LOOKING FOR ALASKA

By John Greene
ISBN: 9780142402511

Bibliography:
Green, John. 2007. Looking for Alaska. New York: Speak.

Plot:
Miles Halter (Pudge) leaves home to attend Culver Creek Preparatory School in search of the “Great Perhaps”. He becomes part of a circle of friends that revolve around Alaska Young, an energetic yet troubled girl with whom he becomes infatuated. When Alaska is killed in a car crash, the group tries to make sense of the circumstances behind her death.

Analysis:
Where do I fit in? What am I supposed to do in life? How do I deal with suffering? What happens to us after we die? This thought-provoking story revolves around teenage Miles and his ongoing struggle to find answers to these questions. Readers will relate to this story and its characters on many levels as we all have sought answers to the above questions. Everyone can relate to Miles’ feelings of awkwardness and his need to find his place amongst a group.

Miles’ quirks in the story are very endearing and create a connection that enables the reader to root for him throughout the story and put one’s self in his place. Readers will connect with Miles as he deals with the longing for his first love to love him in return, the loss of Alaska around whom his whole world revolved, and feelings of regret for letting her go. Green keeps the reader intrigued with the suspenseful story by titling each chapter “with the number of days before “it” happens. Readers will race through the story just to discover what “it” is.

Culver Creek, the setting for these events, is a place where teens have created their own set of norms and values. When these norms and values are broken, banishment, isolation, and possibly retaliation by the group is the consequence. One such norm, not "ratting out" others, is a recurring value throughout the story. The story ends with Miles quoting Thomas Edison's last words as he tries to make sense of losing Alaska: "Thomas Edison's last words were: 'It's very beautiful over there.' I don't know where there is, but I believe it's somewhere, and I hope it's beautiful."

Review Excerpts:
Horn Book: "At boarding school in Alabama, narrator Miles Halter faces challenging classes, school-wide pranks, and Alaska Young, a sexy, enigmatic girl. After Alaska is killed in a car crash, Miles and his friends question whether it could have been suicide and acknowledge their own survivor guilt. These intelligent characters talk smart, yet don't always behave that way, and are thus complex and realistically portrayed teenagers."

Kirkus Review: " What sings and soars in this gorgeously told tale is Green's mastery of language and the sweet, rough edges of Pudge's voice. Girls will cry and boys will find love, lust, loss and longing in Alaska's vanilla-and-cigarettes scent."


Connections:

*Visit John Green's webpage and blog at http://www.sparksflyup.com/

* Other books by John Green

Abundance of Katherines ISBN: 9780525476887

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX

By Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering
ISBN: 9780763625290

Bibliography:
DiCamillo, Kate, and Timothy B. Ering. 2006. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press.

Plot:
The Tale of Despereaux, set within a castle, describes what happens when three worlds collide: the mouse world, the world of humans, and the rat world. This story describes a mouse who doesn’t seem to fit into the mouse world. As Despereaux follows the sweet sound of music, he stumbles upon Princess Pea, with whom he falls in love. Then he breaks the unforgiveable rule of not speaking to humans, which has him banished into the rat-filled dungeon where he is fated to meet his doom until he tells a story that saves his life. Despereaux learns of a plot to “bring the princess to darkness” and bravely plans to save her.

Analysis:
Despereaux fills the role as the unlikely hero in this story and immediately draws sympathy from the reader when he is described as being a disappointment to his family upon birth. Readers will identify with Despereaux’s need to be different and his quest to find his place in a mouse world in which he doesn’t feel he belongs. This tale touches on themes of loss, forgiveness, and friendship as DiCamillo draws the reader into the story by directly addressing them: “Reader, do you believe in such a thing as happily ever after? Or like Despereaux, have you, too, begun to question happy endings?” The story is arranged in short, manageable chapters at the end of which DiCamillo often encourages the reader to continue reading: "Poor Mig. What will become of her? You must, frightened though you may be, read on and see for yourself. Reader, it is your duty."

Review Excerpts:
Kirkus Review: "And so unwinds a tale with twists and turns, full of forbidden soup and ladles, rats lusting for mouse blood, a servant who wishes to be a princess, a knight in shining-or, at least, furry-armor, and all the ingredients of an old-fashioned drama."

Booklist: "Forgiveness, light, love, and soup. These essential ingredients combine into a tale that is as soul stirring as it is delicious."

Connections:
*Check out The Tale of Despereaux Movie Website: http://www.thetaleofdespereauxmovie.com/

*Kate DiCamillo's website: http://www.katedicamillo.com/

ARTEMIS FOWL: THE ETERNITY CODE

By Eoin Colfer
Read by Nathaniel Parker
ISBN: 9781855490581

Bibliography:
Colfer, Eoin, and Nathaniel Parker. 2003. Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code. Bath, England: Chivers Press.

