BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jenkins, Steve. 2005. PREHISTORIC ACTUAL SIZE. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0618535780.
PLOT SUMMARY
Jenkins introduces young readers to various prehistoric animals such as dinosaurs, mammals, insects and other groups that range from smallest to largest. He profiles primary characteristics of these primitive creatures such actual size, shape and how long ago they lived. Jenkins begins with the tiniest animal that ever appeared on Earth, the protozoan and describes one of the largest dinosaurs, the Giganotosaurus. This educational and informative book will help children with the concepts of measurement and will keep their interest as they flip through the pages.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In Prehistoric Actual Size, readers will get a chance to see how ancient creatures may have looked like at actual size. Jenkins uses life-sized illustrations of cut and torn paper collages accompanied by text underneath the image revealing the size of each creature. Children will be amazed at the size of a thirty-three foot Baryonyx, a fish-eating dinosaur, which shows just a mere claw. They will be in awe of a spiny shark that was only a mere three inches long. The head of a flying reptile known as the Dsungaripterus takes up four pages in the book. A tiny protozoan, nearly invisible to the naked eye, stands beside a sea scorpion which lived 420 million years ago. Kids can imagine these prehistoric animals walking, running, flying and stalking their prey. The last few pages are dedicated to showing more detailed information of these prehistoric creatures. Teachers, parents and children will find this book informative and educational when studying measurement as well as a fun and interesting read.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred Review in Booklist: “Children fascinated by Jenkins’ vibrant cut-paper artwork in Actual Size (2004) won’t want to miss the oversize album of prehistoric creatures that range from tiny to enormous.
Review in School Library Journal: “The exciting artistic presentation that worked so well in Acutual Size (Houghton, 2004) is equally successful when applied to prehistoric creatures. Progressing chronologically from a dot-sized protozoan of 550 million years ago Jenkins has chosen the animals and the portions of them to depict to great effect.”
CONNECTIONS
Introduce students to concept of measurement in mathematics
Study prehistoric animals in science
Other books about measurement:
Hightower, Susan. Twelve Snails to One Lizard: A Tale of Mischief and Measurement. ISBN 0689804520
Hoban, Tana. Is It Larger? Is It Smaller. ISBN 0688152872
Jenkings, Steve. Actual Size. ISBN 0618375945
Leedy, Loreen. Measuring Penny. ISBN 0805065725
Myller, Rolf. How Big is a Foot? ISBN 0440404959
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
LEONARDO DA VINCI
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stanley, Diane. 1996. LEONARDO DA VINCI. New York, NY: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688104371
PLOT SUMMARY
Leonardo was born in 1452 to a peasant woman and a country gentleman who was a leading citizen of Vinci. Because of Leonardo’s illegitimate birth, he was unable to follow his father in the family profession as a notary, so he became an artist. His creative talents shined through and he became an apprentice to a famous artist. Leonardo was also passionate for other things other than art as demonstrated in many of his famous notebooks. “There were drawings of grotesque faces, drafts of letters, sketches for future paintings, lists of books he owned, plans for inventions, moral observations, pages copied out of books he had borrowed, notes of things to remember, designs for weapons, drawings of anatomy and observations of nature.” As a great painter, sculptor, architect, scientist and inventor, Leonardo was one of the most amazing people who ever lived.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Stanley takes readers into the life of Leonardo da Vinci from his illegitimate birth to the last days of his life. She chronicles his extraordinary achievements from his famous paintings to his exceptional inventions. Young readers will be fascinated by Leonardo’s creative imagination as expressed through many of his famous notebooks. They will learn about Leonardo’s famous Last Supper painting to his study of anatomy. His reputation as a mechanical genius is clear when readers learn about his inventions of a flying machine to one of the world's first air cooling systems. Stanley presents her beautiful illustrations to accompany her story as well as actual drawings and sketches which Leonardo made in his lifetime. Leonardo’s numerous accomplishments and adventurous life will keep young readers entertained and interested.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred review from Booklist: “This is the best of the many children’s books on Leonardo.”
Starred review from Publishers Weekly: “These exquisite reproductions, as well as sepia-toned spot art taken from da Vinci’s notebooks, sit uncommonly well within Stanley’s own paintings, educating the reader about da Vinci’s masterpieces as a natural part of the visual storytelling. A virtuosic work.”
CONNECTIONS
Children can create similar inventions and learn more about Leonardo’s life in the following books:
Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself ISBN 0974934429
Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas, 21 Activities (For Kids Series)
ISBN 1556522983
Leonard, The Beautiful Dreamer ISBN 0525470336
Stanley, Diane. 1996. LEONARDO DA VINCI. New York, NY: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688104371
PLOT SUMMARY
Leonardo was born in 1452 to a peasant woman and a country gentleman who was a leading citizen of Vinci. Because of Leonardo’s illegitimate birth, he was unable to follow his father in the family profession as a notary, so he became an artist. His creative talents shined through and he became an apprentice to a famous artist. Leonardo was also passionate for other things other than art as demonstrated in many of his famous notebooks. “There were drawings of grotesque faces, drafts of letters, sketches for future paintings, lists of books he owned, plans for inventions, moral observations, pages copied out of books he had borrowed, notes of things to remember, designs for weapons, drawings of anatomy and observations of nature.” As a great painter, sculptor, architect, scientist and inventor, Leonardo was one of the most amazing people who ever lived.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Stanley takes readers into the life of Leonardo da Vinci from his illegitimate birth to the last days of his life. She chronicles his extraordinary achievements from his famous paintings to his exceptional inventions. Young readers will be fascinated by Leonardo’s creative imagination as expressed through many of his famous notebooks. They will learn about Leonardo’s famous Last Supper painting to his study of anatomy. His reputation as a mechanical genius is clear when readers learn about his inventions of a flying machine to one of the world's first air cooling systems. Stanley presents her beautiful illustrations to accompany her story as well as actual drawings and sketches which Leonardo made in his lifetime. Leonardo’s numerous accomplishments and adventurous life will keep young readers entertained and interested.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred review from Booklist: “This is the best of the many children’s books on Leonardo.”
