Cat in the Hat vs. The Lorax

Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat vs. The Lorax

The Cat in the Hat: It has been many, many years since I read the Cat in the Hat, so re-reading it was a pleasure for me.  Since I work with kindergarten students, I am very familiar with sight words, and had no idea that there were that many of them in this story.  Although the story may be a bit silly and unrealistic, it has a major charm to it, as well as an innocence that children love.  I definitely noticed the tension between having simple fun and the rising anarchy, and it was very interesting to see that from an adult's perspective; as a child reading this, I would have mainly been reading the words on the page, or possibly thinking about how much trouble the children were going to get into when their mother got home.  I am not aware of any contemporary children's books that have this same tension.  Robert Munsch's writings might have some of the tension--children trying to have fun and yet causing quite a ruckus--but still not that of this classic.  The Cat in the Hat definitely still appeals to children for many reasons.  First, it is hard not to get into a book that magically rhymes; the language in which it is written may be a bit dated, but it also plays into a child's imagination and helping them to think outside the ordinary.  Secondly, most children have heard of Dr. Seuss and his works, so they are usually very open to reading his stories.  Thirdly, I think that children identify with the children in the story who are bored and trying to find something to do.  Although children are not really left alone all that often these days to amuse themselves, it is still possible for those children with wild imaginations to create their own story similar to this one.

 

The Lorax

According to dictionary.com, didactic refers to instructing, teaching or lecturing, especially in terms of a moral lesson.  After reading The Lorax, I think didactic is a perfect word to describe the message behind the story of the Lorax and the Once-ler.  In the story, the Once-ler comes to a place where Truffula trees grow in abundance, little bear-type animals run around them, fish live in a nice pond, swans sing, and basically everyone lives happily...that is, until the Once-ler arrives and begins to cut down the Truffula trees.  He uses them to manufacture a shirt-type garment that he believes everyone needs, building a vast empire of factory buildings that his family comes to help run.  In the mean time, as he is cutting down more and more trees, the native animals to the area begin to leave since they have nowhere left to live.  The Lorax is their "representative" and complains to the Once-ler each time a species is ready to leave, hoping that he will stop cutting down trees or leave, but the Once-ler is a greedy character and basically says, "Oh well."  Eventually, all the Truffula trees in the area have been chopped down, and there is no more business left to operate.  The Once-ler's family leaves, with only him remaining in the area; all the animals have left, including the Lorax.  The only thing left behind is a small pile of rocks labeled, "UNLESS."  Until the very, very end of the story, the Once-ler never realizes what the "unless" means.  However, he finally realizes, as he is sharing the story with a little boy, that unless the message is shared, no one will ever stop cutting down the trees.  For a modern version, unless humans stop using up our natural resources, we will eventually run out and have none left for future generations, much less ourselves.  Without knowing that this is the moral, the book helps the reader to identify with the native species of the area and feel empathy for them...and then eventually see that they can help with problems such as this.  I am not aware of any contemporary book that does this as well as The Lorax and other older titles; it seems that many of the children's books being published today are more meant to entertain or possibly show children being good, rather that trying to teach them a lesson.

Book to Movie: Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

by Maurice Sendak

Book published in 1988, movie released in 2009

When I first heard that this classic storybook was going to be made into a feature film, I was very excited, but also wondered how a simple story could be made into a 90+ minute tale.  However, the story of Max and his "wild rumpus" was wonderfully displayed in film.

 

In the story, Max is a young boy who likes to wear a wolf suit and cause mischief, ranging from chasing the dog to making forts and telling his mother that he will "eat her up."  When he does this, his mother sends him to bed without his dinner.  While confined to his room for the evening, a forest magically "grows" in his room, and he is able to sail to the land where the "wild things" live.  He becomes the king of the wild things--gigantic monsters that have terrible roars, teeth and eyes, and they spend all their days playing and having a "wild rumpus."  Eventually, though, Max gets tired of being their king and just wants to go home, so he gets back in his boat and sails home, where is dinner is waiting for him in his room--and it's still hot.

The movie definitely hits all the "high notes" of the book, like Max sailing to the place where the wild things are, as well as all of his fun and games with the wild things.  The characters in the movie look remarkably similar to those in the story--like they were taken off the paper and brought to life.  The wild things, luckily, have some depth to them--they each have their own personality and problems, as well as place in the tribe.  In the movie, Max stays a bit longer in the forest, helping the wild things create a new place to live.  Another big difference to me is the way that Max arrives at the "place where the wild things live"--his room does not exactly transform into the forest like in the book; instead, Max runs away to an ocean nearby and then sails there.  This is an okay thing with me, since I'm sure it would have been nearly impossible for the book to be completely recreated on film.

