The Misfits, by James Howe

This was awesome - it took me right back to my own awkward days of middle-school existence. Howe has a way with words that makes it seem like the reader is right there among the characters. Perhaps the reader IS the fifth member of the Gang of Five? Just a thought. At first the language bothered me, "goes" rather than "said" and the word "like" in like almost like every like sentence, but as I read on I began to think of the audience this book speaks to, and I realized - this language is just like the language that these characters would use. A middle-school or high-school-aged individual would be able to really relate to the dialogue in the book.

I think that this book has the power to speak directly to the prejudices and stereotypes that are reflected in schools, not only among students - but among teachers as well. If you have ever been present in the "teacher's lounge" you know what I'm talking about. In the book we see the transformation that the teacher, Ms. Wyman makes: from a closed-minded "from the books" teacher, into one who is accepting and supportive of the diverse ideas of her students. She decides to make a conscious effort to change herself, which leads to the rise of the No-Name Party and the eventual change of the entire school body.

Another powerful message the book holds, is the power of "free speech" - being able to vocalize what you know is right can make all the difference. My sisters are currently in high-school (important to add - at a very conservative, rural high-school), and as part of their Freshman English class, the entire class now reads the book The Misfits, and orchestrate a "No-Name Campaign" of their own. The book had a massive impact on them, I never realize where their newly found congressional motivation stemmed from until NOW when I read the book for myself. It can spark an interest in democratic politics, and can create a "call for action" among students. This is just what we need! We need students who are willing to speak-up for themselves, and what they KNOW can help create change within the school.

As far as controversy is concerned, the book portrays themes of adolescent hormones, homosexuality, democratic-activism, and non-conformist thinking. Um, the last I checked all of these things are "part of middle-school" and "creating your identity." I don't think that it is fair that this (or any book really) has been labeled as "controversial" because controversy is constructed - it's ambiguous.

P.S. On the news a couple days ago, I saw that - according to the tabulation of students who reported being bullied, or bullying others, on a survey conducted in accordance with Iowa's anti-bullying bill - "bullying" has decreased from 23% of students to 13%. It would be interesting to know when the original data was collected. Could it be a reflection of Howe's book being used in high-schools, or an increased awareness of the problem? Good news anyway, for those of us who are ready for a change on the issue.

Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit, by Joel Chandler Harris

I'll just come right out and say it, the controversy surrounding this classic piece of American literature is racism. But when making assumptions like this, one must keep in mind the era that these stories were written and published, the experiences of the author, and the message the book is may be trying to spread.

First, Harris wrote the Uncle Remus stories in the early twentieth century, during the apex of segregation and slavery in the South. The story is told and narrated in the accurate African-American Southern dialect of the time, and the "racial slurs" used in the story did not become "slurs" until we socialized them as such.

Second, Harris, although White, was extremely interested in African-American folklore and story-telling. He worked on a plantation and had the opportunity to socialize, listen, and learn from the African-American slaves that also worked there.

Third, the themes represented within the community of animals have been viewed as similar to that of the early American plantation. I do not feel that the message was meant to be racist when Harris created the Uncle Remus characters, but rather a refection of what was going on in the South at the time.

My dad read this book to me when I was very little and I did not realize that it had any sort of "negative" racial message at all, in fact I enjoyed hearing my dad read with the southern accent, it was engaging and different. It wasn't until I got a bit older (seventh grade maybe) and I found the book on the bookshelf, remembering my fondness of it, that I opened it up and was appalled by the racial slurs and undertones. I couldn't believe that this had been among my favorites to hear as a child. This is interesting to think about: as we develop the ability to decide "what is racist" for ourselves, we also develop the ability to decide "whether we agree with it."

The House That Crack Built, by Clark Taylor

Whew! That was an oddity of book - I feel a little unsettled, I NEVER thought I would be reading a children's book about crack. Taylor took the nursery rhyme, "The House that Jack Built," and morphed it to encompass the story of how a crack house tore down an entire community. The abstract people make them seem In the end there is hope for CHANGE.

Controversial and "unfamiliar" maybe, but the truth of the matter is, that in many schools around the country where there is an overwhelming population of children who are directly impacted by drug use/abuse, whether it be within their peer group, their families, or their community. No matter how much we may wish to pass off children as "innocents" their lives are complex and difficult too. Books like these help children understand that they are not alone.

This book is "recommended" for ages 4-8. Where this book may seem appropriate for some school audiences, I do not see how it would ever be appropriate to read in a conservative, rural elementary school, like that which I attended as a child. I imagine the uproar from parents would likely lead to a teacher's termination - however justified the reading may have seemed. With a book like this, you need to pick-and choose your audience, as introducing a classroom of kindergartners to the perils of crack-cocaine addiction may not be the best of approaches in a "home-town" school-setting.

In the Night Kitchen, by Mauice Sendak

This is another wonderful, imaginative book by Sendak. The way Sendak manipulates the story and illustrations to reflect a young child's "experiences in the night kitchen," is dream-like and surreal - I don't know if I was fully able to experience the story because of my lack of "a-child's-imagination."

