Calamity Jack by Shannon and Dean Hale

Bibliographic Information:
Hale, Shannon and Dean Hale. 2010. Calamity Jack. Illustrated by Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury.

Plot summary:
Jack sees himself as a criminal mastermind with more than his share of bad luck.  All of his plans and schemes seem to go awry or have unintended consequences.  In an effort to make his mother proud, he plans to quit his wicked ways after one final score.  When the beanstalk mishap results in the death of a giant, Jack must flee his home.  He returns some time later with his friend Rapunzel to discover that Shyport is under the control of Blunderboar the giant who may be in league with the ant people to keep the city under control.  With the help of Freddie, a journalist and collector of gadgets and Jack's old partner in crime Prudence the pixie, Jack and Rapunzel must put a stop to Blunderboar's reign and save Jack's mother, proving once and for all that Jack can live up to family expectations.

Analysis:
Jack narrates the graphic novel in boxes of text that fill in the gaps of dialogue and drawing, describing the capers of his childhood and his descent into a life of petty crime.  Fantastical creatures and characters from traditional literature appear throughout the story.  In fact, Jack will be known to readers as the folktale character who climbed a beanstalk to steal from a giant.  Rapunzel has had a haircut but keeps her long locks to use as tools or weapons as needed.  The blending of familiar characters into a new and inventive story adds interest.

Visually the story is vivid and full of movement, and the appearance of the characters gives an impression of their nature, attractive heroes and heroines with the bad guys disfigured or misshapen.  The varying sizes of the panels enables the illustrator to show fine details or to convey the size and magnitude of the scenes and characters.

Reviews & Awards:
Junior Library Guild Selection
2011 YALSA Great Graphic Novel
SLJ Best Comic for Kids 2011
Horn Book review: "The swashbuckling plot shines in the graphic-novel format... this steampunk-flavored fairy tale will appeal to boy-, girl-, reluctant- and eager readers alike."
Kirkus Reviews:  "something for everyone... Readers will relish this gleeful mix of fairy tale, adventure and romance."

Connections:

• Display with other graphic novels that draw from traditional literature including Rapunzel's Revenge, Cinderlla:  the Graphic Novel, and Trickster: Native American Tales:  a Graphic Collection
• Engage students in creating their own graphic re-tellings of familiar stories.
• Explore the steampunk elements of the illustrations and make connections to other examples of steampunk motif in books and movies.
• Other books by the author:

Hale, Shannon. 2003. The goose girl. New York: Bloomsbury.

Hale, Shannon. 2004. Enna burning. New York: Bloomsbury.

Hale, Shannon. 2005. Princess Academy. New York: Bloomsbury

Hale, Shannon. 2006. River secrets. New York: Bloomsbury

Hale, Shannon. 2007. Book of a thousand days. New York: Bloomsbury. 

Hale, Shannon. 2009. Forest born. New York: Bloomsbury.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Bibliographic Information:
Print:
Green, John. 2012. The fault in our stars. New York: Dutton Books.
Spoken Recording:
Green, John. 2012. The fault in our stars. Read by Kate Rudd. Grand Haven, MI: Brilliance Audio.

Plot summary:

Sixteen-year-old Hazel Lancaster has known since her diagnosis of thyroid cancer three years ago that all the prodding, poking, medicines and treatments are only able to buy her a bit more time.  There is no cure for her.  As a result, she seeks to maintain a distance from most people in her life.  Her closest friends besides her parents are books, but when she meets Augustus Waters at a teen cancer support group, the two are immediately drawn to each other.  Gus, who is in remission from the bone cancer that took one of his legs, understands Hazel and seems to be able to look beyond her illness to see her as she is.  Bonding over Hazel’s favorite novel, Gus and Hazel make contact with the book’s reclusive author which leads to a European adventure before tragedy strikes. 

Analysis:

Green draws upon his personal experiences as a hospital chaplain to paint a frank and emotional portrait of young cancer patients living under a death sentence.  The characters of Hazel, Gus, and their friend Isaac provide another perspective to the bravery-and-battle mentality that is so often used to describe the terminally ill in fiction as well real life.  The authentic portrayal of teenagers who are sometimes scared, sometimes hopeless, and often struggling with so many of the big questions and identity issues that all teens face while also being forced to come to terms with their own mortality creates a powerful story that will challenge both teen and adult readers.  The adults in the novel are also realistically drawn as well-meaning, earnest supporters who unintentionally make things worse as often as they make them better. 

Most of the story is set in Indianapolis with a portion taking place in Amsterdam.  Whether describing the local haunts that Hazel and Gus visit or the more exotic sights and sounds of the Netherlands, Green’s descriptions are vivid, placing the reader into the story effectively.

The humor, honesty and sometimes gritty realism of the treatment of a sensitive topic is what makes this book so powerful.  In the audio version, Kate Rudd’s vocal talents bring the characters, especially Hazel, to life.  The breathless emotion of the dialogue is a continuous reminder of the struggle for oxygen that is Hazel’s constant companion. Augustus and Hazel’s banter is handled deftly in the audio version with enough distinction in the character voices to highlight when the speaker shifts but is not overdone or heavily dramatic.