Plot:
Artemis plans one last scheme before his father returns home and the family goes straight for good. In an attempt to con the shady businessman, John Spiro, everything goes wrong and Artemis’ loyal and trusted bodyguard, Butler, is killed. Artemis calls on the fairy world to help him save his companion and retrieve the C-Cube, which is a fairy technology unlike anything the human world has ever seen, from Spiro. During this adventure, Artemis learns that his schemes must come to an end so that those he loves will be not be harmed.

Analysis:
This audiobook version of The Eternity Code, which is read by Nathaniel Parker, is absolutely riveting and will keep listeners on the edge of their seats. Parker's assortment of voices along with their own special accents and dialects combined with his masterful use of inflection adds much dimension to this story. Listeners will relate to Artemis, the boy-genius and master schemer who is different from others his age. Colfer uses diary entries to reveal a deeper, more sensitive side of Artemis. In these entries Artemis describes meetings with his father and the promise to stay on a straight and narrow path upon his father's return.

Colfer's tale takes us on a journey that spans the globe and includes the underground world of the fairies. The theme of helping others is apparent as Artemis saves Butler and fights to recover the C-Cube from Spiro, which will protect the fairy world from being discovered by the humans. Colfer cleverly ends this story with Artemis undergoing a mindwipe which has deleted his memories of the whole adventure and every dealing with that of the fairy people, which perfectly sets the stage for the next sequel.

Review Excerpts:
Horn Book: "Artemis and Captain Holly Short are at it again, this time attempting to thwart the evil Spiro's theft of an ingenious device Artemis has designed that (inadvertently) puts the fairy world in danger. There's plenty of snappy dialogue and blow-by-blow fight scenes, but by the end the characters and story are right back where they started, which means that the next book in the series is completely free to do the same thing all over again."

Publisher's Weekly: "In the second and third books in the series about the 13-year-old criminal mastermind, he proves he has a heart after all (in the former), and, in the latter, craves one more adventure before he turns to the straight and narrow. "Rapid-fire dialogue and wise-acre humor ensure that readers will burn the midnight oil."

Connections:
*Other books in the series include:
#1 Artemis Fowl ISBN: 9781423105152
#2 The Arctic Incident ISBN: 9780786808557
#4 The Opal Deception ISBN: 9780786852895
#5 The Lost Colony ISBN: 9780786849598
#6 The Time Paradox ISBN: 9781423108368

*Check out the Artemis Fowl website: http://www.artemisfowl.com/

ELIJAH OF BUXTON

by Christopher Paul Curtis
ISBN: 9780439023450

Bibliography:
Curtis, Christopher Paul. 2007. Elijah of Buxton. New York: Scholastic Press.

Plot:
This story is told from the perspective of eleven-year-old Elijah, who was the first child born into freedom in a settlement for runaway slaves in Buxton, Canada. Throughout the story, Elijah experiences many adventures, some of which are silly and playful and others that are completely heart-wrenching. Elijah travels to the dangerous land of America in order to help a former slave, Leroy, find the man that stole the money that was meant to free his enslaved family. When everything goes wrong, Elijah is forced to make grown-up decisions that indeed change him forever.

Analysis:
Curtis masterfully develops vivid, rich characters that are multifaceted. Each character is portrayed with a layer of pain and sadness that is just below the surface. Curtis helps the reader to understand and relate to this pain even though the reader has never experienced slavery firsthand. Readers will also relate to the importance of family and the pain of being separated from loved ones.

Curtis uses the dialect of the characters to pull the reader into the time and place of the story. The following quote describes a heart-wrenching moment when Elijah meets Chloe, a recaptured slave who is chained up with her husband, her baby, and three other slaves. When Elijah explains that he was born free in Buxton, Chloe says, "You cain't know it, but you's the shiniest thing what we's seen in a long, long, long time. Seeing you's the next best thing to seeing Canada. Seeing you shows me that the whole thang ain't no dream."

Review Excerpts:
Booklist: “Readers learn about conditions in slavery at a distance, though the horrors become increasingly apparent. Among the more memorable scenes are those in which Elijah meets escaped slaves—first, those who have made it to Canada and, later, those who have been retaken by slave catchers. Central to the story, these scenes show an emotional range and a subtlety unusual in children’s fiction. Many readers drawn to the book by humor will find themselves at times on the edges of their seats in suspense and, at other moments, moved to tears.”

