When Giants come to Play

By Andrea Beaty

This was a great book! I think it is a great example of how illustrations add richness to a story, and speak to the underlying text. That was my favorite part of this book: the illustrations. Something about the very beginning reminded me of the book “The Time Traveler’s wife” in the way that she has these supernatural friends so to speak, and they are integrated into a real setting and into her real life. Even though there was not a lot said, I could feel the relationship between the girl and the giants, and I also felt a really strong sense of connection with the characters. I think this book would be an asset to a classroom library.

 

 

The Story of Babar the Little Elephant

The Story of Babar the Little Elephant

By: Jean De Brunhoff

 On the surface level, I think this is a good book, and I would have no problem having it in my classroom, but on a literary level, I had a few problems with it. Overall I found it to be strangely void of emotion and description. So many sad things happen to Babar, and they are just glossed over. It doesn’t make the reader feel anything. The scene where Babar’s mother is shot is briefly mentioned in 2 sentences, and then the story moves on. Similarly, when the king of the elephants dies from eating a bad mushroom, the story says: “It poisoned him and he became ill, so ill that he died. This was a great calamity.” To me this seemed very dry; like it was missing something. Also, there was not strong characterization as a whole throughout the book. Not every story needs these things, but I think with the plotline of this particular stories, there were instances where these kinds of literary details could have really enriched it, changing it from an okay story to a great one. I think it could have dug deeper. I also thought that too much happened, and some of the plot points were unnecessary. The story itself and the basic plot was really reminiscent of the lion king. In general, I thought this book was okay, but I think it really could have gone further, as I was left at the end wondering what the point was.

 

Book! Book! Book!

By: Deborah Bruss

This book was very clever and I enjoyed it. It makes a clever play-on-words, as the hen goes into the library and the librarian thinks she is saying “Book! Book!” when the hen is clucking. Also, at the end, the librarian thinks that frog is saying “Read it, read it!” I thought that was very funny. When I was younger I loved books like this; books that played with words or made jokes like that that I could understand and feel like I was included in a more adult world because I understood something like that. It reminded me of a book about a boy who wishes for a sandwich, and instead gets a “sand witch.” I always felt smart or clever for understanding the joke. 

Miss Hunnicutt's Hat

By: Jeff Brumbeau

I thought this book was great! It definitely had some underlying themes and values, however, first and foremost it was just a good story that was fun to read and very funny. I liked the idea of being an individual and expressing yourself despite other people. I also liked the characterization of Miss Hunnicutt. She was originally introduced as being very shy and timid, and doing what people wanted, but she got stronger and stronger in her convictions to wear her hat as the story went on. I also thought that it was interesting that the townspeople blamed her for causing all the chaos, when in reality, it was their reaction to her hat that caused chaos; she didn’t do anything at all. I liked that in the end, Miss Hunnicut is validated by the fact that the queen has a similar hat, and then all of the townspeople copy it. Who decides what is socially acceptable and what is not? It is something that is so important to all of us but at the same time, arbitrary. Overall I liked this book and although it was dramatized, I think it is something that is very true to real life and that everyone can relate to in some way. 

Who is Melvin Bubble

By: Nick Bruel

 This was such a fun book! I think kids would think it is hilarious. It has a very strong voice, and I loved that each page was from a different person’s perspective, and in a different person’s voice. It had a really clever sense of humor, and this illustrations definitely added to this. While reading this, I was thinking of different ways to utilize this book in the classroom. One thing I think it would be great for would be talking about characters or perspective in writing, using this book as a model or an example. Also, it might be fun for kids to write their own books based off the format of this book. Overall I loved this book and I think that students would too!

 

Love that Dog

By: Sharon Creech

I thought this was a great book that was very simple but very true to life at the same time. The first question that it raised for me was, what defines poetry? I think that it is so ambiguous, and this is what intimidates so many students. I am someone who likes to write, but I have always been intimidated by the idea of writing poetry. We had to do it for block this year, and at first it made me nervous, but the more I did it the more comfortable I felt, which I think is the case here. I think that the more you are exposed to it the more you realize that it can actually be freeing, because, in fact, it can be whatever you want it to be. I think that poetry can be deeper because it has a lot of history behind it. The poem at the very end of the book, love that dog, could have easily been published. It is short and simple, but having read the whole book, you really get a sense of the history and the feeling behind it. However, a reader who has not read this book would still be able to bring their own experience and interpretation to it. That is why I think that poetry is so unique; because it means so much without saying everything upfront. I also liked how you learned more about Jack through his poetry. At the beginning, in his poem “so much depends upon a blue car,” you don’t really know what he means, but you learn about how this is meaningful to his life throughout the rest of the book. I thought this was a great read and I think it would be a really good way to introduce poetry in a non-threatening way.

 

Tiny Tortilla

By: Arlene Williams

I don’t really have a whole lot to say about this book, but I liked it! I really liked the imagination involved, and I could see some fun activities in the classroom being sparked from this book. I loved the colors in the illustrations, they really made me feel something; like for example I could feel the heat in the part where he is in the desert. It also has a strong sense of predictability, yet is still entertaining and made me want to keep reading. I thought it was very creative and a fun read!