Overall, I think this book/movie combination is a great one--the movie helps the characters in the story have some life given to them, as well as taking the viewer to Max's world.  The differences are insignificant enough that they do not affect the original story, yet are enough to help it be a movie of adequate length.  I like both the book and the movie, although honestly still like the book the best.

Jerry Pinkney book: Three Little Kittens

Three Little Kittens
By Jerry Pinkney

This adaptation of the nursery rhyme, "Three Little Kittens," perfectly followed the song that I remember learning in school.  The illustrations, however, were absolutely beautiful.  I think that just about all children, as they go through the phase of liking books about animals, would love to look at the pictures in this book.  Pinkney manages to show all aspects of emotions that the kittens go through--joy, sorrow, anticipation, excitement, and accomplishment--which is, to me, a rather astonishing task.  Even though the story is not a new one, I did enjoy seeing it through Pinkney's illustrations, and I can now understand why I recently saw this exact version of the story at my school's book fair.  It is a classic story, and the illustrations make it top-notch. 

Jerry Pinkney is a Caldecott medalist, and has also received the Caldecott Honor recognition 5 times.  After reading only two of his works, I can definitely understand why.  His vision of a story, and ability to put it onto paper, is superb.  I will definitely try to read more of his works in the future, as well as looking for him as an author/illustrator if I am trying to help my students "see" a story more clearly.

Other titles by Jerry Pinkney include:
Sweethearts of Rhythm, The Lion and the Mouse, The Moon Over Star, Little Red Riding Hood, The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll, The Old African, God Bless the Child, Noah's Ark, Ain't Nobody a Stranger to Me, Little Red Hen, The Nightingale, Goin' Someplace Special, The Ugly Duckling, Uncle Remus: The Complete Tales, The Little Match Girl, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, A Patchwork Quilt, and many, many others.

Julius Lester book: Let's Talk About Race

Let's Talk About Race
by Julius Lester

This book is one of my new favorite books, especially considering the multi-ethnic school that I work in.  In this book, the Lester has a frank conversation with the reader, helping them think about the different races they see around them.  My favorite lines from the story are, "I am a story.  So are you.  So is everyone," and "Beneath everyone's skin are the same hard bones."  Both of these short statements could make a huge impact to the reader.  Honestly, I have never thought about race in this manner; granted, I always try to teach my students to treat one another fairly, but by looking at it in this way, they might be able to better see that we are all the same deep-down.

I think this would be a great book to read the first week of school, where everyone is trying to get to know one another, as well as being able to let students know that you will not tolerate racism in any manner.  In addition, you could read this book to students if the need arises at any point in the year--children might often need to be reminded that they are all the same, and not just involving race.  The book also mentions that no matter what your parents do/how much money they make, what gender you are, where you live, or where you go to school, we are still all the same beneath all of that "stuff."  The story also gives some really neat ideas to help students get a real grasp on the subject of all being the same.  Lester encourages students to feel the area beneath their eye (but making sure not to poke themselves in the eyes) and feel the bone there, and then to feel someone else's bone.  Then, he asks the reader to feel one of their other bones, and feel the same area on someone else--all in hopes of the reader recognizing that we are ALL the same underneath our clothes, our hair and our skin.

Did I mention that I now LOVE LOVE LOVE this book?

Other titles by Julius Lester include:
To Be A Slave (1969), Black Folktales (1969), The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit (1987), How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have and other tales (1989), Long Journey Home (1972), Pharaoh's Daughter: A Novel (1995), When Dad Killed Mom (2001), Cupid: A Novel (2007), and many, many others.

