Bibliography: Stone, Tanya Lee. ALMOST ASTRONAUTS:13 WOMEN WHO DARED TO DREAM. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. 2009. Print

  ISBN: 9780763636111

 

“T- Minus Thirty-Eight Years”

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream is a riveting account of the path that 13 of the best female aviators traversed in the hopes of becoming the first women to fly into space. Randolph Lovelace, the scientist who tested the Mercury 7 astronauts, “believed that women are as capable as men” to meet the demands of spaceflight and “he wanted to prove it.”  At the heart of this story is Jerrie Cobb, a veteran female pilot who successfully completed every test given to the Mercury 7 astronauts.  After Cobb proved that she had the “right stuff”, Lovelace set out to find more female pilots with the “right stuff”.  He put 18 women through the same test.  When phrase one of these tests was completed, 12 of these women had proven that they were “strong enough, smart enough and fit enough” for spaceflight.  Henceforth, these 13 women were dubbed the ‘Mercury 13’ because they had successfully completed the same test as the original Mercury 7 astronauts.  Lovelace proved women had the “right stuff,” but these findings were not enough to overcome the prevailing prejudices of the time.  Tanya Lee Stone goes on to chronicle how the efforts of Cobb and her colleagues were thwarted by everyone from then Vice-President Lyndon B Johnson to Mercury astronauts Scott Carpenter and John Glenn.  Ironically, their campaign was also sabotaged out of jealousy by Jackie Cochran, the highly respected female pilot responsible for organizing the WASP during World War II.  Stone succeeds in demonstrating how the efforts of these women paved the way for the eventual acceptance of women and other minorities into NASA’s space program. 

 Critical Summary:

This book is backed by the curator of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and it is clear that the author did her research well. In the Author’s Note, Stone describes how she investigated this story.  She reveals that her research led her to “many books, articles, scientific papers, audio recordings and videotapes,” but it also took her outside of the libraries and museums to the airfields, flying lessons and personal interviews with the women themselves.  As with many traditional nonfiction texts, this book does not need to be read from cover to cover.  However, it is engaging enough to be read this way.  The book has a table of contents and an index to help the reader locate the specific information they may be looking for.  Furthermore, this book has a well-organized source list which is divided into the following categories: book sources, articles and documents, videos, source notes (subcategorized by chapters), and photography credits.  It is divided into twelve chapters.  The book begins with a forward written by Margaret A. Weitekamp and ends with an Author’s note.  The layout of the book is logical but it is not chronological.  The book begins in the year 1999 with Eileen Collins historical fight on board the space shuttle Columbia in which she is in charge.  This is the first time that a woman has ever been the commander of a space shuttle.  Then as if you were inside a time machine the book goes back to 1960.  This is where the story of the ‘Mercury 13’ women begins.  The story progress from then until present day space exploration by women.    

At the center of this story is the ‘Mercury 13’ women’s unwavering desire to fly into space. Stone masterfully propels this point by her intentional use of only black and white photographs to tell their story and that of the first six women who were later admitted to the space program.  It is not until “the space shuttle Columbia took to the skies with Eileen Collins at the helm” that the photographs are displayed in full color.  As the book progresses it is clear to see it was designed to demonstrate how the thirteen women opened the doors for other women and minorities to explore space.      

Stone meticulous weaving of the women’s steadfast determination, the odds of their success, the prevailing social ideals of the time and the irrefutable facts which ultimately grounded their mission reveals her passion and enthusiasm for the plight of the women’s movement.  Stone effectively conveys the heroic struggles and successes that the ‘Mercury 13’ women underwent in their pursuit of the ultimate flight in a natural respective language without condemnation or sarcastic words and phrases; in doing so she invites the readers to seek more information about the ‘Mercury 13’ women, the Mercury 7 program, and President Lyndon B. Johnson.       

Activities:

Social Studies: Students can create a timeline of the important events that advanced women into space.

Social Studies: Compare and Contrast NASA’s space program form the 1960’s to today’s program.