Max's Starry Night

By: Ken Wilson-Max

 I thought this book was okay, but I really don’t have much to say for it. I think that it was a cute story but overall was a little bit boring and bland. There was nothing wrong with it but it just didn’t stand out to me and had nothing unique to offer. I think that there were so many missed opportunities within the story to spice it up a little more. For example, there were a lot of statements like: “He felt upset.” I feel like there are so many more interesting ways that could have been said and I don’t think the author really took advantage of language.  I was thinking about the idea of “Show don’t Tell” that you often hear when teaching kids to write. I think that might be a good exercise with a class; to pull sentences from a book like this and have them make them more interesting. I think it is cool how you can use books that you don’t necessarily love as a point of reference or a starter for a discussion.

 

How to take you Grandmother to the Museum

By: Lois Wyse and Molly Rose Goldman

After reading the first couple pages, I thought I was going to enjoy this book because of the illustrations, and also the voice of the main character was very strong. It went downhill for me from there, though. It was way too long for what it was, and half way through I found myself looking to the back to see how many more pages I had left. A lot could have been taken out of the middle, as this book was a step-by-step look at a visit to the museum. It was too detailed. Also, the random insertion of educational facts added to the boringness of it, especially since it had no clear plot with a problem and a solution. The insertion of facts really made me think about those commercials where the spokespeople are pretending to have a conversation about the product being advertised; it just seems very contrived and almost makes you cringe a little. I found this book to be boring and I think students would agree.

 

The Paper Crane

I loved this story. It had a really good narrative flow and the idea behind it was very inventive. It did not necessarily have a message, in fact it ended a bit abruptly, but that is one of the things that I liked about this book. Before taking this class I really focused heavily on books that had something to teach a moral or place an emphasis on a value. Although there are definitely some great books that do this, I have learned that sometimes a book can just tell a story and doesn’t need to be anything more. It can still be very beneficial, even if it is just to tell a child a story they will enjoy. Sometimes less is more. 

Oh, Brother

By: Arthur Yorkins

I really liked this story a lot. The two brothers in the story definitely reminded me of me and my siblings in the way that they fought all the time, but really always knew that they loved each other and needed each other. The story strung me along and kept me reading. I wished that it would have gone into more depth about the relationships in the book; for example, the relationship between the boys and their parents, or their relationship with the old man who takes them in. I feel like a lot of moments were passed by and should have been elaborated on more. For example, it says that one of the characters, Nathan, who takes the boys in, took care of them and loved them like his own sons, when they had no one else. Nathan dies, and this is only briefly touched on or mentioned, and I didn’t necessarily feel anything. I had to reread it to realize that he had died. Also, at the end they surprisingly reunite with their parents, and I feel like that moment is glossed over as well. Some moments like this were a little diluted. It was such a strong storyline, and I think I liked that more than the actual writing itself. 

Year of Impossible Goodbyes

By: Sook Nyul Choi

I got a lot of this book, however, I have to say I resonated more with the first book, So far from the Bamboo Grove. I think, however, that this is because I read that book first. If I were doing this activity in my classroom, I think I would have my students read “year of impossible goodbyes first.” First of all, it was hard to go from a book that was so fast paced to a book that took its time like this one did. I do not think this book would have felt as slow as it did, had I not had my expectations from the other book. However, having said this, If I read this book first I don’t know that the other book would have had as strong of an impression on me. I think I would have had more trouble getting into a Japanese mindset and allowing myself to feel sympathy. I think it is interesting that in both of these stories, the main characters and their families personally really have nothing to do with the war and what is happening politically, but at the same time they have everything to do with it. This is evident in what I just mentioned above, that the order that I read the stories affects my ability to sympathize with one side or another. I think it is interesting that “Korean” or “Japanese” just becomes this blanket statement in which innocent people become associated with the actions of an entire people. I think this goes both ways. We take on the atrocities of our people, but we also carry their burdens and their hardships. That is why there is controversy. I think that this was a very interesting activity to read from both perspectives because our reactions kind of parallel real life; the way that perspective colors everything. In terms of this book specifically, I think that it is horrible that they were forced to support the very people that oppressed them and made their lives dark. They had to attend schools, work in factories to manufacture things for the soldiers, etc. I think that this actually backfired by creating more hate and resistance, and the damage of this is still there today. I think that many people still do not have the tools or the answers on how to deal with this memory. 

The Miami Giant

The Miami Giant

This book was so funny! What I loved the most about it was the presentation of the book itself. There was so much that was added to the book by the illustrations, the font, the arrangement on the page, and extra text that was not part of the story, like speech bubbles. This made me think about when we had that presentation in class about picture books, because I think this book exemplifies that there is more to the experience of a picture book than just words on a page. I never really thought before about how Everything is very deliberate, and adds to this wonderful effect. Even whether or not the page is shiny is a choice that affects the book as a whole. I was also thinking, along the same lines, about how we were talking in block about how when books are “basalized” and put into readres, it is not the same, because the presentation of the book is taken away, which is very deliberate by the author, and many times crucial to making the meaning of the story come alive. I think that all kids should experience picture books authentically, and this is a great one with a lot to offer!

