AMERICAN BORN CHINESE by Gene Luen Yang

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Yang, Gene Luen. 2006. American Born Chinese. St. Louis: Turtleback Books. ISBN 9781417754496

American Born Chinese is a groundbreaking graphic novel made up of three different storylines. The first part revolves around Jin Wang who is the son of Chinese immigrants. Jin's family moves to a new neighborhood where he is the only Chinese American student in his school. He desperately wants to fit it, but is constantly picked on and bullied by the other students. The second part depicts an old Chinese folktale about a very powerful and well liked monkey king who aspires to be a “Great Sage, Equal of Heaven.” The monkey king is eventually told that he will never be happy if he cannot accept himself for what he is. The third part centers on Danny and his cousin Chin-kee. Danny is a very popular, well liked student at his school. While his cousin Chin-kee embodies the characteristics of the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype. When Chin-kee comes to visit every year, Danny feels embarrassed and ashamed of his heritage and feels as though his cousin is ruining his life. At the end of the graphic novel, all three of these storylines are cleverly intertwined.

This work clearly belongs in the young adult genre and would appeal to high school aged readers. It has all of the elements of teen literature including the themes of acceptance, romance, and searching for identity, all with an optimistic ending. VOYA summarizes, "this graphic novel could be especially cathartic for teens and adults of Asian descent, but people of any ethnicity would find themselves reflected in the universal themes of self-acceptance, peer pressure, and racial tensions." The format of the graphic novel is visually clean, simple, and interesting. Publishers Weekly explains, "true to its origin as a Web comic, this story's clear, concise lines and expert coloring are deceptively simple yet expressive." The emotions of the characters are very clearly conveyed in the illustrations, more effectively than they would be in a traditional novel. 

American Born Chinese is the first graphic novel to win the Michael L. Printz Honor Award in 2007 along with a National Book Award nomination in 2006.

This book can be successfully used as a supplement to classroom discussions about identity, assimilation, and stereotypes about the Asian experience or other cultures in general. 

Books in Print. TWU Library. Accessed December 14, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125/

THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak

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Zusak, Markus. 2006. The Book Thief. New York: Random House Children’s Books. ISBN: 9780375931000

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, is a haunting work of historical fiction set during the years of the Holocaust. The story of the titular character, a 10 year old orphaned girl, is narrated from the point of view of Death. The story progresses as Death goes about his business claiming lives in Nazi Germany, personified like an observant operative. Young Liesel Meminger faces the depressing circumstances of her father’s abandonment, her brother’s death, her mother’s disappearance, and forced foster care with a poor German family. The only bright spot in her life is a book which she has stolen and yearns to read. Her gentle and gracious foster father teaches her to read and write fueling her desire to steal more books from Nazi book-burnings and elsewhere. Other friendships include her neighborhood buddy Rudy and Max, the Jewish hideaway in the basement. 


The novel is set in 1939 in a small working class town outside of Munich where Liesel’s life is defined by nightmares and bombing raids. Zusak successfully paints believable and accurate scenes of the horrors of the time. Through his clever style of narration, the theme of struggling to survive in the face of Death is all too literal. As with all works regarding World War II, the underlying theme of hate and tolerance is evident. Since the story unfolds through the detached words of Death, it manages to speak about human tragedy in a sometimes light and mocking tone of voice. School Library Journal proclaims, "Death is not a sentimental storyteller, but he does attend to an array of satisfying details...". Most importantly, the realistic story of the Hubermann family gives readers a glimpse of the conflicts of average people living during a dangerous time in history. SLJ agrees, "Zusak explores behind-the-lines life in World War II Germany, showing the day-to-day heroism of ordinary people." 

The Book Thief was awarded the Michael L. Printz Honor in 2007.

Extensions for this book could include a study of other young adult World War II novels such as Number the Stars by Lois Lowry or The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. 

Books in Print. TWU Library. Accessed December 3, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125/

THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman

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Gaiman, Neil. 2010. The Graveyard Book. Illus. by Dave McKean. St Louis: Turtleback Books. ISBN 9780606148832


Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book is a delightful work of supernatural fiction for young adults. In the story, a baby survives the grisly murder of his entire family and is raised by the ghosts of the graveyard. Adopted by a couple Mr.  & Mrs. Owens, the child is named Nobody Owens and thrives under the care of Silas who takes care of his basic needs. The series of chapters read like short glimpses into the life of young Bod as he comes to terms with growing up in a graveyard. The paranormal coming of age story also follows Bod’s very human desire to exact revenge on the killer Jack for the deaths of his parents and sister. 