Awards:

• 2010 Sibert Medal Award Winner
• YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Honor
• Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor
• NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor
• Bank Street Flora Stieglitz Straus Award

 

Reviews:

Stone adopts a tone of righteous indignation in chronicling the quixotic efforts of 13 women to win admission into NASA's initial astronaut training program in the early 1960s. The women were all pilots (one, Jerrie Cobb, had more hours in the air than John Glenn or Scott Carpenter), earned high scores in preliminary tests, and even counted a senator's wife among their number. But resistance came from all directions—including NASA regulations, which were weighted toward men; media coverage that reflected contemporary gender expectations; political maneuvering by then vice president LBJ and other officials; and the crushing opposition expressed by renowned aviatrix Jackie Cochran in a 1962 Congressional hearing. Properly noting, however, that losing "depends on where you draw the finish line," the author closes with chapters on how women did ultimately win their way into space—not only as mission specialists, but also as pilots and commanders. Illustrated with sheaves of photos, and based on published sources, recently discovered documents, and original interviews with surviving members of the "Mercury 13," this passionately written account of a classic but little-known challenge to established gender prejudices also introduces readers to a select group of courageous, independent women.—John Peters, New York Public Library (Excerpt from School Library Journal, 2013)

“Space gals. Astronettes. Astrodolls . . . Who do these women think they are?” The media mocked them. Male astronauts did not want them, and neither did then vice-president Lyndon Johnson. If they were to let women into the space program, blacks and other minorities would be next. Nearly 20 years before the U.S. officially admitted women into the astronaut program, 13 women, known as the Mercury 13, fought for the right to soar into space. This dramatic, large-size photo-essay covers their stories, along with the exciting politics of the women’s liberation struggle in the 1950s and ’60s (“What is a woman’s place?”) and the breakthrough science and technology surrounding space exploration, including details of the would-be astronauts’ tests and training. The chatty, immediate style (“Picture this”) and full-page photos make for a fast read, and the crucial civil-rights history will stay with readers. The long, spacious back matter is part of the story, with detailed chapter notes and a bibliography. -Hazel Rochman  (Excerpt from Booklist, 2013)

 

Bibliography: Simon, Seymore. CORAL REEFS. New York: HarperCollins Children’s Books. 2013. Print

 

ISBN: 9780061914959

 

 

 

Seymour Simon plunges the reader into the mesmerizing world of coral reefs.  This vivid photo essay takes you on a surprising journey through topographies of the underwater world of coral reefs. It explains what a coral reef is; how they form; where they are found and how they evolve into one of the most complicated and fascinating ecosystems on Earth.  It also includes facts about the various other animals that consider coral reefs their home and touches upon the environmental challenges that this sensitive ecosystem faces due to human interference with our environment.   

 

Critical Summary:

This book is designed to emerge you in a new world.  The full page color photographs immediately capture your imagination and invite you to read the text.  The large black text against the white background communicates the subject matter concisely, and it complements the vivid eye catching photographs.  Additionally, Simon uses just the right amount of technical vocabulary so as to introduce young readers to a basic understanding of coral reefs.             

This book follows a logical layout in which the text and the full page photographs complement each other.  Thus, this book does not have to be read from cover to cover.  However, it is attractive and short enough to be read this way.  The book has an index page to help the reader locate the specific information they may be looking for.  Additionally, it has a glossary of terms to help the reader understand the text.  

“Seymour Simon may well be one of the most prolific authors of nonfiction for children, with over 250 books published on a great variety of science topics recognized with an abundance of awards and recognitions” (Vardell, 2008, p. 249).  The information in Coral Reefs was carefully researched and the photographs were clearly meticulously chosen for their wow factor. On the bibliographic page Simon cites all of the photographs according to page number.  Additionally, on the last page several websites about coral reefs are also cited so that readers can continue their study of coral reefs.        

Activities:

Science: Invite students to create a Venn Diagram in order to compare and contrast salt water ecosystem to fresh water ecosystems.
                

Students can create a coral reef food web.

Social Studies: Invite students to investigate the effects of pollution on marine ecosystems.

Art: Students can create a panorama of coral reefs, including appropriate labeling. 

