Recycle!

Gail Gibbons’ Recycle: A Handbook For Kids is a colorful non-fiction picture book about what and why to recycle.  Gibbons begins the story by asking children where all the trash goes? Then, she provides details about the landfills created to collect garbage. Concerned that there is too much trash for landfills to hold, she suggests that the solution is recycling.  As the text introduces recycling, the accompanying illustrations depict canisters labeled paper, glass, plastic, cans, and polystyrene. On the following pages, the text and illustrations work together to introduce reason to recycle each of the materials listed above.  The way that each product is made is discussed as well as the manufacturing processes’ impact on the environment. Cartoon-like illustrations expand on the text by showing the processes described. Reasons to recycle each product such as preventing harm to animals or the destruction of forests are discussed. The ways in which each product can be re-purposed are also identified.

Gibbon’s illustrations and text are consistently framed throughout the text. Sometimes multiple illustrations are framed individually to present multiple scenes on one page. In Keeping with Gibbons’ style, many of the illustrations include labels or captions that define key terms. Meanwhile, the main text is consistently placed in a frame across the bottom of each page. Gibbon’s word choice and sentence structure remains simple and straightforward throughout the text. Often, the word RECYLE! is highlighted in red to signify the importance of this civic responsibility. 

The design of this non-fiction picture book is an excellent precursor to the science textbooks that await upper elementary-aged children.  Gibbon’s objective language familiarizes children with the nature of non-fiction text. Likewise, facts and labels in the illustrations resemble simpler versions of those in textbooks. Older children will enjoy studying the facts displayed in the illustrations, but the placement of text in the illustrations may confuse younger children. For younger children, Recycle: A Handbook For Kids would be an excellent read-aloud with which teachers and parents can model how to approach the elements of non-fiction texts. Simply, reading aloud a story about caring for the earth will send a powerful message to young children about their roles in the world around them.  For more kid-friendly information about recycling, check out Kids Recycle!

Go ahead, Break the Rules!

            In Knots in My Yo-yo String, Jerry Spinelli answers a question that came from the lips of a child.

“Do you think that being a kid helped you to become a writer?”

His answer is indirect. It winds and turns and spins through the threads of his life as a child. His memories flood back, naturally ignoring chronology.  It is as though he has invited us, the readers, to journey with him as he seeks the answer. It begins without direction, just a sunny day in the life of a sixteen year old boy.  Like the Ghost of Christmas past, he immediately whisks us back to his first memory of his first house where he stands in his yard. There he begins to weave together bits and pieces of pictures in his mind. Baseball with his father, the beginning of the love affair with sports that would give birth to much more.  His move to the West End in the house on George Street. His life as a cowboy. Life on George street where his mother’s cake bowl went missing. Wishing to swap Spit for Spider. Stolen memories from a younger brother who had a habit of putting puppies in lunch pails. His reign as King. Then, the fall from the top. The death of a beloved pet. And the rush of words that ended the game, only to start a new one in the hand of young man holding a pen.

            This is the story he tells. It is of moments. Of what he calls Knots in My Yo-yo String. Sometimes he tells the story as though he were still reliving those moments, as though we were right there with him. His habit of reliving moments as a child has developed into the gift of being able to pull us into words. Other times he gives himself distance as he looks back to reflect. For he begins to speak of things as though they were, rather than are. Perhaps he pushes us back to help us see that he is telling us of what he has learned. Of meaningless names we give to colors. Of the death that is sure to follow captivity. Of the strong but silent bond between brothers. His lessons learned are powerful messages for both children and adults.  His autobiography dares to tackles some of life’s biggest knots: death, racism, war, and more. The very themes that older elementary-aged children must wrestle with today.

Much like this blog entry, he breaks the rules of conventional writing, but he brings glory to the author’s craft. His fragmented sentence structure, free use of punctuation, shifting verb tense and more give shape to the strong voice that calls out in this story. His well-chosen words create vivid images for us. Sometimes his story becomes more about other people than his own life. In these places, he dabbles with perspective which reminds both children and adults to consider life from multiple view points.

Most of all, he lets us watch the shaping of a writer as he realizes the power of words. He finds them in comics and on cereal boxes. In jokes that still make him laugh. In the sports section of a newspaper. In the words he never said, but wished he had. In love letters. In the passion of a high school football game. They begin to play over and over in his mind until he spits them out onto paper. Perhaps his nickname fits him well after all. Well done, Spit, because of you, many more children might also discover-

Words.

