The Book
Spinelli, E. & Wilsdorf, A. (Illus.). (2008). The Best Story. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers.
Summary
The Best story is about a young girl who wants to write the best story to win the Red Brick Library contest. If she wins, first prize is a ride on the Sooper Dooper Looper rollercoaster with her favourite author. She really wants to win this contest as in her mind first prizes don't get any better than that. She then starts asking advice from her family on what makes a good story and she gets all different kinds of ideas from everyone she talks to. However, none of their suggestions seem to sound right once she writes them down. Her mother then gives her great advice and tells her to write from her heart, and as soon as she does she is pleased with her story. In the end she doesn't seem to mind whether she wins or loses the contest as the story she wrote is her own, it came from her heart and nobody elses and that is what makes it the best.
Response
This was a really cute book.Eileen Spinelli does a great job of encouraging children to write from within and create their own stories and inspiration.I found this book to be quite charming and funny. The illustrations really added a nice touch to the story and the theme is pretty realistic which allows the reader to relate to it. The results of the contest are left to speculation and Spinelli does not name the child which allows the reader to think about what's important in this story. The point is not whether or not she wins the contest but that she is proud of the story she created as it came from her own heart.I think this would be an excellent story to read to young children to motivate them to write their own stories and narratives and would also be a good read aloud to inspire them when learning about creative writing.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
This book has not won any awards that I know of. It's theme is story telling, creative writing and using your imagination. I think this book would be most appropriate for children 4-9 years old. It has vibrant fun illustrations that would draw younger children and a theme that is appropriate for children learning to write. I think this would be a great book for grades 1-3 to motivate the children to write their own stories and learn more about creative writing.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Diary of a Worm- Picture book #4
The Book
Cronin, D. & Bliss, H. (Illus.). (2003). Diary of a Worm. New York: Joanna Cotler Books an Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.
Summary
Diary of a Worm chronicles the everyday life of a funny, intelligent young male worm. His diary spans from March 20th to August 1st and through these entries he details the amusing adventures that occur during this time. Some of his adventures include trying to teach his friend Spider to dig a hole, pestering his sister, hiding from shovels during fishing season, trying to dance to the hokey pokey and so many more. Through his diary entries he also explains how worms play an important role in caring for the earth. His humanistic qualities are shown through various entries and the scrapbook like beginning and end of the book. He concludes his diary by stating it's not always easy being a worm and shares both what he likes and does not like about being a worm in this great big world.
Response
This book was both funny and endearing and to my suprise it was also quite informative! It really increases the reader's ecological awareness and allows them to see the world from the perspective of a worm. Through his diary entries children can see how he is not that much different from themselves, besides the whole eating his homework thing, never having to bath and the obvious physical differences. He dreams about the future, creates relationships and learns through trial and error like all of us.The illustrations are wonderfully done and they really add character to the book and the worm's diary entries. There were many times I laughed out loud reading this book, especially when he told his sister that no matter how many times she tried her head would always look like her rear end. I also enjoyed how one of the journal entries demonstrated the importance of manners. I believe learning about manners is very important and think this book could have a great influence on young children. This book would also be great to read during Earth Days, many fun activities and discussions could be motivated by it. It is a good book to increase the student's awareness and knowledge about the roles different inhabitants play in keeping the Earth healthy.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
Diary of a Worm has won multiple awards. The awards are as follows: School Library Journal Best Book, IRA/CBC Children's Choice, Nevada Young Reader's Award and Parents' Choice Silver Honor. The years in which this book won these awards was not stated and I found them on the Harper Collins website. The book jacket states this book is for ages 4-8 and I agree, this is a wonderful book for young children. It's themes are family, friends, personal attributes and talents, diaries, worms and ecological awareness.
Cronin, D. & Bliss, H. (Illus.). (2003). Diary of a Worm. New York: Joanna Cotler Books an Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.
