Review: THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Zusak, Markus. 2006. The Book Thief. Read by Allan Corduner. New York: Random House Listening Library. ISBN 0-7393-3800-5. Text ISBN 0-375-83100-2

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Liesel Meminger is a young girl in Nazi Germany. She is introduced as “The Book Thief” by the narrator, who in an interesting twist, identifies himself as “Death.” Liesel watched her brother die on the way to her foster family; a rough, but loving foster mother and a compassionate foster father.  Liesel learns to be street-smart and an excellent soccer player. She and her best friend Rudy, also become accomplished thieves. The items Liesel finds irresistible are books. She steals her first one at age 10, when a grave-digger at her brother’s funeral drops a copy of “The Gravedigger’s Manual” in the snow. Though not able to read, Liesel keeps the book, and it is this book which she reads first when her foster father teaches her to read. Liesel’s book collection grows to include books given to her, stolen from a book-burning and from the mayor’s wife’s library, and made for her by the Jew hidden in the basement.

During the bombing raids, Liesel reads to neighbors and even to the Jewish man who was hidden in their basement. As the book progresses, Liesel matures from a young, frightened, illiterate girl who is haunted by nightmares of her brother’s death, to youth who comforts and provides escape for her neighbors during bombing raids. While she continues to survive through more tragic deaths of friends and family, Liesel becomes an adult who uses the power of words to record her own life and experiences.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

By using “Death” as the narrator of this story, Markus Zusak immediately captures the attention of the reader. The book contains a realistic picture of Nazi Germany, with mention made of Hitler Youth, bombings, mandatory service in the Nazi army. In the author’s note contained in the text, Zusak tells that he based some of the scenes in the story on his mother’s memories of growing up in Nazi Germany. Liesel Meminger is a believable character who rises above her circumstances and finds that books and indeed words are powerful treasures which can make life bearable and offer hope in the midst of the scenes of horror and violence.

Allan Corduner does an excellent job as the voice of “Death” in the 11 CD audio version of this book. His voice is rich and deep as “Death” but sharpens or gets softer in tone depending on the character being represented. In the prologue, “Death and Chocolate”, Corduner’s voice has a friendly, almost teasing quality as “Death” advises: “Just don’t ask me to be nice. Nice has nothing to do with me.” When “Death” makes a last note to the reader, Corduner’s voice has a puzzled tone in his final statement “I am haunted by humans.” This story is powerful, thought provoking and captivating. It is intended for ages 12 and up, and should not be read by younger children due to language and content themes.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL starred review: "Zusak has created a work that deserves the attention of a sophisticated teen and adult readers. A mesmerizing and original story."

THE HORN BOOK starred review:  "A tour de force to be not just read but inhabited."

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: With quick vocal strokes, Corduner paints vivid, provocative portraits of Germans and Jews under unfathomable duress and the ripple effect such circumstances have on their lives.

5. CONNECTIONS

*This novel should be taught or listened to in conjunction with WWII History. Students should research Germany during WWII using library and internet sources. They could use a Venn diagram or T chart to compare the information learned from the book with the non-fiction information found on-line.

*Other Young Adult books by Markus Zusak:

Zusak, Markus. I Am the Messenger. ISBN 9780375836671

Zusak, Markus. Getting The Girl. ISBN 043938950X

Zusak, Markus. Fighting Ruben Wolfe. ISBN 0439241871

Review: RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE by Shannon and Dean Hale

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hale, Shannon and Dean Hale. 2008. Rapunzel’s Revenge. Ill. by Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children’s Books. ISBN 1-59990-070-X

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Rapunzel is no fading violet in this graphic novel version of the classic fairy tale. This Rapunzel has attitude, and is determined to get answers. Rapunzel is raised by Mother Gothel inside of a beautiful villa, but she wonders what is on the other side of the high walls surrounding the villa. One day she manages to look over the wall, and is horrified to find the dreadful conditions outside of the villa. Worse still, she discovers her real mother, who is forced to work in Mother Gothel’s mines.

Determined to make things right, Rapunzel confronts the woman who she now knows to be her kidnapper, only to be thrown into a high tower deep in a mysterious woods. With nothing to do but create tricks to perform with her hair, which is now growing ridiculously long, Rapunzel plots her escape. Finally her hair is long enough, and Rapunzel uses it as a rope to descend from her tower and make her getaway. Rapunzel forgoes the offer of help from this story’s version of prince charming, but later teams up with an outlaw named Jack, (of beanstalk folklore), and off they go to undo the evil Mother Gothel has done in the land and free Rapunzel’s mother.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Young readers will be vastly entertained by this new twist on an old tale. Shannon and Dean Hale bring to life a strong-willed female protagonist who is determined to right wrongs, and restore things to order. There is a touch of the southwest in this twisted fairy tale, as Rapunzel learns to use her long hair as a lasso, ropes and rides a wild boar, (until Prince Charming shoots it), whips guns from the hands of the bad guys with her long tresses, and fights off cantankerous coyotes. The witty, humorous dialogue and adventures make sense in the world the authors have created by mixing various fairy tales, and scenes straight from an old-west tall tale.

