Hispanic/Latino(a) Literature

poetry



Bibliography
Mora, Pat. 1996. Confetti: Poems for children. Illus. Sanchez, Enrique O. New York: Lee and Low Books. ISBN 978-1-880000-85-4




Plot summary
A collection of thirteen free verse poems for children. The poems celebrate the beauty of nature and the Mexican American culture in the southwestern United States.

Critical analysis
Like confetti, the poems are light and colorful, full of life and joy. The words seem to float in the air and gently come down as the poems are read aloud. The poems are free verse but some of them have a rhythm all their own and other poems have repetitive lines which make them great to read aloud and children will love listening to them. The narrator of the poems is a little Mexican American girl who is enjoying nature, her culture and the people in her life.

Each poem in this collection is accompanied by a brightly colored illustration done in acrylic on paper. The illustrations provide a beautiful, vibrant visual of each poem. Most of the illustrations have the narrator of the poems, a little girl, who is drawn with common Latino features, dark hair and brown skin. The illustrations also depict the people, animals, objects, colors and places that the poems are about. One poem “River Voice” is about a river that flows in the desert. A few other illustrations are also set in the Southwest desert with saguaro cactus and cliffs. The people in the poems are illustrated with diverse skin tone and hair color and clothing.

There is a sprinkling of Spanish throughout the poems although not every poem has a Spanish word in it. A glossary of Spanish terms used in the poems is provided at the end of the books but is not really necessary because the illustrations and context helps readers know their meaning. Elements of the Mexican American culture are throughout the poems and illustrations. One poem “Purple Snake” is about the colorful wooden animals carved out of wood, alebrijes, that are made by Don Luis. Alebrijes are brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of animals that are usually carved out of copal wood. Another poem is aptly titled “Mexican Magician” which is about a baker who makes sweet breads, marranitos, which are pig shaped cookies made with gingerbread and empanadas, which are turnovers filled with pineapple and pumpkin. The poem “I Hear, I Hear” mentions the Tarahumaras, a group of Native Americans indigenous to northern Mexico and the illustration on the corresponding page had a couple of people drawn with authentic clothing and items of corn, drums and tortillas. The poem “Dancing Paper” is about colored paper, papel picado (perforated paper), cascarones (confetti eggs), serpentinas (paper coils) and piñatas which are some other cultural markers that are most commonly associated with Mexico.

The poem “Words Free as Confetti” describes words using all the senses and colors. This poem is the twelfth poem but it should have been placed as either the first or last poem. All the poems in this collection use words which awaken the senses and are colorful like confetti.

Awards
2004 Arizona Governor’s Book Award
1996 Notable Books for a Global Society from the International Reading Association
1996 CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children’s Book Center)
Américas Commended List, 1996

Review excerpts
MultiCultural Review v. 6 (June 1997) p. 92
"{The} poems in this collection are reminiscent of confetti because of their light, fun appeal, which will engage children immediately. The book will do well in primary classrooms where teachers can use it for reading aloud. The author has chosen the sun, clouds, leaves, and wind as topics for many of the poems. Four of the other poems use people as the anchors for telling stories about a magical baker, a wood sculptor, a grandmother's lap, and the sounds of life in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. . . . The only drawback to this poetry book is that it is written in English with a few Spanish words sprinkled here and there. It is a shame that a bilingual format was not attempted since over half of the poems have a Hispanic theme and the children are clearly Hispanic." González-Jensen, Margarita, reviewer

Booklist v. 93 (November 15 1996) p. 592
"Using Spanish and English, this collection of poems is as much fun to look at as it is to read. In 'Colors Crackle, Colors Roar,' Mora writes, 'Gris whis-whis-whispers its kitten whispers' and 'azul coo-coo-coo like pajaritos do.' In 'Purple Snake,' a wood-carver with rough and wrinkled hands tells a young onlooker that animals are 'asleep in a piece of wood'—until he releases them by carving them out. Featuring an assortment of subjects, these short poems incorporate varying amounts of Spanish into the English text. Sanchez's illustrations . . . are full of color and provide youngsters with strong links to the subjects and activities in the poems. A good choice for choral reading or for reading aloud." Morgan, Karen, reviewer

Connections
Get some colorful confetti and throw it in the air as you read the poem “Word Free as Confetti”

Find some albrijas to show children and let look at them, touch and feel them.

Get some marranitos and empandas for children to taste.

Other poetry books by Pat Mora
Mora, Pat. Yum! mmmm! qué rico!: Americas' sproutings.Illus. López, Rafael. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc., 2007.

Mora, Pat. 1995. The Desert is my Mother: El desierto es mi madre. Illus. Lechon, Daniel. Piñata Books. ISBN 1-55885-121-6

http://www.patmora.com/


Picture Book





Bibliography
Morales, Yuyi. 2008. Just in Case: ATrickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book. New York: Roaring Book Press. ISBN 1-59643-329-9






Plot summary
This book is a companion book to “Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book” by Yuyi Morales. Señor Calavera is a Grim Reaper like character, who had paid a visit to Grandma Beetle on her birthday but she kept asking him to wait for her for “Just a minute” as she finished her preparations for her party. He had so much fun at her party that he granted her another year of life so that he could attend her next birthday party.

In the book “Just in Case” the time has come for Grandma Beetle to celebrate another birthday and Señor Calavera is excited to attend the party because he had a blast at her last celebration. As he is riding his bike on the way to her party, Zelmiro the Ghost appears and asks if Señor Calavera is taking the best present “Grandma Beetle would love the most” and asks him to look again “Just in case…”. Señor Calavera goes through the entire alphabet choosing presents that Grandma Beetle would love, while Zelmiro keeps asking him to look again and again, “Just in Case…”. After an unfortunate crash, Señor Calavera finally makes it to Grandma Beetle’s party with the most important present she would love the best, Grandpa Zelmiro.

Critical analysis
This is an interlingual alphabet concept book. The text is written in English with one word in Spanish for every letter of the alphabet, including the Spanish letters, ch, ll, and ñ. Some of the gifts Señor Calavera gathers for Grandma Beetle are unusual and unique such as “Bigotes. A mustache because she had none.” and “Niebla. Fog, to play hide-and-seek in.” A few of the items he gathers are authentic to the Mexican culture such as “una Lotería” a lottery bingo like game, “quince años” (fifteen years which is a reference to a debutante ball given to girls at the age of fifteen ) and a xilografía (a piece of wood engraved art which is illustrated with a Lucha Libre wrestler.)

A skeleton that represents death and a ghost might seem like scary characters for a children’s book, but there is nothing scary in this delightful story. Señor Calavera is a colorful, lively character illustrated as a skeleton ready for Día de los Muertos. Señor Calavera’s skull is decorated with pink and blue outlines around his teeth, flowers as the irises of his eyes, purple eyebrows, yellow dotted eyelashes and dots sprinkled around his nose. He wears a fedora hat and tie. He also rides a bike for transportation. His facial expressions display his emotions of happiness, sadness, frustration and worry as he gathers gifts for Grandma Beetle. Zelmiro the ghost is illustrated as chubby grandfather, who floats in the air and is slightly transparent in the shades of the background color of each layout.

Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1 and 2 celebrating the lives of departed loved ones by decorating graves, skulls and skeletons with colorful designs, clothing, flowers and food. It is believed that the souls of the departed come back to Earth to join loved ones and celebrate on those days. The brightly colored, costumed skeletons symbolize an acceptance that death is part of the life cycle and in some ways pokes fun of it. Part of the title of the book is “A Trickster Tale” and Señor Calavera is the one getting tricked. Zelmiro has tricked him into allowing him to return to Earth to celebrate with his wife on her birthday.

The illustrations portray the Latino culture in many ways. Grandma Beetle and Zelmiro are drawn with brown skin as well as the nine grandchildren. The nine grandchildren all have different shades of brown hair and skin tone. The first and last pages of the book are pictures of Lotería cards with Spanish words. Some objects are simple objects like a doll, guitar and star, others are in reference to the Mexican culture, such as “La Artista” which is a drawing of Frida Kahlo, a famous Mexican artist, “El guarache” a Mexcian sandal, “El Metate” a grinding stone to grind seed and grains, and brightly colored wooden toys painted in colors typically associated with Mexico, green, white and red (in reference to the Mexican flag) and bright colors of red, orange, green and yellow.

While the book “Just in Case” can stand on its own, the story line will be enhanced if “Just a Minute” is read before it. The stories are not about Día de los Muertos but a little background knowledge on the Mexican holiday will also help in a thorough understanding of both stories.

