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.