Rapunzel’s Revenge is told in entertaining captions with tongue-in-cheek style which is enhanced by the imaginative illustrations of Nathan Hale. For example, Rapunzel tells the reader that she managed to “lasso a tree and swing gracefully from her prison, climb down the tree’s branches, and land triumphantly on the forest floor”. The corresponding illustrations show her crashing into the tree, tumbling and falling through the breaking branches, and landing with a “splosh” in a pond at the forest floor. This amusing story with its humorous characters and magical graphics will become a favorite of the 5^th through 8^th grade readers who are its intended audience.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: With its can-do heroine, witty dialogue and romantic ending, this graphic novel has something for nearly everybody. Ages 10-up.
ALAN REVIEW: While Rapunzel's Revenge is definitely the stuff of high adventure and the old West, it is very much a story about growing up female, taking chances, negotiating potentially dangerous landscapes, confronting cruelty and loss, and re-finding the nurture and comfort that can be had in love.
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive.

5. CONNECTIONS
*Comparison/contrast: Students should read the original Grimm Brother’s version of Rapunzel and use a T-chart or Venn diagram to compare it to Rapunzel’s Revenge. For more challenge, they could also watch the movie Tangled, and compare all three.
*Students should choose a fairy tale they are familiar with and put their own twist on it. They can illustrate, use text boxes and show the protagonist from a different point of view.
* Other Graphic Novels
Hale, Dean and Shannon Hale. Calamity Jack. ISBN 9781599903736
Valentino, Serena. Once Upon a Time (Nightmares & Fairy Tales, Vol. 1). ISBN 9780943151878
Hoena.  Jack and the Beanstalk: The Graphic Novel. ISBN 1434208621

Review: JOEY PIGZA LOSES CONTROL by Jack Gantos

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gantos, Jack. 2000. Joey Pigza Loses Control. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. ISBN 0374399891

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Joey Pigza is going to spend the summer with the father he has never met. When Joey’s mother takes Joey and his beloved Chihuahua, Pablo, to his father’s house for court ordered visitation, Joey is nervous about meeting the father who his mother says is “wired like him, only bigger.” Joey has learned to manage his ADHD with medication patches and techniques he was taught in Special Ed. classes, but still feels different. His father, on the other hand, is as wired as Joey was without medication, and self-medicates with alcohol. Joey is able to connect to his father through baseball, because his father, Carter, is coaching a team and discovers that Joey has a great pitching arm. During the troubled time of the visit, Joey’s father decides that Joey needs to stop taking his ADHD medication and take control of his own life, so he flushes the patches down the toilet. Joey knows it’s only a matter of time until the old out of control Joey shows up.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In this second book of the Joey Pigza series, Jack Gantos continues the evolution of a believable character who other children can relate to. This story shows Joey coping with the problems of divorced parents, ADHD, and a grandmother who is very ill. Gantos has created a story with a tone which is both serious and humorous. Joey’s father’s alcoholism and denial that he has a problem makes it difficult for Joey to build the relationship he desperately wants with his father. Joey’s somewhat gruff Grandmother is seriously ill with emphysema and still smoking. Joey would secretly like it if his parents got back together, but both assure him that isn’t going to happen. Joey struggles to control his own ADHD and try to be a normal kid. There are humorous situations in the story too. Joey shuts poor Pablo in the glove box because he throws up in the car, refuses to pitch unless Pablo can be there with him, (tucked inside of his shirt), and poses as a mannequin in a store window. Readers will be drawn into this story as Joey grows to understand himself and the often fallible people who are important in his life.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY review: "Like its predecessor, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, this high-voltage, honest novel mixes humor, pain, fear and courage with deceptive ease."
BOOKLIST review: “Few children these days don't know someone wrestling with ADHD; meeting up with Joey is a fine way to gain insight into the problems "hyper" children face. But the story is more than message. Gantos’ skillful pacing, sly humor, and in-depth characterization make it a truly memorable read.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*An ideal opening for a class discussion about current issues, and how children can cope with them in constructive ways.
*On page 52, Joey says that he feels like two Joeys: Mom’s Joey & Dad’s Joey. He asks his dad if he has ever felt like two people at once. Ask students if they have ever felt like two people at once. Have them write a composition explaining how they felt and why they felt that way.
*Students should pretend they are Joey writing a letter or post card to his Mom. What would they say?
*Joey and his dad connect over baseball. Students could create baseball cards using the characters in the story as the players. How would they describe each one? They could include Joey’s grandma, and even Pablo.

