Module 15: Censorship Issues

Draw me a star by Eric Carle

Summary: In this story a boy is asked to draw someone (not in the picture) a star, then the star asks the child to draw it the sun and it continues with each thing that he draws asking hi to draw something else until the moon asks him to draw a star. This is a type of circle story that ends where it began.

My Impressions: This story likens to the Creation story or other origin stories.  It is easy to follow and students like the classic Eric Carle pictures too.

Reviews:

Author: Cynthia Zarin

“Draw Me A Star, written and illustrated by Eric Carle, the author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, is another cyclical book, and a good one to read at bedtime. An artist is asked by an unseen friend to draw a star. The star then asks the artist to draw the sun. The sun asks for a tree, and before long an entire universe has sprung up. Night falls, the moon rises, the moon asks for a star, and the circle is complete. Mr. Carle’s media are paint and collage. The book is wholly satisfying.”-   by Cynthia Zarin, The New Yorker, November 18, 1992

Author: Eve Larkin

“A young boy is told (readers are not sure by whom) to “Draw me a star.” The star then requests that the boy draw it a sun; the sun asks for a “lovely tree,” and throughout his life the boy/man/artist continues to create images that fill the world with beauty. The moon bids the now-elderly artist to draw another star, and as the story ends, the artist travels “across the night sky” hand-in-hand with the star. This book will appeal to readers of all ages; its stunning illustrations, spare text, and simple story line make it a good choice for story hour, but older children will also find it uplifting and meaningful. Especially pleasing is a diagram within the story, accompanied by rhyming instructions on how to draw a star: “Down/over/left/and right/draw/a star/oh so/bright.” An inspired book in every sense of the word.”- by Eve Larkin, School Library Journal, October, 1992

Library Use: Students could work in small groups to create there own circle stories.  Other circle stories could be compared like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and the rest in that series of books

Resource List:

Carle, E. (1992). Draw me a star. New York, NY: Philomel Books.

Larkin, E. (1992, October). Review of the book Draw Me a Star, by Eric Carle. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.eric-carle.com/rev-DMAS.html

Zarin, C. (1992, November 18). Review of the book Draw Me a Star, by Eric Carle. The New Yorker. Retrieved from http://www.eric-carle.com/rev-DMAS.html

Module 14:Poetry and Story Collections

A Curious Collection Of Cats: concrete poems 

by Betsy Franco

Summary: This book is a fun collection of concrete poems about cats.  There are 34 visual poems that have text going every which way making reading the poems fun for children. The poems tell the stories of each of the different cats and their various personality traits.
My Impressions: I enjoyed reading this book and thought the pictures wer eye catching.  I know children love to look at these poems and turn the book in which ever direction is needed to read each part of the poems.
Reviews:
Author:  Susan Dove Lempke

In an ideal match of subject and form, poet Franco uses the sinuous shapes and playful motions of cats to distill the essence of felines in all their grace and ridiculousness. Each of the thirty-two concrete poems is a mini-depiction of a particular cat, as in "Veronica Goes Wide": "Veronica's gotten so pudgy / and PLUMP, / she now mostly acts like a snuggable / lump"; the poem is written across the yellow cat, with the M in lump formed from her ears. Cats interact with dogs, with squirrels, with one another, and with people in a variety of funny ways, but Franco uses words so precisely to capture cats' behavior that cat-lovers will feel a shock of recognition. Cat-haters may, too, as Franco lays bare the less-charming aspects of life with cats, as in "cat haiku 1" ("Tuna fish dinner / Kitty washes down her meal / sips from toilet bowl") and the self-explanatory "that cat peed on my hat." Wirtz's illustrations, monoprints adjusted in Adobe Photoshop, keep the words that wrap and weave around the cats readable while still creating visual interest in the backgrounds. Together, poet and artist convey the silliness of cats and their humans without ever being silly themselves. S.D.L. 

Author: Hazel Rochman   

PreS-Gr. 3.

Words and pictures blend in these concrete poems about cats, written in forms that include haiku, limerick, and free verse. Once kids get the feel of how to follow the lines--up and down or in curving jumps or around the page borders--they will have fun with the playful images. One poem is in the shape of a feline tail. Another describes Kabob the cat's fall upside down, and not only do the pictures show his movement, but the words do, too. When felines fight, the position of the words mirrors their furious screeches, howls, pouncing, and biting. Cat lovers will recognize the standoffs with arching backs, the cozy touch of the "purrfect" scarf on their shoulders, and the tech-savvy cat who walks across the keyboard to add her own note to an e-mail to a friend.--Hazel Rochman 

Library Use: This book would be a starting point in a poetry unit because they are easy to write and the children can let their imaginations go into high gear to create the pictures.  I could see using water colors here as well (in the classroom of course.)
Resource List:
Franco, B. (2009). A curious collection of cats: concrete poems. Berkley, CA: Tricycle Press.
Lempke, S.D. (2009, May-June).  Review of the book A Curious Collection of Cats: Concrete Poems, Betsy Franco.  The Horn Book Magazine, 85(3), 314. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center.http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA200722932&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Rochman, H. (2009, March 15).  Review of the book A Curious Collection of Cats, By Betsy Franco.  Booklist, 105(14), 62.Retrieved from Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA196304356&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Module 13: Graphic Novels

A Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

Summary: This is a graphic novel that tells the story of one family's struggles during the Dust Bowl.  The author uses few words, but the story is told through the facial expressions and body movements shown in the illustrations throughout this book.  There is a mystery within this story of the strange entity that lives in the abandoned barn down the road, and  Jack, a young boy has to muster up the courage to face it.
My Impressions: I am not a graphic novel fan, but I was able to appreciate the illustrations as they truly told the story. I didn't like the rabbit bludgeoning, but understood it was important to the story, as the rabbits were causing more destruction and because it is historically correctly depicted.