Reviews & Awards:

 New York Times bestseller & NYT Book Review Editor's Choice

Starred review, Booklist:  “ . . . his [Green’s] best and most ambitious novel to date . . . a triumph.”

Kirkus Reviews, starred review:  “A smartly crafted intellectual explosion of a romance.” 

School Library Journal, starred review:  “An achingly beautiful story.”

Connections:

• Share John Green’s author interview that is included in the audio version of the book or have students explore Green’s website for further insight and discussion of the novel including a section in which Green answers reader questions about the book (http://johngreenbooks.com/questions-about-the-fault-in-our-stars-spoilers/).
• Ask the students to write letters or email for a favorite author as Gus and Hazel did and encourage them to share any responses that they may get.
• Ask students to think about their own funeral or write their own obituary.
• Other books by John Green

Looking for Alaska (2005)
An Abundance of Katherines  (2006)
Paper Towns (2008)
Will Grayson, Will Grayson (2010, with David Levithan)

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Bibliographic Information:
Stead, Rebecca. 2009. When you reach me. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.

Plot Summary:
Miranda is a twelve-year-old latch-key kid living in New York City who finds herself in the midst of a mystery.  Although the story begins in April of 1979, much of the narration is a recollection of the events of the previous fall and winter.  It was then that the strange homeless man showed up on the corner, that her best friend Sal stopped speaking to her after being sucker-punched on the street, that she began receiving anonymous notes from someone who seemed to know the future before it happened.  It's up to Miranda to decipher the meaning of the notes, to help her mother prepare for an upcoming appearance on the game show The $20,000 Pyramid, to navigate the new relationships in her life, and to wrap her head around the concept of time travel so she can help prevent a horrible tragedy.  

Analysis:
Most of the chapter titles in the novel are an homage to the categories found in the Winner's Circle in the old Pyramid game show, and it's clear that Miranda's obsession with her mother's success on the show is influencing even the way she is remembering and organizing the events of the recent past.  This device complements the style of the novel, a blending of current events and flashback descriptions, that often reads as a conversation with the mysterious author of the notes--but not actually the letter she is supposed to be writing the stranger.

The tumultuous friendships of the young characters in the novel will resonate with young readers, friendships that dissolve or disappear, unlikely alliances that form, and the odd mixture of companionship and competition that seems to define adolescent girls.  Miranda's relationships with the other adults in the novel demonstrate both her independence as she often speaks or deals with them as equals but also her innocence as she still longs for parental care that her single mother cannot always provide.  The development of Miranda's compassion as the story progresses is a sign of her increasing maturity.

Although the concept of time travel is introduced fairly early in the narrative, it is not immediately apparent that this realistic story will eventually take a turn towards the fantastic.  Miranda is drawn in to a discussion about her favorite novel A Wrinkle in Time with schoolmate Marcus, who assures her that though time travel is feasible, the book doesn't accurately depict it.  Miranda can't wrap her head around what Marcus is telling her, yet her inability to make sense of it continues to haunt her until it becomes clear that Marcus's theory is essential to figuring out the meaning of her anonymous notes.  The novel is a wonderful blend of a historical picture of late 1970s New York, an authentic coming-of-age story, and a fantastic exploration of time.  

Awards & Reviews:
2010 Newbery Medal Winner
2010 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction
2009 New York Times Notable Book for Children
Starred review, School Library Journal:  "unusual, thought-provoking mystery"
Booklist, starred reviews:  "the characters, children and adults, are honest bits of humanity no matter in what place or time their souls rest"

Connections:

• Use in book club with A Wrinkle in Time to discuss the connections between the two stories and understand how Stead was influenced by L'Engle's work.  
• Have students build a model of Miranda's neighborhood as she and her classmates build their model Main Street.
• Lead a discussion about time travel as it appears in other books and movies, comparing the different views of time as a concept or the ability of the traveler to change the past, present, or future.  Encourage students to write their own time travel stories.
• Other books by Rebecca Stead:

First Light 2007

Liar & Spy  2012

Both published by Wendy Lamb Books

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Bibliographic Information:
Print:
Gantos, Jack. 2011. Dead end in Norvelt. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. ISBN  0374379939
Spoken Recording:
Gantos, Jack. 2011. Dead end in Norvelt. Read by the author. New York: Macmillan Audio. ISBN 1427213569

Plot:
In what is described as a melding of "the entirely true and the wildly fictional," the historical novel, set in Norvelt, Pennsylvania in 1962, tells the story of eleven-year-old Jack Gantos whose summer plans are derailed when he is grounded for life for disobeying his mother.  His mother does allow him out of the house to help their elderly neighbor Miss Volker, the town's nurse, medical examiner, and historian who writes obituaries for the last of the town's original residents as they die off.  Coping with frequent nose bleeds when he's nervous or scared, Jack has quite a bit about which to be nervous:  Hell's Angels with a grudge against the town, a best friend who's always trying to shock him with gruesome stories from her father's funeral parlor, a not-so-secret airplane that his father is rebuilding, houses that are vacating Norvelt to move to another town, and a string of mysterious deaths of the old ladies of the town.  

