Diary of a Wimpy Kid by: Jeff Kinney

Bibliography:
Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid. 2007. New York: Amulet Books. ISBN 9780810993136

Plot Summary:
Greg Heffley, a middle school boy, writes in a journal (not a diary) his mom gives to him. He starts the journal on his first day of school and we follow him throughout the year. From where to sit in class, dealing with his younger and older brothers, video games, pranks, nerds, and bullies, this book has it all. What sometimes goes on in middle school is hilariously portrayed here by the self-absorbed Greg complete with cartoon drawings. When Greg doesn't fess up after his friend Rowley gets in trouble for something Greg did, it seems he may lose his best friend. Will Greg do what is right in order to get his friend back?

Critical Analysis:
Excellent pick for the reluctant reader, but all young readers will find this book hilarious. Kinney gears the book more towards boys, but girls may love reading Greg Heffley's journal just as much. The black and white cartoon drawings are a terrific draw for the reluctant reader and add comedy and allow the reader to visualize what is going on. Any middle schooler can identify with the book, and if not with Greg, then one of the other characters. Although there is not much of a plot, the journal is a page-turner simply on account of the comedy.

Review Excerpt(s):
Publisher's Weekly: "Kinney's popular Web comic, which began in 2004, makes its way to print as a laugh-out-loud "novel in cartoons," adapted from the series."
School Library Journal: "Kinney does a masterful job of making the mundane life of boys on the brink of adolescence hilarious."

Connections:

Read Greg Heffley's three other diaries, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days. Also, check out the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie. Girls may like the Amelia books by Marissa Moss.

Going Bovine by: Libba Bray

Bibliography:
Bray, Libba. Going Bovine. 2009. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780385733977

Plot Summary:
16 year old Cameron is an outsider in his Texas high school. However, when he contracts Mad Cow Disease and it is said he could die, he suddenly becomes the talk of the town. After experiencing numerous hallucinations and being admitted to the hospital, an angel by the name of Dulcie comes to him and says that he most escape and search for the mysterious Dr. X, a man with the cure for Cameron's disease. Cameron talks his dwarf friend Gonzo into going with him and they set out on their adventure across the United States, picking up a yard gnome along the way. It is hard to tell Cameron's hallucinations from his real life and we are constantly wondering what is real.

Critical Analysis:
Nothing like Brays' previous works, this is a sometimes hilarious look into the teenage experience. However, the story can get repetitive at times and is a bit long. Bray touches on pretty much every aspect of teenage life from the growing up outcast story, to drugs, sex, tv, marketing, education, you name it. Much of it will go straight over the head of a teenager, but some may get the teens asking important questions about what is really going on in their lives. Bray's writing style is unique and believable. The plot is fresh, original, and surprising. Going Bovine is part contemporary realistic fiction, part fantasy. It deals with serious issues, but it is humorous and outrageous. It is a truly uniquely written novel that parents and teens alike should read. I am sure many parents will undoubtedly find it too much, possibly inappropriate, and many will likely ask that it be taken out of the collection. However, this is the world our teens are living in and we must stop and ask ourselves why.
Review Excerpt(s):
Children's Literature: "This is a huge book in every way: an epic, picaresque 480-page journey; a scathingly observed social satire of the ways in which we numb ourselves to avoid the pain and risk of actually engaging with our lives."

Publisher's Weekly: "Bray's surreal humor may surprise fans of her historical fantasies about Gemma Doyle, as she trains her satirical eye on modern education, American materialism and religious cults (the smoothie-drinking members of the Church of Everlasting Satisfaction and Snack 'N' Bowl)."
School Library Journal: "Some teens may check out before Cameron makes it to his final destination, but many will enjoy asking themselves the questions both deep and shallow that pop up along the way."

Connections:
There is not much out there like Going Bovine, it is truly unique. However, you can read other Printz Award Winners from the past.

The Graveyard Book by: Neil Gaiman

Bibliography:
Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. 2008. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 9780060530921

Plot Summary:
A baby escapes the knife of the murderer Jack by climbing out of his crib and tottering out of his house and up the hill to the graveyard. However, Jack murders the boy's family, leaving the child an orphan. The inhabitants of the graveyard, ghosts, vampires, and the like, name the boy Nobody, Bod for short, and raise him as their own. They provide protection for Bod from Jack, who continues to look for the boy.