Laurence Yep book: The Dragon Prince

The Dragon Prince (1997)
by Laurence Yep

This story was a very interesting one, and was similar to the American version of Beauty and the Beast.  A poor farmer lived with his seven daughters (each named for their place in the family).  The youngest and prettiest daughter, Seven, worked the hardest and made the most money for the family by embroidering fine silk.  The third daughter, Three, was always jealous of Seven.  One day, a dragon jumped out of a cave and took the father, telling him that one of his daughters must agree to marry him for him to survive.  All of the daughters, one by one, passed on the offer, leaving him for dead, until Seven, who agreed to marry the dragon to save her father.  The dragon took her away to his underwater kingdom, where he was transformed into a man and was much more bearable to live with.  Seven had a great life, but missed her family.  The prince allowed her to go home and visit, but when she got there, Three was still terribly jealous of Seven's life and tried to drown her and return in her place to the prince.  However, the prince could see through the lies and went looking for Seven, who was a beauty inside and out (unlike Three).  Finally, he found Seven staying with an old woman who had rescued and taken care of her.  They all flew back to the kingdom and sent Three back to the family, who was very ashamed of her.

Of all the picture books I have read in this blog so far, this was my favorite.  I loved the illustrations, as well as the story itself.  Beauty and the Beast has always been my favorite fairy tale, so it makes sense that I would like this adaptation; however, I liked it for the differences to the common story rather than the similarities.  I loved how the story focused on the inner beauty in Seven, rather than just the physical beauty that our society seems to focus on so much these days.  In addition, I like how Seven showed character by putting her family first before herself--again, something not that common in this day and age.  I like how this is not the traditional Disney version that we are all so accustomed to, but instead a version that could teach children/readers about the Chinese values of putting family first and self last.  I also think that reading this story could open a lot of doors in regards to children wanting to learn more about China, Chinese culture and history, and possibly make them think about reading their favorite fairy tales as adaptations from other countries/cultures.

Other titles by Laurence Yep include:
The Golden Mountain Chronicles (nine books), Chinatown Mysteries (three books), City Trilogy, The Tiger's Apprentice (three books), Ribbons (four books), Later, Gator (three books), many picture books, and many, many other titles.

Yoshinko Uchida book: The Forever Christmas Tree

The Forever Christmas Tree (1963)
by Yoshinko Uchina

In this rather lengthy picture book, the main character, Takashi, lives in Sugi Village, Japan, with his mother, father and sister Kaya, as well as grumpy Mr. Toda who lives next door.  One day in December, Kaya comes home telling about a holiday she learned about at school--Christmas.  The family has never heard of Christmas before, and is very excited to try to celebrate the upcoming holiday.  The kids decide to try and decorate a Christmas tree and make all kinds of paper ornaments, but then have problems finding the perfect tree to put them on.  Takashi spots the perfect tree--but it is in Mr. Toda's yard.  On Christmas Eve, Takashi and Kaya decide to sneak over to his yard and decorate the tree without Mr. Toda's permission.  The next morning, Mr. Toda sees the tree and is overjoyed, since he has never had a Christmas tree before, as well as never being told about Christmas.  The neighborhood kids all come to see this tree, and (no longer grumpy) Mr. Toda tells Takashi that he may decorate this tree every Christmas since it is so beautiful, giving the story the name of the Forever Christmas Tree.

I enjoyed this story, and think that it would be very interesting to read to students around the holidays.  In the US, it would be nearly impossible to find a student that has not heard of Christmas, so they might find the story even more interesting.  Personally, the story was a bit long to keep the interest of a younger child if read aloud, but might be appropriate if read by an older student by themselves. 

After reading a bit more about the author, I learned that Uchida lived from 1921-1992, and was a Japanese-American writer.  During the times of WWII and Pearl Harbor, her family was put into one of the Japanese internment camps.  While there, Uchida taught school in the camp.  Eventually, she was allowed to leave to go to graduate school.  Throughout her career, Uchida published more than 30 books, including nonfiction for adults and fictional picture books.  The most interesting thing I learned about the author came from the following quote:

"I try to stress the positive aspects of life that I want children to value and cherish. I hope they can be caring human beings who don't think in terms of labels--foreigners or Asians or whatever--but think of people as human beings. If that comes across, then I've accomplished my purpose."

Other titles by Yoshinko Uchina include:
The Terrible Leak, The Dancing Kettle and other Japanese Folk Tales, New Friends for Susan, The Magic Listening Cap, The Full Circle, Sumi's Prize, In-Between Maya, Samurai of Gold Hill, The Bracelet, Best Bad Thing, Magic Purse, Two Foolish Cats, The Wise Old Woman, Tears of Autumn, and many, many others.