Analysis:
The quirky cast of characters that inhabit Norvelt add humor and conflict to the story from Jack's diminutive but fiery friend Bunny to crotchety, tricycle-riding, and ultimately sinister Mr. Spizz to opinionated, history-loving Miss Volker.  The feuds, friendships, and foibles of the town's inhabitants vividly depict small-town-America in a way that's engaging instead of patronizing.  The town itself, is as much a character in the story as it is setting, a former utopia that has fallen on difficult times, a place that is attempting to establish its identity just as much as Jack is.  Jack's love of history is something he shares with Miss Volker, and the pair of them manage to pass along a wealth of historical facts to the reader through their reading and obituary-writing, and as Jack learns his history, he is figuring out how the past creates the present which will create the future.  Death permeates the book, Bunny's funeral parlor, the obituaries, a dead deer, the dying town, even the looming death of Eleanor Roosevelt who founded the town.As the story progresses, Jack learns to deal with death and life with an authenticity that will resonate with young readers.

The author narrates the audio version of the book in an engaging way but without some of the polish that might be expected of a voice actor.  The vivid descriptions, absurdities, and drama are brought to life in the recording in an appealing way.

Awards & Reviews:
2012 Newbery Medal
2012 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
Publisher's Weekly, starred review:  "wildly entertaining"
Horn Book, starred review:  "This is a richly layered semi-autobiographical tale, an ode to a time and place, to history and the power of reading."
Starred review, Kirkus Reviews:  "Characteristically provocative gothic comedy, with sublime undertones."

Connections:

• Explore the author website (jackgantos.com) for book discussion guide and author interviews
• Research historical Norvelt and other towns that were founded during the Depression as cooperative communities.
• Write obituaries for something lost, not necessarily a person, using the house and deer obits from the story.
• Other books by Jack Gantos:

Joey Pigza series published by Farrar Straus Giroux

Jack Henry story collections

Rotten Ralph picture books

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Bibliographic Information:
Print:
Sepetys, Ruta. 2011. Between shades of gray. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN 0399254129

Spoken Recording:
Sepetys, Ruta. 2011. Between shades of gray. Read by Emily Klein.  New York: Penguin Audio. ISBN 0142428973

Plot:
Shortly after the annexation of Lithuania and other Baltic States by the Soviet Union 1940, fifteen-year-old Lina is taken along with her family and thousands of other Lithuanians to work camps in Siberia and eventually the Arctic.  Lina tells the story of their imprisonment and the brutality of treatment that was suffered while also recounting the stories of courage and kindness shown by fellow deportees and even occasionally by their captors.  Interspersed in her narrative are flashbacks to happier times in Lina's past, most of which foreshadow what would later happen to her family.  Separated from her father, she uses her artistic talent to leave messages and clues for him in hopes that one day they will be reunited.  Although Lina will lose both of her parents to the harrowing ordeal, her spirit is not conquered.  She and her brother survive to eventually return to their home and Lina preserves her memories of that time to pass along to future generations so the world will know and not forget the atrocities that so many people endured.

Analysis:
In an author's note at the book's end, Sepetys describes her Lithuanian heritage and the research she did for the story.  The deportation of Lithuanians, Latvians, and Estonians to Siberia has been largely unknown or unacknowledged by western Europe or North Americans, and the Soviet Union never admitted to the events portrayed in the novel, but according to Sepetys the story survived because of people like Lina who recorded their histories and hid them away, who passed the story on so that one day the world would know.  Sepetys drew upon these firsthand accounts and interviews with those who survived to capture the reality of the world in that time.  Her descriptions of the living conditions and the harsh treatment of the soldiers who were their captors are brutal but create a vivid setting to communicate the severity of the the time period.  Bits of dialogue in both Lithuanian and Russian remind readers of the setting as well as the language barriers between characters.  So many of the characters reveal what is best (and what is worst) in people:  bravery, dignity, kindness, and strength in the face of extreme hardship are present in the same characters who are scared, selfish, pushed beyond the limits of endurance, and broken.  Lina, especially, manages to display the mercurial moods of adolescence while being forced to come to maturity and take on responsibilities far beyond what is normally asked of a fifteen-year-old.  The flashbacks reveal glimpses of her old life, a time marked by an innocence that is quickly lost.  Ultimately Sepetys manages to not only bring a forgotten history to light but also to convey a valuable message about the human spirit in the face of suffering, something that will resonate when readers consider the resilience of those who successfully overcome hardships today.