Gantos, Jack. 2000. Joey Pigza swallowed the key. ISBN 0-613-28228-0
Gantos, Jack. 2002. What would Joey do? ISBN 0-374-39986-7
Gantos, Jack. 2007. I am not Joey Pigza. ISBN 0374399417

Review: ELIJAH OF BUXTON by Christopher Paul Curtis

1. BIOGRAPHY

Curtis, Christopher Paul. 2007. Elijah of Buxton. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 978-0439-02344-3

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman is the first baby born free in Buxton, Ontario, a settlement for runaway slaves which was established in 1849. His mother calls him a “fra-gile” child due to his sensitive and gullible nature which sometimes gets the better of him. This begins to change when Elijah’s friend, Mr. Leroy, is tricked out of the money he was going to use to purchase his family out of slavery, by a smooth-talking, self-proclaimed “preacher.”  Elijah feels responsible and bravely sets out to help Mr. Leroy rescue his family and bring the preacher to justice. On this dangerous journey to America and back, Elijah sees for the first time the terrible way slaves are treated, and learns what it truly means to be born free. He grows in maturity from a “fra-gile” boy to a strong, brave, and resourceful young man.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Christopher Paul Curtis brings the characters to life in this entertaining book as he details what life would have been like in the Canadian refuge for escaped slaves. Through careful research, he has woven the two aspects of this story together: the fictional characters who make Buxton, Ontario their home, and actual events. Curtis has created a story which teaches and entertains at the same time. The author’s note at the end of the book contains more information about the actual settlement of Buxton which was founded by a white Presbyterian Minister, Reverend William King.

The humorous and somewhat gullible Elijah with his unsophisticated dialect is an apt guide through this book. This story, told from the first-person perspective of a child, will stir the emotions of the reader. There is humor when Elijah and his friend think that the phrase their teacher has written on the chalkboard, (familiarity breeds contempt), means that they are going to study sexual reproduction. Readers are almost brought to tears when the former slaves in the settlement welcome a newly escaped slave family to Buxton. Although it starts out a little slowly as various characters from the settlement are introduced, once a letter from America arrives the action becomes spell-binding. Young readers who love adventure stories will be enthralled by the danger Elijah faces, feel his horror when he sees the conditions re-captured slaves are kept in, and cheer him on as he heads back home to safety.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY review: “Curtis brings the story full-circle, demonstrating how Elijah the "fra-gile" child has become sturdy, capable of stealing across the border in pursuit of the crooked preacher, and strong enough to withstand a confrontation with the horrors of slavery. The powerful ending is violent and unsettling, yet also manages to be uplifting.”

BOOKLIST starred review: “Many readers drawn to the book by humor will find themselves at times on the edges of their seats in suspense and, at other moments, moved to tears. A fine, original novel from a gifted storyteller.”

5. CONNECTIONS

This is an excellent novel to read with a class during Black History Month. It should be taught in conjunction with studying the Underground Railroad. Students should use non-fiction sources such as the internet and research books in the library to find information about the people who helped escaped slaves to safety and learn more about where they settled.

*More books by Christopher Paul Curtis:

Curtis, Christopher Paul. The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963. ISBN 044022800X

Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy. ISBN 0440413281

*Novels about the Underground Railroad

Coopey, Judith Redline. 2010. Redfield Farm: A Novel of the Underground Railroad. ISBN 0978924746

Tobin, Jacqueline L. 2000. Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad. ISBN 0385497679

Review: THE EARTH DRAGON AWAKES by Laurence Yep

1. BIOGRAPHY

Yep, Lawrence. 2006. The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 06060275243

2. PLOT SUMMARY

On the evening April 17, 1906 the inhabitants of San Francisco, California are going about their normal business, never imagining that the earth under their feet was stirring. Eight-year-old Henry Travis and nine-year old Chin, (the son of the Travis family’s houseboy), are mainly concerned with helping Henry’s parents get ready to go to the opera on time. Once the Travis' have left, the boys have plans to read more of the exciting “penny dreadfuls” of which neither one of their parents approve. Both Henry and Chin agree their own fathers are not nearly as exciting as Marshal Earp with his blazing six-shooters.

They have cause to revise their opinions of their fathers when the earthquake strikes the next morning. As is often the case, this natural disaster has brought out the best in people and turned ordinary men, (Henry and Chin's own fathers), into heroes. In the aftermath of the earthquake, Mr. Travis tirelessly works to organize a bucket brigade to put out the fires which follow the earthquake, and Ah Sing, Chin’s father, risks his own life to save Chin from a stampeding bull. The boys and their respective families are lucky to survive the earthquakes, and the fires. Now they must make their way to safety at the ferry, where the two families are reunited and begin to rebuild their lives and homes.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The Earth Dragon Awakes is told from the perspective of two young boys, one from an affluent neighborhood, and one from Chinatown. It relates the story of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 in chronological order, beginning with the evening of April 17, (the night before the quake), and continuing through the next 11 days. The author alternates settings in the story from Chinatown to Sacramento Street, which gives the reader a glimpse into the different cultures residing in San Francisco, and how the quake affects them. Short informational chapters of about the earthquake and fires are seamlessly woven in between the fictional chapters, creating a sense of realism. In the afterword of the book the author has included factual information and photos from the devastating earthquake and the fires which followed. By telling the story through the eyes of Henry and Chin, Lawrence Yep has made it appealing to third through seventh graders for whom it is intended.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

KIRKUS Reviews: “Eight-year-old Henry Travis and nine-year-old Chin, son of the family houseboy, experience the events of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 that destroyed both the Travis's wealthy home and the Chin's tenement apartment. Yep intersperses the fiction of Henry and Chin's experiences with short chapters of facts about the earthquake and subsequent fire.”

BOOKLIST reviews: “Told in the present tense, the narration provides a "you are there" sense of immediacy and will appeal to readers who enjoy action-packed survival stories.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*This book should encourage a discussion about heroic actions of normal people during natural disasters. Students should volunteer to name natural disasters in their life time and how people worked to help each other.

