Book Review - THE GIVER by Lois Lowry

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lowry, Lois. 1993. THE GIVER. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0440219078


2. PLOT SUMMARY
Set in the future, THE GIVER follows a boy named Jonas as he enters his twelth year of life in a utopian society. In order to eliminate hard times and dissention, individuality is replaced with sameness. There is no war, no pain, no memory, no fear, and no hope.

Upon their twelth year of life, each child is assigned a role in the society. Jonas has been designated as the Receiver of Memory to be trained by the Giver. As part of that training, Jonas begins to receive all of the memories before the time of sameness. Throughout this painful and emotionally draining process, Jonas begins to realized how empty and shallow his "perfect" society is.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
It is a question that we wrestle with from generation to generation: how can we create the perfect society? Wouldn't it be great to have no war, no sickness, no crime, and no fear?

Lois Lowry gives us a glimpse of her perspective on this. The topic here is weighty and, initially, difficult to wade through. Some of the material is fairly mature and this book has made a few banned book lists. In an elementary school, I know some of the parents of 4th and 5th graders would want to discuss why a book in their library talks about "stirrings".

Reading what Jonas goes through when he receives some of the memories is painful. It is a vivid reminder of the realities of this life. However, there are memories that he experiences that make us realize why "sameness" does not work: no love, no choices, no feelings, no passion. It makes one realize that we cannot have all the good of this world without having some of the bad.

In my humble opinion, the first few chapters of any fantasy book are a bit confusing. There are new worlds to navigate and unfamiliar societal structures that force the reader to really focus. About a third of the way through, after characters have been introduced and we get a handle on the society, this book really starts to flow. More and more details emerge regarding the not-so-perfect perfect society.

Lowry's inclusion of "release" is also bound to set off alarms. Release is the utopian society's form of euthenzia. The old, the punished, and excess children are targeted. Release is conducted secretly, but with no feelings present in the society, it is looked upon as a joyful journey, not a death.

Jonas' struggle with feelings and memories is fresh. We forget the cold of snow or the brilliance of color or the pain of our first cut. Jonas is a baby foraging in a new world and we get to experience some of that ourselves.

The ending is a bit ambiguous. Jonas rescues a baby designated for release and they escape out of the utopia. The reader is led to believe that they survive, but that is left up to the imagination. Fortuantely, there is a sequel that confirms this.

I would not recommend this to many at the elementary level. This book is geared toward a more mature young adult reader. Middle school and high school would be the place for this book.

Several literary points are present here:
1. There is a sense of realism, in that this book could happen.
2. This is a "problem" novel, in that the problems that Jonah wrestles with strike a chord in the mind and heart of the reader.
3. There is a sense of controvery, especially with the depiction of euthensia and stirrings toward sex.
4. The readership is definitely for higher-aged elementary children or middle/high school children.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "The author makes real abstract concepts, such as the meaning of a life in which there are virtually no choices to be made and no experiences with deep feelings. This tightly plotted story and its believable characters will stay with readers for a long time."

* Starred review from PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "Winner of the 1994 Newbery Medal, this thought-provoking novel centers on a 12-year-old boy's gradual disillusionment with an outwardly utopian futuristic society; in a starred review, PW said, 'Lowry is once again in top form... unwinding a tale fit for the most adventurous readers'."

5. CONNECTIONS
*Perhaps a good tie-in to something middle and high school children are well aware of is the attempt of Hitler to create a utopian society. Students should do a bit of research and do a compare/contrast of Hitler's ideals and the ideals set aside by the Elder's in Jonas' society.

*A good book-link is BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley. Although a controversial book, this makes one think. Lowry included many of the same things in her book that Huxley did (eliminating poverty and war, for instance), but went the other way as far as societal impacts. What was the difference in Huxley's society as opposed to Lowry's?


Huxley, Aldous. 1977. BRAVE NEW WORLD. Flamingo; New Ed edition. ISBN 0586044345

Book Review - THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY by Susan Patron

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Patron, Susan. 2006. THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY. Ill. by Matt Phelan. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 1416901949

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Lucky is a ten year old girl who lives in the small town of Hard Pan, California (population 43). Living with her guardian (her father's first wife, Brigitte), Lucky has already endured the death of her mother and the absence of her father who wants nothing to do with her.

Lucky's part-time job is to clean up after the various self-help groups that meet nearby. She cleans up cigarette butts for the AA meetings, beer bottles for the Gamblers Anonymous, etc. But she picks up something else along the way...a knowledge that she needs a higher power to find happiness.

Lucky is convinced that Bridgett misses her life in France and Lucky is to blame. She runs away in a dust storm, being careful to bring along her survival-kit backpack. In doing so, she finds the true depth of her relationship with Bridgett and finally comes to grips with the loss of her mother.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
What we quickly come to realize is that Lucky is not lucky after all. In just ten short years, she has suffered great loss and yet still manages to be a typical kid.

We are introduced to great characters like her friend Lincoln who is incredibly talented at knot tying and has a presidential name that may make him Executive in Chief one day. We also meet Miles whose diet consists solely of cookies and whose favorite book is Are You My Mother? (Coincidence? I think not.) And who can forget the great name of her dog, HMS Beagle? There is great depth of character here and we quickly get involved with Miles and Lincoln and even Bridgett.

Patron delivers her story with witty reparte and allows us to enter into the mind of a 5th grader...perish the thought. We also get quite a bleak view of the living conditions of the people in Hard Pan. Yet Lucky and her crew manage to rise above.

Although we see lots of hard times and people down on their luck, this is a story of hope and we begin to see that Lucky is just that after all; lucky.

This has all of the characteristics of contemporary realistic fiction.
1. This book tells a story that never happened but could happen.
2. It is set in present time (contemporary).
3. It could really happen (realistic).
4. But it is still created by the author (fiction).
5. There is controvery (use of the word "scrotum" has caused it to be on several banned book lists) and "problems" (effects of death on children, insight into self-help groups, living with a single parent, etc.).

