Uchida, Y. (1993). The bracelet. New York: PaperStar Books.
This is a story of a young girl and her family who are sent to a prison camp in Montana becuase they are Japanese Americans and America is at war with Japan. She clings to a bracelet to keep faith.
Other Books by Yoshiko Uchida
- A Jar of Dreams
- Journey Home
- The Best Bad Thing
- The Magic Purse
Monday, August 10, 2009
Laurence Yep: Ribbons
Yep, L. (1992). Ribbons. New York: Putnum Berkley Books.
In this book, Robin finds it hard to adjust to a grandmother that is very demanding. She loses touch with friends that she has made through her beloved ballet and has to learn to live a whole new life. This book highlights the Chinese culture.
Other Book sby Laurence Yep
- Dragonwings
- Dragon's Gate
- The Lost Garden
- Mia (American Girl)
In this book, Robin finds it hard to adjust to a grandmother that is very demanding. She loses touch with friends that she has made through her beloved ballet and has to learn to live a whole new life. This book highlights the Chinese culture.
Other Book sby Laurence Yep
- Dragonwings
- Dragon's Gate
- The Lost Garden
- Mia (American Girl)
Jerry Pinkney Books: The Ugly Duckling
Anderson, H & Pinkney, J. (1999). The ugly duckling. New York: Morrow Junior Books.
This is a retelling of the classic story of the ugly duckling, re-illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. The details in his illustrations are very detailed and simply amazing! I had never heard of this man until this assignment but you can bet I will be looking for his name from now on!
Other Books Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney:
-God Bless the Child
-Back Home
-Noah's Ark
-John Henry
This is a retelling of the classic story of the ugly duckling, re-illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. The details in his illustrations are very detailed and simply amazing! I had never heard of this man until this assignment but you can bet I will be looking for his name from now on!
Other Books Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney:
-God Bless the Child
-Back Home
-Noah's Ark
-John Henry
Julius Lester Books: To Be a Slave
Lester, J. (1968). To be a slave. Los Angeles: Puffin Books.
For my Julius Lester selection, I chose To be a Slave. This story is a Newberry Honor book. In this novel, Lester describes the life of a slave through first hand accounts. These are true recollections of what it was like to be a slave in America.
Other Books by Julius Lester:
- From Slave Ship to Freedom Road
-Gaurdian
-Day of Tears
-Lovesong: Becoming a Jew
For my Julius Lester selection, I chose To be a Slave. This story is a Newberry Honor book. In this novel, Lester describes the life of a slave through first hand accounts. These are true recollections of what it was like to be a slave in America.
Other Books by Julius Lester:
- From Slave Ship to Freedom Road
-Gaurdian
-Day of Tears
-Lovesong: Becoming a Jew
Children's Books Produced as Feature Films
1. The Bridge to Terebithia
Paterson, K. (1977). Bridge to terebithia. New York: Harper Collins.
Bridge to Terebithia is a novel that was turned into a feature film in the past year. This book is about two youngster outcasts that create a make believe magical kingdom called Terebithia. The two children go to Terebithia to escape the real world troubles they face every day. One day, the lead female character, Leslie, in the book goes to Terebithia alone and drowns. The lead male character, Jess, has to live with the grief of not being there with her.
This is a wonderful book that will have you in tears at the end. You grow to love both of the main characters and their families. I related to this book because I had a childhood friend to die tragically too.
The book and movie are both pretty much alike. They both tell the tale of the two children and how they grow together in friendship and love.
2. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Seuss, D. (1957). How the grinch stole christmas. New York: Hyperion.
This is a story of a grinch who hates Christmas becaus ehe ha snever known the joy it can bring. The Whos in Whoville are constantly making too much noise so the Grinch plots on how to ruing their Christmas. he steals everyhting while they are sleeping on Christmas Eve, but finds out the next morning tha tChristmas is about more than gifts and lights and has a major change of heart!
This book has been turned into a short cartoon and a feature film. The short cartoon is more like the book because it has a shorter length and can stay truer to the text. The feature film is longer and has added parts. The main characters are all alike and the story line is pretty much the same in all forms.
3. Because of Winn Dixie
DiCamillo, K. (2000). Because of Winn Dixie. New York: Candlewick Press.
This story has been described earlier in the blog.
The book and the movie are very much alike. I liked how the producers of the movie were so good about keeping right with the text. I think that when you have a book as good as Winn Dixie, you don't need to add much in the movie. It was neat for me to be able to put faces with the characters that I had grown to love in the book and I really enjoyed the movie just as much as the book!