Awards
2009 Pura Belpé Illustrator Award

Review Excerpts
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books v. 62 no. 4 (December 2008) p. 164
"Morales' alphabetic litany is intriguing, . . . and her precise and conversational text is perfect for reading aloud. The patterns and repetitions in this original trickster tale also give it a strong folkloric grounding. Her magical realistic paintings call to mind Mexican folk art with their layered rich colors, ethereal supernatural beings, and small decorative details. Señor Calavera is a charming hero, with his cheerfully decorated skull, stripy tie, and jaunty fedora. . . . Especially useful for Spanish teachers or those wishing to incorporate Mexican culture into the classroom, this is also a gleefully macabre joy in its own right." Hulick, Jeannette

The Horn Book v. 85 no. 1 (January/February 2009) p. 81-2
"Morales's full-bleed art, in brilliant sunset hues, portrays an amiable, dreamlike world where weightless, comfortably rounded figures swirl joyously among the creative assemblage of gifts. Whether Grandma gets another ‘Quince años’ or, as the sparkles in her hair suggest, joins her Zelmiro sooner, it will be a happy outcome. What a beguiling (and bilingual) offering!" Long, Joanna Rudge

Connections
Companion book
Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales

Morales, Yuyi. 2003. Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book. California: Chronicle Books LLC. ISBN: 0811837580

http://www.yuyimorales.com/

Books about Día de los Muertos

Ancona,George. 1993. Pablo remembers:the fiesta of the day of the dead. New York, NY: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780688112493

Johnston, Tony. 2000. Day of the Dead.illus. Winter, Jeanette. Sandpiper. ISBN 0152024468

Winter, Jeanette. 2006. Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book. Sandpiper. ISBN 0152059067


Novel




Bibliography
Soto, Gary.1997. Buried onions. San Diego,Calif.:Harcourt Brace.ISBN 0-15-206265-3







Plot summary
Eddie grew up and lives in the barrios of Fresno, California. Life is hard for Eddie. He is nineteen years old and trying to stay out of trouble and make a living for himself but bad luck seems to follow him around. He has dropped out of college and is trying to find work but jobs are elusive so he has resorted to painting addresses on curbs and doing yard work in middle class neighborhoods in Fresno. His family and some of his friends are trying to pull Eddie into a life he does not desire. His aunt and friend Angel want him to avenge the death of his cousin, who was killed at a club. He always has to watch his back and is paranoid about getting jumped. There were very few people in Eddie's life that he can trust. He doesn’t have many good role models in this life. A friend who has joined the Marines, José, comes to visit and Eddie begins to see the military as his only way out of the barrio. He searches within himself and seeks the advice from Coach, an ex-gang banger and Vietnam vet who runs the community recreation center. Coach asked Eddie if he has considered joining the military. After a bad incident with some guys he had once considered friends he decides to join the navy.

Critical analysis
This is a sad story about a young man trying to live a good life but the hardships of the barrio keep pulling him down. Eddie imagines that there must be a giant onion buried underneath the city and the vapors it releases during the relentless summer heat causes the residents of Fresno to cry about the sadness in their lives. The onion metaphor is prevalent throughout the story. Onions and onion like bulbs appear in Eddie’s life just before bad things happen to him.

Soto writing style is filled with metaphors and similes to describe a Mexican American barrio with authenticity and accuracy. He describes the house and neighborhood where Eddie lives “where fences sagged and the paint blistered on houses.” and “Laundry wept from the lines, the faded flags of poor, ignorant, unemployable people.” The characters of the young men and boys are cholos(male gang members) who dress in Dickies cut off at the knees and white t-shirts with a gold chain and crucifix around their necks. Eddie and his friends call each other "homes and homies". Eddie’s only mentor has “a swirl of tattoos running up both arms.” Eddie's aunt leaves him tortillas wrapped in a dish towel as a bribe to get him to avenge his cousins murder.

Spanish terms are used throughout the story, in the dialogue of the characters and thoughts of the narrator. The characters code-switch, mixing Spanish and English while speaking. For example "He turned out puro malo." Family members are referred in Spanish such as mi'jo, tía, nina and primo. Also, some of the words used are terms commonly associated with someone who has lived in the barrio such as carnal, vatos locos, cholos and ruca. A Spanish glossary is provided at the end of the book with the words and phrases used in the story.

Eddie's story is not happpy one nor one filled with much hope. He is not happy about joining the military, he sees it as his only way out of a hopeless situation. Some people may think this story stereotypes Mexican Americans as gangsters, but it is an authentic experience and way of life in some communties for Mexican Americans. Soto gives a voice to a segment of the Mexican American community that really didn't have one before. It is a harsh reality and a story worth telling.

Honors
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
An ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

Review excerpts
School Library Journal v. 44 no. 1 (January 1998) p. 114
"Soto's writing is apt; he provides readers with strong images through the eyes and voice of Eddie. The young man frequently describes his surroundings, 'I returned to my apartment, which was in a part of Fresno where fences sagged and the paint blistered on houses. . . . Laundry wept from the lines, the faded flags of poor, ignorant, unemployable people.' Additionally, the author stirs more senses with his descriptions of smells and sounds. The only drawback to the story is that it is somewhat repetitious. Characters are introduced, then reenter the story with repeated delineation. Still, Soto's descriptions are poetic, and he creates deep feelings of heat and despair. A powerful and thought-provoking read." Hopf, Mary M., reviewer

Booklist v. 94 (November 15 1997) p. 554
"Soto's clear, finely honed poet's voice shines in this tale of barrio life in Fresno, California. . . . The broad and easy humor of Crazy Weekend (1994) is lacking here, but Eddie's wry observations in the face of his many predicaments provide welcome relief. Although the coach at the neighborhood playground offers Eddie material assistance and moral support, there is no upbeat ending. The 'buried onions,' which Eddie imagines as the underground source for the world's tears, pervade the tone and plot, but the unvarnished depiction of depressed and depressing barrio life is as important as the positive images of Latinos Soto has created in his other works." Carton, Debbie, reviewer

Connections
Other books by Gary Soto
Baseball in April and Other Stories
Nerdlandia
The Afterlife
Taking Sides

African-American Literature

Picture book



Bibliography
McKissak, Patricia C. 2001. Goin' Someplace Special. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689808858





Plot summary
This story takes place during the 1950s in an unspecified city in the South. Tricia Ann asks for permission to “Go Someplace Special" and her grandmother, Mama Frances, reluctantly agrees to let her go. Tricia Anne sets out on her solo trip and notices all the racism she has to endure on her way to “Someplace Special.” She has to sit in the back of the bus, she can’t sit on certain benches or eat at certain restaurants or even enter the lobby of a hotel. She gets discouraged and wants to go home but with the help of Blooming Mary she remembers what her grandmother has told her. She finally makes it to her special place where all are welcome, a place that Mama Frances calls "a doorway to freedom", the public library.

The author’s note at the end of the book tells the reader the story is based on events that happened in her own life when she was growing up in 1950s in Nashville Tennessee. Jim Crow laws were local and state laws which segregated whites from blacks in restaurants, drinking fountains, restrooms, benches and seats on the bus. McKissack experienced this racial segregation while growing up.She also got to experience integration when Nashville’s public library board voted to integrate the library.

Critical Analysis
The story and illustrations vividly portray the lives of African Americans during the 1950’s and the racial segregation they had to endure. McKissack wrote about the effects of legal discrimination as well as the hope and pride African Americans had despite the racism. Mama Frances tell Tricia Ann to “hold yo’ head up and act like you b’long to somebody.” Mrs. Grannell also tells her “Carry yo’self proud” after Tricia Ann questions the unfairness of Jim Crow laws. And the street vendor Jimmy Lee tells her “Don’t let those signs steal yo’ happiness.”

The illustrations by Jerry Pinkney are done in pencil and watercolor. Pinkney earned the Coretta Scott King award for illustrators in 2002 for this book. His illustrations authentically depict the setting and African American characters of the story. Tricia Ann, who is full of hope, wears a brightly colored dress and her character stands out amongst all the others in all the different places she goes. The time period is accurately reflected in the fashion, vehicles and buildings as well as the display of Jim Crow signs. The characters are drawn and painted showing a diversity of African American hairstyles, skin color and clothing of the time and setting.

Awards
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award 2002

Review Excerpts
MultiCultural Review v. 11 no. 1 (March 2002) p. 101
"Jerry Pinkney's rich, detailed watercolors complement well McKissack's poignant story, based on her own experiences. Used as a read aloud for primary students or as a device to spark a discussion for young adults, this moving story will lead readers to the doorway of freedom." Crump-Stenberg, Linda

The Horn Book v. 77 no. 6 (November/December 2001) p. 736-7
"McKissack and Pinkney strike just the right balance in a picture book for young readers and listeners: informative without being preachy; hopeful without being sentimental."-Robin Smith

Connections
Read other picture books by Patricia Mckissak and Jerry Pinkney

McKissak, Patricia. 1997. Mirandy and Brother Wind. Ill. Jerry Pinkney. Dragonfly Books. ISBN 0679883339

Read books about Ruby Bridges, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Research Jim Crow laws and write or discuss the injustices that African Americans had to endure during that time period.


Poetry




Bibliography
Myers, Walter Dean. 2009. Amiri & Odette: A Love Story.Ill by Javaka Steptoe. New York:Scholastic Press.ISBN 0590680412








Plot summary
This is a modern retelling of the Swan Lake ballet told in verse using African Americans as the main characters and housing projects as the setting. The story has four acts like the ballet.

