Review: Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill

Wicked Girls: A novel of the Salem Witch Trials by Stephanie Hemphill

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hemphill, Stephanie. 2010. Wicked Girls: A novel of the Salem Witch Trials. New York: Balzer & Bray, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 9780061853289

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Wicked Girls is a novel written in verse about the events in 1692 leading up to and surrounding the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts. Mercy Lewis, Ann Putman and Margaret Walcott are the main narrators, as they and other girls from the village claim to be attacked by witches. But are they really being attacked or are they making these stories up with the influence of other townspeople? Trials begin with the girls as the only witnesses to the supernatural activity and the status of the girls is improved in their small town. Eventually, “spectral evidence” is no longer accepted in a witch trial and the girls are no longer looked upon with importance. Once the madness of the witch trials dies down, “the accusers” must move on with their lives and try to live with the accusations they made.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Hemphill writes from the perspective of different girls involved in accusing others in the Salem Witch Trials. The impetus for the girls to begin their accusations is still unknown, but Hemphill takes the perspective that all their spectral attacks and visions were made up for attention or to gain importance in New England society. She uses the different points of view and the first person narration of the girls to explain their behaviors. Although the sections alternate between different points of view, the rhythm of the poetry never falters. The poetry does not rhyme, but there is a lyrical quality to the verses, as if each word was chosen very carefully. The language used by Hemphill creates strong emotions, and makes the reader feel how conflicted the accusers appear and how much many of them struggle with maintaining the spiritual attacks of the witches.

The action in this novel takes place over the course of one year during 1692. As the story unfolds Hemphill's vivid imagery creates a feeling of anxiety and fear, especially knowing how events in Salem will unfold based on historical facts. Hemphill adds in breaks from the girls’ points of view for each month, with a poem describing the general atmosphere of Salem. Although there are no illustrations, each monthly poem has a decorative design on the corner. The language and imagery used in these monthly breaks sets the mood for the following sections as seen in “What the Winter Wind Brings”:

“Bones chatter, while branches

snap heavy with ice.

Something stronger than fever

quakes and curls

through Village girls.

Their screams and contortions

be of awesome proportion.

‘Tis a sight to behold,

distraction from cold.” (p.40)

I lived in Salem, Massachusetts a few years ago, and visited many of the locations referenced in Wicked Girls. I have visited old Salem Town (Danvers), the Witch Trials Memorial in Salem, Gallow’s Hill, Corwin’s Witch House, and many more. Hemphill vividly captures the desolate and forlorn feelings that occur when visiting locations tainted by the witch trials.

Some of the names and actions in Wicked Girls are not historically accurate, but Hemphill includes not only an author’s note on her reasoning and research, but also sections on the real accusers and the real accused including what happened to them during the witch trials. For further research, she has included an extensive list of references.

I would highly recommend this book to all readers, from middle school age on up. I intend to re-read Wicked Girls often, and will recommend it to others as well.

 
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Positive review in School Library Journal: “Teens may need some encouragement to pick up this book, but it deserves a place in most high school collections.”

Starred review in Booklist: “An excellent supplementary choice for curricular studies of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, this will also find readers outside the classroom, who will savor the accessible, unsettling, piercing lines that connect past and present with timeless conflicts and truths.”

Starred review in Kirkus: “In this superbly wrought fictionalized account of the Salem Witch Trials, Printz Honor winner Hemphill offers a fresh perspective on an oft-told tale by providing lesser-known Salem accusers with a variety of compelling motivations that will resonate deeply with contemporary teens.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*This is a perfect book to use in conjunction with a study of New England history. After reading Wicked Girls, invite students to create their own poems about an historical event.

