So that's it. I'm signing off. I said I was going to review 40 picture books and I did. Along the way, I encountered many others that are worthy, but I just didn't have the time to include them all. Thanks for following along with me. I hope you will find some of them useful for your children or your classroom.
Happy reading!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
40. Goal!
Written by Mina Javaherbin and illustrated by A.J. Ford (2010), it portrays a soccer game among South African boys in their small town. Ajani is so excited because he finally got a brand-new, federation-size soccer ball. Their game was legit now. So excited, they begin playing...but they are also savvy and know that their streets are not always safe. A lookout makes sure that no one will come to steal their ball. When a crowd of bullies comes, they have a plan.
The book is uplifting and the story universal. Kids all over the world, rich or poor, have a love of the game. In fact, in her author's note, Javaherbin talks about how people play football (because that's its real name) in the face of poverty and danger. Football bonds people of the world together and connects them. Football 'makes both young and old feel that they belong, that they matter, and that they can win'. Wanting to write her first picture book about a universal experience, she chose the theme of football.
Told in the first person, most of the text is a play by play of Ajani and his friends' game. There is rhythm in repeated phrases that make it sound almost lyrical. Her style gives movement to the words, as if you were listening to announcers of the game. You feel immersed as a reader in the game and realize why they love it so much-- it helps them forget about the unsafe realities of their world. The kids shouting plays to each other and calling out when something is unfair are completely realistic. It's like I'm standing in the middle of my elementary school playground at recess.
The action of the words made me want to keep turning the page, but the illustrations made me stop.
39. Saving Samantha: A True Story
This book is about one of their experiences with wildlife rehabilitation, written by Robbyn and illustrated by Gijsbert. It looks as if he painted oil on canvas and inserted it into the book. You get those wonderful grains that come with the canvas. These paintings show the magnificent landscape of nature that surrounds them, with expansive views of animals in their habitat. Gijsbert also brings us close to see the wounded Samantha and follow her exploits as she frolics and comes back to health. We are almost always outside, so his palette usually consists of blues, greens, browns, oranges, and yellows ('nature tones', if you will). Again I was reminded of masterpieces you see in an art museum, where you want to stand up close and see all of the details. He portrays Samantha's story with such realism that we watch her grow, too. His art is also filled with emotion-- we are excited when we see her grow, but are a little sad when it is time for her to leave and go off on her own.
Robbyn's text matches that emotion. It is mostly written through a chronology of journal entries, but then there are times when narrative description mixes in. That can be a bit confusing at times when it is on the same page, because you are jumping from past to present. The detailed descriptions of Samantha's life are informative and show the bond that grew between humans and fox; at times, though, they can be a bit wordy (at 48 pages, it is much longer than the typical 32). That is not to say that the words aren't interesting, because they are. They teach us what it is like to love an animal and let it go. Plus, the story is just fascinating-- how many of us regular people have ever rescued a wild animal and had it be part of the family? Kids will want to find out what that nature and animal-filled life is like.
This would be a great book for studying ecology or life cycles (you see some of it play out in the book). You could also use it to teach about instincts and learned behaviors...Robbyn had to make sure that Samantha reentered the wild gradually, so that she re-learned and practiced the instincts that she had forgotten. Great text for the older kids, and the illustrations give enough detail that you could 'tell' it to a group of little ones.
38. Dear Fish
Peter Alan didn't mean it when he invited the fish over to his house, but they believed him. Soon all sorts of sea life have invaded his neighborhood--jellyfish, puffer fish, sharks, a blue whale, etc. They move in so seamlessly that the townspeople don't even notice at first-- the baseball player uses the barracuda as a bat, the carpenter uses a sawfish to cut some boards.
Oh, that reminds me...the author uses these fish in quite a 'punny' way, as each creature is put into a situation that plays upon their name (i.e. the 'school' of fish, you guessed it, in the school). These puns are hidden throughout. I think kids would love stumbling upon one and laughing at the joke.
The text is cool...whenever a new sea creature comes into the story, Gall uses some sort of onomatopoeia to introduce them (i.e. "a crash, a smash, a wiggling, and a jiggling"). These would be great moments in writing lessons to talk about figurative language and great word choice. Plus, Gall has the text stand out by changing the color for those words and even making the font match the words.