Summary
Diary of a Worm chronicles the everyday life of a funny, intelligent young male worm. His diary spans from March 20th to August 1st and through these entries he details the amusing adventures that occur during this time. Some of his adventures include trying to teach his friend Spider to dig a hole, pestering his sister, hiding from shovels during fishing season, trying to dance to the hokey pokey and so many more. Through his diary entries he also explains how worms play an important role in caring for the earth. His humanistic qualities are shown through various entries and the scrapbook like beginning and end of the book. He concludes his diary by stating it's not always easy being a worm and shares both what he likes and does not like about being a worm in this great big world.
Response
This book was both funny and endearing and to my suprise it was also quite informative! It really increases the reader's ecological awareness and allows them to see the world from the perspective of a worm. Through his diary entries children can see how he is not that much different from themselves, besides the whole eating his homework thing, never having to bath and the obvious physical differences. He dreams about the future, creates relationships and learns through trial and error like all of us.The illustrations are wonderfully done and they really add character to the book and the worm's diary entries. There were many times I laughed out loud reading this book, especially when he told his sister that no matter how many times she tried her head would always look like her rear end. I also enjoyed how one of the journal entries demonstrated the importance of manners. I believe learning about manners is very important and think this book could have a great influence on young children. This book would also be great to read during Earth Days, many fun activities and discussions could be motivated by it. It is a good book to increase the student's awareness and knowledge about the roles different inhabitants play in keeping the Earth healthy.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
Diary of a Worm has won multiple awards. The awards are as follows: School Library Journal Best Book, IRA/CBC Children's Choice, Nevada Young Reader's Award and Parents' Choice Silver Honor. The years in which this book won these awards was not stated and I found them on the Harper Collins website. The book jacket states this book is for ages 4-8 and I agree, this is a wonderful book for young children. It's themes are family, friends, personal attributes and talents, diaries, worms and ecological awareness.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Cheater, Cheater- Novel #3
The Book
Levy, E. (1993). Cheater, Cheater. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.
Summary
Cheater, Cheater is about a 13 year old girl named Lucy. Lucy has just started Grade 7 at a new school and on the first day she is given an invitation for her best friend Melanie's birthday party. Lucy is excited for the party but is also a little stressed as the invitation says couples only and it's a bowling party. The problem is Lucy doesn't have a date and she hates bowling. When Joey Rich, a popular boy in school shows interest in Lucy she asks him to be her date to the bowling party. At the party Lucy cheats at bowling to impress Joey and Albert sees her. Albert is another boy from school and he makes it his mission to tell everyone in school that Lucy is a cheater. Lucy is then labelled a cheater and she feels horrible about it.The problems escalate from there; Lucy's grades drop and not only is Joey not talking to her but she is fighting with Melanie as well. Being thought of as a cheater by her peers was bad enough so when her Science teacher suspects she may have cheated on a quiz she is determined to show him that she did not cheat. Lucy is given a chance to redeem herself and she then tries really hard to prove to herself, her friends, peers and teacher that she made a mistake cheating once, and it's a mistake she will never make again.
Response
This book details many issues faced in middle school, such as peer pressure, relationships, friendships, and decisions. It is very realistic and I often found myself thinking back to when I was Lucy's age and the mistakes I made. Also, it gives a great detailed account of what it's like to start a new grade at a new school with new teachers. I really liked all the interesting Science facts it gave throughout the book and began to really appreciate Mr.Vega the Science teacher. Mr.Vega was a tough but smart and caring teacher with the students’ best interests in mind. He definitely does not take the content he is teaching lightly and is very passionate about his work. This reminded me of some of the teachers I had as well as had me wishing now I had more teachers like them/him. I also found it neat how the incidents build on each other and kind of correlate to the topics being taught in Science, such as the chaos theory. I also like how the author kept the tone of the novel matched with Lucy's mood and how it could go from a light hearted conversation to ridicule, rejection and frustration in a heartbeat. I found this book does a great job portraying the temperament and issues raised during young adolescence. It shows its readers that mistakes happen and that they can be fixed, nothing is as bad as it seems but when bad decisions are made they should be prepared to face the consequences. Also it has a great lesson about friendship, peer pressure and morals. I think this would also be a great book to teach its readers a little bit about everyday life in middle school and about cheating. Children who have never cheated but have been tempted to will now think twice about it.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
Cheater, Cheater has not won any awards. Children close to Lucy's age would really relate to this story and younger children would be able to get a sneak peak of what topics are studied and what issues could arise when they reach Grade 7. It is a pretty easy read for a middle school student and that is why I think this book would be most appropriate for children aged 9-14. Its themes are cheating, school, adolescent life, decisions and friendship.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
On the Go- Non-Fiction Book #2
The Book
Morris, A. (1990). On the Go. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books.