* Harper Collins has created a reader's guide for Wicked Girls: http://files.harpercollins.com/PDF/ReadingGuides/0061853283.pdf

*Other historical novels of the Salem Witch Trials:
Aronson, Marc. Witch-Hunt: Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials. ISBN 9781416903154

Myers, Anna. Time of the Witches. ISBN 9780802798206

Rinaldi, Ann. A Break with Charity: A Story about the Salem Witch Trials. ISBN 9780152046828

* Other novels in verse by Stephanie Hemphill:

Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath. ISBN 9780440239680

Things Left Unsaid: A Novel in Poems. ISBN 9780786818501



Review: This is Just to Say by Joyce Sidman

This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness by Joyce Sidman

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sidman, Joyce. 2007. This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 9780618616800

2. PLOT SUMMARY

This is Just to Say is a book of poetry written by students at fictional Florence Scribner School. Anthony K., sixth grader in Mrs. Merz’s class, introduces a book of poems written by himself and his classmates apologizing to people or things in their life. Part one includes the apologies written by the class and part two has responses to the original poems. All of this was inspired by William Carlos Williams’ “This is Just to Say”, read during the class poetry unit.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Sidman has created a charming poetry book about the emotions surrounding apologies and the reasons for seeking forgiveness. Each poem is constructed in a different font and organized in different ways to differentiate the personalities of the children “writing” them. There is no strict format or style of poetry consistent throughout the book. Almost all the apology poems are written from the student’s point of view, and each have a definite emotional impact. Some of the most heartbreaking are “Next Time” written by Jewel to her father, and “Spelling Bomb” by Anthony to his mother. The rhythm is different for each poem, as is the language used. Occasionally the editor, Anthony K., makes notes on the poem to include additional details for the reader. While many of the poems pack an emotional punch, others fall flat. An adult writing poetry from the point of view of a child makes me uncomfortable, and pulls me out of the poem.

Pamela Zagarenski created magnificent illustrations using mixed media on paper canvas and wood. She also incorporates computer graphics to embellish the illustrations and make them stand out. One of the cleverest things Zagarenski does is use dictionary pages in her illustrations. A girl’s skirt or boys pants have the definition for “apology” written on them. Each page has a different background color to distinguish the poems from one another. It appears as through the illustrations are designed to look like they were made by the authors of each individual poem, to maintain the illusion of the book being a class project for a 6^th grade class.  Zagarenski indicates on the book jacket that she used any items kids might have laying around to make sketches on for the poems, and her approach contributes to the emotional impact of the poems.

A major issue for me is the organization of the poems. One half of the book has poems of apology and the last half has poems of forgiveness. The poems of apology would have more impact if they were immediately followed by the poems of apology. It felt awkward to flip back and forth from the apology poem to the forgiveness poem as I was reading. But despite that small issue, This is Just to Say would be wonderful for children of all ages to read.

4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book

Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee 2003-2004

Cybils Poetry Award

Claudia Lewis Poetry Award

IRA Teacher's Choice Book

North Carolina Junior Book Nomination

New York Public Library's "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing"

School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

Book Links Lasting Connection Book

Review in Publisher’s Weekly: “The poems successfully navigate the complicated terrain for those who seek forgiveness. But the book's odd organization seems a missed opportunity to tie the well-wrought, corresponding poems together and reinforce the complex relationships between the characters.”

Starred review in School Library Journal: “Zagarenski's delicately outlined collage drawings and paintings are created on mixed backgrounds–notebook paper, paper bags, newspaper, graph paper, school supplies. This is an important book both for its creativity and for its wisdom.”

5. CONNECTIONS
* Use Houghton Mifflin’s Poetry Kit, developed and available for teachers and librarians to use with Joyce Sidman’s poetry books: http://www.joycesidman.com/teachers.html

* Sidman has also developed a reader’s guide for This is Just to Say: http://www.joycesidman.com/thiisjusttosayTG.html

* Using This is Just to Say as an example, have students write their own poems of apology to someone/something and ask for a poem of forgiveness in return.