But I've totally ignored the artwork-- and it is what drew me to the book originally! Gall uses engravings (on a clay-coated board) to create crisp, detailed pictures. I love the way the engraving allows you to see the grain and lines that he carves in. They create such flow and movement in the scenes. Gall then adds in color digitally (and man do those bright colors pop!). Gall's fantasy is well crafted in the images (I'd say he's chasing David Weisner's tail)...the creatures meld seamlessly into the scenes, almost as if they were meant to be there. Characters break the frame and show up in crazy places (the blue whale soars through the air like a blimp). Gall goes back and forth between single page illustrations and ones that cross the gutter but don't quite fill up both pages. Occasionally, he will feature double page bleeds without any text...these fill your eyes with wonder at the craziness (i.e. awesomeness) of the scene. The boldness of the colors and style make it look almost 3-D!
In the end, Peter Alan's second letter convinces them to return to the sea. They are not rude animals, though, and eventually they invite the family to their home. The last scene in the book is a beautiful double page bleed of the boy and his parents in their car, plunging into the ocean with their headlights lighting the way. Wouldn't that be so awesome if we could really do that? Sign me up!
Woohoo!!!
Here is where I say 'THANK YOU!' to Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith. The last of my reviews are going to come from 3 of the 40 (yes, I said 40!) books they donated to my classroom collection!!!
So how did this happen? Well, remember when I said they visited a couple of weeks ago? Cynthia then called our professor back and invited us over on our last day of class to eat, drink, and be merry. And that we did...wine, cheese, fruits and veggies, shrimp, cookies...it was awesome!
Then Cynthia and Greg told us the most awesome thing of all...they had 350 new, hardcover books that were taking up space in the attic and they were ours for the taking! I can't tell you how exciting it was to know that I could look through the stacks, see a book I loved, and take it...for free! I know some women have dreams like these for clothing or shoe giveaways, but I have mine about picture books.
When I asked Cynthia what brought on this altruism, she said that publishers always send out books to be reviewed by other authors. She is allowed to keep the copy, but doesn't really have much use for them. So they just sort of collect. While she has made other donations to libraries and shelters, after meeting us, she thought, "Why not give them directly to teachers?" She feels that especially in a recession, when teachers are strapped for cash, why not do her part to support us. I felt honored and so completely grateful.
So now I have two tote bags full of 40 brand-new picture books (did I mention they were hardcover???) to add to my library...multicultural, non-fiction, biography, you name it! There are few words to express my deep gratitude. Thank you for supporting us teachers.
So how did this happen? Well, remember when I said they visited a couple of weeks ago? Cynthia then called our professor back and invited us over on our last day of class to eat, drink, and be merry. And that we did...wine, cheese, fruits and veggies, shrimp, cookies...it was awesome!
Then Cynthia and Greg told us the most awesome thing of all...they had 350 new, hardcover books that were taking up space in the attic and they were ours for the taking! I can't tell you how exciting it was to know that I could look through the stacks, see a book I loved, and take it...for free! I know some women have dreams like these for clothing or shoe giveaways, but I have mine about picture books.
When I asked Cynthia what brought on this altruism, she said that publishers always send out books to be reviewed by other authors. She is allowed to keep the copy, but doesn't really have much use for them. So they just sort of collect. While she has made other donations to libraries and shelters, after meeting us, she thought, "Why not give them directly to teachers?" She feels that especially in a recession, when teachers are strapped for cash, why not do her part to support us. I felt honored and so completely grateful.
So now I have two tote bags full of 40 brand-new picture books (did I mention they were hardcover???) to add to my library...multicultural, non-fiction, biography, you name it! There are few words to express my deep gratitude. Thank you for supporting us teachers.
37. Olivia saves the circus
If you hadn't noticed, these last couple of books have been a departure from my earlier reviews of deep, serious picture books. While I love the meat and depth of feeling in those books, sometimes we all need a moment to giggle and enjoy the simple pleasures. That's why I brought you Knuffle Bunny and now Olivia Saves the Circus (2001) by Ian Falconer. I had never read either one before.
Olivia is a strong-willed, rambunctious, imaginative piglet. By the way, I love that the main character is a strong girl-- usually books with creative, adventurous characters feature boys. In this installment, Olivia recounts for her class what she did on vacation-- why, she ran the circus of course. And she did everything like a pro, from juggling to tightrope to the trampoline. The story is told in the first person, so you hear Olivia's unabashed self-confidence and personality coming through. She is a girl who knows who she is (no boring uniform for her...accessorize!), and that I feel is a great role model for girls of all ages.