Horse in the Pigpen

By: Linda Williams

This book was a lot of fun! I loved the rhyming and it had a great rhythm to it that made me almost sing it in my head as I read it. I could see this being such a fun read aloud, or an individual read as there is so much to look at and to find in the illustrations. I liked the way the illustrations really complimented the text and told a story of its own. I liked it because it was simple but still told a fun story and painted some great pictures in my mind!

 

George Hogglesberry: Grade School Alien

By: Sarah Wilson

I personally didn’t like this book, but I could see a lot of kids really relating to it, and also there is a lot of humor. I liked the way that they presented the idea of what it is like to be new in a school by making the main character from another planet. I think that kids could relate to that on multiple levels. The idea of fitting in and wanting to belong is something that is common to all of us. When the whole class was asking George about what it was like on his planet, and how it was different, I could see a child from another country really connecting with that feeling, or with those questions. I could also see kids who have moved schools identifying with George’s feelings of nervousness in fitting in at a new school. This topic was addressed in a way that was fun, and I could see kids getting a lot out of it while also enjoying the humor and the story itself.

 

The Voice of the Great Bell

By: lafcadio Hearn

Retold by: Margaret Hodges

 I liked this book in terms of the literary elements and the way that the story was told, but I don’t think I liked what it actually had to say, and I would be hesitant to read this book or have it in my classroom. This book is about a man who is commanded by the heavens to make a bell so big that it can be heard from one hundred miles away. However, he could not make the bell, and his daughter was worried about him, so she secretly spent all her money to go to an astrologer who would tell her how to save her father. The astrologer tells her: “Gold and brass will never join one with the other, silver and iron will never embrace util a pure maiden is melted with them in the crucible.” The girl knows what she must do, and on the last day that the bell must be made, she jumps into the pot of melted metal, and sacrifices herself. The bell is able to be made. After reading this, I wasn’t really sure what the message was – and this book definitely seems like one with a message. But after thinking about it, I think the message is really pretty clear, and I don’t really feel comfortable with it. For me, the idea of this story was how this girl who is so pure of heart, sacrifices her life for her father. In the book this is made to seem a noble thing to do. There are several other references to this kind of sacrifice for her father. It says that she refused 100 marriage proposals rather than leave her father by himself. This whole book really promotes the stereotype of the girl as kind, passive, and willing to sacrifice. In one of my classes we read the original beauty and the beast, and a lot of the themes really resonated for me in this story, in terms of how beauty was passive and sacrificed for her father, and this was seen as a positive quality. It just seemed incredibly sexist to me. The part where she jumped into the metal was actually pretty disturbing. The gender roles were very clear and incredibly stereotypic. I didn’t appreciate the message of this book and I would not recommend it or read it with children

 

Boxes for Katje

By: Candace Fleming

I wasn’t really sure what I thought of this story until I learned from reading the back that it is based on true experiences of the author’s mother. I thought that it was really inspiring to see how people come together to help each other in hard times. What was most amazing to me in this story was that these girls had never met each other. It is amazing to see the power of giving, and also how it can spread, and really make a difference. This book was also from the perspective of a Dutch girl, which is definitely one that I haven’t seen before.

 

 

 

So Far from the Bamboo Grove

By: Yoko Kawashima Watkins

This book was very deeply touching and moving, and hard to read at times. What struck me the most from the very beginning was how war was how everyday life was described in the context of war. This made warfare seem ordinary and everyday. For example, at the beginning, Yoko makes a comment about how she hopes that there are no air raids so that she can sleep. There are other comments such as, maybe we can turn on the lights today. I thought this was the most simple, but at the same time, the most heartbreaking. Children in war is such a hard thing for me to wrap my mind around. Another thing that stuck out to me when reading this is how amazing it is what we are capable of when it comes to life and death. It is amazing what we can endure, and the lengths that we will go to survive. I think this is fascinating but at the same time one of the most horrible things about war; that in essence, all sense of humanity goes out the window for this higher purpose of survival. For example, when her sister is covered in the placenta. Of course you have to go to extreme measures to survive, however, it is dehumanizing in a way. Also, I was shocked at the part where the baby was just thrown out the window like that. Of course they cannot leave dead bodies on the train because they could cause disease, and they do not have the time to be concerned with the mental state of the mother, but that is part of what makes it so awful. In a state of live or die, the normal rules to not apply. I think these kinds of things are typical in war situations, but that is why it is so traumatizing. It also seems ridiculous to call anything about this book or about what goes on in war “typical.” I don’t know how I feel about reading the other book now. I am sure it is going to try to demonize the Japanese, but I don’t know if I can fully buy into that after reading this little girl’s story. I think it is very unfair that individuals are associated with the actions of an entire people. A lot of people suffered; it was not just one-sided. I think that this story definitely needs to be told, and has the right to be told. I also think this would be a very interesting thing to do with a class; especially since I am already feeling conflicted and I haven’t even read the other book yet. 