Critical Analysis:
Although this was the winner of the 2009 Newbery Medal, I did not find it all that interesting. The first chapter is exciting and an attention grabber, but beyond that there is not much to remember. The book starts with a gruesome murder in which the only survivor is a small baby which manages to escape to a nearby graveyard. This was shocking and certainly gets the reader to read on. However, the shock factor quickly goes downhill from there. This is part low-fantasy and part high-fantasy. The low fantasy aspect of the story is what makes it interesting and scary. The fact that the novel is set in the real world is what is disturbing. When Bod travels to the world of Ghulheim it gets less real and less disturbing. Many libraries classify The Graveyard Book as Young Adult, but I think it would find a much wider audience in the Juvenile section. The black and white illustrations are a nice touch by Gaiman and give the reader a look into the world of Bod.

Review Excerpt(s):
Kirkus Reviews: "Wistful, witty, wise-and creepy. Gaiman's riff on Kipling's Mowgli stories never falters, from the truly spine-tingling opening, in which a toddler accidentally escapes his family's murderer, to the melancholy, life-affirming ending."
Publisher's Weekly: "As the boy, called Nobody or Bod, grows up, the killer still stalking him, there are slack moments and some repetition-not enough to spoil a reader's pleasure, but noticeable all the same."

Connections:
If you like The Graveyard Book, try the Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket series. Also, try Coraline , also by Neil Gaiman.

Island of the Blue Dolphins by: Scott O'Dell

Bibliography:
O'Dell, Scott. Island of the Blue Dolphins. 1960. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395536804

Plot Summary:
A young Indian girl, Karana, is left to fend for herself after her tribe leaves the island on which they have always lived. Aleuts, in search of otter pelts, had previously killed many of her tribe, and the remaining members were looking for a better life elsewhere. Karana and her brother are stranded and alone except for the wild animals that surround them. After her brother is soon killed by wild dogs, Karana is the only human left. She must utilize all of her skills in order to feed, clothe, protect, and shelter herself in order to survive.

Critical Analysis:
Winner of the 1961 Newbery Medal, Island of the Blue Dolphins has become a classic. Although there has been much fanfare over this book, it is a slow read. I cannot imagine too many young readers sitting down and finishing the novel. Perhaps it would have been more exciting to a child in the 1960's, but today's youth would likely find it quite boring. Although it is said that an Indian girl did live alone for eighteen years on an island off the coast of California, the plot is really not all that believable. One thing O'Dell does do well is describe the scenery, vividly recreating the time and place in which the novel is set.

Review Excerpt(s):
Chicago Tribune: "Island of the Blue Dolphins has the timeless enduring quality of a classic."

Connections:
Compare to other Newbery Award winning books, including more recent recipients, to compare and contrast the different works and get a closer look at the evolution of the award and its winners.

Weedflower by: Cynthia Kadohata

Bibliography:
Kadohata, Cynthia. Weedflower. 2006. New York: Athenuem Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689865740

Plot Summary:
Sumiko is a young girl of Japanese descent who was born in America. She is twelve years old when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. Her family grows flowers in California, but after the bombing, is forced into an internment camp located on an Indian Reservation in Arizona. Growing up in California, Sumiko had always faced racism and prejudice. She had tried to make friends, but without much success. The internment camp would bring new and similar challenges.

Critical Analysis:
Although this story may not be too appealing out of the school context, I believe students studying World War II would find it a welcome change to the typically dry History curriculum. Kadohata also weaves in a lot of interesting facts about the Japanese. For example, did you know that Asians could not become American citizens? Because the story is set in the United States, it has more appeal to American kids. They will find it interesting to see how the Japanese were forced into internment camps in their own country. Even though the story line may not be of interest to those reading for leisure, Kadohata quickly captures the reader's interest in the second chapter. She draws the reader in with the question of whether or not the United States will enter the war and what will happen to the Japanese in America if they do. The reader wants to read on to see what will happen to Sumiko and her family. The perspective of a young Japanese girl on the issues of war and prejudice is a new and fresh one that young kids will be able to relate to and that cannot be found in a history book.

Review Excerpt(s):
Kirkus: "Like weedflowers, hope survives in this quietly powerful story."
Publisher's Weekly: "The contrast between the Native Americans' plight and that of the interned may enlighten many reader."
School Library Journal: "She is a sympathetic heroine, surrounded by well-crafted, fascinating people. The concise yet lyrical prose conveys her story in a compelling narrative that will resonate with a wide audience."

Connections:
Have students read this work of historical fiction along with nonfiction material on World War II. Discuss the ways in which the United States is different and similar today. Discuss Sumiko's perspective on the war compared to others. Also, discuss what one can learn from a work of historical fiction such as Weedflower that cannot be learned from a textbook.