I just want to say one thing about the controversy surrounding this book, "when WE relay our own negative feelings and negative connotations of 'private parts,' genders, and sexuality to children, we are only instilling them with our own interpretations, and we are depriving them of the ability to make important decisions on their own." I guess what I'm trying to say, is that, in a child's mind, there is nothing wrong with this book until we tell them there is. Anyhow, from a literal perspective, the boy needed to take his clothes off to get into the cake batter, it makes perfect sense.

Okay, one more thing . . . Everyone is so caught up in the nakedness, the religious intonation has been missed, HA! What's up with that?

Where the Wild Things Are, by Mauice Sendak

Oh, memories . . . this book was a favorite during my childhood. I remember when my dad would scare me with his bestial dramatic re-enactment of the wild rumpus!! He would hold the book open above his head, flipping slowly through each wordless page, while jumping around crazily, and grunting, making beat-box noises to the rhythm of the rumpus. Hilarious, I wonder if he remembers as well as I do?

I remember feeling sad for Max (the boy in the story) when he sent to bed for casuing "mischief of one kind . . . or another." The illustration of Max in his wolf suit holding a fork to "stab" his pet dog, and the shadow of this action reflected on the wall of the room, is still vivid in my memories of the book. I remember thinking, "Max is a bad boy!"

Even as a child I was able to recognize that Max was a "disturbed child," but was he really? Or is this how children are? Imaginative play is REAL and it is a part of their everyday lives. Reflecting the violence of the world in imaginative play, is part of developing an understanding of the world. For instance, when I got angry I remember going to my "deer stand" (below the picnic table) and gazing through the imaginary scope of my rifle to aim and kill the songbirds at my mom's bird feeder on the back porch. It really made her furious, but it was my way of using imaginative play to reflect "violent" feelings and emotions.

When these themes (such as Max pointing the fork downward to "stab" his dog) become personified in children's literature, it is not surprising that some will feel as if the book was published as a personal assault or something. Despite their opposition of good thought provoking literature, and their attempts to "ban" such "controversial" themes in children's literature, these conservatives cannot argue with the fact that children love the controversy! Books with "controversial" characters, topics, and themes are often times very relatable and intriguing for them - there's no getting away.

One last thought: the "Where the Wild Things Are" movie made think the about the book in a completely different way. I'm not sure if I was satisfied, it seems like the movie had the potential to be "exciting" and "captivating" but really it just depressed me. For all of these years I had thought of Max as a free spirit, but I came to find out (though the movie) that Max was a deeply depressed, lonely, and socially unadjusted child.

Hiroshima, No Pika, by Toshi Maruki

Imagine what it would be like to come to consciousness (or die) amidst the destruction and wreckage that is documented in the above photograph . . . This is on of many aerial photographs taken of Hiroshima after the United States government decided that, to drop an atomic bomb on the city, was the only way to end WWII.


This book has been a topic of debate among "war zealots" since the book was published in America. The debate surrounds the story that is told through the perspective of a seven-year Japanese girl living in Hiroshima on the day that the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb on the unsuspecting city of civilians. The imagery created through the text is reflected in the abstracted images of the dead and suffering women, men, and children who have been burned and charred by the "flash." Some of the images of humans are unclothed (see the cover illustration), likely because their clothing has turned to ash from the immense heat of the atomic bomb. The story is rampant with the somber emotions and feelings of loss and destruction, it is unlike any children's picture book I have ever read. This book opened my eyes to the "other side," and that perhaps, was the authors very intention.

The opposition feels that, the story is one-sided and fails to mention other important aspects of WWII, where the Japanese are the primary protagonists in the violence that occurred during the was.

I respect the opinions of others who may feel that the story is an "inaccurate" portrayal of WWII for American children, however I HAVE TO politely disagree with this closed-minded way of thinking. This is why: American children, and children around the world, are deprived of the option to decide (USING MULTIPLE VANTAGE POINTS) how to interpret historical or cultural events and the associated emotions for themselves. I feel the power of analysis and interpretation is an essential aspect of learning to think for oneself. When people say things like, "this book is too graphic and depressing for children," or "this book sends an anti-American message," they are only harboring resentment, anger, and reinforcing their own insecurities about the treachery that occurred on that day in our history. They need to get over it, there are plenty of books that tell the story from a strictly American perspective. Why is it that our culture is so egotistic that we are uncomfortable showing empathy for "others" - "others" that have been affected and impacted by OUR own acts of violence?

I'm sure many will disagree with the viewpoints I presented in this interpretation - "WHATEVER!" I FIRMLY BELIEVE, that If we limit to our children to reading stories that are always told through the American nationalist perspective - as many of them are, especially in the public school system - then we are limiting their ability to develop into open-minded,INDIVIDUAL who are able to develop unique interpretations of what they read based on all viewpoints and perspectives.

The Giver, by Lois Lowry

Oh, I never knew what a powerful message this book held until NOW! I read the book in elementary school (sixth grade) and honestly I couldn't remember any of it. It was an entirely new experience.