Summary
On the Go shows the different ways people travel around the world. It contains photos from various parts of the world and gives the reader a glimpse of the different kinds of people in it, the places they live in and how they travel. There is an index at the back of the book that states where each photograph was taken and a little bit about this place and its methods of transportation. There is also a map on the last page that shows where each photograph was taken.
Response
I think this is a great book to show children the different kinds of transportation around the world. It is an easy read and the photographs really give the reader a realistic look at the different places the book travels to. Another use for this book would be to show children the similarities and differences on how various cultures live and travel. I really liked how each page contained colourful photographs and simple text. This would really help pull young readers in as it is fun to look at and easier for them to understand. The map and the index are also very useful and I think the readers both young and old would find them both beneficial. They give the readers a chance to learn more about the various countries this book travelled to as well as the methods of travel used by each. I think this book would be a wonderful book to use to expose young children to the different countries and cultures around the world.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
This book has not received any awards that I know of. It's theme is travel and diversity around the world. It would be appropriate for children as young as 2 years old as it contains simple text and interesting photographs. Many children could look at the pictures while their parents read it to them and tell them about the different places the book visits. So in regards to the age this book is appropriate for I think it's useful for children 2 to 10. I think children over 10 may find it too simple and too easy of a read. Younger children could use it as an easy reader or beginning book while older children could use it to expand their knowledge and learn more about the different cultures and modes of transportation around the world.
Morris, A. (1990). On the Go. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books.
Summary
On the Go shows the different ways people travel around the world. It contains photos from various parts of the world and gives the reader a glimpse of the different kinds of people in it, the places they live in and how they travel. There is an index at the back of the book that states where each photograph was taken and a little bit about this place and its methods of transportation. There is also a map on the last page that shows where each photograph was taken.
Response
I think this is a great book to show children the different kinds of transportation around the world. It is an easy read and the photographs really give the reader a realistic look at the different places the book travels to. Another use for this book would be to show children the similarities and differences on how various cultures live and travel. I really liked how each page contained colourful photographs and simple text. This would really help pull young readers in as it is fun to look at and easier for them to understand. The map and the index are also very useful and I think the readers both young and old would find them both beneficial. They give the readers a chance to learn more about the various countries this book travelled to as well as the methods of travel used by each. I think this book would be a wonderful book to use to expose young children to the different countries and cultures around the world.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
This book has not received any awards that I know of. It's theme is travel and diversity around the world. It would be appropriate for children as young as 2 years old as it contains simple text and interesting photographs. Many children could look at the pictures while their parents read it to them and tell them about the different places the book visits. So in regards to the age this book is appropriate for I think it's useful for children 2 to 10. I think children over 10 may find it too simple and too easy of a read. Younger children could use it as an easy reader or beginning book while older children could use it to expand their knowledge and learn more about the different cultures and modes of transportation around the world.
When You Reach Me- 2010 Newbery Medal Winner- Novel #2
The Book
Stead, R. (2009). When You Reach Me. New York: Wendy Lamb Books a division of Random House, Inc.