George Washington Carver

            George Washington Carver: The Peanut Wizard is an entertaining children’s biography written by Laura Driscoll and illustrated by Jill Weber. The story begins with a letter from a fictional teacher named Mrs. Brandt. In the letter, she tells students that she is excited to read their reports about famous scientists. The remainder of the book is written as though it were a student report about Dr. George Washington Carver. Each spread is a unique scrapbook page of writing, drawings and photographs collected by a student named Annie. In her writing, the student provides specific facts about George Washington Carver including his birth, childhood, and early adult life. Facts about his childhood describe his early interest in plants and eagerness to learn. Facts about plants are weaved into the story though child-like drawings and diagrams.  Many of the drawings include comic-like thought bubbles. The story continues to describe Dr. Carver’s college experiences and his work at Tuskegee Institute. Dr. Carver’s commitment to education of local farmers about producing healthy crops is highlighted.

            While this book is informative and interesting, the text design is complicated and sometimes confusing. Older elementary-aged children familiar with a variety of texts will be able to navigate the unique scrapbook layout, but might need prompting. Specifically, the placement of a science activity and peanut recipe interrupt the flow of the story about Dr. Carver’s life. Still, these interesting activities for children help students connect Dr. Carver’s work with their own lives. The scrapbook layout also makes it difficult to discern the order in which to read the text. The scattered layout of text would make this book difficult to read aloud also.

            While the complex nature of the text design limits its use, the unique scrapbook layout will definitely engage mature readers. This would be an excellent book for the classroom library in an upper elementary classroom. It would also be an informative book for children to read when they have time to study each page for understanding. While the complex layout is challenging, this picture book presents detailed facts about George Washington Carver’s life in a way that will encourage many children to reach for this book as though it were a comic.

Pumpkins!

Written by Jill Esbaum, Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin Pie is one of the crisp nonfiction picture books in the National Geographic Kids Picture the Seasons series. The first few pages depict the life cycle of a pumpkin from seed to fruit, the pumpkin itself, in full bleed photographs or collages. Poetic text accompanying each photograph describes the growth of the pumpkin plant. Then, the text describes different types of pumpkins in the photographs on each page. At times, it is difficult to discern whether the text extends the photographs or vice versa because they seem to work in unison throughout the book.  

Pictures of children with pumpkins are paired with bold text about how people use pumpkins in the fall. Several examples lead up to the awaited glowing jack’- o- lanterns with which many young readers associate pumpkins. Poetic verses describe the rotting of a pumpkin plant and the coming of winter as the life cycle continues.  The final photograph captures a large tree over bright orange pumpkins lying on a barren ground sprinkled with snow. Though appropriate text drifts across the page, the photograph clearly speaks the hush of winter and the hope of new life.

While children of all ages will enjoy studying the photographs, the layout of the text makes this book a difficult read for young children. This would be an appropriate fall read-aloud for the home or classroom. Teachers might consider using Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin Pie to introduce a science unit on pumpkin plants. This book easily lends itself to a discussion about the pumpkin plant life cycle, how people use plants, or the season of fall. Another great picture book with which this book might be paired is called Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden.

Poetic Penguins

                Penguins, Penguins, Everywhere!  is an absolutely beautiful non-fiction picture book for the world’s young readers.  Author and illustrator Bob Barner crafted this short picture book to sing the life of penguins in poetic verse. On each page, a simple line of text dances across the gutter of a full bleed spread in bold colors.  The bold colored text contrasts beautifully with the vivid purple and blue backgrounds that fill each page of Barner’s collages made of cut and torn paper. Orange stars of the sky and sea (star fish) dazzle the eye as penguins skid across the pages on their bellies. Swirling sound waves echo through the water and a hot sun blazes as a penguin fluffs his feathers in the heat. These are just some of the images that the illustrations bring to life. For a tour of how Barner creates his illustrations, check out his website.

 Each line of text delivers an interesting fact about penguin life that young children will understand. For example, they have to watch out for their enemy the shark and the daddies care for the young.  The last two spreads include a penguin puzzler and a penguin parade. The penguin puzzler displays interesting questions and answers in a collage that resembles a child’s puzzle. The puzzle includes facts about how penguins eat, speak, move, and look. It also depicts the many sea creatures that eat penguins. The penguin parade displays picture of different types of penguins in square frames that resembles the opening of The Brady Bunch TV show.  Within each square, the name of the specific type of penguin depicted is listed with its location, height and weight. Though the language is simple, the design of this text does not easily lend itself to an independent read for younger children because it lacks conventional text placement.  Parents and teachers can definitely look to this book for an excellent winter read aloud. Teachers might also consider that as a poetic introduction to a penguin unit. Meanwhile, children of all ages will enjoy studying the penguin parade!

Groundhog Day: science, social studies and literature.