What a grim existence Jonas must have lead, knowing that he had all of the feelings, memories, and emotions of "The Past," and at the same time that he could not share any of it because he was among a community of ignorance - conformed-against-their-will "NON-THINKERS!" As the Giver told Jonas, "They know nothing." And it was true.

"Ignorance?" Isn't it our job as teachers to "ward off ignorance?" To inform, educate, and enlighten? I think that this book speaks directly to teachers - and perhaps even more so than it does to students - because it reiterates the power of education and acquisition of knowledge as a deterrent against "ignorance."

This novel is wonderfully well written, and kept me thinking the entire way through. It made me realize that no matter how hopelessly desperate it may seem to work as an agent of change (whether in a closed-minded, conformist, even cult-like community as in Lowry's novel, the classroom, the district, school board, or whatever...), there's always hope if you are willing to sacrifice enough of yourself for the better of the group. Take risks, learn, gain wisdom, don't stagnate, and NEVER resort to SAMENESS.

The Mysterious Giant of Barletta: An Italian Folktale adapted & illustrated by Tomie de Poala

This is a captivating story about the the huge statue of a Mysterious Giant who stands in front of a Church in the little Italian town of Barletta. The people of Barletta interact with the Mysterious Giant everyday, but an oldest one in all of Barletta, Zia Concetta, has a special bond with the statue. She greets him in the morning and at night Zia Concetta would call, "...good night, Big One."

When an army of a thousand men threatens to destroy the little town, Zia Concetta asks the Giant to step down off the pedestal and frighten the army away. The oldest woman and the Giant come up with a plan to save the village which includes an enormous onion, hiding the townspeople, and having faith in the Mysterious Giant. Their plan to trick the army is rather clever, I didn't see it coming - I would imagine that children would find it hilarious!

We can see some of de Paola's favorite themes at work in this book: Self image ("They call me names, like 'tiny' and 'weakling'" as in Oliver Button is a Sissy), Magic (as in many de Paola books), Italy, the old woman (as in Strega Nona and others), Catholicism, and others that I am just not thinking about right now... The illustrations are rich as usual. The interesting use of color capture the mood and feelings represented in the folktale.

The Great Divide, by Dayle Ann Dodds & illustrated by Tracy Mitchell

This book uses the cross-country race: The Great Divide (apparently is the tenth toughest race in the world) which is a grueling trek through parts of Canada, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. Dodds uses the race to talk about math. You might be thinking, "what! that's whack!" But I assure you , THE BOOK IS RAD.

Dodds tells a story of the race and its racers... At the starting line there are eighty racers on bikes ready to win. The bikers travel through the treacherous terrain, and keep being divided in half due to unfortold circumstances; a canyon, popped tires, then over a river, galloping on horses, flying through the sky and even more obstacles after that...

This is an interesting book that could be used to spark a discussion about division with children. The rhymes are rhythmic and keep the flow of the story exciting and engaging. The illustrations, done in acrylic on modeling paste, take advantage of the primary colors and entice the reader to stop and look. When looking closely into the illustrations, one can see some really cool visual involvement opportunities at play. Each illustration corresponds with the STORYLINE and the NUMBERS on the page, it takes some counting and searching, but it's a really neat feature in this particular book, and can be fun for kids who like counting and math. The way the author and illustrator work together to do interesting things with the text is also something to take note of in this children's book.

Goody O'Grumpity, By Carol Ryrie Brink & illusrtated by Ashley Wolff

A link to the past. This short children's book is a wonderful example of how poetry can be used as the basis for a story. Paired with the earthy, realistic, hand-colored linoleum prints by Wolff, Carol Ryrie Brink's poem (written in 1937) comes to life. Wolff uses the "clues" in the poem and expands them into well thought-out interpretive illustrations. This book would be really fun to read with kindergartners, probably right before snack :) hee hee!

The poem and illustrations tell about a Pilgrim, Goody (from Goodwife), who collects all the ingredients for a delicious spice cake from her farm. Of course, the smell of the spices travel all through the land, there is an illustration of the Indians in a nearby village sniffing the lingering smell of Goody's Cake. All of the children in the settlement are drawn to her home by the savory smells of spice. And in the end,
"Goody took a great knife
and cut each a slice."
Mmmm, makes me hungry! There is even a seventeenth century spice cake recipe in the back of the book. Perhaps I will have a piece of Goody O'Grumpity's cake...

This may be an old fashioned story, but it's one we can ALL relate to! Yum!

The Knight and the Dragon, by Tomie de Paola

This is another fun book by de Paola. The fantasy-like tale tells a story about a Knight who has never fought a Dragon, and a Dragon who has never fought a Knight. They each must learn the intricacies of fighting their opponent, but when the battle ensues... things do not go as planned and in the end the reader is taken by complete surprise!

As usual, the illustrations are unique and interesting. They tell much of the story on their own, as there are very few words in the book. In fact, there are eighteen pages in this book without any words. Most of the wordless pages illustrate the "fight" between the characters, and the hilarity that ensues following the big defeat.

The book allows the reader to use the imagination as a tool to develop a unique interpretation of the story - SUPER COOL!

