Review: The Right Word

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bryant, Jen. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus. Michigan: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2014.  ISBN 978-0-08028-5385-1

2.     PLOT SUMMARY
Peter was a shy, reserved young boy who found the power of words early in life. At the young age of eight, he started his own book of lists. It began with something as simple as words he had learned in his Latin lessons, and quickly developed into the curiosity of finding the perfect word for those everyday interactions. It was just something Peter did during his journey through many relocations, growing into a man, becoming a doctor, a husband and a father.

3.     CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Wow! The perfect marriage of story and illustration can be found in this picture book biography, The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus. The illustrations are just as important to the story as the text that tells this factual and fascinating account of Peter Roget's life. There are words everywhere, in different fonts, sizes and colors that many times matched the theme of the list it was a part of. The unique placement lends itself to be described as an "organizational chaos" of words and lists placed throughout the pages and 2-page spreads that draws the reader's attention and keeps them from wanting to turn the page, just to make sure they did not miss a single word.

The illustrations are vibrant, colorful and bold and just screams creativity. More specifically, it shows readers how the human brain thinks, with movement and transition in thoughts that can constantly be build upon. In addition, the words with the illustrations show not only facts, but emotions, personality and interests that make up the Roget as a person.

At the conclusion of the story, the author provides readers with a List of Principal Events, a timeline that shows the main events in Peter Roget's life, as well as how those dates align with important events in history. Furthermore, the author shares a personal note about her interest in writing the book and finding out about the real, historical details of Roget's life, followed by a personal note from the illustrator about the imagery within her collages and her need to use lists from Roget's notebooks and his first edition Thesaurus fro 1852.

Last, but certainly not least, Bryant has a page listing all of the selected bibliography and sources used in her research, along with a section titles 'For Further Reading' for those who enjoyed her book. This picture book biography is a must read!

4.     REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

From Hornbook: "Apt language and ingenious imagery. . . . both decorous and warm.”

From Booklist: “In brilliant pages teeming with enthusiasm for language and learning, Bryant and Sweet joyfully celebrate curiosity, the love of knowledge, and the power of words.”

From School Library Journal: "Expertly researched and well written, Bryant’s narrative not only details the creation of the thesaurus; it also conveys a sense of Roget the man. . . . An excellent illustrated biography."

From Kirkus Review: "Bryant's prose is bright and well-tuned for young readers. . . . Sweet tops herself -- again! -- visually reflecting Roget's wide range as a thinker and product of the Enlightenment. Injecting her watercolor palette with shots of teal, scarlet and fuchsia, Sweet embeds vintage bits (ledger paper, type drawers, botanical illustrations and more), creating a teeming, contemplative, playfully celebratory opus. In a word: marvelous!"

Caldecott Honor Book

Texas Bluebonnet Master List for 2015-2016

Eureka! Honor Award 2014

CLSC Young Readers Selection for 2015

5.     CONNECTIONS

Gather other books from The Best 2014 Women-Illustrated Picture Books:

•                      Castillo, Lauren. Nana in the City. ISBN-10 0544104439

•                     Daly, Cathleen. Emily's Blue Period. ISBN-10 1596434694

Gather other Jen Bryant books to read such as:

•                    A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin. ISBN-10  0375867120

•                    A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams. ISBN-10 0802853021

•                    The Trial. ISBN-10 0440419867

Lesson Ideas:

- Vocabulary Journals- encourage students to keep a journal of vocabulary words they find interesting throughout the book, so they are able to research meaning and reuse the words later.
- Introduce synonyms as a way to add voice to a story
- Create a pictorial map using a biography or autobiography by other sources.

Review: What To Do About Alice?