The cast of characters in the novel are at once believable and relatable making the jump between the worlds of the living and dead all the more plausible. Ghosts, ghouls, vampires, and witches all play a role in Bod’s upbringing, making his childhood journey a fantastical one. The challenges and desires of the protagonist are in tune with the struggles of a normal child of that age. Library Journal succinctly says, “Imagine Kipling’s The Jungle Book set among a forest of graves.” While seemingly set in a modern day graveyard in the English countryside, the story could have easily occur during an earlier era. In the same manner, the book fits well in the genre of a modern day fantasy, one which upholds the sweeping universal themes of good versus evil and fate versus free will. All of this is deftly done by the author’s writing style which blends elements of suspense, magic, and humor. Booklist notes, “there is plenty of darkness, but the novel's ultimate message is strong and life affirming.” Gaiman creates a unique world which is simultaneously charming and childlike as well as mysterious and macabre.

The Graveyard Book is the winner of the Newbery Award.


Readers of The Graveyard Book can connect Bod's adventures with the tale of Mowgli in The Jungle Book, noting the strong allusions to similar moral lessons found in Rudyard Kipling's classic fable. 

Books in Print. TWU Library. Accessed December 2, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125/

LILY'S CROSSING by Patricia Reilly Giff

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Giff, Patricia Reilly. 1997. Lily’s Crossing. New York: Yearling ISBN 0440414539

Lily’s Crossing is a gentle gem of a story about a little girl’s world being affected by World War II. Patricia Reilly Giff masterfully recreates American life in a 1940’s New England beach town from the lively, spirited point of view of an 11-year-old girl.

Young Lily spends every summer with her father and grandmother at Rockaway Beach. This is her favorite time of year because not only does she get to spend her time by the beach, she gets to see her best friend Margaret. But this summer turns out to be quite different. Margaret must leave Rockaway beach early, so now there is no one left here, until the arrival of a soon to be new friend, Albert—a refugee from Hungary.

The setting of this book is Rockaway beach, which was used during the Second World War as a harbor for American ships headed to Europe. Lily loves to tell lies that make her life sound more interesting than what it really is. Lily takes one of her lies a bit too far with Albert causing him to risk his life. Giff hones right in on the time period by describing the children’s clothes, toys, movies, and books. Booklist proclaims, “With wry comedy and intense feeling, and without intrusive historical detail, Giff gets across a strong sense of what it was like on the home front during World War II.”

The story centers on Lily's experience during the war and her relationships. She comes to terms with the grandmother who rears her, her father who leaves her behind for the war effort, her mother who has passed away, and her best friend who has moved away. These themes of loneliness and separation hold true whether in times of war or not. In the author’s notes, Giff addresses the universality of her work noting that people have always worried about the same things even if the times change. School Library Journal agrees, “Giff's well-drawn, believable characters and vivid prose style make this an excellent choice” of historical fiction for readers of all ages.

 

Lily’s Crossing is the winner of a Newbery Honor award.

Readers can make further historical connections of wartime America in Giff’s companion novel Willow Run. 

Books in Print. TWU Library. Accessed November 11, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125/

THE WEDNESDAY WARS by Gary D. Schmidt

 

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Schmidt, Gary D. 2007. The Wednesday Wars. New York: Sandpiper. ISBN 9780618724833

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt follows the trials and travails of 7^th grader Holling Hoodhood throughout the 1967-68 school year. This story is set in the suburbs of Long Island, New York in a predominantly Hebrew and Catholic community. As the only Presbyterian in his class, Holling finds himself with free time on Wednesday afternoons. This is when his teacher Mrs. Baker assigns him extra work, including everything from cleaning the classroom to memorizing Shakespearean plays. Through this special one-on-one relationship, the boy learns to deal with his feelings about his “perfect” parents, the pressure of inheriting the family business, his rebellious older sister, and his new-found theater and running activities.

Using the Vietnam War as the backdrop, Schmidt quietly weaves the hippie era into the narrative without it taking over the story or becoming too dark or depressing. Holling’s sister’s transformation into a flower child and his teacher's MIA husband is the closest he gets to experience any fallout from the war. The characters are completely believable and identifiable to anyone who's ever been a student. The strong character of Mrs Baker is especially influential who does everything in her power from coaching Holling how to train for track meets to driving him all the way to Yankee Stadium to meet his favorite players.  The setting is vividly described from the point of view of a thirteen year-old boy of the time. The landmarks and buildings are also pointed out in detail as would be expected from the son of an architect.