Twister, by Darleen Bailey Beard & illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

This is an exciting, suspenseful picture book about a tornado. The author retells her memory of braving the storm with her younger brother. The reader is forced to the edge of their seat as the two children are forced to wait in the dark cellar while their mother is outside trying to help a neighbor find shelter. In the end the reader is reassured when everyone is okay, but the damage that the tornado produces adds a whole new level of excitement.

The illustrator captures the moods and feelings of the characters and events perfectly. The beautiful muted paintings span both pages, and are filled with emotion, setting the mood for the storm. The colors are vivid and tell a story in and of themselves.

The imagery created by the author is also lovely, For instance, after the storm when the children come out of the cellar the author writes, "Hailstones sparkle like glittering diamonds and crunch under our shoes." What a strong visualization!

I'm not going to pretend like it didn't happen: I cried at the end of this book. I felt for Mama and the destruction that took place... In the end she cries. Is she thankful that everyone is okay? Is she concerned about how the damage will be repaired? Or is she just relieved that it is all over? I just don't know. At any rate, the emotion in this book seems very real.

The Legend of Hong Kil Dong: The Robin Hood of Korea, by Anne Sibley O'Brien

Gasp! This graphic novel was amazing. It took some strategy to get used to reading this style of writing, but once I got comfortable with it, I enjoyed everything about it. It took me back in time to 17th century Korea. I am not sure I would recommend this book for children younger than twelve - there are many controversial issues and themes presented throughout the story and the reading is actually pretty difficult (despite it's picture book appearance). But, for older readers, especially those interested in learning about other cultures and legends, this is a highly recommended graphic novel.

The graphic novel based on a traditional Korean folktale, tells a story about the "illegitimate" second-born son (Hong Kil Dong) of a powerful minister. Hong Kil Dong leaves his father's estate when he realizes he will never be able to "claim his father" or become a man. He discovers magical powers inside himself, and becomes an influential leader among peasants who steal from the corrupt and spread the stolen wealth among the poor.

The art is wonderful, and seems to have been researched thoroughly, as it is reminiscent of what I would imagine the setting of seventeenth century Korea to be like. The picture boxes seem overwhelming at first because there's so much going on. Drawings, speech bubbles, and text boxes everywhere! But, the reader is quickly finding themselves reading everything they can find, the story is so engaging. The author includes some very interesting information in the final pages of the book: about the author, sources, translations, traditional Korean clothing/hairstyle/accessory key, and the 10 symbols of longevity. BONUS!

Time passes in the story, and the author uses wonderful descriptive text to describe it, for instance: "As the grain ripened in the fields..." "Under the brilliant blue skies of autumn..." "As the last winds of winter chilled the air..." The language paints a rich image. The story is written beautifully. The author does something "strange" along the sides of the pages. There is a little symbol made up of a series of lines of varied lengths, following the symbol it will say something like "The creative/active: power of a leader awakens higher nature of men" . . . I don't know what it means, I think it follows the story, but it's another example of an interesting feature in this graphic novel/Korean folktale.

Tom, by Tomie de Paola

This book tells the story of a boy, Tommy and his grandfather Tom. Tommy and Tom cause all kinds of mischief, and the reader gets the feeling that perhaps Tom is not the best influence on little Tommy. Tom owns a butcher shop and gives his grandson a two chicken feet and teaches him how to "pull the tendons" to make them move. Tommy precedes to use the chicken feet as weapons of terror as he scares his classmates and teachers.

Of course I loved the book, it was hilarious! I was almost rolling in laughter. Tom reminds me of my own grandpa, always getting me into trouble with his silly tricks and games - for some reason we keep going back for more (Tommy and I do, anyway)...

I can see how kids would really love this story about having fun with grandpa. The content may be a little outdated - corncob pipes, the butcher shop, chopping off chicken heads and feet with a cleaver, coal furnaces - and perhaps an illustration of Tom chopping off chicken heads isn't the most loving of Grandfather images. But nevertheless, it's awesome!

You just don't seem to see as many recently published books as rich as this anymore...but perhaps I'm old fashioned. Have we lowered our standards to Spiderman and Bratz? In my opinion, a little violence in a children's book is WAY better than the dense, commercialized junk that's being mass produced and is filling up libraries everywhere. GO TOM!

Skim, words by Mariko Tamaki & drawings by Jillian Tamaki

Whew! "Emo" . . .

Not what I expected. This book is recommended for ages 14 and up, and I can DEFINITELY see why. This book is not appropriate for children. The book is riddled with harsh language and imagery, which honestly kept the book pretty exciting for me (well, probably would for a kid too, but not necessarily sending a "good" message). This may be a good book for an adolescent-aged individual, someone who is going through that awkward stage of rebellion. Perhaps seeing the strangeness of it all outside of yourself (through reading about Skim's life or others) is just what we need to thwart the magnetic temptations of adolescence...

The main character, Skim (Kim), considers herself a "gothic," she is a depressed high school student who smokes, practices witchcraft, and is obsessed with thoughts of suicide, love, death, isolation, conflicts of identity, and sexual confusion. All of these controversial topics heighten the "danger" aspect of this realistic fiction novel. The rest of Skim's story needs to be left up to reader to discover. It is a really good dramatic story of the experiences of a teenage girl. READ IT!!! YOU WILL BE INTRIGUED . . .