**Author information found from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshiko_Uchida#cite_ref-nytimes_0-0

Book to Movie: The Princess Diaries

The Princess Diaries

by Meg Cabot

Book published in 2000, movie released in 2001

Mia Thermopolis is your average girl living in New York.  She is 15, a freshman at Albert Einstein High School (a private school), flat-chested, failing algebra, a bit shy, and without a boyfriend.  Luckily, she and her best friend, Lilly, are a great pair, considering they have been friends since kindergarten.  Mia lives in a renovated warehouse with her eclectic artist mom, Helen, and cat Fat Louis.  Her parents were divorced before her birth, although she sees her dad pretty regularly.  Her life is going pretty smoothly until one day, her father comes to town and needs to meet with Mia about something important.  Her life changes forever when she finds out that he is a prince, and she is a princess!  Throughout this part of the saga, she is not at all excited about being royal--she just wants to be normal.  Before she knows it, her grandmother (Grandmere) comes to town to give her "princess lessons," she is being driven to school every day by her father's driver, and she has a full-time bodyguard.  She does not tell her friend Lilly about the "princess-ness" until it comes out through the media, so she is without the support of nearly anyone her age until the very end of the story.  After her school becomes the target of mass-media on a daily basis, the most popular boy in school asks her to the school dance, but only as a publicity stunt.  Devastated, Mia finally sees what being a true friend entails when she and Lilly resolve their friendship, as well as Mia potentially having a REAL boyfriend in the next novel (Lilly's brother, Michael). 

When I originally read this book years ago, around the time of the movie, it seemed like it was much more similar to the movie than I now realize that it is.  In the book, Mia's parents are simply divorced, and Mia is only told that she is a princess due to his lack of being able to produce another heir; in the movie, the father dies, and since there is no other heir to the throne, Mia is told by the grandmother of her royal status.  In addition, the book is set in New York; the movie is solidly set in San Francisco--providing a much different background and culture.  Mia is friends with both Lilly and Michael in the movie, but there is no mention of Tina Hakim Baba (who in the book Mia spends a great deal of time being friends with while split with Lilly).  The grandmother's character is also a bit different--in the book, she seems very unfriendly, smokes and is generally not likeable to be around; in the movie, Julie Andrews plays the strict-then-compassionate grandmother role, minus the cigarettes, hotel suite, calling of the media, and general lack of compassion for Mia that she exhibits in the movie.  Personally, I like the movie's story better.  I feel more comparable to Mia in the movie, possibly because her character is much like me in high school.  In the movie, Mia is a bit more intelligent than in the book--she is not failing Algebra, but instead P.E.  Mia's mother is dating one of her teachers, but it is not such a big deal as she makes it in the book.  I also think that watching the transformation from commoner to princess in the movie is much more interesting, as well as entertaining.  The main aspect of reading the book that I like BETTER than watching the movie is that the story continues through another 15 books by the same author, rather than just one more movie.

Book to Movie: Holes

Holes

by Louis Sachar

Book published in 1998, movie released in 2003
Newbery Medal book

Stanley Yelnats IV, an average kid, has the same luck as all the men in his family--being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  While walking down the street, a pair of baseball cleats fall from the sky on his head, and before he knows it, he is arrested for theft and sentenced to 18 months at Camp Green Lake, a camp for juvenile-delinquents.  Upon arrival at the camp, he is sent to Group D, joining X-Ray, Armpit, Zig-Zag, Twitch, and Zero (other campers’ nicknames), where they are told to show him the ropes of camp life.  Each day, campers are to dig a 5x5 foot hole, meant to “help them develop character.”  However, the holes are also for the campers to search for “interesting items,” which can help them get the day off.  The Warden is a woman in search of artifacts of Kissin’ Kate Barlow, a fugitive of the old days when Green Lake actually included a beautiful lake, as well as an entire town.  Stanley, given the nickname of Caveman, makes friends with Zero, agreeing to teach him to read in exchange for help digging his holes because he is very slow at digging.  Zero eventually runs away, although supposedly no one makes it alive because if campers try to run away, there is no water for 100 miles.  Stanley goes after Zero, helping to reverse his family curse, as well as finding the treasure hidden below the ground that the Warden has been searching for so long.  Stanley is acquitted of the charges, and Zero is allowed to leave because the Warden deleted his records—so he has no past and no criminal record!