Review:

Author: Jesse Karp  

Gr. 5-8.

Ten-year-old Jack and his family suffer the hardships of Dust Bowl America, while a secret in the barn may alter their fortunes forever in this superb graphic-novel evocation of childhood's yearning and triumphs. Phelan (illustrator of the Higher Power of Lucky, 2006) turns every panel of this little masterpiece into a spare and melancholy window into another era, capturing an unmistakable sense of time and place--as found in James Sturm's Satchel Paige (2007)--even as he takes full advantage of the medium's strengths by using fantasy elements to enrich the deep, genuine emotional content, much as Shaun Tan did in The Arrival (2008). All the more impressive is how he balances fleet pacing (thanks to low word density) with a thoughtful, contemplative homage to storytelling and storytellers, which, in the tradition of the greatest tall tales, presents an empowering message that all a child needs to change the world is courage and ingenuity. Great for a wide range of readers, this will work particularly well as a gentle introduction for those new to graphic novels or as an elegant argument on the format's behalf against dubious naysayers. A single warning: there is a restrained depiction of a rabbit slaughter, which could upset more sensitive readers.--Jesse Karp 

Author: not given

The Storm in the Barn written and illustrated by Matt Phelan; Candlewick (Intermediate, Middle School)

Jack, a child of the Dust Bowl, has never seen rain--until he discovers a mysterious figure seemingly made of the stuff in an abandoned barn. Phelan's sparing use of color in his debut graphic novel is stunning; his simple yet profound storytelling and expansive, emotive illustrations masterfully evoke the complex historical and emotional landscapes charted. 

Library use: Add this to the collection of books about the Dust Bowl to gain another perspective of the historical events that occurred during that time.  For older students, this book is a good example of the power of their drawings to tell a story.  Have the students write a story using a story board and no text, only the pictures to tell their original story.
Reference List:
(2010 Jan-Feb.). Review of The Storm in the Barn, by Matt Phelan. The Horn Book Magazine, 86(1), 12. Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA217769724&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w 

Karp, J. (2008,August 1). Review of the book The Storm in the Barn, by Matt Phelan.  Booklist, 105(22), 68. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA206173046&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Phelan, M. (2009). A storm in the barn. Somerville, Mass. : Candlewick.

Module 12: Biography and Autobiography

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni

Caldecott Honor Book 
Coretta Scott King Illustrator  Award
Illustrator Bryan Collier

Summary: Rosa tells a familiar story in a very unique way.  This story goes more into detail of Rosa Parks herself and the kind of person she was. A little known fact given in the story was that Rosa was part of the Women's Political Council. It  tells of how the women from that council moved into action  behind the scenes, while Rosa was in jail, in order to rally the people on her behalf.   Her action on the bus was spontaneous, but this book shows it was also the result of Rosa having had enough of the unfair laws against African Americans. 

My Impressions: I was surprised at all the new information I found out about Rosa Parks as I read the book.  I think children in third grade and up will enjoy this unique perspective in the story of Rosa Parks.

Reviews:

Author: Hazel Rochman 

Gr. 3-5. Far from the cliche of Rosa Parks as the tired little seamstress, this beautiful picture-book biography shows her as a strong woman, happy at home and at work, and politically aware ("not tired from work, but tired of ... eating at separate lunch counters and learning at separate schools"). Her refusal to give up her seat on a bus inspires her friend Jo Ann Robinson, president of the Women's Political Council, and the 25 council members to make posters calling for the bus boycott, and they organize a mass meeting where the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. speaks for them. Paired very effectively with Giovanni's passionate, direct words, Collier's large watercolor-and-collage illustrations depict Parks as an inspiring force that radiates golden light, and also as part of a dynamic activist community. In the unforgettable close-up that was used for the cover, Parks sits quietly waiting for the police as a white bus driver demands that she give up her seat. In contrast, the final picture opens out to four pages showing women, men, and children marching for equal rights at the bus boycott and in the years of struggle yet to come. The history comes clear in the astonishing combination of the personal and the political.--Hazel Rochman

Library Use: This story can be used in a study of women in politics or African American women during the Civil Rights Movement.
Resource list:
Giovanni, N. (2005).  Rosa. New York, NY:  Holt.