The layout of the book is really neat too! There are diary entries from Skim throughout the book which strengthen the deep feelings felt by the reader as they read about Skim. The art is amazing. I especially enjoyed the way the author and illustrator synchronized their work so well, this is one of the "smoothest-flowing" graphic novels in terms of readability, that I have ever read.

The Hunter and the Animals, by Tomie de Paola

OH, de Paola, if only you were my age! I am in love with his books. The illustrations, and the stories told by the art are so vivid and engaging.

This book is a wordless picture book, The story begins on the title page showing a beautifully odd artistic interpretation of a forest full of animals: fox, deer, squirrels, rabbits, birds, beavers and others. The colors are earthy and natural. A few pages into the story, we are introduced to a hunter who journeys into the forest with a gun. The reader is led to believe that he will shoot and kill an animal, but alas, the hunter is outsmarted by the animal's cunning acts of deception and trickery. In the end the animals help the hunter to open his heart and go through an unlikely transformation.

This is a great book to use with children who enjoy storytelling and creating their own meaning from illustrations. However, the fact that the hunter carries a gun may be seen as a refection of violence in a "public school setting," even though in the end the story tell us how important it is to respect the animals (or perhaps: do unto others as you would want them to do unto you). In fact, this book could be seen as a work to reach out to children to further animal rights awareness.

The author provides a brief outline in the form of a bullet-point list on the inside of the dust jacket, to provide a little insight into his intent for the story, and what the illustrations are meant to reflect. This feature is helpful for the less imaginative of us who want to know, "what story was the author trying to tell?" But really, there is so much more that can be found in these illustrations than what the author lets on. DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED!

Piper Reed: Navy Brat, by Kimberly Holt & illustrated by Christine Davenier

This is a good chapter book for early readers. Children who have just moved or are part of a military family would really be able to relate to the story. The book is a little but long (160 pages) but the simple text is meant for younger readers. The main character is 9, so I would say kids older than this would most likely think it was too immature for them.

The book tells a humorous story of a girl named Piper and her family. Her mother is a painter and her father is in the Navy, so the family is always traveling from place to place. Piper has to learn to adjust to a new place and finds a lot of adventure along the way.

The story talks about a lot of things that kids can relate to and seems to be very true to life - bossy older siblings, whiny younger siblings, disagreeing with parents, long car rides, meeting new friends, among some. I really enjoyed the book, as I read, I noticed that I was getting anxious to know what was coming next. Holt's descriptive writing style definitely pulls in the reader, and gets them involved in the text. The illustrations add a little bit to the story, and seem to match up with Piper's personality and what's happening in the story.

The Market Square Dog, by James Harriet & illustrated by Ruth Brown

This story is so touching. I can see how kids would really enjoy it, it sparks emotions and Harriet is able to create a bond with the reader/listener right off the bat. It is written in a simple and straightforward manner, which makes it easy for a child to understand and follow the progression of the story.

It tells the story of a frightened stray dog that lives on the Market Square, the people of the market are curious about the little dog, but the dog is too frightened to get near anyone. The dog is lonely and sad as it begs patrons of the market for a biscuit. One day the dog is injured with a broken leg and a veterinarian notices that the dog is in a lot of pain. Finally the dog realizes his need for a human companion, and the vet and his wife take the dog home to repair the dog's broken leg. When the dog is well, it goes back to the market until finally it is "arrested" by the police officer who was never before able to get close enough to the dog. In the end the dog goes home with the policeman, and we see the two daughters of the officer playing happily with the Market Square dog.

The dog was gentle all along, the people of the market just needed to give him a chance to prove it. I almost cried while reading this book, I just wanted someone to help the dog so badly!

The illustrations are very beautiful as well. They are realistic, detailed, and classic illustrations that are perfect for the mood of the story. I would recommend reading this in a lower elementary classroom to bring up the importance of being compassion.

Goop Tales: Alphabetically Told, by Gelett Burgess

Above is a page of Burgess' book, Goops and How to be Them, introducing the Goops.

Well, now that I have explained my infatuation with the stories of the Goops, I might as well blog about a Goop book. I never knew how many children's books Gelett Burgess had published. The one I read in my imaginary schoolhouse called Goops and How to be Them, was published in 1900. It is a collection of poems about misbehaving children. It is classified as a manual on manners and is supposed to teach kids manners using poems and small drawings about the horrible Goops as examples of BAD BEHAVIOR.

This "new" book (not really new, but new to me - published 1905) about the Goops, is even more similar to Ashman's M is for Mischief than the other book that initially sparked my curiosity in this whole thing. I wonder if Goop Tales was an inspiration for Ashman's humorous manners book??

Goop Tales is an alphabetical collection of poems about poor mannered children, the beginning letters of their names and behaviors correspond to a letter of the alphabet.

The book is so funny! I think that, even though the book is more than one hundred years old, the content and messages are still relevant and can be humorous as well! I'm definitely going to keep these on the shelf and continue my search for more of Burgess' children's books.

