Module 6/Genre 6 - Fantasy and Young Adult Fiction

Bibliography

Gantos, Jack. 2000. Joey Pigza loses control. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 9780374399894

Plot Summary

Joey Pigza Loses Control is a quirky little story about a kid, Joey, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a feisty little Chihuahua. Joey has his ADHD under control pretty well with medication and help from his mom and school. Then for the upcoming summer break his mom allows him to spend the summer with his estranged father and cranky grandmother. Through the story it’s learned that his father is not only still an alcoholic, but appears to be more “wired” than Joey. His grandmother, suffering from emphysema, regularly has Joey buy cigarettes for her.

In typical fashion, Joey wants to please his father and agrees to do many things ranging from playing baseball on his dad’s team to lying to his mother to not taking his medication anymore. From all this comes the good and the bad. Joey becomes a very good pitcher on the baseball team, but finds his father very demanding and demeaning. Joey’s stay with his father is very confusing and inconsistent for Joey. In the end, after being off his medicine for only a few days, Joey eventually loses control and ends up seeking help from the one consistent person in his life – his mom.

Critical Analysis

This story is a very believable one and one that most any student can relate to easily. The family dynamics almost seems too stereotypical – single mom, alcoholic dad, problematic child, but for this story it works. It’s a very humorous look at the life of a youngster who struggles, and has always struggled with his impairment. This story is also very gut wrenching. It’s very easy to feel Joey’s heartbreak and the struggle with his dad to not only be heard, but to be understood. What child or adult could not relate to that?

The story is told through Joey’s narration and through the actions of the story. All the characters are very believable showing each one’s weakness and strength. Joey’s mom is consistent, but over-protective. His dad is always hopeful, but very selfish and self-focused. His grandmother is cranky, but understands him and his dog. Joey gets into trouble, but is at a place of realization that he knows his medicine helps him (and that’s a very mature thing for any young person). The story eventually builds to a climax as Joey is really doing well as a pitcher on his dad’s team, but convinced that he doesn’t need his medicine by his dad starts to lose it. The theme of this story does emerge naturally and his worth children’s time. The theme of being one’s self and accepting that is a big part of this story. Joey’s dad couldn’t accept that Joey had an impairment (ADHD) – and actually his dad was just living vicariously through his son. The style of this story is very simple and easy to read. The mood of the story is first set by fiascos throughout the story. It starts with Joey’s dog throwing up in the car on the way to his dad’s house, forgetting the dog in the car, his grandmother ripping her oxygen tubes out of her nose as she drives golf balls at the local park, and more. The unsteadiness of his mother’s driving to his dad’s violent and verbally abusive outbursts help paint a picture of the rough life Joey has from the small things to the big things.

Overall, I think many students would enjoy this book and relate to it very easily. Most children long to have their parents understand them and accept them for who they are, so this story is one for all. But, I have an even stronger recommendation for adults. Any adult who works with children – educators, para-educators, health care workers, day care workers, and more – and parents of children with impairments, especially ADD and ADHD, should read this book. As a special educator, I have been to many seminars and professional developments and have read many things and watched videos about ADD and ADHD, but nothing has helped me to see the child with ADD and ADHD’s perspective better than this book. The point of view of this book will open many people’s eyes to the struggles of a person with ADHD and/or ADD.

Review Excerpts

Booklist – “Gantos has given Joey a remarkably vivid personality, and, blending irrepressible humor with a powerful depiction of a child's longing for normalcy, he has written a dead-on portrayal of a young person assessing the often self-serving behavior of the adults who control his life.”
Publishers Weekly – “… this high-voltage, honest novel mixes humor, pain, fear and courage with deceptive ease.”
School Library Journal – “This is a humorous story about very serious subjects. The inner conflicts and secret wishes that often affect children of divorce are well expressed.”

Connections

Have students journal about something that they have experienced in their life that they have felt they were not understood about.

Have parents read this book with their students and share their feelings about what Joey goes through in this story.

Have students read the other Joey Pigza stories by Jack Gantos:
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key ISBN 978037433664
What Would Joey Do? ISBN 9780807209493
I’m Not Joey Pigza ISBN 9780374399412

Counseling groups could use this story to help students with impairments, like Joey’s ADHD, to open up and share feelings and struggles in their lives.

Module 6/Genre 6 - Fantasy and Young Adult Fiction

Bibliography

Lowry, Lois. 1993. The giver. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 9780395645666

Plot Summary

The Giver is a young adult fantasy book that takes place in a “utopian” society. The story starts with Jonas, a normal seeming child who is about to turn twelve. He has a small family – mom, dad, and little sister. As the story progresses the reader finds a different society. It’s a society that is void of choices – so much so that even love has no real meaning. Marriages are arranged, careers are assigned, and babies are birthed by less honorable people and given to only those couples who qualify.

As the story continues, a new year comes up which means that everyone from ages one through eleven get to progress to the new age. For Jonas this means that he becomes twelve and that means that he is assigned his career assignment for the rest of his adult life. All of his friends get normal sounding jobs, but Jonas is chosen as the Receiver. This means he gets to receive the memories of the past – pain, joy, pleasure, suffering, and more. These memories are things that their society knows nothing about. As Jonas becomes better friends with the giver they come up with a plan to help everyone share the memories instead of Jonas having to bear them all.

Critical Analysis

The Giver, as a fantasy, is very believable. The story stays consistent and the characters are very believable. Jonas and his friends seem like normal kids except they live in a culture that has no love or choices. The life without choices really raises some good questions about whether choices are important or not or even what life would be like without choices. It’s a realistic enough place that one could imagine what it would be like to live there, even though there’s never been another place like it. A couple of other things that show the fantasy side of this story is the fact that everyone is color blind (except those with memories) and the fact that the people with memories can pass on memories by touching another person directly. The setting is revealed as the story continues. At first it seems like a normal place. As the story continues the “odd” things are uncovered. One thing is the presence of big brother type speakers are everywhere to scold or correct. Another thing is that they climate is controlled always – no rain, no snow and not too hot and not too cold.