As the theme of the story does revolve around the turbulent 1960’s, it reflects universal ideas that can be identified by anyone at any time with its nostalgic, awkward look at family life, the junior high school years, and coming of age. The story of Holling reminds one of the television drama series "The Wonder Years" set in the same era where Kevin Arnold found himself growing up in similar traumatic times. Booklist praises Schmidt’s writing: “[S]eamlessly, he knits together the story's themes: the cultural uproar of the '60s, the internal uproar of early adolescence, and the timeless wisdom of Shakespeare's words.”

Schmidt hilarious style of using hyperbole to describe small details of events and exaggerating them into monumental fears just as a 13-year-old would is effective. This allows the reader to laugh out loud at the absurd situations and predicaments of Holling as if they were there to witness it in junior high. VOYA aptly summarizes, “this novel is funny, warm, sad, and touching all at the same time.”

The Wednesday Wars is a 2008 Newbery Honor winner.

Readers who enjoyed this title can find similar themes expressed in Schmidt’s companion novel Okay For Now.

Books in Print. TWU Library. Accessed November 10, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125/

AUTUMN ACROSS AMERICA by Seymour Simon

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Simon, Seymour. 1993. Autumn Across America. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 1562824686

Autumn Across America by Seymour Simon is the first of his series of children’s nonfiction books depicting changing seasons. Simon, an acclaimed writer of hundreds of juvenile science titles, has created a rich resource for children of all ages to enjoy the world around them. Through spectacular scenes showcasing nature photography, the author teaches the reader about the signs of autumn in different parts of the country. He explains in detail the scientific phenomenon of leaves changing color, migration of insects and birds, harvesting crops, and weather changes.

This title just like most of Simon’s works is an eye-catching photo essay the likes of which are unparalleled in children’s nonfiction literature today. The quality of the photography and exposition of the text truly speaks volumes about the author’s knowledge and reputation. There is no doubt in one’s mind that he is a master of this genre and it is worth noting that he worked previously as a science teacher, which is evident in his style of writing. His love for nature and the earth resonates in his messages about ecological awareness. The layout and design of Autumn Across America is brilliantly simple yet dramatic enough to be displayed as a coffee table book.

Seymour Simon has received the Eva L. Gordon Award for outstanding contribution to science literature from the American Nature Study Society and the 1992 Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Forum on Children’s Science Books.

This book would make a wonderful visual extension for older children studying American geography, weather, seasons, or travel. Students can be introduced to concepts of conservation and other earth science topics. 

Books in Print. TWU Library. Accessed on October 31, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125

ALMOST ASTRONAUTS: 13 WOMEN WHO DARED TO DREAM by Tanya Lee Stone

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Stone, Tanya Lee. 2009. Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream. Somerville: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763645021

In Almost Astronauts, award-winning author Tanya Lee Stone exposes the extraordinary never-been-told stories of the 13 women who were tested to see if women were as equally qualified to be astronauts as men. Using a combination of historical narrative, interspersed with first-person interviews, and archival photographs, Stone has created an incredible work of young adult nonfiction that almost defies categorization. Part photo essay and part social history, Almost Astronauts brings the age of the 1960’s space program to life for modern readers.

Stone provides evidence of extensive research in portraying the reality of gender discrimination rampant in society against women. Many documents including newspaper reports and White House correspondence reveal the prevailing attitudes of the time. For the most part, the text follows a clear chronological order. The passage of time can be clearly observed from the photographs which start out in black and white and progress to color. There is a lot of visual appeal to the book in the way the large borderless pictures bleed off the page to create a pictorial memory book. Stone’s writing style is dramatic, conversational, and poetic. The author’s notes at the end of the book reveal that her initial manuscript included poems she had written in honor of each of the 13 pioneers which were eventually featured as supplemental material on her website.

Almost Astronauts is the winner of the Sibert Medal.

This title would be an excellent choice for middle school aged students to explore women's history themes in conjuction with other works by the author such as Ella Fitzgerald, Amelia Earheart, or Laura Ingalls Wilder. 

Books in Print. 2013. TWU Library. Accessed October 29, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125

AMELIA LOST: THE LIFE AND DISAPPEARANCE OF AMELIA EARHART by Candance Fleming

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Fleming, Candace. 2011. Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earheart. New York: Random House Children’s Books. ISBN: 9780375945984

Notable children’s author Candace Fleming has created a fascinating factual account of the life and disappearance of Amelia Earhart in Amelia Lost. In this juvenile biography, Fleming recreates Earhart’s passion for flying through the use of authentic sources of research. Fleming cites primary documents such as archives from the pilot herself, Earhart’s own published works, as well as books written by her husband, and family letters. The author does a remarkable job in cutting through the mythical image of Earhart and bringing her persona down to earth.