*This book would work well as a supplement to tie together the history of the San Francisco Earthquake with a unit on earthquakes. Students could study plate tectonics and learn about the land forms which are made by earthquakes. Students could do some research to find out where most earthquakes occur and chart these locations on a world map.

*Other books about earthquakes:

Osborne, Mary Pope. Earthquake in the Early Morning. ISBN 0-679-89070-X

Kehret, Peg. Earthquake Terror. ISBN 9780140383430

Walker, Sally M. Earthquakes. ISBN 978-0-8225-6735-6

Storad, Conrad J. Earth’s Crust. ISBN 0-8225-5944-7

Branley, Franklyn Mansfield. Earthquakes. ISBN 0-690-04663-4

Townsend, John. Earthquakes and volcanoes: a survival guide. ISBN 1-41091927-7

Review: HATTIE BIG SKY by Kirby Larson

1. BIOGRAPHY

Larson, Kirby. 2007. Hattie Big Sky. Read by Kirsten Potter. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780739351231. Text ISBN 0385903324.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Will Hattie ever find a home? Orphaned Hattie Inez Brooks has spent her life shifted from relative to relative after the death of her parents, until an uncle she has never met dies and leaves her a homestead claim in Montana. Hattie leaves the home with her “shirt-tail relatives” where she has never felt like she fit in, and moves to Montana. As Hattie struggles against the hardships of the harsh Montana winter, she encounters friends who become like the family she has always wanted. She also faces the reality of WW1 on the home front when her friends and neighbors are regarded with suspicion due to the anti-German sentiment of the time. Hattie expresses her feelings about her new life and experiences in letters to her school-chum serving overseas, her Uncle Holt, and articles she writes for the Arlington News. As she reflects back on her year as a homesteader, Hattie realizes that though she is on the move again, she has found herself at home in her own skin and in the hearts of her friends.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The unabridged audio CD format is aptly narrated by Kirsten Potter in this 7 CD set , and has excellent quality of sound in its enthralling narrative. The language in the story is true to the time period and makes one think of the way a proper young lady would speak in 1918. Although vocabulary might be challenging to some readers, due to words such as bodice and valise which are not commonly used any more, it too, is true to the time period. Potter’s voice makes the believable characters come to life as she uses different Western accents to differentiate between them. This captivating story records not only Hattie’s physical journey from Iowa to Montana, but also her internal journey from an uncertain girl who doesn’t feel like she fits in anywhere to someone who is strong enough to make it on her own. Young adults for whom this book is intended can relate to this feeling of finding their own place in the world.

In the author’s note at the end of the audio book, Kirby Larson shares that she named the lead character of this book after her great-grandmother, Hattie Inez Brooks Wright, who actually did homestead by herself in eastern Montana as a young girl. While the letters and newspaper articles which open each chapter were not written by Larson’s great-grandmother, they were based upon dozens of actual journal and diary entries Larson read as she researched. The anti-German sentiment during the war is also true to the time-period and the scenarios relating this in the book are also based upon actual events. Letters to and from Hattie’s school chum Charlie, (a soldier overseas), paint an accurate picture of the difficult living conditions faced by both the Montana homesteaders and soldiers overseas.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

Newberry Honor Book

BOOKLIST review: “Larson's vivid descriptions of the harshness of the work and the extreme climates, and the strength that comes from true friendship, create a masterful picture of the homesteading experience and the people who persevered. Hattie's courage and fortitude are a tribute to them.”

KIRKUS reviews: Based on a bit of Larson's family history, this is not so much a happily-ever-after story as a next-year-will-be-better tale, with Hattie's new-found definition of home. This fine offering may well inspire readers to find out more about their own family histories.

AUDIOFILE review: “With considerable humor, Kirsten Potter employs a variety of old-fashioned Western accents to differentiate the cast of colorful characters. Potter excels at conveying the emotions that run high as Hattie faces the challenges of homestead life, including the bigotry of neighbors against the German-American friends who have helped her in every way.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Each chapter of this story opens as letters to a friend serving in the war, her Uncle Holt, or as a newspaper article. Encourage students to write about their own daily experiences in letters to soldiers overseas, relatives, or in a diary.

This novel would be an excellent read-aloud to supplement a Social Studies unit on World War I.

Other Historical Novels set during war-time:

Larson, Kirby.  The Fences Between Us: The Diary of Piper Davis, Seattle, Washington, 1941 (Dear America Series). ISBN 0545224187

Larson, Kirby. The Friendship Doll ISBN-10: 0385737459

Salisbury, Graham. Under the Blood-Red Sun ISBN 9780553494877

Review: WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE?: HOW ALICE ROOSEVELT BROKE THE RULES, CHARMED THE WORLD, AND DROVE HER FATHER TEDDY CRAZY! by Barbara Kerley

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What to do about Alice? : How Alice Roosevelt broke the rules, charmed the world, and drove her father Teddy crazy! Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0-439-92231-3

2. PLOT SUMMARY

“Theodore Roosevelt had a small problem.” With these words, Barbara Kerley introduces the reader to Alice Lee Roosevelt, the oldest daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt. Alice’s voracious appetite for life is captured in this book and characterized by Kerley’s statement that Alice “ate up the world.” As a child, Alice rode her bicycle, roamed the streets of Washington, and even joined an all-boys club, (until her father found out). Alice was 17 when her father became president, and continued to flout the rules of social conventions by riding a bike, driving her own runabout, betting on horse races and two-stepping until the wee hours of the morning.