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "This character-driven novel has an unusually complicated backstory, and a fair amount of exposition. Yet, its quirky cast and local color help to balance this fact, and the desert setting is fascinating. Lucky's tendency to jump to conclusions is frustrating, but her struggle to come to terms with her mother's death and with her new life ring true."

* Starred review from BOOKLIST: "Patron's plotting is as tight as her characters are endearing. Lucky is a true heroine, especially because she's not perfect: she does some cowardly things, but she takes pains to put them to rights."

5. CONNECTIONS
*Have kids discuss Lucky's survival kit backpack. What sort of things would you keep in your own survival kit backpack and what would they be used for?

*Lucky has been through some tough times in her life. Write a brief paragraph on why the author named her main character "Lucky".

Book Review - MONSTER by Walter Dean Myers

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Myers, Walter Dean. 1999. MONSTER. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN 0060280778

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Steve Harmon is in jail, on trial for supposedly participating in a store robbery gone wrong. Accused of being a look-out in the robbery-turned murder, Steve faces 25 years to life.

Writing from the protagonist's point of view, Myers allows us to peek inside the mind of a 16 year old who grows up overnight. The book alternates between Steve's diary and scenes from Steve's "movie" he would make about his life in the courtroom and in the prision cell.

Is Steve a monster? The jury decides...as does the reader.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

From the first sentence, I was hooked: "The best time to cry is at night, when the lights are out and someone is being beaten up and screaming for help."

This book is quite readable. Although it is a seemingly big book, the writing is such that chapters fly by. Like any book, I had to get into it before I got the hang of it.

I found it interesting that Myers chose two points of view...just as there are two sides to any story. The diary writings were very personal and the reader gets more than enough information about Steve and his fears of being in jail, being on trial, and letting his family down. We also get too real insight into prison behavior.

The "film" portions of the book allowed a bit of distance between Steve and the situation he was in. The only drawback I saw in this was that I got lost a few times remembering who was who and what lawyer stood on what side. I had to keep a few notes handy...not my favorite thing to do while reading.

I thought the ending was abrupt. Before I knew it, the book was over and Steve's fate decided.

Because of the graphic material, this book does not belong in the elementary library. I would even hesitate to have middle schoolers read this. Definitely a mature read.

This has all of the characteristics of contemporary realistic fiction.
1. This book tells a story that never happened but could happen.
2. It is set in present time (contemporary).
3. It could really happen (realistic).
4. But it is still created by the author (fiction).
5. There is controvery (sexual scenes alluded to) and "problems" (effects of violence and possible jail time).


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review from KIRKUS REVIEWS: "The format of this taut and moving drama forcefully regulates the pacing; breathless, edge-of-the-seat courtroom scenes written entirely in dialogue alternate with thoughtful, introspective journal entries that offer a sense of Steve's terror and confusion, and that deftly demonstrate Myers's point: the road from innocence to trouble is comprised of small, almost invisible steps, each involving an experience in which a 'positive moral decision' was not made."

* Starred review from BOOKLIST: "Script and journal together create a fascinating portrait of a terrified young man wrestling with his conscience. The tense drama of the courtroom scenes will enthrall readers, but it is the thorny moral questions raised in Steve's journal that will endure in readers' memories."

5. CONNECTIONS
*Propose this proposition for a class discussion: what would you do if you were put in jail prior to a trial. How would you face your family and friends? How would you deal with life inside a cell?

*You are being given a video camera to record your life. What would your life look like to others? What type of scenes would you include? Knowing that your friends would see the tape, what scenes would you delete?

Book Review - BUD, NOT BUDDY by Christopher Paul Curtis

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Curtis, Christopher Paul. 1999. BUD, NOT BUDDY. New York, NY: Delacourt Press. ISBN 0385323069

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Set during the Great Depression in the 1930's this book gives us a glimpse into the life of an orphan who is in constant search of a better life.

With only a battered suitcase to his name, Bud runs away from one bad living situation to another. Moving from an orphanage to a foster home, eventually Bud sets out on his own. Clinging to a flyer about a jazz band that he knew was important to his mother, Bud makes his way to Grand Rapids, Michican in search of the man named in the flyer, Herman Calloway, whom he believes is his father.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Here we see the world through the eyes of a ten year old. Bud is a wonderful character whom we simultaneously feel sorry for yet cheer for. He has an unbelievably good nature for someone who has found his mother dead, has lived in an orphanage, and who has been abused at the hands of his peers.

Resolving to run away, Bud meets challenges but finds kind strangers who help him along the way; a family who "adopts" him so that he can eat at a mission; a kind man who drives him to his destination and invites Bud into his home.

What Christopher Paul Curtis has done is created a character that makes you want to turn the page. I probably should have known what was going to happen next, but I didn't. I was struck by the juxtaposition of Bud's innocence and maturity. At times, I couldn't tell which was which.

All along, I thought that his search for Herman Calloway was a lark. I was absolutely stunned to find out that he was actually Bud's grandfather and that Bud was sleeping in his mother's old bedroom. When I found out, it was a moment I won't forget. I closed the book. My eyes opened wide. I remember saying the word, "wow", about 10 times.

I have since recommended this book to my mother and other teachers. With so many new books out, some get lost in the shuffle. This book is a prime example. I am the only one who has ever taken it out of the elementary library. It will now be used in my library curriculum!

Tunnel and Jacobs' criterea for historical fiction has been met.
1. There is no sugar-coating in this book. The details of the depression and foster care are quite vivid.
2. In the same vein, historical accuracy regarding places and facts is accurate with descriptions of the cities involved and the music as well.
3. The physical environment, patterns of daily living and spirit of the times lives through the music as well as the decription of the living conditions.
4. The story is told through the eyes of our young protagonist, Bud.
5. The writing style avoids giving too much attention to historical detail, concentrating more on the story.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* A 1999 Gold Medal Award Winner from PARENT'S CHOICE: "An orphaned runaway, Bud copes with the adult world with his numbered "Rules and Things." His few treasures from his former life with "Momma," are kept in a battered suitcase. One, a flyer advertising a musical group, leads him on a fantasy journey to an amazing reality."