* Other books on apology and forgiveness:

Levine, Gail Carson. Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It: False Apology Poems. ISBN 9780061787256

Review: Insectlopedia by Douglas Florian

Insectlopedia by Douglas Florian

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Florian, Douglas. 1998. Insectlopedia. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 9780152013066

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Insectlopedia is a delightful book of 21 poems with accompanying paintings about a variety of insects. The poems are deceptively simple, but upon multiple readings, they are rather enchanting descriptions of many common bugs. Each poem includes a brightly painted illustration of the insect by the author.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Florian writes his poems in a sing-song type of rhyme that matches each poem subject perfectly. The language in the poems is so playful; it makes even the most disgusting insects (weevils, termites, ticks) appear adorable. Some of the verses are arranged in a standard traditional format, while in other poems the font moves in conjunction in the subject of the poem. For example, “The inchworm” poem arches just as a worm would as he is moving along. The text for “The Whirligig Beetles” is arranged in a circular shape, the way the beetles twirl. On some poems, Florian bolds a word to emphasize when he is creating a pun. For example, “The Praying Mantis”:

Upon a twig

I sit and pray

For something big

To wend my way:

A caterpillar,

Moth,

Or bee –

I swallow them

Religiously.  (p. 17).

The illustrations painted by Florian are warm and friendly. They were created with watercolors on plain brown paper bags and with the use of collages.  At first glance, the illustrations appear as though they were created by children, with many of the insects smiling broadly or engaging in other human-like activities such as the caterpillar wearing a hat, the praying mantis reading, and the giant water bug reading a Father’s Day card. While not perfect, the illustrations should appeal to a younger audience.

In general, Insectlopedia would be great for elementary aged children who enjoy insects, and wish to learn more facts about them.

4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee 1999-2000

Beehive Children’s Poetry Book Award 2002

Positive review in Publisher’s Weekly: “The silly, imaginative verses about whirligig beetles and waterbugs (almost) match the exquisite pictures in playfulness and wit. The result is downright stunning.”

Positive review in Kirkus: “Read alone or read aloud, each of these ticklish tidbits features an individual member of the insect world, and focuses on attributes, foibles, and antics displayed in the eight-legged community.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Have children choose one of the 21 poems about insects to read, and illustrate it themselves using Florian’s technique of watercolors and collage on brown paper bags.

* Use specific poems to enhance learning about insects in a science class.

*Other poetry books by Douglas Florian:

UnBEElieveables: Honeybee Poems and Paintings. ISBN 9781442426528

Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs. ISBN 9780152052485

Beast Feast: Poems. ISBN 9780152017378

Review: The Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale by Steven Guarnaccia

The Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale by Steven Guarnaccia

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Guarnaccia, Steven. 2010. The Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780810989412

2. PLOT SUMMARY

This is a tale of the 3 little pigs set in modern times, with the pigs as famous architects Frank Gehry, Philip Johnson and Frank Lloyd Wright.  One builds a house from scrap material, one of glass, and one as a traditional house made of stone. The big, bad wolf comes along and blows down the first pig’s house, and the first pig runs to the second pig’s house. The wolf comes along and blows his house down, so the 2 pigs then run to the third pig’s house. The wolf could not blow down the third pig’s house made of stone. The wolf makes several attempts to get the pigs by making appointments to meet them at farms, orchards, and markets but the third pig outsmarts him at every turn. Finally the wolf attempts to climb down the fireplace to get the pigs, but he burns his tail and runs away, leaving the pigs in peace.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Steven Guarnaccia’s The Three Little Pigs is an interesting take on the usual three little pigs tale. The pigs are all architects, and the wolf is part of some kind of motorcycle gang. The usual “Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in” and basic plot is all in the book, including the meetings at the farm, market, etc. Had I not read the book jacket which expressly stated who the pigs were meant to represent, I would not have known the names of the architects. And after a bit of research, I discovered the wolf is meant to represent Philippe Starck, a famous designer. I think it may be difficult to have extremely young children respond to this story if there is too much emphasis on the architectural details. Simply reading this story for enjoyment required me to do additional research on architects and architecture, and it may be too much work for the average child at a storytime. However, if taken as a simple beastly tale, it is just as enjoyable as a traditional version of the three little pigs tale.