Chains: Seeds of America by: Laurie Halse Anderson

Bibliography:
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Chains. 2008. New York: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 1416905855

Plot Summary:
Isabel and Ruth are sisters and slaves. After their master dies, they are to be set free. Instead, they are sold to another master and moved to New York. Shortly thereafter, the British sail into the harbor and quickly take over the city. The sisters' new owner turns out to be a cruel woman who soon separates the girls by moving Ruth from New York. Isabel is devastated and the only thing on her mind is escape. She sees a lot in New York, befriends another young slave, Curzon, and becomes a spy for the Patriots in the Revolutionary War.

Critical Analysis:
Winner of the 2009 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, this a well researched and well written novel. The plot is interesting and the characters are believable. The facts woven throughout the story are historically accurate and each chapter begins with a real quote from a person living during the time. Isabel's attitude, values, and morals are reflective of the times as well as that of her owners. For young adults and adults alike, reading this novel is a great way to learn about slavery during the American Revolution without having to read a dry and boring history book.

Review Excerpt(s):
Kirkus: "Anderson brilliantly recreates New York City in the summer of 1776, viewed through the eyes of a remarkable heroine."
Publisher's Weekly: "Anderson (Speak; Fever 1793) packs so much detail into her evocation of wartime New York City that readers will see the turmoil and confusion of the times, and her solidly researched exploration of British and Patriot treatment of slaves during a war for freedom is nuanced and evenhanded, presented in service of a fast-moving, emotionally involving plot."
School Library Journal: "With short chapters, each beginning with a historical quote, this fast-paced novel reveals the heartache and struggles of a country and slave fighting for freedom."
VOYA: "Thought-provoking and emotional, Isabel's story will linger long after the last page has been read."

Connections:
Look for the Forge, the upcoming sequel to Chains. Also, pair with a unit on the American Revolution or slavery. Check out www.writerlady.com for relevant website links and a teacher's guide complete with discussion questions and various related assignments for all subjects.

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by: Barbara Kerley

Bibliography:

Kerley, Barbara. The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins. 2001. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439114942

Plot Summary:
Waterhouse Hawkins grew up in 19th century London, a time when very little was known about dinosaurs. As a boy, he loved to sketch and sculpt models of the animals he saw around him. When he became older, with the help of scientist Richard Owen, he began to sculpt dinosaurs. His dinosaur models would have a home in London's new art and science museum, the Crystal Palace. Waterhouse even hosted a dinner for England's leading scientists inside of his enormous Iguanadon model! After his success in London, Waterhouse was invited to build American dinosaurs for a museum that was to be placed in Central Park. However, the corrupt New York City politician, "Boss" Tweed put a halt to Waterhouse's work. Late one night, vandals broke into Waterhouse's workshop and destroyed his dinosaurs. He would move on to work at Princeton and then the Smithsonian before returning home. Waterhouse lived to see more iguanadon skeletons unearthed and to learn that some of his models were not accurate. However, his models continue to survive and they provided many, many people with their first dinosaur encounters.

Critical Analysis:
This is a great biography for the younger reader who may just be starting to delve into the nonfiction world. Not only does Brian Selznick use large colorful illustrations, but the biography is about a man who brought dinosaurs to life! What child does not love dinosaurs? Although this book seems short for a biography, it is not simplistic. Instead, it is fascinating, accurate, and readable. If the reader or parent is interested in reading more, the author and illustrator have included further notes in the end. The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins is well-researched by both author and illustrator alike.

Review Excerpt(s):

Starred Review in Booklist: "What a marvelous pairing: the life of the nineteenth-century British dinosaur maven Waterhouse Hawkins and Selznick's richly evocative, Victorian-inspired paintings."

Publisher's Weekly: "The elegant design on tall pages gives the dinosaur models their due from various perspectives, and scenery of the period additionally grounds the work in historic context. Extensive author and illustrator notes denote the extensive (and fun) research both undertook for this extraordinary volume."

School Library Journal: "Painstakingly researched, written and illustrated with careful attention to detail, this book presents the fervor and spirit of a dedicated, little-known individual whose conceptions-however erroneous by today's discoveries-astounded the minds and stirred the imaginations of scientists then involved in the actual birth of paleontology."

Connections:

Pair this biography of the astonishing dinosaur sculptor with other books on dinosaurs or a unit on paleontology.

Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea by: Steve Jenkins

Bibliography:

Jenkins, Steve. Down Down Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea. 2009. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN 9780618966363

Plot Summary:
Ocean's cover more than two-thirds of the earth's surface, and yet humans have explored very little of this. Jenkins takes us from just above the surface of the ocean down to its extreme bottom. The oceans average two and a half miles in depth and are home to the vast majority of living things on our planet. From the well known Great White Shark, Green Sea Turtle, and Manta Ray that live closer to the surface to the lesser known Siphonophore, Fangtooth, and Hagfish that live deeper down, Jenkins highlights a wide array of sea creatures. At the end of the book, Jenkins describes the animals in more depth and presents diagrams that show their size compared to an adult's body or hand.