The themes revealed throughout The Giver are varied. One is about how having choices can give us wisdom. Another is that without pain, you can’t know true joy and vice versa. A third one is how important it is to not forget the bad and the good, even if it’s painful or difficult. This book is so thought provoking – it makes many questions come up. What would life be like with no choices? Without love? Without rain? Without pain? Even though this story has these themes running throughout, they don’t over power the story itself. The story stays intriguing and interesting to the very end. The style of this story is great. The story is easy to understand without being too obvious. The ambiguous ending makes the story more interesting. The language used is very appropriate and the regular words that are used that have a different meaning in the story – like “release”, which really means euthanized – are explained well, although not always immediately. The characters in this story are very interesting. Jonas, the main character, is very easy to relate to, and he communicates the story through his actions and words. His growth throughout the story is a beautiful thing to read. He goes from being a controlled, unfeeling child, to a young man who learns to love and care and see the greater good.

This very thought provoking story would be great to share with young adults. Some of the subject matter is a bit mature for younger children and this book should be shared after careful consideration. This story could be shared in any country or culture and the themes and story would still be well conveyed because of the universality of them.

Review Excerpts

Booklist – “Anti-Utopian novels have an enduring appeal. This one makes an especially good introduction to the genre because it doesn't load the dice by presenting the idea of a community structured around safety as totally negative. There's a distinctly appealing comfort in sameness that kids--especially junior high kids--will recognize. Yet the choice is clear. Sameness versus freedom, happiness at the risk of pain. Something to talk about.”
Kirkus Reviews – “Wrought with admirable skill--the emptiness and menace underlying this Utopia emerge step by inexorable step: a richly provocative novel.”
Publishers Weekly – “Until the time that Jonah begins training for his job assignment--the rigorous and prestigious position of Receiver of Memory--he, too, is a complacent model citizen. But as his near-mystical training progresses, and he is weighed down and enriched with society's collective memories of a world as stimulating as it was flawed, Jonas grows increasingly aware of the hypocrisy that rules his world.”
School Library Journal – “The author makes real abstract concepts, such as the meaning of a life in which there are virtually no choices to be made and no experiences with deep feelings. This tightly plotted story and its believable characters will stay with readers for a long time.”

Connections

Have students write their thoughts/predictions for the ending of The Giver.

Have young adults read the two follow-up books to The Giver:
Gathering Blue ISBN 9780618055814
Messenger ISBN 9780618404414

Lead a discussion about limiting choices and what implications that would have for the students.

Module 6/Genre 6 - Fantasy and Young Adult Fiction

Bibliography

Johnson, Angela. 2003. The first part last. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780689849220

Plot Summary

The First Part Last is an easy to read story about a teen that is raising his baby. As the story progresses, much is revealed about how Bobby who ends up being a single dad who is still in high school and about his relationship with the baby’s mother, Nia. Although Bobby has understanding parents and family, he loses control one day and forgets about his daughter, Feather, while she’s in someone else’s care. He has to face the reality of the loss of his girlfriend and much of his own freedom.

Critical Analysis

This story is told from Bobby’s narration. The story is an interesting flip on the typical female child raising a child story. The dialog is very real and contemporary. Bobby’s strengths are weaknesses are showcased throughout the book. His love and devotion for his daughter is very strong throughout the story, but there is also a time when he loses track of time and kind of has a little meltdown and he seems very irresponsible. The alternating chapters title “Now” and “Then”, instead of having traditional numbered chapters, really make this story move and make it more interesting and a bit more innovative than traditionally numbered chapter books. The story climaxes as the reader discovers why Bobby keeps the baby and what happened to Feather’s mom. The story takes place in New York and concludes in another state. The author’s use of “Now” and “Then” really helps communicate which story the reader is following.

The theme of The First Part Last is one of responsibility. Teenage sex does come with consequences, at times, and this story portrays this very well. Not only does Bobby end up being a father at the age of sixteen, but Feather’s mother ends up in a coma from complications from her labor. These teens also had to deal with deciding whether or not to give the child up for adoption – after much pressure from the parents to do so. The style of this story is very smooth and natural. Most readers could imagine their neighbor or family member being in Bobby’s shoes. The author creates of mood of mystery about Nia’s destiny while switching between the “Now” and “Then” through the book. There’s also a mood of triumph or pride as Bobby handles so much responsibility well as he takes care of his child, goes to school, and still has friends in his neighborhood to hang out with.

This is definitely a book for mature teens. There is some profane language used and the whole teen sex issue plays out in a very open and honest way. Because of the realism of this story and the issues it deals with, it is a very valuable book for today’s society.

Review Excerpts

Booklist – “Johnson makes poetry with the simplest words in short, spare sentences that teens will read again and again.”
Kirkus Reviews – “By narrating from a realistic first-person voice, Johnson manages to convey a story that is always complex, never preachy. The somewhat pat ending doesn't diminish the impact of this short, involving story. It's the tale of one young man and his choices, which many young readers will appreciate and enjoy.”
Publishers Weekly – “But as the past and present threads join in the final chapter, readers will only clamor for more about this memorable father-daughter duo—and an author who so skillfully relates the hope in the midst of pain.”
School Library Journal – “Told in alternating passages of "Now" and "Then," the back-story that has brought Bobby to this point falls steadily but deliberately into place, with the revelation of why Bobby is a single father arriving only near the very end.”

Connections

Lead a discussion with teens about choices and consequences and how they saw those take place in this story.

Have students write a prediction for Bobby’s life after he moves to Ohio with Feather.

Have an assignment where students summarize The First Part Last and share that with their parents. After they do that, have the students interview the parents on a set list of questions that they can choose from – questions like, “Was this type of story typical from your childhood?” or “What kinds of things did you have to be responsible for prematurely when you were a teen?”

