, Patricia. 1985. SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL. New York: Harper & Row. ISBN 9780066241025

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL is a story about a family living on the vast prairie in the early years of the 20th century. The story begins when their mother died the day after Caleb was born. Their house on the prairie is quiet now, and their Papa doesn't sing anymore. Then Papa puts an ad in the paper, asking for a wife, and he receives a letter from one Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton, of Maine. And into their lives comes Sarah, with her own needful loneliness and searching, to help them create a whole family. The children fear she will not stay, and when she goes off to town alone, the family is concerned that she is gone for good. When she returns, she explains that, "I will always miss my old home, but the truth of it is I would miss you more."

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
MacLachlan tells a simple, but unusual, story of a midwestern farming family searching for a replacement mother. Anna, probably about ten or twelve years old, narrates the story. MacLachlan’s short tale of abandonment, loss and love is about a family’s hope for a new beginning. It has a compact efficiency that creates a deceptive simplicity. The characters openly discuss their desire to have Sarah stay on the prairie with them. Through MacLachlan's prose you get a sense of the emptiness left when Anna's mother died, and the sincere longing for someone to provide a mother's love. MacLachlan provides many details of farm life and of a time before electricity and motorized vehicles, such as “Papa taught Sarah how to plow the fields, guiding the plow behind Jack and Old Bess, the reins around her neck.” Through descriptions in the story the reader is able to determine the setting. Anna and Sarah’s descriptions allow the reader to picture the family’s home and farmland. MacLachlan carefully chooses her words so that the reader is not overwhelmed with descriptions and events. The rhythmic flow makes this tale easy to read. This is a great novel that students can easily follow, comprehend, and understand as my class did as we read it. Great novel for doing character traits!

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
*The New York Times
"An exquisite, sometimes painfully touching tale."
*School Library Jounal
"A book that is filled with wisdom, gentle humor, and the practical concerns necessary for a satisfying life. A tender story about the fragile beginnings of a family relationship on its way to permanence."
*Amazon.com Review
MacLachlan, author of Unclaimed Treasures, has written an affecting tale for children. In the late 19th century a widowed midwestern farmer with two children--Anna and Caleb--advertises for a wife. When Sarah arrives she is homesick for Maine, especially for the ocean which she misses greatly. The children fear that she will not stay, and when she goes off to town alone, young Caleb--whose mother died during childbirth--is stricken with the fear that she has gone for good. But she returns with colored pencils to illustrate for them the beauty of Maine, and to explain that, though she misses her home, "the truth of it is I would miss you more." The tale gently explores themes of abandonment, loss and love. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

5. CONNECTIONS:
**Create a character trait web reflecting on Sarah.
*Compare the coastal region to the plains region including geographical features, weather, and resources in Social Studies.
*Have the students draw Sarah’s home in Maine using Sarah’s descriptions and the Witting’s home on the prairie using Anna’s descriptions?
*Students create their own book by summarizing each chapter.
*Other books in this Patricia MacLachlan trilogy:
Skylark. ISBN 9780064406222
Caleb’s Story. ISBN 9780060236052

CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Cushman, Karen. 1994. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780395681862

1. PLOT SUMMARY:
CATHERINE (BIRDY) is the 14-year-old daughter of an English country knight who is not content with her life. One of her brothers, a monk, has taught her to read and write and has given her a small journal for her to write in. He believes that keeping the journal will help her become more learned and less childish. She records aspects of her daily life and includes her hatred for her household duties. In the process, her writings also tell a lot of life in the 1200s from a teen’s point of view, from dealing with those suffering from “ale head” to attempts to learn refined and ladylike activities such as embroidery. Each different passage tells of the adventures of her days and how her parents are trying to make her act like a lady so her father can marry her off. Birdy hates to act like a lady and doesn't want to get married. This journal describes her adventures throughout a year of her daily life and her efforts to get rid of any male suitor that her father wants her to marry. She finally resigns herself to wed an older, unattractive man that she refers to as Shaggy Beard only to receive word that she will not have to marry him after all.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
"CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY" is a novel which is written in diary format that personifies the difficulties placed upon young women in a medieval court. It is a girl's diary in medieval times that is enjoyable and also an educational read. The first few pages of her diary are simple, one sentence entries, but she quickly moves onto long, paragraphed entries. It takes the reader through a year and a month of Birdy's intrigues and trickery to prevent being, as she puts it, "sold at auction like a pig" by her father whom she only refers to as "the beast." Her mother is trying to teach her to be a lady with "lady lessons," and even her old nurse is joined with her parents against her. As the journal progresses we follow Birdy through many events common to the life of the 13th century. It is an excellent book for preteen and teenage girls. It's a truly wonderful story. People who are intrested in Medieval stories should really read it, for it shows much of the lifestyle back then.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
*From Publishers Weekly
A Newbery Honor Book, this witty and wise fictive diary of a 13th-century English girl, according to PW, "introduces an admirable heroine and pungently evokes a largely unfamiliar setting." Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
*School Library Journal
Gr 6-9--The 14-year-old daughter of a rustic knight records the events of her days in the year 1290, writing perceptive, scathing, and often raucously funny observations about her family, friends, and would-be suitors. A delightful, rebellious heroine, determined not to marry the man of her father's choice.
Copyright 1997 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
*Booklist
From Booklist, Apr. 1994, Copyright © American Library Association.
Gr. 6-9. Like the recent The Ramsey Scallop , this is a story of life in the last decade of the twelfth century as seen through the eyes of a young teenage girl. Here the heroine is feisty Birdy, who's been instructed by her older brother to keep a diary so that she may grow less childish. Birdy, the daughter of a minor lord and lady in Lincolnshire, reluctantly agrees, but initially she has nothing more interesting to report than how many fleas she has picked off herself. As the months roll on, however, life becomes more stimulating as Birdy's father tries to marry her off to a variety of suitors. The diary format helps portray the tedium of life in the Middle Ages, the never-ending sewing, cooking, and other chores; the dirt and the illness; and, worse, the lowly role of women in medieval life. But this diary style also inhibits the ability of the characters to come alive. Birdy's is the only real voice. Fortunately, it's a sprightly voice, complete with its own brand of cursing ("God's thumbs!"), that moves the action. Kids can read this on their own or as a supplement to studies of the Middle Ages. (Reviewed Apr. 15, 1994)¾Ilene Cooper.
*School Library Journal
"Superb historical fiction."
*Kirkus Reviews
"The period has rarely been presented for young people with such authenticity; the exotic details will intrigue readers while they relate more closely to Birdy's yen for independence and her sensibilities toward the downtrodden."