This true life account of the world’s most famous female pilot is told in a unique and interesting way. The book’s chapters, which alternate between the last hours of her life and her childhood, capture the reader’s attention immediately. Throughout the work, photographs, maps, newspaper clippings, and handwritten notes add authenticity to the dramatic events narrated in the text. The layout of the book brings to mind an old family album or scrapbook, which adds to the historical appeal of Earhart’s story. The 1930’s inspired typeface used in the book also helps to evoke the feel of that era in history. The subheadings, sidebars, and other verbal access features come together to make Amelia Lost a genuine source of information and entertainment for young and old readers alike.

Amelia Lost is the winner of a Cybil Award in 2011 as well as an Orbis Pictus Award in 2012.

This biography can be paired with another title by the same author, Eleanor:  A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Rooselvelt’s Remarkable Life as part of a study on amazing women in history. As an extension activity, children can be asked to create a timeline or scrapbook highlighting major events in their lifetime and possibly predicting future ones.

Books in Print. 2013. TWU Library Accessed October 28, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125

CODE NAME VERITY by Elizabeth Wein

Code Name Verity Book Trailer

STOP PRETENDING by Sonya Sones

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Sones, Sonya. Stop Pretending: What happened when my big sister went crazy. (1999). New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 9780060283865.

In the verse novel Stop Pretending, author Sonya Sones has captured a deeply powerful, poignant, and personal story. This young adult book written in a simple, straightforward style takes readers on a complex emotional roller coaster ride based on the true life of the author. Sones' poetry reflects the mind of a young girl and what her family is facing from the fallout of the elder sister’s mental illness and hospitalization.

While neither rhyming nor rhythmic, each poem in the book realistically reflects the natural language and expressions of a teenage girl. The feelings conveyed at different moments are raw and palpable. The words spoken by the young narrator, Cookie, are intensely profound in their heartbreaking tenderness. Each small page of short lines, written as if glancing inside her private journal, is a lesson in brevity. The author’s blunt writing leaves no question of the pain, frustration, and helplessness of the situation. Every poem recounts the sad abnormality in otherwise normal everyday life events. In the poem ”Mass Pike”, Sones writes: “On the way home from the hospital / my father starts crying so hard/ that he has to pull over/ by the side of the road,/ and we weep with him/ while cars filled/ with happy families/ whiz past.” The book closes with an author’s note and list of organizations, rounding out what School Library Journal hails as, “An unpretentious, accessible book that could provide entry points for a discussion about mental illness--its stigma, its realities, and its affect on family members.”

Stop Pretending was awarded in 2000 by ALA as a Best Book for Young Adults and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.

This verse novel can be shared with teens as a prompt to inspire realistic journal writing or possibly even fictional diary writing.  

Books in Print. TWU Library. Accessed October 8, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125

BOOKSPEAK! by Laura Purdie Salas

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Salas, Laura Purdie. 2011. BookSpeak!: Poems About Books. Ill. by Josee Bisaillon. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780547223001

In the humorous collection BookSpeak!, Laura Purdie Salas has created playful poems that books themselves would have penned if books could write. This illustrated children’s poetry book is delightfully unique in its point of view as each individual poem gives the spotlight to a specific part of a book—index, cover, bookplate, middle, end, plot, pictures—as if they’ve been given the stage to finally speak.

This personification of books is at once charming and mesmerizing, compelling the reader to get lost inside the psyche of a book. The poems offer a good variety of styles including free verse, rhyming couplets, and acrostic. The general layout, styling, and lettering of the collection is playfully attractive for children. The decorative collage art by Josee Bisaillon accompanying each poem adds visual whimsy to the amusing rhythmic verses. School Library Journal agrees, ”Bisaillon skillfully incorporates the printed poems into the artwork so that the words and images have a single, unified, visual effect.”  In the poem titled “Conflicted”, the confession of a conflict has a real endearing quality: “I’m trouble, I’m misery, problems unplanned./ I’m an earthquake, an illness, a ransom demand./ My characters hate me. They don’t think I’m grand./ But without me their plots would be dreary and bland.”

BookSpeak! received the 2012 CYBIL for poetry as well as a Beehive Children’s Poetry Book Award in 2013.