Falconer uses charcoal and gouache to create his illustrations. His gray sketches create a backdrop for Olivia's vibrant red and pink clothes to shine. In fact, with the exception of parts of the circus, no other character or scene gets any color except for her. That's because Falconer knows she is the star. He rarely frames his pages, but rather lets the moments stand on their own. His endpapers and title page even feature little cartoon-like strips where we see Olivia preparing for her day. The illustrations are minimalist, but I loved the added 'easter eggs' like the portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt above Olivia's bed-- kids won't know who that is or get the reference, but Falconer puts it in there so the adults know just what kind of woman Olivia looks up to. Falconer also creates motion in a 4 page spread (that you open) where Olivia performs on the trampoline, flying through the air. Her face expresses so much emotion with the slight change of her eyes.
There were a couple of little moments I loved in the book. One was where Falconer's words and images were contradictory on purpose-- she was 'a big help to her mother' in making breakfast, but we as the reader see the piles of dishes in the sink that Mom will surely not be happy with. Two other moments stood out as being totally accurate portrayals of a little kid-- one is where she finished her circus story then squeezes in small text, "Then one time my dad took me sailing The End." That one made me laugh out loud because I've heard many a story by little ones. The other true-to-life moment was when her mom asks her what she did at school today and she replies, 'nothing'. Typical.
So anyways, the book is adorable and has some nice elements for the older set in it. Little kids will love it for the cute pictures and simple story. I like it for spotlighting a girl who is no damsel in distress.
36. Knuffle Bunny
Knuffle Bunny (2004) is written and illustrated by Mo Willems. If you like it there are now 2 equally hilarious sequels. If you've ever been around a little kid who loves a certain special stuffed animal, you'll totally get this book. In fact, it made me think of my little sister Ellie and how she had this stuffed reindeer that she adored. If my parents ever forgot Reindeer at someone's house, you'd better believe they had to go back and get it so that Ellie could go to sleep. Knuffly Bunny is that special to Trixie, too.
It is a simple story that can be summed up easily: toddler runs an errand with Daddy, toddler loses stuffed animal, toddler throws a huge fit, mom knows what to do, family gets animal back. The font is huge, with only one or two lines per page, so you could read it to your toddler. But it's all the little details in the illustrations that made me laugh.
First of all, Trixie herself is adorable. On the copyright and title page we see pictures (framed as a picture on the wall would be) of Trixie being born, trips with her parent, and Knuffle Bunny. Something cool about all of Willems' illustrations in this book is that they are hand drawn sketches (later colored digitally) laid atop real photographs (in sepia tone) of New York City. These photographs were then formatted in the book atop olive-green backdrops. I had never seen this drawing/photograph meld before, but I loved the way it gave the book a unique look and made me feel like these characters were really in the city.
With a simple palette and a small amount of words, Willems' cartoon-meets-photograph story is a realistic one of family, love, and adventure (for Knuffle Bunny stuck in the washer that is). It's adorable...you should share it with your little one.
35. Energy Island
As a side note, this is one of the books I received from Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith...but I'll tell you more about that later...
So, in case you don't know me...one of the things I love most is nature. I can be a little militant about recycling (don't just throw a bottle away!) and try to do my part to keep us green. So when I saw this book on the shelf, I had to have it.
This is the first book in a series by Allan Drummond (2011) that explores innovative green projects in communities around the world. One thing that is great about it is that even with all of the information that is in there, it is still quite kid friendly. That is because the bulk of the text is written in narrative format, telling the story of how Samso (a little island in Denmark) went from being dependent for energy to almost completely off the grid. It is a story that even the littlest of kids can understand-- one man tries to convince others but fails because they don't want to change. Little by little, people start making the shift to renewable energy, and voila, there becomes big change.
Oh, and the illustrations are great, too. The cover art shows both a huge turbine and some small pinwheels harnessing the power of the wind. Drummond's ink and watercolor illustrations are dynamic throughout the entire book. His lines convey the movement of the wind (a very powerful force in Samso) and his washes of blue show how connected they are to nature with the waves of the ocean and the blue of the sky. Even the endpages and title page show us people outside, playing at the beach, and all that wind! You can see the wind in the trees, in the pinwheels, in the way the girl holds on to her hat. Why so much emphasis on the wind...well, that's where they end up getting most of their energy from! Drummond tells the rest of the story with panels (usually 3 to a page) that move the story along and show us life in Samso. The pastel colors show us a thriving community. At times the palette becomes a little darker to show us winter or a storm blowing through. They are simple, cartoon-like sketches but they fit the text well. His pictures keep the story moving with the force of the wind, making us turn the page to read on.