Guarnaccia’s illustrations may not make much sense to young children who aren’t familiar with architecture. Each pig’s house is created in a different architectural style, down to the furniture inside. The inside of the front and back covers have sketches based on famous architectural styles. The pigs’ homes are all colorful interpretations of Frank Gehry’s The Gehry House, Philip Johnson’s Glass House, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. The three little pigs will delight young readers, as they are dressed and live exactly like humans. The wolf is drawn as a leather jacket wearing motorcycle driving antagonist, but he is not too frightening. The illustrations are deceptively simple and sparse line drawings with bright splashes of color, and the houses of the pigs are all faithfully represented. After multiple readings of The Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale, I believe it is better suited as an adult art book then a stand alone children’s book.

Children may enjoy the plight of the three little pigs, but the hidden architectural details would be better suited for appreciation by an older audience.


4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Positive review in Booklist: “Guarnaccia combines a delightfully fractured fairy tale with an ultrastylish, kid-friendly primer of twentieth-century design.”

Review in Kirkus: “Guarnaccia’s illustrations are quirky and stylish, incorporating notable 20th- and 21st-century architecture and interior design elements (the key is on the endpapers). His text lags the illustrations in hipness, though.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Use this story to begin a discussion on architecture. Discuss Frank Gehry, Phillip Johnson and Frank Lloyd Wright, and have the children create their own sketches based on their particular styles.

* Ask what the children would make their homes out of to prevent the bad wolf from blowing them down. Then have the children illustrate their ideas for homes.

*Other versions/variants of the three little pigs:
Kellogg, Steven. The Three Little Pigs. ISBN 9780064437790

Scieszka, Jon. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. ISBN 9780140544510
Wiesner, David. The Three Pigs. ISBN 9780618007011

Review: Rumpelstiltskin by Paul O. Zelinsky

Rumpelstiltskin by Paul Zelinsky

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Zelinsky, Paul O. 1986. Rumpelstiltskin. New York: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 9780525442653

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Paul O. Zelinksy’s version of Rumpelstiltskin follows the well-known storyline of the traditional Grimm Brother’s fairytale. A miller, wanting to impress a greedy king, tells him that his beautiful daughter can turn straw into gold. Under threat of death, the girl is brought into a room full of straw and told to spin it into gold by morning. Her crying draws Rumpelstilskin to her, and he spins the straw into gold in exchange for the girl’s necklace. The second night he spins a bigger pile of straw into gold in exchange for her ring. The king demands the miller’s daughter must spin the largest pile of straw into gold for a third night and if she succeeds he will marry her. The third night, at Rumpelstiltskin’s request, she promises her first child to him if he helps her and she is able to marry the king. Of course, the miller’s daughter marries the king and in time has a child. Rumpelstilskin comes to claim the child, but agrees the queen may keep her baby if she can guess his name. He gives the queen three days, and eventually she sends a servant to follow Rumpelstiltskin and find out his name. When he comes to claim the baby, the queen tells him his name, and he flies out of the window in anger.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The miller’s daughter and the king are both left nameless, and the main character in this fairytale is obviously Rumpelstiltskin himself. By keeping the miller, the king, and the miller’s daughter nameless, you can’t help but think Zelinsky is making his readers feel sympathetic towards Rumpelstilskin. The main characters and plot should be familiar to anyone who has ever heard a Rumpelstiltskin story, and it is unfortunate the characters remain flat through the fairytale and show little growth. They are generally just the usual stereotypes that appear in many fairytales when the theme is good vs. evil. The miller’s daughter remains beautiful and becomes a bit devious when she is faced with having to give up her baby. The greedy king never changes, and his part of the story is done after marrying the miller’s daughter. The story refrains from the most violent part of the tradition Grimm Brothers version, and Zelinsky has Rumpelstiltskin fly out of the window rather than tear himself in two as he does in the Grimm version.