* Starred review from BOOKLIST: "Told in the boy's naive, desperate voice, with lots of examples of his survival tactics, this will make a great read-aloud. Curtis says in an afterword that some of the characters are based on real people, including his own grandfathers, so it's not surprising that the rich blend of tall tale, slapstick, sorrow, and sweetness has the wry, teasing warmth of family folklore."

5. CONNECTIONS
*Because many of the events here center around the time of the Great Depression, perhaps a bit of background might help. Devise a worksheet on "Then and Now" prices. Also, many resource are on the internet about this topic, including pictures. Use this to open the eyes and minds of the students. Google is a good place to start.

*Have students make up their own "Rules and Things". What are some things they have learned in their few short years? What rules would they include? This may be an eye-opener. Watch out!

Book Review - THE ART OF KEEPING COOL by Janet Taylor Lisle

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lisle, Janet Taylor. 2000. THE ART OF KEEPING COOL. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689837887


2. PLOT SUMMARY
Set during World War II, THE ART OF KEEPING COOL chronicles the life of a boy, Robert, learning to cope with an ever-changing life: his father is flying for the war, his mother has moved the family to his grandparents house - new school, new family, new town, and new challenges.

During his stay with his new-found family, Robert and his cousin, Elliot, befriend a German immigrant, Abel Hoffman. After an attack near them, the boys live in an environment fraught with fear and tension. This leads to the town's suspicions regarding Abel's intentions. During this time, Robert also discovers the reason his family does not discuss his father.

What happens next leads the reader to discover who the real enemy is: ourselves.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The actual art of keeping cool is not nearly as glamorous as the title suggests. Rather, it is the art of keeping one's wits around an abusive grandfather, as well as living in a taut, war-wounded world.

There are many layers to this story. I found that I could only read this book in short bursts. I was bothered by the town's treatment of Abel and the discrimination present. Weren't we in Germany fighting those who were dispensing the same injustice? I was also amazed at the depiction of the grandfather. I often wonder how people like this are allowed to get away with their selfish actions. Unfortunately, I was also faced with the realization that many who read this either know of or are themselves in an abusive family relationship.

The tone and tension of this book will ring just as true today as it would have 50 years ago. We, too, are engaged in a war overseas. Many of the children in my school have parents and relatives who are serving their country. The apprehension of Robert regarding his father's safety will hit home hard.

Unfortunately, the other theme of an abusive grandfather/father will also strike a nerve.

Children grow up fast in this world. Childhood doesn't last nearly as long as we would like it to. Naturally, then, children like to read books that they can identify with. THE ART OF KEEPING COOL is one of those books.

Tunnel and Jacobs' criterea for historical fiction has been met.

1. There is no sugar-coating in this book. The details of the atmosphere and fear surrounding WW2 and abuse are quite vivid, as well as the stigma of being a German living in America.

2. In the same vein, historical accuracy regarding events, places and facts is accurate with descriptions of the cities involved, the life of those involved in the war, and the life of those back home..

3. The physical environment, patterns of daily living and spirit of the times lives through the music as well as the decription of the living conditions of those who are abused, as well as life lived in wartime.

4. The story is told through the eyes of our young protagonist, Robert.

5. The writing style avoids giving too much attention to historical detail, concentrating more on the storylines involving Robert, Elliot, and Abel.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "This is a heartfelt story about family dynamics and the harmful power of prejudice and hatred."

* Starred review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "This wrenching WWII novel traces the relationship between two 13-year-old American boys and a German-born Expressionist painter reputed to be a spy. The intimate first-person narrative brings universal themes of prejudice and loss to a personal level."

5. CONNECTIONS
*To further understand how Abel Hoffman was treated by the Americans (and how the Jews were treated by the Germans), try this activity: Divide the class at random. Give 1/2 of the students blue handkerchiefs to put around their necks and have the other 1/2 do the same with red handkerchiefs. Tell the students with the blue handkerchiefs that they are smarter, better readers and better looking. Discuss how this is unfair. Compare/contrast with Hitler's sorting method as well as the unfairness of labeling Abel Hoffman.

*Use maps to point out the places identified in the book. Find where the secret painting place of Elliot and Abel might be. Calculate the distance between England and the USA. Calculate the distance between France and the English Channel.

Book Review - LEONARDO DA VINCI by Diane Stanley

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stanley, Diane. 1996. LEONARDO DA VINCI. New York, NY: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688104371


2. PLOT SUMMARY
Diane Stanley takes us into the fascinating world of Leonardo da Vinci. More than simply a painter, da Vinci's world should be fascinating to young readers as Stanley walks us through his inventions and forward-thinking ideas.

Throughout this book, we get more than just a rote biography; we are exposed to the culture of the day and the history behind it. The illustrations are beautiful, as well as the reproductions. Students will be interested in the fact that da Vinci wrote from right to left and painted in an odd way as well. The back cover reveals his secret!

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
I've got to admit, biographies don't really interest me unless there is drama, suspense, or lurid tidbits. My taste runs toward JFK or Teddy Roosevelt. da Vinci would not be my first pick.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Definitely written for older readers, Stanley gives us background and details with prose that captures attention. da Vinci's life does have drama and suspense, yet most works are so dry, I never get to that point. Stanley grabs us from the beginning with a glimpse into the not-so-perfect birth of Leonardo. As I read it, I thought to myself, "Now THIS is something my kids can relate with".

Stanley knows her audience and breathes life into her work. She makes sure she includes, as mentioned above, an out-of-wedlock birth, gore (Leonardo's dissected corpses decomposing too fast), self-closing toliet lids, and helicopters. Every boy's fantasy!

A major author in biographies, Diane Stanley stays true to the form of what is good in biographies...tells historical facts in a story form, lots of colorful pictures, fairly short, and makes da Vinci more human by not brushing over the "darker" side of his life.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review from ALA BOOKLIST: "This is the best of the many children's books on Leonardo."

* Starred review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "These exquisite reproductions, as well as sepia-toned spot art taken from da Vinci's notebooks, sit uncommonly well within Stanley's own paintings, educating the reader about da Vinci's masterpieces as a natural part of the visual storytelling. A virtuosic work."