Writing: Ask students to write a persuasive narrative about the importance of protecting the ocean, from their sea creature’s point of view.

Recommended books by Seymour Simon:

• Oceans
• Whales
• Sharks

*(Simon has written more than 250 books for young readers)

 

Reviews:

Simon has been luring kids into science for years through simple, informative texts on interesting topics ranging from systems of the human body to the reaches of space, all lavishly larded with brilliant color photos. Here he opens a window into the watery world of the coral reef, providing facts on a variety of corals and on some of the critters that make these reefs their homes. He includes information on the environmental changes challenging the very existence of these sensitive biomes, from global warming to toxic runoffs from the shore to mining coral for construction use and for use in the souvenir industry. A brief glossary and several websites for further investigation complete this eye-catching and rewarding package. -Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library. (Excerpt from School Library Journal, 2013)

Taking readers underwater to explore coral reefs, Simon provides basic information about this gigantic community of living things.  Often remarkably clear, the book’s many large color photos offer striking views of coral reefs and the life they support. In some shots, it’s difficult to get a sense of scale, but even those photos serve well to illustrate points made in the text. Well organized and lucidly written, this book gives readers an eye-catching introduction to coral reefs. -Carolyn Phelan (Excerpt from Book list, 2013).

References:

Vardell, Sylvia M. Children’s Literature in Action A Librarian’s Guide. London: Libraries Unlimited, 2008.

Bibliography: Krull, Katherine and Paul Brewer. LINCOLN TELLS A JOKE (HOW LAUGHTER SAVED THE PRESIDENT AND THE COUNTRY). Illustrated by Stacy Innerst. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2010. Print

ISBN: 9780152066390

Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the country) is an entertaining biography of Abraham Lincoln as told by Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer .  This biography focuses on how Lincoln used his unusual sense of humor to cope with some of the more difficult aspects of his life and presidency.  By all accounts Lincoln’s life was less than ideal.  He was born in a log cabin with a dirt floor and beds of cornhusks. “Life on the frontier – first in Kentucky, then in Indiana – was almost all work. Backbreaking work.”  Yet he managed to find the time to read jokes to his friends on Sundays.  Accordingly, throughout his life Lincoln learned to balanced difficult times with his sense of humor.  From joking about his less than striking looks to lighting the mood at his cabinet meetings during the civil war by reading from a joke book, this biography shines a light on one of the less known characteristics of one of our most famous presidents.   

Critical Summary:

Throughout Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the country) Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer use some fairly commonly known facts about President Lincoln to anchor their account of Lincoln’s life.  He was born in a log cabin; he was fascinated by words and loved to read but couldn't attend school; he became the 16th President of the United States; and he presided over the Civil War.   These well known facts allow the authors to direct your attention to his sense of humor – what made his sense of humor so distinctive and how it helped him to persevere during some of the most difficult times of his life.  Consequently, many jokes and puns attributed to Lincoln himself are cleverly slipped into the book to create a chuckle in the midst of a social studies lesson.  “Lincoln served three months in the military when he was twenty-three.  He would joke that he survived ‘a good many bloody battles – with mosquitos’.”  Thus, this biography is entertaining and comical. 

Furthermore, there are whimsical illustrations that grab the interest of the reader and keep them tuned in.  One of the illustrations that I enjoyed the most depicts the Lincoln Memorial.  Except in Stacy Innerst’s illustration, Lincoln is holding a copy of Quinn’s Jests, which is the joke book that he would read to his friends on Sundays when he was a boy.  This, like many other illustrations, compliments the text.  The Lincoln Memorial was erected to immortalize one of our greatest presidents but rather than simply replicating the Lincoln Memorial, Innerst chose to emphasize Lincoln’s love of jokes by featuring his favorite childhood joke book as part of one of our most recognizable national monuments.   

The simplicity of this biography encourages our curiosity and wonder about the private Abraham Lincoln; the one that was only truly known by his close friends and family.  Krull and Brewer tell the story in normal personal language without using a lot of formal words and phrases. The reader feels as if he is just listening to them tell the story. 