Summary
When You Reach Me is about a 12 year old girl name Miranda. Miranda lives in New York and the book is set in the years of 1978-1979. Throughout the book Miranda receives mysterious notes, these notes hint at knowledge of the future and demand that Miranda not speak of them to anyone and keep them secret. Of all the notes Miranda receives the first one is the one that impacts her the most. In this note the mysterious person who left it stated they were coming to save her friend's life as well as their own and that they will not be themselves when they reach her. This novel contains four story lines- the apprearance of Miranda's mom on the $20,000 Pyramid show, the crazy laughing man that lives on the corner, Miranda's best friend Sal suddenly not talking to her and the new friendships that she develops during this time. Near the end of this novel these story lines start to forge together and through tragedy the message the notes were trying to send becomes clear.
Response
I really enjoyed this book, so far it's one of my favourite's from this assignment. It was a bit confusing at first, especially when it referred to the notes before I even read about them. At first I thought these notes may have been from Miranda's dad. However, after reading the first note that was left it became clear they were from someone that was unknown to Miranda at that time. This book always had me thinking ahead and guessing what was going to happen next. It contained many elements of mystery and suprise and I enjoyed the foreshadowing and elements of time travel throughout the book. After reading this book it became clear that the novel Miranda took with her everywhere was much like the story being told in this novel. There were definate similarities between the book she was always reading and this book, such as the main character in her book going back in time to rescue her brother. This was quite similar to how the laughing man travelled back in time to save Sal's life in this book. I enjoyed the different friendships created in this book and in the end I really began to understand Sal's reasoning behind his decison to stop talking to Miranda.Through this decision both Miranda and Sal were able to become more independent and create new friendships. The ending was both enlightening, unexpected and tragic. I found myself shedding a few tears after the laughing man saved Sal's life but this incident also had a positive effect. It is through this incident that everything started to make sense and fall into place for both the characters and myself as the reader.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
When You Reach Me is the Newbery medal winner for 2010. The central themes of this book are time travel, friendship and redemption. I think this book would be most appropriate for children 9 and up. It is quite complex and the content and reading level might be too difficult for younger children.
Stead, R. (2009). When You Reach Me. New York: Wendy Lamb Books a division of Random House, Inc.
Summary
When You Reach Me is about a 12 year old girl name Miranda. Miranda lives in New York and the book is set in the years of 1978-1979. Throughout the book Miranda receives mysterious notes, these notes hint at knowledge of the future and demand that Miranda not speak of them to anyone and keep them secret. Of all the notes Miranda receives the first one is the one that impacts her the most. In this note the mysterious person who left it stated they were coming to save her friend's life as well as their own and that they will not be themselves when they reach her. This novel contains four story lines- the apprearance of Miranda's mom on the $20,000 Pyramid show, the crazy laughing man that lives on the corner, Miranda's best friend Sal suddenly not talking to her and the new friendships that she develops during this time. Near the end of this novel these story lines start to forge together and through tragedy the message the notes were trying to send becomes clear.
Response
I really enjoyed this book, so far it's one of my favourite's from this assignment. It was a bit confusing at first, especially when it referred to the notes before I even read about them. At first I thought these notes may have been from Miranda's dad. However, after reading the first note that was left it became clear they were from someone that was unknown to Miranda at that time. This book always had me thinking ahead and guessing what was going to happen next. It contained many elements of mystery and suprise and I enjoyed the foreshadowing and elements of time travel throughout the book. After reading this book it became clear that the novel Miranda took with her everywhere was much like the story being told in this novel. There were definate similarities between the book she was always reading and this book, such as the main character in her book going back in time to rescue her brother. This was quite similar to how the laughing man travelled back in time to save Sal's life in this book. I enjoyed the different friendships created in this book and in the end I really began to understand Sal's reasoning behind his decison to stop talking to Miranda.Through this decision both Miranda and Sal were able to become more independent and create new friendships. The ending was both enlightening, unexpected and tragic. I found myself shedding a few tears after the laughing man saved Sal's life but this incident also had a positive effect. It is through this incident that everything started to make sense and fall into place for both the characters and myself as the reader.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
When You Reach Me is the Newbery medal winner for 2010. The central themes of this book are time travel, friendship and redemption. I think this book would be most appropriate for children 9 and up. It is quite complex and the content and reading level might be too difficult for younger children.