Despite this, she also became one of Theodore Roosevelt’s most trusted advisors and represented him as a goodwill ambassador in Cuba, Puerto Rico, China and many other countries. Alice married a congressman, and continued to be active in the political activities of Washington for the remainder of her life, eventually becoming known as “the other Washington Monument.”

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS   

This picture book biography is made up of both single and double-paged spreads depicting the life of Alice Roosevelt.  With fast-moving and humorous text, Kerley presents Alice Lee Roosevelt as a lively and adventurous character and provides readers with a fascinating glimpse of life in the White House. Edwin Fotheringham captures her vivacious personality in his illustrations which depict Alice racing through the pages of the book with a large spoon in one hand, peering around the column at the front of the White House with her pet snake twined around her arm, and jumping fully clothed onto a ship’s swimming pool. Dotted lines bounce from one point to another on the pages, and follow Alice, adding to the feeling of her rushing through life.

The book includes a 2-page Author’s note which contains background information about Alice Roosevelt’s life, quotes from both Alice and her father, and bibliographic sources used. All of these things make this an entertaining and fast-moving book, bound to interest the 7 to 11 year old children for whom it was written.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2002 SIBERT HONOR BOOK

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “This book provides a fascinating glimpse into both a bygone era and one of its more interesting denizens as well as a surefire antidote for any child who thinks that historical figures are boring.”

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY review: Kids will embrace a heroine who teaches her younger stepsiblings to sled down the White House stairs ("Alice tried to be helpful," Kerley writes soberly as Fotheringham shows her in action), entertains dignitaries with her pet snake and captivates a nation with pranks and high jinks.

BOOKLIST STARRED review: “Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was”.

5. CONNECTIONS

Provide access to other biographies, (whether in books or on the internet), about president’s children, and invite students to write reports or create power point presentations about them. Students could write a more personal composition about what they think it would be like to be the child of the President of the United States.

Other biographies by Barbara Kerley:

Kerley, Barbara. Walt Whitman: Words for America. ISBN 0439357918

Kerley, Barbara. The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Suzy). ISBN 0545125081

Kerley, Barbara. The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins. ISBN 0439114950

Review: ENCANTADO: PINK DOLPHIN OF THE AMAZON by Sy Montgomery

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Montgomery, Sy. 2002. Encantado: Pink Dolphin of the Amazon. Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-618-13103-5

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In Encantado, Pink Dolphin of the Amazon, Sy Montgomery takes the reader on a breathtaking journey through the Amazon in search of the elusive pink dolphin. This dolphin is one of only five kinds of dolphins whose bodies are modified to live in fresh water. In the search for the pink dolphin, the reader is exposed to thousands of species of animals and plants that are not found anywhere else in the world: the 4 inch long pygmy marmoset, the tiny frogs which live their entire lives in a bromeliad’s bowl, and the arauana a yard-long fish which leaps out of the water to catch it’s prey, just to name a few. The reader learns that even though the pink dolphins may be all around, they are difficult to see due to the inky blackness of the Amazon. This book not only describes the unique features of the pink dolphin, but also exposes the destruction of the Amazon rain forest caused by fires to clear land for large plantations and pollution caused by mining companies.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Encantado, Pink Dolphin of the Amazon is written in the 2^nd person, which serves to engage the reader in the story by allowing them to imagine that they are there. Ex: “Bet you didn’t think that would be a problem when you left the United States.” The reader is also invited to imagine that their guide on the journey is the pink dolphin itself. As the reader is led through the Amazon, detailed photographs by Dianne Taylor-Snow add to the visual images created by the author’s words. Taylor-Snow has also included pictures of Chuckles, North America’s only captive pink river dolphin who lives in the Pittsburg zoo.

This book contains information gathered by the author on four separate trips to the Amazon. An interview with a dolphin researcher provides insight into the habits of the pink dolphin, while an interview with a professor of biology who specializes in paleontology gives scientific information linking many of the creatures from the Amazon with their dinosaur relatives. Local people are also interviewed, and their stories and folklore of the region add to the mystery of this area of the world which still contains many unanswered questions. Time-lines and maps supplement the textual and pictorial information in a user-friendly format which is easy for a young reader to understand. The end pages of the book contain information about how the book was researched, and numerous fascinating facts about the creatures and plants of the Amazon.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*Winner of the 2000 IRA Children’s Book Award for Nonfiction

*An Orbis Pictus Honor Book

* Booklist Editor’s Choice for 1999

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “The author's sense of wonder at this spectacular environment and this unusual animal is infectious and makes for a nonfiction title that inspires as it informs.”