5. CONNECTIONS
*There is a wonderful website called "Welcome to Exploring Leonardo". There are links that look at his workshop, his perspective, from left to right, etc. What a great place for a class to explore and have a hands on approach. The site can be found at: http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/

*We have a great book in the elementary library by Jean Fritz called LEONARDO'S HORSE. It has quite a bit of the same biographical information
included by Diane Stanley. The pictures are more "childlike" and midway through the book focuses more on the 24 foot high horse da Vinci made from clay that was destroyed by the French. This book is a great companion to Stanley's book.

Fritz, Jean. 2001. LEONARDO'S HORSE. Ill. by Hudson Talbott. New York, NY. G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN: 0399235760

Book Review - THE BRAIN:OUR NERVOUS SYSTEM by Seymour Simon

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simon, Seymour. 2006. THE BRAIN: OUR NERVOUS SYSTEM. New York, NY: Collins. ISBN 0060877197


2. PLOT SUMMARY
Simon dissects the brain in his book regarding our nervous system. Repleat with cat scans and slices, he cuts right to the point. Breaking down the different sections of our nerve center and analyzing the various roles each plays, Simon deftly divides this brain book into organized sections.

Though there is not a table of contents or index, the book is easy to follow in its layout and is chock full of information. The writing content suggests that the audience should be higher-aged elementary to middle school children. This is especially true in regard to the photos. Some may be too graphic for little stomachs.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
I've got to admit, in this non-fiction section, this is my least favorite book. Of course it could be because I'm not science oriented.

That being said, I was actually interested at the beginning. Mr. Simon's opening page really piqued my curiousity but he soon lost me. I was bogged down by details and words I had trouble pronouncing. Mid-way through, Simon moved away from the scientific explanations and described the skull and brain. This part was quite interesting and was well written, although short-lived. The next pages dove right back into the science.

The text is a bit dry for my taste, though the images were fairly interesting. I'm glad the pictures were there or I may have reshelved the book halfway through. I'm guessing that any elementary-aged female would be loath to check this book out. Perhaps it would be interesting to their male counterparts.

Please realize my opinion is just that. Seymour Simon has won awards for his books and he has written over 200 of them, so he certainly is prolific in his work. If you are interested in facts and scientific explanations of why your brain does what it does, this book fits the bill. If you are looking for a generalization and don't really care about specifics, look elsewhere.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Full-color photographs, computer simulations, drawings, and three-dimensional models are used to grand effect to clarify, explain, and celebrate the remarkably complex system of brain and nerves; the large format, often with white type on black paper and full-page photos, is visually striking."

* Starred review in HORN BOOK: "The variety of views and the lucid presentation provide an absorbing introduction to this amazing control system that can do more jobs than the most powerful computer ever made."

5. CONNECTIONS
*If Seymour Simon's book is too "real", a good follow-up is a book written by Pamela Nettleton called THINK, THINK, THINK: LEARNING ABOUT YOUR BRAIN. The cartoonish drawings and simple wording really scales down the information, but gives enough to accurately convey detail.

Nettleton, Pamela Hill. 20047. THINK, THINK, THINK: LEARNING ABOUT YOUR BRAIN. Minneapolis, MN: Picture Window Books. ISBN 1404802525

*It would be neat to do some brain science experiments! Perhaps some jigsaw puzzles, brain teasers, face recognition games, short-term memory games, word jumbles, etc.

Book Review - SHIPWRECK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD: THE EXTRAORDINARY TRUE STORY OF SHACKELTON AND THE ENDURANCE by Jennifer Armstrong

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Armstrong, Jennifer. 1998. SHIPWRECK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD: THE EXTRAORDINARY TRUE STORY OF SHACKELTON AND THE ENDURANCE. New York, NY: Crown Publishers, Inc. ISBN 0517800144


2. PLOT SUMMARY

Documenting the story of survival of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his twenty-seven man crew, this book gives the reader the behind-the-scenes information that will shed more light on this subject than he or she expected. From the outset of naming the crew and getting the supplies to the gripping ordeal of Shackleton leaving his men to find land, Armstrong's storytelling paints a vivid picture.

Follow the crew as they are left behind to try and stay alive. Join Shackleton and his group as they brave the unknown and try again and again to get help. Through stunning photographs, see the rescue, look at the ice moustaches, and live in the overturned hulls of remaining ships. The pictures are stunning and put the reader at the scene.

If history books were written like this, all school children would be Social Studies majors.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This is an unbelievable story. It is like a Hollywood epic where the good guys always win and each staggering challenge after another is bested and the hero saves the day...oh, except for the fact that this story is actually true!

Before reading this book, I heard bits and pieces about this Shackleton guy and some sort of boat in the ice, but I never knew the extent of the ordeal and how surreal it was. Jennifer Armstrong's writing captured me from her short prologue "Just Imagine". After reading that, I was hooked. She was able to seize the story without boring me.

I found myself marking pages with post-it notes and flipping back and forth to pictures and diagrams and the ship manifest. I am a visual learner, so I want to see Blackborrow, the stowaway; the "Franks", Wild and Worsley, who lead in Schackleton's stead; and of course, Shackleton himself. The other "Frank", ship's photographer Hurley, may have been the most valuable member of Shackleton's crew, in the reader's mind.

The photographs brought the raw and hostile environment to life. Seeing the dogs, the frozen sea, the listing ship, and the various camps gives the reader the insight and perspective that he or she craves. Unlike many non-fiction, informational books, I felt like this book was written on the spot; that Armstrong was there alongside Frank Hurley. He snapped the photos while she jotted the text.

I also liked the maps and sketches of the various routes taken during this 2 year ordeal. The scale provides a perseptive that the text just cannot. I was as hungry at the end of the book as I was at the beginning. I almost wanted to start the book over as soon as I had finished. That is the mark of a great book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEWS: "This unbelievable story is enhanced by the vigorous prose; from the captivating introduction through the epilogue, it is the writing as much as the story that will rivet readers."

* Starred review in PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "Armstrong's absorbing storytelling, illustrated with dramatic black-and-white photographs, makes this an enthralling adventure."