Module 5/Genre 5 - Historical Fiction/Biography

Bibliography
Lisle, Janet Taylor. 2000. The art of keeping cool. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780689837876

Plot Summary
This historical novel is a captivating story about a couple of cousins, Robert and Elliot, in a coastal northeastern town during World War II. As one befriends a German artist, the other suspects the German a spy. As the story unfolds two mysteries are presented – one of the true nature of the German and one of Robert and his father, now a pilot in the war. As the story concludes, the novel presents real prejudice – within one’s family and within the community.

Critical Analysis
This story starts off in a powerful way, with symbolism and foreshadowing, as enormous guns pull into town and the two cousins go to watch them arrive. Through the characters in this story you learn about World War II and how life was in the U.S. during that time. Rationing and putting a banner in the window if you had a family member in the war are just a couple of ways that this story portrays WWII life in the early 40s. The characters in this tale help set the stage as well. The fearful hatred of the enemy really shows up as townspeople abuse and taunt the native German artist – who left Nazi Germany because he was being persecuted there. What also makes the story real are the small details, like German subs sinking ships off of the eastern coast.

The theme throughout this story is that of the uselessness of prejudice. Not only does this theme show up in the German artist storyline, but also in the family’s storyline. When the older cousin, Elliot, is continually abused and belittled by this grandfather because his grandfather thinks him weak and useless, one sees the parallel of the storylines. The historical figures of the time are also thrown into the story to make it more accurate and believable. As both mysteries unravel the end is revealed, even though it is predictable, is sad yet realistic.

This well told historical novel would be perfect for older children and young adults to read and discuss. Because of the content, there could be so many useful discussions about family dynamics, self-control/anger management, prejudices, and more.

Review Excerpt
Kirkus Review: "Briskly plotted, emotionally complex, brutal in incident yet delicately nuanced in the telling, a fine historical fiction."
Publishers Weekly: “The intimate first-person narrative brings universal themes of prejudice and loss to a personal level as the boys and their artist friend discover the destructive power of war on the home front.”
School Library Journal: “…this is a heartfelt story about family dynamics and the harmful power of prejudice and hatred.”

Connections
Have students research and discuss how Germans, Japanese, and Italians were treated in the U.S. during World War II.

In an art class have the students learn about expressionism and which Germans took part in that artistic movement. Have them also learn about other influential German artists.

Have a week of rationing in the classroom. Each day have rationing coupons for different items. At the end of the week discuss the kinds of things people rationed during World War II and the kinds of things people did within their community to help.

Module 5/Genre 5 - Historical Fiction/Biography

Bibliography
Cushman, Karen. 1995. The midwife's apprentice. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780395692295

Plot Summary
The Midwife’s Apprentice is a sometimes humorous, but an always easy-to-relate-to story set in medieval England. It’s a tale about a homeless girl who has enough street smarts to know that sleeping in dung will keep her warm on cold nights. As she travels from town to town seeking food and possible work, she becomes a housekeeper for the local hard and cold midwife and eventually becomes her apprentice. This girl who feels unloved and unwanted grows through this story becoming a brave soul who stands up for herself and makes something of herself – actually a kinder and gentler midwife.

Critical Analysis
The Midwife’s Apprentice is a great little story for all ages. The setting of this story is perfect. It gives enough of a picture of what that time was like without going into too much heavy detail. The protagonist’s, Alyce’s, character is so real, one feels like they could be in her shoes. Also, her compassion and hurt makes the reader hurt with her. The plot of this story is real as well. It reveals how hard life was then and how there was not much kindness outside of ones own family. For Alyce, this is a story of how she overcomes what seems like a very hopeless life. The theme of this story is that of overcoming adversity. This is a novel of a poor, homeless girl who doesn’t even know her own birthday or what it is like to cry.

The style of The Midwife’s Apprentice is very simple, but still engaging. Anyone can feel Alyce’s pain, fear, misery, and triumph. Historically, this story seems very accurate and Alyce even names her little friend after King Edward – king from 1272-1307. It is a realistic story that shows hard life could be for the lower classes of medieval England. Any age can enjoy and relate to this story.

Review Excerpt
BookList: "From the first page you're caught by the spirit of the homeless, nameless waif, somewhere around 12 years old, "unwashed, unnourished, unloved, and unlovely," trying to keep warm in a dung heap."
Kirkus Reviews: “From the rebirth in the dung heap to Brat's renaming herself Alyce after a heady visit to a medieval fair, this is not for fans of historical drama only. It's a rouser for all times.”
School Library Journal: “Earthy humor, the foibles of humans both high and low, and a fascinating mix of superstition and genuinely helpful herbal remedies attached to childbirth make this a truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children's literature.”

Connections
Have a discussion with students about the different classes in medieval England and compare them to classes we have today.

Have students do a short readers’ theater excerpt from this play.

Divide the story into small segments and have each student illustrate that part of the story.

Module 5/Genre 5 - Historical Fiction/Biography

Bibliography
Freedman, Russell. 1987. Indian chiefs. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0823406253

Plot Summary
Indian Chiefs is a collection of biographies by Russell Freedman. This books starts with a summary section called “War Chiefs and Peace Chiefs” which includes a simple map of the West in 1840. Following that Freedman includes biographies on Red Cloud, Satanta, Quanah Parker, Washakie, Joseph, and Sitting Bull. The book ends with a rich resource section including a list of photographic sources, an index, and a very useful bibliography.

Critical Analysis
Indian Chiefs is a book that has a full bibliography and seems very well researched. Direct quotes, actual photographs, and researched information make up this easy to read biography. The layout of the book is very logical. The book starts with a general summary and then goes into detail about six important and very interesting Indian Chiefs. Freedman does stick with western Indian Chiefs, not really including eastern ones at all.