BOOKLIST review: Gr. 5-8. “Instead of a traditional animal study, children are treated to a captivating travelogue, complete with numerous color photos of the people and places that incorporate political, environmental, and zoological aspects of the region.”… “children with a taste for adventure will enjoy this enthusiastic field trip to the rainforest and chance meetings with everything from cute monkeys to stinging black ants.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Geography: give students maps of South America and have them trace the path of the Amazon.

Research: Have students research the different types of dolphins and whales recorded in existence and make comparisons. Using simple copies of a world map, students should record their findings by color-coding the maps to match the location of the different types of dolphins and whales.

*Related books:

Montgomery, Sy. Journey of the Pink Dolphins: An Amazon Quest. ISBN: 0743200268

Graf, Mike. Land and Water: The Amazon River. ISBN: 0736824820

Simons, Seymour. Dolphins. ISBN: 0060283939

Butterfield, Moira. Amazon Rainforest. ISBN: 0824985664

Review: BODIES FROM THE ICE:MELTING GLACIERS AND THE RECOVERY OF THE PAST by James M. Deem

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Deem, James M. 2008. Bodies from the ice: melting glaciers and the recovery of the past. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-618-80045-X.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Imagine hiking in the beautiful mountain scenery of northern Italy and discovering trash there. Now imagine that you find out the trash is the remains of a human from over 5,300 years ago. This is the scene which opens “Bodies from the Ice” by James M. Deem. Using photographic records and maps, Deem shows how the glaciers which have been in existence for thousands of years are now melting at an alarming rate and revealing the secrets of what lies beneath them. The Mummified remains and the artifacts buried with them have been found from several different time periods and in different glacial regions of the world.

 Some of the bodies found were not accident victims, but deliberate burials. Centuries-old remains of Incan children found in South America’s Andes Mountains reveal evidence that they were sacrificed as part of a ritual. Even as these historically valuable discoveries are made, scientists are concerned about the future survival of the glaciers and the impact their loss will have on the environment. Deem urging the readers to visit an alpine glacier while they can.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book chronicles the disappearance of the glaciers from the face of the earth by showing measurable photographic evidence to document how much of the glaciers have disappeared over the years. It is full of photographs of the melting glaciers, the treasures which have been discovered under them, and private collections of artifacts. The table of contents and index serve as useful guides and provide easy access to information in this book. Individual chapters give detailed facts about types of glaciers, how they move, and why bodies have been so well preserved under them.  A two page bibliography and acknowledgement page list the sources used to compile information in this book, and illustration credits are listed for the full color photographs used in the book. Lists of recommended web sites, glaciers to visit, and suggestions of personal ways to help the environment round out this informative book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: With its extensive bibliography, suggested Web sites, and a listing of glaciers to visit, Bodies is a fantastic resource. Deem superbly weaves diverse geographical settings, time periods, and climate issues into a readable work that reveals the increasing interdisciplinary dimensions of the sciences.

BOOKLIST review: “There are books about melting glaciers and books about frozen bodies, but this attractive offering combines the topics in a way that will intrigue readers.”… “Heavily illustrated with historical memorabilia as well as photos of bodies, scenery, artifacts, and rather simplistic maps, this offers a lot to look at and learn about.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Invite children to write their opinion of whether or not glaciers will disappear from the world, or if another ice-age will occur. Students should research the topic using books and internet information.

Invite children to research and write or create a poster about one of the glaciers mentioned at the end of the book.

Other books about glaciers:

Webster, Christine. Glaciers. ISBN 1590363094

Nadia Higgins. Welcome to Glacier National Park. ISBN 978-1-59296-696-7

Mis, Melody S. Exploring Glaciers. ISBN 1435827147

Review: TURTLE IN JULY by Marilyn Singer

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Singer, Marilyn. 1989. Turtle in July. Ill by Jerry Pinkney. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. ISBN 0-02-782881-6

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Turtle in July is a collection of nature poems paired with superb watercolor illustrations by Jerry Pinkney. Each of the four seasons is framed by poems from the bullhead, a type of catfish which lives “belly-down in the shallows,” whether he is hibernating, eating or spawning. Marilyn Singer introduces the seasons with a different animal narrating a poem for each season. The animals in this assortment of poems are those that one would relate to the season such as the deer running across the snow in the winter and the sleepy, sluggish bear waking up in March. One by one, the animals take the reader and listener through the months and seasons from January to December, where the cat curled up in her cozy chair informs the reader that “No cat I remember dislikes December inside.”

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The pattern of words Singer uses in this collection reflects the nature of the animal narrating the poem. For instance, the deer mouse uses quick, short bursts of words which are written in a repetitive pattern spaced to show his hurried movements:
 “get going
    move
        hustle”
The timber rattlesnake’s speech is characterized by repeated use of the consonant “s” which makes one think of the sound of the snake hissing. When the warbler tells about finding a mate and building a nest, Singer uses repetitive words which make it sound like singing when the words are read aloud.