This collection can be paired with poems about libraries to promote National Library Week. Similar themed books include Please Bury Me In the Library by J. Patrick Lewis or Judy Sierra’s Wild About Books. 

Books in Print. TWU Library. Accessed October 7, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125

WORLD RAT DAY by J. Patrick Lewis

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Lewis, J. Patrick. 2013. World Rat Day: Poems about real holidays you’ve never heard of. Ill. by Anna Raff. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763654023

The poems crafted by J. Patrick Lewis in World Rat Day are a silly celebration of actual holidays that sound too good to be true. For every month from January to December, Lewis has compiled a list of crazy reasons to have a party. Young children will be astonished to learn that such off the wall days do exist. Lewis offers odes to completely obscure events such as National Hippo Day, Worm Day, Bat Appreciation Day, and International Cephalopod Awareness Day.

Not only is the author asking children to mark their calendars, he may also be asking them to suspend their disbelief. Whether the holidays are truth or fiction, the poems themselves come across as nonsensical and forced. The writing is surprisingly dubious and erratic for a poet of such high caliber. The author displays laziness in poems such as “If the skunk did not exist,/ Then the skunk would not be mist”. One wonders how the single sentence “No one will ever forget Ewe.” could be considered poetic. Among the mishmash of styles, one standout is the poem created for Pink Flamingo Day which is drawn in the outline of a flamingo. Perhaps the best form of poetry is aptly presented on Limerick Day, where Lewis writes not one but five little limericks to commemorate this day dedicated to the fun familiar rhyme scheme. “The Hip”, a clever offering, goes like this: “A centipede said on vacation,/ “Don’t bug me—I’m into gyration./ And when I go on trips/ I’m so hip that my hips/ Hula hundreds of times in rotation.”” Anna Raff’s cute illustrations may be the one redeeming quality in this well intentioned collection. Publishers Weekly contends, “Raff's loose washes with ink details exude personality.” Otherwise, these very short non-fiction poems with no back matter will do little to pique children’s interest in poetry.

J. Patrick Lewis is the current U.S. Children's Poet Laureate named by the Poetry Foundation. 

Possible extension activities for this work could include an author study in the month of May in honor of Lewis’ birth. Children can be presented with other works of his including If You Were A Chocolate Mustache and Countdown to Summer: A Poem for Every Day of the School Year. The latter collection in conjunction with the reviewed title can also serve as an introduction to the concepts of calendars, months, or seasons. 

Books in Print. TWU Library. Accessed October 6, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125

JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT by Simms Taback

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Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is award winning author-illustrator Simms Taback’s adaptation of an old Yiddish folk song. Taback was inspired by “I Had a Little Overcoat” and reprints this childhood favorite tune at the end of his illustrated version. He weaves a delightfully simple story about a traditional Jewish man whose overcoat wears out, so he sews it into a jacket. The jacket gets frayed, so he makes himself a vest, and so on, until he is left with a mere button, which gets lost. Ever practical, he writes a book about it, the moral being that "you can always make something out of nothing." Joseph's surroundings are not only strewn with vibrant knickknacks, but also wise Jewish sayings and witty jokes.

Each page in this book is a collage of color—a clutter of buttons, remnants, and patterns all on a contrasting dark background. Taback’s illustrations are extremely creative, especially the die-cut format of the story, where the cut out shape reveals the new garment that Joseph stitched from the ragged clothing item on the preceding page. Booklist lauds, "Cut outs emphasize the use and reuse of the material and add to the general sense of fun." The artistic combination of drawings, photographs, and sayings constructs a charming patchwork of love and life lessons. 

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 2000. Taback previously won a Caldecott Honor Medal for There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, featuring a similar innovative die-cut format. 

This notable picture book can be used to create a variety of extension activities for varying age groups. As a flannel story, preschoolers can visualize the concepts of big and little or old and new through assembling different cut-out clothing pieces. In a craft project using worn out t-shirts, tweens and teens can appreciate how the current trend of “upcycling” old items into something useful is not an entirely new idea.