The photos in this book really make it incredibly fascinating. Seeing each chiefs piercing eyes and leathered skin make them all the more real. The most intriguing photo is one of many Native Americans at the White House with President Johnson. There are also pictures of art that depict how life was back then that are also interspersed throughout the collection. The Remington art pieces really show great detail and help tell the story, as do the photos. These along with Freedman’s interesting depiction of western life for Indians make this an easy read. The most fascinating story was of Quanah Parker. He was the son of an Indian and of a white woman, Cynthia Parker. Ms. Parker was abducted and taken to live with a tribe. This soon became her home and she learned to love the life so much, that when she was returned to her family she tried to escape. Mr. Freedman relates the history of Quanah Parker and his mother so well that one can feel their emotion, passion, and heartbreak.

Russell Freedman seems to just tell the facts, heartbreaking or cruel as they are, without adding extra biases or commentary. He’s very open about sharing the bad things about the Indians or about the U.S. He also freely tells when someone did something well. This may not be the best biography for younger children, but older children, teens, and adults can appreciate this well written and very informative biography on Native American leaders of the past.

Review Excerpt
Kirkus Review: "The humanity, courage, compassion and steel resolve of these dignified, resourceful leaders make a strong impact. With a true biographer's dispassion, Freedman simply tells what happened, what was said, and what effects actions had."
Publishers Weekly: “Their biographies serve as guidelines for negotiation styles, reminders of our government's shame and mother lodes of historical information. Excellent reproduction of the photos gives this reference book a handsome coffee-table look.”
School Library Journal: “Freedman does not romanticize the Indian viewpoint, nor is he judgmental against the whites. He presents a factual, human account of cultures in conflict.”

Connections
Investigate other Russell Freedman western books:

Children of the Wild West ISBN 0395547857

Cowboys of the Wild West ISBN 0395548004

An Indian Winter ISBN 0823411583

The Life and Death of Crazy Horse ISBN 0823412199

In the Days of the Vaqueros: America’s First True Cowboy ISBN 0395967880

Buffalo Hunt ISBN 0823411591

Have students do an internet scavenger hunt for photos of Native American Chiefs and see what new ones they can find in addition to the ones already in the book.

With young adults, have a discussion about the U.S.’s treatment of Native Americans.

Module 4/Genre 4 - Non-Fiction

Bibliography
Simon, Seymour. 1977. Look to the night sky an introduction to star watching. New York: Viking Press. ISBN 9780670439935

Plot Summary
This classic book is an introduction for children on star gazing. It starts with the explanation of the basics of star gazing and the types of conditions that are most favorable for looking at the night sky. It then continues with how to map the sky and stars. That is followed by a section that discusses seasons and how the sky changes accordingly. It moves into special items to observe and then buying and using a telescope. In the appendix is a short section about astrology followed by telescope sources and a guide to further reading.

Critical Analysis
Look to the Night Sky, although an older book, is still relevant and valuable. It lays out astronomy for the beginner in very simple and basic terms. It teaches how to find stars, constellations, and more with the naked eye. Easy to remember nicknames, as well as, the constellations real names are given throughout the book. These nicknames make it easy to remember what one is looking for in the night sky; for example it is easier to find the W in the sky instead of remembering what the constellation Cassiopeia looks like.

The clear and basic illustrations also make the instructions easier to understand. There are also wonderful photos in other areas that help show what to look for, like comets and such. Even though the book is rather old, it is very interesting to see actual photos of Halley’s Comet from 1910 and the black and white photos of other objects from space like nebula.

Any youngster who was interested in stars or the night sky would easily find Look to the Night Sky helpful in their pursuits. This book would also be helpful in going beyond the basics since it moves into telescopes – how to use them and what to look for shopping for one.

Review Excerpt
Kirkus Review: "A clear, attractive introduction which starts at the very beginning. . . . This brisk and eminently readable orientation will surely succeed in making almost any youngster feel right at home with the night sky"

Connections
Have students pick a constellation from this introduction and have them research, draw, and share with the group the constellation he/she chose.

Assign two to three constellations that are in season and have the students locate them at night with the help of their parents.

Explore other out of this world titles by Seymour Simon:
Our Solar System ISBN 9780061140082
The Sun ISBN 9780688092368
Stars ISBN 9780060890018
Galaxies ISBN 9780688109929
Comets, Meteors, and Asteroids ISBN 9780688158439
The Universe ISBN 9780060877255
Destination Space ISBN 9780060877231

Module 4/Genre 4 - Non-Fiction

Bibliography
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. 2005. Hitler Youth growing up in Hitler's shadow. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction. ISBN 9780439353793

Plot Summary
In the powerful book, Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow, Susan Campbell Bartoletti has told the stories of different youngsters who were involved with the Hitlerjugend – Hitler Youth – and intertwines what was taking place during that time. The different perspectives start from before Hitler became Chancellor and ends with the fall of Nazi Germany and how that affected these same young people. World War II events are placed through out so known historical happenings help place what was going on in these youngsters’ lives. The book ends with an important epilogue that explains what happened to people who Bartoletti wrote about in this book. The author also gives a time line of the Hitler Youth from 1926 to 1945, a note about the photographs included in the book, and a note from the author.

Critical Analysis
Hitler Youth is an exceptional book that includes so much history and depicts well the complex lives and choices that young people in war-time Germany had to face. The stories are compelling and really beg the question of every reader, “What would I have done if I was in the same situation?” Bartoletti uses interviews, biographies, letters, diaries, and history books to create a book that really allows the reader to feel what it was like during those difficult years.

The book, although not attractive in the traditional sense, has a very provocative cover. Not only do the capitalized block letters "HITLER YOUTH" jump out at you, but there is a photo of a pre-teen centered on the cover standing the the grasp of what seems to be Adolf Hitler (his trademark mustache just visible in the upper right hand corner). The photographs throughout this book are well placed and are used to give the reader a picture of life in Nazi Germany. Seeing the children and teens in these photos at the beginning of the book and throughout helps remind the reader that they were just normal children who are just like us. The book is laid out well and tells the stories flow together. The historical pictures interspersed with candid photos help bring life to the book.