Kirkus Review: Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman is known for two things: being the first child born free in Buxton, Canada, and throwing up on the great Frederick Douglass. It's 1859, in Buxton, a settlement for slaves making it to freedom in Canada, a setting so thoroughly evoked, with characters so real, that readers will live the story, not just read it. This is not a zip-ahead-and-see-what-happens-next novel. It's for settling into and savoring the rich, masterful storytelling, for getting to know Elijah, Cooter and the Preacher, for laughing at stories of hoop snakes, toady-frogs and fish-head chunking and crying when Leroy finally gets money to buy back his wife and children, but has the money stolen. Then Elijah journeys to America and risks his life to do what's right. This is Curtis's best novel yet, and no doubt many readers, young and old, will finish and say, "This is one of the best books I have ever read."

Connections:
* The following websites offers many resources for teaching elementary, middle school, and high school students about slavery:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/teachers/lesson4.html
http://www.history.org/History/teaching/attitude.cfm
http://www.middleweb.com/Amistad.html

NUMBER THE STARS

By Lois Lowry
ISBN: 9780395510605

Bibliography:
Lowry, Lois. 1989. Number the Stars. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.

Plot:
Number the Stars takes place during World War II in Nazi-occupied Denmark. Annemarie and her family help their Jewish friends to hide from the Nazis. They take in Ellen, Annemarie’s best friend, when Ellen’s parents are forced to flee from their home to avoid being captured. The situation becomes more dangerous as Annemarie, her mother, and sister take Ellen to Uncle Henrik’s house to reunite her with her parents and prepare to help them escape safely to Sweden.

Analysis:
Lowery tells this story from ten-year-old Annemarie’s perspective. It is set in a very uncomfortable, anxious time with Nazi soldiers on every corner watching every move of the citizens of Denmark. Young Annemarie struggles to make sense of the situation as she is told by her parents that the Nazis plan to arrest all of the Danish Jews, and that her family plans to help them. Readers will relate to themes of fear, courage, and respect. Lowery conveys this story in a very suspenseful way that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

In the Afterword Lowery explains which elements of the story are fact and fiction and ends with a note from a from a twenty-one-year old man to his mother the night before he was executed by the Nazis: "I want you all to remember -that you must not dream yourselves back to the times before the war, but the dream for you all must be to create an ideal of human decency, not a narrow-minded and prejudiced one. That is the gift our country hungers for, something every little peasant boy can look forward to, and with pleasure feel he is part of- something he can work and fight for."

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: “The gripping story of a ten-year-old Danish girl and her family's courageous efforts to smuggle Jews out of their Nazi-occupied homeland to safety in Sweden. Readers are taken to the very heart of Annemarie's experience, and, through her eyes, come to understand the true meaning of bravery.”

Publishers Weekly: “Set in Nazi-occupied Denmark in 1943, this 1990 Newbery winner tells of a 10-year-old girl who undertakes a dangerous mission to save her best friend.”

Connections:
*This book would be a great introduction for a study of the Holocaust.

*Students could read this book prior to visiting a Holocaust museum.

WHEN MY NAME WAS KEOKO

By Linda Sue Park
ISBN: 9780618133352

Bibliography:
Park, Linda Sue. 2002. When My Name Was Keoko. New York: Clarion Books.

Plot:
When My Name Was Keoko takes place in Korea during World War II, and is told from the perspective of two young Korean siblings. Sun-hee and her brother, Tae-yul, describe what life is like living in Korea as they are forced by the inhabiting Japanese soldiers to abandon all ties to their Korean culture, which includes changing their Korean names to Japanese names.

Sun-hee’s parents quietly rebel against the occupation in their own ways while her uncle is much more vocal about resisting. Sun-hee’s uncle, who works for the resistance, is forced into hiding when Sun-hee misunderstands a tip given to her by a Japanese friend. The guilt of this mistake haunts her throughout the story and changes the family dynamic. The story intensifies as Tae-yul makes a brave and self-sacrificing decision to join the Japanese army in order to protect his family. When the war is finally over, the family strives to regain normalcy.

Analysis:
Park carefully tells this story from two perspectives addressing both male and female roles in the Korean culture during this time. These complex characters must make difficult, self-sacrificing decisions in order to keep their family safe. Sun-hee struggles to make sense of it all as family secrets are hidden from her, and she lives with the guilt of mistakenly sending her uncle away: "After Uncle left, I couldn't trust myself to speak. It seemed that my mouth and heart were all connected. When I opened my mouth, my eyes would fill with tears. To keep from crying, I had to close my mouth, so I didn't talk much."

Tae-yul struggles to find his place in a world that has been turned upside-down and deals with anger toward his father for not openly resisting the Japanese. Readers will relate to issues regarding feelings of guilt, duty, honor, respect, and loss. The setting is extremely tense as Japanese soldiers force families to abandon their Korean culture, punishing those that resist. As the characters deal with the new imposed rules, tensions mount as characters choose to conform or resist. Readers will relate to themes of patriotism versus conforming to imposed rules in order to keep the family intact.