Paterson, K. (1977). Bridge to terebithia. New York: Harper Collins.
Bridge to Terebithia is a novel that was turned into a feature film in the past year. This book is about two youngster outcasts that create a make believe magical kingdom called Terebithia. The two children go to Terebithia to escape the real world troubles they face every day. One day, the lead female character, Leslie, in the book goes to Terebithia alone and drowns. The lead male character, Jess, has to live with the grief of not being there with her.
This is a wonderful book that will have you in tears at the end. You grow to love both of the main characters and their families. I related to this book because I had a childhood friend to die tragically too.
The book and movie are both pretty much alike. They both tell the tale of the two children and how they grow together in friendship and love.
2. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Seuss, D. (1957). How the grinch stole christmas. New York: Hyperion.
This is a story of a grinch who hates Christmas becaus ehe ha snever known the joy it can bring. The Whos in Whoville are constantly making too much noise so the Grinch plots on how to ruing their Christmas. he steals everyhting while they are sleeping on Christmas Eve, but finds out the next morning tha tChristmas is about more than gifts and lights and has a major change of heart!
This book has been turned into a short cartoon and a feature film. The short cartoon is more like the book because it has a shorter length and can stay truer to the text. The feature film is longer and has added parts. The main characters are all alike and the story line is pretty much the same in all forms.
3. Because of Winn Dixie
DiCamillo, K. (2000). Because of Winn Dixie. New York: Candlewick Press.
This story has been described earlier in the blog.
The book and the movie are very much alike. I liked how the producers of the movie were so good about keeping right with the text. I think that when you have a book as good as Winn Dixie, you don't need to add much in the movie. It was neat for me to be able to put faces with the characters that I had grown to love in the book and I really enjoyed the movie just as much as the book!
The Cat in the Hat and The Lorax
The Cat in the Hat
The Cat in the Hat is a story of a crazy cat the reeks mayhem on a household of 2 children that has been temporarily left by the mother. The cat causes all kinds of trouble until the children finally realize that it won't be long until their mother returns and they force the cat to stop making messes and clean up.
A. I can't think of any contemporary book that presents quite the same tension as The Cat in the Hat. I am sure that there are some that present some controversial topics, but I haven't read any recently.
B. The Cat in the Hat still very much appeals to children. Dr. Seuss' way with words and great illustrations lure children into reading his books every day. The fact that it uses so many frequent sight words and also that it is such a great piece of literature are two solid reasons this book and others by Dr. Seuss should be kept in the classroom library and also in the LMC.
The Lorax
The Lorax is a tale of a Once-ler that destroys a forest of trees where the lorax and other animals live. The lorax gives warning to the Once-ler that if he does not stop cutting the trees, there will be nothing left, but the Once-ler does not heed his warnings. Greed and denial lead to the destruction of the forest.
A. The Lorax is didactic because it teaches a lesson about greed and also about conservation. This book has been deemed controversial by some because it is said that it has out a bad name on some logging companies and their treatment of the forests they log and the animals that live there.
B. As far as didactic books in the present day, I think there are still some. Eric Carle's The Very Hungy Caterpillar is a very good example of a book that teahes a lesson as we read about a caterpillar that eats too much and gets a very bad stomach ache.
The Cat in the Hat is a story of a crazy cat the reeks mayhem on a household of 2 children that has been temporarily left by the mother. The cat causes all kinds of trouble until the children finally realize that it won't be long until their mother returns and they force the cat to stop making messes and clean up.
A. I can't think of any contemporary book that presents quite the same tension as The Cat in the Hat. I am sure that there are some that present some controversial topics, but I haven't read any recently.
B. The Cat in the Hat still very much appeals to children. Dr. Seuss' way with words and great illustrations lure children into reading his books every day. The fact that it uses so many frequent sight words and also that it is such a great piece of literature are two solid reasons this book and others by Dr. Seuss should be kept in the classroom library and also in the LMC.
The Lorax
The Lorax is a tale of a Once-ler that destroys a forest of trees where the lorax and other animals live. The lorax gives warning to the Once-ler that if he does not stop cutting the trees, there will be nothing left, but the Once-ler does not heed his warnings. Greed and denial lead to the destruction of the forest.
A. The Lorax is didactic because it teaches a lesson about greed and also about conservation. This book has been deemed controversial by some because it is said that it has out a bad name on some logging companies and their treatment of the forests they log and the animals that live there.
B. As far as didactic books in the present day, I think there are still some. Eric Carle's The Very Hungy Caterpillar is a very good example of a book that teahes a lesson as we read about a caterpillar that eats too much and gets a very bad stomach ache.