This book is definitely for older children, teens, and adults. The subject matter will provoke many discussions and opinions. This book’s subject could bridge to many other areas of learning and discussion.

Review Excerpts
BookList: “The handsome book design, with black-and-white historical photos on every double page spread, will draw in readers and help spark deep discussion, which will extend beyond the Holocaust curriculum.”
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books: "This well-contextualized narrative allows readers largely unfamiliar with the history to gain a solid understanding not only of Hitler and his legions of youth but of the deeper connections back to the first World War, the Treaty of Versailles, and the anti-Semitism of the nation, and the abundant details effectively function to broaden understanding rather than dragging the plotline down.”
The Horn Book: “…The power of the account is matched by the many period candid and propaganda photographs, well-married to the text by strong captions and placement…”
New York Times Book Review: “The real strength of Susan Campbell Bartoletti's handsome book, which is illustrated with documentary photographs, lies in its interviews with former members, as well as with Jews and Mischling (half-Jews) who were forbidden to join the ranks.”

Connections
Have students discuss the pressures that the German teenagers must have felt about having to join this group. Compare and contrast what that is like for those pressured to join gangs.

Follow up with reading The Diary of Anne Frank and have students discuss the different perspective that this story gives.

Have students visit the United States Holocaust Museum (http://www.ushmm.org/) and do an online scavenger hunt to find out different information that is presented on their web site. Also have them browse the online exhibits (http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/).

Module 4/Genre 4 - Non-Fiction

Bibliography

Jenkins, Steve, and Robin Page. 2005. I see a kookaburra! discovering animal habitats around the world. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 9780618507641

Plot Summary

I See a Kookaburra! is a wonderfully crafted book about different habitats and the creatures that live there. The book covers the American Southwest desert, England’s southern coast tidal pools, South American jungles, the savanna of central Africa, Australia’s eastern forest, and America’s ponds in the Midwest. Each habitat is shown with its animals hidden and then the following pages show them with a little blurb about each. At the end of the book is a glossary for each habitat with a more detailed description of each animal. There’s also a world map with each habitat area labeled and then a brief additional reading section.

Critical Analysis

This bright picture book is a wonderful non-fiction selection for young children, whether they can read or not. Learning will take place without the youngster realizing it. The engaging collages will captivate children to search for animals and then encourage them to read on to find out more about each creature.

The paper collages are well thought out and executed. The variety of textures used really makes the animals seem three dimensional. The natterjack toad alone is made up of at least eight different layers of paper that makes the toad look like part amphibian, part rock. The art in this book not only pleases whoever browses this book, but also inspires any artist, quasi-artist, or artist-wanna-be to try paper collages.

The information in this book is well researched and detailed in the back of the book. The book is also laid out in a way consistent way that helps students to realize that after seeing the habitat page and searching for animals within, the next page will expose each hidden animal and tell a little about each. I See a Kookaburra will motivate children to find out more about habitats and the animals found in each one.

Review Excerpts

BookList: “Jenkins and Page team up again, this time to combine vibrant paper-collage art with an I Spy game to introduce wildlife in six habitats around the world.”

Kirkus Reviews: “…and in general, this offering provides what readers have come to expect from Jenkins: eye-popping collages and accessible information about the natural world.”

School Library Journal: “Filled with vibrant colors and palpable textures, the illustrations are breathtaking and give a real sense of the vitality, diversity, and beauty of nature. A first-rate foray into ecology that will encourage readers to explore the world around them.”

Connections

Have an art class pick animals to make up using paper collages. Extend the activity by having them make the habitats for the animals as well. Have students look at http://www.stevejenkinsbooks.com/makingbooks/ to see how Mr. Jenkins planned the art for his books.

Have students research the local habitat and the creatures that live close by. Have presentations on what they find. Students could even “extend” I See a Kookaburra by adding their own habitat and animals to continue the book.

Have students read Animal Poems (ISBN 9780374380571) and have them write a poem about one of the animals listed in I See a Kookaburra.

Have students check out some of the other Steve Jenkins books:
Move! ISBN 9780618646371
Prehistoric Actual Size ISBN 9780618535781
Next Stop, Neptune: Experiencing Our Solar System ISBN 9780618416035
What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? ISBN 9780618256280
Biggest, Strongest, Fastest ISBN 9780395697016

Module 3/Genre 3 - Poetry

Meow Ruff

Bibliography

Sidman, Joyce, and Michelle Berg. 2006. Meow ruff. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Plot Summary

This concrete poetry picture book by Joyce Sidman is a simple story, but has some valuable lessons in it. The cat in this story is abandoned at the same time the dog escapes from his home. Of course, the dog pursues the cat; all the while – through each page – clouds are getting bigger and darker. Just as the anticipated fight starts, so does the storm. This forces the natural enemies to seek shelter in the same place. They fall asleep only to be awakened by the irritating crows once the storm has passed. They team up to chase the crows solidifying their friendship. Finally, the dog’s owner finds his dog and his dog’s new friend leaving the reader with the hope of a new home for the cat when the human carries the cat in his arms.

Critical Analysis

The concrete poetry in this story adds so much detail and fun. As the back of the book says in the picture of the grass, “Concrete poetry is poetry that makes pictures out of letters and words.” Even the cement, house, car, clouds, trees, and shelter describe the story in a unique way as words make up each object. The clouds on one page that are made up of full, round, mostly white letters that say, “large white steamy bread loaves rising in the sun’s bright heat, a billowing batch of cumulus.” This story’s small details, like its numbered lady bugs or the hail stones that are made up of, “ice," add to the overall enjoyment of the story.

The graphics in this book, by designer Michelle Berg, are simple and fun, but so appealing. The bright colors really draw the eye to each subject throughout the story. The well chosen fonts are so clever in this story. The tree trunk is made of a solid, thick font, while the clouds are made up of fat and round ones, just like a cloud. Even the “A” in the anthill sticks up above the ground just like an anthill does.

