Bibliography
Montgomery, Sy. 2002. ENCANTADO: PINK DOLPHIN OF THE AMAZON. Photo. by Dianne Taylor-Snow. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0618131035.
Plot Summary
This informational text brings light to a little known creature, the pink dolphin of the Amazon, or Encantado. These creatures are only found in the waters of the Amazon river, and are the subject of much interest and mystery. Montgomery take s the reader to the Amazon, and explores this creature’s habitat, while informing about other interesting animals of the Amazon, and the people who live there. This book explores the science of these creatures, and compares them with other types of whales and dolphins, and uses the knowledge of experts and natives to do so.
Critical Analysis
Sy Montgomery writes this book in a way that allows to reader to feel the experience. You are transplanted to the Amazon, and adventure through the wild with her as the world of the Encantado is revealed. The information within the book was all gained through the Authors personal experiences and studies in the Amazon, where she worked with scientists and locals to uncover as much as possible about these pink dolphins, making this a very accurate bank of information. The photography featured supports the text (some were taken in the Amazon, while the close-ups featured are from the Pittsburgh Zoo), and enhances the feeling of having been on this adventure with the author. The text is also supported with graphs and maps of information about the area and the Encantado.
Review Excerpt
Booklist- “ instead of a traditional animal study, children are treated to a captivating travelogue, complete with numerous color photos of the people and places that incorporates political, environmental, and zoological aspects of the region.”
Connections
Students can research and explore the Encantado, as well as other dolphins and whales.
Other books about dolphins:
James, Sylvia. DOLPHINS. ISBN 1590340108.
Carwardine, Mark. Whales and Dolphins. ISBN 0789489902.
Hesse, Karen. THE MUSIC OF DOLPHINS. ISBN 0590897985.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Walt Whitman: Words for America
Bibliography
Kerley, Barbara. 2004. WALT WHITMAN: WORDS FOR AMERICA. Ill. by Brian Selznick. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439357918.
Plot Summary
This picture book bibliography follows the life of the famous American poet Walt Whitman from his early childhood in Brooklyn, to his experiences during the Civil War. Whitman’s early experience with the printing press sparked his love of the printed word, and led him to create his own writing. It began with articles contributed to the local paper, then to a paper all his own, and eventually the poetry he is so well known for. This particular biography focuses on Whitman’s experiences with the civil war, and how it affected him personally, as well as artistically. Whitman’s civil war experience began as his younger brother George was wounded in the field of battle. Whitman searched for his injured brother, and once he found him to be safe, he spent time with the soldiers, and found a very special place in his heart for these soldiers, and committed himself to help in any way he could. He spent time simply keeping injured soldiers in D.C. company as they recovered, or passed away. This experience shaped much of Whitman’s most memorable poetry.
Critical Analysis
This book is made up of beautiful double page spreads combining illustration, text, and Whitman’s poetry. The author’s ability to make the historical elements interesting and easy to read is impressive, as well as the accuracy of the accounts. The Illustrations truly match the text, and enhance the meaning and understanding of the text. For example the poem “ O my soldiers, my veterans, my heart gives you love…” is set within illustrations of wounded soldiers who Whitman was close with during his aide at the hospital, making the poetry even more meaningful. The Author, as well as the Illustrator, clearly devoted much time to researching the subject, and forming an understanding of his experiences during the Civil War. This is truly an engaging biography.
Review Excerpt
School Library Journal- “Libraries will want to add this unabashedly glowing tribute as well for the infectious zeal both author and illustrator bring to their subject and his writings, excerpts of which can be found woven seamlessly into the text and the art”
Connections
Share poetry by Walt Whitman:
LEAVES OF GRASS: The Original 1855 Edition. ISBN 0486456765
DRUM-TAPS. ISBN 1110441398
Kerley, Barbara. 2004. WALT WHITMAN: WORDS FOR AMERICA. Ill. by Brian Selznick. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439357918.
Plot Summary
This picture book bibliography follows the life of the famous American poet Walt Whitman from his early childhood in Brooklyn, to his experiences during the Civil War. Whitman’s early experience with the printing press sparked his love of the printed word, and led him to create his own writing. It began with articles contributed to the local paper, then to a paper all his own, and eventually the poetry he is so well known for. This particular biography focuses on Whitman’s experiences with the civil war, and how it affected him personally, as well as artistically. Whitman’s civil war experience began as his younger brother George was wounded in the field of battle. Whitman searched for his injured brother, and once he found him to be safe, he spent time with the soldiers, and found a very special place in his heart for these soldiers, and committed himself to help in any way he could. He spent time simply keeping injured soldiers in D.C. company as they recovered, or passed away. This experience shaped much of Whitman’s most memorable poetry.