Review Excerpts:
Horn Book: “In alternating chapters covering the years 1940 to 1945, two Korean siblings describe their lives during the Japanese military occupation. Tae-yul admires their uncle, who works for the resistance; younger sister Sun-hee is more like their father, subdued and introspective, rebelling in quiet but significant ways. The novel provides an accessible introduction to this painful history.”

"A brother and sister alternate as narrators in this well-constructed novel, which takes place from 1940-1945 in Japanese-occupied Korea," wrote PW in a starred review. "Through the use of the shifting narrators, Park subtly points up the differences between male and female roles in Korean society and telling details provide a clear picture of the siblings and their world."

Connections:
*Other books by Linda Sue Park:
The Kite Fighters ISBN: 9780395940419
A Single Shard ISBN: 9780395978276
Project Mulberry ISBN: 9780618477869

AN AMERICAN PLAGUE: THE TRUE AND TERRIFYING STORY OF THE YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC OF 1793

Written by Jim Murphy

ISBN: 9780395776087

Bibliography:
Murphy, Jim. 2003. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. New York: Clarion Books.

Plot:
This award winning book accurately details the historical events surrounding the yellow fever outbreak of 1793 in Philadelphia.

Analysis:
Much research was compiled into the creation of this terrifying story as Murphy cites over ninety different sources that include firsthand accounts, historical documents, and books on a variety of supporting topics. Murphy delivers a clear sequence of information that covers many aspects of the plague such as the first case of Yellow Fever in Philadelphia, the many ways doctors attempted to treat the ravaging disease, the volunteers that stayed behind to provide care for the sick, the link between mosquitoes and Yellow Fever, and advances in medicine.

Features such as a table of contents, a detailed reference list, and an index are included as well as historical pictures, maps, paintings, newspaper clippings, letters, and other public records which bring this historical tragedy to life. Murphy carefully considers a multitude of viewpoints from that of basic citizens, doctors, government officials, nurses, community leaders, and volunteers from the Free African Society. The descriptive account of the yellow fever epidemic ends with the following warning: “This disease will eventually emerge to challenge us again. And when it does, we will have to overcome our fears and be prepared to confront it.”


Review Excerpts:
Booklist: “History, science, politics, and public health come together in this dramatic account of the disastrous yellow fever epidemic that hit the nation's capital more than 200 years ago. Drawing on firsthand accounts, medical and non-medical, Murphy re-creates the fear and panic in the infected city, the social conditions that caused the disease to spread, and the arguments about causes and cures. With archival prints, photos, contemporary newspaper facsimiles that include lists of the dead, and full, chatty source notes, he tells of those who fled and those who stayed--among them, the heroic group of free blacks who nursed the ill and were later vilified for their work.”

Horn Book: “Murphy culls from a number of historical records the story of the yellow fever epidemic that swept Philadelphia, skillfully drawing out the fear and drama of the time and making them immediate to modern readers. Attentive to telling detail, Murphy offers representative images, from black-and-white portraits to plague scenes. Thoroughly documented, with an annotated source list, the work is both rigorous and inviting.”

Connections:
*Other books about yellow fever:
Cefrey, Holly. Yellow Fever. ISBN: 9780823934898
Pierce, John R. Yellow Jack : How Yellow Fever Ravaged America and Walter Reed Discovered Its Deadly Secrets. ISBN 9780471472612

*Compare the yellow fever epidemic with other epidemics.

WILMA UNLIMITED: HOW WILMA RUDOLPH BECAME THE WORLD'S FASTEST WOMAN

Written by Kathleen Krull
Illustrated by David Diaz

ISBN: 9780152012670

Bibliography:
Krull, Kathleen, and David Diaz. 1996. Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman. San Diego: Harcourt Brace.

Plot:
Wilma Unlimited describes how Wilma Rudolph overcame all odds despite being stricken with polio as a child to earn three gold medals in the 1960 Olympics becoming the fastest woman in the world.

Analysis:
"No one expected such a tiny girl to have a first birthday. In Clarksville, Tennessee, in 1940, life for a baby who weighed just over four pounds at birth was sure to be limited. But most babies weren't Wilma Rudolph." This quote captures the essence of this amazing legend as she relentlessly exceeds expectations throughout her life. The straightforward sequence of this factual story follows Wilma Rudolph from birth to the day that she became the first American woman to earn three gold medals at a single Olympics in 1960. The rich illustrations communicate both Wilma’s hardships as well as her amazing accomplishments and echo her determination as she becomes “the fastest woman in the world”.