One of the big things kids can take from this book (besides renewable= good) is that creating change can be tough. Many people told the young teacher trying to make a difference, "What difference can we make?" or "No way! I love my truck." or "Why bother?" This is common resistance to any big change in a community, whether you are talking about energy independence or fighting for civil rights. By reading this book to my students, I would not only help support science concepts of energy, but would also help them learn what it takes to create change, because I want them to feel that they can change the world. Oh, and if it can get them to at least recycle, then that is awesome, too.
So, in case you don't know me...one of the things I love most is nature. I can be a little militant about recycling (don't just throw a bottle away!) and try to do my part to keep us green. So when I saw this book on the shelf, I had to have it.
This is the first book in a series by Allan Drummond (2011) that explores innovative green projects in communities around the world. One thing that is great about it is that even with all of the information that is in there, it is still quite kid friendly. That is because the bulk of the text is written in narrative format, telling the story of how Samso (a little island in Denmark) went from being dependent for energy to almost completely off the grid. It is a story that even the littlest of kids can understand-- one man tries to convince others but fails because they don't want to change. Little by little, people start making the shift to renewable energy, and voila, there becomes big change.
If you have older readers, you can also read them the green columns that are featured every so often on the side. Those are written in an informative, non-fiction style and give some background information on non-renewable and renewable energy, as well as global warming and tips to save energy. I'm glad that Drummond set that apart from the main text and didn't try to squeeze it into the story. Though it is important information, the book is now more accessible to kids of all ages. And this is a story I want every little boy and girl to hear...
One of the big things kids can take from this book (besides renewable= good) is that creating change can be tough. Many people told the young teacher trying to make a difference, "What difference can we make?" or "No way! I love my truck." or "Why bother?" This is common resistance to any big change in a community, whether you are talking about energy independence or fighting for civil rights. By reading this book to my students, I would not only help support science concepts of energy, but would also help them learn what it takes to create change, because I want them to feel that they can change the world. Oh, and if it can get them to at least recycle, then that is awesome, too.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
34. ¡Sí, se Puede! Yes, We Can! Janitor Strike in L.A.
Written by Diana Cohn and illustrated by Francisco Delgado, ¡Sí se Puede! (2002) is based on true events. 8,ooo janitors in L.A. went on strike in 2000 to raise awareness-- they believed that janitors should get pay raises so they could receive a living wage. The story is told from the point of view of Carlitos, a boy whose mom works nights as a janitor and also has to pick up other jobs in order to take care of him and his grandmother. This story is one that my students would immediately connect to-- their parents work multiple jobs and barely ever see them, just to scrape by and try to build a better life for their kids.
Delgado's dynamic artwork accompanies Cohn's text. His colored pencil sketches are rich in color and movement. He uses outlines to border his characters, giving them shape and stability. The scenes burst with action, as we are often given the perspective of looking up at everyone, watching the drama unfold. Delgado is also masterful at adding in little details that make the drawings realistic, for example the Virgen de Guadalupe hanging on the wall in Carlitos' room or the Aztec-style calendar hanging up in the kitchen. Delgado works a lot with light and shadow to create realism (though the figures are slightly cartoonish as well).
In summary, not only is the book about activism and 1st amendment rights, it is also a culturally relevant text than can relate to the students. Oh, and did I forget to mention that it is bilingual? Well, it is. This would be a great book to use in a study of political activism, exposing children to such important figures as César Chavez, Martin Luther King, Jr., Dolores Huerta, Emma Tenayuca, etc. I want them to know that there is nothing wrong with speaking out and getting your voice heard (as long as it is not violent of course). In the end, I loved seeing how Carlitos is able to spend more time with his mom now that she got her pay raise and doesn't have to work 3 jobs. How I wish that for my students, too.
33. A Boy Called Slow
This story tells the tell of a young Sitting Bull, first named 'Slow' by his family, who later grew up to become a famous Lakota chief. This book focuses on his desire to earn a more mature name than Slow, hoping for a powerful dream or the opportunity to do a brave deed. He grew strong and one day was able to prove himself, earning the name we know today.
Bruchac infuses native language into the text, which is something I always appreciate, though I wish he didn't translate right afterwards into English, instead letting us use our context clues. Also I like the information he provides about how the Lakota people named their children-- I find those cultural differences fascinating. It is a coming-of-age tale that older students will understand, since they too are about to embark on the transition from children to young adults. This is probably better for upper elementary students, since the text can get quite meaty at times, but it is definitely worthy delving into.