In the audio version of the novel, the narrator Klein uses inflection, pacing, and modulation to convey the strong emotions of the story although the character voices in dialogue can be distracting.  In written form the flashbacks are set apart by italics to denote a break in the chronology.  In the audiobook there is no such warning, but eventually readers may adapt to the change in rhythm of the story that these flashbacks represent.


Awards & Reviews:
2012 Golden Kite Award
2012 IRA Young Adult Book Award
New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of 2011
Booklist Top Ten First Novels for Youth, Top Ten Historical Novels for Youth & starred review: "an important book that deserves the widest possible readership"
Publisher's Weekly, starred review:  "The narrative skillfully conveys the deprivation and brutality of conditions . . ."
Starred review in School Library Journal:  "there are uplifting moments when the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for compassion take over"

Starred Kirkus Reviews:  "bitterly sad, fluidly written historical novel . . . flowing prose"

Connections:

• Visit the book's website (betweenshadesofgray.com) to view an author interview and download a book discussion guide to use with book club or discussion group.
• Explore the historical setting of the novel through books that Sepetys used in her research: A Stolen Youth,a Stolen Homeland by Grinkeviviciute, Sentence: Siberia by Lehtmets and Hoile, Leave Your Tears in Moscow by Armonas,  and Lithuanians in the Arctic by the Laptevieciai Organization
• Historical fiction set in communist-era Soviet Union:

Fine, Anne. 2008. The road of bones. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374363161

Müller, Herta, and Philip Boehm. 2012. The hunger angel: a novel. New York: Henry Holt and Co. ISBN 080509301X

Yelchin, Eugene. 2011. Breaking Stalin's nose. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 0805092161

Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming

Fleming, Candace. 2011. Amelia lost: the life and disappearance of Amelia Earhart. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 0375841989

Summary:
The biography details Amelia Earhart's life and career from her childhood to her disappearance on July 2, 1937. The chapters are interspersed with an account of the disappearance and subsequent search for her lost plane. Photographs, letters, and other documents correspond to the narrative, and related sidebars appear frequently.

Analysis:
The author explains in the introduction that Earhart's reputation was the result of exaggeration and embellishment, but the biography strives to look past the folklore and tall tales to the unearth the true story of the woman.  A table of contents and index help organize the story, and the background of the sections on the disappearance and search are gray to distinguish them from the sequential chapters on Earhart's life.  The primary source documents that are reprinted in the appropriate place in the chronology lend visual interest, and the sidebars offer supplementary information.  The text is supported by an extensive bibliography and list of websites that provide resources for additional exploration.  Fleming's expertise as a biographer shines in the text which is informative and engrossing, artfully depicting a life that needs no embellishment.

Reviews & Awards:2012 Orbis Pictus Honor

2012 Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction

Kirkus Reviews, starred review:  "Handwritten notes, photos, maps and inquisitive sidebars . . . complete this impeccably researched, appealing package. A stunning look at an equally stunning lady."

The Horn Book Magazine, starred review:  "The book’s structure and scope, along with the story’s inherent drama, provide a taut, cinematic backdrop for the history of Earhart’s doomed flight."

School Library Journal, starred review: "What could be a dry recitation of facts and dates is instead a gripping and suspenseful thriller..."

Connections:

• Use in Women's History Month display with biographies of other important historic women.
• Highlight as a book club selection to encourage middle grade readers (especially girls) to explore informational texts.
• Visit the websites suggested in the "Finding Amelia on the Web" section.
• Other biographies by Candace Fleming:

Fleming, Candace. 2009. The great and only Barnum: the tremendous, stupendous life of showman P.T. Barnum. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 0375945970
Fleming, Candace. 2005. Our Eleanor: a scrapbook look at Eleanor Roosevelt's remarkable life. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689865449
Fleming, Candace. 2008. The Lincolns: a scrapbook look at Abraham and Mary. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 0375936181
Fleming, Candace. 2003. Ben Franklin's almanac: being a true account of the good gentleman's life. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689835493

We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson

Nelson, Kadir. 2008. We are the ship: the story of Negro League baseball. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786808322

Summary:
In this social history, Kadir Nelson traces the history of African-American baseball players from the 19th century to the formation of Negro Leagues in 1920 to the breaking of the color barrier in major league baseball in 1947.  Written from a first person player/narrator perspective, the story highlights important managers and players, the unique playing style of the leagues, and the discrimination and hardships that were a part of segregated baseball.  The narrative is illustrated with Nelson's life-like paintings and peppered with quotes from Negro League players, managers, and owners.

Analysis:
The text is accompanied by a foreward from baseball legend Hank Aaron, endnote citations and bibliography/filmography of sources Nelson consulted, and an author's note detailing Nelson's inspiration and research process.  An index provides access points to players, teams, and illustrations throughout the book.  The book is organized into nine "inning" chapters plus a tenth "extra inning" that recounts the fate of the Negro Leagues after Jackie Robinson and other black players were allowed into the major leagues.  The full page paintings in Nelson's characteristic style are a rich, stately accompaniment to the text, placing the reader into the action, evoking the emotion and spectacle of the national pastime.  The narrative is heavily embellished with anecdotes that convey the history in a personal and conversational way.