This is a story that any age will enjoy, but especially young ones with the bright colors and the almost puzzle like way the words make up objects throughout the story. This story also deals with some very real issues like friendship and pet abandonment, which can help children explore those issues.

Review Excerpts

Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books – “This title is rife with possibilities for art, reading, or language curricula, and it could serve as an early introduction to concrete poetry for readers not yet ready for Janeczko's A Poke in the I.”
The Horn Book – “Looking for the poetry hidden in the visual imagery is the most obvious appeal of this beautiful, innovative book; other pleasures include the splendid flood of onomatopoeia and the stunning design.”
School Library Journal – “The adjective-loaded unrhyrned verse is actually a series of descriptive phrases that have been compressed and arranged to create elements of the artwork.”

Connections

Lead a discussion with students about friendship and a time when a past enemy has become a friend.

For a language arts/art connection have children draw animals or objects and have the children put words in them that describe the subject. See where this writing leads!

Lead a discussion with older children about pet abandonment and responsibility.

Other concrete poetry books for children:
Burg, Brad, and Rebecca Gibbon. 2002. Outside the lines poetry at play. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN – 0399234462

Janeczko, Paul B., and Christopher Raschka. 2001. A poke in the I. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN – 0763606618

Lewis, J. Patrick, and Lisa Desimini. 1998. Doodle dandies poems that take shape. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN - 068981075X

Grandits, John. 2004. Technically, it's not my fault concrete poems. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN - 061842833X

Module 3/Genre 3 - Poetry

Nightmares Poems to Trouble Your Sleep

Bibliography

Prelutsky, Jack, and Arnold Lobel. 1976. Nightmares poems to trouble your sleep. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Plot Summary

Nightmares Poems to Trouble Your Sleep is a wonderfully creepy collection of poems by Jack Prelutsky. It starts easily enough with The Haunted House and then moves on to scarier poems about the Bogeyman, the Werewolf, The Ghoul, and more. Some of the topics of the poems are well known like Dracula, but some are general like the Witch or the Wizard. Each rhyming poem describes each monster with great detail – enough to strike fear into some adults!

The most frightening poem is called, The Ghoul. This poem goes into detail about the ghoul waiting for children outside of their schools and then what he does with them like, “…he chews their thumbs like candy snacks and pulls apart their tongues.” After describing even more what the ghoul does and eats, he goes on to another school, waiting atop the playground equipment for little boys and girls to come out.

Critical Analysis

This is a chilling gathering of poems that would be a wonderful fall or Halloween time read for children who are old enough to appreciate the frightful tones of the poems. The rhyming verses almost mimic the footsteps one would hear after reading them while alone. Besides rhyme, Prelutsky uses alliteration in some of his poems as well.

What really adds to the eerie tone of this book are the dark feeling black and white illustrations by Arnold Lobel. These black pen drawings really help communicate the scariness of each evil lurking and the innocence of each unknowing victim. Some of these illustrations are even humorous, like the Troll’s duck-billed nose and long fingernails. The art is very detailed and is very well done. Each picture shows shadow and depth that contributes to the dismal theme of the book.

Overall, children, teens, and adults would like to be spooked by this compilation of nightmarish poems. Teachers, librarians, and parents could create much fun for children with this book at Halloween time.

Review Excerpts

Kirkus Review: “Whether or not they trouble your sleep, Prelutsky's ogre's gallery makes other monster poems turn pale.”
School Library Journal: "A dozen original poems on the `horrifying' subjects (ghouls, vampires, skeletons, etc.) so dear to many young hearts....Your steel-nerved patrons will appreciate both poems and pictures."

Connections

Have students go to Jack Prelutsky’s web site (http://www.jackprelutsky.com/). Let them explore the children’s site of his site and the poems on his site. Also, check out the parent/teacher side of his site for more ideas.

Other Jack Prelutsky books for Halloween time:
Awful Ogre's Awful Day
It’s Halloween
Monday’s Troll
The Headless Horseman Rides Tonight : More Poems to Trouble Your Sleep
The Gargoyle on the Roof: Poems
Wild Witches’ Ball
The Wizard

Have students come up with sound effects for one of the poems to be performed before the class.

Module 3/Genre 3 - Poetry

Witness

Bibliography

Hesse, Karen. 2001. Witness. New York: Scholastic Press.

Plot Summary

This is a story in verse that is also a historical novel. It is a story about a small town in Vermont in 1924. You start with pictures and very brief descriptions of each character. Then the story begins. First you meet Leanora Sutter, a twelve year old African American girl who is full of passion and very smart. All the characters are varied. Besides Leanora, there’s six year old Esther, whose first narration causes you to adore her and her quirky way of story telling. There are shop owners, a town constable, a newspaper editor, clergyman, rum-runner, a lady-farmer, a doctor, and an eighteen year old boy. All these characters give different perspectives on their town and how the Ku Klux Klan tries to come in and take over. The story clearly shows how destructive the Klan is and how the town starts turning on itself and how they eventually get free from the evil influence.

Critical Analysis

This collection of narrations tells a full and compelling story that engages and enrages. It also helps the reader feel like they were there, in 1924, and what each person was struggling with. Esther, almost commits suicide as she wants to go see her mother in heaven. Mrs. Pettibone fights her husband about his mixing with the Klan. Sara Chickering, the old-maid farmer softens as she grows more attached to little Esther, who is staying with her. Leanora faces injustice daily, but is befriended by a visually impaired man whom she starts to take care of and ends up being the unlikely savior of not one, but two people in this tale. This story shows character development and growth while still being poetic with Hesse’s free verse style.

The list of characters at the beginning of the book really help as a reference as starting to read the story and figuring out who is who. It’s also interesting that in this story of prejudice the pictures communicate in such a way that the reader pre-judges the characters from those pictures until getting to know them through their stories. Also, the staccato lines of poetry and lack of capitalization really relay the casualness of people telling a story without much dialog.