This biography takes the reader through Lincoln's life.  It is organized in chronological order beginning with Lincoln’s birth in the log cabin to his untimely assassination, focusing only upon key events in his life.  Although it does not have reference aides such as a table of contents or an index; each new phase of his life is introduced by a concise phrase emphasized by large bold print.  A reader could use these phrases to access information like you would a table of contents. 

At the end of the biography, the authors provide a bibliography of sources. Although the facts such as the place of his birth, the death of his mother and sister and his brief military service are historically accurate, an issue of authenticity arises with the jokes attributed to Lincoln throughout the book. The authors’ note states: "Lincoln's jokes in this book are from collections complied by a variety of people, often after his death. Some of his clever remarks were passed on by eyewitnesses; some are second-hand, third-hand, or further removed." Even though this biography is written by reputable authors and the titles of some of the sources for this biography weigh in favor of supporting the accuracy of these quotes, this particular declaration by the authors left me with a sense of believe it or not.  Still, whether the quotes are Lincoln's words or not, it does not diminish the fact that this is a Lincoln that readers don't often see.

Activities:

Social Studies: Student can create a timeline or collage of Lincoln’s life.  K-2 student can create this project on a cut out of Lincoln’s famous stovepipe hat.  Older students can create this project on an image of Lincoln using www.thinglink.com They can link video clips and websites such as www.lincolnbicentennial.gov/lincolns-life/words-and-speeches to their image in addition to the information that they share from this book.    

Memory writing: Read the book aloud with your students and then have them freewrite about a difficult time in their lives and how humor could have or did help them get through it.

Use the link www.lincolnbicentennial.gov/lincolns-life/words-and-speeches to read Lincoln’s speeches.

Recommended books by Kathleen Krull:

• What Was the Boston Tea Party?
• Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez
• Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman

Reviews:

Krull is an expert at teasing out the fun, quirky sides of her subjects and sharing them in a way that is both genuine and engaging. This take on Lincoln is no exception. He is portrayed as an accessible, endearing, and sympathetic figure, not just another president. Children will be drawn in by the straightforward prose, and librarians will enjoy sharing the book aloud. Innerst's colorful and unconventional acrylic illustrations cover the entire page and are the perfect complement to both the text and the subject matter, making this a standout biography.—Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (Excerpt from School Library Journal, Starred Review, 2010)



Laughter is not only good medicine. It can also be a political tool, human motivator, and saving grace, as the authors show in this upbeat overview of Lincoln’s life. Moving through the sixteenth president’s many challenges, from family deaths to lost elections to fighting slavery, the text emphasizes how Lincoln coped with a joke on his tongue and a smile on his lips. Innerst’s acrylic artwork feels homey and humorous, very much in the style of his previous work with Krull, M is for Music (2003), and while not every word or picture is necessarily a hoot and a holler, they do present a positive portrait that humanizes the lionized man for whom it was “a love of laughter that kept him going.” -Andrew Medlar (Excerpt from Booklist, 2010)

Bibliography: Sidman, Joyce. DARK EMPEROR. Illustrated by Rick Allen. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2010. Print

ISBN: 9780547152288

A wonderful merger of science and poetry, Dark Emperor offers a unique arrangement of 12 poems that take the reader on an enlightening journey through a forest as experienced through the nocturnal creatures and plants that flourish in the night. 

Joyce Sidman makes use of metaphors, personifications, alliteration, and concrete form throughout the various poems.  Her utilization of different styles allows her to capitalize on the animal’s or plant’s characteristics that she is describing, which enables her to bring to life the seemingly inactive world of the nocturnal forest.  For example, in the poem Oak After Dark Sidman personifies the oak tree’s constant state of growth and regeneration - “I stretch my roots into the hill and slowly, slowly, drink my fill.”         