The first act: Amiri lives in the Swan Lake projects. He is a good young man and his mama wants him to "get settled in a life that's straight,/ with a wife and family, before it's too late!" She decides to throw him a party so he can meet some respectable girls. Act 2: The day before the party, Amiri meets Odette on the basketball courts and immediately falls in love with her. But she is promised to another, Big Red, a local crack dealer. Act 3:It is the night of the party and Amiri anxiously awaits the arrival of Odette. Big Red sends a girl in a black swan mask to fool Amiri into thinking she is Odette. Amiri is fooled and pledges his love to her. Meanwhile Odette arrives late to the party and see Amiri with another girl and runs off crying. Act 4: Amiri chases after Odette and pledges his love to her. Odette forgives him and pledges her love to him. Big Red comes along to claim Odette and he and Amiri fight. A wounded Big Red leaves. Amiri and Odette embrace and are together at last.

Critical Analysis
This book fits several classifications. It is a picture book, it is poetry and the story is written for young adults. The topic is a love story between two teenagers, told through verse with phenomenal illustrations to help move the story.

"They Danced....
Amiri and Odette,
A dance for two, two dance as one,
Two bodies rising toward the sun
O sing, O sing, O sing
of brave Amiri and beautiful Odette,
of a time when love and evil met,
Then through the haze of simmer/summer days"

This urban retelling of the Swan Lake ballet through verse is short but powerful. The lyrical text moves through four acts telling the love story of Amiri and Odette. This version reflects the themes of family, true love and the consequences of drug abuse. The setting was changed to a tenament housing development, The Swan Lake Projects. The characters are African American, the prince is Amiri, the swan Odette and the evil socerer Rothbart is Big Red, a crack dealer. The curse Odette suffers from is drug addiction. Images of swans and references to dance are woven in the text and illustrations. The black swan that tricks the prince in the ballet is a girl sent by Big Red wearing a black swan mask to Amiri's party. Odette tells Big Red "That this day/a dying swan chose/ LOVE/as her only way!" It is a classic story of love conquering evil told to the urban beat of hip hop and rap.

The paintings by Javaka Steptoe are incredible. They are done in acrylic paint on slabs of asphalt along with pieces of candy wrappers, jewelry, newspaper and plastic bags and feathers. The asphalt gives it that gritty inner city feel of graffiti art and murals on sides of buildings and concrete.

Review Excerpts
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books v. 62 no. 5 (January 2009) p. 211-12
"Myers' knotty and alliterative language has some of [ballet's] lush and studied elegance. The poetry is variable, however. . . . Steptoe's illustrations are tense, moody, and nocturnal, with an intensity and pebbly underlying texture that suggests mural art. Between the darkness and some artistic choices, the art misses opportunities to illuminate the text (the Odette/ Odette's-double issue is particularly murky in both illustration and verse), but it's got a nice sense of nighttime life and atmospheric drama. Dramatic reading aloud may be the best way into this narrative, and it could certainly make for an intriguing introduction to the classical Swan Lake."- Stevenson, Deborah

School Library Journal v. 55 no. 1 (January 2009) p. 114
“Myers's verse is almost overwrought-as it should be to suit the story, and the intensity of teenage love. The melodrama combines with an energy and beat that-heightened by dynamic text design-makes this ideal for performance. Steptoe's collage-on-cinderblock illustrations have a roughness, darkness, and density that suit the tone. This selection will broaden any teen collection.”-Nina Lindsay

Connections
Read the story aloud to feel and hear the rhythm of the hip hop language used to tell the story.

Watch a video of the ballet “Swan Lake”

Read other books by Walter Dean Myers
Myers, Walter Dean . 2001. Monster. New York. Amistad. ISBN 0064407314

Myers, Walter Dean. 2007. Street Love. New York. Amistad. ISBN 9780064407328

Myers, Walter Dean. 2010. Lockdown. New York: HarperTeen/Amistad.
ISBN: 9780061214806


Novel





Bibliography
Johnson, Angela. 1998. Heaven. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780689822292








Plot summary
Marley lives with her Momma, Pops and brother Butchy in Heaven, Ohio. It is 1996 and she is fourteen years old. She regularly wires money by Western Union to her wandering Uncle and receives letters from him about his travels. Marley has a nice life with a good family until she finds out about her past and who the people in her family really are. Slowly she comes to terms with who they really are and what family really means to her.

Critical Analysis
The theme of families, extended family, loyalty and obligations are presented in this touching story about a young girl who finds out what family really means to her. In 1996 there were several churches burned in African American communities in the South that were reminiscent of church burnings from the 1960s. A church burning in Alabama serves as the catalyst for bringing the truth about Marley’s family to light. Marley discovers that her biological mother was killed in a car accident and that the uncle who has been writing letters to her since she was a baby is really her father. Marley struggles with feelings of deception and the loss of trust. Her family calmly waits for her to accept her past and present. Her friends Shoogy and Bobby are there for her as she works through her feelings about her family.

This is a tender story of a young African American girl but had it not been for the cover picture, it could easily be the story of a girl from any American culture. Other than the reference to church burnings and the historical racist reasons behind those burnings, there are not many references to the race or ethnicity of the characters. The cultural markers in the story are subtle, Bobby's brown legs covered in paint, a couple of reference to hip hop and rap music, the scars on Shoogys brown skin, a boy who called Shoogy "Black girl with violet eyes". This is a story about family and friendship, it is a story that could fit in any culture.

Awards
Coretta Scott King author award 1999

Review Excerpts
Booklist v. 95 no. 2 (September 15 1998) p. 219
"The paradise setup is too idyllic, and in the anguish of Marley's discovery and upheaval, everyone is absolutely perfectly supportive and understanding. And Marley's real dad comes home at last. What saves this from being generic Hallmark is Johnson's plain, lyrical writing about the people in Marley's life. Everyone has secrets. There are all kinds of loving families. . . . In fact, the most troubled family is the 'perfect' nuclear one of Marley's best friend, who needs as much support as Marley does. On the news, they hear about people burning churches, but Johnson makes us see the power of loving-kindness."- Rochman, Hazel

School Library Journal v. 44 no. 10 (October 1998) p. 136
"In spare, often poetic prose reminiscent of Patricia MacLachlan's work, Johnson relates Marley's insightful quest into what makes a family. . . . The various examples of 'family' Marley encounters make her question what's real, what's true, what makes sense, and if any of that really matters as much as the love she continues to feel for her parents in spite of their seeming betrayal. Johnson exhibits admirable stylistic control over Marley's struggle to understand a concept that is often impossible to understand or even to define."- Bindner, Linda

Connections
Heaven trilogy by Angela Johnson

Johnson, Angela. 2003. The First Part Last. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780689849237

Johnson, Angela. 1998. Heaven. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780689822292

Johnson, Angela. 2010. Sweet, Hereafter. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0689873867

Students can write and or discuss what family means and describe people who make up their own families.

International Literature

poetry-2011 USBBY Outstanding International Books list





Bibliographic data
Argueta, Jorge. 2010. Arroz con leche: Un poema para cocinar/Rice Pudding: A Cooking Poem. Ill. Fernando Vilela. Toronto, Ontario: Groundwood Books; Bilingual edition. ISBN-10: 088899981X








Plot summary
A poem about cooking rice pudding told through the voice of a young boy who loves all kind of rice but loves rice pudding best of all. The poem is written in both English and Spanish.

Critical analysis
Arroz con leche is a traditional Latino rice pudding made with milk, sugar and cinnamon. Jorge Argueta who is from El Salvador, has written a delightful “Cooking Poem” about this yummy dish. The poem is written in both Spanish and English. The poem does not lose any of its sweetness in either language because Argueta uses imagery that awakens all five senses. “There is magic in the kitchen” as the process of cooking rice pudding is described as compared to nature and music. “In the kitchen the rice is singing” as it is sprinkled into the pot. “The flames heating the pot /are rainbow hands” and sugar and salt become “Salt stars and sugar snow”.

While a traditional step by step recipe with a list of ingredients, measurements and time would be beneficial for some readers I think that its absence gives readers a chance to make the dish their own by allowing them to make the rice pudding by envisioning it as the narrator does. It reminds me how my abuelita would tell me how to cook a dish when I would ask her for a recipe. There was never an actual written recipe just the knowledge and experience of cooking for so many years that had been passed down from one generation to the next. She too would describe the recipe using analogies and the senses that helped guide her cooking.

The illustrations by Fernando Vilela, who is from Brazil, are done in black ink outlines, earth tone colors and white. The white brings out the ingredients as described in the poem, white raindrops of rice, a waterfall of milk, and salt stars and sugar snow. The boy and his family are drawn with Latino features, brown skin and black hair. The illustrations show the joy the boy has in making his favorite food as his mother lovingly watches and supervises him. Argueta made sure to place an asterisk in the text by parts where adult supervision is needed for children who want to make the rice pudding themselves. The “ribbons” of steam and aroma engulf the home and family in all its sweetness and love.

This “Cooking Poem “about arroz con leche is a delicious treat for the eyes, ears and mouth.