Starred review from Publishers Weekly: “These exquisite reproductions, as well as sepia-toned spot art taken from da Vinci’s notebooks, sit uncommonly well within Stanley’s own paintings, educating the reader about da Vinci’s masterpieces as a natural part of the visual storytelling. A virtuosic work.”
CONNECTIONS
Children can create similar inventions and learn more about Leonardo’s life in the following books:
Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself ISBN 0974934429
Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas, 21 Activities (For Kids Series)
ISBN 1556522983
Leonard, The Beautiful Dreamer ISBN 0525470336
FORBIDDEN SCHOOLHOUSE: THE TRUE AND DRAMATIC STORY OF PRUDENCE CRANDALL AND HER STUDENTS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jurmain, Suzanne. 2005. FORBIDDEN SCHOOLHOUSE: THE TRUE AND DRAMATIC STORY OF PRUDENCE CRANDALL AND HER STUDENTS. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618473025
PLOT SUMMARY
In 1831, Prudence Crandall opened up a private boarding school for girls in Canterbury, Connecticut. The school catered to prominent and wealthy families until an African American girl named Sarah asked if she could attend Miss Crandall’s class. Even though Miss Crandall knows that teaching an African-American student in her all-white school will be extremely controversial, she accepts and invites Sarah to her school. She endures harassment, threats, vandalism and even jail, but is determined to not let anything stand in her way and fights to keep her school open.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jurmain tells a story of a remarkable young woman named Prudence Crandall who, with opposition and hostility among her community, educated African-American girls at her school. This narrative account presents all the facts of Miss Crandall’s plight, strength and courage. Jurmain uses quotes from real people, accounts from trial journals and newspapers help tell this compelling story. This easy to read book is displayed with large font on glossy white pages. The colored photos shown, such as Miss Crandall’s schoolhouse and an old fashioned school desk her pupils used, take the reader back in time. Jurmain also includes an appendix which explains what happened with Miss Crandall’s pupils as well as other people mentioned in the book. Source notes, an extensive bibliography of sources, a detailed index which helps the reader find specific characters and events, end the book. Jurmain’s keeps Crandall’s memory alive by telling this historic account of this courageous and spirited woman who fought for what she believed in.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred Review in Booklist: “Jurmain has plucked an almost forgotten incident from history and has shaped a compelling, highly readable book around it. Printed on thick, snowy stock and including a number of sepia-toned and color photographs as well as historical engravings, the book’s look will draw in readers.”
Review in Kirkus Reviews: “Jurmain adopts a storyteller’s voice to tell the tale, lacing it with excerpts from primary sources, but always locating readers in the emotional heart of the conflict. This makes for a fast-paced read.”
Review in School Library Journal: “This book offers a fresh look at the climate of education for Aftican Americans and women in the early 1800’s.”
CONNECTIONS
Students can read and study about woman who showed great courage and their accomplishments:
Katherine Martin. Women of Courage: Inspiring Stories from the Women Who Lived Them. ISBN 1577310934.
Other books about segregation/abolition:
Chang, Ina. A Separate Battle: Women and the Civil War. ISBN 0525673652
Haskins, Jim. Separate But Not Equal. ISBN 0590459104
Morrison,m Toni. Remember: The Journaey to School Integration. ISBN 061839740X
Jurmain, Suzanne. 2005. FORBIDDEN SCHOOLHOUSE: THE TRUE AND DRAMATIC STORY OF PRUDENCE CRANDALL AND HER STUDENTS. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618473025
PLOT SUMMARY
In 1831, Prudence Crandall opened up a private boarding school for girls in Canterbury, Connecticut. The school catered to prominent and wealthy families until an African American girl named Sarah asked if she could attend Miss Crandall’s class. Even though Miss Crandall knows that teaching an African-American student in her all-white school will be extremely controversial, she accepts and invites Sarah to her school. She endures harassment, threats, vandalism and even jail, but is determined to not let anything stand in her way and fights to keep her school open.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jurmain tells a story of a remarkable young woman named Prudence Crandall who, with opposition and hostility among her community, educated African-American girls at her school. This narrative account presents all the facts of Miss Crandall’s plight, strength and courage. Jurmain uses quotes from real people, accounts from trial journals and newspapers help tell this compelling story. This easy to read book is displayed with large font on glossy white pages. The colored photos shown, such as Miss Crandall’s schoolhouse and an old fashioned school desk her pupils used, take the reader back in time. Jurmain also includes an appendix which explains what happened with Miss Crandall’s pupils as well as other people mentioned in the book. Source notes, an extensive bibliography of sources, a detailed index which helps the reader find specific characters and events, end the book. Jurmain’s keeps Crandall’s memory alive by telling this historic account of this courageous and spirited woman who fought for what she believed in.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred Review in Booklist: “Jurmain has plucked an almost forgotten incident from history and has shaped a compelling, highly readable book around it. Printed on thick, snowy stock and including a number of sepia-toned and color photographs as well as historical engravings, the book’s look will draw in readers.”
Review in Kirkus Reviews: “Jurmain adopts a storyteller’s voice to tell the tale, lacing it with excerpts from primary sources, but always locating readers in the emotional heart of the conflict. This makes for a fast-paced read.”
Review in School Library Journal: “This book offers a fresh look at the climate of education for Aftican Americans and women in the early 1800’s.”
CONNECTIONS
Students can read and study about woman who showed great courage and their accomplishments:
Katherine Martin. Women of Courage: Inspiring Stories from the Women Who Lived Them. ISBN 1577310934.