Critical Analysis
This book is made up of beautiful double page spreads combining illustration, text, and Whitman’s poetry. The author’s ability to make the historical elements interesting and easy to read is impressive, as well as the accuracy of the accounts. The Illustrations truly match the text, and enhance the meaning and understanding of the text. For example the poem “ O my soldiers, my veterans, my heart gives you love…” is set within illustrations of wounded soldiers who Whitman was close with during his aide at the hospital, making the poetry even more meaningful. The Author, as well as the Illustrator, clearly devoted much time to researching the subject, and forming an understanding of his experiences during the Civil War. This is truly an engaging biography.
Review Excerpt
School Library Journal- “Libraries will want to add this unabashedly glowing tribute as well for the infectious zeal both author and illustrator bring to their subject and his writings, excerpts of which can be found woven seamlessly into the text and the art”
Connections
Share poetry by Walt Whitman:
LEAVES OF GRASS: The Original 1855 Edition. ISBN 0486456765
DRUM-TAPS. ISBN 1110441398
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Witness
Bibliography
Hesse, Karen. 2001. WITNESS. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0606274537.
Plot Summary
This verse novel is set in 1924 Vermont in a town that is being torn apart as the Ku Klux Klan moves in and stirs up trouble in the community. The story is told from various points of view, including those who are in the most danger, Leanora Sutter, a 12 year old African American girl, and Esther Hirsch a six year old Jewish girl. The town’s allegiances are split between the appeal of “the good American men” of the KKK and their personal convictions about humanity, religion, and their very own neighbors. In the end, after violence and struggle, it appears the town has come to its senses, and driven the Klan out of their lives.
Critical Analysis
Hesse does a wonderful job of letting the reader into the hearts and minds of the eleven characters featured in Witness. There is no rhyme to this poetry, it is written in free verse, and flows like dialogue, “Only the little girl from new york, Esther, that funny talking kid, only Esther didn’t mind about me being colored.” This verse novel is easy to read, and to follow the progress of this community as they struggle to overcome prejudice, violence, and ignorance.
Review Excerpt(s)
School Library Journal – “Remarkable and powerful…a thoughtful look at people and their capacity for love and hate.”
Kirkus Reviews - “What Copland created with music, and Hopper created with paint, Hesse deftly and unerringly creates with words.”
Connections
*Other books of poetry by Karen Hesse
OUT OF THE DUST. ISBN 0590360809
COME ON, RAIN. ISBN 0590331256
THE MUSIC OF DOLPHINS. ISBN 0590897985
Hesse, Karen. 2001. WITNESS. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0606274537.
Plot Summary
This verse novel is set in 1924 Vermont in a town that is being torn apart as the Ku Klux Klan moves in and stirs up trouble in the community. The story is told from various points of view, including those who are in the most danger, Leanora Sutter, a 12 year old African American girl, and Esther Hirsch a six year old Jewish girl. The town’s allegiances are split between the appeal of “the good American men” of the KKK and their personal convictions about humanity, religion, and their very own neighbors. In the end, after violence and struggle, it appears the town has come to its senses, and driven the Klan out of their lives.
Critical Analysis
Hesse does a wonderful job of letting the reader into the hearts and minds of the eleven characters featured in Witness. There is no rhyme to this poetry, it is written in free verse, and flows like dialogue, “Only the little girl from new york, Esther, that funny talking kid, only Esther didn’t mind about me being colored.” This verse novel is easy to read, and to follow the progress of this community as they struggle to overcome prejudice, violence, and ignorance.
Review Excerpt(s)
School Library Journal – “Remarkable and powerful…a thoughtful look at people and their capacity for love and hate.”
Kirkus Reviews - “What Copland created with music, and Hopper created with paint, Hesse deftly and unerringly creates with words.”
Connections
*Other books of poetry by Karen Hesse
OUT OF THE DUST. ISBN 0590360809
COME ON, RAIN. ISBN 0590331256
THE MUSIC OF DOLPHINS. ISBN 0590897985
Meow Ruff
Bibliography
Sidman, Joyce. 2006. MEOW RUFF: A STORY IN CONCRETE POETRY. Ill. By Michelle Berg. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0618448942
Plot Summary
On a bright sunny day, a dog slips quickly out of an open door. Simultaneously, a small white cat is dropped out of a car onto the curb, let the chase begin! As the two animals run, a sudden storm begins to brew, leading them to seek shelter in the same place. They form an unlikely bond, and in the end, the dog’s owner brings the cat home to live with them.