This is one book that the movie follows to a "T."  I am not aware of any book that I have ever read that the movie was so well aligned.  This is a great book and great movie (especially due to the then-cutie Shia LaBeouf!)  For me, being able to watch a movie that is based on a book is a real treat; I can then put a face to the names of the characters that I read about in the book, as well as seeing the setting in real-life.  I am a reader that needs to be able to "see" what I am reading, so seeing movies that follow books so well is a definite plus for me.  I am also a big fan of the author, Louis Sachar, who also wrote the Wayside School stories that I LOVED as a child.  Sachar has a way of putting humor into his works so that it seems the story is being told by the character instead of the middle-aged author--definitely a great idea when trying to addict the reader!

Coretta Scott King Award: Bud, Not Buddy

Bud, Not Buddy

by Christopher Paul Curtis

2000 Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner

In this story, the reader is transported back to 1936, in the middle of the Great Depression.  Bud is our main character, who is a negro boy whose mom passed away four years ago.  Although he may be only 10 years old, he has already experienced a lifetime of hardship, grief, homelessness, hunger and sufferings--but those factors do not keep him down.  He is able to escape the mean Amoses, a foster family he is given to in the beginning of the story, but not before their son Toddy beats him to a bloody pulp and Bud lands himself a night locked in their shed, as well as face-full of hornet stings and fish-teeth scratches.  He escapes, but rather than going back to the orphanage, he camps outside the library and later in a "Hooverville," a 'cardboard jungle' in his hometown where many other homeless Negros live.  He intends to make it out west to help pick fruit and earn a living with his friend Bugs, but ends up missing jumping on the train.  Instead, all alone, he decides to walk to Grand Rapids in search of his father, the famous Herman E. Calloway who has been in countless bands travelling throughout the country.  Although his mother had never officially told him who his father was, Bud is a smart-enough kid to put together the clues he saw throughout his childhood--like the rocks with city names and dates, all the band flyers his mom had held onto (which had also made her cry), and other mementos.  He ends up hitch-hiking with Lefty Lewis, who he lies to and says that he is actually FROM Grand Rapids and ran away from, all in hopes that the man will take him back home.  He does, and Bud finally makes it to Grand Rapids.  He meets Mr. Calloway, who doubts his story but lets him stay regardless.  In the end of the story, all the details of Bud's mom's life come rushing out, confirming not that Herman is Bud's father, but instead Bud's mom's father--Bud's grandfather.

I was not greatly interested in reading this story at first; however, after getting used to Bud's dialogue and thought-process, could not put the book down.  To me, it seemed too easy for Bud to make it to Grand Rapids, find his father, and live happily-ever-after.  When the story turned and I began to realize that Herman was not Bud's father but instead his grandfather, this seemed the perfect fit.  Honestly, I had been wondering all along what Bud's mother had been thinking if she had been seeing/dating Herman enough to become pregnant, because he seemed to me like a real jerk.  However, I can definitely see him instead as a father that pushed his daughter so hard that he pushed her away--he appears to be much more of that persuasion.  I can think of people that I went to college with that had parents like that--who wanted so much out of them that the child eventually cracked under the pressure and either went insane or completely rebelled.  In this story's case, Bud's mom rebelled, moved across the state, got pregnant with a child who had no father figure, and died at a very young age before ever really living her life.  When thinking about the ending of the story, I begin to to wonder what will happen to Bud now--now that his ancestry is known, after he has been taken in by Mr. Calloway's band, and he has a full stomach and a good night's sleep.  Will they keep him around and let him join the band?  Will Bud get frustrated with his grandpa and run away like his mother did? In the times of the Great Depression, I would not put anything past Bud!  Bud, Not Buddy is definitely a story deserving of not only the Coretta Scott King award, but also of the Newbery award that it was given.  The story is a timeless one that can be read by any age level--read to one's self if old enough, or read-to if a younger child.  It teaches the reader to not only appreciate all that we have, but also the wisdom that Bud held on to--that when one door closes, another one opens, and you just have to keep your eyes open for it.

Newbery vs. Caldecott: Which is supreme?



Newbery Medal



Caldecott Medal



The Great Debate:

Which is More Worthy,
Newbery vs. Caldecott?

Background on Newbery Medal:

The Newbery Medal, named for 18th century bookseller John Newbery, is given each year to the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year by the American Library Association.  According to the ALA website, the purpose of the award is

"to encourage the original creative work in the field of books for children; to emphasize to the public that contributions to the literature for children deserve similar recognition to poetry, plays or novels; to give those librarians, who make it their life work to serve children's reading interests, an opportunity to encourage good writing in this field."