Other books about segregation/abolition:
Chang, Ina. A Separate Battle: Women and the Civil War. ISBN 0525673652
Haskins, Jim. Separate But Not Equal. ISBN 0590459104
Morrison,m Toni. Remember: The Journaey to School Integration. ISBN 061839740X
Thursday, October 16, 2008
ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sones, Sonya. 2004. One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689858205
PLOT SUMMARY
Fifteen-year old Ruby Milliken who is grief stricken over her mother’s death and is shipped off from Boston to Hollywood to live with a father she’s never met. Whip Logan, Ruby’s father, is a mega-famous movie star who divorced her mother before she was born, so she was told. Ruby is miserable in L.A. and detests the mansion she now lives in, her dad’s classic cars, and her new school. She struggles to adjust to her new surroundings and by the end of the novel she begins to make sense of her new life.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Sones’ free verse novel is told through the eyes of 15 year old Ruby Milliken. Ruby tells her story in short poetic sections which describes her life after her mother’s death. She leaves her Aunt Duffy, her best friend, her first boyfriend and moves to “Hell A” with her estranged father. Ruby describes her anger towards her father as she gets off the plane to meet him: “I don’t know whether to ask him for his autograph, kick him in the balls, or run.” The reader can feel Ruby’s aversion of having to move to a new city, her unhappiness of leaving her family and friends behind in Boston, and her grief of the loss of her mother. Sones takes you through many twists and turns from finding out Ruby’s boyfriend is cheating on her with her best friend to being told her father is gay. Ruby eventually finds it in her heart to forgive her father. She finally feels some sense of closure when her father states, “he’s sorry for all the pain he caused Mom/Sorry for all the pain he caused me/Sorry that being sorry is all he has to offer.” Ruby learns to embrace her life in “Coolifornia.” Even though there are some predictable moments, this heart-warming story will take you through many emotional paths and will help give an understanding of the struggles of being a teenager today.
REVIEW EXCERPTS Review in School Library Journal: “This is not just another one of those gimmicky novels written in poetry. It's solid and well written, and Sones has a lot to say about the importance of carefully assessing people and situations and about opening the door to one's own happiness. Despite several predictable particulars of plot, Ruby's story is gripping, enjoyable, and memorable.” Starred Review in Booklist: “Sones' novel is an unusual combination of over-the-top Hollywood fairy tale and sharp, honest story about overcoming grief. “A satisfying, moving novel that will be a winner for both eager and reluctant readers.”
CONNECTIONS
Other books by Sonya Sones:
Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy. ISBN 0613349792
What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know. ISBN 0689876025
What My Mother Doesn’t Know. ISBN 0689855532
Sones, Sonya. 2004. One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689858205
PLOT SUMMARY
Fifteen-year old Ruby Milliken who is grief stricken over her mother’s death and is shipped off from Boston to Hollywood to live with a father she’s never met. Whip Logan, Ruby’s father, is a mega-famous movie star who divorced her mother before she was born, so she was told. Ruby is miserable in L.A. and detests the mansion she now lives in, her dad’s classic cars, and her new school. She struggles to adjust to her new surroundings and by the end of the novel she begins to make sense of her new life.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Sones’ free verse novel is told through the eyes of 15 year old Ruby Milliken. Ruby tells her story in short poetic sections which describes her life after her mother’s death. She leaves her Aunt Duffy, her best friend, her first boyfriend and moves to “Hell A” with her estranged father. Ruby describes her anger towards her father as she gets off the plane to meet him: “I don’t know whether to ask him for his autograph, kick him in the balls, or run.” The reader can feel Ruby’s aversion of having to move to a new city, her unhappiness of leaving her family and friends behind in Boston, and her grief of the loss of her mother. Sones takes you through many twists and turns from finding out Ruby’s boyfriend is cheating on her with her best friend to being told her father is gay. Ruby eventually finds it in her heart to forgive her father. She finally feels some sense of closure when her father states, “he’s sorry for all the pain he caused Mom/Sorry for all the pain he caused me/Sorry that being sorry is all he has to offer.” Ruby learns to embrace her life in “Coolifornia.” Even though there are some predictable moments, this heart-warming story will take you through many emotional paths and will help give an understanding of the struggles of being a teenager today.
REVIEW EXCERPTS Review in School Library Journal: “This is not just another one of those gimmicky novels written in poetry. It's solid and well written, and Sones has a lot to say about the importance of carefully assessing people and situations and about opening the door to one's own happiness. Despite several predictable particulars of plot, Ruby's story is gripping, enjoyable, and memorable.” Starred Review in Booklist: “Sones' novel is an unusual combination of over-the-top Hollywood fairy tale and sharp, honest story about overcoming grief. “A satisfying, moving novel that will be a winner for both eager and reluctant readers.”
CONNECTIONS
Other books by Sonya Sones:
Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy. ISBN 0613349792
What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know. ISBN 0689876025
What My Mother Doesn’t Know. ISBN 0689855532
INSECTLOPEDIA
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Florian, Douglas. 1998. INSECTLOPEDIA. New York, NY: Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0152013067
PLOT SUMMARY
This book contains a collection of twenty-one poems about various insects. Each poem is wonderfully illustrated with watercolors and creative collages. Children will learn about unusual insects such as walking sticks and tree hoppers.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Insectlopedia is a great collection of rhythmic poems for beginning readers. Florian’s poems are funny, informative and encourage children to learn about different types of insects. He uses creative text formatting such as in The Inchworm poem. The words, “I inch, I arch, I march along/I’m just a pinch, a mere inch long/I stroll and stick on sticks in thickets, and never pick up speeding tickets” are humpback-shaped to represent the inchworm. The Whirligig Beetles poem is printed in a circle to show how they move. Florian uses different forms of rhyme scheme, such as in the poem, The Ticks. Every line rhymes with the title: “Not gigan-tic/Not roman-tic/Not artis-tic/Not majes-tic/Not magne-tic/Nor aesthe-tic/Ticks are strictly parasi-tic.” The watercolor paintings are playful images of each insect such as in the illustration of the dragonfly. If the reader examines closely, he/she can see the reflection of a dragon in each of the dragonfly’s eyes. The illustration of the monarch butterfly shows the butterfly intertwined in a king’s crown. Florian’s poems are surrounded by white space and presented on one side of the page while the illustrations are showcased on the opposite side. Readers can easily find each poem by the page numbers, which are located on the side of each page. Children as well as adults will enjoy and appreciate Florian’s imaginative, humorous poems as well as his creative illustrations.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review in Booklist: “The book is handsomely designed, with each short poem appearing on a large white page across from a full-color illustration. The artwork consists of collages of drawn and painted images and printed letters on paper that is cut and juxtaposed for effect. The clever artwork, deftly constructed, and the entertaining collection of insect and arachnid verse it illustrates will delight readers.”