The beautiful watercolor illustrations by Jerry Pinkney add to the mood portrayed by each animal and season. With his characteristic attention to detail, he has captured the personality of each animal narrating a poem. The alertness of the barn owl with its outstretched wings and open talons reflects the words of the poem such as hush, sweep, wait, and snatch. The stillness of the winter day is reflected in the white snowy background across which January’s deer is running. My favorite is the cat who prefers the warmth of a lap or chair by the fireplace.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
BOOKLIST, starred review: "A book that is both fresh and engaging. The animal poems, framed by the seasons of the year, are sharply evocative. . . . Pinkney's glorious full-page, richly layered watercolors pulse with life. An excellent source for both poetry and nature units."
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY review: “From the "January deer so swift and light" to the November beaver chanting "Mud, more mud, add mud, good mud . . . ," this collection of nature poems progresses through the year. Whether nose to nose with a busy beaver or in the muddy shallows with that bullhead, Pinkney illustrates these works with his splendid watercolors and a unique flair for patterns and textured spaces; his art is perfectly wedded to the verse. Ages 3-8.”

5. CONNECTIONS
This book of poetry would tie in well with both a Science unit on animals and a unit on seasons. After reading the book as a group, children could be given the opportunity to write a poem about how animals behave or about their favorite season. It would also make an excellent reader’s theater production. Children could even make animal masks to use as they read their parts.
 Other nature poems:
Yolen, Jane. Color Me a Rhyme: Nature Poems for Young People. ISBN 1590781724
Rylant, Cynthia. Night in the Country. ISBN 0689714734
Ebensen, Barbara Juster. Swing Around the Sun. ISBN 0876141432

Review: RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS: A YEAR IN COLORS by Joyce Sidman

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sidman, Joyce. 2009. Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN 9780547014944

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In Red Sings from Treetops Joyce Sidman presents a fanciful collection of poems about seasons and colors. The collection begins with spring and continues through the seasons, presenting their various colors in a fresh way that enables the reader to equate the colors with what they see, hear, taste and feel. The colors are introduced as they relate to each season. In the spring red is a bird singing from treetops and worms squirming on the road. In summer, red comes on a hummingbird’s throat and a beetle.  Red falls as leaves and crunches as apples in the autumn, and in winter red beats in the narrator’s heart and hops on treetops as a cardinal. Each color is introduced in a similar turn of phrase as they relate to the season.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This is an enchanting book. Sidman uses language in a way which creates imagery that is very appealing to the reader or listener, allowing one to picture the colors in their “mind’s eye.” Phrases such as “black holds secrets,” and “purple pouts” attribute feelings to the colors. “White sounds like storms,” and “red whispers along my finger” give the colors a voice. These and many other clever phrases bring sounds, smells and taste to the colors bringing them to life. In this beautiful collection of poems, nature sings in the birds and trills in the insects.

The imagery created by Sidman’s words is beautifully represented by Pamela Zagarenski’s mixed media illustrations. The whimsical narrator and her pup, wearing crowns and dressed in the appropriate colors, travel through each season enjoying all it has to offer.  Colors in the illustrations have texture and depth created by a patterning which makes one think of fabric prints. Text is appropriately colored in a way that will help a beginning reader associate the color word with its corresponding color. Children will love the cute pictures of the baby birds, the pup, the raccoon and the lady bug.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
2010 CALDECOTT HONOR AWARD

NEW YORK TIMES book review: "It's wonderfully strange to read of colors with sounds, smells and tastes."
KIRKUS REVIEWS, starred review: "A charming inspiration to notice colors and correlate emotions"
THE BULLITEN starred review: "This book has a freshness and visual impact all its own, and it will inspire a rainbow of uses."
HORN BOOK, starred review:"Sustaining the playfulness of the text and its sense of awe, mystery, and beauty, the illustrations contribute gracefully to the celebration."
BOOKLIST, starred review: "As the title implies, the colors that surprise on every page, do sing."

5. CONNECTIONS
After reading this book to children, the students should be encouraged to say what colors they associate with each season. Do any colors have special meaning for them or make them feel any particular emotions? This book naturally leads into an art activity. Students could paint or draw a picture to go with their favorite color and write about it. This is ideal poetry to tie in with teaching seasons to young children and a great supplement to kindergarten and pre-K children learning their colors.
Other books to learn colors:
Lionni, Leo. A Color of His Own. ISBN 0375836977
Ronay, Laura. Kids Like Me Learn Colors. ISBN 1606130013
Other books by Joyce Sidman:
Sidman, Joyce. Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems. ISBN 0618135472
Sidman, Joyce. Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature. ISBN 054731583X

Review: WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN'T KNOW by Sonya Somes

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sones, Sonya. 2001. What My Mother Doesn’t Know. New York: Simon & Shuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689841140

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Sophie is a 14, (almost 15), year old girl, who is concerned with her best girl friends and boys, boys, and more boys. This engaging novel in verse is written in a series of poems as if Sophie were writing in her diary. The reader meets Sophie after her break-up with her first boyfriend, and follows along with her emotional ups and downs with her second boyfriend, her close call with a weirdo she meets in a chat room, and her obsession with a masked mystery man she meets at the school Halloween dance. Sophie records her conflicts with her mother, and the humiliation of being the object of racial discrimination due to her Jewish heritage. The reader experiences the inner conflict that Sophie feels when she discovers that she has a lot in common with, and is very attracted to, the school outcast who everyone makes fun of; and then finds out that he is the mystery man.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In What My Mother Doesn’t Know, Sonya Sones has captured the concerns and personality of a typical 14 year old girl. The verse flows freely and naturally as if you could almost hear Sophie talking. Each scenario is told in a different poem like a girl writing in her diary.This story is told in a way that doesn’t just gloss over the sad or difficult situations, but allows the reader to experience the angst felt by a teenage girl.  The words used by Sones in this poem create an imagery that lets the reader experience Sophie’s feelings as she rides an emotional roller coaster through the highs and lows of giddiness, love, lust, anger, disillusionment and everything in between.