5. CONNECTIONS:
*Make a list of words you would use to describe Birdy and then find evidence in her journal to support each choice of word.
*Students may write a response to the story and draw an illustration to complement their response.
*Related Titles:
Lewis, Naomi. Proud Knight, Fair Lady. Viking, 1989 ISBN 0 670 82656 1.
Temple, Frances. The Ramsay Scallop. Orchard, 1994 ISBN 0 531 06836 6.
*Collective biographies by Kathleen Krull:
Lives of Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (And What the Neighbors Thought). ISBN 9780152001032
Lives of Extraordinary Women: Rulers, Rebels (And What the Neighbors Thought). ISBN 9780152008079

THE BOY ON FAIRFIELD STREET: HOW ED GEISEL GREW UP TO BECOME DR. SEUSS

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Krull, Kathleen. 2004. THE BOY ON FAIRFIELD STREET: HOW TED GEISEL GREW UP TO BECOME DR. SEUSS. Ill. by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375922985

1. PLOT SUMMARY:
THE BOY ON FAIRFIELD STREET: HOW TED GEISEL GREW UP TO BECOME DR. SEUSS introduces the life of renowned children's author and illustrator Ted Geisel, popularly known as Dr. Seuss, focusing on his childhood and youth in Springfield, Massachusetts. It reveals how Ted Geisel enjoyed drawing and doodling as a child and how his passions was misunderstood by others. It goes on to detail what it was like for him growing up on Fairfield Street. He surprises many by attending Dartmouth College and writing for the college humor magazine and with Ted going to Oxford and meeting his future wife. Ted Geisel discovers that he can make a living writing and drawing. It ends when he is twenty-two and “his future looked bright.” Additional pages complete Ted’s life “On Beyond Fairfield Street” and provide a bibliography of works written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
THE BOY ON FAIRFIELD STREET is a great biography for students under-12 and is beautifully illustrated and tenderly written. The full page paintings by Johnson and Fancher further create the setting and a feeling of nostalgia begun by Krull’s well-written text. The soft, muted illustrations complement the visual created by Krull. The inclusion of Geisel’s own drawings adds a little Seuss-flavor to the tale of his life. It is written in smaller font to show it is an account of Dr. Seuss later years of life. This makes it easier for the reader to pick what he/she needs concerning the undertakings of Dr. Seuss. The front cover of the work of art looks like an attractive picture book because it is decorative and colorful. Children would find it enjoyable to read because how the text is written and the cartoon caricatures beneath the passages. The decorative paintings help to communicate his feelings, reactions, and what activity he was engaging in doing a moment in time. Krull presents the factual information in an entertaining and educational manner. This book is a tool that can be used to encourage children to read books written by Ted Geisel (Dr. Seuss), who help to revolutionize the children book industry. This is a great book to share read with your students in your classroom!

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
*Review in BookList: “A delightful picture-book biography about Geisel that chronicles how he became an innovative writer and illustrator beloved by readers young and old.”
*Starred review in School Library Journal: “This picture-book biography is a winner...Krull’s work is a terrific look at the boyhood of one of the most beloved author/illustrators of the 20th century.”
*Review in Library Media Connection: “Kathleen Krull presents a touching view of the life of Ted Geisel from early childhood visiting the zoo to his young adult years at Dartmouth College, as well as the poignant events that shaped his life.”
*Publishers Weekly
Krull's (V Is for Victory) fond tribute to Dr. Seuss focuses on the well-loved author/artist's youth. Growing up in Springfield, Mass., Ted Geisel "feasted on books and was wild about animals" and "excelled at fooling around." The informal, anecdotal narrative explains that Geisel early on demonstrated a passion for drawing (even on his bedroom walls) "whatever popped into his head." He took only one art class, in high school, and quit when the teacher scolded him for "breaking rules" and told him he would never be successful. While attending Dartmouth, Geisel was admired for his "talent for silliness" and, Krull notes with comic irony, "He was clearly gifted, though no one knew at exactly what. It wasn't as if men could doodle for a living." The tale ends rather abruptly as the 22-year-old Geisel arrives in New York City to embark on his artistic career. A four-page addendum, presented in a smaller font, chronicles the highlights of Dr. Seuss's publishing career and provides intriguing tidbits about the creation of some of his beloved books. Johnson and Fancher's (New York's Bravest) representational, nostalgic paintings effectively evoke both the period and Geisel's appealingly puckish personality. Featured in spot art, familiar Seuss characters frolic through these pages, thematically complementing the illustrations while reminding readers why Geisel's life is worth celebrating. Ages 6-12. (Jan.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
*Bluebonnet Award (NOMINATED) 2006North Carolina Children's Book Award
(NOMINATED) 2006New York State Charlotte Award