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Haunted Playground - Novel #1
The Book
Tan, S. (2008). The Haunted Playground. Mankato, Minnesota: Stone Arch Books.
Summary
The Haunted Playground is about a boy named Gavin who loves to use his metal detector to hunt for treasures on the beach and in playgrounds. One day Gavin stumbles across a playground unlike any other, this playground seems to swallow up any treasures that it might have contained. In this playgound there are also mysterious children that come out to play once it gets dark and the playground light comes on. One night Gavin loses his watch in the playground and spends many hours looking for it until a girl named Andrea tells him to come and get it. Andrea and the other children play keep away with Gavin and his watch for many hours until they finally give it back. Gavin is now even more intrigued by the playground and wonders where the kids have come from that play there every night. Gavin visits the playground and plays with the children long into the night many more times until one night Andrea shows him all the treasures the playground contains and starts a game of finders keepers. Gavin soon discovers that this game is too good to be true and a race against time ensues as he must get out of the playground before the light goes out or else he will be trapped in the playground forever.
Response
This book was really interesting and slightly creepy. After reading Shaun Tan's The Arrival I was curious how his writing would be in a longer more textual book. I actually really enjoyed Tan's writing, it was quite simple but descriptive enough to give me a visual of what was happening and keep me in suspense. Not suprisingly Tan's illustrations were amazing. They were quite intricate and added an eerie sense to the story, which was a nice touch. This book seemed to have a clear message to me which was to obey your parents rules and never let your curiosity get the best of you. This book would be great for young readers who are interested in fantasy, mystery and the supernatural. It includes a glossary of words that may be difficult for younger children to understand and I think this was also a great thing to add. It would also be fun for young writers to use in a classroom or individually as it includes writing prompts and questions to think about and discuss, whether it be on paper or as a group depends on the setting.
Awards received/ Reader's advisory information
To my knowledge this book has not received any awards. It's theme is one of fantasy and the supernatural with a touch of mystery. I think this book would be most appropriate for children aged 7-11 due to it's content. It's reading level is quite simple but the content may be a little scary for some younger children. This book could also be used as a novel study and it contains some guiding questions in the back that could be used for this purpose.
Tan, S. (2008). The Haunted Playground. Mankato, Minnesota: Stone Arch Books.
Summary
The Haunted Playground is about a boy named Gavin who loves to use his metal detector to hunt for treasures on the beach and in playgrounds. One day Gavin stumbles across a playground unlike any other, this playground seems to swallow up any treasures that it might have contained. In this playgound there are also mysterious children that come out to play once it gets dark and the playground light comes on. One night Gavin loses his watch in the playground and spends many hours looking for it until a girl named Andrea tells him to come and get it. Andrea and the other children play keep away with Gavin and his watch for many hours until they finally give it back. Gavin is now even more intrigued by the playground and wonders where the kids have come from that play there every night. Gavin visits the playground and plays with the children long into the night many more times until one night Andrea shows him all the treasures the playground contains and starts a game of finders keepers. Gavin soon discovers that this game is too good to be true and a race against time ensues as he must get out of the playground before the light goes out or else he will be trapped in the playground forever.
Response
This book was really interesting and slightly creepy. After reading Shaun Tan's The Arrival I was curious how his writing would be in a longer more textual book. I actually really enjoyed Tan's writing, it was quite simple but descriptive enough to give me a visual of what was happening and keep me in suspense. Not suprisingly Tan's illustrations were amazing. They were quite intricate and added an eerie sense to the story, which was a nice touch. This book seemed to have a clear message to me which was to obey your parents rules and never let your curiosity get the best of you. This book would be great for young readers who are interested in fantasy, mystery and the supernatural. It includes a glossary of words that may be difficult for younger children to understand and I think this was also a great thing to add. It would also be fun for young writers to use in a classroom or individually as it includes writing prompts and questions to think about and discuss, whether it be on paper or as a group depends on the setting.