Reflections about Author Study

I have never done an author study before, and I found the experience very useful for me as a reader of children's literature, and also as a future teacher of children's literature. It is really a different experience to read a body of work by one author than it is to read pieces of their work haphazardly. I was really able to get a sense of who Cynthia Rylant is as an author, but I didn't just learn about her; I found myself thinking about the literary elements of these books, the themes, the imagery, similarities, differences, etc. I really felt like I was immersed in her work and it made me think more deeply about children's literature in general. I think that the knowledge that I gained from this will help me to make more educated book choices. For example, I know that if I want to discuss themes or imagery, a book by Cynthia Rylant would be a great place to start looking. Similarly, I think this type of study would help children. It would help them in their own book choices, because they would have a starting place and would know what to expect from different authors. It would help them to learn what they like and what they don't like, and develop their taste as readers. This type of study would be great to use in the classroom to compare and contrast, and to talk about themes and bigger ideas. I had a really positive experience with this and will definitely keep "author study" in my bag of ideas for when I am developing my own reading curriculum in my classroom. 

Author Study - An Angel for Solomon Singer

I saw a lot of similarities between this book and "The old Woman who Named Things" that I also blogged about earlier. It has a lot of common themes that are present throughout many of Cynthia Rylant's books, the most noticeable one being loneliness. There is this underlying idea of the need to belong, and that works so well for a children's book because everyone can relate to that feeling on some level; it is a common want and need. The character of Solomon Singer just seems so real in this book, and at the end, he is able to find a place where he does belong. The book also plays with the idea of fate, and things that are meant to be. He happens to find this restaurant, and the menu says: "All your dreams come true." And that is, in a sense, what happens once he starts dining there regularly. Although this is a very contemporary and realistic story, there is something magical about that. I loved the way that when the waiter would take his order, he would "order" one of his dreams in his head. he never shares these dreams with anyone, or even says them out loud. This allows the reader to relate to him as a character, because it is almost like we share a secret with him. I love the illustrations because they really make me feel his loneliness, and feel like I am in his shoes. I could see this book being great for studying themes, or to look at one theme in particular. 

Author Study- Scarecrow

 

By: Cynthia Rylant

I loved this book because of the imagery. When I was reading this, I could feel what the scarecrow was feeling, and I felt like I was looking at the world from his objective point of view. I really liked the concept of the scarecrow witnessing life, even though he is not alive and in reality is just a human creation. The feel of this book was very similar to another one of Cynthia Rylant's books that I blogged about: "All in a Day." It was the same feeling of enchantment, of simplicity, and of magic, all at the same time. Out of all of the books that I read by Cynthia Rylant, the illustrations in this one are my favorite. They really set a mood, and make me feel a sense of wonderment. There are so many great things that you could do with this book in a classroom, and I think this would also be a great book for talking about visualizing and mental images. 

Author Study - Silver Packages

By: Cynthia Rylant

I really enjoyed reading this book. Again, the most notable thing about it was how relatable the main character was. I think that is amazing how I felt so connected to this character when I have nothing in common with him and have never experienced anything similar to what he experiences in the course of the book. To me, this was a book about giving back. Although it did have a moral, so to speak, it was presented in an understated way that was not the entire purpose of the book. I love that at the end, the boy grows up and returns to the town, and you learn that he is a doctor. Cynthia Rylant said that she does not necessarily like to write about people who have what they want: she wants to present a different perspective and show different people's lives, and this book is a perfect example of that. It sends a good message that was subtle, but still hopeful. 

Author Study - Snow

By: Cynthia Rylant

I absolutely loved this book. What I loved the most is how the imagery, the pictures, and the words, immediately brought me back to thoughts of my childhood of playing in the snow, building igloos with my brother and sister, and of course the excitement of snow days when school would have to be canceled and we would get to play in the snow all day. I read this book to two separate children during child study, and both of them had this same experience of that personal connection with it. With one child, we spent almost 15 minutes just looking and talking about one illustration, before even reading the words, and there was still so much more discussion and storytelling to be had. For the other child, it was able to spark a four page journal entry for her, where she wrote about her experiences with the snow. The illustrations are so wistful, and the words so poetic. This is really a book to connect with, and to spark stories and conversation. (Especially if you grew up in the midwest, who can't relate to the snow?) It is also fabulous for talk about mental images, because the words just beg for visualization. This was a great book that I could find many uses for in the classroom. 