Awards
2011 USBBY Outstanding International Books
2011-2012 Tejas Star Book Award

Review excerpts
Booklist v. 107 no. 5 (November 1 2010) p. 53
“A lyrical, lovely bilingual ode to rice pudding? Well, lovers of that creamy confection won't be surprised at the emotion it engenders. After first telling readers how he likes all kinds of rice--white, brown, fried, stewed--award-winning poet Argueta proceeds, making every step in preparing the dish sound like a great adventure.”—Ilene Cooper

School Library Journal v. 56 no. 9 (September 2010) p. 142
PreS-Gr 3-“A boy goes to the market to buy ingredients for rice pudding. What ensues is a poetic journey of making the sweet treat, step by step. The bilingual text is not a straightforward recipe, but could be followed to make the traditional dish. “ - Shannon Dye, Peoria Public Library, Peoria, AZ

Connections
Jorge Argueta is writing a series of Cooking Poems.
Argueta, Jorge. 2009. Sopa de Frijoles/BeanSoup. Ill. Yockteng, Rafael. Toronto, Ontario: Groundwood Books; Bilingual edition. ISBN-10: 0888998813

Take the ingredients mentioned in the book and with adult supervision make rice pudding.

Write a cooking poem from a recipe for a favorite food.


Picture Book




Bibliographic data
Fox, Mem. 1985. Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge. Ill. by Julie Vivas Brooklyn, N.Y.: Kane/Miller Book Publishers. ISBN: 0916291049






Plot summary
Wilfred lives next door to an old people’s home. He likes to visit with the residents, especially with one lady who has four names like him, Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper. Then one day Wilfred finds out that Miss Nancy has lost her memory and he wants to know what a memory is. He goes about asking all the residents “What’s a memory?” and they all respond with varying answers what a memory means to them. Wilfred decides to look for memories for Miss Nancy since she has lost hers. He fills a basket with items that fit the descriptions his friends told him what a memory was. The items help Miss Nancy find her memories.

Critical analysis
This sweet story is about friendship and memories. The innocence of young Wilfrid is charming when he asks the residents about the definition of memory and is touching when he tries to find things that will help his friend find hers. Each of his friends has a different meaning of what a memory is, “something warm” “something from long ago” “something that makes you cry” or “something that makes you laugh” “a memory is precious as gold”. Wilfrid takes all their memories and makes some of his own and in return he helps Miss Nancy remember hers.

The watercolor illustrations by Julie Vives are pleasant, sweet and soft. The elderly residents are realistic in their posture and body shape although the bellies do look a bit exaggerated. Wilfrid however looks like a child with boundless energy as he visits his friends.

Mem Fox is from Australia and “Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge” was her first book published in the United States in 1985. With the exception of a word or two like cricket and porridge, the story transcends the globe. Young and old, friendship and memories and memory loss are universal no matter what country you live in or what culture you belong to. Everyone can relate to this heart warming story.

Review excerpts
School Library Journal
The illustrations splashy, slightly hazy watercolors in rosy pastels contrast the boy's fidgety energy with his friends' slow, careful movements and capture the story's warmth and sentiment." – John Peters, New York Public Library

Connections
Storylinonline.com is a website from the Screen Actors Guild where celebrities read children’s books. View and listen to the video of “Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge” read by Bradley Whitford.

Students can interview grandparents or other older adults and ask them what a memory means to them.

Students can create a memory basket using items that fit that description of what a memory means to the characters of the story. They can fill it with objects that are warm, something from long ago, something as precious as gold, something that makes you cry and something that makes you laugh.


Novel- Batchelder Award 2003



Bibliographic data
Funke, Cornelia. 2001. The Thief Lord. Translated from German by Oliver Latsch. New York. Chicken House, Scholastic. ISBN 9780545227704










Plot summary
Prosper and Bo runaway from Hamburg Germany after their mother passes away and their aunt wants to separate the brothers. The siblings go to Venice, Italy because their mother had told them stories about the city. The boys join a group of street children who live in an abandoned theater. The leader of the group is a boy named Scipio who calls himself the Thief Lord. The children survive through petty theft and selling items the Thief Lord steals. The Thief Lord is commissioned to steal a mysterious broken wooden wing and the children set about planning the heist. A detective hired by the brothers’ aunt finds the small band of children and he reveals Scipio’s true identity. The children continue with their planned heist and awaken the owner of the home, Ida. She agrees to let them have the broken wooden wing after she explains its part of a magical merry go round and if she could go with them to the exchange. The adventures that ensue take the children on a journey full of magic and life changing events.

Critical analysis
The story was originally written in German by Cornelia Funke and translated into English by Oliver Latsch. The setting of the story, the city of Venice is very much a character in the story. Prosper and Bo’s mother told the boys many stories about the city’s culture, art, and architecture. The alley and canals served as a great way for the children to lose the adults chasing after them. A map of the city is provided at the beginning of the book to provide readers with a sense of location. The story is a fantasy but the city of Venice is real and is described with so much detail and accuracy that when the fantasy elements come to light halfway through the book the reader may be surprised if the genre is unknown before reading it.

The characters are a diverse group. The group of children includes a girl, a boy of African descent, an Italian, and the brothers who are German. The detective is not a native of Italy but has lived in the city for several years. Although the story was originally written in German, and later translated to English, the Italian language is also part of the story. Characters have Italian names and Italian words and phrases are written throughout the novel. A glossary of Italian words is included at the back of the book.

The story is full of suspense and mystery. It is a story of friends who take care of each like family and people who are searching for a place to belong. When the story moves into the realm of fantasy it takes on the magical quality of a good adventure story for children who want to be adults and adults who want to be children.

Awards
2003 Mildred L. Batchelder Award for Outstanding Translated Book
Child Magazine Best Book of the Year
Parenting Magazine Book of the Year
Zurich Children's Book Award
Book Award from the Vienna House of Literature
Swiss Youth Literature Award
New York Times Bestseller and Notable Book
USA Today Bestseller
Book Sense Book of the Year Award
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Child Magazine Best Book of the Year
ALA Notable Children's Book
NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Art
Winner of the 2005 Young Readers Choice Award (Senior Division)

Review excerpts
The Horn Book v. 78 no. 6 (November/December 2002) p. 754-5
"The story moves at a slow pace, lingering in explanatory dialogue and descriptions of Venice, but the idiosyncrasy and resonance of the central carousel image create a potent, continental atmosphere that laces the tale with a bit of excitement. In the course of pursuing the carousel's mystery, Victor and Ida and the brothers fob off Prospero and Bo's aunt with the kind of child she really wants and band together as a new kind of family—a sweet and comforting conclusion that will satisfy readers whose hearts have been touched by the loyalty and courage of the two brothers and the rewarded generosity of their new foster parents."-Anita L. Burkam

The New York Times Book Review v. 107 no. 46 (November 17 2002) p. 31
"In Germany and England, critics have compared 'The Thief Lord' to a Dickens tale, probably because of its obvious resemblances to 'Oliver Twist.' But it also has the feel of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' with its transformations, disguises, role reversals and revelations, and its final harmonious resolution of destinies. One of the virtues of this splendid novel—Funke's first to be translated into English—is its final vision of youth and age, in which children who have been betrayed by life regain their trust in their elders. In turn, the best of grown-ups find adventure in that most daunting task: protecting the young while giving them the freedom to grow."-Rebecca Pepper Sinkler

Connections
Inkheart Trilogy by Cornelia Funke
Cornelia Funke. 2003. Inkheart. Translated from German by Anthea Bell.
New York. Chicken House, Scholastic. ISBN 0439852706

Cornelia Funke. 2007. Inkspell. Translated from German by Anthea Bell.
New York. Chicken House,Scholastic. ISBN 0439554012

Cornelia Funke. 2008. Inkdeath. Translated from German by Anthea Bell.
ew York. Chicken House,Scholastic. ISBN 0439866286

Writing prompt: If you were to go for a ride on the magical merry go round would you want to become older or younger? Why? What would you do?

Fiction, Fantasy and Young Adult

Fantasy
Graphic novel





Bibliography
Holm, Jennifer L. & Holm, Matthew. 2005. Babymouse Queen of the World. New York: Random House. ISBN 978037583229

Summary
Babymouse dreams of being queen of the world. She also dreams of being invited to Felicia Furrypaws slumber party "the real queen" and most popular kid at school. Her friend Wilson Weasel, whom she's been friends with forever, invites her over to his house on Friday night for movies and Babymouse accepts his invitation. But Babymouse still wants to be invited to Felicia's slumber party. Babymouse has a list of ways to try and get an invitation to Felicia Furrypaws slumber party. She finally gets inivited when she gives Felicia her book report when Felicia forgets her own and asks Babymouse for her book report. Babymouse imagines all the fun things they will do but is dissapointed when Felicia and her friends simply want to play with make up and watch romantic movies. Babymouse tries to fit in but makes a mess of everything. She misses her friend Wilson and realizes she is already "Queen of the World" because she has a friend who doesn't boss her around and accepts her for who she is.