5. CONNECTIONS:
*Students may write a response to the story and draw caricatures, cartoons, or pictures to complement their response.
*Collective biographies by Kathleen Krull:
Lives of Writers: Comedies, Tragedies (And What the Neighbors Thought). ISBN 9780152480097
Lives of Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (And What the Neighbors Thought). ISBN 9780152001032
Lives of Extraordinary Women: Rulers, Rebels (And What the Neighbors Thought). ISBN 9780152008079
Lives of Presidents: Fame, Shame (And What the Neighbors Thought). ISBN 9780152008086

TEAM MOON HOW 400,000 PEOPLE LANDED APOLLO 11 ON THE MOON

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Thimmesh, Catherine. 2006. TEAM MOON: HOW 400,000 PEOPLE LANDED APOLLO 11 ON THE MOON. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 9780618507573

1. PLOT SUMMARY:
Catherine Thimmesh writes about a few of the people and organizations that made the project possible. She begins with pictures of hundreds of people gathered to watch the grainy black & white TV pictures beamed back live from the moon. She includes the seamstresses who sewed together the 22 layers of the spacesuits to the team that designed the parachute system that lowered the capsule into the ocean. Each chapter details one particular segment of the Moon landing, its central challenge, and the solution to that challenge.
Illustrated primarily with archival photographs, the book includes extensive back matter, an author's note, pictures and quotes from an assortment of team members, bibliography, chapter notes, additional sources (including many Web sites and other media), starting points for further exploration, information on other missions, an index, and a glossary.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
With outstanding photos and a lively text, TEAM MOON will hold the attention of even the most reluctant reader as it relates behind-the-scene stories of Apollo 11, in which the United States first successfully landed men on the Moon and returned them back home safely. The photo illustrations also bring the story to life, especially the idea of how so many people had a hand in the mission. Gathering direct quotes from some of these folks who worked behind the scenes, Catherine Thimmesh reveals their very human worries and concerns. This is a very inspiring book!

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
*From School Library Journal
Grade 5 Up–In infectiously hyperbolic prose that's liberally interspersed with quotes and accompanied by sheaves of period photos, Thimmesh retraces the course of the space mission that landed an actual man, on the actual Moon. It's an oft-told tale, but the author tells it from the point of view not of astronauts or general observers, but of some of the 17,000 behind-the-scenes workers at Kennedy Space Center, the 7500 Grumman employees who built the lunar module, the 500 designers and seamstresses who actually constructed the space suits, and other low-profile contributors who made the historic flight possible. Despite occasional contrast issues when the white-on-black text is printed over blown-up photographs, this dramatic account will mesmerize even readers already familiar with the event–and also leave them awed by the level of care and dedication it took to surmount so many daunting technological challenges. Drawn from personal interviews and oral histories as well as a wide array of published sources, this stirring, authoritative tribute to the collective effort that left ...footprints, crisp and clear, pressed purposefully and magnificently into the lunar dust belongs in every collection.–John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
*Publishers Weekly
This behind-the-scenes look at the first Apollo moon landing has the feel of a public television documentary in its breadth and detail.The book opens with several photographs of people huddled around TVs to view the event (one shows Italians watching a small set at an outdoor cafe). The author then delves into the back story of the organizations and hundreds of thousands of people who made the 1969 mission possible. Readers meet 24-year-old "computer whiz kid Jack Garman," who helped work through worrisome computer glitches during the Eagle's landing, as well as one of the seamstresses who sewed the spacesuits ("We didn't worry too much until the guys on the moon started jumping up and down. And that gave us a little bit of an eyebrow twitch"). The 16 chapter-like segments flow chronologically, from John F. Kennedy's 1961 speech to Apollo 11's splashdown. Thimmesh (Madame President) peppers her lengthy, fact-filled narrative with folksy adages (e.g., "Here they were, less than 500 feet from the moon, and just about plumb out of fuel"). The colloquialisms sometime seem at odds with the myriad of engineering acronyms and jargon. But the author maintains a conversational tone, and tackles and explains tough topics such as "cluster interference" in parachute deployment and a bit of the chemistry behind developing the astronauts' dramatic photographs, many of which illustrate the story. Even if the jargon gives readers pause, the little-known facts will keep their interest level high. Ages 9-up. (June) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

5. CONNECTIONS:
*Integrate into a Social Studies or History lesson, in which the students would write a report on the history of Apollo 11.
*Other Apollo 11 titles:
Green, Carl R. Apollo 11 Rockets to First Moon Landing. ISBN 9780766051645
Hehner, Barbara. First on the Moon: What It Was Like When Man Landed on the Moon. ISBN 9780786804894
Mason, Paul. The Moon Landing, July 20, 1969. ISBN9780739852361

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A TAIL LIKE THIS?