Critical Analysis
The illustrations and poems in this book come together as one. Sidman uses concrete poetry to bring the scenery in these poems to life. The clouds in the beginning are made up of the words “plump bright dome of sugary white sky-muffin”, but as the storm heats up, they transform into “dense dark drenching murk.” Even the grass, lining the bottom of the pages, is composed of descriptive words like “Ticklish, Feathery, Earth-smell, Sun-Warmed, Paw-Soft Grass” that transform along with the weather to a “soaking, sinking, seeping, draining, slurping sponge of grassy dirt.”
This book is wonderfully designed, so that the poetry and illustration become one, and really engage the reader in the text. This book would be great to share with students as they begin to explore poetry, and understand its many forms.
Review Excerpt
Booklist- “It's typically said of picture books that art and text are inseparable, but the truth of that has rarely been more evident than it is in this introduction to concrete poetry--which, unlike most books about the form, doesn't just collect unrelated poems, but tells a story through them. With the same creativity of expression that marked Song of the Waterboatman (2005), a 2006 Caldecott Honor Book, Sidman develops a simple tale about a cat and dog trapped in a rainstorm, coding much of the substance right into the physical landscape.”
Connections
*Have students create their own concrete poetry using the shapes of animals, foliage, and common objects.
* Other Books if Concrete poetry for children
Graham, Joan. Flicker FLASH. ISBN 0618311025
Lewis, J. Patrick. DOODLE DANDIES: POEMS THAT TAKE SHAPE. ISBN 0689848897
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Bow Wow Meow Meow
Bibliography
Florian, Douglas. 2003. BOW WOW MEOW MEOW: IT’S RHYMING CATS AND DOGS. San
Diego: Harcourt. ISBN 0152163956.
Plot Summary
Dogs and cats of all kinds are brought to life through poetry in this fun book of animal poetry. These 21 poems, each personifying a different animal, really bring the creatures to life as they discuss their features, lifestyles, and quirks. The accompanying paintings add to the liveliness of these animals.
Critical Analysis
The watercolor paintings that accompany each of these original poems make the characters more dynamic. One poem titled “The Bulldog” ends with “His jowls are long. I’d say his face was full of charm If he would let go of my arm.” On the accompanying page, a painting of an otherwise sweet looking bulldog, with an arm stretched between his teeth. While the illustrations are eye catching and amusing, the poetry with in the book stands alone. The words create imagery, and allow the reader to picture the animals just as Florian has described them. The humor throughout his poetry makes this book even more enjoyable. Florian also uses concrete poetry in this collection to personify the “oodles and oodles of curls” that can be found on the Poodle.
Review Excerpt(s)
School Library Journal- “There are short poems ("I am a cat of longhaired version./A pet-igree that's known as purrrsian"), some a bit longer, and one that curls like poodles' hair. The language has flair, and the writing is zany and creative. The watercolor paintings in primarily pastel colors are great fun, revealing an attribute or the character of each animal. This is a delightful selection to read aloud to younger children, and it offers older students models of simple poems that really work.”
Connections
*Explore other books of animal poetry by Douglas Florian
Beast Feast. ISBN 0152017372
Mammalabilia. ISBN 0512050248
Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs. ISBN 0152052488
*Have students create pieces of animal poetry inspired by their favorite animals
Florian, Douglas. 2003. BOW WOW MEOW MEOW: IT’S RHYMING CATS AND DOGS. San
Diego: Harcourt. ISBN 0152163956.
Plot Summary
Dogs and cats of all kinds are brought to life through poetry in this fun book of animal poetry. These 21 poems, each personifying a different animal, really bring the creatures to life as they discuss their features, lifestyles, and quirks. The accompanying paintings add to the liveliness of these animals.
Critical Analysis
The watercolor paintings that accompany each of these original poems make the characters more dynamic. One poem titled “The Bulldog” ends with “His jowls are long. I’d say his face was full of charm If he would let go of my arm.” On the accompanying page, a painting of an otherwise sweet looking bulldog, with an arm stretched between his teeth. While the illustrations are eye catching and amusing, the poetry with in the book stands alone. The words create imagery, and allow the reader to picture the animals just as Florian has described them. The humor throughout his poetry makes this book even more enjoyable. Florian also uses concrete poetry in this collection to personify the “oodles and oodles of curls” that can be found on the Poodle.