M is for Mischief: An A to Z of Naughty Children, by Linda Ashman & illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

I loved this book! It's hilarious! I remember reading this old fashioned book called Goops: and How to Be Them by Gelett Burgess when I was really little. I pretended I was in a one room schoolhouse, I read the old primer and other "old-looking" books my dad kept in his office, perhaps some I should not have read... Anyway, reading this book by Ashman took my right back to my Goop reading days in the "schoolhouse." The rhyming language, and extraordinary use of vocabulary is reminiscent to that of Burgess, and I LOVE IT.

This book is a collection a rhyming poems about naughty children. Each poem uses as many words in each short poem as possible using the child's name as the foundation. For instance, my favorite is the letter J -
"Joking Jackson
How that joker, Jackson, joshes:
Hiding jacks in Joe's golashes; ..."

Ha! It's so great! Plus, I suppose if you are brave enough to use this in a classroom setting, it could be a book full of mini-lessons on behavior. However, teacher be ware: the author provides a WARNING on the cover: "This book contains obnoxious children. Read at your own risk!"

The illustrations are really neat too, using all kinds of interesting design elements. For instance, there are pen drawings, water color, digital images, photography, and others. Did I say that I love this book?

Alphabet Mystery, by Audrey Wood & illustrated by Bruce Wood

This book was a real page-turner! It uses the lower-case letter (and capital I and M) as the characters. The letters belong to a little boy named Andy, who is planning a birthday surprise for his mom.

Beginning on the very first page, a mystery is introduced, little x is missing! The rest of the book tells the story of an imaginative adventure of flying on pencils, exploring a castle and finally finding little x dancing for the horrible green monster -capital M. Little x feels lonely and sad because he is never used (not many words need a little x). Finally the little x is coaxed back home and I and M are invited as well. Finally the final page displays the message that is written on a birthday cake for Andy's mom "I love you Mom! xxxx" Of course you need lots of little x for this message!

This book is excellent for teaching the alphabet and letter recognition to kids. The names of the letters are emphasized in the text using a different color which could be used in the classroom to get all the kids to say these letters together. One page of the book shows each letter of the alphabet with the presents they chose for Andy's mom, this can be used as a fun activity for kids too (they could find all the letters and realize, "hmm... the present each letter chooses begins with them").

There are just endless opportunities in this book to stop and discuss, unlike many of the other alphabet books that are out there, this one expands and allows for elaboration on teaching skills like comprehension, inquiry, and learning about components the of a story.

P.S. After I read this book with a two-year old who was very engaged with the story, he was seeing "little x" all over the place: in other books, on the fridge (magnet), on a tv program... There should be one like this for every letter of the alphabet!

Among the Odds and Evens: A Tale of Adventure, by Priscilla Turner & illustrated by Whitney Turner

Hmmm... That's what I was thinking after having read, re-read, and contemplated the multiple meanings, messages, motivators for learning in this strange children's book. I really liked it, it was thought provoking and used very intellectual language and dialogue.

Turner tells a story about two travelers, X and Y who crash land in their "aerocycle" on the land of Wontoo which just happens to be populated by some very strange and different these beings - numbers! Upon closer study of the mysterious new peoples, X and Y find that there are two groups - odds and evens. Of course the story gets even stranger when the children of the Wontoois are brought into the "equation." You see, a couple of even numbers have even children, a couple of odds have even children, but it is ONLY when an even and an odd "hook-up" that odd kids are produced.

Wow! Weird.

I could analyze this book as a work in anthropology (a mirror to our own anthropological studies of those who are different, who are "the other"), as a book to introduce numbers or odds and evens, or perhaps X and Y are the variables?? I just don't know how to interpret it, but however it is done, the book is just plain CRAZY - crazy in a good way.

I'm not sure if younger children would be able to keep up with vocabulary and hidden meaning, but the illustrations and basic story line are engaging nonetheless. Actually, the illustrations are amazing, they tell a story all by themselves, I was lost for over an hour in these watercolor paintings by Whitney Turner (it would have been longer if I hadn't forced myself to stay on task. What creativity and imagination it must have taken to create this story of adventure!

A Series of Unfortunate Events #1: The Bad Beginning, by Lemony Snicket and illustrated by Brett Helquist

This short children's fiction novel is appealing right off the bat. The book looks old fashioned and mysterious. Snicket begins the book with a warning to potential readers explaining that if they like happy endings then this is not the book for them because there is no happy ending just misfortune, despair, and sadness. I know that this immediately fed into my own curiosity, and I was wondering if the author was serious about the dark nature of the book.

The book introduces in detail the characters that will be present in the thirteen-book series. The three Baudelaire orphan children (their parents were killed in a "horrible accident") are the main characters. The children are sent to live with the most awful of all relatives and the story just keeps getting more and more dark and "unfortunate." It seems like just as things are starting to brighten up for the Baudelaire's, things all of a sudden get worse.

Although the series may be too dark and depressing for some readers, they really are page-turners. The book is not all negative either, the text reinforces the positive habits and outlooks of the children. For instance, reading is an important pastime for the children in their dire environment and they become very creative attempting to plan their escape.