Caldecott vs Newberry: is One Better than the Other?
A Caldecott Award is given to books with great illustrations or pictures. Allthough most of these award winners also have great accompaning stories to go along with the illustrations, the award is for the drawings and is therefore usually awarded to picture books.
A Newberry Award is given to a book that has a wonderful story and has great literary devices. This award is usually devoted to a chapter book notable of reading.
The two awards are alike in the fact that the award is given to one book every year, but there are also several "honor" books for each medal every year as well.
I don't think that either award is better than the other. Both awards judge different aspect of literature and to compare the two would not do the books in these seperate categories any justice!
A Newberry Award is given to a book that has a wonderful story and has great literary devices. This award is usually devoted to a chapter book notable of reading.
The two awards are alike in the fact that the award is given to one book every year, but there are also several "honor" books for each medal every year as well.
I don't think that either award is better than the other. Both awards judge different aspect of literature and to compare the two would not do the books in these seperate categories any justice!
Elijah of Buxton: Corretta Scott King Award Book
Curtis, C. (2007). Elijah of buxton. New York: Scholastic.
This book is a tale of a young boy named Elijah that is born into freedom from slavery in Canada. Elijah's friend is saving money in order to buy his family freedom from slavery in southern United States when his money is stolen. Elijah embarks on a journey to find the theif and get the money back. During Elijah's journey, he quickly learns the trials and tribulations that his people have faced that he was lucky enough to be born free.
I have also read the book The Watsons go to Birmingham by Mr. Curtis. I enjoy his writing style and I think that he is a wonderful writer. He mostly writes on the issues that African Americans face such as slavery and racism. I would recommend both of these books to anyone looking for a good read in which you will elarn about the African American heritage.
This book is a tale of a young boy named Elijah that is born into freedom from slavery in Canada. Elijah's friend is saving money in order to buy his family freedom from slavery in southern United States when his money is stolen. Elijah embarks on a journey to find the theif and get the money back. During Elijah's journey, he quickly learns the trials and tribulations that his people have faced that he was lucky enough to be born free.
I have also read the book The Watsons go to Birmingham by Mr. Curtis. I enjoy his writing style and I think that he is a wonderful writer. He mostly writes on the issues that African Americans face such as slavery and racism. I would recommend both of these books to anyone looking for a good read in which you will elarn about the African American heritage.
Hoot, Newberry Book #2
Hiaasen, C. (2002). Hoot. New York: Knopf Books.
This book is a story of a young boy named Roy who is new to a Florida neighborhood, Coconut Cove. Roy soon learns of a new development that will be taking the homes of several tiny burrowing owls. Roy teams up with some friends and they set out to take down the developers to save the owls. This story is filled with fun humor, as the author describes the ways that Roy and his friends undermine "the man".
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Not only does it open the reader's eyes to humanitarian issues, it does so with great humor, taking a story that is not un any way funny and lightening it up. This was an easy and enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone!
This book is a story of a young boy named Roy who is new to a Florida neighborhood, Coconut Cove. Roy soon learns of a new development that will be taking the homes of several tiny burrowing owls. Roy teams up with some friends and they set out to take down the developers to save the owls. This story is filled with fun humor, as the author describes the ways that Roy and his friends undermine "the man".
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Not only does it open the reader's eyes to humanitarian issues, it does so with great humor, taking a story that is not un any way funny and lightening it up. This was an easy and enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone!
Because of Winn Dixie: Newberry Book #1
DiCamillo, K. (2000). Because of winn dixie. Los Angeles: Candlewick Press.
This book tells the tale of a young girl, a preacher's daughter, whom which was left by her mother at a young age. Even though the little girl is being raised by her father, she is extremely lonely and has very few friends. While in the grocery store, a loveable mutt makes a mess and Opal has to take him home. The two become inseperable and Winn Dixie, the dog, makes her many friends that she never knew existed, mostly outcasts like herself that she was too afraid to speak to before knowing their stories.
A true animal lover, I was right at home reading this book! DiCamillo does a wonderful job telling this story and one can't help but fall in love with every character in this book. Anyone who has ever taken in a stray can imagine what a wonderful creature that Winn Dixie is and can see Opal's love for the dog. This story proves that mutts can make the best pets!
I have not read any other books by DiCamillo, but after reading this book, if I run across another title with her as the author, you can bet that i will read it!