Review Excerpt(s)
School Library Journal- “There are short poems ("I am a cat of longhaired version./A pet-igree that's known as purrrsian"), some a bit longer, and one that curls like poodles' hair. The language has flair, and the writing is zany and creative. The watercolor paintings in primarily pastel colors are great fun, revealing an attribute or the character of each animal. This is a delightful selection to read aloud to younger children, and it offers older students models of simple poems that really work.”
Connections
*Explore other books of animal poetry by Douglas Florian
Beast Feast. ISBN 0152017372
Mammalabilia. ISBN 0512050248
Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs. ISBN 0152052488
*Have students create pieces of animal poetry inspired by their favorite animals
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Cinderella
Bibliography
Perrault, Charles. 1971. CINDERELLA: OR THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER. Ill. By Shirley Hughes. New York: Henry Z. Walck, Inc. ISBN 0809811898.
Plot Summary
This classis fairy tale follows Cinderella through her trials with an unappreciative family to a happy end as the new wife of a prince. After Cinderella’s mother dies, her father marries a woman with two daughters of her own, who all treat Cinderella poorly. She is made to do all the household chores, and not invited to go to the prince’s balls. Fortunately, a fairy godmother appears and adorns Cinderella in the finest clothes, coach and horsemen to be seen, and sends her off to the first nights ball. Cinderella is such a hit with the prince that she must return to the second night’s festivities, and looks even lovelier than the first night. She forgets her one rule, to leave before the clock strikes twelve midnight, and must run from the castle. She leaves a shoe behind, and the Prince uses it to find her, she is married to the prince, and shows much more love and kindness to her two stepsisters than they ever showed to her.
Critical Analysis
This early version of Cinderella is a great one for children. It is not the “Disney” Cinderella they all know, and offers a different view on Cinderella as a person than that well-known version. In this story Cinderella shows love and forgiveness to the two “Wicked” stepsisters, and is shown to be both beautiful and kind. The illustrations in this version of the tale are truly beautiful; they are ornate and colorful, showing great detail. These illustrations are also a nice variant from the cartoons in the Disney version of the tale. One aspect that sets this aside from other versions and fairy tales is that it does not have the traditional tag line “ and they lived happily ever after” pinned on the end. The mind simply assumes that it is so.
Review Excerpts
I could not find any Review excerpts for this edition, as it was published in 1971. The web reviews I found only allowed searches back through 1996.
Connections
This book opens the door to explore the world of Cinderella. Children can study multiple versions of this tale, from classic to modern day, and compare and contrast these stories.
A few Cinderella variants:
Sierra, Judy. 1992. CINDERELLA. ISBN 0897747275
Minters, Frances. CINDER-ELLY. ISBN 1563347237
Perrault, Charles. 1971. CINDERELLA: OR THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER. Ill. By Shirley Hughes. New York: Henry Z. Walck, Inc. ISBN 0809811898.
Plot Summary
This classis fairy tale follows Cinderella through her trials with an unappreciative family to a happy end as the new wife of a prince. After Cinderella’s mother dies, her father marries a woman with two daughters of her own, who all treat Cinderella poorly. She is made to do all the household chores, and not invited to go to the prince’s balls. Fortunately, a fairy godmother appears and adorns Cinderella in the finest clothes, coach and horsemen to be seen, and sends her off to the first nights ball. Cinderella is such a hit with the prince that she must return to the second night’s festivities, and looks even lovelier than the first night. She forgets her one rule, to leave before the clock strikes twelve midnight, and must run from the castle. She leaves a shoe behind, and the Prince uses it to find her, she is married to the prince, and shows much more love and kindness to her two stepsisters than they ever showed to her.
Critical Analysis
This early version of Cinderella is a great one for children. It is not the “Disney” Cinderella they all know, and offers a different view on Cinderella as a person than that well-known version. In this story Cinderella shows love and forgiveness to the two “Wicked” stepsisters, and is shown to be both beautiful and kind. The illustrations in this version of the tale are truly beautiful; they are ornate and colorful, showing great detail. These illustrations are also a nice variant from the cartoons in the Disney version of the tale. One aspect that sets this aside from other versions and fairy tales is that it does not have the traditional tag line “ and they lived happily ever after” pinned on the end. The mind simply assumes that it is so.
Review Excerpts
I could not find any Review excerpts for this edition, as it was published in 1971. The web reviews I found only allowed searches back through 1996.