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Jenkins, Steve. 2003. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A TAIL LIKE THIS? Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618256288

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
Steve Jenkins goes through and describes each sense and informs about different types of animals. He says what do you do with eyes like these and goes on to show and describe different types of animals that use their eyes for different things. You are able to explore the many amazing things animals can do with their ears, eyes, mouths, noses, feet, and tails in this interactive guessing book.

Beautifully illustrated with Jenkins's and Page's unique cut-paper collages, What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? poses questions that readers can answer by turning the page to discover what animals such as a giraffe, a chameleon, a gecko, and many other fascinating creatures do with their amazing body parts. The papers were perfect colors and even textures. You can tell some were cut and some were torn or wrinkled to get that perfect look.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A TAIL LIKE THIS? is a great simple text book to use with any grade level. The text is big and readable and gives facts that do not overload the young reader. The reader can see the crinkles in the paper and the velvet-like quality in some of them. I also really liked how it went through as a picture book and at the end of the book it ended up with definitions and a little background on each animal in the book. This was a great book, especially when it can be integrated into other subject areas, such as Science and Art.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
* Starred review in BOOKLIST: "Jenkins' handsome paper-cut collages are both lovely and anatomically informative, and their white background helps emphasize the particular feature, be it the bush baby's lustrous, liquid-brown eyes or the skunk's fuzzy tail. This is a striking, thoughtfully created book with intriguing facts made more memorable through dynamic art."
* Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Jenkins, this time in collaboration with his wife, has created yet another eye-opening book. Children will learn that lizards can completely break off their tail as a defense and that it will grow back. And, they'll find out that crickets' ears are on their knees."

5. CONNECTIONS:
*Integrate into a Science class discussing animals and have the students pick one of the animals in the book they found interesting and have them do a research on it. *Integrate into an Art lesson, in which the students would create a collage with the fabulous pictures from the book.
*Jenkins has another book similar to this called, WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN SOMETHING WANTS TO EAT YOU? This book also uses the same cut and paste illustration techniques, the two-page approach: identifying the animal on one page and then describes the defense mechanism on the next.
Jenkins, Steve. 2001. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN SOMETHING WANTS TO EAT YOU? Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618152431.

OUT OF THE DUST

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Hesse, Karen.1997. OUT OF THE DUST. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN: 0590371258

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
OUT OF THE DUST is an outstanding story about a young girl named, Billie Jo, who experiences living through the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. Fighting against the elements on her Oklahoma farm, Billie Jo takes on even more responsibilities when her mother dies in a tragic accident. Her valiant struggle to help her family cope during these extremely lean years makes OUT OF THE DUST a wonderful tale of strength and courage.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Written in poetry form, Karen Hesse's lyrical poetry brings readers deep into the trials and tribulations that a young girl deals with. Set in Oklahoma's Dust Bowl during the Great Depression, the story exposes the raw emotions of a young girl as she struggles to survive the most haunting experience of her life. This story is told through the eyes of Billie Jo which will allow young readers to understand the complexity of life for children their own age and also be able to make a connection between the issues of the time and the ones they are dealing with today. This beautifully written book is an excellent introduction to the Great Depression. This great poem cycle reads as a novel, which is an instant classic.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
School Library Journal
Gr 5 Up--After facing loss after loss during the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, Billie Jo begins to reconstruct her life. A triumphant story, eloquently told through prose-poetry.

Publishers Weekly
This intimate novel, written in stanza form, poetically conveys the heat, dust and wind of Oklahoma along with the discontent of narrator Billy Jo, a talented pianist growing up during the Depression. Unlike her father, who refuses to abandon his failing farm ("He and the land have a hold on each other"), Billy Jo is eager to "walk my way West/ and make myself to home in that distant place/ of green vines and promise." She wants to become a professional musician and travel across the country. But those dreams end with a tragic fire that takes her mother's life and reduces her own hands to useless, "swollen lumps." Hesse's (The Music of Dolphins) spare prose adroitly traces Billy Jo's journey in and out of darkness. Hesse organizes the book like entries in a diary, chronologically by season. With each meticulously arranged entry she paints a vivid picture of Billy Jo's emotions, ranging from desolation ("I look at Joe and know our future is drying up/ and blowing away with the dust") to longing ("I have a hunger,/ for more than food./ I have a hunger/ bigger than Joyce City") to hope (the farmers, surveying their fields,/ nod their heads as/ the frail stalks revive,/ everyone, everything, grateful for this moment,/ free of the/ weight of dust"). Readers may find their own feelings swaying in beat with the heroine's shifting moods as she approaches her coming-of-age and a state of self-acceptance. Ages 11-13.