This motivational story written in simple text will inspire others to seek out their dreams even when setbacks occur. The power of faith and determination are echoed in this story repeatedly as Wilma overcomes illness, walks without her leg brace for the first time, becomes a high school basketball star, and later earns three gold medals at the Olympic Games. An author’s note describes other accomplishments as well including the founding of the Wilma Rudolph Foundation, which she established to help young athletes.

Review Excerpts:
Booklist: “Both Krull's words and Diaz's illustrations are celebrations of an inspiring life that deserves to be remembered. An appended author's note offers additional historical context.”

School Library Journal: “An athlete's determined efforts to succeed against all odds. The dynamic artwork is as fluid and vivacious as Rudolph herself.”

Connections:
*Students can create a timeline of Wilma Rudolph's life.

*Other books about Wilma Rudolph:
Sherrow, Victoria. Wilma Rudolph. ISBN: 9781575052465
Enger, Lee. Wilma Rudolph: Olympic Track Star. ISBN: 9780736854894
Flanagan, Alice K. Wilma Rudolph: Athlete and Educator. ISBN: 9780894343568

THE SNAKE SCIENTIST

Written by Sy Montgomery
Pictures by Nic Bishop
ISBN: 9780395871690

Bibliography:
Montgomery, Sy, and Nic Bishop. 1999. The Snake Scientist. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Plot:
Montgomery takes us on a journey to the Narcisse snake dens in Manitoba, Canada where she follows the work of Bob Mason as he studies the red-sided garter snake.

Analysis:
Did you know that snakes communicate to each other using pheromones? Did you know that snakes can swallow prey bigger than their own heads? Did you also know that snakes don’t have ears, but pick up vibrations of sound with the bones of their jaws? These are just a few of the amazing facts one will discover when reading The Snake Scientist. Montgomery urges the reader to keep an open mind regarding the feared creatures by saying,“Many people are afraid of snakes. But don’t be afraid! You’ll miss out on some amazing and mysterious animals.” This enthralling book is one that will perhaps make a feared enemy into a friend and create an appreciation for these wondrous creatures.

Montgomery shows us that snakes are intriguing creatures from which we can all learn. The large, thought- provoking pictures alone will create a thirst for more knowledge. Children will be delighted to see pictures of other children holding these harmless snakes. Montgomery carefully explains difficult words such as pheromones in a simple way as she takes the reader from simple facts to more complex information. An index is provided as well as a list of books for further reading on the subject. Montgomery encourages curiosity and leaves the reader with even more questions that will motivate a continued study of the snakes of Narcisse which is truly science at work!

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: “The lively text communicates both the meticulous measurements required in this kind of work and the thrill of new discoveries. Large, full-color photos of the zoologist and young students at work, and lots of wriggly snakes, pull readers into the presentation. A list of "unsolved mysteries" about the snakes and instructions on visiting the snake dens will keep interest high to the very last page.”

Horn Book: “Each spring, 18,000 red-sided garter snakes emerge from underground dens in Manitoba, Canada. Earthwatch volunteers and students gather them up, and the snakes then participate in a day's behavioral experiments directed by zoologist Bob Mason. With a research topic whose kid appeal is hard to beat, this is a solid introduction to the ethos of experimental science as seen by a genial scientist.”

Connections:
*This book would serve as a great introduction to the scientific method.

*This book has many examples of animal adaptations and would be a great resource in the science classroom.

*Other books by Sy Montgomery include:
The Tarantula Scientist ISBN: 9780618147991
The Man-Eating Tigers of Sundarbans ISBN: 9780618494903
Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea ISBN: 9780618496416

ALEUTIAN SPARROW

Written by Karen Hesse
ISBN: 9780689861895

Bibliography:
Hesse, Karen. 2003. Aleutian Sparrow. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Plot:
Aleutian Sparrow is a fictional verse novel based on true events. It describes the near extinction of the Aleut people when they are forcibly moved into internment camps after the attack of the Japanese Army during World War II.

Analysis:
Hesse’s work tells a heart-wrenching story that serves as a voice for a culture that was nearly lost forever. The unrhymed verse evokes great emotion and establishes a connection through images of loss and heartache. One such poem, Escape II, describes when Vera loses her best friend to disease: “Grief turns me invisible as I walk out of camp, down the path./Water stretches between this shore and the wooded mountains across the channel./The air is fur thick, damp, and green./I sit on the sand in the rain, and I scream." Hesse explores several heavy themes such as racism, the importance of preserving culture, and the perseverance of a broken people in finding the strength to begin again.

Review Excerpts:
Kirkus Review: “With a whisper-soft touch, Hesse's clear, resonant verses and delicate imagery will break hearts. At the end, readers will be haunted by a hope-filled love that has grown between Vera and Alfred in the camp and by a government that says, We are moving you to save you."

Publisher’s Weekly: “"The poetic images will linger in the minds of readers."