This book tells the tale of a young girl, a preacher's daughter, whom which was left by her mother at a young age. Even though the little girl is being raised by her father, she is extremely lonely and has very few friends. While in the grocery store, a loveable mutt makes a mess and Opal has to take him home. The two become inseperable and Winn Dixie, the dog, makes her many friends that she never knew existed, mostly outcasts like herself that she was too afraid to speak to before knowing their stories.
A true animal lover, I was right at home reading this book! DiCamillo does a wonderful job telling this story and one can't help but fall in love with every character in this book. Anyone who has ever taken in a stray can imagine what a wonderful creature that Winn Dixie is and can see Opal's love for the dog. This story proves that mutts can make the best pets!
I have not read any other books by DiCamillo, but after reading this book, if I run across another title with her as the author, you can bet that i will read it!
When Sophie Gets Angry: Really Really Angry, Caldecott Book #5
Bang, M. (1999). When sophie gets angry, really really angry. New York: Scholastic.
This book is a classic tale of how a young girl learns to deal with her anger. Sophie is forced to give her sibling a toy that she was playing with and becomes angry. When the sibling trips her while she is trying to get away, she becomes infuriated and has to find her own way with dealing in her emotions. At first she screams, and as the book progresses, she resorts to a more tranquil environment to calm down, until she is ready to return home, where everyone there still loves her!
The illustrations in this book are awesome!! I am drawn to bold illistrations and this book definately hits the visual learner and reader! The use of bright colors and thick lines makes the reader want to look further than the cover of this book!
This book helped prove to me that it is easy to address issues such as emotions and feelings in children's literature when you use content that the children can understand and relate to! Great book!
This book is a classic tale of how a young girl learns to deal with her anger. Sophie is forced to give her sibling a toy that she was playing with and becomes angry. When the sibling trips her while she is trying to get away, she becomes infuriated and has to find her own way with dealing in her emotions. At first she screams, and as the book progresses, she resorts to a more tranquil environment to calm down, until she is ready to return home, where everyone there still loves her!
The illustrations in this book are awesome!! I am drawn to bold illistrations and this book definately hits the visual learner and reader! The use of bright colors and thick lines makes the reader want to look further than the cover of this book!
This book helped prove to me that it is easy to address issues such as emotions and feelings in children's literature when you use content that the children can understand and relate to! Great book!
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, Caldecott Book #4
Willems, M. (2004). Knuffle bunny: a cautionary tale. Atlanta: Hyperion.
This is a great story of a young girl with a stuffed animal that gets misplaced at the landromat. She and her father make the trip to the landromat and her father accidentally throws Knuffle Bunny in the wash, unbeknowst to the child. Unable to speak words, she gets upset and begins to throw a fit about her lost toy. The fit slowly progresses into a full blown "boneless" tantrum, until her parents figure out that the stuffed animal is missing and retrace their steps to find it.
Mr. Willems illustrates the book himself, using photographs of a neighborhood in New York as backgrounds to the drawings of his characters. This aspect of the book is my favorite part. I, as an adult, was drawn to the book because of the illistrations, and I know that children will be too! I cold tell by the illustrations of the book that it was written by Willems, even if I didn't know he was the author. He has very simple but great illustrations in all of his books.
One can relate to this story becuase everyone has had a blanket, animal or some article of clothing that thy clung to in their childhood. Mine was a nasty old piece of what was left of a blanket my grandmother had made me when I was born. I held empathy for the little girl and felt her pain throughout the story until Knuffle Bunny was found.
This is a great story of a young girl with a stuffed animal that gets misplaced at the landromat. She and her father make the trip to the landromat and her father accidentally throws Knuffle Bunny in the wash, unbeknowst to the child. Unable to speak words, she gets upset and begins to throw a fit about her lost toy. The fit slowly progresses into a full blown "boneless" tantrum, until her parents figure out that the stuffed animal is missing and retrace their steps to find it.
Mr. Willems illustrates the book himself, using photographs of a neighborhood in New York as backgrounds to the drawings of his characters. This aspect of the book is my favorite part. I, as an adult, was drawn to the book because of the illistrations, and I know that children will be too! I cold tell by the illustrations of the book that it was written by Willems, even if I didn't know he was the author. He has very simple but great illustrations in all of his books.
One can relate to this story becuase everyone has had a blanket, animal or some article of clothing that thy clung to in their childhood. Mine was a nasty old piece of what was left of a blanket my grandmother had made me when I was born. I held empathy for the little girl and felt her pain throughout the story until Knuffle Bunny was found.
Henry's Freedoom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad, Caldecott Book #3
Levine, E. (2007). Henry's freedom box: a true story from the underground railroad. New York: Scholastic.