The illustrations, also by Zelinsky, are done in Renaissance style with oil over watercolor paint. The colors used are rich and warm and appear as though they could be original paintings from the Renaissance period. Rumpelstilskin is not portrayed as hideous or scary, but he has a mischievous look to him. The backgrounds of the various scenes are the most impressive, as Zelinsky pays extreme detail to every element. One of the most interesting things he does is to create a cross section of the castle, so the reader can see action on the inside as well as the landscape surrounding the castle. Zelinsky is obviously a master artist and his illustrations in Rumpelstiltskin are magical.

Even if you are not fond of the story of Rumpelstilskin, this version is worth reading for the artistry present in the illustrations.

4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

1987 Caldecott Honor Book

ALA Notable Book

Positive review in Publisher’s Weekly: “He has captured the magic and frightening wonder of the tale while incorporating elements from a number of 19th century Grimm versions.”

Positive review in School Library Journal: “Zelinsky's smooth retelling and glowing pictures cast the story in a new and beautiful light.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Deborah Hallen, the wife of Paul Zelinksy, has prepared lesson plans for use with Rumpelstiltskin. They are available from the following website: http://www.paulozelinsky.com/rumpelstiltskin_lessons.html

*Other versions/variants of Rumpelstilskin:
Grimm, Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm. Rumpelstiltskin. ISBN 9780893751180

Stanley, Diane. Rumpelstiltskin’s Daughter. ISBN 9780064410953
Tarcov, Edith. Rumpelstiltskin: A Tale Told Long Ago by the Brothers Grimm. ISBN 9780590073936

Review: Baba Yaga, A Russian Folktale by Eric Kimmel

Baba Yaga: A Russian Folktale by Eric Kimmel

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kimmel, Eric A. 1991. Baba Yaga: A Russian Folktale. Ill. by Megan Lloyd. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 9780823408542

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Baba Yaga is a folktale from Romania, about a witch living in the woods and a family faintly reminiscent of the Cinderella tales.  A wealthy widower lives on the edge of a dark and mysterious forest with his daughter Marina, a sweet girl who has a horn growing from her head. He re-marries a cruel woman with her own daughter, Marusia. The father disappears one day while away on a trip, and doesn’t return after many years pass. The stepmother pampers her own daughter and makes Marina their servant. Marina is sent one day to visit Baba Yaga deep in the forest on an errand for her stepmother. She is given advice from a frog on how to trick and escape from Baba Yaga so she will not be eaten. Marina gets her horn removed, escapes, and makes her way home to her father. Her father banishes the stepmother along with Marusia, who refuses to listen to the advice of the frog, orders Baba Yaga to make her just like Marina and ends up with Marina’s horn forever.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This story has an overall theme of good vs. evil, or to put it differently, kindness over meanness.  Baba Yaga borrows various elements from the more familiar tales of Cinderella, The Ugly Duckling, and Hansel and Gretel. There is a certain feeling of satisfaction when Marusia, who had been so cruel, is given the horn by Baba Yaga while her kind step-sister Marina, becomes beautiful on the outside as well as the inside and escapes a horrible fate. I wish Kimmel would have added more details about Baba Yaga and why she was so scary. That would have added to the plot by making the audience fear for Marina as she went into the woods.

The illustrations by Megan Lloyd are cartoonish, but include many details important to the Baba Yaga mythology and the Russian culture in general. You can see the chicken feet under Baba Yaga’s house, and her sharp iron teeth that can chew through wood. However, it would have been interesting to have more realistic illustrations. The suspense of the story is lessened considerably when paired with cheerful cartoons rather than a more serious and realistic illustrations. Baba Yaga is simply too adorably drawn to be seen as scary. The “deep, dark forest” where Marina and her family lives is also drawn in such a cartoonish light, that it makes the reader question what makes it so fearsome.