Booklist
Gr. 6-9. "Daddy came in, / he sat across from Ma and blew his nose. / Mud streamed out. / He coughed and spit out / mud. / If he had cried, / his tears would have been mud too, / but he didn't cry. / And neither did Ma." This is life in the Oklahoma dust bowl in the mid-1930s. Billie Jo and her parents barely eke out a living from the land, as her father refuses to plant anything but wheat, and the winds and dust destroy the crop time after time. Playing the piano provides some solace, but there is no comfort to be had once Billie Jo's pregnant mother mistakes a bucket of kerosene for a bucket of water and dies, leaving a husband who withdraws even further and an adolescent daughter with terribly burned hands. The story is bleak, but Hesse's writing transcends the gloom and transforms it into a powerfully compelling tale of a girl with enormous strength, courage, and love. The entire novel is written in very readable blank verse, a superb choice for bringing out the exquisite agony and delight to be found in such a difficult period lived by such a vibrant character. It also spares the reader the trouble of wading through pages of distressing text, distilling all the experiences into brief, acutely observed phrases. This is an excellent book for discussion, and many of the poems stand alone sufficiently to be used as powerful supplements to a history lesson. (Reviewed October 1, 1997)Susan Dove Lempke.

5. CONNECTIONS:
*Coombs, Karen Mueller. (2000). Children of the Dust Days. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books. ISDN: 1575053608
*Stein, R. Conrad. (1994). The Great Depression. New York: Scholastic. ISDN: 9780516466682
*Hesse, Karen. (1999). Come On, Rain! New York: Scholastic. 32pp. Illustrated by Jon J. Muth. ISDN: 9780590331258
*The students will be able to write about their own experience relating to the text.
*The students to create a mural relating to the text.

A PIZZA THE SIZE OF THE SUN

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Prelutsky, Jack. 1996. A PIZZA THE SIZE OF THE SUN. Ill. By James Stevenson. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN: 0688132367

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
Jack Prelutsky has written another wondrously rich, varied, clever, and always funny collection. He starts his first poem with the title of the book and uses various themes for his collection of poems. Some of the funny and witty poems are; I Did a Nuttty Somersault: “When you try out your roller blades, don’t do it on the ice”; I am dangling by my knees. …Grandma takes a closer look-whatever made you faint?” and I Got out of Bed. He also uses ample amount of rhythm and rhymes; I often repeat repeat myself: “I don’t I don’t know why know why…I often repeat repeat myself”; Frenetica Fluntz: “I eat as I drink and I drink as I shout and I shout as I think and I think as I draw and I draw as I walk and I walk as I read…”; and Dixxer’s Excellent Elixir. Most of all, there is something that makes his poem unique and attractive to children; I AM YOUR MIRROR IMAGE, Backwards Forwards Silly Rhyme and Reverso Is Name My (backwards and mirror writing); I’m All Mixed Up (mixed use with a capital and small letters); Zeke McPeake (small characters); and A triangular tale and I Was Walking in a Circle (concrete poems). Whether you begin at the beginning or just open the book at random, you won’t stop smiling.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Jack Prelutsky has written a single poet collection that is great, funny, and enjoyable. It deals with various themes and forms of poems that any student will enjoy, even those students that weren’t interested in poetry. The students of all ages will be able to enjoy Prelutsky’s poems with abundant of funny expressions, word sounds, and word play. Verses range from the short and sweet poems to poems of silliness. This book is perfect for reading aloud or for independent reading as students will reach for this book again and again. It is great to use as part of an assignment in the class room.

James Stevenson’s black ink sketches are witty and touched with a gray wash that makes it enjoyable to read. He wrings a wealth of humor and emotion out of a few dashes of ink. It’s a delightful addition to poetry collections that all children will enjoy for a long time.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
Horn Book Guide (March 1, 1997)
“Fiction: NF Age: K-3 Prelutsky and Stevenson have again produced an appealing collection of short poetry. Spirited line and wash drawings effectively convey the tone of the jaunty, usually funny, often silly, sometimes gross, and always childlike poems. Poems in varied typeface and placement in an open format combine with the economical line of well-placed sketches to create a fast-paced collection that's loads of fun.”

School Library Journal (September 1, 1996)
“K-Gr 6?Yet another masterful collection of poems by the prolific Prelutsky, filled with zany people, improbable creatures, and rhythm and rhyme galore, all combining to celebrate the unusual, the mundane, and the slightly gruesome ("Eyeballs for sale!/Fresh eyeballs for sale!/Delicious, nutritious,/Not moldy or stale.").”

5. CONNECTIONS:
*Prelutsky, Jack. The new kid on the block. Illustrations by James Stevenson ISBN: 0688022715
*Prelutsky, Jack. Something big has been here. Illustrations by James Stevenson ISBN: 0688064345
*The students will be able to write a response to the poetry.
*The students will discuss new and interesting words.

DANITRA BROWN LEAVES TOWN

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Grimes, Nikki. 2002. DANITRA BROWN LEAVES TOWN. Ill. by Floyd Cooper. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 0688131565.