Rochman, H. (2005, June 1). Review of the book Rosa, by Nikki Giovanni. Booklist 101(19-20), 1797. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA136770727&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Module 11: Informational books

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy

 Summary: This a story of how the tragic events of the 911 twin tower disaster effected the people of the Massai tribe in Kenyah, Africa . When a member of the tribe returns and tells them the story they symbolically give 14 cows, very precious to this people, to America to show their sadness over the loss of innocent lives. The Massai were once warriors and are now nomadic people.The story shows how caring they are.
My Impressions: This book shows how far reaching the effects of 911 were all over the world.  The Massai were very generous in the giving of the cows.  I think this book should be read each year as we commemorate the brave heroes of 911 and remember the tragedy of those lost lives.  The book is beautifully illustrated and the pictures help in the understanding of these people.
Review:

Author:Hazel Rochman  

While returning home to visit his remote Maasai village in Kenya, Naiyomah tells the members of his nomadic tribe about America, where he is in medical school, and the horror of 9/11: "Buildings so tall they can touch the sky? Fires so hot they can melt iron?" What can the Maasai do to help thousands of souls lost? Unlike in the picture book Muktar and the Camels (2009), also set in East Africa, the tone here is too reverential, and the characters have little individual identity. But based on Naiyomah's true experiences, the words and the glowing mixed-media illustrations show empathy and connections across communities, with close-up portraits of the Maasai on the savannah at work with their cows under the open sky, their rituals, their sorrow for New York's tragedy, and their heartfelt generosity. In a reversal from the usual international aid story, here it is the U.S. that gets help from a developing country as the villagers donate 14 sacred cows to America.--Hazel Rochman 

Author: Frieda F. Boston    

K--3 With Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah. Illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez. In 2002, college student Naiyomah returned home (a Masai village in Kenya) to tell the story of September 11, 2001. He then helped present fourteen cows to the U.S.: "Because there is no nation so powerful it cannot be wounded, nor a people so small they cannot offer mighty comfort." The tale is poignantly related through understated, powerful prose and color-saturated illustrations. 
Bostian, F. F. (2010, Spring). Review of the book 14 Cows for America, by Carmen Agra Deedy.  The Horn Book Guide 21(1), 179. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA236390850&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Library uses: This book should be used along with others in our commemoration activities.  It can also be used in the study of native peoples of the world in high school.

Resource List:

Deedy C. A. and Naiyomah, W.K.(2009). 14 Cows for America. Atlanta, Ga: Peachtree.

Rochman, H. (2009, July 1). Review of the book 14 Cows for America by Carmen Deedy and Kimeli Naiyomah.  Booklist 105(71), 57.  Retrieved from  Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA204920180&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Module 10: Historical Fiction

The Hallelujah Flight by Paul Bildner

Summary:This is the story of the first African American to fly across the United States.  Because he is an African American in this time period (1932) he is not well received in every place he lands. He faces prejudice in some areas.  

My Impressions: This story teaches children not to give up on their dreams and that perseverance pays off.

Reviews:

Author: Hazel Rochman   

K--Gr. 3.

In 1932, James Banning was the first African American to complete a transcontinental flight. Told from the viewpoint of his young copilot and mechanic, Thomas Allen, this dramatic picture book relates of their historic journey, in which they flew in a small plane from Los Angeles to New York in 21 days. Unframed, double-page paintings show the pair close-up in the cramped cockpit as they fly over the Grand Canyon and head into storms, the propeller whirring, while the ground passes not too far below. Some locals help, showing "the kindness of family and friends," but the dramatic pictures also reveal the prejudice the pilots encountered when they are refused use of washrooms and restaurants. Finally, they reach New York and receive a hero's welcome in Harlem. Along with the drama of the pioneer flight, kids will also enjoy the irreverent fun of the Flying Hoboes in their "flying jalopy." The story of the pilots' bonding is as memorable as the breakthrough flight. An introductory author's note offers cultural and historical context.--Hazel Rochman 

Author: Sybil Steinberg  

THE HALLELUJAH FLIGHT A pair of black Americans here launch a lonely struggle to be the first of their race to fly across the country in Lynn's memorable rendition of an actual 1932 event. Having read about a $1000 reward offered to the first "negroes" to make the flight, pilot James Herman Banning persuades L.A. mechanic and would-be aviator Thomas Allen to join him in the attempt. Though an assiduous fund-raising campaign, the duo and their supporters collect enough money to salvage a wrecked biplane for their cause. But in this Depression-era exploit, money is always a serious problem, and tyring to raise it puts the adventurers at personal risk, to say nothing of jeopardizing their endeavor. Nevertheless, Allen and Banning "plop down every couple of miles and beg for gas, good hangars, parts and God knows what else." As part of their pitch, they enter the names of their patrons in a "Gold Book," promising that this will eventually be displayed along with their craft, the Eagle Rock, in the Smithsonian Institution. In Lynn's (The Factory) hands, James and Thomas are both believable and likable--instantly sympathetic--while his plot twists make for a bittersweet ending.  

Library Use: Use this book to introduce a lesson on how to use the Almanac or encyclopedias to find out unique information like "firsts."