5. CONNECTIONS
*Before the book is read, have students answer some questions you have put on a ditto sheet: Could you survive on an iceberg? Would you eat a seal? etc.

*Familiarize the students with the Antarctic, including the weather conditions and some of the animals located there, such as seals and penguins. Pull other non-fiction books about the region and have the students talk about the temperature and how cold that would actually be.

*After reading, compare with another book similar to this: TRAPPED BY THE ICE!: SHACKLETON'S AMAZING ANTARCTIC ADVENTURE by Michael McCurdy. How is the writing similar? How is it different? Which book captures your interest more? Why?

McCurdy, Michael. 2004. TRAPPED BY THE ICE!: SHACKLETON'S AMAZING ANTARCTIC ADVENTURE. New York, NY: Walker and Co. ISBN 0802784380

Book Review - WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A TAIL LIKE THIS? by Steve Jenkins

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jenkins, Steve. 2003. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A TAIL LIKE THIS? Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618256288

2. PLOT SUMMARY
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A TAIL LIKE THIS? not only poses the question, but answers it and many more. Another great read by Jenkins as he takes body parts of various animals and explains...in minimal, catchy wording...what each is for and how it differs from other animals.

The text is big and readable and gives facts that do not overload the young reader. Although written on a third-grade level. This book could easily be taken out by younger and older students alike.

Jenkins partners up with his wife, Robin Page, and not only dishes out tasty information, but uses an illustration method that is visually appealing and 3-D like in its quality. Also of note, background and additional information is included at the end of the book for those readers who want to know just a bit more...and you will.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

I cannot believe how much I learned from this book. I've been around a long time and found out things I never would have thought I didn't know! Jenkins gets right to the heart of what kids are interested in: animals. His illustration style is very unique. His cut-and-paste technique looks good enough to touch. The reader can see the crinkles in the paper and the velvet-like quality in some of them. The cotton in the rabbit ear was a nice touch! Isn't that what it really looks like?

I enjoyed the way Jenkins made us guess. On one page he would illustrate noses or ears or eyes and then on the following page the entire animal was fleshed out and the "usage" was described. Who knew there was a four-eyed fish that could see above and below the water at the same time? Amazing.

As a child, I would certainly be captivated by the illustrations and the simple wording for each page. This book is a quick read...something kids like. There are lots of pictures...something kids like. There are "gory" facts...something kids like. This is a great way to get kids to read non-fiction especially.

As an adult, I did like all of the above things, but I was most intrigued by the further explanations in the back of each animal previously discussed. I found out things I had no idea about: skunks stand on their front paws and spray over their backs; hippopotamus' get sunburned; mosquitos inject chemicals into my skin to keep my blood from clotting and that's why the bite itches! Darn them!

Great book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review in BOOKLIST: "Jenkins' handsome paper-cut collages are both lovely and anatomically informative, and their white background helps emphasize the particular feature, be it the bush baby's lustrous, liquid-brown eyes or the skunk's fuzzy tail. This is a striking, thoughtfully created book with intriguing facts made more memorable through dynamic art."

* Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Jenkins, this time in collaboration with his wife, has created yet another eye-opening book. Children will learn that lizards can completely break off their tail as a defense and that it will grow back. And, they'll find out that crickets' ears are on their knees."

5. CONNECTIONS
*We have a great series in my library called WHY ANIMALS LOOK DIFFERENT by Jonatha Brown. Each book looks at a different animal body part: feet and legs, heads and necks, tails, etc. It goes into a bit more detail, so this resource would pair well with WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A TAIL LIKE THIS?

Brown, Jonatha. 2007. ANIMAL FEET AND LEGS (WHY ANIMALS LOOK DIFFERENT) Milwaukee, WI: Weekly Reader Early Learning Library. ISBN 0836868609

*Jenkins has another book quite similar to this called WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN SOMETHING WANTS TO EAT YOU? Again, he uses the same cut and paste illustration techniques, so we could compare and contrast those. He also uses the two-page approach: identifying the animal on one page and then describes the defense mechanism on the next.

Jenkins, Steve. 2001. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN SOMETHING WANTS TO EAT YOU? Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618152431.

Book Review - OUT OF THE DUST by Karen Hesse

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hesse, Karen. 2007. OUT OF THE DUST. New York, NY: Scholastic. ISBN 0590371258


2. PLOT SUMMARY
Set in the mid 1930's in Oklahoma, this novel takes the reader into the harsh reality of one family's struggle. Tragedy claims the life of our heroine's mother and barely born brother. The poetry guides us through the age of the Dust Bowl and we watch as a family tries desperately to shake off that dust instead of becoming one with it.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Wow. What a powerful glimpse into the weary world of this tragically scarred family. As I read, I didn't want to turn the page. I was afraid of what would happen next. But yet I kept going. It was almost like not wanting to watch a train wreck, but yet not being able to turn away. The book grabs you from the first page and almost strangles you a third of the way in.

Hesse's free-verse poetry does what prose could never do; visually communicates pain and suffering. The poetry left me feeling as raw as the burns on Billie Jo's hands and heart. The self-imposed guilt Billie Jo feels is nothing compared to that thrown by others.
'"Billie Jo threw the pail,"
they said. "An accident,"
they said.
Under their words a finger pointed.'

Dust is threaded throughout this carpet of verse. It is everywhere and in everything. It is death. It is hardship. It is feelings. It is what we haven't become and what we are making of ourselves. Hesse's metaphorical use of this imagery lulls us. We wade in it and by the time Billie Jo is ready to leave her home, we are in a quagmire. We feel her pain and her anger and her longing for a family that loves her.

After Billie Jo comes back to her father, Hesse snags us again with her words:
'I tell him about getting out of the dust
and how I can't get out of something
that's inside me.'

For better or for worse, this is a book that creeps into you like the dust it conveys. You see it in the dirty face of a child. You feel it in the wind that whips. You smell it in an old room. It is never to be forgotten.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Told in free-verse poetry of dated entries that span the winter of 1934 to the winter of 1935, this is an unremittingly bleak portrait of one corner of Depression-era life. The poem/novel ends with only a trace of hope; there are no pat endings, but a glimpse of beauty wrought from brutal reality."

* Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "This intimate novel, written in stanza form, poetically conveys the heat, dust and wind of Oklahoma. With each meticulously arranged entry Hesse paints a vivid picture of her heroine's emotions."


5. CONNECTIONS
*I would think that most children would have no idea about the Dust Bowl. To fix this, have them do a one-page report on what it was. They can use encyclopedias, reference books, or the internet.

*We have a book in our library called THE DUST BOWL by David Booth. This is an easy to read picture book that would open a child's eyes to a visual representation of what Billie Jo's word may have looked like. Read and discuss.

Book Review - OLD ELM SPEAKS:TREE POEMS by Kristine O'Connell George

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
George, Kristine O'Connell. 2007. OLD ELM SPEAKS:TREE POEMS. Ill. by Kate Kiesler. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618752420


2. PLOT SUMMARY
George takes us into the world of trees: graceful; elegant; wise; silent keepers of time. From the very beginning, we recognize that the perspective is not always that of the author, but of the subject; the trees themselves.

Using various types of poetry, George takes us on a journey through various seasons, adventures and settings. Her poetry is sparse. However, what she says goes beyond mere words. Her poems can form an elbow and a knee, looping around a tree like a boy's sister. She often uses one word per line and sometimes she indents to create an effect.

The poetry appeals not only to nature lovers, but to anyone who, at any age, climbed a tree, hid behind a tree, jumped in a pile of leaves or had a tree house. Enjoy as George takes you back to the earth and a time when things were easier.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
I found this book to be a time machine. I was truly transported to the days when I built a fort with my brother and sister in an old willow tree by the creek. I smelled the pines as we went out and cut our own Christmas Tree.

George has a way of making her poetry so simple. It flows like a breeze through leaves. I closed my eyes several times and became part of the pictures. The illustrations by Kate Kiesler made this book even more real, however. The heron jumps out at you. I can hear the swish of the tails of the horses, Molly and Ed.

I do have a criticism, however. My younger sister is adopted and is black. Where is she in this book? Every child is white and most have light hair. Perhaps Kiesler could have thrown in a friend from a different racial background.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "George plays nimbly with language and form. Her invented words in "Tree Traffic" seem simultaneously strange and familiar: squirrels are "commuters... rippling up and down,/ tails unfurled./ The treeway is/ heavily squirreled." George also surprises readers with creative rhyme schemes, such as that of "Cooperation," in which two horses, sharing the shade of one tree, stand "muzzle to rump/ rump to muzzle/ like a jigsaw puzzle."

* Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "The selections beg to be read-aloud and shared. Free verse, haiku, and bits of rhymes and rhythms reflect the joy children feel as they play in and about or observe all types of trees throughout the year."


5. CONNECTIONS
* George has her own website that includes a Teacher's Guide. In it, she advises having the children pretend they are something else, inanimate or animate. A stapler? A squirrel? A cloud? And then ask questions like, "What is your day like?" or "What do you dream about?".

*Taking this one step further, play the game "What am I?". Using the technique above, children can act out what they are...using no words...and have classmates then try to guess the character.

Book Review - BEHOLD THE BOLD UMBRELLAPHANT: AND OTHER POEMS by Jack Prelutsky

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Prelutsky, Jack. 2006. BEHOLD THE BOLD UMBRELLAPHANT: AND OTHER POEMS. Ill. by Carin Berger. Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0060543175

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Once again, Jack Prelutsky strikes gold with his poetry. Similar to his other works (WHAT A DAY IT WAS AT SCHOOL or IT'S RAINING PIGS AND NOODLES), this collection of poetry is wacky, zany, and sure to tickle the senses. In this anthology, Prelutsky combines animals with inanimate objects, giving the animals an added bonus.

For instance, there is The Eggbeaturky, featuring a turkey with eggbeaters for "whisklike legs". There is also a Solitary Spatuloon, using a blue loon with a spatula for a body (capable of flipping pancakes, of course). This book is geared toward the younger ages, but a child of ANY age (4 to 94) will enjoy this play on words.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jack Prelustky taps into the part of the body that kids love the most...the funny bone! Nothing appeals to a child more than silliness, and this book hits the spot. The animals that Prelutsky creates with inanimate objects are just mind-boggling. How does he think of this stuff? A Circular Sawtortise? A Pop-up Toadster? Amazing. The descriptions further add to the laughter as Prelutsky "fleshes" out his incredible animal designs.

However, truth be told, it is the illustrations that take this book to a whole new level. Yes, the poems are vivid and detailed and extremely funny. But to SEE the animal creation opens up a whole new world. When I'm reading about The Ballpoint Penguin, I want to see it! And Carin Berger does not disappoint. Rather than draw the inventions, Berger clips and snips through old-style magazines and prints and newspapers and fashions the Prelustsky creation. This illustration style appeals to children, especially those who are not artistically inclined. Even they can come up with these zany images.

This book is a delight and begs to be read aloud, as well as again and again.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "Prelutsky fans are in for a treat with this collection that combines his latest book of poetry with two other favorite anthologies (Scranimals; What a Day It Was at School!) and features several original songs."

* Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "The detail in the mixed-media pictures makes this a good choice for individual or lap reading, but the poetry begs to be read aloud. This is definitely a do not miss poetry pick."


5. CONNECTIONS
*For combining art skills with language arts, have the children come up with their own animal/inanimate object creation and then design it using pictures they clip from old magazines.

*Living Books has a Jack Prelutsky poem as part of their collection. Have the children get onto the PC's and work through THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK and then come up with their own rendition.

Book Review - BIGFOOT CINDERRRRRELLA by Tony Johnston

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Johnston, Tony. 2000. BIGFOOT CINDERRRRRELLA. Ill. by James Warhola. New York, NY: Putnam Juvenile. ISBN 0698118715

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Following the familiar format of the classic CINDERELLA fairy tale, BIGFOOT CINDERRRRRELLA is chock full of laughs as Rrrrrella longs to do the things her stepsisters do! Set in an old-growth forest, the Bigfoot Prince yearns for a smelly, hairy princess. Through a series of fortunate (or unfortunate!) events, he finally finds one who fits the bill; Rrrrrella!