             As an adult reader, Gail Gibbons’ non-fiction picture books never fail to fascinate me. They are always filled with fascinating facts about the scientific nature of the world in which we live. As a child-like reader, her colorful illustrations always seem to capture me and fill my life with a strong welcome sense of nostalgia. Put simply, Gail Gibbons’ illustrations are somehow the pictures of my childhood. Her nonfiction picture book Groundhog Day does not fail to meet what I expect to find inside a book with Gail Gibbons’ name on the cover.  Gibbons begins her story with the history of Groundhog Day. She explains several old customs and beliefs related to that special day in mid-winter on which many look to a small groundhog to predict the future coming of spring. While she doesn’t explicitly explain the origins of the holiday, she does create the sense of the strong oral traditions and beliefs passed down through many generations. Then, she both tells and shows readers the excitement with which a small town called Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania began to celebrate Groundhog Day annually on February 2^nd.  Details of the celebrations are included, but the story makes it clear that Phil, the famous groundhog, doesn’t actually talk.

            Then, Gibbons turns her story away from the history to the scientific views of the life of the famous rodent called the groundhog.  She includes detailed information in the text about the body, habitat, diet, and social life of the groundhog. A two page spread depicts the locations in which groundhogs live around the world and under the ground. While Gibbons’ illustrations are framed with text below, she always lets small illustrations creep in from the corners or edges of the page which makes the book feel lively, much like the holiday it celebrates. For teachers, Groundhog Day captures the very essence of integrating social studies and science through literature. For students, Groundhog Day is an adventure in which their creative minds mesh with reality.  For more information about Gail Gibbons and her books, check out her website.

George Washington in pictures....

Sometimes you can tell a book by its cover.  Such is the case with author David A. Adler’s A Picture Book of George Washington which is a picture book about America’s First President.  This story of George’s life begins with his birth in 1732 and ends with his death in 1799. The first few pages detailing his childhood are sure to capture the interest of Adler’s intended audience. Certainly, young children love learning about the lives of other young children. This book also accounts for his years as a surveyor and a soldier in the French-Indian war. His marriage to Martha Custis and their move to Mount Vernon are also included. Among many interesting details, Adler tells readers that Mount Vernon once belonged to George Washington’s brother. George Washington’s role as the leader of the continental army that won the American Revolution is also depicted. The book also weaves in information about America’s first years under President George Washington’s two terms as the First President of the United States.

 Adler softly touches on the hardships of war while sparing young children the graphics. Illustrators John and Alexandra Wallner create the colonial world in which George Washington lived through the use of carton-like illustrations. The cartoon-like illustrations seem to expand the text by creating a child’s view of the written story, but at times they lack the sense of the reality in which George Washington lived. As discussed above, Adler’s text is packed full of facts about Washington’s life. While the sentence structure is sometimes complex, Adler’s word choices make the text an easy independent read for an older elementary school student. The simple language also lends itself to an entertaining read-aloud for young students. Adler’s picture book offers an excellent introduction to the young life George Washington for young readers. Those interested in introducing young children to biography will be delighted to know that A Picture Book of George Washington is just one of several books in David A. Adler’s Picture Book Biographies series.

A brave review for a brave character

            I had to be brave when I decided to review J.K. Rowling’s first novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I had to be willing to admit to my readers that I had not yet read the first book in the influential Harry Potter series. Yes, I saw the movies first. Yes, I’ve read the books out of order. I’m a reading rebel! Then, I had to share my own thoughts about a popular children’s novel about which countless reviews have already been written. Still, I had to read it because it is as it says on the book binding “the book that started it all.” I needed to know for myself how J.K. Rowling’s first novel helped create a generation of readers. Rather than attempt to summarize the plot in a short paragraph, I will attempt to intertwine the plot summary with my own reflections about the characters and the world in which they live.

            While reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, I realized that the movie captured the essence, but missed so many of the details that make Harry Potter’s world seem so fantastical and so familiar. Perhaps it is the book’s contrast of the muggle world with the wizarding world that makes the wizarding world seem so real to me.  J.K. Rowling spends several chapters introducing Harry Potter and the Dursleys.  Of course, the magical glimpses of Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Hagrid let readers know something fantastical awaits them from the start. In just a few chapters, JK Rowling created the strong sense that life with the Dursleys was rough for Harry from the start. In the same few chapters, feelings that that take years to grow within are communicated to the readers. It’s clear that Harry feels unwanted and unvalued in the world that he knows. He feels as though he is a hand-me down nobody, with a funny looking scar on his forehead, just trying to avoid being knocked around or made the target of a cruel joke.  Now I understand why Harry’s clothes don’t fit in the movie.