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
DANITRA BROWN LEAVES TOWN is about two friends departing for summer after the school year was over. Danitra Brown is leaving town, and her best friend Zuri is not happy at all. However, Zuri meets a few new people to play with while her best friend is away. Through a series of letters, both friends share their greatest adventures of what their childhood summers are made of, such as block parties, hand ball games, family reunions, and Fourth of July. At the end, Danitra returns back home, where true friendship always remains.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Nikki Grimes has created an outstanding and enjoyable book that children are able to understand and relate to, particularly the characters' emotions such as Zuri's anger and jealousy when Danitra leaves town for her summer vacation. Throughout the book, the reader is able to experience the same sights, sounds, and wonders as the girls, and helps them to become closer to the characters as their friendship is rekindled. This book is unique in that it tells a story not only through poetry, but poetic letters. It is also a good stepping-stone between picture books and poetry. Grimes did an excellent job in telling this story of adventures and friendship through poems in the from of letters that are exchanged between two friends. For the student who is unsure of poetry, this is a great book to begin with. This is a great book to use in the classroom when relating to friendship.


The warm colors that Floyd Cooper uses in the illustrations of this book are enjoyable and make the characters come to life and at the same time, capture the reader's attention. The illustrated pages accompanying the poem, “The Bad Good-bye” are especially moving, showing Zuri’s sullen face upon the news that her best friend is leaving town for the summer. His elaborate pictures that accompany each poem allow the reader to be able to understand the plot based on the illustrations. This book would be extremely appealing for all children as they would be able to make some connection to the story. Great warm and colorful illustrations!

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
*From School Library Journal:
Grades 3-5--Grimes and Cooper return with another story told through poems about Danitra Brown and Zuri Jackson. This time, the friends exchange letters all summer long while Danitra is visiting relatives. Zuri starts out feeling angry and disappointed that Danitra is leaving her behind and doesn't seem to care, but eventually both girls make new friends while they look forward to being together again. Some vignettes may leave readers with perplexing questions; for example, Danitra describes a stubborn dragonfly that she's sure would like to eat her, but the accompanying image depicts her smiling at it benignly. All in all, however, Cooper's photo-realist artwork in soft hues against glowing backdrops is a lovely complement to the girls' many moods.

*From Publishers Weekly:
Zuri describes in verse the summer that she and her best friend Danitra are separated in Danitra Brown Leaves Town by Nikki Grimes, a follow-up to Meet Danitra Brown. Floyd Cooper's luminescent pastels chronicle the long days and Zuri's many moods.

*Booklist
Ages 4-8. The best friends from Meet Danitra Brown (1994) celebrate summer apart and together in this warm story, told in simple free verse with big, joyful oil-wash paintings. The girls' friendship frames the story. At first Zuri is hurt that Danitra leaves to go to her family in the country, but then Danitra writes "I wish that you were here" and shares her delight in camping out under the stars, climbing trees, and discovering "a different Danitra." Meanwhile Zuri finds lots of fun and a new friend in her city neighborhood. The surprise is in the details: on one page Zuri writes to Danitra about a hip-swinging, head-bobbling, foot-stomping block party, and the bouncy painting shows Cooper at his best. Just as vital are the words and pictures of Danitra swinging in the country garden. Kids will see that both friends travel far and welcome each other home.

5. CONNECTIONS:
*Follow up the reading with other Grimes Books.
*Grimes, Nikki. 1997. Meet Danitra Brown. Illus. by Cooper, Floyd. Harper Trophy. ISBN 0688154719.
*Grimes, Nikki. JAZMIN’S NOTEBOOK. ISBN 9780141307022.
*Have children write a journal entry about a time when they have been separated from someone they loved?

THE RETURN OF THE BUFFALOES

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Goble, Paul. 1996. THE RETURN OF THE BUFFALOES. National Geographic Society. Washington, D.C. ISBN 079222714X

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
THE RETURN OF THE BUFFALOES talks about a tribe that has been many moons without food and how they must do something to find food. Two young scouts are sent out to look for the buffalo, but they just wander and wander until they agree that they would rather die than return to the camp without food. Then they meet a mysterious woman who ushers them into her tipi, in which thousands of buffalo are painted on the walls. She promises them she will send them buffalo soon. The young men race back to the camp and immediately all the members of the tribe pack up gifts to take back to the woman. Although all of them wait outside her tipi, she doesn't come out. So they leave the gifts and they return to their camp. In the middle of the night a great storm begins crashing all around the campsite and instead of thunder and lightening, it was buffaloes who had returned.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
By writing about a time of hardship, Paul Goble dramatizes the central importance of the buffalo to a vibrantly spiritual and artistic culture. He pictures the vastness of the empty plains, the excitement of discovering the Buffalo Woman, and the thundering return of the herd with superb artisty, bring us a world that must not be forgotten. The details in the India ink and watercolor pictures create realism in a surreal pictorial style. The great text shows compassion, caring, and a great trust in the mystery of life and is conveyed through simple language that is appropriate for all ages. This tale eloquently describes the quiet pride and unwavering honor of the Native Americans. Great combination of text and colorful pictures!

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
*School Library Journal: "The strong symbiotic relationship between Native Americans and the natural world is apparent in both the myth and the accompanying information. Goble's signature style is evident in his hues of vivid colors, stylized images, and traditional motifs. The large India-ink and watercolor illustration effectively contrast the natural world with Indian decoration...in a book that is entertaining, informative, and inspirational."
*Kirkus review: "Golbe is customarily generous with supporting information on the Plains Indians: Children can discover the Lakota design elements he incorporates into the art, learn how to make parfleche (an intricately decorated rawhide container for dried meat) and appreciate the use these native people made of every part of the buffalo. Attractive, absorbing fare."