Reviews & Awards:
2009 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
2009 Coretta Scott King Award, author
2009 Coretta Scott King Honor, illustrator
Booklist, starred review:  "The stories and artwork are a tribute to the spirit of the Negro Leaguers, who were much more than also-rans and deserve a more prominent place on baseball’s history shelves."
School Library Journal, starred review: "A lost piece of American history comes to life in Kadir Nelson's elegant and eloquent history of the Negro Leagues and its gifted baseball players."

Connections:

• Incorporate into seasonal displays or programming for Black History Month (February) or Jackie Robinson Day (April 15).
• Connect with related scenes/interviews of Ken Burns's documentary Baseball which features players from the Negro Leagues.
• Encourage readers to further explore Negro League players through biographies or websites.
• Explore Kadir Nelson's artwork on his website www.kadirnelson.com
• Other informational books written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Nelson, Kadir, and Martha Rago. 2011. Heart and soul: the story of America and African Americans. New York: Balzer + Bray. ISBN 0061730742

Nelson Mandela biography to be released in 2013

• Informational books illustrated by Nelson:

Weatherford, Carole Boston. 2006. Moses: when Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786851759

De la Peña, Matt. 2011. A nation's hope : the story of boxing legend Joe Louis. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0803731671

Jordan, Roslyn and Deloris Jordan. 2000. Salt in his shoes: Michael Jordan in pursuit of a dream. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689833717

Time to Eat by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

Jenkins, Steve, and Robin Page. 2011. Time to eat. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN 0547250320

Summary: 
Using torn paper collage illustrations, Jenkins and Page depict a variety of species of animals and provide facts about the unusual eating habits of each.  A brief introduction connects the readers to the subject matter by asking about favorite foods and comparing potential answers to the unappetizing diets that are featured in later pages.  Each animal description and illustration has a headline or  caption that employs humor or surprise to catch the readers' attention.  The illustrations are colorful and realistic and support the unexpected, informative, and sometimes grisly details of the ways animals seek, store, consume, and digest food.  At the end of the book, the authors have provided additional information about the habitat and lifestyle of each animal.

Analysis:
Jenkins is a prolific author of informational books on animals.  His website (http://www.stevejenkinsbooks.com/) provides background on his interest in animals and science and also provides a glimpse into the process he uses to research his books and create the illustrations.  The information provided in the end notes is full of specifics and facts that will enhance the reading.  Although the book covers a wide range of species, animals that share two-page spreads in the book are connected either by a similarity in their feeding habits or because they represent two extremes.  The common wood tick, which can wait years between meals, is contrasted with the northern short-tailed shrew which must eat every few hours or die.  Each page is simply adorned with the animal illustration with no background or clutter to distract, and white space is used to good effect.  The text is brief and simple letting the facts provide the punch.   The illustrations are sure to catch the eye of scanners or browsers and each spread is self-contained enough to stand alone, although the books as a whole will provide a more cohesive experience.

Awards & Reviews:
2011 Eureka!  Nonfiction Children's Book Award
2012 Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best
Booklist, starred review:  "Another standout science title from the husband-and-wife team."
Publisher's Weekly review:  characteristically naturalistic yet artful collages"
School Library Journal:  "With phenomenal illustrations and facts both revolting and fascinating, this title is sure to please."

Connections:

• Use as a read aloud with young elementary students in animal behavior unit.
• Have children write and illustrate an animal fact.  Assemble into a book for the classroom library.
• Encourage students to explore the author's website and view the "making books" section for insight into the research and creation of Jenkins's work.
• Other animal books by Jenkins & Page:

Jenkins, Steve, and Robin Page. 2011. Time for a bath. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN 0547250371

Jenkins, Steve, and Robin Page. 2011. Time to sleep. Boston: Houghton Mifflin books for Children. ISBN 0547250401

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

My second-ever attempt at book trailer creation . . .

Figuring out how to have the book audio clip and the music playing at the same time is the greatest achievement of my life.

We Are America by Walter Dean Myers

Myers, Walter Dean. 2011. We are America: a tribute from the heart. Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children's Books. ISBN 060523085

Summary:

In free verse enhanced by quotations from American history and mural-style illustrations, Myers creates a portrait of America from its native people to the children of the future with allusion to so many events, people, and ideas that have shaped the nation.  

Analysis:
Myers manages in a few lines to chronicle several hundred years of history while capturing the spirit of freedom and striving that have always defined success in America.  The poem’s words, though powerful and vivid on their own, are difficult to separate from Christopher Myers’s artwork.  Historical figures and iconic images from history appear alongside young, colorful, hopeful faces of Americans in harmony with the poem.  The imagery of the poem is strong, using metaphor and other poetic device to convey powerful emotion.

Awards & Reviews:

NCTE Notable Poetry List 2012

CYBILS Award Finalist 2011

Kirkus Reviews:  "The poetry and the paintings will be an excellent jumping-off point for discussions."