            Perhaps the numerous characters developed in only 385 pages hints at the complexity of this novel. Mr. Dursley, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley are painted as Harry’s spoiled narrow-minded muggle relatives. Meanwhile, Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall seem to emit a regal yet comforting presence from their entrance into the novel.  The rumbling and bumbling entrance made by Hagrid starts adds to the unpolished, but benevolent image readers being to develop of him before they even meet him. After Hagrid essentially rescues Harry from the Dursleys, Harry begins his preparations to attend Hogwarts, the school of witchcraft and wizardry. Remembering my own school shopping memories, I sensed the excitement in Harry’s first trip to Diagon Alley where readers first enter the Harry Potter world that we have all come to know and love. To fulfill every child’s dream, nobody Harry is the famous Potter boy to everyone in Diagon Alley because of the scar on his forehead. Harry also learns that the scar was given to him by the evil Voldemort who killed his parents.

When Harry and Hagrid stop by the bank to pick up money that Harry’s parents left him, readers experience a banking errand like never before. Hagrid also picks up a special package from a “high security” vault. It is also in Diagon Alley that Harry and readers unknowingly meet Draco Malfoy, who reminds Harry of his spoiled cousin Dudley. I’d add that he has a touch more of arrogance than Dudley.  Continually, JK Rowling compares elements of the wizarding world with the muggle world.  Later in the same chapter, soccer is compared to the wizard’s game of quidditch. Interestingly, a modified version of quidditch is now becoming a popular game in real life.

            On the train to Hogwarts, Harry meets our familiar friends Ron and Hermoine. Much like in real life, they are the new classmates that you wouldn’t pick for best friends who really do make the best friends. Ron seems more intelligent in JK Rowling’s words than he does on screen. When reading, I also realized that Hermione is much more of a nosy “know-it –all” than I perceived her to be in the movie. When they arrive at school, Hermione’s chides for getting their school house, Gryffindor, in trouble seem much harsher in the novel than in the movie. At the same time, many of Harry’s sarcastic remarks or defensive remarks also seem harsher in the novel than in the movie. Harry’s harsh words reveal his human-like feelings and insecurities which make him seem less like the boy hero depicted in the movies.

            Many reading know how J.K. Rowling’s novel unfolds from here. At school, Harry meets Headmaster Albus Dumbledore who greets students with a few nonsensical words, yet exudes great wisdom. Harry also meets his many professors. He particularly dislikes Professor Snape who returns his sentiments from the start. A confrontation with the arrogant Draco Malfoy lands Harry a spot as the youngest seeker in a century on his house quidditch team. A brave encounter with a troll unites Harry, Hermione, and Ron. At the same time, it raises suspicions about Professor Snape and the mysterious package introduced earlier.  Knowing that the package is protected in the castle, Harry and his friends worry that someone is trying to steal it. Harry continually gets information about the mysterious package from little bits that Hagrid lets slip.  An interesting subplot about a dragon named Norbert also helps Harry put the pieces of the puzzle together, which is much less random than the movie made it appear. Eventually, Harry realizes that he must be the one to safeguard the contents of the secret package. For the select few who have managed not to read the book or the movie, the rest is waiting for you!

            Now I have a deeper understanding of what might capture the fascination of young readers as they turn the pages of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. While reading, they must continually blend the reality that they know with a world that stretches their imagination. Traces of the everyday world are scattered throughout every magical description. That’s what keeps the pages turning. Reading this novel requires the integration of several reading and comprehension strategies. More importantly, this rich text has the capacity to motivate mature upper elementary students to embark on a lifetime of reading.

Find your name, take a stand

             When I sat down to read Karen Cushman’s The Midwife’s Apprentice, a story about a girl named Brat, I was quickly absorbed by the girl who didn’t have a name or a place in the world.  The reader meets Brat when Jane Sharp, the pointy nosed midwife, finds her seeking warmth in a farmer’s dung heap. The midwife quickly gives Brat the name Beetle, for dung beetle. Whether out of compassion or more likely the desire to do what’s right, the midwife offers Brat food and shelter in return for work. Despite her slight improvement in life, Cushman’s writing made it clear that Beetle doesn’t have a lot going for her in life. It’s hard to decide what made life the hardest for her: having been a homeless child or having been born a girl. She spends most of her days being bullied by boys in the town or yelled at by the midwife.