This book tells a wonderful but heartbreaking story of a man named Henry Brown who was a slave. As a boy, Henry's master was on the verge of death and Henry was optimistic that he would be granted freedom. Instead, Henry and the other slaves were given to the master's son, who treated them even worse than their original master. After he became an adult and had children of his own, Henry's family was sold and seperated. Out of desperation, Henry speaks to an abolitionist and decides to be boxed in a crate, and mailed to freedom! The journey is hard and long, but Henry makes it through!
I thought this book was absolutely fabulous! The pictures are out of this world! Henry's story is very sad but does end on a high note after he mails himself to freedom. As I read this book, I found myself reflecting on what life must have been like for the slaves of this era. I can't imagine being ofrced to do some of the things that slaves did on a daily basis, let alone being sold away from my family with no say about anything. I also can't imagine the heartbreak of Henry's family after thinking they would be granted freedom and then being turned to a new master that was even worse than the first.
Henry's story is one of hope and love. I have not read any other books by this author, but I venture to say that if they're anything like this book, I would like them! This book showed me that even though it is Children's Literature, you can still address issues that are usually reserved for a more mature audience, with reservation.
This book tells a wonderful but heartbreaking story of a man named Henry Brown who was a slave. As a boy, Henry's master was on the verge of death and Henry was optimistic that he would be granted freedom. Instead, Henry and the other slaves were given to the master's son, who treated them even worse than their original master. After he became an adult and had children of his own, Henry's family was sold and seperated. Out of desperation, Henry speaks to an abolitionist and decides to be boxed in a crate, and mailed to freedom! The journey is hard and long, but Henry makes it through!
I thought this book was absolutely fabulous! The pictures are out of this world! Henry's story is very sad but does end on a high note after he mails himself to freedom. As I read this book, I found myself reflecting on what life must have been like for the slaves of this era. I can't imagine being ofrced to do some of the things that slaves did on a daily basis, let alone being sold away from my family with no say about anything. I also can't imagine the heartbreak of Henry's family after thinking they would be granted freedom and then being turned to a new master that was even worse than the first.
Henry's story is one of hope and love. I have not read any other books by this author, but I venture to say that if they're anything like this book, I would like them! This book showed me that even though it is Children's Literature, you can still address issues that are usually reserved for a more mature audience, with reservation.
Monday, July 27, 2009
The Hello, Goodbye Window, Caldecott Book #2
Raschka, C. (2005). The hello, goodbye window. Toronto: Hyperion Books.
This is a very interesting book! The main character stays with her Nanna and Poppy during th eday while her parents work. There is a window in the kitchen, the hello, goodbye window, where the little girl can see just what's happening outside the house. Her grandparents have taught her to use imagination when no one walks by the window and you never know what she's going to see next! This book also has very good pictures. The illustrator uses lots of color and different strokes to keep the reader interested. I have not read any other books from this author, but I would definately like to beacuse I like his writing style!
This is a very interesting book! The main character stays with her Nanna and Poppy during th eday while her parents work. There is a window in the kitchen, the hello, goodbye window, where the little girl can see just what's happening outside the house. Her grandparents have taught her to use imagination when no one walks by the window and you never know what she's going to see next! This book also has very good pictures. The illustrator uses lots of color and different strokes to keep the reader interested. I have not read any other books from this author, but I would definately like to beacuse I like his writing style!
"No David" Caldecott Book #1
Shannon, D. (2000). No, david! New York: Scholastic.
This book is so funny!! I think my favorite aspect of this book, like all of his other books, is the pictures. They are so vivid and bright, always catching your attention and making you want to read more! David is a very funny little guy and he gets into a lot of trouble! I can make a personal connection to this book and others by this author becuase David reminds me a lot of my younger cousin, Jacob, who is always making mischief! It is funny to watch the things that David does and think to myself, "I can remember when Jacob......." This book helps prove that just books are fun doesn't mean that they will not have some educaitonal meaning. David is always learning life lessons!
This book is so funny!! I think my favorite aspect of this book, like all of his other books, is the pictures. They are so vivid and bright, always catching your attention and making you want to read more! David is a very funny little guy and he gets into a lot of trouble! I can make a personal connection to this book and others by this author becuase David reminds me a lot of my younger cousin, Jacob, who is always making mischief! It is funny to watch the things that David does and think to myself, "I can remember when Jacob......." This book helps prove that just books are fun doesn't mean that they will not have some educaitonal meaning. David is always learning life lessons!
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