From Publisher's Weekly:  " . . . few will be unmoved by this stirring and provocative collaboration."

Connections:

• Share the author notes from the book and show students the video (below and at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDQXjG0hjLQ) of the poet and illustrator discussing the inspiration for the poems.
• Explore the companion website Who Is America? (http://www.who-is-america.com/) and encourage students to create video responses for the site.
• Use the historical events alluded to in the poem or depicted in the illustrations as well as the quotations to introduce history lessons/discussions.  
• More poetry/art by Walter Dean Myers & Christopher Myers:

Myers, Walter Dean. 1997. Harlem: a poem. Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0590543407

Myers, Walter Dean. 2006. Jazz. Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0823415457

• America-inspired poetry:

Borden, Louise. 2002. America is--. Ill. by Stacey Schuett. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. ISBN 0689839006

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 2000. My America: a poetry atlas of the United States. Ill. by Stephen Alcorn. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689812477

Panzer, Nora. 1994. Celebrate America: in poetry and art. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 1562826646

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

Sones, Sonya. 2001. What my mother doesn't know. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689841140

Summary:
Written in free verse, the novel is narrated by fourteen-year-old Sophie who is navigating life, love, and high school with varying degrees of success.  In short titled poems, readers learn about Sophie’s fighting parents, best friends, and the birth and slow demise of her relationship with Dylan.  A mystery encounter with a masked man at the Halloween dance fill her with questions and longing, and when his identity is eventually revealed, Sophie must make some mature decisions about her life, identity, and popularity.

Analysis:
Sophie’s voice is authentic and emotional, conveying the confusion, passion, and angst of adolescence without shying away from sensitive topics.  The lines of most of the poems are short but full of imagery and description.  Repetition is used for emphasis in several poems, most notably and effectively in a poem describing the after-effects of a fight with her mother entitled “I Hate Her” in which she details a list of things she hates about her mother most of which have nothing to do with their fight. The concise but descriptive language manages to convey both the action of the narrative and the full range of emotions in a unique way which will connect with teen readers while also resonating with adults who can still remember the elation and tragedy of growing up.

Awards & Reviews:

ALA Best Book for Young Adults (2002) ALA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2002) International Reading Association Young Adults' Choice (2003) Winner of the Iowa Teen Book Award (2005–2006)

Starred review, Publisher's Weekly:  "With its separate free verse poems woven into a fluid and coherent narrative with a satisfying ending, Sophie's honest and earthy story feels destined to captivate a young female audience, avid and reluctant readers alike."

Starred review & Editor's Choice, Booklist:  "The poetry is never pretentious or difficult; on the contrary, the very short, sometimes rhythmic lines make each page fly."

Starred review, Kirkus Reviews:  "A verse experience that will leave readers sighing with recognition and satisfaction."

Connections:

• Incorporate into a Banned Books Week display, discussion, or Read-Out.  
• Introduce to young writers' group to encourage journaling and authentic voice
• Make connections to the art in the book including Renoit and the Museum of Bad Art (museumofbadart.org)
• Connect readers of the book with the author's website (sonyasones.com) for background information, writing advice, and blog.
• Other novels in verse for young adults:

Herrera, Juan Felipe. 1999. CrashBoomLove: a novel in verse. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. ISBN 0826321135

Sones, Sonya. 2004. One of those hideous books where the mother dies. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689858205

Sones, Sonya. 1999. Stop pretending: what happened when my big sister went crazy. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 0060283874

Sones, Sonya. 2007. What my girlfriend doesn't know. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689876025

Tregay, Sarah. 2012. Love & leftovers: a novel in verse. New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books. ISBN 0062023586

Autumnblings by Douglas Florian

Florian, Douglas. 2003. Autumnblings: poems & paintings. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0060092785

Summary:  
In this topical collection of poems, Florian explores the sights and sounds of the changing of the season from summer to autumn to the encroachment of winter.  Accompanied by watercolor illustrations by the poet, the twenty-nine poems tumble through the distinctive ideas and images of fall:  apples, pumpkins, leaves, holidays, etc.  

Analysis:
The rhymes, repetitions, and rhythms of the poems are simple and appealing.  Florian uses form and shape of the words and lines themselves as well as the illustrations to visualize the meanings of the poems.  The word play that features in so many of the poems adds whimsy and playfulness.  The poet creates puns and invents new words like autumn-atically, fallicopters, owlphabet, and hi-bear-nate to capture those things that are so unique to this season.  Although the topics, rhymes, and poetic devices vary from poem to poem, the collection is drawn together by the overall theme as well as style, artwork, and a sense of fun.

Awards & Reviews:
From School Library Journal:  "A natural for use in classrooms and library programs, and accessible to newly independent readers, these poems will delight youngsters."

A Booklist review:  "Florian presents a winsome series of poems about fall, with the punning theme of the title carried throughout."