Critical Analysis
This graphic novel is very cute and girly. Tween girls will quickly identify with Babymouse and her struggles to be accepted by the popular girl at school and laugh at her wild imagination and zany daydreams. The illustrations are simple but capture the emotions and antics of Babymouse so well. Babymouse's reality is illustrated in black and white with a touch of pink. Her fantasies are colored with a lot more pink to set them apart. She has a very vivid and wild imagination that helps her deal with her little dilemas. The crazy adventures Babymouse creates in her mind helps her deal with the everyday struggles of school, friends and growing up. It is through her daydreams that Babymouse realizes that she has more fun being herself and hanging out with her true friend Wilson who accepts her for who she is. Babymouse finally realizes she already is the "Queen of the World" because she has "cupcakes, exciting books, sassy style and good friends." Those are all the things a girl needs to be "Queen of the World."

Awards
2006 - Gryphon Award
2006 - ALA Notable Children's Book
2006 - New York Book Show Awards

Reviews
The Horn Book v. 82 no. 1 (January/February 2006) p. 80-1
"Babymouse faces the challenges of a sometimes-cruel world that await her each morning when she reluctantly emerges from under her heart-covered duvet. Each challenge brings its own accompanying daydream, rich in pink hues and dramatic overtones. . . . Babymouse is here to stay, and fans of Fashion Kitty and Captain Underpants will now add her to their collection of well-thumbed volumes to read over and over again."

"Emergent readers will cheer "Babymouse!"-Kirkus Reviews

Connections

website
http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/babymouse/

read other books in the series Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

Create a mini graphic novel about a daydream adventure Babymouse has while in school.





Fantasy
young adult







Bibliography
Gaiman, Neil. 2008. The Graveyard Book. ill. Dave McKean. New York: Harper Collins Publications. ISBN 9780060530921

Audiobook: unabridged read by Neil Gaiman
Format: CD

Summary
A toddler unknowingly escapes a murderer named Jack who has just killed his entire family. The baby walks into a graveyard and his dead mother's ghost implores the ghosts that reside in the graveyard to protect her son. The ghosts that live in that graveyard decide to take care of him and raise him as one of their own. They give him the "Freedom of the Graveyard" and name him Nobody Owens.

Nobody, or Bod for short, has many adventures while growing up in the graveyard. He has been granted the "freedom of the graveyard" and can do most things that ghosts can do such as talk to all the ghosts, see in the dark and fade to make himself unseen. As a young boy he meets a little girl and together they explore the graveyard and the mysteries under the hill. A few years later he winds up getting sucked down a ghouls-gate but manages to get out. The ghosts do their best to educate Bod but he is eager to learn about the world so they reluctanly agree to let him go to school. While there he tries to help some kids who are being bullied and gets noticed in a world that is still dangerous for him. Bod's childhood friend returns to the graveyard and unwittingly takes Bod to Jack. Bod learns who he is and why his family was murdered and uses his wits, what he has learned by experience and what the ghosts have taught him to save himself and his friend. Now that the world is safe for him and he has grown into a young man Bod must leave the graveyard and go out into the world to live his life.

Critical Analysis
"It takes a graveyard to raise a child." A graveyard full of ghosts from different time periods raise an orphaned little boy whose family is just murdered. The story begins with the gruesome murders of a family. The graveyard setting and characters of ghosts, ghouls, and monsters might at first seem scary and creepy but quickly the story shows how much "life" there is in the world of the dead. This book is a mix of fantasy and horror and has the universal themes of good versus evil and about growing up and finding your place in the world. The story is also about the power of love and family. Although this family consists of ghosts, they clearly love and care and protect Nobody Owens as though he were one of their own.

Gaiman has such a witty and wicked sense of humor and writing style. He has created a wonderful cast of characters who are very alive, despite the fact that most of them are dead. The ghosts are the good characters in this story, even the witch ghost. Even though they are dead they still have their human personalities and quirks both good and bad. The ghouls were just bunch of bumbling creatures who are dammed to live a life similar to a vulture, feeding off those unlucky souls who stumble through the ghoul-gate. The Sleer, the scary monster in the hill, is neither good nor evil but simply looking for a master. It is the living who are scary, a greedy pawnshop owner, school bullies and the group that the murderer Jack belongs to, the Jacks of All Trades.

The story has a lot of foreshadowing yet it is full of mystery and suspense. The reader knows that Bod will eventually meet up with Jack but is kept in suspense as to who Jack is and why he killed Bod's family and must finish the job and kill him. While the reader waits for that climatic scene to come, the reader gets to know Nobody Owens and the adventures he has while living in the graveyard.

The story comes full circle at the end as Bod sets out to live his life in the world after having lived in a graveyard amongst the dead. The reader is left feeling sad he is leaving his home and family yet happy that Bod is finally safe to go out into the world and live his life.

Audiobook:
The unabridged audiobook is read by Neil Gaiman himself. His British accent is clear and pleasing to listen to. He reads at an nice even pace with changes in his tone and accent for the diaglogue between characters and the emotions they are experiencing. As the suspense in the story builds so does his suspense in his voice. Each CD begins and ends with music. The music is "Danse Macabre" by Bela Flack on the banjo. The song plays an important part in the chapter "The Danse Macabre" as Bod participates in a dance between the living and the dead and then later realizes that even though he lives amongst the dead, he is really alive. Gaiman's mesmerizing voice and British accent will draw listeners in to the suspense of this fantasy/horror book.

The ghostly illustrations in the book are done by Dave McKean and add a visual element of the graveyard and its inhabitants. The audiobook provided the musical number that plays an integral part in the chapter "The Danse Macabre". Reading and listening to the story in both formats added a multisensory experience to the story and made the fantasy come alive.

Awards
Newberry Award 2009
Hugo Award for Best Novel 2009
Carnegie Medal 2010
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book
Best Indie Young Adult Buzz Book
Audiobook of the Year
ALA Notable Children's Book
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Booklist Editors' Choice
Horn Book Fanfare
Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book
Time Magazine Top Ten Fiction
Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice
New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
New York Public Library Stuff for the Teen Age
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (Vermont)

Reviews
The New York Times Book Review v. 114 no. 7 (February 15 2009) p. 15
"While ‘The Graveyard Book’ will entertain people of all ages, it's especially a tale for children. Gaiman's remarkable cemetery is a place that children more than anyone would want to visit. They would certainly want to look for Silas in his chapel, maybe climb down (if they were as brave as Bod) to the oldest burial chamber, or (if they were as reckless) search for the ghoul gate. Children will appreciate Bod's occasional mistakes and bad manners, and relish his good acts and eventual great ones. The story's language and humor are sophisticated, but Gaiman respects his readers and trusts them to understand."

The Horn Book v. 84 no. 6 (November/December 2008) p. 703-
"Lucid, evocative prose . . . and dark fairy-tale motifs imbue the story with a dreamlike quality. Warmly rendered by the author, Bod's ghostly extended family is lovably anachronistic; their mundane, old-fashioned quirks add cheerful color to a genuinely creepy backdrop. McKean's occasional pages and spots of art enhance the otherworldly atmosphere. . . . Gaiman's assured plotting is as bittersweet as it is action-filled—the ending, which is also a beginning, is an unexpected tearjerker—and makes this ghost-story-cum-coming-of-age-novel as readable as it is accomplished."

Connections

other books by Neil Gaiman
Gaiman, Neil, and P. Craig Russell. Coraline: The Graphic Novel. ISBN 9780060825454

Gaiman, Neil. M is for Magic. ISBN 9780061186479

Compare and contrast The Jungle Book and The Graveyard Book
Kipling, Rudyard. The Jungle Book. ISBN 1110013258






Contemporay realistic fiction
young adult






Bibliography
Anderson, Laurie Halse.1999.Speak.New York:Farrar,Straus,Giroux.
ISBN 0374371520

Summary
A traumatic experience during the summer before her freshman year has rendered Melinda Sordino practically mute. She starts of the school year with all her friends hating her because they thought she had called the cops on them during a party. The only friend she has is a new girl to the school. Melinda goes through the motions and attends school but the only thing that interests her is her Art class. She is failing her classes, she starts to skip school, she dresses in baggy clothes, and she loses her only friend. Her only interest is the tree she is trying to create into a work of art for class. When her old friend might possibly suffer the same thing that happened to her, Melinda gets the courage to finally admit to herself what has happened and say something to save her friend from it. She finally begins to heal within herself and slowly speak about what has happened.

Critical Analysis
This contemporary realistic fiction novel is dark, brooding, depressing, funny and hopeful.
The protagonist, Melinda, tells her story through her thoughts and emotions even though she hardly speaks. Melinda's downward spiral into depression and eventual healing takes course over a school year from the first day of 9th grade to the last day of the school year. The book is organized in to four parts, one for each marking period and shows Melinda's grades as they go down as the year progresses.