Books in Print. TWU Library. Accessed September 25, 2013. http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125

THE THREE LITTLE PIGS AND THE SOMEWHAT BAD WOLF by Mark Teague

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A traditional tale is updated with modern sensibilities in The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf. Author and illustrator Mark Teague has reimagined the well-known children’s story of the three pigs and created a fractured fairy tale that is recognizably true to the original version, yet full of amusing new twists. In this silly spoof, the farmer retires from his farm and releases the pigs into the real world where they must make it on their own. The first two pigs are more interested in buying snack foods and build their houses out of cheap materials. The third pig wisely spends all her money on bricks and builds a strong secure home. Predictably, a hungry wolf comes along when he finds all his favorite fast food joints closed. It also comes as no surprise that the wolf is able to blow down the first two pigs' houses. When the wolf can't penetrate the well-built abode, everyone moves in with the third pig and this is where the fun begins. The first two pigs give him potato chips and “sody-pop”, while the third pig cooks everyone a healthy meal fresh from her vegetable garden. The somewhat bad wolf is no longer hungry and not as big or bad as he appeared to be.

Teague has cleverly recreated the famous children’s fable for contemporary audiences. He has stayed true to the genre by keeping the focus on the animals’ behavior through which readers can learn the usual morals—along with the additional lesson of eating healthy foods. Kirkus hails that Teague’s pigs are “… full of personality, and their human traits and accessories are sure to delight”. The author also maintained the storyline of the original three pigs who find themselves in a quick, predictable episode of action filled with obstacles and a satisfying resolution. He upheld the use of things occurring in threes as well as the pattern of repeated phrases, both literary devices which characterize traditional fairy tales. The large bold illustrations accompanying the huffing puffing action of the story are filled with amusing details that are perfect sharing aloud. Publishers Weekly agrees, “the clever details in [Teague’s] creamy, textured oil paintings” expresses the pigs’ trouble and the wolf’s frustration in a delightful way.  

Mark Teague is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator whose books include the New York Times bestselling series How Do Dinosaurs, written by Jane Yolen.

Older children can enjoy comparing and contrasting this traditional story with different fractured versions including Jon Sciezka’s The True Story of the Three Little Pigs or Eugene Trivisas’ The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig.

Books in Print. TWU Library. Accessed September 24, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125

THE GOOSE GIRL: a story from the Brothers Grimm retold by Eric A. Kimmel

Kimmel, Eric A. 1995. THE GOOSE GIRL: A STORY FROM THE BROTHERS GRIMM. Ill. by Robert Sauber. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0823410749

In this authentic retelling of the Grimm fairy tale, The Goose Girl, Eric Kimmel has recreated the centuries old story of the kindhearted princess. The angelic daughter of a queen travels with her devious maid to a distant kingdom where she is betrothed to marry the prince. Along their journey, the scheming maid abuses her mistress and bullies her into switching places with her. Donning the princess’ clothes and horse, the maid is led inside the king’s castle while the princess is told to help the boy who herds the geese. In this cruel twist of fate, the maid’s deception is eventually uncovered by the fair-minded king. The evil maid is doomed to a gruesome death sentence and the real princess lives to become the prince’s rightful bride.

Kimmel's version of the Brothers Grimm story has all the markings of a true traditional tale. Not only does the story open with "Once upon a time...." but it also closes with “… lived happily ever after”.  The characters of the naïve princess and the shrewd maid exemplify the epitome of good and evil. The use of a magical talking horse named Falada who speaks a repeated verse, even after death, firmly reflects the style of traditional European folktales. As Publisher’s Weekly so aptly put it, the author “… revels in the magical, wistful aspects of this fanciful genre”.

To accompany this journey to a land far, far away, illustrator Robert Sauber paints each scene in rich jewel tones as befitting a story of royal proportions. Every page of text is set against what amounts to a framed painting, giving this picture book the look of old world charm. Sauber’s use of deep colors and detailed brush strokes “…give expression to the magical qualities of the characters”, praises The Horn Book.

This illustrated traditional story can be used to introduce German folklore to young adults who are reading the modern novel The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. 

Books in Print. TWU Library. Accessed September 23, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125

MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS by Robert McCloskey

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McCloskey, Robert. 1941. Make Way for Ducklings. New York: The Viking Press. ISBN: 9780670451494

Make Way for Ducklings, the Robert McCloskey classic, is the timeless tale about parents moving to find a better life for their children—in this case, ducklings. Mr and Mrs Mallard fly to Boston to find a home most appropriate for the upbringing of their family. They had to rule out all the spots that were unsuitable, had unsavory neighbors, or unacceptable traffic. After scouting out places all around town the capable Mrs Mallard finally agreed to a quiet cozy spot to build her nest. As Mr Mallard concerned himself with procuring food, namely peanuts from the friendly policeman Michael, Mrs Mallard tended to her eight eggs protectively. When the big day arrived, the Mallards proudly named their hatchlings one by one—Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack! While father Mallard busied himself with exploring the rest of the river, mother duck ensured her ducklings learned how to survive. She taught them to swim and dive and walk in a line—however, what she hadn’t anticipated was how she would cross a busy highway with her young brood. This is where Michael comes to her rescue and stopped the oncoming speeding cars long enough for the family to pass. Anticipating trouble, the helpful policeman calls headquarters for backup. Meanwhile the proud mother duck waddles around town with her obedient little ducklings following behind, to the amazement of onlookers. Thanks to the police officers, mother and babies make it safely to the pond where father duck is waiting to show them the island which will be their new home.