Connections:
*Other works by Karen Hesse
Witness
Out of the Dust
The Music of the Dolphins

*Aleutian Sparrow could serve as an introduction for class discussions about racism.

BUTTERFLY EYES AND OTHER SECRETS OF THE MEADOW

Written by Joyce Sidman
Illustrated by Beth Krommes
ISBN: 9780618563135

Bibliography:
Sidman, Joyce, and Beth Krommes. 2006. Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Plot:
This poetry book describes the interaction of living things in a meadow and is presented in a riddle format.

Analysis:
These delightful poems written in riddle format provide an interesting mixture of poetry and scientific facts that inspire inquiry and promote a love for science. Each set of poems is followed by an intriguing scientific explanation. The poem, Ultraviolet, describes a creature whose eyes are capable of seeing ultraviolet patterns in flowers that humans cannot see. A gorgeous illustration of a butterfly provides a hint for young readers, and the answer to the riddle along with the fascinating scientific explanation follows on the next page.

The colorful nature scenes in combination with the use of concrete and shape poems draw the reader into the meadow and create a sense of calm. The use of alliteration, assonance, and consonance allow the poetry to flow effortlessly which is evident in the poem, Always Together: We tumble/we twitter/we dip, float, and flitter/On thistle/we rustle/and whistle and bustle.

Review Excerpts:
Horn Book: “An elegantly conceived, beautifully integrated volume.”

School Library Journal: “This book is a handsome and versatile compendium, melding art, poetry, and natural history.”

Connections:
*This book would serve as a great introduction for questioning skills in science and an be paired with Stories with Holes,

*These poems would be wonderful for choral reading.

*This book would be perfect for an introduction to food chains or food webs in science.

A PIZZA THE SIZE OF THE SUN

Written by Jack Prelutsky
Illustrated by James Stevenson
ISBN: 9780688132361

Bibliography:
Prelutsky, Jack, and James Stevenson. 1996. A Pizza the Size of the Sun: Poems. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Plot:
A Pizza the Size of the Sun is an anthology of silly poems by Jack Prelutsky.

Analysis:
This playful collection of laugh out loud poems will grab the interests of readers and hold them captive until they arrive at the end of the book. The use of a variety of formats and fonts, paired with fun illustrations creates a mood of silliness. Prelutsky’s creative use of rhyme along with the utilization of advanced language in the poems will broaden the vocabulary of young readers and motivate them to find meaning in the upper level language. Poems such as The Manatee display a variety of literary devices such as alliteration, assonance, rhyme and the clever use of anagrams: “I’m partial to the manatee/which emanates no vanity./It swims amidst the anemones/and hasn’t any enemies.”

Review Excerpts:
Booklist: “A delightful addition to poetry collections that will not stay on the shelf for long.”

School Library Journal: “This book should be required reading for those out there who claim they don't like poetry. If you can only afford one poetry collection this year, make it this one.”

Connections:
*Other books by Jack Prelutsky
My Dog May Be a Genius
My Parents Think I’m Sleeping
Pizza, Pigs, and Poetry: How to Write a Poem
The New Kid on the Block

SCHOOLYARD RHYMES: KIDS' OWN RHYMES FOR ROPE SKIPPING, HAND CLAPPING, BALL BOUNCING, AND JUST PLAIN FUN

Selected by Judy Sierra
Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
ISBN: 9780375825163

Bibliography:
Sierra, Judy, and Melissa Sweet. 2005. Schoolyard Rhymes: Kids' Own Rhymes for Rope Skipping, Hand Clapping, Ball Bouncing, and Just Plain Fun. New York: Knopf.

Plot:
This book features a selection of rhymes and chants often heard on school playgrounds.

Analysis:
The bright, colorful pictures throughout this book will certainly capture a reader's interest. The rhymes are fun and easy to read. The repetitive, rhythmic patterns encourage the reader in a captivating way. Adult readers will also enjoy this book as it will allow them to reminisce about the times that they shared similar rhymes. These rhymes provide a bridge that connects the children of the past to the children of today.

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: "Sweet's animated watercolor-and-collage illustrations fill the pages with expressive faces, thin lines of verse shaped into jump ropes and borders, and hilarious interpretive scenes from the rhymes. This is a definite winner, as it will be enormously popular with children. "

Connections:
*These rhymes can be used throughout the school day to practice fluency skills.

*This book would serve as a great introduction to a poetry unit.

THE LEGEND OF THE BLUEBONNET

Retold and illustrated by Tomie DePaola
ISBN: 9780399209376

Bibliography:
De Paola, Tomie. 1983. The Legend of the Bluebonnet: An Old Tale of Texas. New York: Putnam.