Mentions of Clarence Darrow and Calvin Coolidge help draw from real history to set the story and give a background that can help the reader have hooks into the time of the story. Overall, this is an eye-opening story for older children and adults who can grasp the cruelty of the Klan and the hardships of that time in history.

Review Excerpts

Booklist – “The story is told in five acts, and, in fact, it will work best as reader's theater. It's more a situation than a straight narrative, with too many characters and too many plot threads that aren't fully developed. But Hesse's spare writing leaves space for readers to imagine more about that time and about their own.”
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books – “…this is also a thoughtful and thought-provoking examination of a national phenomenon on a local level. The book is rife with curricular applications…”
School Library Journal – “The small details seem just right, and demonstrate that this is much more than a social tract. It's a thoughtful look at people and their capacity for love and hate.”

Connections

Have students choose parts and read the story as a class.

Have children research what life was like in the north in 1924. Have them compare and contrast to their current culture and way of life.

Students could write about times when felt like they were treated unjustly or when they misjudged or pre-judged someone and was wrong. They can explore the thought processes behind each subject.

Compare and contrast their technology with our technology (i.e. running water vs. having a well). Discuss how things have changed with technology and how much have things really changed or not.

Module 2/Genre 2 - Traditional Literature

Porch Lies: Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters, and Other Wily Characters

Bibliography

McKissack, Pat, and André Carrilho. 2006. Porch lies: tales of slicksters, tricksters, and other wily characters. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 0375836195

Plot Summary

Porch Lies: Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters, and Other Wily Characters is a collection of folk stories adapted from stories that the author, Patricia C. McKissack, heard on her grandparents’ front porch in Tennessee. She captures the essence of the tales she heard growing up. The stories are early 1900 African American renditions of funny, scary, or clever stories. The cleverest story is one of Aunt Gran and the Outlaws. In this story the genius Aunt Gran figures out how to get Frank and Jesse James to help run the local “klan” out and stop them from practically stealing land from the “black folk”.

Critical Analysis

The author’s note at the beginning of the book is a very interesting addition that sets the scene on the stories she heard as a child and anyone can practically imagine themselves sitting on the warm Nashville porch sipping lemonade with her and her grandparents. McKissack also gives the background on every story so the characters are already defined once the story begins. This helps convey the necessary character background to help the story make sense.

The stories in the book are not well known ones, but everyone can relate to and cheer for the good guy prevailing in the end, the oppressors not prospering, and the fallen given a second chance. The way these tales are spun really allows the reader to feel like they are there on the porch just waiting for the next word to be spoken. Also, the setting of the time is very much communicated through the stories like Aunt Gran and others in her community fighting to keep their land from a greedy racist or Pete Bruce conning his way into four free slices of pie and a bottle of milk during the depression.

McKissack also uses a very real and believable southern dialect. The black and white illustrations are a bit odd, which makes them great on the scarier stories. Some of the quirkier ones are almost disturbing as the artist, Andre Carrilho, uses distorted faces and cartoon animals in very striking pictures.

Overall, this collection of tales is very enjoyable and fun to read. Any class or group of children would be captivated by these tales of the past.

Review Excerpts

BookList: “History is always in the background (runaway slaves, segregation cruelty, white-robed Klansmen), and in surprising twists and turns that are true to trickster tradition, the weak and exploited beat powerful oppressors with the best lies ever told.”
Kirkus Reviews: “…these tales all lend themselves to telling or reading aloud, and carry the common theme that even the worst rascals have saving graces.”
School Library Journal: “These 10 literate stories make for great leisure listening and knowing chuckles.”

Connections

Have students pick one of the stories from this collection and have them tell the story without reading it. Teach them about oral history and stories like this and how this used to be the only way people knew of stories.

With a junior high history class discuss some of the background issues after reading the stories with them. This could be a good start of a discussion about the time between slavery and civil rights.

Share other Patricia C. McKissak books with your children:
The Honest-to-Goodness Truth ISBN 0689853955
Color Me Dark: the Diary of Nellie Lee Love, the Great Migration North ISBN 0590511599
The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural (Coretta Scott King Award) ISBN 0780768167

Module 2/Genre 2 - Traditional Literature

Don Quixote and the Windmills

Bibliography

Kimmel, Eric A., Leonard Everett Fisher, and Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. 2004. Don Quixote and the windmills. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN0374318255

Plot Summary

Don Quixote and the Windmills is a cautionary, but amusing tale of someone who loves adventure stories so much that he loses touch with reality. The delusional Don Quixote fights his infamous windmills with a gullible sidekick, Sancho. Quixote loses to his enemies disguised as windmills, or so he thinks, but presses on for more adventure so he can eventually win the love of his sweetheart.

Critical Analysis

This tale is an abrupt take that feels like it is missing the back story, but leaves the ending open for anyone’s imagination. The lesson to be learned is so prominently stated as well as being emphasized on almost every page that exhibits how silly Quixote is. Having working knowledge of this story would help anyone appreciate it more. The section in the very back of the book gives the history of Don Quixote and the original author, Miguel de Cervantes Saaverdra. That section also explains the windmills, the image most people think of when hearing, “Don Quixote.”

The story’s art, by Leonard Everett Fisher, is amazing. Even though the pictures are not overly detailed, great expressions convey so much with the help of the use of contrasting colors. Sancho’s eyes proclaim how frightened he is while hanging onto Quixote who is hanging from a windmill arm. Rocinante’s, his horse, face displays clear displeasure at the end of the book when Quixote continues on for more adventure.

Overall, this is a decent, brief introduction to the story of Don Quixote for young children. They would appreciate most the silly humor Eric Kimmel uses. The handsome illustrations would be appreciated by all, especially the great facial expressions throughout.

Review Excerpts

BookList: “The telling here is staid, leaving the art to express most of the excitement.”