Baviera's oil paintings give us sweeping visions of men in battle and Slow on the buffalo hunt, while also focusing in on quiet moments, like the cover of Slow sitting contemplatively in his tipi or the view of Slow at the fire with his uncle. Thus, he swings perspective from outsider to insider and back again. Baviera's earth tones are dark and somber, until the end when Slow triumphs and we see the brilliance of a blue sky. After years of searching for his time, it was finally his moment to shine. Baviera's paintings look as if they are painted directly on the canvas, with the grainy surface underneath. This gives them a look of realism. Also, the borders of his illustrations look like they came from the skin of an animal hide. This gives the impression that someone painted these images on a hide, stretched them out, and put them in the book. He is great at showing us the traditions in detail and makes us feel like we were really there.
A great book to start building kids' awareness of tribal cultures within the Native American community.
32. The Lotus Seed
For all of the crazy, busy, squished with detail illustrations I have been looking at in many of these books, this much more sedated style is almost like a breath of fresh air. Kiuchi's illustrations are always single page frames (alternating from the verso to the recto) opposite the text of the book. (A couple of times as the character goes on her journey, he takes up both sides of the book, showing the movement taking place.) He exclusively uses oil paints to create lush, emotional portraits. They remind me of something you would see in the 'classic' section of an art museum, right next to a Rembrandt or Van Gogh. Though there is a hint of impressionism, the images are usually realistic. Kiuchi uses subdued, emotional earth tones of browns, reds, and oranges to evoke a sentimental, thoughtful mood.
The text begins when the last emperor of Vietnam abdicates his throne. In order to remember him (and the ties to a past culture in her country), a little girl steals a lotus seed and hides it in her home. The story continues to follow her as she gets married, has children, and flees the country during war. We see her adjust to a new life in the US. As an old woman, when she thinks her seed is missing, she mourns the loss of the cultural tie she had to her home country. Luckily, things work out in the end, as the 'flower of life and hope' reemerges. In the end, her granddaughter receives a new lotus seed, carrying on the traditions of her culture.
Both the text and images are simple, yet elegant. With so few words, the story fills the reader with a multitude of emotions. It is a story of hope and continuity, even in the face of great change. I would love for my students to hear this and know that whatever comes in their way, life continues on.
31. The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain
Sís' cover art is immediately compelling-- this baby full of joy and life is boxed into a wall that contains and restricts him. The string on the side makes it look like this is the photo album of his life that we are about to witness. Once inside, the endpapers show us the big red mass that was communism. Zooming in, we get a glimpse of how young Sís was in the middle of all of it. Sís' use of red as a symbol for communism continues throughout. The vast majority of illustrations seem to be ink/pencil sketches in black and white representing the bleakness and conformity under communist rule, with the red as the imposition of communist propaganda.
We do get small snatches of color as Sís grows up and loves to draw, even keeping it hidden when it is forbidden to represent anything other than communist symbols. This tension between a desire to have freedom and the oppressive communist regime finally explodes with a double page bleed in bright, vibrant surrealistic watercolor with yellows, greens, and blues symbolizing the opening of the Iron Curtain to influences of the Western world. Sís also includes some collages of important artifacts to him on the pages of his actual journal entries. Thus, this book is truly a blend of different media and artistic styles.
This book was the first time I felt that I understood a little bit of what it might have been to live in those times. History textbooks don't do these sorts of events justice-- they tell you facts about what happened, but not what it was like to actually experience them. With this book, you get a first-hand look at one boy's struggle to maintain individuality in the midst of conformity. A great way to incorporate concepts of government and politics from a very early age to university students, this books runs the gamut on possible applications.
30. Rosa
Collier's signature watercolor and collage shines in this books as well as all the others. Notable on the cover are the gold flecks surrounding her head, almost in the shape of a halo. The fact that Collier positions her eyes just above the bottom edge makes it obvious that we are to look at her, to see this story through her eyes. Those eyes are not tired, they are strong and ready for change. The policeman staring at her just makes her inner strength that much more powerful. Collier reveals the reason why he used a lot of yellow hues in his illustrator's note-- 'I wanted the reader to feel in that heat a foreshadowing, an uneasy quiet before the storm.' To him she is a 'radiant chandelier, a light that illuminates all our many pathways'. Collier's collages include important elements of the time, including a newspaper article about Emmitt Till (that one man is reading on the bus), the teenager brutally murdered in Mississippi not long before these events. Collier is always deeply aware of how the elements in his collages tell an important story as well. One particularly effective opening is one where the reader must fold back the pages to reveal a 4 page bleed representing many of the marches that went on in the Civil Rights Movement.