Author Study - The Old Woman who Named Things

By: Cynthia Rylant

This was one of my favorite books that I read during my author study of Cynthia Rylant. Again, I love the way that she can really make you feel something through her stories. This story was somewhat quirky and funny, the way that it referred to objects the woman named by name throughout the story (her car was Betsy, her chair was Fred) however the character was so relatable in her emotions and the story was more than just funny. I haven't necessarily felt the loneliness that this character feels in the story, however, the way it is written allows me to feel that, and because of that I was really rooting for her from the beginning. There is a strong sense of predictability in this story, but I still wanted to keep reading and let it unfold. I liked this story because it was entertaining but it was also more than that, and you could really have intelligent conversations about it in the classroom. What stuck out to me the most was the old woman's fear, and the fact that she didn't name anything that she might outlive, because then she would form an attachment to it. However, she forms an attachment with the dog regardless. I think that this really touches on a general human need for companionship. I think that a lot of people live in fear of companionship, and becoming too attached, even though it is really what they might need the most. This could be a really interesting discussion to get into with kids. 

Author Study - All in a Day

By: Cynthia Rylant

I liked this book a lot and I think it really captured what Cynthia Rylant is about as an author in general. A lot of her books have to do with nature and the outdoors, and this book exemplifies that. I like this book in particular because it is not necessarily about anything in particular, but it still draws you in as a reader and makes you feel something. It made something very simple seem special and even magical to me. Her way of writing has a lot of visual power, and I really appreciate the simplicity. There is a lot of room for the reader to bring their own experiences and interpretations, and I think this read would be different for each reader. There is something very poetic about the language, and the illustrations really enhance the story and bring it to life. 

Reflection

I am getting a lot out of this class in the sense that I am beginning to read children’s books as a reader, not just as a soon-to-be teacher. At the beginning of the blogging experience, I had trouble finding things to say because I was reading the book through the lens of “would this be useful in a classroom?” (Which, inevitably, the answer is usually just yes, or no). This is definitely an important perspective, however, there is more to children’s literature than just that.  It is important to read it as a reader as well. I have really been learning this semester that children respond so much better to what you are doing in class when you actually participate in what you are asking of them. When I started looking at books in this context, I was so surprised at how much there is to say and how much there is to learn. Children’s literature is so much more complex, more rich, more full of questions and opinions than I ever imagined. I was really surprised to find that there are books where I have questions that I can’t answer, or insights that inspire discussion. I had a twenty minute conversation with my roommate about the book “Rose Blanch” by Roberto Innocenti. Children’s literature is so much more sophisticated than I ever gave it credit to be, and having to sit down with it and think about it, and read it first hand, has helped me to that realization. Having this kind of appreciation I think will help me be a better teacher because it has made me more passionate and more thoughtful about the topic, and those things make a huge difference because children can sense that. 

Second Half of Misfits

I was a little unsure about this book during the first half, however, I am wholeheartedly a fan after finishing the second half. Although I still don’t quite see the controversy, I think it has such a good message and was so well told, and it kept my interest through the end. I enjoyed getting to know more about each of the characters. I was so surprised at how comfortable Joe seemed in his skin. Of course it is difficult growing up feeling different, but he comes to terms with it and still maintains a relatively positive self-image. This part struck me the most because I have a lot of personal experience with friends who are gay and I have seen that struggle first hand, and to see how calm, collected, and matter of fact Joe was about it surprised me. However, it was still realistic and it made me almost proud of him and I really appreciated how strong he was. Everyone takes things differently. I was also very impressed with how well his friends took it and how they supported him and accepted him. I think that a kid going through these struggles could connect with Joe and he could almost be a role model. Although I don’t personally find this controversial, I now see why others would. However this still saddens me because saying that his book is not appropriate for the classroom is saying that there is no place for homosexuality within the classroom. This statement could be devastating to a child who is questioning, or to a child who knows that they are gay. Not only are they missing out on reading a book that they could really connect to and relate to, but they are also learning that they will not be accepted and will be demonized within their communities. I am not saying that every student must read this book, but a ban could be doing a serious disservice to students on many different levels.

I loved the end of the book, especially the very last chapter. I think it sums up the essence of the story very well.  What I took away from the book as a whole is that junior high is rough, as well as other times in life, however, life goes on and you get through it. I definitely agree with this point, thinking back on junior high for me. I don’t think that I had it harder than the average kid, but there were definitely times where I felt like what was going on at the time was life, however, looking back that is obviously not the case. I liked that the book related to students of this age on a very real level, and relates to the world of junior high, but really does get the message across that life goes on.  Sometimes this is very necessary to hear, especially when you are going through it. Sometimes we all need reminders to look at the big picture. I could see students really making a connection with this book as a whole. 

Controversial Books - First Half of Misfits

By: James Howe

When reading the first half of this book, I spent the entire time waiting on the edge of my seat for the controversy to start, and it never did in my mind. So far this book was not what I was expecting at all. They haven’t even explicitly stated yet that Joe is gay, although it has been alluded to. I think that the point is, as we talked about in class, that maybe the controversy is in the fact that Joe’s character is really not that controversial. So often the issue of homosexuality is portrayed around negativity, around suicide, depression, etc. Joe is not cutting himself, or on drugs, or severely depressed. He is just a normal kid who is going through the same struggles as most kids his age. Actually, he doesn’t even seem to be struggling that much at all. Joe is teased but he takes it well, a lot better than a lot of kids might. I think it is also interesting that his name is Joe, because that makes me think of the expression “average Joe.” I don’t know if this was James Howe’s intention but I think that this is a subtle touch that added to the “non controversy” for me. I just don’t understand what is so wrong with attaching a sense of normalcy to a group of individuals who are so often only discussed with respect to problems and life struggles? What is wrong with a gay kid being portrayed positively?