Review in Kirkus: “Some of the entries rely on clever wordplay, while others are examples of concrete poetry; the text takes on the hump of the inchworm or the spiral movements of the whirligig beetle. The watercolor illustrations, abstract and stylized, achieve a comic effect by incorporating collage elements reminiscent of an entomolgist's field notes.”
Review in Publishers Weekly: “The silly, imaginative verses about whirligig beetles and waterbugs (almost) match the exquisite pictures in playfulness and wit. The result is downright stunning.”
CONNECTIONS
Students can search their house and surrounding neighborhood for insects. They will then complete a chart that will help the students organize the name, physical description, location where found, and any unique characteristics of the insect. The students will share their findings with the class.
Other books by Douglas Florian:
beast feast: poems. ISBN 0152017372
in the swim. ISBN 0152013075
lizards, frogs, and polliwogs. ISBN 0152052488
on the wing. ISBN 0152023666
Florian, Douglas. 1998. INSECTLOPEDIA. New York, NY: Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0152013067
PLOT SUMMARY
This book contains a collection of twenty-one poems about various insects. Each poem is wonderfully illustrated with watercolors and creative collages. Children will learn about unusual insects such as walking sticks and tree hoppers.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Insectlopedia is a great collection of rhythmic poems for beginning readers. Florian’s poems are funny, informative and encourage children to learn about different types of insects. He uses creative text formatting such as in The Inchworm poem. The words, “I inch, I arch, I march along/I’m just a pinch, a mere inch long/I stroll and stick on sticks in thickets, and never pick up speeding tickets” are humpback-shaped to represent the inchworm. The Whirligig Beetles poem is printed in a circle to show how they move. Florian uses different forms of rhyme scheme, such as in the poem, The Ticks. Every line rhymes with the title: “Not gigan-tic/Not roman-tic/Not artis-tic/Not majes-tic/Not magne-tic/Nor aesthe-tic/Ticks are strictly parasi-tic.” The watercolor paintings are playful images of each insect such as in the illustration of the dragonfly. If the reader examines closely, he/she can see the reflection of a dragon in each of the dragonfly’s eyes. The illustration of the monarch butterfly shows the butterfly intertwined in a king’s crown. Florian’s poems are surrounded by white space and presented on one side of the page while the illustrations are showcased on the opposite side. Readers can easily find each poem by the page numbers, which are located on the side of each page. Children as well as adults will enjoy and appreciate Florian’s imaginative, humorous poems as well as his creative illustrations.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review in Booklist: “The book is handsomely designed, with each short poem appearing on a large white page across from a full-color illustration. The artwork consists of collages of drawn and painted images and printed letters on paper that is cut and juxtaposed for effect. The clever artwork, deftly constructed, and the entertaining collection of insect and arachnid verse it illustrates will delight readers.”
Review in Kirkus: “Some of the entries rely on clever wordplay, while others are examples of concrete poetry; the text takes on the hump of the inchworm or the spiral movements of the whirligig beetle. The watercolor illustrations, abstract and stylized, achieve a comic effect by incorporating collage elements reminiscent of an entomolgist's field notes.”
Review in Publishers Weekly: “The silly, imaginative verses about whirligig beetles and waterbugs (almost) match the exquisite pictures in playfulness and wit. The result is downright stunning.”
CONNECTIONS
Students can search their house and surrounding neighborhood for insects. They will then complete a chart that will help the students organize the name, physical description, location where found, and any unique characteristics of the insect. The students will share their findings with the class.
Other books by Douglas Florian:
beast feast: poems. ISBN 0152017372
in the swim. ISBN 0152013075
lizards, frogs, and polliwogs. ISBN 0152052488
on the wing. ISBN 0152023666
TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS: CAMPING POEMS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
O’Connell George, Kristine. 2001. TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS: CAMPING POEMS. Ill. by Kat Kiesler. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 061804597X
PLOT SUMMARY
This collection of 30 camping poems depicts the adventures of a family camping trip. The poems reveal experiences from pitching a tent and toasting marshmallows to pulling of the tent’s stakes and heading home. Readers will experience the great outdoors through the eyes of a young girl.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Toasting Marshmallows is a compilation of easy to read poems about camping and nature told through the eyes of a young girl. George will walk the reader through a poetic and peaceful journey by describing the sights, smells and sounds of the great outdoors. The use of imagery helps the reader feel like they are on a virtual camping trip. The poem Cave brings it to life: “The cave breathes icy and ancient, measuring time with slow drips that echo as water hits the granite somewhere deep in this cavern.” The Storm has the reader running for cover: “Late in the afternoon the wind begins to blow whistle-sharp, wet and cold. Whitecaps lace the lake. Uneasy, the birds dart from tree to tree as heavy black clouds rumble toward us, on oncoming train hauling a thunderous load of storm. Rain!” George cleverly formats the words on the page to take on the shape of the topic as in the first poem Tent, where the text is arranged in the shape of a tent. In the poem, Eavesdropping, the words are shaped like a quarter moon and describes how the moon pries into a camper’s secrets: “Tipping a slender silver ear, Moon tries to pretend she isn’t listening to our secrets.”