Connections
This book opens the door to explore the world of Cinderella. Children can study multiple versions of this tale, from classic to modern day, and compare and contrast these stories.
A few Cinderella variants:
Sierra, Judy. 1992. CINDERELLA. ISBN 0897747275
Minters, Frances. CINDER-ELLY. ISBN 1563347237
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The Four Gallant Sisters
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kimmel, Eric A. 1992. THE FOUR GALLANT SISTERS: ADAPTED FROM THE BROTHERS GRIMM. Ill by Tatyana Yuditskaya. New York: Henry Holt and Company Inc. ISBN 0805019014.
Plot Summary
This Folk tale takes place “Once upon a time” when women were not able to hold jobs, and fend for themselves in the world. This was not the ideal time for four young sisters to be orphaned and left to make their way alone. These four sisters concocted a plan to disguise themselves as men, establish themselves in a trade, and return in seven years as accomplished individuals. One sister became a tailor, another a hunter, one a “finger artist” and the last a stargazer. Each became a master of their chosen field, and was awarded a magical gift.When the four returned home, they were employed in the King’s court, where their gender was challenged numerous times, and they nearly escaped being found out. In the end, they were discovered to be women, and were wed to four princes of their own.
Critical Analysis
This story has all of the elements of a traditional fairy tale variant of a folk tale. There is a rhythm and predictability to the writing, an element of magic, and the conventional beginning and end with “And they all lived Happily Ever After.” However, this is a leser known fairy tale, and is quite engaging to the reader. The Illustrations offer a lot of draw and pizzazz, as they show in detail the lives and experiences of these four gallant sisters.
Review Excerpt
School Library Journal – “Here's real reading pleasure. Kimmel takes an old tale, reworks it through the filter of contemporary consciousness, and couches his adaptation in the strong, direct language of a master storyteller. By changing the gender of the Grimms' ``The Four Artful Brothers,'' he creates a fresh and engaging tale without sacrificing the traditional structure and provides female characters who control their own destiny through hard work and intelligence and achieve a ``happily ever after'' ending.”
Connections
Featured stories by Eric Kimmel:
THE THREE PRINCES. ISBN 082341115
THE LADY IN THE BLUE CLOAK: Legends from the Texas Missions. ISBN 0823417387
BERNAL AND FLORINDA: A SPANISH TALE. ISBN 0823410897
Kimmel, Eric A. 1992. THE FOUR GALLANT SISTERS: ADAPTED FROM THE BROTHERS GRIMM. Ill by Tatyana Yuditskaya. New York: Henry Holt and Company Inc. ISBN 0805019014.
Plot Summary
This Folk tale takes place “Once upon a time” when women were not able to hold jobs, and fend for themselves in the world. This was not the ideal time for four young sisters to be orphaned and left to make their way alone. These four sisters concocted a plan to disguise themselves as men, establish themselves in a trade, and return in seven years as accomplished individuals. One sister became a tailor, another a hunter, one a “finger artist” and the last a stargazer. Each became a master of their chosen field, and was awarded a magical gift.When the four returned home, they were employed in the King’s court, where their gender was challenged numerous times, and they nearly escaped being found out. In the end, they were discovered to be women, and were wed to four princes of their own.
Critical Analysis
This story has all of the elements of a traditional fairy tale variant of a folk tale. There is a rhythm and predictability to the writing, an element of magic, and the conventional beginning and end with “And they all lived Happily Ever After.” However, this is a leser known fairy tale, and is quite engaging to the reader. The Illustrations offer a lot of draw and pizzazz, as they show in detail the lives and experiences of these four gallant sisters.
Review Excerpt
School Library Journal – “Here's real reading pleasure. Kimmel takes an old tale, reworks it through the filter of contemporary consciousness, and couches his adaptation in the strong, direct language of a master storyteller. By changing the gender of the Grimms' ``The Four Artful Brothers,'' he creates a fresh and engaging tale without sacrificing the traditional structure and provides female characters who control their own destiny through hard work and intelligence and achieve a ``happily ever after'' ending.”
Connections
Featured stories by Eric Kimmel:
THE THREE PRINCES. ISBN 082341115
THE LADY IN THE BLUE CLOAK: Legends from the Texas Missions. ISBN 0823417387
BERNAL AND FLORINDA: A SPANISH TALE. ISBN 0823410897
These stories by Eric Kimmel explore a variety of cultures, and allow students to see how one author can explore many different cultures and subjects.
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