Critical Analysis:
Everything about Down, down, down by Steve Jenkins is great! From accuracy, to organization, to design and style, this book has it all. Jenkins uses the depth of the ocean to organize the book, going down, down, down with every page. While the reader may be familiar with some of the creatures pictured and described, most are obscure, unheard of, and completely fascinating. For example, have you ever heard of the male hairy angler who uses his teeth to attach himself to the side of the much larger female hairy angler? Jenkins explains: "Soon his body will fuse to hers. There he will remain, living off the female's body, for the rest of his life." In addition to all of the new and interesting facts, Jenkins' cut and torn paper collage illustrations are fabulous. They are unique, accurate, and colorful. As a whole, this book is attractive, inviting, and readable, something many of today's children's nonfiction books lack.

Review Excerpt(s):

Booklist: "Thorough endnotes give greater detail on each of the featured creatures and help make this a most welcome introduction to the sometimes-surprising world of marine biology."

Kirkus Reviews: "His signature cut-paper illustrations show more than 50 creatures, from the albatross in the air to the flatfish living at the bottom of the Mariana Trench."

New York Times: "Through the almost magical use of cut paper, Jenkins takes the reader on a voyage from the surface to the sunlit shallows to the very bottom of the sea."

School Library Journal: "The bold views tend to emphasize the weirdness of these little-known species, but the repeated message that humans have much to explore and learn in the deeper ocean is intriguing and inviting."

Connections:

Read more of Steve Jenkins nonfiction such as Actual Size, Dogs and Cats, Living Color, or Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World. All of the illustrations are in the same beautiful collage style made of cut and torn paper.

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by: Kadir Nelson

Bibliography:
Nelson, Kadir. 2008. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 13978078680832

Plot Summary:

Organized by nine innings and then an extra inning, Kadir Nelson takes us on a journey through Negro League Baseball. The story is told by an anonymous negro leaguer himself. Everything starts when Andrew "Rube" Foster creates the Negro National League in 1920. This was "a different brand of baseball from the majors. Negro baseball was fast! Flashy! Daring!" There was a lot of discrimination faced along the way, but the players loved baseball so much that they endured. The Eastern Colored League and the Negro National League fell aprt during the Great Depression, to be later reorganized by Gus Greenlee. Greenlee also built the first ballpark for a Negro team. The talent in the Negro Leagues was undeniable. However, one never heard about them. "It's a shame the world didn't get to see them play." When World War II came, a lot of the Negro Leaguers were drafted into the service. Toward the end of the war, when the players started coming back, crowds at the games got bigger and bigger. Then came Jackie Robinson. Jackie was the first African-American to play in the Major Leagues. He signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. Jackie going to the Majors pretty much killed the Negro Leagues. More Major League teams started signing black ballplayers and fans began to desert the Negro Leagues. However, the Negro Leaguers "cleared the way" for many of the greats we watch play today.

Critical Analysis:

This is an exceptionally well-written and illustrated book. Nelson's narrator is personable and easily read. The story is lively and interesting. Although it might be long for some young readers, the beautiful paintings that cover the pages are worth picking the book up for. The organization by innings is clever and the index is full of negro leaguers we might find by name. Winner of the Coretta Scott King Award and the Robert F. Sibert Medal, this is an incredibly well-researched and put together work of nonfiction, especially for first-time author Kadir Nelson. We may not only recognize him now for his remarkable illustrations, but also his talent as a writer.
Review Excerpt(s):

New York Times: "This is the first book [Kadir Nelson] has both illustrated and written, and it's absolutely gorgeous."

Publisher's Weekly: "In his first outing as author as well as illustrator, Nelson (Ellington Was Not a Street) delivers a history of the Negro Leagues in a sumptuous volume that no baseball fan should be without."

School Library Journal: "Social studies teachers and baseball fans of all ages will covet this delightful winner of the 2009 Coretta Scott King author award and illustrator Honor award."

VOYA: "The powerful pictures bring the players right off the pages, including a six-panel fold out of the "First Colored World Series" teams, and will pull readers of all ages back to the book repeatedly."

Connections:

Read Sharon Robinson's Testing the Ice: A True Story about Jackie Robinson illustrated by Kadir Nelson.