The beauty of this picture book lies in its universal appeal and realistic drawings. Even though the story unfolds in the bustling city of Boston, it could easily have been a representation of Any Town, USA in the 1940’s. The motorcars give the only real clue to the time period depicted. McCloskey’s use of big brown-toned sketches gives the work a truly authentic and artistic feel. The ducks in particular are rendered so lifelike as if the author were really observing a family of ducks very closely. The New York Times declared the illustrations as “…fine large pictures, strongly drawn, with a wealth of detail.” Moreover, the story’s portrayal of loving caring parents sends a warm positive message to children about the importance of family without being moralistic.

It’s worth mentioning that this was my first time to ever read this classic story. I can’t imagine why I would not have been exposed to this book in my childhood. I found it to be a refreshing change of pace from the current trend of gimmicky picture book publishing. Make Way for Ducklings is a nostalgic piece of children’s literature that takes one back to a time when life was simple and intentions were pure, just like McCloskey’s writing. Interestingly, my 8-year old daughter read it recently as well. When I asked about her impression of the book, she was fascinated mostly by the helpfulness of the policemen. She was relieved that the ducks made it across the street without knowing how to fly. Further, she pointed out that the story reminded her of the fairy tale, The Ugly Duckling.

Make Way for Ducklings won the 1942 Caldecott Medal for McCloskey’s illustrations.

This picture storybook can be an excellent conversation starter in a preschool program about birds, ducks, or even city life. The accurate depiction of the ducklings’ natural habitat can be used to introduce preschoolers to many new vocabulary words such as hatch, molt, waded, and waddled.   

Books in Print. 2013. TWU Library. Accessed September 8, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125

CLICK, CLACK, MOO: COWS THAT TYPE by Doreen Cronin

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Cronin, Doreen. 2000. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. Ill. by Betsy Lewin. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 9780689832130

In Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type, author Doreen Cronin and illustrator Betsy Lewin introduce us to their delightful farmyard characters. Readers are informed that old Farmer Brown has a perplexing problem. His animals have united and are voicing their complaints through typewritten notes left on the barnyard door. Farmer Brown can scarcely believe his ears when he hears the keys of his old manual typewriter clickety-clacking from the barn. The utter impossibility of literate cows is followed by the equally unnerving sign left for him to find on the barn door, simply stating that the barn is too cold to sleep in at night and thus, the cows require blankets—electric blankets, to be precise. Farmer Brown ignores the request only to be faced with a further incredulous sign declaring that the cows refuse to give milk. Unbelievably, the rebellious cows are clever enough to convince the hens to go on strike as well. With the disruption in the milk and egg supply, Farmer Brown--feeling the pressure--types out his ultimatum to the dissenting cows and hens, which is hand-delivered by the neutral go-between, Duck. In the cover of night, all the farm animals convene an emergency meeting, deliver a final offer to the farmer, and amicably settle upon a deal. Or so the reader is led to believe, until an unexpected twist—the cows aren’t the only animals on the farm that can type!

In this hysterical picture book that inspired many more farmyard escapades, cows, hens, and ducks cause trouble like never before with hilarious results. The clever use of an unassuming typewriter as a personification device by Cronin brings out the true personalities of these otherwise compliant farm animals. The absurdity of cows having typing skills surely illicit chuckles at the outset, but the ensuing demands for better sleeping conditions are guaranteed to create howls of laughter. Plus, the repetitive use of the onomatopoeic phrase “click, clack moo click, clack moo clickety, clack moo” brings comedic action into the story. The ridiculousness of Farmer Brown’s dilemma is perfectly complemented by the comical watercolor images painted by Lewin. Her full-page color pictures give an up-close look at the cartoon-like world of the mischievous farm animals. Each full-color spread looks like a panel taken from a comic strip. The looks on the animals faces are expressive and priceless.