Plot:
The Comanche people plead with the gods to send rain to save their people. After losing her entire family to drought and famine, She-Who-Is-Alone sacrifices her only possession, a doll made for her by her mother, in hopes of appeasing the gods and saving the rest of her people. After this sacrifice, bright blue flowers appear on the hill as a sign of forgiveness from the gods and the rains fall. Every year the Great Spirits fill the hills of Texas with these flowers to remember the sacrifice of a selfless little girl.

Analysis:
This is a touching story with a wonderful theme of selflessness. She-Who-Is-Alone does what is best for her people and saves them by giving up her only possession. The illustrations in this story are simple yet powerful as they convey the loneliness and sadness of She-Who-Is-Alone. The artwork reflects the Comanche culture, and the mention of Great Spirits is true to the culture in that they worshiped many spirits equally.

Review Excerpts:
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: "The soft colors, the spacious composition, and the feeling of reverence conveyed by the pictures are in effective harmony with the text."

School Library Journal: "This is a solemn, simply-told tale and the concept of an unselfish parting with a prized possession is one to which children will readily relate. . . . The full-color paintings in tableau-like settings are nicely staged with well-executed design and color."

The Horn Book: "The legend of the origin of the Texas state flower is portrayed in clean, uncluttered pictures filled with warm, rich colors. The Indian girl stands out as independent and determined to help the Comanche people."

Connections:

*This story would serve as a great introduction for a unit on folktales and legends.

*Students can also read The Indian Paintbrush also written by DePaola and compare/contrast the two legends.

THE KOREAN CINDERELLA

Retold by Shirley Climo
Illustrated by Ruth Heller
ISBN: 9780060204327

Bibliography:
Climo, Shirley, and Ruth Heller. 1993. The Korean Cinderella. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

Plot:
After the death of her mother, Pear Blossom's father marries an evil woman who belittles her daily and forces her to complete impossible chores. Magical animals help Pear Blossom to complete the impossible tasks much to the dismay of her stepmother and stepsister, Peony. While Pear Blossom hurries to the village festival, she stops to remove a stone from her sandal and catches the eye of the magistrate, who is immediately taken with her beauty. She is startled and leaves the straw sandal behind. The magistrate takes the straw sandal, finds her, tells of his plan to marry her, and shortly thereafter arranges the marriage with her father.


Analysis:
In this magical Cinderella story, every page is filled with rich illustrations reflective of Korean culture. Author and illustrator notes at the end of the story help to explain the symbols used in the illustrations as well as themes seen in traditional Korean tales. This story exemplifies the typical Cinderella tale where good triumphs over evil as Pear Blossom marries the magistrate and seemingly lives "happily ever after".

Review Excerpts:
Booklist: "Heller’s paintings are exotically lush and colorful as well as engaging."

School Library Journal: "Heller's lush, full-color illustrations capture the vibrancy of traditional Korean culture with great accuracy."

Connections:
*This story can be compared to other versions of Cinderella.

*Students could perform this story as a reader's theater production.

*As a Social Studies lesson on the election process, this story could be paired with another version of Cinderella where students create a political campaign for their favorite Cinderella character for President (lesson by D. Fielder).

FLOTSAM

by David Wiesner
ISBN: 9780618194575

Bibliography:
Wiesner, David. 2006. Flotsam. New York: Clarion Books.

Plot:
A very curious young boy is observing items on the beach when he discovers an underwater camera. He has the film from within the camera developed and is absolutely amazed, when he finds some very odd pictures of sea creatures behaving as humans, small green aliens, giant starfish, and more. He is especially intrigued by a picture of a girl holding a picture of a boy holding a picture and so on. He uses his magnifying glass and then his microscope to see the other pictures in the pictures. He decides to take a picture of himself holding the picture so that the cycle can continue. He flings the camera back into the sea, and it washes up on another beach where a young girl later discovers it.

Analysis:
This wordless picture book relies on each picture to tell the story and forces the reader to utilize his/her own observation skills to make sense of it all. The use of bright colors immediately catches the eye of the reader and pulls him/her into the story. The illustrations are magical and fit together perfectly to describe a curious day at the beach. As one observes each page of this story, he/she is given the freedom to create his/her own inner dialogue about the events in the story.

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: "This wordless book's vivid watercolor paintings have a crisp realism that anchors the elements of fantasy. Shifting perspectives, from close-ups to landscape views, and a layout incorporating broad spreads and boxed sequences, add drama and motion to the storytelling and echo the photographic theme."

Booklist: “Wiesner offers another exceptional, wordless picture book that finds wild magic in quiet, everyday settings.”

Connections:
*As a writing project students can create captions or text bubbles for the pictures.

*Students can create a sequel to this story starting with the young girl finding the camera.

*Since Flotsam relies heavily on observation skills, it can be used as an introduction for scientific observation skills or using science tools.