No matter how horrid life seems for the Baudelaire children, they always see the light at the end of the tunnel - NOTHING IS COMPLETELY HOPELESS.

The Giving Tree, written and illustrated by Shel Silversein

This book is a classic tale that mirrors the give-take relationship that is so common to children. The story of a young boy who has a close relationship with the giving tree, is great for helping children understand sharing, giving, and loving unconditionally.

The boy swung swung from the tree's branches, climbed her trunk, and ate her sweet apples as the boy the boy grew older he needed the apples for money, the branches for building a house, and her trunk to make a boat. Finally the giving tree had nothing left to give, so the boy (now an old man) sat atop the stump to rest, they were finally happy having the companionship of one another.

The illustrations, however simplistic, are so meaningful and full of emotion. Through the simple line drawings and the poetic nature of the story, the reader is "grabbed" and "pulled" into the emotions presented by Silverstein.

This could be seen as a parallel to what we do as teachers, we give unconditionally.

If I Had a Robot, by Dan Yaccarino

If you want a description, it can be found in the title. The main character in this book thinks about all the things he could do if he had a robot. This is a great book for beginning readers.
The
vertical
layout
of
the
text simplifies the reading process and makes it easy for young readers to see each word separately. Another aspect that makes this book very readable for youngsters, is the repetitive nature of the story as well as the blatant "picture clues" in the illustrations that provide hints into the text. The illustrations are large, brightly colored, and fill all of the space on the pages.

This book is good for reading with kids, but really, when I contemplate the message it sends, it seems a little "iffy." Send the robot to school so I don't have to go, have the robot do my homework, make the robot eat my vegetables... These are all things that children are taught to love (that is the goal, right?). But I suppose a child would most likely be able to relate to the ideas of the story and if they like robots, then the message may not matter at all.

One last noteworthy point to make on this book, is the power of imagination and curiosity it is capable of producing in a classroom setting. I can imagine a student being inspired to create their own robot, or write about what they would do with a robot.

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, written and illustrated by William Steig

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble is a great book to read aloud to children. It is interesting that there are no human characters in this story but all characters (the family of donkeys, the lion, and other farm animals) are humanized. That is, they are standing, wearing clothes, reading, cleaning, and doing otherwise "human" activities.

Sylvester, the young donkey is a collector of unique pebbles. One pebble is magic, and when Sylvester wishes upon the pebble his wishes come true. But, when one wish doesn't go as Sylvester planned and he ends up turning himself into a rock when attempting to dodge a Lion. The book becomes very sad... depressing. The donkey parents search and search for Sylvester with long, worried faces. The problem here is that the parents only search for one month and only choose to ask and look in the same places. Then the parents had expended their options and they feared the worst - THEY GAVE UP ON THEIR LITTLE DONKEY SON.

The mom and dad donkey were so sad that "life had no meaning for them anymore." Seasons passed and Sylvester (the rock) was sad, lonely, cold, hungry, and slept most of the time. Finally through a mere coincidental miracle, the parents use the rock that is Sylvester as a picnic table and find the magic pebble which reunites the donkey family.

They are all happy in the end, but for me this book is too sad - perhaps it would not be so upsetting for young children who may be able to relate to the emotions presented, rather than being thrown back by the somber and dramatic tone of the story as I was.

Overall, I must say that the book has a great flow to it, it is very readable, and the illustrations are vivid and captivating for young readers. A very interesting read.

Strega Nona, by Tomie DePaolo

Ooo, what a gem. This book teaches the importance of listening carefully, following the rules, and that there is such a thing as "too much of a good thing."

In this book too much of good thing comes in the form of a magical pasta pot that boils and bubbles and makes hot pasta. However, when Big Anthony uses the magical pasta pot without the permission of Strega Nona (the magical old woman who the pot belongs to) - the pasta almost engulfs the entire village when he is unable to turn it off. Big Anthony thought everyone in the village would be so thankful for his generous gift of free pasta that he did not stop to contemplate what may go wrong. Everyone was angry at Big Anthony for flooding the village with pasta, and in the end he is scolded by Strega Nona and is punished by being forced to eat all of the pasta.

I'd say Big Anthony learned his lesson.

The magic in this book is very exciting, and the illustrations tell a wonderfully vivid story. The image of the pasta flowing out of Strega Nona's little house and down the hill to the village is an unforgettable sight. The illustrations are interesting in that some are set up like a "comic strip" - showing the progression of the flowing pasta.

This is an awesome book, I would recommend it as a MUST READ!

A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog, written and illustrated by Mercer Mayer

This book by Mercer Mayer is a story without words, and form what I know about this kind of book - it is one of the very first, published in 1967.

The book, illustrated using pen, ink, and pencil drawings, portrays the story of a boy and his dog, who sets out wearing his waders and carrying a bucket and a net, for an adventure in frog-catching. After an entire day of playing "capture-the-frog" the boy looks as if he has become frustrated by the 'un-catchable' frog and he gives-up and heads for home. The frog becomes lonely and follows the boy's tracks until they are all reunited in the bathtub and everyone is happy.