When Gorilla Goes Walking by: Nikki Grimes

Bibliography:
Grimes, Nikki. 2007. When Gorilla Goes Walking. New York: Orchard Books. ISBN 9780439317702

Plot Summary:
Through poetry, Grimes explores the relationship between a young girl, cecilia, and her cat, Gorilla. Cecilia's best friend, who is also named Cecilia, has three brothers. Cecilia as an only child begs her mother for an animal, thereby receiving Gorilla, the cat. Gorilla has no fear and chases dogs. People laugh at her "tailless rump." However, Gorilla does not care because "it was never there." Gorilla takes care of Cecilia when she is sick, tries to answer the telephone, and gets in trouble when Cecilia gets in trouble. Gorilla is very jealous and only likes "soul food." When Cecilia's best friend, Cecilia, moves away, Gorilla is there to comfort her.

Critical Analysis:
The poetry, it's believability, and the easiness with which the reader can relate to the various situations are what makes this collection so strong. In Learning the Rules, Cecilia describes how it was not easy remembering that Gorilla was boss. "I run, I jump, I fetch, unless my master turns away and stretches 'cross the carpet, reclining still as stone, ignoring me until I see she wants to be alone." Gorilla's personality is realistic and believable, especially in the poem Jealous. Although the artwork is nothing incredibly special, it seems to fit the poems well. There is not so much going on that you forget the poetry. The poetry is front and center and what really catches the reader's attention. The story of Cecilia and Gorilla is engaging and a real stand-out. Great read for all cat lovers!

Review Excerpt(s):
Starred review in Booklist: "Written in a variety of forms, from rhyming couplets to haiku, the poems celebrate Gorilla's idiosyncrasies and "everycat" habits."

Kirkus Reviews: "Cat lovers will identify with all the feline traits and tricks, and the cat-girl sentiments are precisely on target."

Publisher's Weekly: "Grimes offers up everything from multi-stanza paeans (both rhyming and not) to a sort of haiku ("Gorilla gazes/ into a puddle. Does she/ know she's beautiful?")."
School Library Journal: "Enormous, lively illustrations are paired with an equally bouncy text in this winning picture book."

Connections:
Pair with other picture books about cats such as Jean Craighead George's How to Talk to Your Cat or Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library by Vicki Myron.

Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars by: Douglas Florian

Bibliography:
Florian, Douglas. 2007. Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 9780152053727

Plot Summary:
Florian writes twenty poems about space ranging from the planets of the solar system to comets, constellations, black holes, and the great beyond. Each two-page spread contains one poem and a large illustration. The illustrations in the book are done with gouache, collage, and rubber stamps on primed brown paper bags. A "galactic glossary" and further recommended reading is included in the back.

Critical Analysis:
Here is another topical poetry collection by Florian that does not disappoint. Florian's illustrations are more abstract than realistic. Because of this, I would pair this poetry collection with some nonfiction books on space with photographs, especially with children who are being introduced to the subject. Although Florian's illustrations are incredibly unique and striking, it would be hard for a child to get a feel for what space is like by reading this book. That being said, the abstractness fits the poetry genre perfectly. Many of the poems are witty and sound great read aloud. Take a look especially at the poems on Pluto and Jupiter.

Review Excerpt(s):
Booklist: "Each broad double-page spread features a short, accessible poem about a subject such as the sun, each of its planets, a comet, a constellation, or the universe, set within an impressive painting."

Kirkus Reviews: "Stunning mixed-media illustrations accompany a series of poems that celebrate the wonder and mystery of space."
Starred Review from School Library Journal: "In both language and artwork, Florian strikes the perfect balance between grandeur and whimsy."
New York Times Book Review: "The most engaging verses in “Comets, Stars” serve up planetary facts with a dose of cheeky humor."

Connections:
This would be a great addition to a science lesson or unit on space. It is nice to get some meaningful poetry in with kids wherever we can and this collection of poetry will reinforce what is being taught.

The Poet Slave of Cuba by: Margarita Engle

Bibliography:
Engle, Margarita. 2006. The Poet Slave of Cuba. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 9780805077063

Plot Summary:
Juan Manzano and his family were slaves in Cuba in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Juan is able to recite poetry in many languages at a very early age and becomes the "pet" of his first owner, Dona Beatriz. Dona Beatriz sets Juan's parents free at Juan's baptism, but says she will keep Juan for herself until she dies. However, after her death, Juan is still not set free. Instead, Juan's parents do not see him for five years. He has come under the ownership of the evil La Marquesa de Prado Ameno. Juan is punished and tortured on a regular basis. La Marquesa's son, Don Nicolas, tries to help Juan, but his mother is ruthless and there is little he can do. Eventually Juan is able to escape in the night by horseback. Some historical notes and examples of Juan's poetry are included.