George also includes poems about animals a camper might encounter when walking through the woods such as a doe, a chipmunk, a moose, an owl as well as pesky mosquitoes and spiders. Other poems about sitting around the campfire and toasting marshmallows, sleeping outside under the stars, walking through off beaten paths, and hearing voices in the night, will take the reader on an adventurous nature journey.
Each poem is accompanied by a beautiful oil-painting illustrated by Kate Kiesler. The tones of George’s poems along with the pleasing images evoke a sense of quiet and peacefulness. Anyone that has been camping will appreciate and relate to the poems in this book.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review in Horn Book Guide: The pleasure and surprise of going camping are conveyed in eighteen brief poems. . . .Richly colored paintings enhance the verses.
Review in School Library Journal: George has penned 30 sublimely simple poems that capture the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations of a family's camping trip, from pitching the tent to pulling up stakes and returning home. All of the selections convey a child-focused sense of wonder as the campers explore the lakefront and surrounding terrain, enjoy the marvels of the natural world, relish meals round the campfire, and toast marshmallows ("This is art-/a time of serious reflection/as my pillowed confection/slowly reaches golden perfection"). The poems are varied and inventive, replete with marvelous images and universal truths. There's even a selection devoted to the "Mosquito Song." Each one is accompanied by a well-executed and evocative acrylic painting. Some of Kiesler's artwork sweeps across double pages to provide a dramatic vista-a meandering hiking trail, a field of wild mustard, a star-studded night sky-while other pictures reveal small, but equally telling details. In "Flannel," the child is shown holding her pine-, smoke-, and moss-scented camping shirt to her face, paired with the words, "I keep it hidden/in my bottom drawer-/where no one will find it/and wash away/my memories." A terrific idyll for summertime sharing, even for confirmed couch potatoes
CONNECTIONS
Students can plan a class camping trip by making practical suggestions on how to make it a positive and safe experience.
In order for students to get the s’more experience and to make it a more practical experience in the classroom, they can eat marshmallow flavored jelly beans.
Other books associated with camping:
Foster James, Helen. S Is for S’mores. ISBN 1585363022
Rey, Margaret. Curious George Goes Camping. ISBN 0395978351
Ruurs, Margriet. When we Go Camping. ISBN 0887766855
O’Connell George, Kristine. 2001. TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS: CAMPING POEMS. Ill. by Kat Kiesler. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 061804597X
PLOT SUMMARY
This collection of 30 camping poems depicts the adventures of a family camping trip. The poems reveal experiences from pitching a tent and toasting marshmallows to pulling of the tent’s stakes and heading home. Readers will experience the great outdoors through the eyes of a young girl.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Toasting Marshmallows is a compilation of easy to read poems about camping and nature told through the eyes of a young girl. George will walk the reader through a poetic and peaceful journey by describing the sights, smells and sounds of the great outdoors. The use of imagery helps the reader feel like they are on a virtual camping trip. The poem Cave brings it to life: “The cave breathes icy and ancient, measuring time with slow drips that echo as water hits the granite somewhere deep in this cavern.” The Storm has the reader running for cover: “Late in the afternoon the wind begins to blow whistle-sharp, wet and cold. Whitecaps lace the lake. Uneasy, the birds dart from tree to tree as heavy black clouds rumble toward us, on oncoming train hauling a thunderous load of storm. Rain!” George cleverly formats the words on the page to take on the shape of the topic as in the first poem Tent, where the text is arranged in the shape of a tent. In the poem, Eavesdropping, the words are shaped like a quarter moon and describes how the moon pries into a camper’s secrets: “Tipping a slender silver ear, Moon tries to pretend she isn’t listening to our secrets.”
George also includes poems about animals a camper might encounter when walking through the woods such as a doe, a chipmunk, a moose, an owl as well as pesky mosquitoes and spiders. Other poems about sitting around the campfire and toasting marshmallows, sleeping outside under the stars, walking through off beaten paths, and hearing voices in the night, will take the reader on an adventurous nature journey.
Each poem is accompanied by a beautiful oil-painting illustrated by Kate Kiesler. The tones of George’s poems along with the pleasing images evoke a sense of quiet and peacefulness. Anyone that has been camping will appreciate and relate to the poems in this book.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review in Horn Book Guide: The pleasure and surprise of going camping are conveyed in eighteen brief poems. . . .Richly colored paintings enhance the verses.
Review in School Library Journal: George has penned 30 sublimely simple poems that capture the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations of a family's camping trip, from pitching the tent to pulling up stakes and returning home. All of the selections convey a child-focused sense of wonder as the campers explore the lakefront and surrounding terrain, enjoy the marvels of the natural world, relish meals round the campfire, and toast marshmallows ("This is art-/a time of serious reflection/as my pillowed confection/slowly reaches golden perfection"). The poems are varied and inventive, replete with marvelous images and universal truths. There's even a selection devoted to the "Mosquito Song." Each one is accompanied by a well-executed and evocative acrylic painting. Some of Kiesler's artwork sweeps across double pages to provide a dramatic vista-a meandering hiking trail, a field of wild mustard, a star-studded night sky-while other pictures reveal small, but equally telling details. In "Flannel," the child is shown holding her pine-, smoke-, and moss-scented camping shirt to her face, paired with the words, "I keep it hidden/in my bottom drawer-/where no one will find it/and wash away/my memories." A terrific idyll for summertime sharing, even for confirmed couch potatoes
CONNECTIONS
Students can plan a class camping trip by making practical suggestions on how to make it a positive and safe experience.
In order for students to get the s’more experience and to make it a more practical experience in the classroom, they can eat marshmallow flavored jelly beans.