The illustrations facilitate and encourage the creation of a story as it is seen in the pictures. The reader, children especially, can develop their own dialogue and narration that coincides with each illustration. It would be really interesting to actually see a child read this book, and to observe how they interpret the drawings and feelings represented within.

Millions of Cats, written and illustrated by Wanda Gág

This is a classic children's book - first published in 1928. I faintly remember hearing it read to me as a young child. The nonsensical book manages to convey real-life issues in the form of the human need for companionship and the difficulty of decision-making, while in my own memories a more frightening and disturbing theme stands out: SURVIVAL.

Following a recent re-read of the book the reason for this "fright" became apparent. The story begins with a sad, lonely, "very old" couple. The ink pen illustrations sprawl across the pages and highlight the despair of the couple: their home sad little cobblestone cottage perched on a baron hill, their lonesome expressions... Then EUREKA, the reader is amazed when the old man journeys out to find a companion and then "hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats" appear over the hill. The man marches the trillions of cats home to his wife after he is unable to choose just one (each cat he sees is just as beautiful as the last). Of course all of the cats cannot be cared for - so the unthinkable happens - while the very old couple is deciding what to do, the cats all fight to the death.

The exact line that remains so disturbing to me, is uttered by the old woman, “I think they must have eaten each other all up... It's too bad!” (I must say that there is no gore or evidence of this battle occurring in the illustrations)

In the end the only cat that survived was the smallest, "homely cat" - it was not a threat to the other more beautiful cats - so this is the cat the couple kept and it became the most beautiful cat ever!

The absurd humor of the story is fun for an audience of young elementary students but on the other hand, I can definitely see how this book may be viewed by some as inappropriate or at least "controversial" for children in today's schools.

Wanna Buy an Alien? by Eve Bunting & illustrated by Tim Bush

I randomly chose this book from a list of "transitional fiction for kids" at the library. I wasn't sure what I was getting into, but the book ended up being really enjoyable. If kids are ready for some more challenging and informative reading material, and they like suspense, mystery, and science fiction genres, then Wanna Buy an Alien? is a great book to use in the 2-4th grade classroom. It's a newer publication also (2000) so the book contains a lot of references to technology and computers, good for the technologically-savvy student. The text includes all kinds of dialogue, important "clues" and "letters," and other new formatting which translates into = beneficial read-a-loud in the classroom.

Miss Nelson is Missing, by Harry Allard & illustrated by James Marshall

I remember hearing this book from a teacher in my own elementary days. It is about a horribly misbehaved class of children whose teacher goes "missing" and is replaced by the "witch" Miss Viola Swamp. The kids learn not to take advantage of their kind-hearted teacher. In the end the reader/listener finds out that Miss Viola Swamp and Miss Nelson are actually the same person. This is a good mystery introduction for kids. Asking questions throughout the text comes very naturally with this book.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst & illustrated by Ray Cruz

Another favorite. One of the most memorable books form my childhood - perhaps because I could really relate with Alexander and nothing going how he wanted it to. This book is engaging for younger kids and is appropriate for use in 1-3rd grade classrooms. It really teaches a valuable lesson - you can't always get what you want... EVEN IF YOU MOVE TO AUSTRALIA. This book can spark a wonderful discussion in the classroom, for instance "how could Alexander have reacted differently to the problems presented during his day?"

From Head to Toe, By Eric Carle

Carle is great at writing interactive books that kids can relate to and enjoy. This is definitely the case with the book: From Head to Toe. In this catchy rhythmic book, different animals demonstrate movements and the catch line asks the listeners, "Can you do it?" The interactive nature of the book engages children's voices and bodies. I imagine reading this book with kindergarten or first graders as an on-your-feet exercise. It would be great for introducing young elementary kids to different parts of the body, or just for getting the kids out of their desks and moving. Another area this book addresses is building self-confidence.

What was I Scared of? By Dr. Seuss

I really love this story. Dr Seuss' rhyming style is fun to read and to listen to. In this book the main character (a bear?) encounters a "pair of pale green pants with nobody inside them." The bear is scared but, in the end an important moral is established. Seuss' intention with this book (as with many others) was to help children & parents understand that difference should not be frightening. A great book for all ages!

Roxaboxen, by Alice McLerran & Illustrated by Barbara Cooney

One of my childhood favorites! This book seems appropriate for reading with kids who are ages six to ten. Published in 1991, this book is based on true events of childhood memories as remembered by the author's mother. "Roxaboxen" is the name of the community created and constructed by the children living in the desert in Arizona. The story is very captivating and enables children's imaginative/creative side. This could be a very useful book for introducing a science unit about the desert or desert plants.

Charlie & Lola - But excuse ME THAT is my book, by Lauren Child

This book by Lauren Child is wonderful for younger elementary children, probably K-2. Something I personally like about this specific book is that it is part of a series so it can be an ongoing read-a-loud in the classroom. All books in the series include the characters Charlie and Lola (brother and sister). In this particular book, kids can learn about libraries and what they have to offer. The illustrations as well as the sing-song style of Child's writing is very engaging.