MOSES: WHEN HARRIET TUBMAN LED HER PEOPLE TO FREEDOM

Written by Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
ISBN: 0-786-85175-9

Bibliography:
Weatherford, Carole Boston, and Kadir Nelson. 2006. Moses: when Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Plot:
This story describes Harriet Tubman’s courageous journey to freedom. Dialogue with God provides Harriet with strength along the way to keep moving and eventually propels her to lead hundreds of other slaves to freedom.

Analysis:
This is a powerful story of faith and triumph. The compelling illustrations reflect both fear and courage. The use of darkness and light in the illustrations help the reader to sense both the danger and the godly force that seems to guide and protect Harriet throughout her dangerous journey. Throughout the book Harriet chats with God to find strength and courage. Words from God comfort her and flow across the pages in bold text often spoken to her through nature. The images of Harriet reflect inner conflict as she carefully listens to God’s voice to find her way. This story alludes to the biblical story of Moses through images of Harriet with a staff and in the ending when God says to her, “Well done, Moses, well done.”

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: "Tubman's religious faith drives this handsome, poetic account of her escape to freedom and role in the Underground Railroad. The story is sketched between passages of prayerful dialogue that keep Tubman from giving up and eventually call upon her to be "the Moses of [her] people." Deep scenes of night fill many double pages as the dramatic paintings follow her tortuous journey, arrival in Philadelphia, and later trip to guide others."

Booklist: “The full-page portrait of a contemplative Tubman turning to God to help her guide her people is especially striking.”

Connections:
*Other books about Harriet Tubman:
Adler, David. A Picture Book of Harriet Tubman. ISBN 9780823409260
Skelton, Renee. Harriet Tubman: A Woman of Courage. ISBN 9780060576080
Turner, Glenette Tilley. An Apple for Harriet Tubman. ISBN 9780807503959

*Students can map Harriet’s journey to freedom.

*Students can create a timeline of Harriet Tubman’s life.

TALKING WITH ARTISTS VOLUME THREE

by Pat Cummings
ISBN: 0-395-89132-9

Bibliography:
Cummings, Pat. 1999. Talking with Artists. Conversations with Peter Catalanotto, Raul Colon, Lisa Desimini, Jane Dyer, Kevin Hawkes, G. Brian Karas, Betsy Lewin, Ted Lewin, Keiko Narahashi, Elise Primavera, Anna Rich, Peter Sis, Paul O. Zelinsky Volume Three. New York: Clarion Books.

Plot:
Talking with Artists documents the life experiences of thirteen well-known illustrators of children's books including: Peter Catalanotto, Raul Colon, Lisa Desimini, Jane Dyer, Kevin Hawkes, G. Brian Karas, Betsy Lewin, Ted Lewin, Keiko Narahashi, Elise Primavera, Anna Rich, Peter Sis, and Paul O. Zelinsky. Cummings asks each artist to describe what a typical day in their lives is like, where their ideas originate, what medium is used to create their pictures, and the circumstances that led up to the illustrations of their first books. Each author describes the childhood events that paved the way for each to start their own careers in illustration as well as advice for possible illustrators of the future.

Analysis:
The format is predictable and easy to follow and allows one to compare experiences amongst the diverse group of featured illustrators. Childhood photographs of the illustrators as well as art from illustrators' childhood days help to establish a connection with younger readers and remind older readers of simpler times. Also featured, are excerpts of artwork from the illustrators' published books which motivate the reader to seek out the books in order to experience the works as a whole.

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: “Thirteen children's book illustrators discuss their lives and how they communicate their ideas. While many readers will find the artists' tips that conclude the volume useful, all will appreciate these insightful conversations.”

Booklist: “Beautifully designed to draw readers, this book will inspire many children to make art and possibly even to choose it as a career some day. A fine addition to a beautiful and absorbing series.”

Connections:
*Other books written by Pat Cummings:
Talking with adventurers. Conversations with Christina M. Allen, Robert Ballard, Michael L. Blakey, Ann Bowles, David Doubilet, Jane Goodall, Dereck & Beverly Joubert, Michael Novacek, Johan Reinhard, Rick C. West and Juris Zarins
ISBN: 9780792270683

Talking with artists. Conversations with Thomas B. Allen, Mary Jane Begin, Floyd Cooper, Julie Downing, Denise Fleming, Sheila Hamanaka, Kevin Henkes, William Joyce, Maira Kalman, Deborah Nourse Lattimore, Brian Pinkney, Vera B. Williams, and David Wisniewski/Volume Two.
ISBN: 9780689803109

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Welcome to my Book Review Blog! The purpose of this blog is to fulfill the requirements of LS 5603. Join me on my quest to explore the fun, exciting world of children's literature!