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: “This retelling won't send kids scurrying off to read Cervantes, but those taken with knightly deeds (and not yet ready for the ironic epics of Gerald Morris) may find a taste for this streamlined adventure.”

School Library Journal: “Kimmel's narrative maintains the wry tone of Cervantes's original, ensuring that readers see the "truth" while the Don is deluded. … An ideal appetite whetter for older students, this version also makes an iconic literary figure accessible to younger students.”

Connections

Have a discussion on whether students know anyone who is too enthralled with something like Don Quixote was with adventure (reading Harry Potter books, playing video games, etc.).

Have children take a well known story, like Snow White, and have them pick out the one part that could represent the story as a whole well.

Other Eric Kimmel books:
Anansi and the Talking Melon ISBN 0874993393
I Took My Frog to the Library ISBN 0874994047
Gershon's Monster: A Story For The Jewish New Year ISBN 043910839X
Sword of the Samurai: Adventure Stories from Japan ISBN 0064421317

Other Leonard Everett Fisher books:
William Tell ISBN 0374384363
Galileo ISBN 0027352358
The Seven Days of Creation ISBN 082340398X

Module 2/Genre 2 - Traditional Literature

Bubba the Cowboy Prince: a Fractured Texas Tale

Bibliography

Ketteman, Helen, and James Warhola. 1997. Bubba the cowboy prince: a fractured Texas tale. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0590255061

Plot Summary

Bubba the Cowboy Prince is a enchanting Cinderella type story with a Texas twist. Bubba is the unloved step child who does all the work and never gets to enjoy life. When the well-to-do Miz Lurleen throws a ball to find a husband/ranch hand Bubba wants to go too, but his stepbrothers and stepfather just laugh. As a Texas-size storm starts, Bubba’s fairy god-cow came to the rescue. Bubba gets to go to the ball after all.

Critical Analysis

This is a lighthearted fractured fairy tale that takes Cinderella, changes the gender and makes him the stereotypical red-headed step child. This story reads like it is set in some fine ranching town like San Saba, Texas. The dialogue is perfect in its grammatical imperfections and twang. Bubba’s nemeses are typical evil looking step-family, especially the wicked stepdaddy (the stepbrothers are just homely looking, not scary at all). This story is, of course, predictable with a typical Cinderella ending.

The illustrations in this book are so full of detail that more time is spent enjoying the details of the Texas storm and twister, than it takes to read the page. Miz Lurleen’s armadillo and Bubba’s dogs expressions almost steal the show if it weren’t for the fairy god-cow who is also cleverly placed through out the beginning of the story in an almost Where’s Waldo? sort of way.

Anyone would enjoy this southern take on a male Cinderella and his fight for a chance to dance with the heroine of the story. Young readers will enjoy looking for elements of the written story in the illustrations. Older children will like figuring out the story with their previous knowledge of Cinderella and the visual clues given.

Review Excerpts

BookList: “With a male in the starring role, this charming and funny retelling may hold more appeal for young boys than the traditional version may.”
Publishers Weekly: “Rustler lingo and illustrations chockablock with Texas kitsch make this ranch-spun Cinder-fella a knee-slappin' tale.”
Kirkus Reviews: “There are no surprises in this version except in the hilarious way the premise plays itself out and in Warhola's delightful visual surprises.

Connections

Have young students draw parallels between Bubba the Cowboy Prince and the traditional Cinderella story they know. They can compare and contrast setting, characters, plot, and more.

Other Cinderella type books to use for comparing and contrasting:

Climo, Shirley, and Ruth Heller. 1989. The Egyptian Cinderella. New York: Crowell. ISBN 9780690048223

Climo, Shirley, and Ruth Heller. 1993. The Korean Cinderella. New York, NY: HarperCollinsPublishers. ISBN 9780060204327

Perlman, Janet, and Charles Perrault. 1994. Cinderella Penguin, or, The little glass flipper. Picture puffins. Ringwood, Vic: Puffin. ISBN 9780140553246

Boada, Francesc, Monse Fransoy, and Charles Perrault. 2001. Cinderella = Cenicienta. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. ISBN 0811830845

Books to help teachers and librarians teach Cinderella:

Hollenbeck, Kathleen M. 2003. Teaching with Cinderella stories from around the world: easy lessons and activities that help kids explore story elements, appreciate different cultures. New York, N.Y.: Scholastic Professional Books. ISBN 0439188431

Module 1/Genre 1 - Picture Books

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands – Book Review

Bibliography

Nelson, Kadir. 2005. He's got the whole world in his hands. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0803728506

Plot Summary

This colorful picture book contains the words to the spiritual, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” The pictures tell the story of this family and the world as seen on a personal level and global level.

The book ends with the song with all verses listed and then a word about the song itself and the importance of it.

Critical Analysis

The first thing anyone notices with this picture book is the rich hues of color that each illustration contains. Kadir Nelson uses oil, pencil, and watercolor to create the eye catching artwork. The pictures in the story that look child-drawn are by Nelson, but he used his weak hand to do them.

The illustrations’ bold and rich colors really impact the reader and helps communicate the beautiful world that the Creator’s hands made and hold. The family that is represented shows different races that He holds in his hands also. The pictures make the song lyrics so much richer by showing not just the boy, but his family, his town, his country, and his world. The pictures in this story tell the story of a family that observes and enjoys the world that is in his hands. This would be a perfect book for young children or early elementary aged kids.

Review Excerpt(s)

Booklist: “Nelson envisions the song in a highly personal and involving manner while embodying its strength and spirit.”

School Library Journal: “A moving, artistic celebration of our world and the people who share in its splendors.”

Connections

-Have children draw pictures of what they think is in “his hands” or find another song that the students know well and have them to draw meaningful pictures to go with each line of the lyrics.

-Discuss what is going on in each illustration and listen for creative stories from the students.

-Read other Kadir Nelson books (like Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom or Henry’s Freedom Box) and compare the stories and illustrations.