Connections:

• Use selections in storytimes for younger children with an autumnal theme.
• Have older students visit Florian's website www.douglasflorian.com or his poetry blog www.floriancafe.blogspot.com to learn more about the author and see more of his artwork.
• Introduce lessons about science and seasons with selected poems.
• Encourage children to write and illustrate their own seasonal poetry.
• Other topical poetry collections/anthologies about seasons:

Florian, Douglas. 2006. Handsprings: poems & paintings. New York: Greenwillow Books.  ISBN 0060092807

Florian, Douglas. 2002. Summersaults: poems & paintings. New York: Greenwillow Books.ISBN 0060292679

Florian, Douglas. 1999. Winter eyes: poems & paintings. New York: Greenwillow Books.  ISBN 0688164587

Rogasky, Barbara. 2001. Leaf by leaf: autumn poems. Ill. by Marc Tauss. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0590253476

Sidman, Joyce. 2009. Red sings from treetops: a year in colors. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN 0547014945

Yolen, Jane. 1986. Ring of earth: a child's book of seasons. Ill. by John Wallner. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. ISBN 0152671404

Zolotow, Charlotte. 2002. Seasons: a book of poems. Ill. by Erik Blegvad. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060266988

Easy Work! An Old Tale retold by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Andrew Glass

Bibliography:

Kimmel, Eric A. 1998. Easy work! an old tale. Ill. by Andrew Glass. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0823413497

Plot:

Kimmel takes a traditional Norwegian tale of a man and woman switching roles and sets it on America’s frontier. Mr. and Mrs. McTeague travel the Oregon Trail to a new life.  When Mr. McTeague comes home each night worn from his hard work clearing the land for their farm, he is doubtful that Mrs. McTeague’s responsibilities can cause nearly so much fatigue.  Mrs. McTeague’s suggestion that they switch roles for a day results in a predictably humorous disaster as he discovers that Mrs. McTeague’s jobs may not be such “easy work.”

Analysis:

As he describes in an author’s note at the end of the text, Kimmel was inspired to write this story by an anecdote from the life of suffragette Abigail Scott Duniway in which she listens to a farmer boast of the life of ease his wife enjoyed and discovers that the wife is at home chopping firewood. Kimmel found a connection between Mrs. Duniway’s experience and the traditional Norwegian tale “The Husband who Was to Mind the House” and set his version of the tale on Oregon’s frontier. Mrs. McTeague is portrayed in the story as hardworking like the farmer’s wife, patient in face of her husband’s complaining, and forgiving of the mess that he creates while the husband comes across as bumbling, boastful, and inept.

The American setting does not alter the tale much from the original.  Both versions challenge the concept of gender roles and “men’s work” versus “women’s work” in a way that may seem obvious to a modern reader but would have been more revolutionary when the tale originated.

Glass’s illustrations complement the story well especially capturing the comic aspects of the story in vivid colors.  The colloquialisms used in the dialogue by Mr. McTeague connect to the oral tradition of storytelling.

Awards & Reviews: 

From Booklist: “Kimmel’s version of a story that has become a staple of feminist folktale collections will be a cheery alternative to, say, P. C. Asbjornsen and J. E. Moe’s The Man Who Kept House (1992) and a good replacement for Wanda Gag’s out-of-print Gone Is Gone.”

School Library Journal review: “ . . . Easy Work would make an enjoyable addition to most collections.”

Connections:

• Use in a storytime with farm stories. 
• Use in conjunction with other texts both fiction and nonfiction about the Oregon Trail (especially Apples to Oregon by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter)
• Share the author note that details Kimmel’s inspiration for the story and make connections to women’s rights/suffrage.
• For older children, this story would be good to compare with its other versions and variants:

Asbjørnsen, Peter Christen, and Jørgen Engebretsen Moe. 1963. East of the sun and west of the moon and other tales. New York: Macmillan. 

Gág, Wanda. 1935. Gone is gone, or, The story of a man who wanted to do housework. New York: Coward-McCann, Inc.

Goode, Diane. 1992. Diane Goode's book of silly stories & songs. New York: Dutton Children's Books. ISBN 0525449671

Gurvin, Abe. 1968. The husband who was to mind the house. New York: Young Readers Press.

Littledale, Freya, and Molly Delaney. 1987. The farmer in the soup: retold from the Norse Tale, the husband who was to mind the house. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0590401947

The Three Little Pigs: The Graphic Novel Retold by Lisa Trumbauer

Bibliography:

Trumbauer, Lisa. 2009. The three little pigs: the graphic novel. Ill. by Aaron Blecha. Minneapolis: Stone Arch Books. ISBN 1434211959

Plot:

The plot of this graphic novel retelling of The Three Little Pigs stays true to the familiar premise of the tale.  The three pigs are sent out into the world to make their own way by the mother pig and construct dwellings of straw, sticks, and bricks.  When the big bad wolf visits the first two pigs he is easily able to huff and puff their houses away and capture the pigs.  When he is unsuccessful in blowing down the brick house, he invites the third pig on three different outings, but the wily pig is able to get home safely from each one. 