Despite feeling small and useless, she works hard and focuses on learning as much as she can while serving the midwife. She also finds comfort in the friendship of an orange cat who becomes her confidant. Through a series of events and newfound friendships, Beetle finds herself growing in knowledge and skill as the midwife’s apprentice. As her confidence blossoms, she claims the name Alyce for herself.  Unfortunately, a laboring mother’s request for Alyce to act as midwife during a challenging birth leaves Alyce feeling like a useless nobody once again. Defeated, she runs away and the cat follows. Alyce and the cat find safety in an inn where they make many new friends.  At the inn, she does household chores that she feels she is not too stupid to do while an old scholar teachers her to read by talking to the cat. When unexpected visitors arrive at the inn, Alyce must look once more for her confidence. You’ll have to read the book to find out whether or not she finds it.

While the history about midwives interested me, the description of life for children and women captured my attention most.  As a young girl,  Alyce finds herself alone, hungry, and cold.  Her life does not improve much after she is taken in by the midwife who treats her harshly.  At the midwife’s, she sleeps on the cold floor and often finds her-self hungry. Later in the story, Alyce meets a young boy named Edward who seems to remind her of her-self. Found abandoned and hungry, he is also treated harshly by the world around him.  The childhoods of Alyce and Edward paint a clear picture about medieval views toward children, who were treated much like failing adults.  Such views seem unreal when compared to the views toward today’s children who are nurtured and protected from the harsh realities of the world as much as possible.

Certainly, women’s limitations stand out in The Midwife’s Apprentice.  Alyce has little say in what happens to her or what she does with her life at the beginning of the book. Going to school or mastering a respectable trade is not an option for her.  Aside from the midwife, the women’s roles in the story revolve around helping their husbands and motherhood. The author’s note laments that midwifery itself was not respected because it was women’s work with women.  I also noticed that the only educated reader in the story is Magister Reese, an older man deemed a scholar; however, he offers a ray of hope when he teaches Alyce to read.  Most pointedly,  he asks Alyce what she wants which sends a message of prophetic hope for both Alyce and the reader.

As briefly discussed above, The Midwife’s Apprentice lends itself to multiple discussions about “now and then” with regard to women’s roles, children, jobs, community life, health care, and more. The author’s note provides detailed information about the history of midwives, especially during the middle ages. This book left me with a clear message for all children and adults:  just as we all have a name, we all have a place in the world.  For more information about Karen Cushman and The Midwife’s Apprentice visit this website.

Meet Judy

Judy Moody was in a Mood, the first book in author Megan McDonald’s Judy Moody series, is a fun chapter book about a bold third grade girl named Judy. Readers meet Judy on her first day of third grade and quickly learn that her adjustment to third grade is going to be a bit like a roller coaster ride. She begins the first day of third grade with the dread of not having a new summer vacation t-shirt like all her friends. Luckily, Judy is surrounded by friends and family who help her survive the first few weeks of third grade.

On the first day of school, readers meet Judy’s family at the breakfast table. Sunny mom and dad encourage Judy to see the best in everything about third grade from the start.  Stink, her younger brother, doesn’t seem to be too concerned about starting life as a second grader. He is much too concerned with making sure he gets to do everything that Judy does.  At the bus stop, Rocky, Judy’s best friend, introduces himself wearing one of the very t-shirts that Judy woke up dreading.

At school, Rocky and Judy have to sit apart in Mr. Todd’s class, their new third grade teacher. Much to her dismay, Judy finds herself sitting next to Frank Eats Paste Pearl. Readers quickly learn that Judy doesn’t like Frank too much, but he certainly seems to like her when he gives her an invitation to his birthday party. Things brighten up when Mr. Todd gives the whole class pizza and lets Judy keep the “pizza table” to add to her collection. Then, he introduces a big project called the “me collage” that all the students will present in two weeks.

For the next two weeks, readers watch Judy experience ups and downs as she checks items off the list of things she needs to make her collage just right for Mr. Todd’s class. Meanwhile, she keeps readers busy with new pets, secret clubs, tricks, big sister drama, and a birthday party.  As the last chapter ends, Judy’s idea of what’s “just right” is not what the reader might have at first expected. Check out the book to find out what I mean!

Judy’s personality, or characterization, really makes this chapter book interesting. Like most third grade girls, she doesn’t have very much time for younger brothers. They always seem to be getting in the way of more important things like becoming a doctor.  Judy takes her work as a third grader and future doctor very seriously. She continually has to remind her family of how important her work is to the world. While Judy is mostly determined and outspoken, she sometimes thinks things that she doesn’t say when at school. In fact, she sometimes says the opposite of what she thinks. I imagine that some real third grade students might know someone a little bit like Judy.