Critical Analysis:
A biography written in verse sounds like an odd combination, but it is an absolutely perfect fit for the biography of Cuban poet and slave Juan Fransisco Manzano. The imagery and emotion evoked by Engle's poetry is intense. Juan's pain seem more real, his suffering more great. The poetry makes La Marquesa de Prado Ameno's insanity more insane. In addition, the organization of the verse novel is brilliant. Engle breaks the poetry up by giving voice to the various people in Juan's life. This gives the reader many different perspectives in which to view Juan. This organizational tool is eye opening and brings to light the misunderstandings, feelings, and inner workings of all involved. Winner of the 2008 Pura Belpre Medal for Narrative.

Review Excerpt(s):
School Library Journal: "This is a book that should be read by young and old, black and white, Anglo and Latino."
Starred review from Booklist: "In plain, stirring free verse, Engle dramatizes the boyhood of the nineteenth-century Cuban slave Juan Francisco Manzano, who secretly learned to read and wrote poetry about beauty and courage in his world of unspeakable brutality."

Kirkus Reviews: "In impassioned and eloquent free verse, Engle captures not only the deep sensibilities of the various characters but also the enervating atmosphere of nineteenth-century Cuba."

Publisher's Weekly: "Engle (Skywriting, for adults) achieves an impressive synergy between poetry and biography as she illuminates the tortured life of the 19th-century Cuban poet."

Connections:

Read this biography along with some of Manzano's actual poetry: The life and poems of a Cuban slave : Juan Francisco Manzano, 1797-1854 / edited by Edward J. Mullen.

Adelita: A Mexican Cinderella Story by: Tomie DePaola

Bibliography:

DePaola, Tomie. 2002. Adelita: A Mexican Cinderella Story. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 0399238662

Plot Summary:

A long time ago, in a Mexican village, Fransisco and his wife Adela have baby. They call on an old friend, Esperanza to help. After the baby is born, Adela dies and Fransisco names their baby girl Adelita. Eventually, Fransisco remarries. Senora Micaela de la Fortuna has two daughters close in age to Adelita, Valentina and Dulce. Not long after the marriage, Adelita's father suddenly dies. Dona Micaela no longer hides her jealousy of Adelita and immediately orders her to take up a small room in the attic. In addition, Adelita is forced to wear hand-me-downs and Valentina and Dulce are mean and hateful toward her. Esperanze helps to keep Adelita's heart warm, but it is not long before Dona Micaela fires her and forces Adelita to do all of the housework. One morning, Dona Micaela announces that el Senor and la Senora Gordillo have invited the family to a party at their ranch to celebrate the homecoming of their son Javier. The rumor is that he is looking for a wife. Adelita asks if she can come but is immediately told no. However, after the sisters leave for the party, Esperanza comes to help Adelita get ready. They find a beautiful white dress that belonged to Adelita's mother and they set off for the party in a borrowed cart. No one recognizes Adelita at the party and she introduces herself as Cenicienta-Cinderella. Javier falls in love with Adelita, but Adelita is afraid to admit who she is and leaves the party in a hurry. The next day Javier goes around the village looking for his Cenicienta and knows she is at Adelita's home because Adelita hung the rebozo she had worn to the party out of her window. Javier is so happy when he sees Adelita that he asks her to marry him. Everyone is invited to the wedding and they live happily ever after.

Critical Analysis:
The bright and colorful paintings typical of DePaola are what attract readers to this Cinderella variant. His artwork is a perfect fit for a Mexican Cinderella Story. The folk art style used reflects the culture of Mexico and really helps the reader get a good feel for the setting of the tale. Although this is a Cinderella story, many aspects of the Mexican culture emerge throughout. Spanish is interspersed and translations are given at the end of the story. Instead of a ball, the sisters attend a fiesta, and instead of arriving in a pumpkin magically turned coach, Cinderella arrives in a borrowed cart. There is no glass slipper, but instead a beautiful red rebozo. This is a great spin on a classic fairy tale complete with beautiful illustrations that are true to the Mexican culture.

Review Excerpt(s):

Publisher's Weekly: "His vibrant acrylics incorporate folk art motifs as well as rustic domestic items. The jazzy design features mosaic-like tile backgrounds of varying shades that frame smaller panels and portraits throughout."

School Library Journal: "Making perfect use of clear, warm hues, the full-color acryclic illustrations are a feast for the eye."

Connections:

Read other Cinderella variants such as those of Robert San Souci, Judy Sierra's The Gift of the Crocodile, or Bubba the Cowboy Prince: A Fractured Texas Tale by Helen Ketteman.