The book must be written in English (not translated), an original work, not previously published, and overall "distinguished."




Background on the Caldecott Medal:


The Caldecott Medal, named for 19th century illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott, is given each year (since 1937) to the artist who created the most distinguished picture book of the year.  Originally, only the Newbery award was given to the most distinguished children's book of the year; however, as people started noticing that the illustrators of books were not being given any recognition for their work, Frederic G. Melcher realized that a second award needed to be given to honor and encourage great illustrators--leading to the birth of the Caldecott Medal.  According to the ALA website, the honor is

"awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American Picture Book for Children published in the United States during the preceding year. The award shall go to the artist, who must be a citizen or resident of the United States, whether or not he be the author of the text. "

An interesting note: if a book is nominated for BOTH the Newbery and Caldecott, the committee decides which category it will be voted upon, so that the same title is not  considered on both ballots.


My Opinion: Which is better?
Personally, I have read some winners of both categories that are simply amazing books; on the other hand, I have read some winning books of both awards that I didn't think were that "distinguished."  If I were a writer or illustrator, I think that the higher honor would be to receive the Newbery.  For starters, I believe that more people have heard of the Newbery award than the Caldecott, so having earned it would feel a bit more superior.  In addition, children's novels take a bit more time and effort to write, especially considering that the winners in this category usually have some historical background and/or basis, meaning that they cannot be solely from the imagination of the writer.  However, looking at it from the other side, being given the Caldecott award would be pretty amazing--knowing that your illustrations, your pictures, your artwork really IS good--distinguished, to be correct.  I realize that I have no idea how much time that illustrators put into their work--perhaps just as much as the writers of Newbery winners.  Therefore, if I were in the business of writing/illustrating, EITHER award would be absolutely fantastic to be given, as well as to know that the committe chose MY work out of everything else published in that year.




Background info:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/aboutnewbery/aboutnewbery.cfm
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/aboutcaldecott/aboutcaldecott.cfm

Newbery Honor: Princess Academy

Princess Academy
by Shannon Hale

2006 Newbery Honor Book

This book took a while for me to get into, but I knew that since it was supposed to be about a princess, I would eventually get into it.  The story focuses on the life of Miri, a mountain girl growing up on Mount Eskel, a territory of Danland.  The way that the author described the people that Miri lived with reminded me much of how some people see those from Eastern Kentucky--uneducated, hard-working, poor, and basically ignorant due to lack of formal education.  The people of this area all help to mine linder, a white stone resembling marble and known throughout the kingdom for its beauty and strength.  Miri, however, is too small to help unlike her older sister Marda, so she feels like she doesn't belong.  One day, a messenger from the king is sent to the village to announce that the prince is to be married to someone from the area, and that all girls age 12-17 will attend a Princess Academy to learn to read, write, and conduct themselves like a princess.  This proclamation is met with much disagreement from the parents of the girls, since they normally help in the mines.  However, all the girls in the age range are forced to attend the academy taught by Tutor Olana: a very strict, intelligent woman who formerly tutored children of the court.  To teach the girls, she uses various punishments like beatings of hands for speaking out, time-outs in the closet (where a rat lives), taking away of meals, and eventually she even takes away the privilege of going home for the rest day (Sunday).  Miri tries to stand up for the girls on multiple occasions, but only ends up getting herself, as well as the other girls, in trouble.  At the end of the year, the prince will come to the academy for a grand ball, where he will choose his bride--a competition that every girl wants to win.  Miri struggles throughout the book with herself, trying to be the best in the class, yet unsure if she even WANTS to be the prince's bride.  She befriends a few classmates along the way, especially Britta and Esa, which help her keep some sanity, and eventually saves the day on more than one occasion.  In the end, while still trying to figure out who/what she wants to become, she plays an integral part in saving all the girls--and ends up finding out how she truly wants to spend her life.

I really liked how this book focused on a small village and the people living there, with a relatively small set of characters.  This would make it much easier for a student to read and keep up with, especially since the character names are somewhat odd--Marda, Esa, Britta, Bena, Peder, Liana, etc.  However, I really liked how much students today could potentially identify with Miri--how she was a bit of an outcast, yet through personality and by trying so hard academically, she turned into the girl that everyone wanted to be--the girl that everyone thought the prince would choose.  She also learned a lot about herself, going from being a "child" in the beginning to a young woman at the end of the story.  Not many of the other characters grew as much as Miri did, who I think is a great example for readers to identify with.  Although I have not read any other books by the author, I would imagine that they read along the same difficulty level (which, at 314 pages might be a bit much for some readers), but the pages flew by as the story climaxed.  The author definitely has a way with words, enabling her to transport you to the mountains where Miri and her family lived without confusing the reader.