In terms of the book itself, I liked that the characters were so relatable and also believable for their age. This definitely brought me back to my junior high experience, as I am sure it did for many other people. Addie really reminds me of my best friend, as she is so outspoken and often the cause of controversy in the classroom. I connected personally to Bobby the most because I used to see myself in the same way that he sees himself at this point in the book, as someone who plays the game and doesn’t really make any waves of his own. So far it has been interesting to read but I have found it a little bit slow moving, but maybe it is just because I am waiting for the big deal. 

Controversial Books - Not in Room 204

By: Shannon Riggs

This book was a story about a girl who is being sexually abused, and decides at the end to confide in her teacher. It really bothers me and I would even go as far as to say that it offends me when books are controversial simply because the topic is a “tough topic” to talk about. I think that is a cop out on the part of the teacher to not want to talk about tough issues with kids. The fact is, you do not know where your students are coming from or what they might be going through, and the classroom needs to be a safe place. In my opinion, the classroom should be an agent of conversation and change that breaks certain taboos in terms of what we talk about and don’t talk about. Not talking about something just because it is uncomfortable is perpetuating the taboo. This book was not too upfront about sexual abuse, however, it brings up the topic in a meaningful way and sends a message that it is okay to break the silence. Having said that, I don’t think that I would pick up this book and read it haphazardly to my class, or have it lying around during free reading, but it would be good to keep in mind if I suspected a student in my class was struggling, or if we were doing another unit on safety

Controversial Books - The Story of Little Black Sambo

By: Helen Bannerman

This is a book where the controversy is obvious, and also where I would side against it as an appropriate book to be read in schools. This is the type of controversy that is very clean cut for me. Before even reading the text, I could tell that I would feel this way just judging from the picture on the cover. It is an extremely stereotyped image of an African American, and the images inside follow suit. I found the way that their lips are drawn and stand out in red to be very offensive. Everything else about the illustrations: the way they were dressed, facial expressions, etc. I found equally so. Also, it takes place in the jungle, which makes the characters seem very primitive. Also, the end made them seem almost barbaric. I would not have this book in my classroom. On the back of the book, there is a quote that says about the book: “I cannot imagine a childhood without it.”  I recognize that this was written a long time ago and maybe it did have its place at one point, but I think that time has passed. In a progressive society, this book took one step backwards for me: Not something I would want young children to read. The only purpose that I could see for this book would be to read it with older kids as a part of a social studies unit and to talk critically about how African Americans are portrayed.

Controversial books - A Simple Story of a Boy who Peed on War

By: Vladamir Radunsky

I honestly am not sure how I feel about this book. First impression was that it has great illustrations. However, in terms of content I am a little unsure. My first impressions after reading it were that it was kind of humorous, but I can definitely see why it would make people uncomfortable. I don’t think it is a bad book, but I am not sure how I would feel about reading it at a read aloud, or even having it in my classroom for individual reading. I thought that the talk about war along with the illustration was very effective, however, it was kind of down hill from there for me. I think my biggest problem is the maturity level. I think this book definitely plays into the oh-so-popular “potty humor” and really, in doing so, trivializes the idea of war. I could also see it having really bad behavioral consequences for kids who think it is funny and maybe want to imitate it. I am also not sure what it teaches. Not that every book needs to teach something exactly, but I think that when you are dealing with a topic like war, you really have to go into it with an educational motive. I am not really all that offended by it, I just don’t really understand the point and I don’t think that it promotes the level of maturity that we are looking for when talking about important things. 

Controversial Books - And Tango Makes Three

By: Justin Richardson

I loved this book. I loved the story but what I loved most of all was that it was a true story. I think that it would have bothered me had it not been a true story, because it bothers me when authors use animals as metaphors when talking about human rights issues. However, the fact that it is true made it a very enjoyable read, and also can add to the rationale and the legitimacy of in the context of explaining this book choice it to parents and administrations. This book can really stand on its own as a cute story about Penguins, but also invites a lot of conversation if you are ready to get into it. I do think though that if you are going to use this book, you should talk about it, because there are just so many wonderful opportunities that present themselves. One thing that I thought of while reading it is that it would be good to talk about as a class if we know anyone who has two moms or two dads, or if we know two people of the same sex who are together. I also like that it plays into the child’s compassion in caring about what happens to the penguins. I think if I were to use this story I would use it as a read aloud because it is a story I would want to read and discuss with my students, instead of letting them just happen upon it on their own. Again, like the misfits, it makes me sad that allowing this book in schools is an issue. Also like I said before with the misfits, I am not saying everyone must read this book, but not allowing it is just sad to me. 