Awards received/ Reader's advisory information
To my knowledge this book has not received any awards. It's theme is one of fantasy and the supernatural with a touch of mystery. I think this book would be most appropriate for children aged 7-11 due to it's content. It's reading level is quite simple but the content may be a little scary for some younger children. This book could also be used as a novel study and it contains some guiding questions in the back that could be used for this purpose.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Let's eat! What children eat around the world- Non-Fiction Book #1
The Book
Hollyer, B. (2003). Let's eat! What children eat around the world. New York: Henry Hold and Company, LLC.
Summary
Let's eat! What children eat around the world describes the lives of 5 children from different places around the world. The children are from France, Mexico, South Africa, India, and Thailand. Each child tells of their daily routines, what they like to eat, and a special day in each one of their lives. There are recipes from each one of the children at the back of the book along with a food glossary which defines the unique foods from each country.
Response
This book really gives its readers a good look into what children's lives are like in different parts of the world. I really enjoyed this book and all the photographs that were provided to support each child's story. The photographs added a real and personal touch to each story and allowed me to feel closer to the story and be able to relate to it better. The addition of a food glossary as well as recipes provided by each child was also a really great idea and I think children could have a lot of fun with this book. They could make the recipes provided and really get to know more about children around the world, their food, lifestyles and traditions.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
This book received the IRA teacher's choice award, but I could not find the year in which it won it. The theme of this book is what children eat around the world, as well as their different cultures and traditions. I think this is a good book for children of all ages as it allows them to see the similarities and differences amongst children from different countries. They would be able to relate to the stories and develop a better understanding of cultures around the world. However, I do think it would be most beneficial for children aged 5-10 as this is the age range that the books seems to be focused towards with the amount of pictures and style of writing. Some of the writing would be difficult for younger children but they could look at the pictures or have a family member or teacher read it to them. The recipes could be used as an activity in the classroom and each thing could be made so the children would have a chance to test the food from other countries. The recipes could also be used at home and shared with the family.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
The Lion and the Mouse- 2010 Caldecott Medal Winner- Picture Book #3
The Book
Pinkney, J. (2009). The Lion and the Mouse. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Summary
The Lion and the Mouse is a wordless picture book that depicts one of Aesop's fables. The fable is about a lion and a mouse and the kindness they show one another, despite their large differences. One day the mouse accidentally takes refuge upon a lion while fleeing from an owl, the lion then discovers the mouse and lets him go free instead of devouring him like most lions would. Later on in the story the mouse repays his dues to the lion by freeing him from a trap set by poachers. This story tells of compassion and karma, as it is showing that if you do something kind for someone the kindness is usually repaid.
Response
I think this book is an amazing book to show children the power of illustrations and that you don't always need words to tell a story. The only words used in this story are ones used to accentuate the sounds made by different things, such as putt-putt-putt for the jeep and squeak, squeak, squeak for the mouse. I really enjoyed this book for it's illustrations and the naturalistic sounds it used as add ins to the story and I think children would enjoy it for this reason too. This story has a really good moral and I think readers of all ages could be inspired by it and see that it isn't the size of the creature that matters but the size of their actions and the compassion they show one another. This is shown when the huge, powerful lion is saved by the little tiny mouse which I think also illustrates that actions of kindness can go a long way and that if you are kind to others the kindess will generally be returned. I really enjoyed how this book was put together and the message it sends to it's reader, I find it very inspirational and love the beautiful illustrations it uses to tell the story.
Awards received/ Reader's advisory information
The Lion and the Mouse is the 2010 Caldecott Medal Winner. The theme of this book is how kindness can go a long way no matter your size or stature and the illustrations do an amazing job of portraying the beauty of the animal kingdom in it's natural habitat. This would be a great book for all ages but I think it is aimed more towards early readers and children around 3-8 years old.