The Legend of the White Buffalo Woman by: Paul Goble

Bibliography:
Goble, Paul. 1998. The Legend of the White Buffalo Woman. Washington D.C.: National Geographic Society. ISBN 0792270746
Plot Summary:
Long ago, the Great Spirit made it rain and flood and all of the people except one "were swept away and drowned." The Eagle of the Sky saved one young woman and the two married. The woman gave birth to twins and people had a new beginning. After many generations, the sad and frightening times of war came and the people fled to the great open plains. As a group is searching for buffalo, a strange and beautiful woman appears carrying a bundle on her back. She orders one of the men to tell his leader that she has something important for him, to erect a council tipi, and for everyone to gather there at dawn the next day. She comes to the meeting carrying a red pipe and singing a song. She announces that the Great Spirit told her Buffalo People to send her and for her to give them the pipe. They are to pray with the pipe and the pipe will join nations and famiies together in love and peace. As she is leaving everyone is amazed to see that she turns into a white buffalo calf and joins buffaloes that have come to surround the camp. The red stone used to make the pipes comes from the earth where the buffalo make their pathways. "Tradition tells that the red stone is the flesh and blood of the people who drowned at the end of the Old World."
Critical Analysis:
Although not Native American himself, Goble's research is thorough and his depiction of the Plains Indian culture is accurate. His illustrations are undoubtedly breathtaking and some of the best in all of children's literature. The Legend of the White Buffalo Woman is one of the most important of all Lakota sacred legends and Goble supplements the legend with facts and background information. The story, like many traditional stories, covers years and years in the matter of sentences. The reader travels from the end of the old world on one page, to the birth of a nation on the next, to the times of war and then the appearance of the buffalo woman. This quick passing of time is true to the oral tellings of the story and reads well aloud.
Review Excerpt(s):
Booklist: "Goble fans, young and old, will enjoy the details in the clothing and landscape."
Kirkus Reviews: "Goble's stylized figures seem appropriately larger than life, and the Lakota prayers and comments he quotes further enhance the reverant tone."
Connections:
Paul Goble is a renowned writer and illustrator of children's picture books about the Plains Indian culture. Read more of his books such as The Girl who Loved Wild Horses, The Gift of the Sacred Dog, or one of his nonfiction books such as Tipi: Home of the Nomadic Buffalo Hunters.

Porch Lies: Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters, and other Wily Characters by: Patricia McKissack

Bibliography:

McKissack, Patricia C. 2006. Porch Lies: Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters, and other Wily Characters. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 139780375836190

Plot Summary:

McKissack tells 10 "porch lies" ranging from the sly and devilish Pete Bruce to the slickster-trickster Cake Norris. The "porch lies" come from stories McKissack heard told to her when she was young. The stories are fiction and original although they do draw from the African-American oral tradition.

Critical Analysis:
Although this collection of stories is meant for older readers, ages 8-12, it would have been nice if more illustrations were included. It seems that this book might be more appropriate for adults to read so that they may then orally retell the stories to children. The trickster stories themselves are very well told and read extremely well aloud. McKissack brilliantly captures the sound of spoken language in print, but it is hard for me to see children reading these stories on their own.

Review Excerpt(s):

Starred review in Booklist: "The nine original tales in this uproarious collection draw on African-American oral tradition and blend history and legend with sly humor, creepy horror, villainous characters, and wild farce."

School Library Journal: "Great fun to read aloud and the tricksters, sharpies, slicksters, and outlaws wink knowlingly at the child narrators, and at us foolish humans."

Connections: Read McKissack's The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural.

Show and Tell: Exploring the Fine Art of Children's Book Illustration by: Dilys Evans

Bibliography:
Evans, Dilys. 2008. Show and Tell: Exploring the Fine Art of Chidren's Book Illustration. San Fransisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC. ISBN 9780811849715
Plot Summary:
Evans presents the work and tells the story of twelve varied picture book illustrators. Her purpose is "not to profile a particular group of illustrators," but to choose a group that will "offer readers as broad a frame of reference as possible." From Trina Schart Hyman, to Brian Collier, to David Shannon, Evans choices provide different backgrounds, different styles, and different mediums. There are twelve chapters, one for each artist. In each chapter, background information, from childhood to the present, is given. Various examples of artwork are provided complete with commentary. Evans' hope with this book is that it will "help all of us who value children's books to find a universal language to use to talk about art on the page." Her details of the artists' lives, their work, and their passion doubled with her own commentary on the illustrations serve to provide all readers not only with the vocabulary needed to converse with the most die-hard of picture book enthusiasts, but also to give the reader a greater appreciation of the work and thought put into illustrating picture books.
Critical Analysis:
Show and Tell is an excellent resource for the beginning picture book enthusiast. It is interesting and informative, part biography, part artistic commentary. Evans' own commentary is an excellent example of how one might go about talking about picture books and their illustrations with others. How does an illustration make you feel, why does it make you feel that way, why did the artist choose one specific medium and not another? These are all questions that one might not think to ask and yet ones the illustrator often purposely asks him or herself before and during the creation of his or her art. The stories prove to the would-be skeptic that picture book illustration is not a mindless process, but instead is often painstakingly thought out, detailed, and labor intensive.
Review Excerpt(s):
Starred review from School Library Journal: "An enlightening must-read for all picture-book enthusiasts."
Connections:
Read other books on picture book illustration such as A Caldecott Celebration by Leonard Marcus or simply test out your newly acquired critical eye on any picture books you can get your hands on.