The high school setting is realistic and sterotypical at the same time. It is those stereotypes that bring a touch of humor to Melinda's story. The teachers are typcial as the weird English teacher, free spirited art teacher and the social studies/coach who yells a lot. The high school officials try to be politically correct in trying to find a proper mascot for the school. The clans or cliques are typcial of most high schools: Jocks, Cheerleaders, Thespians, Goths and Marthas just to name a few. Melinda is the outcast of the school, most people hate her for what they think she did and do not take the time to notice that she is suffering from depression.

Anderson's writing style is bit different than a typical novel. Most of the novel takes place inside Melinda's head. The dialogue that does take place is written like a script. A blank line is left after "Me: ______________________ " to show Melinda's inability to speak her thoughts and emotions. The reader gets to experience all of Melinda's pain with her but does not know the source of it. Melinda refers to her attacker at IT and it is not until Melinda is able to admit to herself about what has happened to her that the reader knows the cause of her depression.

The symbolism of the tree in Art and the tree in Melinda's yard symbolizes her inner turmoil and eventual healing. The only thing Melinda likes about school is her Art class. She is assigned to create a tree into a work of art. It is through Art and a real tree that Melinda slowly tries to work through the immense pain she is suffering. At first she has a hard time time trying to create a work of art that is tree. Then as she slowly comes to terms with her pain she is able to create that tree into a work of art. Anderson spells it out for young readers when the teacher "Hairwomen" talks about symbolism in books. It is easy for young readers to understand the symbolic meaning of Melinda cleaning the tree in the front yard of her home and creating trees as works of art with her depression and healing.

This book is a must read for young adults. It gives a voice and hope to those teenagers who have not found their voice yet to speak out about depression, rape and isolation.

Awards
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Top-10 Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Quick Pick for Young Adults
Edgar Allen Poe Award finalist
IRA Young Adult Choice
Junior Library Guild Selection
Michal L. Printz Honor Book (American Library Association)
National Book Award Finalist
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
New York Times Bestseller List
SCBWI Golden Kite Award
YALSA Popular Paperback for Young Adults

Reviews
School Library Journal v. 45 no. 10 (October 1999) p. 144
"This powerful novel deals with a difficult yet important topic—rape. . . . Anderson expresses the emotions and the struggles of teenagers perfectly. Melinda's pain is palpable, and readers will totally empathize with her. This is a compelling book, with sharp, crisp writing that draws readers in, engulfing them in the story."

Booklist v. 96 no. 2 (September 15 1999) p. 247
"Anderson perfectly captures the harsh conformity of high-school cliques. . . . Melinda's sarcastic wit, honesty, and courage make her a memorable character whose ultimate triumph will inspire and empower readers."

Connections

*view the movie version of the novel "Speak" 2004 compare and contrast the book and the movie

*The last line of the book is spoken by Melinda to Mr. Freeman "Let me tell you about it." after he asks her "You've been through a lot, haven't you?" Write what you think Melinda would tell Mr. Freeman .

other books by Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson, Laurie Halse. 2007. Twisted. New York: Viking.ISBN 0670061018

Historical Fiction

Bibliography
Erdrich, Louise. 2006. The Game of Silence. New York. HarperCollins. ISBN 0064410293










Plot Summary
Omakayas is a 9 year old Ojibwe girl living on an island in Lake Superior in 1850. A group of people arrive on her island frightened, starved and weather-beaten. They have been displaced by the chimookomanag, or white people, who have run them off their homes and lands. Omakaya's community begins to fear that they are next to be run off their lands. The children play "The Game of Silence" so that their elders can discuss what they need to do to stay safe and keep their lands. Four messengers are sent to further investigate and the book chronicles the year the tribe anxiously awaits their return. During this time Omakayas discovers she has a unique gift and she learns to accept it. Their messengers return and their worst fears are confirmed, they must move to new lands. The Game of Silence is no longer a game, it is a matter of life or death as Omakayas and her family now have to cross enemy territory to reach their new homes.

Critical Analysis
This is the sequal to The Birchbark House. Lousie Erdrich is planning to write a series of books about Omakayas and her family that will span several decades. This book is the second in the series. The story is set in 1850 on an island on Lake Superior. Omakayas is "9 winters old" and white settlers are forcing the Native Americans to move from their lands. The story is rich in culture and what life was like for the Ojibwe nation as they struggled to keep their way of life as white pioneers were overtaking their lands.

The story is third person narrative and told from the viewpoint of Omakayas. The everyday life of Omakayas and her family is described using authentic Ojibwe language and clear details that depict the clothing, food and customs of the Ojibwe people. The book avoids sterotyping all white people as greedy settlers. There is a young girl that Omakayas is friends with, the "Break-Apart Girl", despite a difference in culture and language. There is a good balance of adventure, humor and historical details that tells the fictional story of Omakayas' during this turbulent time of change for Native Americans. The story ends with hope so that the reader will want to continue reading about the life and adventures of Omakayas. "Here, after all, was not only danger but possibility. Here was adventure." Omakayas is ready for the next stage of her life and the reader is ready to read more about it.

Pencil illustrations drawn by Erdrich are sprinkled throughout each chapter depicting the objects, clothing and physical characteristics of the Ojibwe people in the mid 1800's. Erdich is an Ojibwe descendant and this story is a "labor of love" for her as she states in her letter from the author. A glossary and pronunciation guide of Ojibwe terms is included at the end of the book with references provided for further study of the Ojibwe language. The end of the paperback book contains EXTRAS such as a letter from the author, a map of Omakaya's adventures and a guide for readers to create their own family tree.

For young readers in grades 5-8.

Awards
*Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction 2006
*Kirkus Editor’s Choice
*Horn Book Fanfare
*ALA Notable Children’s Book
*ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice
*New York Times Notable

Review Excerpts
The New York Times Book Review v. 110 no. 25 (June 19 2005) p. 14
"Louise Erdrich, the author of many acclaimed books for both adults and children, has embarked on a series nearly parallel to [Laura Ingalls Wilder's ‘Little House’ series] and for the same audience of middle grade readers, but told from an altogether different angle. . . . The first book in the series, ‘The Birchbark House,’ was published in 1999 and covered Omakayas's seventh year. . . . In ‘The Game of Silence,’ the second book in the series, Omakayas discovers with some dismay that she has a special connection with the spirit world. The connection will shape her destiny. . . . In these first books, has Louise Erdrich matched Laura Ingalls Wilder's achievement? I think so. She has created a world, fictional but real: absorbing, funny, serious and convincingly human."

The Horn Book v. 81 no. 4 (July/August 2005) p. 469
"On one tense night, when she has a powerful dream that saves her father's life, Omakayas finally starts to understand her destiny and her gifts. Erdrich's own gifts are many, and here she has given readers another tale full of rich details of 1850s Ojibwe life, complicated supporting characters, and all the joys and challenges of a girl becoming a woman."

Connections
*read other books about Omakayas and her family by Louise Erdrich
Erdrich, Louise. 2002. The Birchbark House. New York. HarperCollins.
ISBN 0756911869

Erdrich, Louise. 2010. The Porcupine Year. New York. HarperCollins.
ISBN 9780064410304

*read "The Little House on the Prairie" series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
compare and contrast the lives of Omakayas to that of Laura Ingalls.

*research the history and culture of the Ojibwe nation

*create a family tree of your own family





Bibliography
Schmidt, Gary D. 2007. The Wednesday Wars. New York. Clarion Books. ISBN 0618724834







Plot Summary
Holling Hoodhood is a seventh grader living in Long Island growing up in the 1960's. Holling is a normal 13 year old boy, he has family pressures, sibling rivalry, he has run ins with bullies, he expereinces his first crush, he thinks his teacher hates him and he has to take a standarized state test.

Intially Holling thinks his teacher Mrs. Baker hates him because he is the only student left on Wednesday afternoons because the rest of his classmates have to attend religious education classes and he doe not. She starts off giving him mundane cleaning chores but then introduces him to the world of Shakespeare. She becomes his mentor and close confidant as she helps him out throughout the school year with the various struggles he encounters. He learns to like reading Shakespeare, he joins the track team, saves his sister a couple of times and comes of age during his seventh grade year.

Critical Analysis
This realistic fictional novel is historical fiction in the sense that it is set during the school year of 1967-1968. Historical people such as President Lyndon Johnson, the Beetles, Bing Crosby and Walter Cronkite are mentioned several times throughout the novel. The assassinations of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr, atomic bomb drills and the Vietnam War play minor parts of the story that makes it historical as well. Although prominent historical people are mentioned throughout the novel and the Vietnam War does have an effect on the lives of some of the characters in the story, they could easily be replaced with contemporary counterparts of today. Politicians, musicians, celebrities, newscasters, sports players, color coded terror alerts and the war in the Middle East today can replace the historical ones and the basic plot and the theme of the story would not change.