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Johnston produces yet another re-write of the of the classic CINDERELLA fairy tale but introduces components that make this version very funny. Johnston introduces the element of nature in her version and her characters are all Bigfoots. Consequently, this is one version of CINDERELLA that will be constantly check out by boys!

In this re-telling, the Bigfoot Prince searches for a female Bigfoot who is proper in appearance. Instead of a beautiful, dainty, perfectly coiffed princess, he is seaching for one who is hairy and smelly and has big feet. Johnston includes all the aspects of the Cinderella fairy tale in her work; good vs. evil, starting with "Once upon a time", use of magic, transformation, a "beary" godmother, etc.

Johnston's use of similies is especially hilarious. Adults and children alike will find themselves laughing out loud at the author's descriptions (ie: Rrrrrella has feet like log canoes!). Another interesting aspect of Johnston's tale is her "Me, Tarzan, you, Jane" dialog. Readers will find themsevles rolling their "r's" and making growling noises as they flip through the pages.

In addition, the illustrations simply add to the story. For those not familar with the Pacific Northwest, the use of light and color magnify the awesomeness of the natural setting and bolster the plot.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

* Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "Johnston's (The Chizzywink and the Alamagoozlum) wacky fantasy stays true to the Cinderella story, and her fresh setting and funny, evocative details will keep kids laughing."

* Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "The book can be read alone, aloud, or used for storytelling. It's hilarious fun with a message for all ages."

5. CONNECTIONS

* Great for a compare/contrast of the other fairy tales in general, and the CINDERELLA versions in particular. Students can keep track, on a sheet of paper, of the various ways in which different authors develop their tale.

*This is a perfect opportunity for a read aloud. It is also a great way for students to act out the book...especially this one. As for the dialog, I would read it first, and then the student acting that particular part would then repeat his or her lines.

Book Review - AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND by Alvin Schwartz

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schwartz, Alvin. 1992. AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND: FOLK POETRY FROM EVERYONE. Ill. by Sue Truesdell. USA: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 0064462145

2. PLOT SUMMARY
"On top of spaghetti, all covered with cheese, I lost my poor meatball when somebody sneezed." From riddles to rhymes to stories to poetry, songs and more, this book is full of material that will make any child (or adult, for that matter) giggle and snicker. Schwartz has gathered all sorts of nonsense and put it all in one book that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Silly, silly, silly. Seems that children loves book themes that begin with "s": scary and silly...and Alvin Schwartz features prominently in each theme. Here, he has put a book together that is timeless. Divided into sections, such as "Stories", "Riddles", and "Teases and Taunts", etc., the book user-friendly and flows easily.

Schwartz has taken folk poetry from most every decade so that any reader can identify with or remember at least one rhyme from his or her childhood. He has also included a very helpful section that details the sources of each folk poem. This is also divided by chapter soas to aid the reader in ease of use.

Adding to the light-hearted rhymes and songs are the very funny illustrations by Ms. Truesdell. The illustrations highlight particular scenes on a page and are in a simple, charcoal or pen and ink sketch. In fact, the sketches look child-like and would appeal to children of all ages. This is a book to be read again and again and shared with friends and family alike.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Read this outrageous volume before it is shelved; once the kids discover it, it will always be checked out."

* Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Not since Carl Withers's A Rocket in My Pocket (1948) has there been such a grand compilation of familiar (and unfamiliar) rhymes and chants from the children's own tradition: riddles, games, wishes and taunts; poems about love, food, school, or animals; parodies, nonsense, and stories."

5. CONNECTIONS
* An obvious connection would be to pull books by Alvin Schwartz that the children are bound to know...SCARY STORIES. This gives them a chance to see one of their favorite authors producing work in a different vein and one can compare and contrast the different styles of Schwartz's work.

* In my library, I cannot keep joke or riddle books on the shelves. Kids love to stump their classmates. One of the things I like doing is having a joke contest in the library, with the kids using books such as this. The next few weeks, I have the children come up with their own, similar, material. It's a big hit!

* I play guitar. Singing some of the riddles instead of saying them keeps the children WAY more focused!

Book Review - THE LEGEND OF THE POINTSETTIA by Tomie dePaola

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
dePaola, Tomie. 1997. THE LEGEND OF THE POINSETTIA. New York, NY: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0698115678


2. PLOT SUMMARY
Each year in Lucinda's town, there is a Christmas procession. Upset that she has nothing to bring, Lucinda hides and watches from the shadows. An old woman happens upon her and reassures her that the Baby Jesus will love whatever Lucinda gives because of the mere fact that it is given. Her simple gift of weeds turns out to be a Christmas miracle as they blossomed into pointsettias.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This retelling of the poinsettia legend is poignant. The story is straight-forward and hits home to children who are in the similar situation of having "nothing" to give at Christmas. Readers will be taken in by her plight and be delighted by the happy ending. This is one of those unforgetable stories that children need only hear once to remember.

It is dePaola's illustrations that have the most impact. Each pages reinforces, or in fact, tells the story in vivid detail. The layouts are rich in color and transfer the moods of the characters as well as the time of day. dePaola's depiction of the Mexican culture appears authentic and the reader feels immersed in the traditions and customs.

dePaola's writing and drawing styles go over well with children. His stories are easy to follow and his illustrations are so distinctive that children know who wrote the story just by looking at the cover. This particular title is quite popular with children as it sends a message of hope.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "His skillfully pared-down narrative and paintings that glow with strong colors present the story of a well-intentioned Mexican child, Lucida."

* Starred review in BOOKLIST: "The spreads, which feature everyday occurrences (set in a generic era), are magnificently staged and colored and culminate in the last spread--Lucinda praying at a creche, with a profusion of poinsettias decorating the pages."


5. CONNECTIONS
* Again, this is an opportunity to compare and contrast the illustrations with other dePaola stories, perhaps STEGA NONA. Can also be used with a non-fiction book on poinsettias.

* Because dePaola's illustrations are stories in and of themselves, have students "read" the story to you before you read it to them.