I would definitely recommend this book to be read by someone wanting to be transported to another place and time, and someone who might "beat to their own drummer"--since Miri is for sure a one-of-a-kind girl.

Newbery Award: The Higher Power of Lucky

The Higher Power of Lucky
by  Susan Patron, illustrated by Matt Phelan

2007 Newbery Medal Winner

This was a very interesting book about a little orphan girl named Lucky.  Her mom was killed by a downed power line, and her father “didn’t like children,” so her somewhat stepmother became her “Guardian” as Lucky referred to her.  Throughout the story, Lucky is worried about Brigette, her “Guardian,” not liking her and wanting to go back to her home in France.  Her main friends, Lincoln (a little boy obsessed with tying knots over and over) and Miles (a kindergartner that loves the book “Are You My Mother?” and to make strange sounds) keep her mind on other things, like school and her job cleaning up the Found Object Wind Chime Museum and Visitor Center, otherwise known for hosting “anonymous” meetings.  However, one day, Lucky thinks that Brigette is going to leave her behind and go back to France when she finds a suitcase of legal papers and her passport.  Lucky decides to run away in search of her “higher power,” and does so after seeing “signs” that mean she should.  During a massive dust storm, she decides to run away.  She comes across many obstacles along the way, including finding Miles on the road after he stepped on something sharp and got lost.  The two take shelter in an abandoned mine, along with Lucky’s dog HMS Beagle, and are eventually found by Lincoln and, shortly thereafter, the rest of the town.  In the end, Brigette explains to Lucky that she was going to legally adopt her and open a café, and was not going to leave Lucky behind.

At first, I was horrified when I began to read about Lucky running away.  To me, Lucky seems like many 4th or 5th grade students I have met, and my thought process was basically along the lines of this: "If students see that this book won awards and the main character RAN AWAY, how likely are they to jump to conclusions when life gets hard and to do the same?"  I work in a school that is very transient, and I would not put it past some of these kids to run away when things are not easy.  However, the story worked out nicely, and hopefully if students read this story they will realize that they, like Lucky, might misunderstand adults and their intentions sometimes, and that running away is NEVER the right answer.

Although the story did scare me a bit, I did like the language that it was told in--very reader-friendly for upper elementary students.  It was a short read as well, which is always good when trying to keep the attention span of this age group. 

Caldecott Honor: What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?

What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?
by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page


2004 Caldecott Honor Book

This is a perfect book to be read by children who are interested in animals and their bodily adaptations, as well as a colorful and neatly-illustrated book to keep the interest of young children.  Personally, I could not turn the pages and read quickly enough, because I wanted to know what the use was for all the tails, eyes, ears, mouths, noses and feet, as well as what animal they belonged to.  This story is definitely not fiction as most of the children's books that I read are, but instead greatly informative and suspenseful.  (I never would have thought of a informative picture-book as being suspenseful until I read this one!) 

In a classroom setting, I would love to use this book to help children work on critical-thinking skills.  When looking at the page reading, "What would you do with ears like these?" it would provide many opportunities for children to try and guess the animal, as well as guessing the use of the body part.  Although I use the word "guess," it would be a better time to help children look at what they see in a critical way, and think their ideas through before making a hypothesis; however, it is nonetheless a great opportunity to get kids thinking about what they see!  I have read "guessing books" before to children, but never one illustrated so well and with as "kid-friendly" text as this one; I especially love the information on the skunk's tail, which is used to "warn that a stinky spray is on the way," and a chameleon's eyes are used to "look two ways at once."

Caldecott Honor Book: Rosa

Rosa

by Nikki Giovanni, illustrated by Bryan Collier

2006 Caldecott Honor Book

The images in this work were very interesting--although they were not completely realistic-looking, they were drawn the way that I imagine life in the 1950s, with lots of earth-tone colors and straight lines.  The story within the pictures, of Rosa Parks and how she stood up for colored people by refusing to give up her seat on the bus in 1955, is a great one for students of all ages to read.  For young students, it would be a great way to introduce the topic of racial equality; for older students, it could be a springboard for debate on what Parks should have done.  Either way, this would be a great story to read when learning about Black History Month, as well as Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and birthday.  While working in kindergarten for the past 3 years, I have read many stories that attempt to bring racial inequality to life, and I must say that this story might be the best for that.  When young students read this, they will identify with the "mom" role of Parks; in the school that I currently work at, they will possibly identify with riding the bus.  However, I think that the message will affect them, and they will be able to understand what Parks went through.