It is simply a story about a seventh grade boy growing up and learning how to deal with the problems that come up in his life. This story is also about the difference a teacher can make in a young person's life. Mrs. Baker is that teacher that has a huge impact on Holling's life. The relationship between Holling and Mrs. Baker is what drives the story. She is there for him when his parents are not and she helps him deal with dating issues and coaches him in running. She introduces him to the world of Shakespeare and Hollings relates the plays to what is going on in his life. Most middle school boys and even girls can relate to some of the experiences Holling has during his seventh grade year. Holling has a very sarcastic sense of humor and it is cute how he uses curses from the Bard. "Toads, beetles, bats" and "pied ninny" are a couple of his favorite ones. It is a clean wholesome coming of age story that young readers will find both funny and poignant.

Awards
*Newberry Honor Book 2008
*ALA Notable Children's Book 2008
*ALA Best Book for Young Adults 2008
*Booklist Editors' Choice 2007
*National Parenting Publications Book Award 2007
*NY Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading 2007
*Book Sense Award Finalist 2007

Review Excerpts
The New York Times Book Review v. 112 no. 50 (December 16 2007) p. 23
"While ‘The Wednesday Wars’ was one of my favorite books of the year, it wasn't written for me. Sometimes books that speak to adults miss the mark for their intended audience. To see if the novel would resonate as deeply with a child, I gave it to an avid but discriminating 10-year-old reader. His laughter, followed by repeated outbursts of ‘Listen to this!,’ answered my question. Best of all, he asked if I had a copy of ‘The Tempest’ he could borrow."

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books v. 61 no. 1 (September 2007) p. 52
"Mrs. Baker would feel right at home in the same faculty room with other such 1960s paragon teacher types as Sandy Dennis and Sidney Poitier, and it's no surprise that Holling comes to appreciate Shakespeare as deeply as he does Mrs. Baker, but running plotlines of both the manic and tender varieties—from rats behind the ceiling tiles to strained attitudes toward a Vietnamese classmate—keep the story racing along. Fans of the author's Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy may be pleasantly surprised to see Schmidt's lighter, even sillier side."

Connections
*read plays by Shakespere
--The Tempest
--The Merchant of Venice
--Macbeth
--Julius Cesear
--Romeo and Juliette
--The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
--Much Ado About Nothing

*research the historical people and events mentioned in the book
--The Vietnam War
--Mickey Mantle
--Martin Luther King Jr.
--Walter Cronkite
--Bobby Kennedy
--The Beetles
--Bing Crosby Christmas Special
--President Lyndon B. Johnson
--Atomic bomb drills





Bibliography
Napoli, Donna Jo. 2006. Bound. New York. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0689861753






Plot Summary
A Cinderella story set in the Northern Provinces of China during the Ming dynasty.

Xing Xing lives with her Stepmother and half sister Wei Ping. Her parents have passed away and Stepmother is desperately trying to find a husband for her daughter Wei Ping. After the girls father's death, Stepmother has decided to go against his wishes and bind Wei Ping feet so she would be suitable for marriage. Stepmother has no intentions of finding Xing Xing a husband because she is not her biological daughter. Xing Xing is a strong girl who can complete the chores of both girls since Wei Ping cannot due to her foot binding and the pain and infections it has caused her.

Xing Xing finds a little white fish in a nearby spring which grows to be a beautiful white carp. The beautiful fish always goes to her when she goes to the spring and seems to follow her when Xing Xing has to travel to another village to sell dates as medicine to a wandering doctor. Xing Xing believes that the fish is the reincarnated spirit of her mother, who has come to watch over her.

Then the step mother commits an act that dearly hurts Xing Xing so they can attend a local cave festival to find Wei Ping a husband. Xing Xing finds some treasure her mother left behind for her and pretends to be ill so as not to attend the festival with her stepmother and sister. She puts on the green dress, pearls and gold shoes her mother has left behind and decides to attend the fesitval on her own. Fearing she has been seen by her stepmother and sister, Xing Xing runs off and loses a shoe as she flees from the festival. The shoe is discovered and rumors abound that it belonged to a beautiful young girl. The prince hears the rumors, buys the shoe and searches for it's owner and plans to propose marriage to the one whom it fits. He arrives at Xing Xing's cave home, she presents the other shoe and it fits and the prince proposes marriage and Xing Xing accepts.

Critical Analysis
The story follows the basic plot of a typical Cinderella story. Deceased parents, Step mother, step sister, forced to complete manual labor, fairy godmother, (reincarnated spirit of mother), big celebration, from rags to beautiful dress, missing shoe and prince in search of the owner of the shoe ready to propose marriage.

But there is so much more to this Cinderella tale that makes it it's own story. The setting for one is distinctive and rich in the description of the Chinese culture and customs of the time period, the early Ming dynasty in the 1300's. The characters are fully developed characters and not typecast as the typical characters in a Cinderella story, but instead bound by the time and place of the setting of the story. The stepmother is not evil, she is only following the customs and tradtions of her culture and society. The respect for their ancestors spirits and elders and the status of women shows the beliefs of the Chinese culture and the reasons why the step mother is the way she is and the choices she makes. Nor is the step sister bad, she is suffering from the pain of the binding of her feet. Xing Xing and Wei Ping have a close sister relationship and clearly care for each other. Their conversations and the things Xing Xing does for her sister show how much love she has for her. Xing Xing wants to ease her sister's pain and tries to bring joy to her when she brings in the beautiful white fish in a bowl as a pet.

This retelling is also a coming of age story as Xing Xing finds herself and her strength through her experiences. A postscript from the author, Donna Jo Napoli, is included that explains her inspiration and how her version differs from traditional Chinese Cinderella tales in setting and time. She wanted to include the cave homes, foot bindings and "social revolutions of the first Ming emperor". This version is a very interesting retelling of the classic Cinderella tale and introduces readers to a different culture and time through a familiar story.

Awards and Nominations
*ALA Best Books For Young Adults
*CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children's Book Council)
*Charlotte Award Suggested Reading List (NY)
*Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best
*Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Master List (VT)
*Kansas State Reading Circle Middle School Titles
*Kentucky Bluegrass Award Master List
*Kirkus Editor's Choice NYPL "Books for the Teen Age"
*PSLA Fiction List Publishers Weekly
*Best Books School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
*Thumbs Up! Award Master List (MI)
*Westchester's Choice

Review Excerpts
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books v. 58 no. 5 (January 2005) p. 222
"A retelling of one of the oldest tale types, this deftly written novel creates a unified set of folklife rhythms and nuances and makes them accessible to the modern reader. Xing Xing is a dutiful, honorable daughter who does not think to question most of the customs that bind her to her fate; even when she speaks out for her own welfare in the final scene, her bid for freedom is a moderate one, limited by the opportunities given women in her world. However, her bravery and intelligence, couched in the author's lilting prose and the absorbing details of the historical period, will win her many fans among today's readers."

School Library Journal v. 50 no. 11 (November 2004) p. 150, 152
Gr 5-9-Napoli takes the elements of the traditional Chinese version of "Cinderella" and creates a powerful and moving story........ Napoli retains the pattern of the traditional Chinese tale with only a few minor changes: she sets the story in the northern province of Shaanxi during the Ming dynasty rather than in a minority community in southern China. She fleshes out and enriches the story with well-rounded characters and with accurate information about a specific time and place in Chinese history; the result is a dramatic and masterful retelling.

Connections
*read picture book Cinderella stories of different cultures
* research the Ming Dynasty of China
*research the practice of binding feet in ancient China
*write your own version of a Cinderella story set in modern times or based on your cultural heritage.

Nonfiction: Informational books and Biography

Bibliogrpahy
Kerley, Barbara. 2010. The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy).Ill by. Edwin Fotheringham. Scholastic Press. ISBN 978-0-545-12508-6

Summary
Thirteen year old Susy writes a biography about her famous father Mark Twain. This is the story of Susy during the year she wrote her biography about her dad. Actual quotes from her dad and Susy herself tell the story from when Susy decides to write about her dad to when she stopped having filled over 130 pages. Inserted within each double page layout is a mini journal two page spread with Susy's actual writing.

Critical Analysis
A biography within a biography. The design of this picture book biography is a unique way to tell the story about someone's life who happened to write about the life of someone famous as seen through their own eyes, as a family member and not the public persona. Quotes from Susy and Mark Twain himself add to the authenticity of the book. The illustrations were done in digital media and are large and take up the whole double page layout. The illustrations set the time period and reflect the personality and character quirks of Mark Twain. A selected time line of Mark Twain's life and author's note about the man himself and Susy give a brief history of their lives. It also explains what sparked Kerley's idea to write about Susy Clemens. Kerely also provides tips on "Writing an Extraordinary Biography...with a lot of help from Susy." Essentially the tips are woven within the text telling how and why Susy wrote about her father. Young readers may not be familiar with Mark Twain yet but they will learn a few facts about him and his daughter. This book will inspire children to write about their own family members and maybe even read books by Mark Twain.