Fed up, the wolf climbs down the chimney into the kettle full of boiling water, scalding his tail and sending him running away.  The third pig rescues his brothers who have not yet been eaten and helps them build sturdier houses for themselves.  It seems as though the brothers will live happily after, but the book ends with the wolf cooling his tail, growing hungrier and plotting his revenge.

Analysis:

The story is told through a comic book/graphic novel format with an overall dark feeling to the artwork.  The artwork lacks the cartoon cuteness of many picture retellings with very messy piggish pigs and a sinister, toothy wolf.  The style may appeal to older audiences, but this selection still offers a faithful retelling of the traditional tale that is capable of drawing in younger readers who are new to the story as well.  The panels contain enough dialogue and transitional text to develop the characters, but the momentum of the story relies, as it should for this format, on the graphic elements.

The plot sequence involving the wolf attempting to lure the third pig out of his home to pick turnips and apples and attend the fair is one that is often left out of picture book retellings and may be unexpected or new to readers who are familiar with this tale, but it serves to further portray the third pig brother as a clever and resourceful adversary for the wolf.  The supposedly weaker animal who outwits the stronger villain is a common element in many folktales, and Trumbauer is able to develop these characters to fit the archetype.

The end of the book contains several interesting extras including a brief history of the three pigs folktale, discussion questions, writing prompts, and an internet site to enrich the book experience.  These elements offer both teachers and individual readers ways to extend the reading experience.

Awards & Reviews:

15 Best Illustrated Children’s Books 2009 honoree by Ashbooks Book Community

School Library Journal review: “The wolf is particularly menacing and its curved claws and glowing green eyes will remain in children's thoughts at the end of the tale as it lies in wait.”

Connections:

• Compare to other Three Little Pig variants and versions. This book will lend itself to conversations about artistic style because of the distinct comic book elements and creepy visuals.
• Explore the book extensions offered in the book such as discussion questions and writing prompts. 
• Encourage children to create comic books/graphic novels of other familiar stories. 
• More folk tales in graphic novel format:

Dahl, Michael, and Luke Feldman. 2009. Beauty and the beast: the graphic novel. Mankato, Minn: Stone Arch Books.  ISBN 143420765X

Hoena, B. A., and Ricardo Tercio. 2009. Jack and the beanstalk: the graphic novel. Mankato, Minn: Stone Arch Books. ISBN 1434207668

Powell, Martin, and Erik Valdez y Alanis. 2009. Rumpelstiltskin: the graphic novel. Mankato, Minn: Stone Arch Books.  ISBN 1434207684

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Bibliography:

Taback, Simms. 1999. Joseph had a little overcoat. New York: Viking.  ISBN 0670878553

Plot:

Based on a traditional Yiddish folk song, Taback’s tale follows the titular character as he takes his old and frayed overcoat and repurposes it into increasingly smaller garments as each one wears down.  In the end, Joseph loses the button, the smallest portion of the overcoat he has left, but he takes the nothing he has left and creates the book.

Analysis:

The text is simple and repetitive in structure as Joseph goes through smaller and smaller fragments of his overcoat, but the collage illustrations support it beautifully with bright colors and humorous and subtle details.  The book also incorporates die-cut holes in the pages that provide clues about what garment Joseph will create next.  This clever device is itself a type of recycling, utilizing the previous illustration to make the next and reinforcing Joseph’s actions in the story.  The illustrations also support the cultural roots of the source material, from the dress style of the characters to the Yiddish phrases in the background.

The cumulative nature of this folk tale will help younger readers to engage in the story by anticipating and predicting what comes next.  This pattern of refrain will be a familiar storytelling device to most readers which will likely increase its appeal.

Awards & Reviews:

2000 Caldecott Medal

2000 ALA Notable Children’s Book

From Publisher’s Weekly: “With its effective repetition and an abundance of visual humor, this is tailor-made for reading aloud.”

School Library Journal review: “A book bursting at the seams with ingenuity and creative spirit.”

Booklist: “Taback's mixed-media and collage illustrations are alive with warmth, humor, and humanity.”

Connections:

·        Use in a storytime about clothing or getting dressed.

·        Since the story is based on a song, teach the children the English version included in the book.  Try to find a recording of the Yiddish version as well.

·        Use the book to introduce a discussion of reuse or recycling or for a craft program that repurposes used paper or fabric.

·        Other picture books that use die-cut pages to enhance the story or illustrations:

Carle, Eric. 1987. The very hungry caterpillar. [New York]: Philomel Books. ISBN 0399208534

Emberley, Ed. 1992. Go away, big green monster! Boston: Little, Brown. ISBN 0316236535

MacDonald, Suse. 2009. Shape by shape. New York: Little Simon. ISBN 1416971475

Taback, Simms. 1997. There was an old lady who swallowed a fly. New York: Viking. ISBN 0670869392