Controversial books - Rose Blanche

 By: Roberto Innocenti

I think that saying “like” in terms of this book is not the appropriate term, but I would definitely say that I appreciated it and found it meaningful. This first thing that I will say is I would never just leave this book lying around for children to discover. If I was going to use it I would have to put a lot of thought into it, and also make sure that I had enough time to devote to it (at least a couple of days). I think that if I were to use this book it would either be in a small literature group as a choice, or as part of an entire holocaust or war unit. This book was very dense for a children’s book. This was my second time reading it and there was so much that I missed the first time around. The illustrations make it a very powerful read. I do think that this book would be useful in a classroom, because the reality, however horrible, is the reality, and it is important to learn about and think critically about, especially at a young age. I think it is important at a young age to be able to develop a certain kind of caring and compassion, even if it feels uncomfortable. I am not sure that shielding children from real events and real life just because it is not pretty is really doing them any good. I think that to some extent, if we have made them think, if we have upset them, then in a way we have done our jobs. 

The Giver

By: Lois Lowery

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. This is definitely a book that has multiple layers that allows both adults and children can learn something from it. I liked that it was mature yet still suitable for young readers. It raises so many questions and has so many jumping off points for lesson plans within the classroom. There are so many different directions you can go with it and that’s what I love about it. Also, each person can really bring their own perspective and interpretation to it so it can provide a learning experience beyond just the planned out lesson. Besides being great for instruction, it was also an enjoyable, suspenseful read that I didn’t want to put down – I think this aspect has a huge benefit in the classroom because we want students to read something that they will enjoy and that will evoke feelings from them. 

Who Sank the Boat?

By: Pamela Allen

This was a basic, early reading book. I enjoyed it because it can serve many purposes for beginning readers. I used this book with my child study student, and it was great to use as a discussion for what to do when you don’t know words – because it does have a more interesting and colorful vocabulary. The pictures were great and are good for young readers because they are funny and also help in the understanding of the story and providing clues to the text. It was also a fun read. 

 

Out of Sight: Pictures of Hidden Worlds

By: Seymour Simon

What struck me immediately about this book was the illustrations. They are so vivid and make you want to read on. This is a nonfiction books about things that you can see under a microscope. I am much more of a fiction reader myself, but I have been finding the importance of exploring other genres. This book definitely begs you to explore, and would be great for individual reading or reading workshops. It is definitely more on the challenging side for individual reading, especially for younger readers, however, it is aimed at an audience with an interest in science, so motivation would probably be high and I could see this being a good challenge. Also, just looking at the pictures and discussing them, without reading the text would still be beneficial!  I would keep this in mind to recommend to a child with an interest in science, or as a read aloud. 

 

 

Pass it on: African American Poetry for Children

Selected by Wade Hudson

This is a book with a selection of poetry. I enjoyed reading this a lot. As I said before, I have always been stuck in narrative fiction, so I am just starting to venture out into other genres, and I am seeing all of the possibilities, especially with a genre like poetry. There are just so many ways that poetry can be used in the classroom, the one that comes most readily to my mind is the discussion of mental images. Also, this could be integrated into different units, for example, social studies, as Langston Hughes is one of the poets featured here. Also, in my classroom I really want diversity and a wide range of people to be represented in the literature that I chose, and this book accomplishes that. The poets are African American and this group is clearly represented through the illustrations – However, most of the poems themselves are about everyday life, which I enjoy and appreciate! The illustrations are beautiful and catch your attention. 

Secret places

Poems selected by Charlotte Huck

This book is a selection of poems in which the poets describe their love for a secret place: some are imaginary and some are real. I loved this book because there are so many places to go with it! It is such a great spark for conversation and writing, pictures and projects. Although all of these poems deal with the same topic, they vary widely and I could see many students relating and identifying to the book as a whole for this reason. Some are imaginative, some are serious, some are fun. This would also be a great book to talk about text-to-text connections. Again, the illustrations were wonderful and serve to represent diversity, as many different groups of people are represented.   

 

This Place is Wet

By: Vicki Cobb

 I do not feel particularly strongly one way or another about this book. Although I didn’t necessarily care for it, I could see a child getting a lot out of it. I found it hard to read because there was a lot of text on the page, and also I am not a big reader of nonfiction. It is not my type of book, but that is not to say that there isn’t a child out there who would really love it. It is challenging, informative, and uses a lot of good imagery. I do not think I would use this to read aloud, however it would be good for reading workshops. It could also connect great to social studies units because it is about living in the rain forest and the people there. 

The Jumping tree

By: René Saladaña, JR.

I enjoyed reading this book a lot and I see a lot of good uses for it in the classroom. I like the way that it addresses issues and perspectives that are not typically promoted in the classroom like poverty. Poverty is definitely a force in this book, but I like the way that it is not the main focus, and is just a part of life. It takes a taboo issue and normalizes it; from talking about free lunch at school to the fact that the family did not have air conditioning because they couldn’t afford it. I think it is important for a child to feel their life is validated in the eyes of the school – and this book can definitely provide such validation. It uses a lot of Spanish vocabulary in a very natural way. It definitely has a specific audience in mind, however, Spanish is still integrated in such a way that a non-Spanish speaker could still understand what was going on and get something out of it as well. A lot of other important issues for discussion are brought up. A common idea was “what does it mean to stand up for yourself?” Also there is room for discussion on bullying and gender roles. Racism was also a present force with much room for discussion. It is authentic and insightful, with a lot of good imagery. I think both teachers and students could learn a great deal and gain some insight.