 This novel touches in a very sensitive yet down-to-earth way on the concerns of a teenage girl and her friends as they share their important issues, (mainly boys), support each other during crises, and rejoice over good news. It touches on cultural diversity as Sophie experiences religious discrimination due to her Jewish heritage. It reveals that Sophie has a father who is emotionally distant even when he is physically there; and a mother who rides her own emotional rollercoaster. Sophie writes that every day when she gets home from school her mother is in bed watching TV, and sometimes her mother stays in the basement for days eating chocolate and watching soap operas.

Young teenage girls and reluctant readerswill love to read this book, because it is so fast moving and divided into short poems. I found myself wanting to read other books by this author when I had finished this one, and I haven’t been a young teenage girl for a very long time.  It is recommended for ages twelve and up. Some of the content would not be appropriate for a younger reader.

 4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Starred Review: “With its separate free verse poems woven into a fluid and coherent narrative with a satisfying ending, Sophie's honest and earthy story feels destined to captivate a young female audience, avid and reluctant readers alike. Ages 12-up.”
BOOKLIST review: *Starred Review* “Sophie's voice is colloquial and intimate, and the discoveries she makes are beyond formula, even while they are as sweetly romantic as popular song. A natural for reluctant readers, this will also attract young people who love to read.” 
KIRKUS starred review: "A verse experience that will leave readers sighing with recognition and satisfaction."

5. CONNECTIONS
This novel is one that is very appealing to young teenage girls, because it deals with issues they face on a daily basis. It would be ideal for a book study designed to get reluctant readers interested in reading.
Other novels in verse by Sonya Sones:
Sones, Sonya. What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know. ISBN: 0689876033
Sones, Sonya. Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy. ISBN 0064462188
Sones, Sonya. One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies. ISBN: 1416907882

Review: THE UGLY DUCKLING by Jerry Pinkney

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Pinkney, Jerry. (Adapted). 1999. The Ugly Duckling. New York : Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 069915932X

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale, Jerry Pinkney introduces the reader to a baby swan who begins his life misplaced in a ducks nest, and  struggles to fit in to a world which doesn’t understand or accept him. With the exception of his mother who loves and accepts him, all of the animals pick on and tease him without mercy. The duckling, in despair, leaves the farm where he was born, to venture out into the world. Throughout the first year of his life, the duckling struggles in vain to find a safe home. In the scary and dangerous world, he must learn to survive the hunters and the harsh winter. Finally in the spring, the duckling spots a flock of beautiful white swans and decides to join them. He anticipates they will probably not accept him either, only to joyfully discover that he is one of them. At last, he has found his home and learned through painful experience that sometimes true happiness and finding your place in the world is achieved through struggles and trials.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The story of The Ugly Duckling is a timeless message of hope that will always appeal to anyone who has struggled to fit into the world around them. Jerry Pinkney’s adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s tale accurately captures the essence of the tale with its pastoral setting over 150 years ago, and makes it appealing to a modern audience. The hopelessness of the ugly duckling and his feelings of not being good enough to fit in anywhere are emotions that many children have experienced. They can empathize with the duckling as he struggles to survive and find acceptance during his first year of life and find hope in his eventual victory. While the hunting scene may be a bit traumatic for children, it blends into the story and serves to emphasize the danger the duckling was in.

Pinkney’s realistic watercolor illustrations on the beautiful, double paged spreads accurately reflect the time period of the original tale, and add to the appeal of its gentle and sensitive lesson. The reader can almost feel the movement of the duck’s wings as they launch into flight to escape the hunters’ guns and the hot breath of the dog, as he opens his mouth and shows his sharp teeth. When the duckling is caught in the ice on the pond, the reader can see and almost feel the cold in the colors of the water and landscape, sympathize with the frightened, half-frozen creature.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Caldecott Medal/Honor, 2000

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL starred review: “The appeal of this tale is as strong today as it was 150 years ago, and Pinkney has done an admirable job of repackaging it for a new generation. His adaptation of the text succeeds in capturing the gentleness and melancholy of Andersen, although a bit of the social commentary has gone by the wayside.”

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY review: “Pinkney's (Rikki-Tikki-Tavi) supple, exquisitely detailed watercolors provide a handsome foil to his graceful adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic.”

5. CONNECTIONS

The Ugly Duckling is a story that all children can relate to, because everyone struggles in one area or another. After reading the story, children could write or tell aloud about a time when they had a hard time learning to do something, and how they eventually overcame that trial. They could even write a letter of advice and encouragement to anyone who is struggling to fit in or learn a new skill.

Other stories about fitting in:

Kraus, Robert. Leo the Late Bloomer. ISBN 0-06-443348-X

Leaf, Munro. The Story of Ferdinand. ISBN 0670062642