This book is masterfully organized, although the poems are very different they all progress effectively in a way that feels more like a cohesive story than a collection of various poems.  The first poem Welcome to the Night greets the creatures of the night (to all of you who crawl and creep… welcome to the night).  The subsequent poems pay homage to the creatures of the night (Snail At Moonrise).  Finally the last poem Moon’s Lament bids a woeful farewell to the constituents of the night (where are the bright dips of fireflies?... Where has it all gone -).  This book is also distinguished by its physical layout.  The poems appear on the even pages. In contrast the odd-numbered pages are an almost full-page illustration of the topic at hand, anchored by facts that tie in with the poem.  The arrangement of these three parts creates a wonderful whole that describes and explains the obscure nocturnal features of the forest’s ecosystem.  For example, in the poem Dark Emperor the phrase “What fills the cool moons of your mesmerizing eye?” metaphorically explains the size of the horned owl’s eyes, while the nonfiction text on the opposite page states “nocturnal animals have specially adapted senses for hunting… great horned owls have huge eyes and extraordinary hearing.”  The illustration that accompanies this poem depicts a horned owl perched on a tree branch and it is staring right at the frightened mouse who lends his voice to the poem.  This particular poem is also composed in the shape of an owl.  This particular poetic element truly heightens the emotion conveyed by the mouse.       

Each illustration contributes to the mood set by the poem, some are bright and some are dark.  But, more importantly they are all detailed... the more you look the more you see!  There are shadows and animals cleverly hidden among the vegetation of the forest.  Rick Allen “produced original linoleum cuts, curious wood engravings, eccentric broadsheets, and other printed ephemera.”  This style of artwork along with the use of gouache colors creates convincing nighttime scenery which was beautifully captured by the illustrations.

This book is meant to be read out loud. Whether you use the table of content to choose individual poems or chose to read the book as a whole, its universal appeal is sure to appeal to a wide audience.

Awards and Honors

• Newbery Honor Book
• Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book
• Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book
• Cybils Poetry Award Finalist
• NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts
• Horn Book Fanfare
• Bulletin Blue Ribbon
• Booklist Editor's Choice
• CBC Bank Street Best Book of the Year (starred)
• Chicago Public Library Best book of the Year
• NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book Eureka! Nonfiction Children's Book Award

 Activities:

Science: Owls can they see in the dark better than humans can? Why do they seem to prefer moving through the dark rather than in daytime hours? Students may research nocturnal animals and categorize them as to type, activities, and other commonalities.

Science : As a whole class have students become familiar with the descriptions given about each animal. What do they find in each passage that may be compared to information about other nocturnal animals? What may be contrasted? In other words, what is similar and what is different about each nocturnal animal?  

Divide the class into groups.  Assign each group one of the animals described in the passages.  Ask the groups to create a product such as a Thinglink image that will teach others in the class about the sense which allows their animal to survive at night.  Students will need to research more deeply to gain information. They will want to plan their product as they seek information that will help them in their understanding.  Younger students can report on simple facts.  Older students, especially secondary students, can extend their research into major concepts to include information such as, an understanding of the forest’s food chain and how one animal affects another.

 

Recommended Books by Joyce Sidman:

• Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature Illustrated by Beth Krommes
• Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature's Survivors Illustrated by Beckie Prange
• Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow Illustrated by Beth Krommes

Reviews:

"'Welcome to the night!" cries the opening poem in this celebration of nocturnal life. Everything from snails to  mushrooms has a role to play and something different to say (the title is taken from a concrete poem about a horned owl, narrated by its would-be prey: "Perched missile,/ almost invisible, you/ preen silent feathers,/ swivel your sleek satellite/ dish of a head"). Spiders offer advice, porcupettes pirouette, and the moon laments the dawn, all illuminated by debut talent Allen's detailed yet moody prints, which encapsulate the mysteries and magic of the midnight hours. Opposite each poem is a short note on the featured creature, explaining its appearance and habits. In Sidman's delicious poems, darkness is the norm, and there's nothing to fear but the rising sun. (Excerpt from Publishers Weekly, 2010)

Sidman continues her explorations of natural history in this set of poems about nocturnal life in the forest. As in her other collections, each selection is set in an expansive spread that includes a factual discussion of the featured subject. The illustrations are bold, richly detailed linoleum prints colored in gouache… The bookmaking is beautiful with the concept of night lending itself generously to poetry. It invites lingering enjoyment for nature and poetry fans, and, as with Sidman's earlier collections, it might be used with varied curriculums. (Excerpt from School Library Journal, 2010) 

 

Bibliography:

Bush, Margaret. "Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night." School Library Journal 56, no. 8 (August 2010): 122. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed February 22, 2014).

"Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night." Publishers Weekly 257, no. 31 (August 9, 2010): 50-51. Library, Information Science& Technology Abstracts with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed February 22, 2014).

Bibliography: Florian, Douglas. MAMMALABILIA. Florida: Hardcourt Inc. 2000. Print

ISBN: 9781415536094

 

Mammalabilia offers its readers a menagerie of twenty-one marvelous poems about twenty-one amazing mammals.

Douglas Florian uses the rhythm and rhyme of the verses to create a fun and upbeat feeling, which encourages and invites you to read the poems out loud.  At times Florian intentionally misspells words in order to preserve the rhythm and rhyme of the poem.  For instance, in the poem The Aardvarks he adds an extra “a” to all of the words that contain an “a” (Aardvarks aare staark).  Additionally, Florian applies an assortment of poetic features such as alliteration, repetition and concrete form (the camel’s humps or the lemur’s tail).  However, the feature which truly distinguishes these poems is Florian’s whimsical manipulation of the words in the poems.  For example he changes September into Septem-bear and porcupine into porcupins, popcuskin and porcupain.     

The humorous and informative poems are accompanied by illustrations done in gouache on printed brown paper bags.  Although, these illustrations appear as if they were created by a child, you can easily see that they were indeed created by an adult when you look at the very intentional humor depicting literal interpretations of the poems. For example, in the poem The Lynx, the words say that wearing lynx fur coats stinks, and in the illustration a woman is wearing a live lynx that is covering his nose with one paw, indicating that something stinks.

Mammalabilia will appeal to a young audience.  It is well organized and contains a table of contents.  Furthermore, each poem is featured alone on the even pages accompanied by a full page illustration on the odd pages.  Although this book does not contain information about Douglas Florian it does contain information about the technique that he used to create the illustration.

Activities:

Poetry: Look at the book in terms of rhyming words. What is the pattern? Does it help the enjoyment of the wording to have some of the words rhyme? Have students try to write their own animal-inspired poetry.

Science: Read this book as an introduction into the characteristics of mammals or animal adaptation. 

 

Recommended Animal Poetry Books by Douglas Florian:

§  Insectlopedia

 

§  Dinothesaurus

 

§  Bow wow meow meow

 

§  Lizards, frogs and pelliwegs

§  In the swim

§  On the wing

§  Beast feast

§  Monster motel

 

Reviews:

Readers will find a variety of rhyme schemes; meters; and forms featuring puns, concrete poems, litanies, and lists. A large painting, done in gouache on primed brown paper bags, appears on one side of the double page with a poem set on the other. The artist's renderings draw readers into the poem and invite repeated viewings after reading the verse. Pair this title with Mary Ann Hoberman and Malcah Zeldis's A Fine Fat Pig (HarperCollins, 1991) to show children the diversity of images that animals may evoke for poets and artists. Florian has created a zoological garden of delights. (Excerpt from Book Review, 2000)

Florian's humor is eccentric, but just right for his target audience. The gouache illustrations painted on primed brown paper bags, full of unusual textures and inventive designs, match the creativity of the word play. The otter lounges in a claw-foot bathtub reading a book titled H2O. Florian specializes in the unexpected. For instance, the rhebok stands in its tennis shoes because its "main/ Claim to fame/ Is its name." The artwork taps into childlike qualities without being simplistic; the animal portraits are clever yet appropriate. An irresistible homage to mammal memorabilia. (Excerpt from Publishers Weekly, 2000)

References:

Chatton, Barbara. "Mammalabilia (Book Review)." School Library Journal 46, no. 4 (April 2000): 119. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed February 22, 2014).

"forecasts: Children's Books." Publishers Weekly 247, no. 11 (March 13, 2000): 84. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed February 22, 2014).