Resource List: 
Bildner, P. (2010). The hallelujah flight. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Rochman, H. (2010, February 1). Review of the book The Hallelujah Flight by Phil Bildner.  Booklist, 106(11), 62 Retrieved from Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA219300438&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w
Steinberg, S. (1990 April 13). Review of The Hallelujah Flight, by Phil Bildner. Publishers Weekly, 237(15), 54. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA8920595&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Henry's Freedom Box: 

true story from the Underground Railroad 

by Ellen Levine

Caldecott Award winner 
 Illustrations by Kadir Nelson

Summary: Henry's freedom Box is the true story of Henry Brown, a slave.  The story shows how Henry has to endure hardships like having his wife and children sold and separated from him, and how he overcomes with his ingenious idea to mail himself to the north in a shipping crate.
My Impressions: I liked this book.  I thought it gave a simple and understandable information about some hardships of slavery suited for young children, but interesting enough for older children.
Reviews:

Author:Susan Dove Lempke   

In a true story that is both heartbreaking and joyful, Levine recounts the history of Henry "Box" Brown, born into slavery. Henry works in a tobacco factory, marries another slave, and fathers three children; but then his family is sold, and Henry realizes he will never see them again. With nothing to lose, Henry persuades his friend James and a sympathetic white man to mail him in a wooden box to Philadelphia and freedom. Levine maintains a dignified, measured tone, telling her powerful story through direct, simple language. A note at the end explains the historical basis for the fictionalized story. Accompanying Levine's fine, controlled telling are pencil, watercolor, and oil paint illustrations by Kadir Nelson that resonate with beauty and sorrow. When Henry's mother holds him as a child on her lap, they gaze out at bright autumn leaves, and the tenderness is palpable, even as she calls to his attention the leaves that "are torn from the trees like slave children are torn from their families." There is no sugarcoating here, and Henry is not miraculously reunited with his wife and children; however, the conclusion, as Henry celebrates his new freedom, is moving and satisfying. S.D.L.

g indicates that the book was read in galley or page proof. The publisher's price is the suggested retail price and does not indicate a possible discount to libraries. Grade levels are only suggestions; the individual child is the real criterion.

Lempke, Susan Dove 

Author: Ilene Cooper

Gr. 1-3

Although the cover shows a young boy staring intently at the reader, this book is really about Henry Brown as an adult and a staggering decision he made to achieve freedom. Henry, born a slave, hears from his mother that leaves blowing in the wind "are torn from the trees like slave children are torn from their families." When his master grows ill, Henry hopes that he will be freed; instead, he is given to his masters son, and his life becomes worse. Eventually, Henry marries and has children; then his family is sold. With nothing left to lose, he asks a white abolitionist to pack him in a crate so he can be mailed to freedom. The journey is fraught with danger as he travels by train and then steam boat, but 27 hours later, he reaches Philadelphia. A brief author's note confirms the details of the story, but it's the dramatic artwork that brings the events emphatically to life. According to the flap copy, an antique lithograph of Brown inspired Nelson's paintings, which use crosshatched pencil lines layered with watercolors and oil paints. The technique adds a certain look of age to the art and also gives the pictures the heft they need to visualize Brown's life. Transcending technique is the humanity Nelson imbues in his characters, especially Brown and his mother--her dream of freedom deferred, his amazingly achieved.--Ilene Cooper

Library Use: Research different ways slaves used to escape to the north. Choose one way and create a how-to based on what you find.

Resource List: 

Cooper, Ilene.(2007, February 1). Review of Henry's Freedom Box, by Ellen Levine.  Booklist, 103(11), 59. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center.

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA159182123&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Lempke, S. D. (2007, March-April) Review of  Henry's Freedom Box, by Ellen Levine.  The Horn Book Magazine, 83(2), 186. Retrieved from  Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA161854606&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w
Levine, E. (2007). Henry's freedom box.  New York, NY: Scholastic.

Module 9: Mystery

The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright

Summary: The Dollhouse Murders is the story of how Amy solves the mystery of her grandparents murder using the clues given to her through the dolls in her Aunt's childhood dollhouse.  Each night the dolls in the dollhouse, an exact replica of the actual house they are in,  move on their own to the place where their murder occurred.
My Impressions: I thought the book was sufficiently creepy to keep a reader in upper elementary or middle school interested. There was plenty of good suspense, and the author added a second story line about how Amy handles living with a special needs sister and a mom who doesn't seem to understand that she needs her own space. This added another dimension to the story.

Review: These are reviews of an audiotape set.  I have extracted only the part that relates to the Doll House Murders. The only reviews I could find were about audiotapes of this book.

Author: Jeanette Larson   

This collection of unabridged titles offers impeccable technical quality and high-quality listening for middle-grade children.  Reader Stewart uses changes in tone, pitch, and cadence to enhance the characterizations in The Dollhouse Murders. Foreboding music sets the mood at the beginning of each tape.

No Author: Source, Publishers Weekly

Wright's taut, suspenseful novel proves a solid choice to kick off the Live Oak Mysteries audio series. The attic is always a great place to look for nuggets of one's family history, but when 12-year-old Amy explores her great-grandparents' attic, she uncovers clues to a chilling family secret. As Amy and her Aunt Claire sift through clothes, trinkets and other memorabilia, Amy comes across Aunt Claire's long-forgotten dollhouse, a finely crafted replica of the house they are in. Aunt Claire seems unusually distressed about the dollhouse and Amy is determined to find out why. The real fun begins when Amy learns that the dolls in the dollhouse move of their own will--and that they seem to be trying to tell her something. After a little sleuthing at the local library, Amy learns that her great-grandparents were murdered years ago and that Aunt Claire's fiance (who died in a car accident that same night) was the prime suspect in the unsolved case. Before long, Amy unravels the mystery, helping Aunt Claire to res olve her feelings about the past. A subplot about Amy's relationships with her parents, younger sister and best friend adds depth and warmth to this crisply paced tale. Stewart handles the narration with aplomb, using her voice to give listeners a hint of each character's personality. Her portrayal of Aunt Claire, who delivers a few chillingly snappish retorts to Amy, is particularly strong. Ages 8-up. (Mar.)