The folktale of Baba Yaga is fascinating, but I would choose a different version with more sophisticated illustrations.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Positive review in Publisher’s Weekly: “This engrossing story is both fanciful and suspenseful.”

Review in School Library Journal: “Taken as a whole, it does not do justice to Baba Yaga.”

5. CONNECTIONS

* Use this book in a discussion of Russian folktales. Try to challenge children to pick out details in each Russian folktale that are similar.

* Discuss the similarities between this version of Baba Yaga and the story of Cinderella.

*Other versions of the Baba Yaga folktale:

Lurie, Allison. Baba Yaga and the Stolen Baby. ISBN 9781845077532
Mayer, Marianna. Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave. ISBN 9780688085001
Polacco, Patricia. Babushka Baba Yaga. ISBN 9780698116337

Review: Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems

Book Review: Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Willems, Mo. 2009. Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 9781423114376

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Wilbur, a naked mole rat, is the only one of his kind who enjoys wearing clothes. He doesn’t see anything wrong with wearing all sorts of interesting clothes, but the other naked mole rats think he is very strange. They go to Grand-pah, the elder of the naked mole rat family to complain about Wilbur’s clothes wearing habit. Wilbur is so worried that Grand-pah would not like him if he wore clothes, but Grand-pah thinks wearing clothes is a fine idea, and Wilbur is extremely relieved.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Mo Willems has created a fantastic character in Wilbur, who is perfectly happy with the way he is and doesn’t let the teasing of the other naked mole rats change his personality. When faced with the assertion that naked mole rats don’t wear clothes, he simply asks “Why not?” The plot has Wilbur facing insults from other mole rats while he tries to explain his love of wearing clothing. Although Wilbur is concerned about the opinion of Grand-pah, his fears are put to rest and the conflict is resolved as Grand-pah makes the proclamation that although clothes may not be for everyone, they don’t hurt anyone. The theme in this story is to be yourself, and let others be themselves and celebrate individuality, which is a wonderful lesson to teach children. Although this particular story is about naked mole rats, there is a sense of realism to the story, and the events that occur can easily be imagined with humans.

The relatively simple cartoons Willems illustrates of naked mole rats draw the reader in due to their personification and human-like behavior. The colors are relatively bright pastels and on a plain white background, so Wilbur and the rest of the naked mole rats stand out. Wilbur and his family are pale pink, with dynamic facial expressions displaying their emotions clearly to the audience. Animals wearing clothes and getting into human-like situations are usually popular with young children, and Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed is sure to be no exception.

Mo Willems is a brilliant author and illustrator. He knows how to draw and create characters young audiences will love.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Positive review in School Library Journal: “Adults will embrace the message of tolerance, happy to have a tale that can be shared with young children.”

Positive review in Booklist: “It is Wilbur’s guileless observations that will have young readers feeling good about individual expression.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*This storybook can lead a discussion on tolerance and treating others as you wish to be treated.

* As an enrichment activity, have the children design outfits they believe Wilbur would enjoy wearing.

* Other books on individuality and acceptance:
Cannon, Janell. Stellaluna. ISBN 9780152802172

*Other books by Mo Willems:

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! ISBN 9780786819881
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. ISBN 9780786818709
There is a Bird on Your Head. ISBN 9781423106869

Review: Grandpa Green by Lane Smith

Book Review: Grandpa Green

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Smith, Lane. 2011. Grandpa Green. New York: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9781596436077

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Grandpa Green’s great-grandson tells the life story of his grandfather from childhood, fighting in a war, marriage and finally to present day in chronological order as the young man walks through Grandpa Green’s garden. As the story unfolds, topiaries illustrate the life of Grandpa Green.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Smith has created a book with the theme of the importance of family and the preservation of life experiences but the book will also appeal to young readers who may not understand heavy themes. He also incorporates memory loss and other problems of aging with grace and tact. Grandpa Green reads as though it could have been a biography, lovingly written about almost any reader’s great-grandfather. Seen through the eyes of the main character, the garden becomes a fanciful playground and the topiaries appear to come to life. There isn’t a major conflict for the protagonist, other than the acknowledgement of Grandpa Green’s aging and that he may forget things, “But the important stuff the garden remembers for him.”