5. CONNECTIONS:
*Follow up the reading with other Native American tales.
*Goble, Paul. 1998. THE LEGEND OF THE WHITE BUFFALO WOMAN. National Geographic Society. Washington, D.C. ISBN 9780792265528
*Crow Dog, Leonard; Lame Deer, John (Fire). 1976. THE SOUND OF FLUTES AND OTHER INDIAN LEGENDS. Pantheon books. New York. ISBN 0394831810

AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND: FOLK POETRY FROM EVERYONE

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Schwartz, Alvin. 1999. AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND: FOLK POETRY FROM EVERYONE. by Sue Truesdell. USA: HarperCollins Publisher. ISBN: 0064462145

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND: FOLK POETRY FROM EVERYONE is a collection of poetry, riddles, rhymes, and taunts that have been spread by word of mouth from place to place and in which Alvin Schwartz has brought together into creating an outstanding book for kids and adults of all ages. This book is full of material that is fun and very enjoyable to read.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Alvin Schwartz has taken folk poetry from most every decade and has created a book divided into chapters, in which makes it easy to follow and read. He has also included a very helpful section that details the sources of each folk poem and summarized the reason for writing certain poems based on a subject. This is just a great and funny book.

Illustrations by Sue Truesdell highlight particular scenes on a page and are in a simple black ink sketch. The sketches look child-like and would appeal to both children and adults of all ages. The text just flows with all the sketches in the book. The musical notes are used as illustrations to help make it easier for readers to sing their favorite tunes.


4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
*School Library Journal: "A marvelous book that is sure to become a classic if children have any say in the matter. Schwartz has gathered sassy, funny, scary, and slightly naughty children's folk poetry heard on school grounds and wherever else kids are having fun.
*The Horn Book Magazine: "Full of vigorous, swinging rhythms and funny, often nasty, sentiments, the pages are filled with well-known rhymes as well as new discoveries."

5. CONNECTIONS:
* Have students compare and contrast between two different poems?
*Do interacting writing, in which both the educator and the student create a new poetry or rhyme?

BUBBA THE COWBOY PRINCE: A FRACTURED TEXAS TALE

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Ketteman, Helen. 1997. BUBBA THE COWBOY PRINCE: A FRACTURED TEXAS TALE. Ill. by
James Warhola. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0590255061

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
BUBBA THE COWBOY PRINCE is a retelling story of Cinderella, but western style. Bubba lives in his family ranch in Texas with his wicked stepdad and his nasty stepbrothers. Even though he is constantly bossed around the family ranch by his wicked stepdad and he stepbrothers, he never complains and does all of the chores he is told to do. Until one day when Miz Lurleen decides to throw a ball to find herself a real cowboy, Bubba had to stay home. As he watch his stepdad and stepbrothers leave for the ball, he knew that he was unable to go because he had no clothes. Than with the help of his fairy godcow, and a little Texas magic, he was able to attend the ball where he meets Miz Lurleen who finds him as the cowboy prince she's always dreamed of.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Unlike most Cinderella stories, this one is very entertaining. Ketterman added an extremely funny twist on the old Cinderella tale. Its choice of language keeps your attention and is outstanding. Also, it has a well developed Texas setting that when you read the story it makes you use a southern/western accent because it makes the story more interesting.

Warhola's illustrations are outstanding and makes the story very enjoyable. The remarkable features on the character's faces reflect what they are actually thinking. The great colorful pictures enhance the interest of the reader in wanting to read the story. The artwork is just amazing!


4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
*Publisher's Weekly - "Just the ticket for buckaroos lookin'fer a good read."
*School Library Journal - "This is a fun-filled story with more hyperbole than a Christmas turkey has stuffing."

5. CONNECTIONS:
* Compare and Contrast between versions of Cinderella so that the students may be able to learn and accept the different cultures.
*Do interacting writing, in which both the educator and the student create a new text about Bubba's and Miz Lurleen's life together and their future?
*Karlin, Barbara. CINDERELLA. Ill.by James Marshall. Trumpet Club. ISBN 0440847052

A CALDECOTT CELEBRATION

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Marcus, Leonard S. 1998. A CALDECOTT CELEBRATION: SIX ARTISTS AND THEIR PATHS TO THE CALDECOTT MEDAL . New York: Walker and Company. ISBN 0802786561

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
A CALDECOTT CELEBRATION is a book that focus on Marcus informative pictures of the world's most prestigious illustration award and the six acclaimed illustrators who were awarded the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture books for children. It reflects on the work and creation of the six different artists spanning six different decades. Each section provides the opportunity to be able to see preliminary sketches and read about the methods each author used to write their award winning story.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
This is an outstanding and very informative book about the interesting facts about the illustrators, creation process, and illustrations. It is great that Marcus takes the reader into the studios and behind the drawing board to see how much work actually goes into the detail drawings and sketches. The text and illustrations adds to the enjoyment of this book and I strongly believe that this would be one of the books that should be on an educator's bookshelf.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
*Starred review in Booklist: "A lively, informative introduction to each book and its maker. A beautifully make book, this will serve as a fine resource for children interested in illustration and for teachers researching author/illustrator studies."
*Starred review in Publishers Weekly: "Filled with witty anecdotes and pithy observations, Marcus's approach to examining the works of six Caldecott Medalists will be of as much interest to adults as to picture book readers."