Library Use: Have students create a diarama of a scene like the dollhouse scene using their own dollhouse figurines,  action figures or "barbie" dolls. Then they write and tell their own mystery story based on their figurines.

Resource List:

Source Citation

Larson, J. (2000, February, 15). Review of the soundrecording of The Dollhouse Murders, by Betty Ren Wright. Booklist 96(12), 1128.Retrieved from the Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA59642703&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Wright, B. R. (1983). The dollhouse murders. New York, NY: Holiday House. Read by Carol Jordan Stewart. Live Oak Media. 1999. 4hr. 3 cassettes,

Review of the soundrecording of the book The Dollhouse Murders, by Betty Ren Wright.  Publishers Weekly.  246(19) : p34. (1999, May 10). Retrieved from Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA54649713&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Module 8: Fantasy and Science Fiction

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Summary: The Hunger Games is a dystopian novel.  As a result of unrest and an uprising by the masses, the government keeps the people down by  creating districts, which each must send a representative every year to the hunger games, a survival of the fittest.  The players are youth 12 years old and up, chosen in a kind of lottery, in which a person's name can be added in trade for goods (food, etc.), and are not removed from one year to next, increasing the chance of being chosen.  In our story, Katnis, the older sister of 12 year old Primrose, takes the place of her sister who is chosen her first time out.  Katnis is skilled with the bow and has learned survival skills along the way.  She and Peeta, the baker's son, become the representatives from their district for the next hunger games. 
My Impressions: I enjoyed reading this book.  There was a good combination of drama and action to keep me reading.  This is a story of survival and the ability to do anything you put your mind to.
Reviews: 

Author: Francisca Goldsmith   

This is a grand-opening salvo in a new series by the author of the Underland Chronicles. Sixteen-year-old Katniss poaches food for her widowed mother and little sister from the forest outside the legal perimeter of District 12, the poorest of the dozen districts constituting Panem, the North American dystopic state that has replaced the U.S. in the not-too-distant future. Her hunting and tracking skills serve her well when she is then cast into the nation's annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death where contestants must battle harsh terrain, artificially concocted weather conditions, and two teenaged contestants from each of Panem's districts. District 12's second "tribute" is Peeta, the baker's son, who has been in love with Katniss since he was five. Each new plot twist ratchets up the tension, moving the story forward and keeping the reader on edge. Although Katniss may be skilled with a bow and arrow and adept at analyzing her opponents' next moves, she has much to learn about personal sentiments, especially her own. Populated by three-dimensional characters, this is a superb tale of physical adventure, political suspense, and romance.--Francisca Goldsmith 

Author: Jilaine Johnson

Imagine a world of the future where the United States has 12 outlying districts and the Capitol, where the wealthy and elite live out a pampered existence, and an all--powerful government of what is now known as Panem extracts a brutal price from the populace for a previous rebellion. Each year a lottery is held in each of the districts to determine which 12 girls and boys win the draw as 'tributes' to take part in the Hunger Games a reality, survivor-cum-gladiator type televised event where the contestants must fight to survive. The contestants are dropped into a different terrain each year and need to outwit the machinations of the games designers, the elements, as well as each other. There can only be one winner; the others must die. Kill or be killed; the ultimate punishment for the people who are forced to watch the televised spectacle.

Katniss is 16 years old and when her 12 year old sister Prim's name is called she volunteers to take her place as District 12's female tribute. The boy is Peeta, a baker's son who once saved Katniss from near starvation. And Peeta starts the 'love angle' that plays an important role in this year's game.

A gritty, powerful science fiction novel that, because of the inevitable violence, is more suitable for teens or mature 12 year old readers. It is a gripping, fast-paced read with twists and turns and suspenseful moments. With firestorms, killer wasps, booby-trapped food stores and the nightly ritual of 'Who is dead today?' you are hooked to the end. Collins uses the love angle and the young tribute Rue, whom Katniss befriends, to show that beneath the surface of at least some of these young people who are forced to kill, lies a core of human warmth and kindness. Highly commended.

Library Use:

Reference List:

Collins, S. (2008). The hunger games.  New York, NY: Scholastic. 

Goldsmith, Francisca. (2008, September 1). Review of The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins.  Booklist 105(1), 97. Retireved from  Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA185166292&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w
Johnson, J. (2009, Februry ). Review of The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins.  Reading Time, 53(1), 30 Retrieved from Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA196151128&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Module 7: Realistic Fiction

 Frindle by Andrew Clements

 Summary: Frindle is about a "battle" between Nick, a ten year old, and his teacher, Mrs. Granger who has a reputation for being strict, for loving the dictionary, and for using the dictionary as punishment for misbehavior.  When Nick tries to get his teacher off track by asking a question about how words are added to the dictionary, she punishes him for his mischief by having him do a report to answer his own question. What he learns in his research is that words can be powerful and anyone can create a new word as long as enough people use it. The result is the new word "frindle"and a war between the students and Mrs. Granger, who is secretly pleased about Nick's discovery.