Awards
2010 CYBILS Nonfiction Picture Book Award Best Children’s Books 2010
-- Publishers Weekly Best Books 2010
-- School Library Journal Best Books for Children and Teens 2010
-- Kirkus Reviews Best of 2010: Books for Young Readers
-- Washington Post A Junior Library Guild selection 100 Titles for Reading
and Sharing
-- New York Public Library Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Books Gold Award,California Reading Association
--Oregon Book Award Finalist
--NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended Book Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
--Notable Children’s Book in the English Language Arts
--CCBC Choices 2011
--Nominated for the Texas Bluebonnet Award 2011-2012

Review Excerpts
The New York Times Book Review v. 115 no. 20 (May 16 2010) p. 15
"[Mark Twain's] 13-year-old daughter, Susy, in secret, chronicled his life. From her notes, the source of a great new book—‘The Extraordinary Mark Twain’—you can conclude either that he was the best father who ever lived, or that he was simply favored by his era, that time before muckraking memoirs and celebrity-daughter tell-alls. Or perhaps a bit of both. . . . Ages seven to eleven."

The Horn Book v. 86 no. 1 (January/February 2010) p. 101-2
At age thirteen, Susy Clemens wrote a biography of her father, Mark Twain, an undertaking that informs this unusual account covering both Susy as biographer and Twain as biographee. . . Separate fonts represent Kerley's narrative, Susy's direct quotes, and Twain's own words. Fotheringham's muted palette and large, sturdy illustrations provide discreet counterpoint to this complicated design. The target audience may not be familiar with Twain's work for a few more years, and Kerley's author's note references . . . may be lost on middle-grade readers. The art of writing is not, however, and an appended guide to writing biographies sums up Susy's approach."

Connections
Barbara Kerley provides tips for young readers to write a biography of member of their family.

Read other books by Barbara Kerley
Kerley, Barbara. Walt Whitman: Words for America. Ill. Brian Selznick. New York. Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780439357913

Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What to do about Alice: How Alice Roosevelt broke the rules, charmed the world, and drove her father Teddy crazy!. Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439922313

Read books by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Prince and the Pauper A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court

Bibliogrpahy
Simon, Seymour. 2000. Gorillas. New York. Harper Collins. ISBN 0060230355

Summary
The physical characteristics, behavior, communication, diet and family life of gorillas is described. Each double page spread layout has a full page color photograph of a gorilla and the oppostie page contains informational text about the lives of gorillas. Simon writes at a level that is appropiate for elementary school students to read and easily understand.

Critical Analysis
This photo essay book has captivating full page photos of gorillas next to a full page of text. The narrative style of Simon is easy for children to read and understand. The narrative flows as it begins with a descpriton of three different species of gorillas and continues with a description of their physical characteristics, family life, diet, communication, vulnerabilities and efforts to save gorillas from extinction. Simons makes connections young readers can easily relate to such as "Like human children young gorillas spend a lot of time playing."
A map of the locations where gorillas live would be helpful for children to view but was lacking in the book. Children who mistake gorillas for fearsome creatures will learn about their gentle, peaceful lives and human like qualities after reading this book.

Review Excerpts
The Horn Book v. 76 no. 6 (November/December 2000) p. 773
"While the stunning, highly expressive photographs dominate in space and impact, Simon's concise and child-friendly writing means that a fairly full picture of gorilla behavior, physiology, habitat, and daily life is amply conveyed in just sixteen pages of text. . . . The constant comparisons to humans—while helping children understand concepts, and emphasizing that indeed 'gorillas and humans share ninety-eight percent of their DNA'—do present the danger of misinterpretation. Statements such as 'If you gaze into the eyes of a gorilla and think how human it looks, you won't be far wrong!' can lead to a false conflation of human and gorilla behavior patterns. . . . The book ends on a strong conservationist note, which should resonate with readers who empathize with the peaceable animals portrayed in this book."

School Library Journal v. 46 no. 10 (October 2000) p. 153 Gr 3-6
A clear, concise picture of these endangered creatures and their lifestyle. Simon includes information on the three gorilla species and their physical differences, their habitats, diet, daily habits, various behaviors, and decreasing populations. The extremely handsome, oversized color photos enhance the readable text and complement it perfectly. Sadly missing is a map so that children can see how restricted the gorilla's range has become. However, this attractive, informative book certainly deserves a place in all collections, even those already holding Paul Burgel's well-written Gorillas (Carolrhoda, 1993).-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

Connections

Children can draw pictures of gorillas.

Find documentaries about gorillas and view them.

Smithsonian Collins Series: Harper Collins Publishers
Other animal books in the series
Cats, Dolphins, Dogs, Snakes, Spiders, Sharks, Penguins, Wolves, Whales, Snakes

Fiction books about gorillas
Rathman, Peggy. 1994.Goodnight, Gorilla. New York. Putnam. ISBN 9780698116498

Osborne, Mary Pope. 2002. Good Morning Gorilla (Magic Tree House series #26. New York. Random House Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780375806148

Durango, Julie. 2010. Go-Go Gorillas. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781416937791

Other nonfiction books about gorillas
Thompson, Sarah L. 2006. Amazing gorillas (I can read. New York. Harper Collins. ISBN 0060544619

Redmond, Ian. 2000. Eyewitness books: Gorilla, Monkey and Ape. DK Children. ISBN 9780789460363

Turner, Pamela. 2005. Gorilla Doctors: Saving Endangered Great Apes. New York. Houghton Mifflin Books. ISBN 0618445552

Bibliography
Deem, James M. 2008. Bodies From the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 9780618800452

Summary
The book covers frozen mummies that have been discovered all over the world, from the Alps in Europe, to the Andes in South America, to Mount Everest in Asia to a glacier in British Columbia. The book starts with an account about the discovery of a 5,300 year old frozen mummified full body of a man on the Niederjoch Glacier in the Otztal Alps. The second chapter describes and explains how glaciers move and how bodies have possibly become trapped in the ice and moved along with the glaciers. A brief history of how human viewed glaciers centuries ago and how some people who became interested in exploring and studying glaciers is described in the next chapter. Not all frozen mummified bodies were the results of accidents. Some discoveries of frozen mummies were the result on an intentional sacrifice. Frozen mummies of children were discovered in the Andes in chambers built by the Incas to please their gods. Another chapter describes the mystery behind an expedition by George Mallory and Andrew Irvine to be the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. The last chapter is dedicated to the slow disappearance and preservation of glaciers.

Critical Analysis
This children’s book is an historical and informative book about glaciers and how bodies have been mummified and discovered many years later. It begins with the most famous discovery, Otzi, and ends with an informative chapter about the uncertainty of the loss of glaciers and the effect it would have on the world. Each chapter describes the frozen mummies found on different continents of the world. It is a well researched book that describes the histories and discoveries of frozen mummies and the scientific explanation of glaciers and investigations of the bodies. The text features it includes are contents, photographs, maps, illustrations from the past,captions, textboxes,lists,index, acknowledgments and bibliography.

The photographs of glaciers are breathtaking and the photos of the mummies are intriguing. The photos of glaciers next to past photos and drawings give readers an eye-opening view to the significant changes that have occured on glaciers. "But such remarkable discoveries have a high price." writes Deem. The melting and retreating glaciers have allowed the frozen mummies to be discovered in recent years but we may soon lose that history and the wonder of those giant glaciers if it continues at the same rate it has within the past century. Bodies from the ice is a well written book that clearly explains this to readers.

The audience is for children in grades 5-8, but the book can be enjoyed by adults as well.

Awards
--2009 Robert F. Sibert Informational Award Honor Book awarded by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association
--Finalist for the 2010 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books --Kirkus Reviews' Best Children's Books of 2008
--Notable Book for Children 2009 chosen by the American Library Association
--2009 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12 chosen by the National Science Teachers Association and the Children's Book Council
--2008 New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
--Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book 2009 (10-14)

Nominated for:
--The Young Hoosier Book Award, Middle Grades, 2010-2011
--The South Dakota Library Association Prairie Pasque Awards for Grades 3-5, 2010-2011
--The Garden State Teen Book Award for Nonfiction Grades 6-12, 2011

Review excerpts
Science Books & Films v. 45 no. 2 (March/April 2009) p. 70-1
"Deem has compiled a highly useful and readable volume on a unique aspect of human history and prehistory. . . . The book is small, but accurately portrays the process of science from discovery to investigation. A general audience would benefit from reading it, and it is appropriate as well for junior high and high school audiences. The book could also be used for classroom discussions."

The Horn Book v. 85 no. 1 (January/February 2009) p. 111 "
[This book] comfortably sits at the intersection of several disciplines: anthropology, archaeology, geography, glaciology, and history. . . . Deem gives his readers a brief primer on glaciers before treating them to a tour of mummified bodies found in ice. . . . Glaciers—and the preserved past they offer up—give us an intriguing peek into various cultures, yielding information on everything from human sacrifice to occult superstition to sporting endeavors. . . . The book design, with its variety of photographs, captions, and sidebars, seals the appeal."

Connections
Other books by James M. Deem and frozen mummies
Deem, James M. 2005. Bodies from the Ash: A life and death in Ancient Pompeii. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 9780618473083

Deem, James M. 1998. Bodies from the Bog. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0618354026

Dubowski, Mark and Dubowski, Eathy East. 1998. Ice Mummy: The Discovery of a 5,000-Year-Old Man. New York. Random House. ISBN 0679856471