In addition to characterization, Megan McDonald added some juicy details about grouchy pencils, sick dolls, and band-aids. These descriptions make Judy’s world seem almost real at times.  Comical illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds are scattered throughout the book to help readers visualize McDonald’s descriptions of Judy’s world. Though the illustrations do not extensively expand on the text, small eye-catching illustrations pop up in corners to drive home the main focus of particular passages. For example, Stink might be popping his head around the corner on one page and a band-aid might be slapped onto another.

What I love most about Judy Moody was in a Mood is how easily readers can feel how Judy feels. Connecting to Judy’s feeling helps readers understand the gradual “growing up” Judy experiences throughout the book. Another cool fact about Judy is that she lives in Virginia, just like me. If you want to know more about Judy Moody, she has her own web page. Click here to see it. There is also a great link for teachers on her webpage. If you can’t get enough of Judy there, read more about her exciting life in the other Judy Moody series books.

Come walk down the street....

Night on Neighborhood Street is a soulful collection of 17 short poems written by award-winning author Eloise Greenfield. Accompanied by Jan Spivey Gilchrist’s dream-like illustrations, the poems will allow the reader to experience the nights of African American children growing up in the city. The children in these poems play together on the sidewalk and go to sleepovers.  At night, they drift off to sleep while listening to the sounds of the city which include the sounds of jazz music in the distance. Poems also provide realistic views of children who have to care for younger siblings and resist drug sellers. Readers will also feel the worries that accompany sickness or job-loss in the home.  Together the poems capture the struggles and hopes of urban African American neighborhoods.

Children will enjoy learning about the rhythm and repetition in Night on Neighborhood Street.  At the same, they can explore the concepts of neighborhoods and communities. Older children might compare their community to the one described by Greenfield in her poems. They might compare where they play to where the children in the book play. Children might also explore the roles of adults in the book’s neighborhood after reading The Meeting, a poem in which adults gather to discuss important neighborhood issues. Perhaps older students might make up their own neighborhood meeting and act it out.

While drugs and job-loss are difficult topics to discuss, Greenfield’s text and Gilchrist’s illustrations artfully expose these issues without making the content too adult for young readers. The poem The Seller depicts children turning their backs against drugs in their neighborhood. Perhaps the recent economic downfall will make the poem Nerissa especially relevant as it describes the child’s view of a family in which one parent is sick and the other is out-of-work.  On a more positive note, children will also relate to the fun memories in the poem Fambly Time, in which an African American family plays together before bedtime.  Most obviously, Night on Neighborhood Street will foster the celebration of African American heritage for generations to come.

Interestingly, author Eloise Greenfield also grew up in an African American urban community within Washington DC. This makes her a true cultural insider! She has written many children’s books that celebrate African American heritage.  Among many awards she was won, she received the NCTE Award of Excellence in Poetry for Children in 1997. The website Brain Pop Jr offers additional information about Eloise Greenfield and activities that relate to Night on Neighborhood Street. Click here to check it out.

A Hat Full of Bird Tales

I was drawn to Virginia Hamilton’s When Birds Could Talk & Bats Could Sing by Barry Moser’s lively illustrations of birds behaving like humans on the cover of the book.  Inside, I found a collection of eight short stories based on African American folktales from the Plantation Era. Fascinated by birds, I must admit that I lingered over Moser’s illustrations of quarrelsome feathered creatures wearing hats for a while before engaging myself in these humorous tales of birds and bats.  To my delight, Hamilton’s texts read as though I was listening to an old enslaved plantation worker tell a story to a young child.

Through the experiences of personified birds and bats, each folktale tells the story of how present day birds and bats came to live the way they do. Why are cardinals red? Why do bats come out at night? Why are buzzards bald?  These are just a sampling of the questions that this collection of folktales attempts to answer for us. Each tale ends with a clearly stated moral explicitly directed toward children.  Hamilton’s rich language mixes prose with lyrical verse while hinting at the African American Vernacular in which the tales were originally told by well-known American folklorist Martha Young.

 In the afterword, Hamilton describes how Young wrote down many of the oral folktales told to her by the former slaves working on her father’s plantation.  Hamilton explains that she re-wrote each tale in simpler everyday language with the hope that generations to come will continue to read them aloud to their young children. I do think that the heritage in these folktales should be passed down to future generations, but the complexity of Hamilton’s language may not make this book a favorite. Children may be frustrated when attempting to comprehend these tales because they will sometimes need to weed through the text for meaning. Unfortunately, while Moser’s detailed illustrations of the feathered characters exude human emotions, they offer few clues that help children make sense of the plot. Ofcourse, a good story teller will help by explaining difficult passages to the children.