Giovanni's words complement Collier's illustrations...she tells us about Rosa's work as a seamstress and her thoughts and feelings that day. The reader gets a sense of what was going on in Rosa's head as she makes her fateful decision that day. With a quiet strength, 'she was not going to give in to that which was wrong'. Giovanni says that she was tired, but not of working, instead she was tired of the injustice and segregation. The story is crafted in such a way that you feel you are a fly on the wall, listening in to secret conversations and participating in the scene. So many picture book biographies are told with a separated, objective stance. This one lets you step right in and see how Rosa's brave act created 'an umbrella of courage' for others to stand under and continue the cause of fighting for civil rights. This version of Rosa Parks' biography is one that I feel will inspire children more and empower them to exert a quiet courage in their lives.
29. The Arrival
Everything about it is a masterpiece-- the cover design is made to look like a tattered scrapbook/photo album (indicative of the theme) while the endpages feature rows of wallet-sized photos of immigrants of all ethnicities. The illustrations that fill the book are so luminous, you don't even notice the fact that there are no words of text (unless you count invented symbols as text) nor is there any color. All of the images are either in black/white or sepia tone. The lack of color is especially effective, since Tan often uses light and shadows to illuminate feelings and express somber, frightful, and contemplative moods. For all of the realism portrayed in the emotions of the characters and attention to detail in everyday objects, Tan is by and large a surrealist artist. The world of our lone traveler is filled with strange, almost haunting creatures and bizarre landscapes. His illustrations are not for the faint of heart-- they will scare you and make your eyes well up with tears.
Besides just staring at the aesthetics, Tan has a brilliant story to tell. One man sets out alone, leaving his family behind, to journey to a new country. His land is in ruin, so he must earn enough money to bring his wife and daughter over. He has no idea what strange new ways of life lie ahead of him. Tan alternates between single and double page bleeds designed to make us soak in the surroundings and hang out for a while; then he will have pages of small vignettes, where we get a sense of the passing of time, or the occurrence of an important event. The scenes where he must attempt to communicate with others through gestures and symbols are powerful. Tan's use of an invented language help the reader feel just how hard it would be to be immersed in a completely new world.
The only challenge with this book is that you really have to have this book in your hands...it doesn't work as a read aloud. That being said, I could absolutely see projecting some pages as discussion starters about immigration and the immigrant experience. I could also use this as a clear illustration of visual literacy-- teaching students how to read a narrative through solely pictures. The Arrival compels you to keep turning the page until it is over...then open it up and read it again. This man deserves some major awards for this book.
28. My Name Is/ Me Llamo Celia
That sense of Celia Cruz is shown in Monica Brown's book Me Llamo Celia (2004) illustrated by Rafael Lopez. The cover art jumps out at you right away-- Lopez uses acrylic paints to cover ever single page with vibrancy and movement. His lines often swirl and curl, sweeping our eyes across the pages, turning to find out the rest of the story. Even the endpages have life to them, beautiful swaths of bright colors. The colors in the book are layered, with bright circles often lying on top of people's cheeks and brilliant symbols of life sprinkled across the page. Lopez uses almost an abstract style of painting (it reminded me a little of Picasso) with shapes playing an important role and playing with perspectives. There is so much going on in the art that you can tell a story from the lush, detailed paintings.
But you can't forget the words...a bilingual book (yay!), this story is told in the first person as you hear Celia Cruz tell you about her life. It is written in a rhythmic style, almost as if the salsa infused the words. Brown starts out with feeling and sensory images
"My voice feels like feet skipping on cool wet sand, like running under a waterfall, like rolling down a hill."
---
"Boom boom boom! beat the congas.
Shake shake shake! go the hips."
that invite us to listen to her and dance with her. The words and images complement each other so well in this book, making the reader feel full of life and ready to move! You could swear you hear music coming from the pages! The book then turns into a heartfelt biography, full of difficult times and perseverance. While I'm sure there are biographies that provide more details about her life out there, this one makes you feel what it would be like to actually live her life, which I think is even cooler.