My Impressions:

 I thought this book showed how perseverance can pay off and that a person should fight for what they believe.    

Review:

Author: Kay Weisman     

Gr. 3-6. Ten-year-old Nick Allen has a reputation for devising clever, time-wasting schemes guaranteed to distract even the most conscientious teacher. His diversions backfire in Mrs. Granger's fifth-grade class, however, resulting in Nick being assigned an extra report on how new entries are added to the dictionary. Surprisingly, the research provides Nick with his best idea ever, and he decides to coin his own new word. Mrs. Granger has a passion for vocabulary, but Nick's (and soon the rest of the school's) insistence on referring to pens as "frindles" annoys her greatly. The war of words escalates - resulting in after-school punishments, a home visit from the principal, national publicity, economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs, and, eventually, inclusion of frindle in the dictionary. Slightly reminiscent of Avi's Nothing but the Truth (1991), this is a kinder, gentler story in which the two sides eventually come to a private meeting of the minds and the power of language triumphs over both. Sure to be popular with a wide range of readers, this will make a great read-aloud as well.

Library Use: Frindle could be used as an introduction to dictionary skills.  The children may be more interested in looking up words and finding their origins, etc. after reading this book.
Resource List:
Clements, A. (1998, c1996). Frindle. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks. 

Weisman, Kay. (1996, September 1). Review of the book Frindle, by Andrew Clements.  Booklist 93(1), 125. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA18697125&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Newbery Medal winner 


Summary: Because of Winn Dixie is the story of a young girl, Opal, who has just moved to a new town and hasn't made any friends.  She saves a dog who is causing problems inside the Winn Dixie grocery store by saying that he is hers.  She has to think quickly when asked what his name was, and she says it's "Winn Dixie."   Opal convinces her dad to keep the dog and they become inseparable.    Through Winn Dixie she makes several new friends, all of which have interesting life-stories.

My Impressions: This book made me laugh out loud at times and made me sad at other times.  Opal has such a unique way of seeing the world. I think the author has created a book that elementary and middle school students can relate to, as meeting new friends is always an area of concern. She also teaches the reader to look beyond what you see and try not to judge a person, rather learn their story instead. 
Reviews:

Author: Kathleen Odean  

"It's hard not to immediately fall in love with a dog who has a good sense of humor," reflects ten-year-old Opal after she rescues a dog who is creating chaos at a Winn-Dixie grocery store. She names her new good-natured pet Winn-Dixie and, through him, starts to make friends in the small Florida town to which she and her kind preacher father have recently moved. Her friends, young and old, have touching stories to tell, conveyed in simple, well-crafted prose with a Southern flavor. An unconventional party brings Opal's new pals together in a fitting conclusion to the short, heartfelt book which won a Newbery Honor Award. 

Author: Judi Moreillon

Gr. 9-12--When India Opal Buloni follows her preacher father to Naomi, a town in rural north Florida, leaving friends and home behind [in Because of Winn-Dixie], she feels even more acutely the loss of the mother who left the family when Opal was small. Winn-Dixie, the dog she finds and befriends, helps Opal pull together the lives and losses of other lonely and grieving Naomi residents. The story told by the elderly town librarian of her ancestor who fought in the Civil War and lost everything important to him except his appreciation for the sweetness and sadness that mingle in life weaves through this story of new beginnings.

Library Use:  This book could be used in a "cause and effect" lesson.  Looking at each character's personality, the student can then use the information about the character's life story to explain why they act the way they do.  They could create a table or T- chart to show the cause and effect in each case.

Resource List: 
DiCamillo, K. (2000). Because of Winn Dixie. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

Moreillon, Judi. (2000 May). Review of Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo.  Book Links, 9(5), 12.  Retrieved from Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CH1420072905&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Odean, K. (2001, May). Review of the book Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo.  Book, 80. Retireved from Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA74090725&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Module 6: Picture Books

Smoky Night by Eve Bunting

Caldecott Winner
 Illustrated by David Diaz

Summary: Smoky Nights is a story of what a boy sees happening during a riot in Los Angeles. The boy sees that people are really angry and they are tearing things up and looting stores, so his mother explains why the people are acting that way.   As a result of the rioting, the building the family lives in catches on fire and they have to go to a shelter.  The mother realizes that the people in her neighborhood aren't very friendly with one another and decides she should get to know Mrs. Kim who owns the shop across the street.

My Impressions: I thought the book served it's purpose in explaining what rioting is, why people riot, and the devastation that occurs as the result.

Reviews:

Author: Hazel Rochman

Ages 5-9. Bunting says she wrote this story after the Los Angeles riots made her wonder about what riots mean to the children who live through them. A boy and his cat look down from the window at people rioting in the streets below. His mother explains that rioting can happen when people get angry: "They want to smash and destroy. They don't care anymore what's right and wrong." The boy says that they look angry, but they look happy. too. He sees them looting Mrs. Kim's grocery store across the street; his mother never building burns, and everyone has to rush out to the shelter. The boy's cat is gone, and so is Mrs. Kim's cat, but a kind fire fighter finds both animals; they were hiding together. Then Bunting overstates her message: maybe the people, like the cats, need to get to know each other, so the boy's mother and Mrs. Kim agree to visit. Diaz's art is powerful - pulsating and crowded; part street mural, part urban collage. In each double-page spread, the background is a photograph of found objects and debris in a variety of textures and jagged shapes. On the right-hand page is an acrylic painting like a view through a heavy window, with thick lines and bright neon colors showing a multicultural cast. In fine contrast, the story is told quietly from the child's point of view, safe with his mother despite the fear, reaching out to the neighborhood community within the chaos.