Still, this collection of African American folktales offers many learning opportunities for young minds.  While investigating animals, children might study Moser’s illustrations of birds and write their own folktales about bird behavior.  Using this book, older children might explore the history of African American culture, slavery, or plantation life. They might compare the morals in these tales to those around the world. Additionally, teachers might integrate social studies into the language arts curriculum through an author study on Martha Young or other American folklorists. Those interested in learning more about Martha Young might find the following link helpful This Goodly Land: Martha Young.

Reading is a Celebration!

    
     Off We Go to Mexico: An Adventure in the Sun is a festival of color and culture for every young reader! Laurie Krebs’ poetic language offers a taste of the history and culture in Mexico. Christopher Corr splashes each page with bold lively scenes that represent the beauty of Mexico. The sing-song text is short, but each page offers a wealth of information on which a reader might dwell for lengths of time. On each spread, the left page displays an English- Spanish glossary of words found in Krebs’ rich text on the right page. Corr’s brilliant illustrations pair with both the English words in the text and the Spanish word dictionary to serve as a powerful picture glossary.
     As the text and illustrations work together to enhance language development, they also collaboratively expose key historical and cultural elements of life in Mexico. Young American readers will enjoy relating their American lives to the colorful mountains, tunnels, markets, and parades of Mexico. Ancient pyramids and mariachi bands will capture their interest as they wonder about another part of the world. For young readers native to Mexico, the story will encourage celebration of their language, history, and culture.
     This dazzling picture book is exciting when merely glancing at it; it is also an exciting opportunity to introduce multiculturalism to young readers. The celebratory views of Mexico offered in this book are a welcome replacement for the stereotypical views of Mexico to which many young readers have been exposed. Perhaps the beautiful migrating monarch butterflies depicted in the story truly highlight the celebration of diversity. These beautiful butterflies call both America and Mexico home at different times and they celebrate wherever they go.
    As an aside, I was excited to discover that author Laurie Krebs currently resides in Williamsburg, VA. It's exciting to know that we have such positive role models and creative artists in our midsts!! Find out more about Laurie Krebs on her webpage.

Complex, Short and Sweet

     Carin Berger’s The Little Yellow Leaf is a beautiful story about a lone leaf that clings to the tree until the very end of fall. Deciding it’s not ready to let go of the tree, the little yellow leaf watches as the changes of fall settle in. Feeling lonely, it watches as the first snow announces the arrival of winter. At last, the little leaf realizes it isn’t alone. On the other side, a little scarlet leaf clings to the tree. What happens next is waiting for you in the book!

     In summary this poetic picture book seems to be a sweet simple story. Though when read, the complexity is revealed as each picture evokes emotions that give the poetic words deeper meaning. To me, the pictures tell the story while the words expand the story. On each page, Berger’s paper collages depict a different phase of the fall season to which readers relate their own memories of fall. Images of harvest moons, leaves piled high, pumpkins, apples, and golden sunsets bring to mind unique memories for each reader. Meanwhile, the poetic language tells a familiar story about fear of change, letting go and perhaps death.
     The complexity of The Little Yellow Leaf offers multiple opportunities for exploration beyond the story. This picture book would be a wonderful introduction to fall and the changing of the seasons for young readers. It might also serve as an excellent sounding board for children coping with significant change and loss. Whether a parent is deployed overseas or a grandmother passes, young readers might relate to the bittersweet experience of the little leaf. They might also realize that they don’t have to go through the change alone. They might just have to look for a friend who is also looking for them.

A Classic Mouse Story

    
      Reading Leo Lionni’s Alexander and the Wind Up Mouse is a special treat any day. This short classic brings back many of my own memories of childhood, a time when I wondered if my own animals and toys could talk. What would they have said? I can only wonder now, but the characters in this delightful story are full of deep thoughts.
     When we meet Alexander the Mouse he is feeling rejected and lonely. Then, he meets Willy the wind up mouse who is always happy because everyone loves him. As the two become friends, Alexander becomes a little envious of how the love Willy receives. He begins to want to be like Willy so much that he asks the magic lizard to turn him into a wind-up mouse. While searching for the purple pebble needed to make him a windup mouse, Alexander finds Willy in the box of toys to be thrown away. Suddenly, he finds the purple pebble and rushes to find the magic Lizard. When asked what he wants to be, Alexander no longer wants anything for himself. Instead, he thinks of his friend, Willy. After asking the magic lizard to make Willy a real mouse, he rushes off to find his friend. Will he find Willy? You’ll have to check out the book to find out.
     Though this is a picture book about mice, the characters act, think and feel as though they are human. Lionni’s brilliant collages depict the mice doing very human things such as talking and sleeping in a house. He purposely chose to write stories about human life using animals as the characters. He discusses why he chose to write animal fables in this short clip. Even more, readers can see the emotions in the eyes of the mice. Lionni’s illustrations continually advance the story. As the text tells us that Alexander goes to the garden, the illustrations take us to the garden where bold colors jump off the page. The text and the illustrations also work together to develop the heart-warming friendship between Alexander and Willie.
     The story sends a clear message about caring for our friends that even the youngest readers will understand. The story also helps us to explore the path to accepting ourselves as we are. How many of us have wished to be someone else at one point in time? How often are we amazed to discover that their lives are flawed? How encouraging it is to learn that we are great just the way we are! What a wonderful concept to explore at a young age! For adult readers, Alexander sets the bar high by choosing to save the friend of whom he was envious, but now sees as flawed! Surely, this classic transcends time and age.