Other books associated with camping:
Foster James, Helen. S Is for S’mores. ISBN 1585363022
Rey, Margaret. Curious George Goes Camping. ISBN 0395978351
Ruurs, Margriet. When we Go Camping. ISBN 0887766855
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
BUBBA THE COWBOY PRINCE: A FRACTURED TEXAS TALE
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ketteman, Helen. 1997. Bubba the Cowboy Prince: A Fractured Texas Tale. Ill. by James Warhola. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0590255061.
PLOT SUMMARY
Bubba, a Texas cowboy, is made to do all the chores on the ranch by his wicked step-daddy and cruel stepbrothers. He never has fun and never complains. One day, the “purtiest and richest gal” in town, Miz Lurleen, wants to find herself a “feller” and decides to throw a Texas ball. Bubba is unable to go to the ball because he’s too busy helping his lazy stepbrothers getting “gussied up in their finest duds.” But a fairy godcow comes to his rescue and uses her magical powers to change him to the most handsome cowboy in the land. Bubba goes to the ball where he meets Miz Lurleen, but the spell is broken at the strike of midnight and Bubba is left standing in his raggedy clothes. He rides off on his cow, which was once a beautiful stallion, and leaves one of his boots behind. Miz Lurleen travels all over town looking for her mysterious “feller”, where she finally finds her cowboy prince, Bubba.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This whimsical interpretation of the Cinderella story is sure to entertain children and parents alike. Ketteman uses Texas dialogue and vocabulary which makes the story funny and an enjoyable read. Phrases like “you’re cute as a cow’s ear” and “you’re sorrier than a steer in a stockyard,” are hilarious when read aloud. Just like the language in this tale, the illustrations are vibrant and colorful. Warhola’s pictures clearly display the Texas setting with bucking horses, pastures filled with cows, a horseshoe fireplace, and the unforgettable Alamo in the background. He surprises the reader by showing the characters gestures and facial expressions with full emotion. Additionally, Ketteman entertains the reader by revealing the magical elements such as when the fairy godcow changes Bubba into a handsome cowboy. “His jeans were crisp, his boots were shiny, his shirt was dazzling, and his Stetson was whiter than a new salt lick.” Bubba is excited and remarks, “Why, I look downright purty”. Like the traditional Cinderella story, this fractured tale has a happy ending, where Bubby and Miz Lurleen “live happily ever after, roping, and cowpoking, and gitting them doggies along.”
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review in Booklist: “Retold countless times with new twists and different settings, the story of Cinderella seems to have universal and endless appeal.”
Review in Kirkus Reviews: “This Cinderella parody features the off-the-wall, whang-dang Texas hyperbole of Ketteman.”
Review in Publishers Weekly: “Rustler lingo and illustrations chockablock with Texas kitsch make this ranch-spun Cinder-fella a knee-slappin’ tale.”
CONNECTIONS
Students can use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast Bubba the Cowboy Prince and the traditional Cinderella story. They can compare and contrast story elements such as characters, plot, climax and ending.
Other Cinderella fractured fairy tales:
Cole, Babette. Prince Cinders. ISBN 0698115546
Jackson, Ellen. Cinder Edna. ISBN 0688162959
Johnston, Tony. Bigfoot Cinderrrrella. ISBN 0399230211
Lowell, Susan. Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella. ISBN 0064438643
Ketteman, Helen. 1997. Bubba the Cowboy Prince: A Fractured Texas Tale. Ill. by James Warhola. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0590255061.
PLOT SUMMARY
Bubba, a Texas cowboy, is made to do all the chores on the ranch by his wicked step-daddy and cruel stepbrothers. He never has fun and never complains. One day, the “purtiest and richest gal” in town, Miz Lurleen, wants to find herself a “feller” and decides to throw a Texas ball. Bubba is unable to go to the ball because he’s too busy helping his lazy stepbrothers getting “gussied up in their finest duds.” But a fairy godcow comes to his rescue and uses her magical powers to change him to the most handsome cowboy in the land. Bubba goes to the ball where he meets Miz Lurleen, but the spell is broken at the strike of midnight and Bubba is left standing in his raggedy clothes. He rides off on his cow, which was once a beautiful stallion, and leaves one of his boots behind. Miz Lurleen travels all over town looking for her mysterious “feller”, where she finally finds her cowboy prince, Bubba.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This whimsical interpretation of the Cinderella story is sure to entertain children and parents alike. Ketteman uses Texas dialogue and vocabulary which makes the story funny and an enjoyable read. Phrases like “you’re cute as a cow’s ear” and “you’re sorrier than a steer in a stockyard,” are hilarious when read aloud. Just like the language in this tale, the illustrations are vibrant and colorful. Warhola’s pictures clearly display the Texas setting with bucking horses, pastures filled with cows, a horseshoe fireplace, and the unforgettable Alamo in the background. He surprises the reader by showing the characters gestures and facial expressions with full emotion. Additionally, Ketteman entertains the reader by revealing the magical elements such as when the fairy godcow changes Bubba into a handsome cowboy. “His jeans were crisp, his boots were shiny, his shirt was dazzling, and his Stetson was whiter than a new salt lick.” Bubba is excited and remarks, “Why, I look downright purty”. Like the traditional Cinderella story, this fractured tale has a happy ending, where Bubby and Miz Lurleen “live happily ever after, roping, and cowpoking, and gitting them doggies along.”
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review in Booklist: “Retold countless times with new twists and different settings, the story of Cinderella seems to have universal and endless appeal.”
Review in Kirkus Reviews: “This Cinderella parody features the off-the-wall, whang-dang Texas hyperbole of Ketteman.”
Review in Publishers Weekly: “Rustler lingo and illustrations chockablock with Texas kitsch make this ranch-spun Cinder-fella a knee-slappin’ tale.”