 

 

 

 

 

Biblioagraphy: Frost, Helen. DIAMOND WILLOW. New York: Frances Foster Books. 2008. Print

 

ISBN: 9780374317768

 

Use your sharpest knife to skin off the gray bark of a willow tree and there where the scar of a living branch remains you will “reveal reddish-brown diamonds, each with a small dark center.”  A polished diamond willow branch is extraordinary, but 12 year-old Willow, named after this exceptional natural phenomenon doesn’t feel exceptional at all… “I'm skinny and ordinary like a stick.”  In this coming of age verse novel Willow is struggling to exert her independence and she questions her own value and strength.  She would love nothing more than to guide her dogsled to her grandparent’s house to prove to everyone once in for all that she is growing up.  Willow finally convinces her parents to allow her to mush the dogsled to her grandparents' house alone for the first time, but while on her return trip Willow’s youthful carelessness crashes with Alaska’s unforgiving environment.  Willow’s dogsled runs right into a broken tree injuring her and her best dog Roxy.  This accident leads Willow on a journey of self-discovery from which she learns how extraordinary she really is.

The poetry inside a verse novel magnifies tenfold the emotion of the protagonist.  “The best verse novels are built on poems that are often lovely stand-alone works of poetry.” (Vardell, p.116)  Helen Frost masterfully executes this style of writing.  The poems within the pages of Diamond Willow just shook you.  This story is told in a series of free verse diamond-shape poems; depending on the layout and design of the diamond’s shape, and the demeanor of the poem factors whether short lines or long couplets are used.  More importantly, the larger diamond shape poems are anchored by a powerful shorter bold print free verse poem which is created out of the words from the larger poem.  Because the shorter poems are in bold print they immediately catch your attention, and in just a few very concise words you know exactly how the protagonist is feeling… “people scare me”… “why don’t people like me.”  Frost cleverly peppers the novel with narratives from the point of view of Willow’s ancestors which gives the reads insight about the various characters in the book and helps to advance the story.  Although, this is an effective way of advancing the story the voices of the ancestors appear monotone when compared to Willow’s powerful voice (“find me” vs. “I remember being thirteen and in love”).   The language and poignant words chosen for the short bold print poems in this quiet little book will reach students of all ages because it is about a universal topic, growing up.  It’s about the small battles that we must wage against our parents so that we can eventually gain our independence from them.  

The author’s note at the beginning of the book explains the setting and inspiration for the story.  The author’s note also gives personal information about Helen Frost and a brief explanation about diamond willow trees which explains the layout of the text. When a branch is injured and falls away it leaves a scar which looks like a diamond. The diamond shape scars on a willow branch come in different sizes and an assortment of diamond shapes just like the poems in the book.  Although, this novel does not have a table of content nor is it written in clearly defined chapters; the narratives written in the ancestor’s voice act like a chapter marker which allows the story to transition from one scene to another.   

A good novel draws you in and takes you on a journey; a great novel makes you laugh out loud or it can make you cry, but a verse novel simply leave you stunned!  Without the poems Diamond Willow would simply be another good journey.

Activity:

Writing: After a class discussion about Diamond Willow have the students create a circle diagram about emotions.  Then have the students pick an emotion from their diagram and write a poem that expresses that emotion.  Finally, as a challenge ask students to write a shape poem using a shape of their choosing. 

Writing: Students can write a personal narrative about their relationship to their own pets. 

 

Recommended Books by Helen Frost:

• Keesha’s House
• Spinning Through the Universe
• The Braid

 

Reviews:

Helen Frost's book is a true work of art, using lyrical diamond-shaped poems to tell the story of 12-year-old Willow, part Athabascan Indian, who wants to prove herself by running the family's sled dogs alone in the Alaskan wilderness.  Within each poem, Frost has cleverly hidden a second poem, with words in boldface type, that underscores the salient point of Willow's thoughts. (Excerpt from School Library Journal, 2009)

 

Diamond Willow, a young Alaskan of Athabascan and European descent, doesn't have many friends; she's happiest when she's sledding her father's dogs and visiting her grandparents. Frost presents her story in a series of poems in Willow's voice, using a form inspired by the marks on a diamond willow stick; roughly diamond-shaped and no two exactly alike, each contains a "hidden message" printed in boldface that spans several lines and encapsulates the poem. It's a novel idea, and largely works quite well.  (Excerpt from Kirkus Reviews, 2008)
References:

Vardell, Sylvia M. Children’s Literature in Action: A Librarian’s Guide. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2008. Print

Bibliography: Kimmel, Eric A. CACTUS SOUP. Illustrated by Phil Huling. New York     :Marshall Cavendish Publishing. 2004. Print

ISBN: 9780761458326

During the Mexican Revolution the small town of San Miguel decided to take a stand against a group of hungry soldiers who were heading their way.  The mayor of the town announced “Soldiers are all alike, no matter whose side they fight on: they eat like wolves.”  Fearing that there would not be any food left after the soldiers passed through town, everyone worked together to prepare the town for their arrival.  They worked together to hide their food.  They dressed in dirty clothes and they all tried to look as poor as possible.  Just like the town’s mayor predicted, the soldiers arrived and asked for food from the people of San Miguel.  And just like they prepared, the citizens of San Miguel acted poor and hungry themselves.  Will the cunning Captain fall for the town’s charades or will his charming personality convince the villagers to share their food? 
  
 

Eric Kimmel's new twist on the popular folktale "Stone Soup" is fascinating.  It still maintains the original theme that sharing what you have with others benefits all and brings you joy.  Additionally, the happy ending demonstrates the power of cooperation and just how much can be accomplished with small contributions from everyone.  Cactus Soup is set in Mexico during the time of the Mexican Revolution.  Adding to the universal attraction of this story is the fact that throughout history the quartering of soldiers during war time has been a reality for many citizens. In the beginning of this story Eric Kimmel is able to capture the sentiment of the people who are affected by this intrusive practice. “Not everyone was happy to see them.”  With these words Kimmel sets this story into action.  He quickly engrosses the reader in the Mexican culture by including carefully selected words in Spanish. Additionally, the soup is made with ingredients associated with the Mexican culture, such as chili peppers and beans.  Kimmel cleverly advances the story through the addition of each ingredient, by the time the last ingredient is added the town has dropped it's charades and is prepare to share their food with the soldiers.  The setting and the cultural identity of the story is further anchored by Phil Huling’s use of water colors and ink illustrations which fit the story perfectly.  More importantly, Huling’s choice of story layout strengthens Kimmel’s text.  For instance, some of the pages are designed to extend the story by depicting every action mentioned in the text, as seen in the page which depicts the villager’s actions to hide the town’s supply of food.  In contrast, other pages are designed to highlight the principal action of the text, as seen in the page which depicts only two children picking a lone cactus thorn from a cactus plant.  The white background of this illustration brings additional scrutiny to the importance of the children’s action. 

Activities:

Character lesson on sharing – This book is a good one to use when you want to talk with your class about the subject of sharing and how it can sometimes be difficult.

Readers Theater - Read the book once for pleasure, and then read it again, instructing students to notice how the text of the book is organized.  As a whole class or in small groups ask the student to write a play for the story.  The student can then preform the play for other classes.

Recommended Books by Eric Kimmel:    

The Three Little Tamales
Little Red Hot
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

Reviews:

Kimmel, though acknowledging that the tale of “Stone Soup” appears in many cultures, offers no documentation for this Mexican version. Still, the fast-moving narrative is rich in Spanish vocabulary and generous with opportunities for the audience to participate in the telling. Huling’s bright watercolors create a vibrant setting bursting with yellows, oranges, greens, and browns that reflect the countryside and the hot tempo of the final fiesta. The curved sombreros, the townspeople’s rounded figures, and the circular cooking pot suggest a warm community that complements the soldiers, who are modeled after Picasso’s whimsical, lanky Don Quixote. Appended with a glossary of Spanish words. B.C. (Excerpt from Horn Book, 2005)

Huling's elongated watercolor cartoons provide just the right playful, brown-hued visual temperament for the all-round festive deception… a wonderful example of the international appeal–and ready adaptation–of timeless tales of human nature.–John Sigwald, Unger Memorial Library, Plainview, TX (Excerpt from School Library Journal, 2009)