Book Review - A CALDECOTT CELEBRATION...by Leonard Marcus

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Marcus, Leonard S. 1999. A CALDECOTT CELEBRATION: SIX ARTISTS AND THEIR PATHS TO THE CALDECOTT MEDAL. New York, NY: Walker and Company. ISBN 0802786561


2. PLOT SUMMARY

Readers are given a chance to go behind the illustrations of six different artists spanning six different decades. We are allowed to see preliminary sketches and read about the methods and "madness" behind the images.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

One would surmise that the illustrations are the whole story. However, the writing adds much to the enjoyment of this book, going behind the scenes and allowing the reader to, in effect, "walk" into the art studio. In many ways, reading about the illustrations and the process in getting there is much more interesting than the illustrations themselves.


In this book, the reader finds interesting facts about the illustrators; such as the information that McCloskey (MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS) gives a true story about a family of ducks in Beacon Hill and actually lived with sixteen ducks to find out more about them; or that Marcia Brown (CINDERELLA)actually cut out her illustrations and used them like dolls as she arranged them on a page.


It is interesting to see how much work actually goes into the drawing process. Anatomical studies and research and multiple attempts are par for the course, not simply sitting and sketching.

This book is not necessarily light reading, but it is interesting to see the scene behind the scenes.



4. REVIEW EXCERPTS


* Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "Filled with witty anecdotes and pithy observations, Marcus’s approach to examining the works of six Caldecott Medalists will be of as much interest to adults as to picture book readers."


* Starred review in BOOKLIST: "A lively, informative introduction to each book and its maker. A beautifully made book, this will serve as a fine resource for children interested in illustration and for teachers researching author/ illustrator studies."



5. CONNECTIONS


* An obvious connection would be to pull books by the six artists discussed here and look at the illustrations, comparing and contrasting the different styles.

* Most children are excited to draw. My school could have the "Cubacott" awards (my school is Cuba Elementary), handed out to the "best" artistic rendering of a story.

Book Review - THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS - Mordicai Gerstein

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gerstein, Mordicai. 2007. THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS. Brookfield, CN: Roaring Book Press. ISBN 0761328688



2. PLOT SUMMARY
In 1974, a trapeze artist, Philippe Petit, strung a cable between the twin towers and performed for over an hour.



3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The illustrations are the centerpiece of this story. The writing is sparse and simple, but the images are sweeping and dramatic. The shading of the night scenes conveys that vividly. It is interesting how Gerstein kept moving the perspective from the on-lookers to Philippe himself. This gives the readers a chance to be not only part of the action but simultaneously viewing it. The fold-out of Philippe walking between the towers is majestic and scary and beautiful all at the same time. The point of view is a real knee-knocker!

In some ways, this is a difficult book to read. 2001 is a long time ago, especially for those who were not born at the time of the attacks on the twin towers. Good and bad are black and white issues for many of these children, so it may not be so difficult with the younger kids. Confusion about how and why and when needs to be addressed with those who are a bit older and may have heard about what happened on that day or have a relative somehow connected to this sad day.


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "Truly affecting is the book's final painting of the imagined imprint of the towers, now existing "in memory"-linked by Philippe and his high wire."

* Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "With its graceful majesty and mythic overtones, this unique and uplifting book is at once a portrait of a larger-than-life individual and a memorial to the towers and the lives associated with them."



5. CONNECTIONS
* This is a good opportunity to talk to children about ethics. Philippe knew that what he was doing was wrong, but he did it anyway. Was this wrong? Would you or have you ever done something you knew was wrong at the time?

* Most children are aware of the attack of September 11. Does the book make them sad or are they glad to know more about the towers themselves and something "good" that happened there?

* The children are amazed by stats and figures. Have the children line up and "make" the 28 foot pole that Philippe used. The space between the towers was 140 feet. How long is that?

Book Review - DOOBY DOOBY MOO by Doreen Cronin

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cronin, Doreen. 2006. DOOBY DOOBY MOO. Ill. by Betsy Lewin. New York, NY: Atheneum. ISBN 0689845073

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In this follow-up to her highly successful book CLICK CLACK MOO, Doreen Cronin again teams up with illustrator Betsy Lewin as they go back to the barnyard for loads of fun. Duck is up to his old tricks, preparing the animals for a talent show. The cows and sheep sing, the pigs dance, and Farmer Brown is none the wiser.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Geared toward ages 3 - 7, Cronin's books appeal to children where it matters most...animals. Anthropomorphism reigns supreme in Cronin's books, and this one in no exception.

The illustrations are crude and child-like in a way. Lewin uses bold, dark strokes to outline her characters and then uses a watercolor technique to add pigment. The illustrations look like they come straight from the art room. Her animal drawings are spot on but it is her caricature of humans that really brings the laughs. Farmer Brown's disguise when he keeps an eye on the animals is really, really funny.

Lewin depicts the characters perfectly and the humor of Cronin's words are intensified by Lewin's brushstrokes. Each page is an illustration on a blank, white canvas. But Lewin uses deep, dark blues to highlight a night scene or a darkened theater. The dramatic change when turning the page captures the reader's eye.

This is a fun, simple book in which children can participate, further enhancing their interest.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

* Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Comical watercolor illustrations provide the punch lines to many jokes within the well-paced text."

* Starred review in BOOKLIST: "The clever, deadpan story is fun, but the droll illustrations, strong strokes of black lines washed with watercolors, ratchet the comedy up a notch or two."

5. CONNECTIONS

* Great for read-alouds. Children will love to make the animals sounds and sing along with the cows!

* Good to pair with the other books in this series...CLICK, CLACK, MOO or GIGGLE, GIGGLE, QUACK, etc.

* If this book was read to the children in kindergarten or first grade, follow-up in second grade and compare with other Betsy Lewin illustrated books such as the COWGIRL KATE AND COCOA books:

Silverman, Erica. COWGIRL KATE AND COCOA: PARTNERS. Illus. by Betsy Lewin. unpaged. CIP. Harcourt 2006. ISBN 0-15-202125-6.

TWU Course

This site has been created to post reviews required for a Texas Woman's University course entitled "Literature for Children and Young Adults".