Pinkney, J. (2009). The Lion and the Mouse. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Summary
The Lion and the Mouse is a wordless picture book that depicts one of Aesop's fables. The fable is about a lion and a mouse and the kindness they show one another, despite their large differences. One day the mouse accidentally takes refuge upon a lion while fleeing from an owl, the lion then discovers the mouse and lets him go free instead of devouring him like most lions would. Later on in the story the mouse repays his dues to the lion by freeing him from a trap set by poachers. This story tells of compassion and karma, as it is showing that if you do something kind for someone the kindness is usually repaid.
Response
I think this book is an amazing book to show children the power of illustrations and that you don't always need words to tell a story. The only words used in this story are ones used to accentuate the sounds made by different things, such as putt-putt-putt for the jeep and squeak, squeak, squeak for the mouse. I really enjoyed this book for it's illustrations and the naturalistic sounds it used as add ins to the story and I think children would enjoy it for this reason too. This story has a really good moral and I think readers of all ages could be inspired by it and see that it isn't the size of the creature that matters but the size of their actions and the compassion they show one another. This is shown when the huge, powerful lion is saved by the little tiny mouse which I think also illustrates that actions of kindness can go a long way and that if you are kind to others the kindess will generally be returned. I really enjoyed how this book was put together and the message it sends to it's reader, I find it very inspirational and love the beautiful illustrations it uses to tell the story.
Awards received/ Reader's advisory information
The Lion and the Mouse is the 2010 Caldecott Medal Winner. The theme of this book is how kindness can go a long way no matter your size or stature and the illustrations do an amazing job of portraying the beauty of the animal kingdom in it's natural habitat. This would be a great book for all ages but I think it is aimed more towards early readers and children around 3-8 years old.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
I Love my Hair! Picture Book #2
The Book
Tarpley, N. & White, E.B. (Illus.). (1998). I love my hair! New York: Little, Brown and Company.
Summary
Summary
I love my Hair! details the many different ways a young African-American girl named Keyana wore her hair and the various reactions each hairstyle got. Keyana starts off being frustrated with her hair and how it always hurt when her mother combed it. Then one night while her mother is combing her hair she tells Keyana about all the different wonderful ways she could wear her hair and how lucky she is to have such beautiful hair. Keyana begins to think about each hairstyle and why she likes each one and in the end she realizes how much she loves her hair and the many reasons why. Through the encouragement of her mother and her teacher's Keyana learns to appreciate her hair, herself and her heritage. This book is a great book for recognizing and empowering the African-American heritage and contains beautiful illustrations that blend fantasy and reality as Keyana reflects upon each hairstyle.
Response
Response
This book was so fun to read! It is a good book for younger children and nicely introduces them to diversity and how we should all celebrate our differences. It's beautiful illustrations as well as the imaginative elements of the book make this book an enjoyable read for everyone. I really enjoyed how the main character is African-American as I have not been exposed to many books where the main characters and illustrations reflect African American culture and values. I love how E.B White illustrates the different hairstyles into real life examples, such as braids at the top of Keyana's head become hoed rows of vegetables in a field. I think this makes the book more meaningful to readers as it allows them to feel connected through examples they can relate to. This book is also great as it depicts a situation that is so familiar among many cultures. Having your hair combed as a child, especially when it is tangly or curly is never a fun event and this book allows these children to see how lucky they are and even reflect on their own different ways of wearing their hair and even other aspects of themselves that they enjoy that makes them an individual. I believe that literature containing African Americans as central characters is vital for all children, it allows them to gain respect for diversity and empowers African American children as their characteristics and heritages are the main focus of these pieces of literature.
Awards received/ Reader's advisory information
As far as I know this book has not received any awards. It's theme is one of diversity and individuality and it would be most appropriate for young readers, maybe ages 4-10. However, I think people of all ages would enjoy it as it's broad range of imaginitve illustrations and creative examples is suitable for anyone. It helps foster respect for differences and teaches children to be proud of their heritage. It allows reader's to think of what they love about themselves and why, and could be used for an Elementary Language Arts, Art or Social Studies lesson that fosters individuality and diversity.
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