CONNECTIONS
Students can use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast Bubba the Cowboy Prince and the traditional Cinderella story. They can compare and contrast story elements such as characters, plot, climax and ending.
Other Cinderella fractured fairy tales:
Cole, Babette. Prince Cinders. ISBN 0698115546
Jackson, Ellen. Cinder Edna. ISBN 0688162959
Johnston, Tony. Bigfoot Cinderrrrella. ISBN 0399230211
Lowell, Susan. Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella. ISBN 0064438643
THE RUNAWAY TORTILLA
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kimmel, Eric A. 2000. The Runaway Tortilla. Ill. Randy Cecil. Delray Beach, FL: Winslow Press. ISBN 189081718X.
PLOT SUMMARY
Tia Lupe and Tio Jose make the best tortillas in town at their taqueria called El Papagayo Feliz, The Happy Parrot. Because they made their tortillas so light and fluffy, one was able to leap from the griddle and roll away. She exclaimed, “I’m too beautiful to eat!” Tia Lupe and Tio Jose chase after the tortilla, but the tortilla rolls away singing, “Run as fast as fast can be. You won’t get a bite of me. Doesn’t matter what you do. I’ll be far ahead of you!” The tortilla rolls through the desert passed two horned toads, three donkeys, four jackrabbits, five rattlesnakes and six buckaroos. She finally comes to a canyon where she stops to help a cunning coyote who has a bad cough. Senor Coyote cries out to the tortilla to help him get the grasshopper that’s caught in his throat. The sly coyote promises great treasures for her help. The tortilla confidently rolls into his mouth. Then, “SNAP” the tortilla is no more.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This southwestern version of the Gingerbread Man gives a reader a valuable lesson on bragging and taunting others. Kimmel begins this adventure at the El Papagayo Feliz restaurant owned by Tia Lupe and Tio Jose. Like the gingerbread man, the feisty tortilla comes to life and sings her song as she weaves through the desert. “Run as fast as fast can be. You won’t get a bite of me. Doesn’t matter what you do. I’ll be far ahead of you!” The catchy phrase is printed in long wavy lines across the pages. The tortilla is finally outwitted by Senor Coyote who asks the tortilla to step into his mouth to pull the out grasshopper that's stuck in his throat. Cecil uses two pages to give the readers an inside look into the coyote’s mouth. His playful and colorful illustrations depict the setting of the Rio Grande with his yellow, orange and red tones across each page.
Ketteman uses some Spanish words, such as “tio, tia, taqueria, and arroyo” that may need to be translated to a very young reader. Also, he uses the traditional name for a donkey, which may be offensive to some younger children. Ketteman presents a good moral to the story which is that it is not wise to brag about beauty and tease others because you never know what can happen to you.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review in Horn Book: “Playful illustrations in a brown-gold palette set this one in the Texas desert.”
Review in Kirkus: “The author of a conventional Gingerbread Man dishes up another version, this with a Southwestern flavor and a female entrée.
Review in School Library Journal: “Kimmel’s saucy story joins a swarm of similar, albeit popular, retellings of traditional tales with a Southwestern setting.”
CONNECTIONS
Classroom/Home Activity: Find out how to tortillas are made. What ingredients are needed? Students can make and share tortillas and their recipes.
Science Activity: Encourage students to research one or more of the southwestern animals portrayed in the story.
Other stories retold by Eric A. Kimmel:
Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock, ISBN 082340689X
Anansi and the Talking Melon, ISBN 0823411672
Anansi Goes Fishing, ISBN 0823410226
The Gingerbread Man, ISBN 0823408248
Kimmel, Eric A. 2000. The Runaway Tortilla. Ill. Randy Cecil. Delray Beach, FL: Winslow Press. ISBN 189081718X.
PLOT SUMMARY
Tia Lupe and Tio Jose make the best tortillas in town at their taqueria called El Papagayo Feliz, The Happy Parrot. Because they made their tortillas so light and fluffy, one was able to leap from the griddle and roll away. She exclaimed, “I’m too beautiful to eat!” Tia Lupe and Tio Jose chase after the tortilla, but the tortilla rolls away singing, “Run as fast as fast can be. You won’t get a bite of me. Doesn’t matter what you do. I’ll be far ahead of you!” The tortilla rolls through the desert passed two horned toads, three donkeys, four jackrabbits, five rattlesnakes and six buckaroos. She finally comes to a canyon where she stops to help a cunning coyote who has a bad cough. Senor Coyote cries out to the tortilla to help him get the grasshopper that’s caught in his throat. The sly coyote promises great treasures for her help. The tortilla confidently rolls into his mouth. Then, “SNAP” the tortilla is no more.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This southwestern version of the Gingerbread Man gives a reader a valuable lesson on bragging and taunting others. Kimmel begins this adventure at the El Papagayo Feliz restaurant owned by Tia Lupe and Tio Jose. Like the gingerbread man, the feisty tortilla comes to life and sings her song as she weaves through the desert. “Run as fast as fast can be. You won’t get a bite of me. Doesn’t matter what you do. I’ll be far ahead of you!” The catchy phrase is printed in long wavy lines across the pages. The tortilla is finally outwitted by Senor Coyote who asks the tortilla to step into his mouth to pull the out grasshopper that's stuck in his throat. Cecil uses two pages to give the readers an inside look into the coyote’s mouth. His playful and colorful illustrations depict the setting of the Rio Grande with his yellow, orange and red tones across each page.
Ketteman uses some Spanish words, such as “tio, tia, taqueria, and arroyo” that may need to be translated to a very young reader. Also, he uses the traditional name for a donkey, which may be offensive to some younger children. Ketteman presents a good moral to the story which is that it is not wise to brag about beauty and tease others because you never know what can happen to you.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review in Horn Book: “Playful illustrations in a brown-gold palette set this one in the Texas desert.”
Review in Kirkus: “The author of a conventional Gingerbread Man dishes up another version, this with a Southwestern flavor and a female entrée.