Library Use: The artwork in this book is very unique.  The artist used regular objects that related to the story and used them as the background for the characters and text.  I think children could create their own form of urban art by choosing objects from home or school that represented them- a candy wrapper, a torn piece of loose leaf paper that's wrinkled and had a poem written on it, etc. Then they could write one page about themselves- "A Day in My Life"

Resource List:
Bunting, E. (1994). Smoky Night. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace.

Rochman, Hazel. (1994, March 1). Review of the book Smoky Night, by Eve Bunting.  Booklist 90(13), 1267. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA15238722&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Module 5: Other Award Winners

Goin' Someplace Special by Pat McKissack

See the book trailer: 

http://animoto.com/play/aPvTFYeaoKmd9C34WRKgxQ

Winner of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award

Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Summary: Goin' Someplace Special is the story of a child growing up in the south during segregation.  It tells of a girl who wants to go to "someplace special," but to get there she encounters the many obstacles set forth by the Jim Crow Laws.  Finally she makes it to "someplace special" a place where everyone is welcome.
My Impressions:  This book was based on the true life experiences of the author growing up in Tennessee.  She shows us this segregated world through the eyes of a child, a perspective many of us have not had before and helps those of us who didn't live in that world to understand it better.

Review:
Author: Denise Wilms 

Ages 5-8. Tricia Ann excitedly gets her grandmother's permission to go out by herself to "Someplace Special"--a place far enough away to take the bus and to have to walk a bit. But this isn't just any trip. Tricia's trip takes place in the segregated South of the 1950s. That means Tricia faces sitting at the back of the bus, not being allowed to sit on a whites-only park bench, and being escorted out of a hotel lobby. She almost gives up, but a local woman who some say is "addled," but whom Tricia Ann knows to be gentle and wise, shows her how to listen to the voice inside herself that allows her to go on. She arrives at her special destination--the public library, whose sign reads "All Are Welcome." Pinkney's watercolor paintings are lush and sprawling as they evoke southern city streets and sidewalks as well as Tricia Ann's inner glow. In an author's note, McKissack lays out the autobiographical roots of the story and what she faced as a child growing up in Nashville. This book carries a strong message of pride and self-confidence as well as a pointed history lesson. It is also a beautiful tribute to the libraries that were ahead of their time.

Wilms, Denise 

Library Use:This book serves as a simple explanation of the Jim Crow Laws. 
It can be used during Black History Month or for a Civil Rights study. Read the book before launching into the study of how the Jim Crow Laws effected African Americans living in the south .

 Reference List:

McKissack, P. (2001). Goin' someplace special. New York, NY: Antheneum Books for Young Readers.

Wilms, D. (2001, August). Review of the book Goin' Someplace Special, by Pat McKissack. Booklist, 97, 2117. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA78227054&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

See the book trailer:

  http://animoto.com/play/9HgPdq7zkn8z1Nf0A8GvEQ

Winner of Pura Belpre Award 2002

Summary:  Esperanza is the daughter of a wealthy land owner in Mexico who has always had the best of everything, and has had servants to do the work around her family's home and ranch.  Her father is killed and when her mother refuses the affections and offer of marriage of Esperanza's uncle he sets the ranch on fire. Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave Mexico to escape further wrath from the uncle.  They enter into California during the Depression and must learn to live as migrant workers.  Esperanza has to make a lot of changes to survive in her new world, especially when her mother gets sick and she has to work with the adults to support the family.
My Impressions:  I thought this book, like Goin' Someplace Special, gives the reader a different perspective.  This time it's of the grueling life of a Mexican migrant worker, especially those during the Dustbowl when competition for jobs was fierce.  I think it's important for children to see the world through the eyes of different people, so that they can have more compassion for others. This book helps us do that.
Review:
Author: Deborah Kaplan

The day before her 13th birthday, Esperanza's life shatters. Her father dies, and Esperanza and her mother must leave their easy life on the lovely family ranch in Mexico. With the aid of former servants, they immigrate to Depression-era California to become farm laborers. For Esperanza, who has always had servants, dolls, and lovely clothes, the dirt, illness, and labor are unbearable. She wants to fit in, but the other women and children in the camp know that she doesn't know how to wash clothes, sweep a floor, or even bathe herself. When illness strikes, Esperanza must fight despair to become her family's provider. The underlying political situation in the camp is dangerous. The poverty of the Depression and the influx of refugees from the Dust Bowl lend themselves to terrible living conditions in the company farm camp, and troublemakers are always in danger from the government. Strikers agitate for better conditions, but for Esperanza and her friends, to strike is to lose the pittance they need to survive. Both the strikers and those who refuse to strike are shown making necessary and difficult choices in Esperanza's story. Despite the hardship of the farm work, Esperanza finds peace in the cycle of harvest and the heartbeat of the earth. In the midst of hunger, struggle, and terrifying collusion between the landowners and the government, Esperanza and her friends are still tied to the rhythms of the earth, and Esperanza--Spanish for "hope"--is rising.

