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.