The illustrations in Grandpa Green are really the main focal point in the whole story. Everything the protagonist says as he walks through the garden is imitated in the form of a beautifully created topiary. The illustrations cover the page with the text of the story placed within, so it almost feels as though you were walking through the garden yourself. There is a playful nature to Smith’s way of illustration, and the foliage is so lush it seems like you could touch the topiaries. The climax of the book includes a 4 page illustration of Grandpa Green's life, with the topiaries laid out almost like a timeline.

Lane Smith is a gifted storyteller and artist. Grandpa Green is not to be missed, and is a book that should be enjoyed by the whole family.

4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
2012 Caldecott Honor Book

Starred review in School Library Journal: “Visually intriguing and emotionally resonant."

Positive review in Kirkus: “A wonderful bridge to exploring family history with the very young.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*This book would jump start a discussion on aging and the elderly. It would also be a wonderful addition to a discussion on family history and preserving memories.  

* Use Grandpa Green during a storytime celebrating Grandparent's Day.

* As an enrichment activity, have the children create a family tree, or ask them to interview their parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents. Those interviews can be turned into homemade books and illustrated by the children.

* Check out books written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith.

* Other books by Lane Smith:

It’s a Book. ISBN 9781596436060
The Big Elephant in the Room. ISBN 9781423116677
John, Paul, George and Ben. ISBN 9780786848935

Review: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Keats, Ezra Jack. 1962. The Snowy Day. New York: The Viking Press. ISBN: 9780670654000

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Peter, a young African American boy, wakes up one morning to see it had snowed sometime in the night. The book follows his adventures throughout the day as he explores the snowy landscape outside his door and generally acts exactly how any young child would after a large snowfall. He makes designs in the snow, builds a snowman, makes snow angels, and slides down “a great big tall heaping mountain of snow.” There is only the tiniest conflict, as the snowball Peter lovingly collected had melted in his warm house, and he is concerned the snow might be melted before the next day. However, new snow falls and Peter can begin a new adventure on another snowy day.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Ezra Jack Keats, the author and illustrator of The Snowy Day, has created a classic picture book with a main character kids and parents can’t help but fall in love with. The character of Peter feels as though he could be any child, anywhere, who loves to explore and play. The simple plot and style of writing creates a fond tone which makes the reader wistful for the small delights that can be found in childhood, such as the first snowfall or making a perfect snowman. The exact setting, other than an urban area, is unknown, as is Peter’s age, so every child can immediately put themselves in his place and imagine participating in his snow day activities.

The illustrations evoke strong feelings and sensations as they engage you and bring you into the story. As you read, you can almost feel the freezing snow under your feet, or hear the crunch as Peter experiments with creating designs in the snow. The use of collage as the form of illustration is an interesting choice. Cut outs used for the main character and landscape and the addition of watercolors makes Peter, in his bright red snowsuit, stand out from the background of the white snow and clear blue sky.

Although The Snowy Day was first published in 1962, the story and illustrations are timeless.

4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

1963 Caldecott Medal Winner

Positive Review in Publisher’s Weekly: “Pays homage to the wonder and pure pleasure a child experiences when the world is blanketed in snow.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*This book could contribute to a discussion on multiculturalism.  

*More from Ezra Jack Keats:

Peter’s Chair. ISBN 9780140564411

A Letter to Amy. ISBN 9780140564426

Whistle for Willie. ISBN 9780140502022

Welcome

Welcome to my book review blog, created for Literature for Children and Young Adults, taught by Dr. Sylvia Vardell. I hope the reviews that will be posted here will be beneficial to anyone interested in young adult and children's literature!