The rich metaphors and complex political issues in Esperanza's story never undercut the pleasure of this coming-of-age tale. Esperanza's first year in California makes for a delightful read; the added layers are a bonus. An ALA Best Book for YAs. Deborah Kaplan, Arlington, MA

Library Use:
I think this book is a good companion to Out of the Dust by Karen Hess (a Newbery Award winner).  When students study the Dust Bowl they can compare these two award winning books and discuss the different perspectives of the main characters, as well as the different styles of writing by the authors.

Reference List:

Kaplan, D. (2002, November). Review of the book Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. Kliatt, 36(6), 20 Retrieved from Literature Resource Center. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA107202688&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

 Ryan, P. M. (2000). Esperanza rising. New York, NY: Scholastic.

 

Module 4: Newbery Award Winners

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

 by E.L. Konigsburg

Newbery Medal winner 1968

Summary: Claudia is an eleven year old girl who decides to run away from home.  She brings her nine year old brother along because he's good with money and has some saved up.  Claudia has thought this out and has an elaborate plan for taking the train to the Metropolitan Museum of Art where she plans for them to hide out until closing time and the stay there. The story continues as they stay at the museum, tour the exhibits hidden amongst groups of school kids during the day, and sleep in the museum overnight.  Then they become involved a mystery of the origins of a marble angel statue and this is how they meet Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
My Impression: I loved this book as a child and still enjoyed it as an adult.  Children can relate to feeling unappreciated and wanting to run away, as Claudia did.  They also like the adventures the siblings encounter while staying at the museum, and how they solve their own problems.  Solving the mystery as the characters do is the final catch for the reader.
Reviews:
Author: Ed. Scot Peacock

Among straight modern stories that are also novels of ideas there can hardly be a cleverer or more exhilarating one this year than From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler. This kind of book, alas, asks for endless quotation, and for such there is no space. Even the management of the plot can only be hinted at. An 11-year-old girl, misunderstood but not at all crushed, goes off with her young brother James (called in for his financial expertise) and pitches a well-planned camp in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. There are antique beds to sleep in, fountains to wash in, crowds to disappear into, and a project to keep them busy--identifying a miniature statue donated by a certain Mrs Frankweiler ...

Author: Unsigned

For 35 years, even readers who have never traveled to New York City have visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art, courtesy of Claudia Kincaid, heroine of From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. Winner of the 1968 Newbery Medal, this novel charts one girl's mission to run away from her straight-As life to somewhere beautiful--the Met. In the process, she becomes obsessed with uncovering the secrets of a breathtaking statue. A 35th-anniversary dust jacket and a new afterword by the author caps this adventure that has captivated readers for more than a quarter-century.

Library Use: Since most students haven't been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this would be a wonderful opportunity to take a virtual tour.
Children could also brainstorm ways to resolve problems with parents besides running away.

Reference List:

Konigsburg, E.L. (1967). From the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. New York, NY: Antheneum Books for Young Readers.

Peacock, E. (1969, November 6). Review of the book From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Konigsburg. Children's Literature Review, 82. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CH1420046211&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Destination: The Met. (Children's Notes). (2002, November 11). [ Review of the book From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Konigsburg]. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA94596892&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

The Giver by Lois Lowery 

 Newbery Medal winner 1994

Summary:  The Giver takes us into the future into a colorless world where there are no conflicts, no wars, no poverty. Everything seems perfect.  Even a person's life pursuits are decided for them, including taking care of the elderly, being a child bearer or working in the nursery where all babies are prepared for adoption. The main character, Jonas is chosen to receive all of their worlds memories from the Giver, so that he will one day replace him.  As he sees the memories he realizes what he is missing in his world- color,  love, freedom and he decides to make his escape.

My Impressions: I enjoyed reading this novel about a futuristic dystopian society. The author helps us appreciate so many things we have in our lives daily that we take for granted.  This book may be enjoyed by some 5th graders, but it is better suited for middle school or high school. 

Reviews:

Author: Stephanie Zvirin 

Gr. 6-9. In this anti-utopian sf novel, 12-year-old Jonas flees his community of Sameness in search of choice and freedom. A fascinating discussion book.

Author: Bill Ott

Gr. 6-9. Lowry's dystopia story of a future society will continue to engage kids with its drama about a world many have longed for, where there's no war, poverty, or family turmoil, and no fear, hardship, or terror. What the boy Jonas discovers is that there's also no freedom--and no happiness. A book that is already a classic. 

Library Use: A middle school librarian could use this book in a study and comparison of books about dystopian societies.   Books could include The Giver, 1984, The Hunger Games and others. Students could also write about what our world in the future as a dystopian society would be like and create book trailers to tell their stories.

Reference list:

Lowry, L. (1993). The giver.  Boston, Mass: Houghton Mifflin

Ott, B. (2000, January 1). Review of the book The Giver, by Lois Lowry. Booklist, 96, 988. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA59087696&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w 

 Zvirin, S. (2000, June 1). Review of the book The Giver, by Lois Lowry. Booklist, 1874.  Retrieved from Literature Resource Center http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA63258275&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w