In the classroom, you could take this text many ways. One that stands out to me is using it for writing, as a mentor text. I teach students to use sensory images in their stories and create a voice...this book is teeming with both. It would also be a great book to look at the issue of racism in other countries, how skin tone matters even when everyone is brown. You could use it in a unit on biographies or music. Finally, you could look at the strength of her personality and discuss positive character traits. Now that I know a little more about her, I admire her and wish I could have a little bit of 'azúcar' in me, too.
27. Hip Hop Speaks to Children: a celebration of poetry with a beat
This book was edited by Nikki Giovanni, famed poet, writer, and activist. In the book she compiles over 50 artist's and poet's works. It is the 'celebration of poetry with a beat'. Giovanni even included a CD for children to hear actual performances of the work. In her introduction, Giovanni explains that as long as people have been telling stories, there is rhythm, rap, and hip hop. She validates the art form by connecting it to roots from the past and relating it to poetry. She makes sure to distance this art form of 'true hip hop' from what is on music videos.
"Don't be fooled by the rap videos out there that exaggerate and show bad behavior. Those videos can be embarrassing and are not real...
Genuine hip hop is bold, boastful, and brave...it makes us throw our heads back with laughter, not hang our heads in shame."
What a powerful message for kids who can so easily consume the media without critically questioning it. This book is a celebration of the true hip hop and rhythmic poetry that empower children to value themselves and their communities, reaching far in life to fulfill their dreams. It features the inspiring words of such artists as Mos Def, Tupac Shakur, Maya Angelou, Queen Latifah, Common, Langston Hughes, W.E. DuBois, etc.
There were 5 illustrators who worked on the book, though you never know who did which illustrations. Altogether, though, I can say that the illustrations range from collage with intricate lines of motion to sharp, acrylic paintings to cartoon-like colored pencil drawings. Each illustration fits the poem that it corresponds to, thus creating a seamless collaboration of text and images. I could keep delving into the illustrations for hours to come, since each one has lots of intricate elements going on. The colors are vibrant...the mood is joyful and rhythmic. Movement is often depicted with characters in the middle of action. These are not songs of sadness, they are songs of power and hope.
In my classroom, I would certainly not attempt to read the book from cover to cover. I would pick the works that were most relevant to our unit of study. This book is such a great resource since I am always looking for poetry to connect with our units. I love using poetry because it evokes such emotions and allows for deep conversations as to the meaning. Their interpretations are often much more insightful than mine! Plus, just connecting the idea of poetry to hip hop might spark a burgeoning interest in poetry that a child never had before. And if it can get kids to write, sign me up!
26. I Hate English!
"Such a lonely language. Each letter stands alone and makes its own noise. Not like Chinese."
Mei Mei can't help but compare everything in her new life to what it used to be, missing her old life. She refuses to speak or work in English, unwilling to transition into a life in the United States.
Having worked with many students who face the challenge of acculturation, Levine's (1989) portrayal is pretty accurate. While the majority of students welcome the new changes and surprises of the new culture, some just can't see themselves letting go of their past.
This is portrayed so brilliantly in the line:
"Mei Mei didn't want to hear any more. She didn't want English to have words that she didn't know in Chinese."
Mei Mei fears that she is going to become a whole new person in New York who cannot connect to her past. In the end, though, with the help of a patient teacher, she realizes that she can speak both languages and incorporate both cultures into her identity. She doesn't have to choose one or the other.
The fear of assimilating and losing oneself is real for many immigrants-- people complain about why they don't speak the language or why they keep to themselves, but what they don't realize is the deep, internalized struggle of how to hold on to one's identity. This book does a great job of making that feeling understandable for students, especially for those who have faced the challenge before.
The only complaint I have, and it just might be me being a little overly sensitive, was with one statement said by the white teacher helping her,
"I don't really think you want to learn. And that's too bad. Because in America almost everything happens in English. Don't you want to go to an American movie? Don't you want to ask for pizza?"
It seemed a little contradictory to the story's main idea that Mei Mei learns to think, speak, and live in both worlds. Regardless, I will still read this to my class.
Artistically, Steve Bjorkman uses a cartoon-like style to create simple illustrations. His pen-and ink sketches are illuminated by a palette of soft watercolors. The slightly shaded in watercolor (as opposed to meticulously colored) give the illustrations a dream-like quality, as we experience life through the complicated thoughts and feelings of Mei Mei. The illustrations show the contexts that Mei Mei is in with many details, helping us understand her world. Bjorkman effectively shows her mood by the expression in her eyes and face. Even though he is not an insider to the Chinese culture, he does a fairly good job of depicting the people, scenes, and Chinese characters accurately.