Henry "Box" Brown

  
     This book showcases how much history offers to explore with young children. There is a wealth of information that we want to share with the next generation. Its often hard to know where to start. Once we do start, what do we share? Can we share too much? Must some things be gaurded from young minds? These are difficult questions to answer, but author Ellen Levine and illustrator Kadi Nelson have answered them well in their handsomely crafted picture book Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad.
    Though many know Henry "Box" Brown's story, young readers are introduced to a young boy named Henry Brown. He works hard for his good master, but he is sold to the master's son who works him harder. While working for the new master, he meets Nancy who becomes his wife. Still working hard, Henry tries not to think about the possibility of loosing Nancy and their children. Sadly, Henry's wife and children are sold and taken away. While missing his family, Henry gets an idea about how he can be free. With help from a trusted friend, Dr. Smith, he ships himself in a crate to Pennsylvannia.
      History tells us what he did once he got out of that crate, but what draws me to this picture book is how easily young minds can relate to Henry Brown. Henry "Box" Brown is a man who mailed himself to freedom. Henry Brown was a young child just like today's young reader. Imagine the young reader placing themselves in Henry Brown's shoes as they read about his thoughts and feelings in Levine's well-written text. They might wonder how they would feel if they had to work hard in a factory. They might imagine the pain of not being with their own family.
     As they ponder Nelson's illustrations, they'll literally see the darkness that hung over Henry Brown every day when he was a slave. They will also see the brightness of the day he became a free man. Through words and illustrations, they'll learn much about the life of a slave. They'll see the demeaning way others looked at Henry. They'll see how he dressed and worked. They'll even see the pain in his face as he struggles to become free.
     Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad is a wonderful resource to consider when introducing the concept of slavery to young children. The story allows young readers to connect with the heart-breaking experiences of a young enslaved boy and rejoice in the hope that helped make him free. Read this one aloud!

Birdie Book

    
     When I saw the little black starling on the dust jacket of the picture book Calvin Can't Fly, I had to have it. Standing up on my tippy toes, I stretched up high to pull it off the top shelf and hugged the book as it fell into my arms. I am a bird lover, you see. Yes, that's right. I love birds. I watch them. I collect figurines, pictures, books and other odds "n" ends about birds. So, you see, I connected with this book before I had even opened it. Oh, but, when I did open it, something in me shouted, "Yes! Yes! This is what I want all my students to know!" 
     Written by Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Keith Bendis, Calvin Can't Fly is a story about a bird, named Calvin, who literally falls into a book the moment he jumps out of the nest. While his brothers and sisters are learning to fly, Calvin is learning about the world through books. Teased for reading, Calvin continues to find happiness in books until it's time to fly south for the winter. Though an avid reader, Calvin hasn't learned to fly yet. When it's time to migrate, the embarrassed Calvin must be towed as his peers fly in a beautiful formation toward a dangerous storm. Will Calvin and his family survive the storm? Check out to find out what Calvin does!
     I love the message this story conveys about reading and late bloomers. It tells young readers that everyone will blossom in their own time and way. It also teaches young readers to value books and their reading skills. One day they might need to call on something they've read to help someone! This is the message we need to send to the next generation of readers. We want them to enjoy reading, but we also want them to understand the importance of read
      Calvin Can't Fly is a great way to introduce the value of reading to young children. Berne's light-hearted writing style and Bendis' telling illustrations seamlessly blend together to evoke a mood of humor from one book-end to the other. Young readers will laugh at lines like "Geeky Beaky" and giggle at the sight of big-eyed bugs munching on leaves. While laughing, they might relate to the emotions depicted in the words and illustrations. Perhaps they will recall the pain of being clumsy, picked on or left alone as they take in Calvin's facial expressions. (I didn't know birds had facial expressions). Hopefully, they will sense the love of reading and the value of individuality so well depicted in this story. As a bonus, maybe Calvin Can't Fly will nurture interest in future generations of potential bird lovers.