The best thing about this book no doubt is its distinct brand of humor, normally not found in the easy picture book genre. Although the concepts of strikes and negotiations may be a bit weighty for the preschool set, young children can still appreciate the antics of the animals and the farmer’s increasing exasperation.  Booklist admits, “Today's preschoolers may have to be told about antique clackety typewriters, but they'll love the slapstick of the domesticated animals who get the farmer to toe the line.” It’s hard to decide what is funnier--the fact that the cows typed a note in the first place, or that the farmer actually resorts to typing out a response! The typestyle used for the animals’ demands really conjures up the feel an old manual typewriter. What’s amusing is that Farmer Brown’s note is obviously typed on a newer machine, without the uneven impressions.  It’s these subtle nuances in the illustrations that keep up the zany mood throughout the book. For example, Publisher’s Weekly notes that “…through the use of the man's shadow, Lewin communicates his rage…”. Leaving the last page wordless, of course, is another bit of great comic delivery, the picture punch line requiring nothing more than the reader’s laugh.        

                          

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type is the most notable work of the author-illustrator team Cronin & Lewin. It has received innumerable awards including a Caldecott Honor (2001).

This picture storybook can be easily adapted into an entertaining puppet play for a Farmyard Friends themed storytime. Audiences will enjoy repeating the clickety refrain. Another idea is to hold a featured author event to spotlight Cronin & Lewin’s trademark humor and cast of irresistible characters. A special Best Of storytime can be presented highlighting books such as Diary of a Worm and Duck for President. 

Books in Print. 2013. TWU Library. Accessed September 8, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125

GRANDPA GREEN by Lane Smith

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Smith, Lane. 2011. Grandpa Green. New York: Roaring Book Press. ISBN: 9781596436077

A young boy takes readers on a walk through a memory garden created by his great-grandfather.  In Grandpa Green, bestselling author and illustrator Lane Smith, explores the relationship of an aging horticulturist with his sensitive great-grandson through the honest observations of the young boy. The youngster narrates the life of his great-grandpa—from his humble beginnings, school years, war experience, married life, all the way to his old age—as he comes upon each topiary figure shaped to represent the highlights of the older man’s life. The keen young man realizes his grandpa’s forgetfulness is a natural part of aging, but is hopeful in the end that the memory garden will always hold the important milestones planted there, especially now since he has taken up the clippers as well.

This unique and gentle picture storybook quietly depicts not only Smith’s fantastic artistry, but also the title character’s meticulously crafted handiwork. The monochromatic color scheme of the entire work evokes the feeling of flipping through an old cherished family album. The green-hued pages make the boy’s small voice more dramatic and vivid. Each scene in the story plays tribute to a significant time in great-grandpa’s life. These landmark moments come to life through his lovingly created topiary figures—green shrubbery carved into everything from babies and bombs to waitresses and wedding cakes. The grandpa’s worsening memory is alluded to by the dropped items found along the way and is poignantly symbolized by a huge elephant figure, atop which the gardening enthusiast has absent-mindedly left his floppy straw hat. At the end of the book, readers are treated to a double foldout--a green hedge which opens to reveal the entire garden of memories, old and new, including the latest living statue of the young boy himself. Smith leaves us with a final image of the little lad with shears in hand, clipping away at a green figure of his beloved grandpa as he wants to remember him.

What I enjoyed most about this picture book is that the sentiment it fills you with is not forced. And the text is not flowery—no pun intended. This minimalist writing comes across as very honest and realistic, just as a boy would relate it. School Library Journal agrees, “… the imaginative art fills in what the words leave out…”. It is very easy to imagine that this boy would have listened repeatedly to his great-grandpa’s childhood tales. The boy knows all the stuff that is important to grandpa, and that is all what matters. It is amazing how a book filled with little more than images of leaves, twigs, shrubs, and trees could be so compelling. Readers will instantly spot Smith’s whimsical tribute to the Wizard of Oz. I love how he brilliantly adds color in the green landscape with red berries to dot the chicken-poxed faced of young grandpa. Most touching is the simple truth that the memories of generations past are carefully handed down to the future ones, like beloved treasures. As Publishers Weekly put it, Smith’s reflective tale “…muses on the memories, talents, and traditions passed down through generations.”

Grandpa Green is a Caldecott Honor book and was included in the Texas 2x2 Reading List (2012).

In a public library setting, this book can be shared during preschool storytimes featuring families or grandparents. This story can also be a great introduction to the letter G, focusing on the words garden, green, and grandpa. Or perhaps the work can be tied in with a color-themed program alongside Harold and the Purple Crayon and Blue Chicken.  

Books in Print. 2013. TWU Library. Accessed September 7, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125