25. Visiting Day
I just recently read Jacqueline Woodson's The Other Side and loved it, so I picked this one up. Woodson again tackles some difficult subject matter in Visiting Day (2002) with illustrations by James E. Ransome. This book details a special day in the life of a little girl and her grandmother-- the day when they get to visit the girl's father in jail. From sunup to sundown, we see the pair getting ready, the bus ride, the happy time together, the sad ride home, and the thoughtful hopes for the future. Though the subject is sensitive, it is captured in a loving, hopeful way. Woodson's use of the child-like voice of the girl in her writing adds to the poignancy of the story.
"looking on jealous-like 'cause they wish they had a little girl of their own coming"
Blue is a prominent color in Ransome's artwork, from the endpapers to the backgrounds to the clothing. I see the blue as representing the freedom of being outside the prison walls. The little girl longs for her father to be out and come home so that she can give him all the love she has. Ransome's realistic, acrylic paintings are dominated by rich, warm colors that add to the emotional mood of the book. His large brush strokes and use of light on faces creates the sense of life and happiness in the midst of a sad situation. Ransome uses double page bleeds, usually integrated with Woodson's text, but sometimes his paintings stand alone. They are like the slow motion of a movie where the reader stops a moment and looks at the frozen scene. The one I loved the best was with the girl and her grandmother where the elder was doing the girl's hair. The relationship between them (as well as with the father) is tender. Even the background features rich details that create an entire story (i.e. the various photos on wall).
Even though the underlying theme of this story is a father in jail, the book does not vilify him or focus on what crime he committed. It portrays this family as full of unconditional love, understanding that the current situation will not always be the case. If you know any kids whose family members have been in jail, this would be a heartwarming story to share.
24. Riding the Tiger
Well, I was way off. To put it bluntly, this book is an allegory to gang life. Yeah, I know, I was just as surprised as the next guy. Not what I expected at all...and yet, I appreciated that about it. So many books for kids about gangs are overly didactic or preachy-- just don't join them because they're bad. Of course kids know the negative effects of gangs...they see the violence and destruction going on in Mexico on the TV all the time. What they are rarely ever exposed to is a discussion about the causes-- why do people join gangs? Why do family members who were once innocent get sucked in? How do good people get corrupted to do bad things?
And that is where Riding the Tiger (2001) by Eve Bunting, illustrated by David Frampton comes in. First off, I have to say that I am a huge fan of how Eve Bunting tackles difficult subjects in her books, filled with emotion and complicated issues, yet lets children make decisions for themselves what they believe. That is not to say that in this book Bunting lets kids decide that gangs are good...what I mean is that she presents the issue in such an allegorical way that kids can understand the power issues at play with gangs. They can read this book and understand why their cousin fell prey and joined. They can read this book and know what to look out for...know the tricks the gangs will use.
"A bit bored?" he asked. "A bit lonely?"
---
He smelled of something dark and exciting.
---
"Once you get up on the tiger's back, it's hard to get off..."
---
"Because anyone who isn't for us is against us..."
---
"Be honored you're with me."
---
But I knew right then it wasn't respect. It was something very different.
Let me warn you-- this is not a book for little kids. The blood red cover and sinister looks of the tiger (not to mention his cruel actions) are not for the faint of heart. They won't really understand the true message anyway, so wait until they are a bit older. That being said, Frampton's woodcuts are gorgeous for anyone to look at! The dark palette captures the grittiness and reality of Bunting's setting, with oranges and blacks dominating the pages. The moods is sinister and frightful. The stylized woodcuts have such dynamic lines-- the tiger's stripes, angular face, and fierce eyes portray his insidious personality. The people, including Danny, have more rounded lines, projecting their innocence. In addition, Frampton's play with perspective (sometimes surveying the scene from afar, sometimes staring into the tiger's face) makes the gives the story a more dynamic feel. Typically using single-page illustrations, Frampton often has the character break the frame just a little bit so that we know they are important.
This book would be a great conversation starter for kids, allowing us to hear Danny's thoughts and doubts as he is pulled in by this beast. He encounters a moral dilemma, thereby showing the powerful allure of a gang. I've always believed that instead of telling kids that something is wrong, it's better to weigh the benefits and drawbacks, ultimately concluding that the negative outweighs the positive. This book helps children do just that-- if anyone works with children who are in any way susceptible to gang affiliation, the book would be a great resource.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)