 

Daddy's Wedding

By Michael Willhoite

I was very happy to find this book on the shelf of the curriculum lab, because I love books that deal with controversial issues and topics that do not normally appear in elementary school classrooms. In terms of the content of the book, I think it had its issues because I think it really oversimplified a very emotion filled idea, but I still liked it because I like to see this issue actually being discussed in the context of children’s literature. I did like, however, how such a taboo topic was normalized and placed in an everyday setting.  I liked that the author made a conscious effort to make the main character just like any other boy his age, by talking about how he liked to play baseball, go to camp, etc. There was an honest effort to normalize. I was surprised when reading about the author on the inside of the book that it was written in the 90s. It talked inside the book about how when this was published it was so controversial and appeared on nightline. 

Picasso and the Girl with a Ponytail

By: Laurence Anholt

This was a very enjoyable read and engaged me from the start. It is based on a true story, however it maintained it’s imagination and creativity through the illustrations and the telling. This book would be good for children who have specific interests in art, however, it is not just a book about art, as it addresses some important issues and challenges the “normal” family as portrayed so typically in children’s literature (the main character’s father had left them and she talks about living with her mom and her mom’s boyfriend). I like books that think more outside the box in terms of what life looks like, without making these differences the focus or even the purpose of the story. There were important themes such as loneliness, friendship, and secrets, that I could see opening up great discussions in the classroom. 

The Three bears and Goldilocks

By: Margaret Willey

There is not a whole lot to say about this well known tale that has been retold in one hundred different ways. I liked this version a lot because of the illustrations, and also the humor and the fun and interesting vocabulary. It was also told from Goldilocks’ perspective, so a good class activity would be to compare this version with another. 

Me Too! Two small stories about small animals

Retold by Katya Arnold – based on stories by V. Suteev

This was a fun read. There was not a lot to it but I could really see a child enjoying this. I liked how the text was arranged in creative ways that allowed it to interact with the story. 

Our Puppies are Growing!

 By: Carolyn Otto

 I liked this book and it was very informational while still telling a story. It is very good for children with an interest in puppies or animals. I read this with my child study kid because she really likes dogs and puppies, and it was a big success. It was a good book to read one on one and brought out a lot of discussion and conversation. I could see this book as being good for the whole class because it could fit in with other units and other topics. 

 

Delilah D at the Library

By: Jeanne Wills

 I loved this book! It was very funny and I could see kids really enjoying it. It was very creative and would provoke a lot of discussion. The narrator, who is the main character in the story, has a very distinct voice that comes through clearly. This book was full of imagination and very visually appealing. There was a lot to look at but it was not distracting. The text was arranged in fun ways and the overall experience of reading this book was very interactive and engaging. 

 

Wonder Bear

By: Tau Nyeu

 This book was wonderful! I am new to the genre of wordless novels, and I am amazed at how such a great story could be told through only illustrations. The illustrations were beautiful and so visually stimulating. I loved the images and the imagination involved. Even though it was told using illustrations, it still left room for the reader to make their own mental images. There was so much to look at and so much to be said. I think this genre in general can be very valuable, and I will definitely keep that in mind, with this book being at the top of my list. 

I know the Moon

By: Stephen Axel Anderson

I really enjoyed reading this book. The illustrations were beautiful and added the experience of the story. It was incredibly creative and imaginative. It dealt with a lot if good ideas about looking at things a different way, and the difference between seeing what is literally there, and interpreting and imaging. I could see this being a really enjoyable and beneficial book to have in the classroom.

I wish I had a Big Tree

By Satoru Sato

 I loved this book as well. It had so much great imagery through the illustrations and through the words. It uses so much imagination. I read this through a few times, and got something new out of it each time. It incorporates diversity in a non-obvious way: the main character is named Kaoru and is not the stereotypical white child that is portrayed in a majority of children’s books. The illustrations are fantastic. There are a lot of activities and uses that I could see coming out of this book. 

Love My Hair!

By: Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

 I enjoyed reading this book. I loved the illustrations. This book is very contemporary and very realistic. This book makes a clear and deliberate effort to represent and speak to a cultural minority in the context of children’s literature It does so through the illustrations and through the nature of the story, yet the story itself is about everyday life. I think a main message is pride, but it is done in a very subtle and understated way. 

Nobody's Diggier Than a Dog

By: Susan Campbell Bartoletti

 I enjoyed this book.  What is most striking about it is the way that the text is formatted and arranged, making it a part of the experience of the story itself. The formatting of the text actually creates images in the reader’s mind, and adds to the words themselves, making them more interactive. The illustrations also tell a story and are very vivid, memorable, and fun. This is a book that could apply to many different children audiences.