I am reluctant to admit how unfamiliar I was with the story of Rosa Parks until reading this book.  Granted, I knew she lived during the civil rights movement, as well as that she was someone who stood up to racial injustice, and I might have remembered that a bus was involved in her story; however, after reading this book, I would like to read more about Parks and the life she lived, both before and after this life-changing event.  As I look at my multi-ethnic classroom and how all the children get along so well, it is hard to imagine living in a world where this would have not been possible.  Keeping that in mind, I would love to try and help them realize just how lucky they really are.

Caldecott Award: The Lion and the Mouse

The Lion and the Mouse

by Jerry Pinkney

2010 Caldecott Award Winning Book

I can definitely understand now why this book earned the Caldecott award, since the images/illustrations were absolutely stunning.  I am not sure that I have ever seen drawn-pictures so realistic and detailed.  I also thought that the lack of words, other than "grrr," "squeak," and "putt" was very appropriate, and made the reader focus even more on the actions taking place on the page. 

After reading the Artist's Note at the end, I realized that the author has adapted other Aesop's Fables into his works of art, which are all magnificent.  Pinkney should definitely be considered one of this generation's greatest illustrators, especially in terms of realistic and detailed work. 

From reading this book, I think it could influence students of all ages to tell a story simply through pictures.  As elementary teachers, we are constantly focused on getting students to read and write, as well as providing details in their writing; however, I think a neat assignment would be for older students to read the story and then  to "write" their own story through only pictures, and then to share their story with a peer.  It is amazing what different students will see in the same work--the author's original purpose might not be what the reader feels it is about.  Again, this is an excellent work of art, and should be read by all age levels.

Caldecott Honor: Coming On Home Soon

Coming On Home Soon
by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

2005 Caldecott Honor Book

In this story of a young African American girl who lives with her grandmother while her mom is away trying to make money, the illustrations are simply amazing.  The pictures tell the story all by themselves, and the words simply flow to give the story a bit more interest.  I loved watching how the little kitten grew throughout the story, showing the passage of time and how the little girl, Ada Ruth, needed something to help her keep her mind off missing her mother.  While reading the story, I was half-afraid that the only word they would ever hear from the mother was of her death, since railroad jobs can be dangerous--especially for a woman during those times.  However, I was greatly relieved when the mother sent word back home that she was "coming on home soon." 

This story, although set in wartime many, many decades ago, seems very fitting to be read by a young child today, since we are in war times again.  I think this book might be somewhat uplifting for a child of a soldier currently serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, giving them hope that their loved one would be "coming on home soon."  I also identified with it since it is set in the winter months--a dark, cold and lonely time of year that we are experiencing right now.  With all the snow we have had in the last month or so, it is hard NOT to put yourself in the story when they live in an area surrounded by snow.  Even though this may be trivial, it is a simple observation that a young child might pick up on to help them identify with the characters in the story, as well as opening up a conversation about the other messages presented in this beautifully written (although with sparse words), beautifully illustrated story.

Caldecott Honor: CLICK, CLACK, Moo Cows that Type

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type

by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin

2001 Caldecott Honor Book

I dearly LOVE this story, and love to share it with my kindergarten-age students.  It is a relatively simple story, set on a farm where Farmer Brown begins to receive demands from first his cows, then chickens and eventually the ducks!  This story is one that must be read aloud to get the full effect.  When my younger brother was little, I remember this being one of his most requested stories at bedtime.  Many nights, I would be working on my homework and through the wall would hear my mom reading this story to him.  I knew the story almost as well as he did, and would often go and sit on the bed with them for the reading.

The ending of the story leaves the tale wide-open for the next in the series, Click Clack QUACK where the ducks also go on strike.  It is a cute story as well, but I will always be a bigger fan of the original.  If this book was to be used in the classroom, it could open a discussion of how to "negotiate," as well as opening curiosity to many young students as to, "What is a typewriter?" 

Although this may not be the most academic book to read with young students, it is definately a fun one to read to an individual or to a group!