Review in School Library Journal: “Kimmel’s saucy story joins a swarm of similar, albeit popular, retellings of traditional tales with a Southwestern setting.”
CONNECTIONS
Classroom/Home Activity: Find out how to tortillas are made. What ingredients are needed? Students can make and share tortillas and their recipes.
Science Activity: Encourage students to research one or more of the southwestern animals portrayed in the story.
Other stories retold by Eric A. Kimmel:
Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock, ISBN 082340689X
Anansi and the Talking Melon, ISBN 0823411672
Anansi Goes Fishing, ISBN 0823410226
The Gingerbread Man, ISBN 0823408248
MOONBEAMS, DUMPLINGS, & DRAGON BOATS: A TREASURY OF CHINESE HOLIDAY TALE, ACTIVITIES & RECIPES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simonds, Nina, Swartz, Leslie and The Children’s Museum of Boston. 2002. Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes. Ill. Meilo So. San Diego, New York & London: Gulliver Books. ISBN 0152019839
PLOT SUMMARY
Simonds, Swartz, and The Children’s Museum of Boston come together to explore five major Chinese festivals in this beautifully illustrated book. An extraordinary compilation of traditional tales, hands-on activities and delicious recipes about the Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival, Qing Ming and the Cold Foods Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival give readers creative ideas on how to celebrate these Chinese holidays. Readers can enjoy entertaining stories of the Kitchen God and The Tales of Jie Zitui. Simonds, a best-selling cookbook author, offers many tasteful recipes, such as sweet rice balls, tea eggs, fresh spring rolls, and moon cakes that children can make with help from an adult. Families can create fun-filled activities such as paper lanterns, Chinese kites, pinwheels and shadow puppets. Finally, a resource guide to Chinese pronunciation will be of interest to those who would like to learn the Chinese language.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book offers exciting ways on how families can come together to celebrate and embrace the Chinese culture. Every section begins with the history on each of the holidays and the titles on each page are in English and in traditional Chinese writing. The time-honored stories about greedy and shady gods will intrigue and make an interesting read for both children and adults. Also, children will enjoy reading out loud and sharing these stories with their friends and parents. Simonds and Swartz offer simple step by step instructions on how to make almost a dozen mouth-watering recipes. The activities are presented in a straightforward and easy way, so that children will not need adult supervision when constructing these arts and crafts. Readers will like looking over So’s lively and vibrant watercolor illustrations of festivals, picnics, fireworks, dragons, and various types of food. This collection of Chinese folklore and traditions will help show children a fun way of learning the Chinese culture.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review in Publishers Weekly: “…each of a quartet of holidays includes a brief background and introduces a bevy of crafts, recipes and legends. Step-by step illustrations aid in food preparation or crafts such as New Year Prints or Good Luck Characters in this elegantly designed volume.”
Review in School Library Journal: “Moonbeams is a useful, visually appealing addition to any holiday collection.”
CONNECTIONS
Other books that celebrate the Chinese culture:
Celebrating Chinese New Year, ISBN 0823415201
Chinese Children’s Favorite Stories, ISBN 0804835896
Look What Came From China!, ISBN 0531159361
Tales of a Chinese Grandmother: 30 Traditional Tales from China, ISBN 0804834091
Lao Lao of Dragon Mountain (Folk Tales), ISBN 1840890355
Simonds, Nina, Swartz, Leslie and The Children’s Museum of Boston. 2002. Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes. Ill. Meilo So. San Diego, New York & London: Gulliver Books. ISBN 0152019839
PLOT SUMMARY
Simonds, Swartz, and The Children’s Museum of Boston come together to explore five major Chinese festivals in this beautifully illustrated book. An extraordinary compilation of traditional tales, hands-on activities and delicious recipes about the Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival, Qing Ming and the Cold Foods Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival give readers creative ideas on how to celebrate these Chinese holidays. Readers can enjoy entertaining stories of the Kitchen God and The Tales of Jie Zitui. Simonds, a best-selling cookbook author, offers many tasteful recipes, such as sweet rice balls, tea eggs, fresh spring rolls, and moon cakes that children can make with help from an adult. Families can create fun-filled activities such as paper lanterns, Chinese kites, pinwheels and shadow puppets. Finally, a resource guide to Chinese pronunciation will be of interest to those who would like to learn the Chinese language.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book offers exciting ways on how families can come together to celebrate and embrace the Chinese culture. Every section begins with the history on each of the holidays and the titles on each page are in English and in traditional Chinese writing. The time-honored stories about greedy and shady gods will intrigue and make an interesting read for both children and adults. Also, children will enjoy reading out loud and sharing these stories with their friends and parents. Simonds and Swartz offer simple step by step instructions on how to make almost a dozen mouth-watering recipes. The activities are presented in a straightforward and easy way, so that children will not need adult supervision when constructing these arts and crafts. Readers will like looking over So’s lively and vibrant watercolor illustrations of festivals, picnics, fireworks, dragons, and various types of food. This collection of Chinese folklore and traditions will help show children a fun way of learning the Chinese culture.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review in Publishers Weekly: “…each of a quartet of holidays includes a brief background and introduces a bevy of crafts, recipes and legends. Step-by step illustrations aid in food preparation or crafts such as New Year Prints or Good Luck Characters in this elegantly designed volume.”
Review in School Library Journal: “Moonbeams is a useful, visually appealing addition to any holiday collection.”
CONNECTIONS
Other books that celebrate the Chinese culture:
Celebrating Chinese New Year, ISBN 0823415201
Chinese Children’s Favorite Stories, ISBN 0804835896
Look What Came From China!, ISBN 0531159361
Tales of a Chinese Grandmother: 30 Traditional Tales from China, ISBN 0804834091
Lao Lao of Dragon Mountain (Folk Tales), ISBN 1840890355
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