Knuffle Bunny by: Mo Willems

Bibliography:
Willems, Mo. 2004. Knuffle Bunny. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786818700
Plot Summary:
Knuffle Bunny follows Trixie, Knuffle Bunny, and Trixie's father to the laundromat in Brooklyn, New York. After helping her father put the laundry and the money into the machine, the father and daughter leave. It is on the way home that Trixie realizes she does not have Knuffle Bunny! She desperately tries to tell her father what has happened, but he does not understand. Therefore, Trixie must resort to bawling, going "boneless," and simply throwing a fit. When Trixie and her father arrive home, it is Trixie's perceptive mother who immediately realizes that Knuffle Bunny is missing. Trixie and her parents immediately race back to the laundromat and begin their frantic search. When Trixie is finally reunited with her beloved stuffed animal, she excitedly screams "Knuffle Bunny!!! And those were the first words Trixie ever said."
Critical Analysis:
Almost all kids have their own version of a "knuffle bunny" at some point in their early years (and maybe even when they are older). Willems' portrayal of Trixie is precisely consistent for a pre-verbal child as any parent of young children will confirm. After Trixie's father misunderstands her pleas of "aggle flaggle klabble!" and "wumby flappy?!," Trixie bawls and goes "boneless." What parent and child cannot relate to this? The illustrations represent the parent-child misunderstanding and final understanding in the story. Although the sepia toned background photographs and character cartoon drawings seem to contrast, they ultimately complement one another perfectly. The photographs of Brooklyn establish the setting, appeal more to the adult, and highlight the realistic quality and believability of the story. The cartoon drawings of the characters appeal more to the child, serve to highlight the action of the story, and help young children focus and follow the plot. This is a remarkably simple universal toddler drama and yet it is perfectly complete, believable, and satisfying.
Review Excerpt(s):
BCCB Blue Ribbon Picture Book Award Winner
2005 Caldecott Honor Book
Starred review in Booklist: "Effectively registers all the universal signs of toddler distress."
Starred review in School Library Journal: "A seamless and supremely satisfying presentation of art and text."
Connections:
Other Mo Willems books such as Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Today I Will Fly will have the children cracking up and wanting more.

The Lion and the Mouse by: Jerry Pinkney

Bibliography:
Pinkney, Jerry. 2009. The Lion and the Mouse. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316013567
Plot Summary: Pinkney's illustrations clearly move the plot along, but because this is a wordless picture book, the plot is open for interpretation. Pinkney sets the story in the African Serengeti where various creatures abound. What we know for sure is that a little mouse stumbles upon a large lion who sets the mouse free. The lion subsequently gets caught in a trap set by humans. The lion's loud roars are heard by the mouse who comes to gnaw at the rope trap and, this time, it is the mouse who sets the lion free. The rest of the story, the details, are for the reader to tell.
Critical Analysis: Because the retellings of The Lion and the Mouse are always a little different, a wordless rendering of the fable suits it perfectly. First time "readers" can recreate the fable in any way they see fit. Does the lion initially want to eat the mouse and the mouse convinces him to set her free or does the lion want nothing to do with a little old mouse? There is no right or wrong answer and that is the beauty of a wordless picture book. The cover of the book is the lion's face up close; there are no words. The lion is looking to his right which ironically leads the reader to turn the book over instead of open it up. On the back of the book is the mouse seemingly smiling back at the giant predator. The fact that the mouse occupies the same amount of space as the lion speaks to the equality and interconnectedness of all living beings. There are different morals that may be taken from this fable with the traditional one being how the weak can trump the mighty. Others might include how there is something great within all of us and we are all capable of amazing things, how cooperation is key to success, or how leaders are nothing if they do not respect those whom they wish to lead.
Review Excerpt(s):
2010 Caldecott Medal winner
2009 Parents' Choice Gold Award winner
Starred review from School Library Journal: "A classic tale from a consummate artist."
Connections:
Read other picture book retellings of Aesop's Fables such as Helen Ward's The Hare and the Tortoise or pair The Lion and the Mouse with other wordless picture books such as those of David Wiesner.