5. CONNECTIONS:
* Compare and Contrast between the six artist and illustrations. Discuss with students about the six different styles.
* Setup a writer's workshop to allow students to observe the writing and illustration process and to understand that it takes planning and preparation to produce an outstanding product. Provide the students with a narrative composition and have them write and illustrate their writing.

MOSES

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Boston Weatherford, Carole. 2006. MOSES WHEN HARRIET TUBMAN LED HER PEOPLE TO FREEDOM. Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, New York.Illustrator: Kadir Nelson ISBN 13: 978-078685175-92.

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
Born into slavery, Harriet Tubman dreamed for a life free from slavery. Believing and trusting in God she decides to escape slavery one night by leaving her husband and family behind to find freedom in Philadelphia. Later she risked her life by making nineteen subsequent trips back south to lead her family and many others to safety.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Moses is a beautiful and inspiring book. The three distinct typefaces, represent the three voices, which are the narrator, Harriet Tubman and of God, who sends her guidance. Even though it is a fictional account of Harriet Tubman’s spiritual and physical escape from slavery to freedom, she is truly a real life hero. Carole Boston Weatherford includes an outstanding foreword explaining the practice of slavery and also an author’s note describing further details of Harriet’s life, which adds to the understanding of the story. She writes about the dangerous journey Tubman makes by using poetic conversation between Tubman and God, which is easy to read.

The illustrations, by Kadir Nelson, are just amazing as some of the printed text mirrored the shape of a rushing stream. The emotional expressions on Harriet’s face reflected both joy and despair that she experienced throughout her life. The joy reflected her love, devotion to God, and her triumph. The despair reflected her fear, anger, and hurtful events as she struggles to continue her journey. Every single page is filled with dark, colorful, and spiritual illustrations that draw your attention to what was important in Harriet’s life. It also draws the attention of the reader to imagine and understand the depth of Harriet’s faith.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
*Horn Book starred (Spring 2007)Weatherford’s poetic telling and Nelson’s atmospheric painting of Tubman’s role in the Underground Railroad portray the spiritual like of the African American visionary.
*Library Media Connection (January 2007)This is a moving story of the beliefs that sustained Tubman as she worked to gain freedom for herself and others.

5. CONNECTIONS:
More titles about Harriet Tubman:
*Adler, David. A PICTURE BOOK OF HARRIET TUBMAN. ISBN 978082340926
*Ferris, Jeri. GO FREE OR DIE: A STORY ABOUT HARRIET TUBMAN.
ISBN13: 978-0-87614-317-9
Mara, Wil. HARRIET TUBMAN. ISBN 13: 978-0-516-22521-0
*Skelton, Renee.HARRIET TUBMAN: A WOMAN OF COURAGE.ISBN 9780060576080
*Stein, Conrad R. ESCAPING SLAVERY ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
ISBN 13: 978-0-7660-2799-2
*Students may create a map of Harriet Tubman’s journey to freedom.
*Students may write a response to the story.

MY FRIEND RABBIT

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:Rohmann, Eric. 2002. MY FRIEND RABBIT. Ill. by Eric Rohmann. Roaring Book Press.ISBN 0761324208.

2. PLOT SUMMARY:
Eventhough Rabbit means well, his exuberance gets him into trouble at times. His friend Mouse lets him fly his toy plane, which ends up in a tree, but with Rabbit's brilliant idea to get it down doesn't exactly work. He still has a new idea and good intentions, in which Mouse supports him through it all.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Eric Rohmann’s Caldecott Medal book relates to several key virtues, in which the main one is friendship. Mouse is a loyalty friend who has no allusions to his friend’s faults but chooses to support him through many troubles. Rabbit is a creative and persistence character that as soon as a problem arrives he instantly has an idea. Unfortunately his ideas are usually followed by trouble. The strong artisitc bold lines, simple text, graphic illustrations set within a black-lined theme, and uplifting message that Rohmann used in this book helps get the attention of readers. This allows the reader to focus on the brillant colors and detailed illustrations of the characters. Rohmann did an excellent job in addressing the supportive friendship of Rabbit and Mouse.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS:
*Caldecott MedalBooklist: “Tremendous physical humor delivers a gentle lesson about accepting friends as they are.”
*Horn Book: “…visually exciting—Rohmann’s hand-colored relief prints make fresh and innovative use of picture book space—and broadly humorous.”
*Publishers Weekly: “this gentle lesson in patience and loyalty, balanced on the back of a hilarious set of illustrations, will leave young readers clamoring for repeat readings.”

5. CONNECTIONS:
*Discuss with children the meaning of friendship and other key virtures used in the story.*Have children discuss Mouse and Rabbits relationship as well as other mischief that could have happen in the story. *Create a different ending of the story by predicting different ways Rabbit and Mouse could get out of the tree.
*Other books for children about friendships:
*Lobel, Arnold. FROG AND TOAD ARE FRIENDS. ISBN 1559942290
*Clark, Emma. WILL AND SQUILL. ISBN 1575059363
*Silverstein, Shel. THE GIVING TREE. ISBN 0060256656