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kerley, Barbara. What To Do About Alice? How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! New York: Scholastic Press, 2008.  ISBN-13: 978-0-439-92231-9

2.     CRITICAL ANALYSIS
What To Do About Alice is a comedic, picture book biography about the  exciting life of Theodore Roosevelt's oldest daughter, Alice. The tale tells about Alice's adventures, discoveries and mischief as she grows up and eventually fills the role of the president's daughter. Her fun and carefree demeanor definitely made her more personable to those watching from the outside, though her father called her unruly behavior a "running riot." Alice called it as "eating up the world", because all she ever wanted was to be herself and learn as much as she could about things that interested her. This book serves as a great inspirational piece of literature that could help young girls see how it is acceptable to not always fit into the "mold" society has created of a "proper" woman, and that it is quite alright to follow your dreams and be yourself.

The extensive and beautiful illustrations by Fotheringham help children not only engage in the details of the biography itself, but also allows them to immerse themselves in the era in which the story takes place. The illustrations are authentic to the time, which is particularly present in the wardrobe, the horse-drawn carriage ride, and even in the way Alice styles her hair. The biography being organized  and told as a picture book, makes it more kid friendly, allowing it to reach a bigger audience, while maintaining its biographical status.

The Author's Note at the end of the book is a purposeful, and much appreciated addition that gives readers a bit more insight into Alice's world, as well as a bit more information on her involvement in politics later in life. In addition, the author provided citations of where the quotes in the book were drawn from, showing readers how factual and authentic the biography is, despite the picture book 'only' feel.

The humorous tone in Kerley's voice as he tells Alice's tale is refreshing and marries  Fotheringham's illustrations flawlesly. Readers will be left wanting more when they see  Alice carrying a huge spoon, walking away from Mount Rushmore, and think "what will Alice do next?"

3.     REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

From Booklist: “Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was....The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art.”

From School Library Journal: "Kerley's text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject's antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp her style, dives fully clothed into a ship's swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father's trusted advisers."

From Kirkus Review: "Kerley's precise text presents readers with a devilishly smart, strong-willed girl who was determined to live life on her own terms—and largely succeeded"

2001 Sibert Honor

2009 Irma Black Award Nominee

4.     CONNECTIONS

Gather other Picture Books About Outstanding Women:

•                     Coles, Robert. The Story of Ruby Bridges. ISBN-10 0439472261

•                     Winter, Jonah. Frida. ISBN-10 0590203207

Gather other Barbara Kerley books to read such as:

•                    Those Rebels, John and Tom. ISBN-10  0545222680

•                    A Home for Mr. Emerson. ISBN-10 0545350883

•                    The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy). ISBN-10 0545125081

Lesson Ideas:

- Personal narrative: what kinds of things would you personally do to "eat up the world?"
- National symbols - read book as an introduction to the White House. Have students discuss what they believe it would be like to live there.
- Use the story as a comparison between the 1900's and the 21st century's way of dressing.

Review: Down Down Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jenkins, Steve. Down Down Down. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2009.  ISBN 0-87358-542-9

2.     CRITICAL ANALYSIS

"More people have walked on the moon than have visited the deepest spot in the ocean." Who knew the ocean was such a mysterious, unexplored place? Written as an exploratory journey from the ocean's surface to the sea floor, Jenkins informational book Down Down Down gives readers an inside look into ocean animals, their habitats, and survival needs. The book is clearly organized and written in a way that covers a few life forms at each depth as the reader and the author descend into the darkest part of the ocean, and is not meant to be a fully comprehensive study of all ocean life.

The illustrations, carefully paper pierced, are an accurate representation of each animal without being a real picture, while the use of different shades of blue help readers feel like the ocean really is getting darker and darker as their journey continues deeper and deeper. The illustrations help engage early readers, while providing interesting and factual information about each mentioned life form at the corresponding depth, making it a great book for research at the older grades. The strategically placed  zone depth on the right side of every 2-page spread helps readers better understand where in the ocean they are exploring using feet/meters and degrees Fahrenheit/Celsius, and includes the surface, the sunlit zone, the twilight zone, the dark zone, the abyssal plain, the hydrothermal vents, and the marianas trench, the deepest spot in the sea.

At the back of the book, the author offers diagrams that show the size of each creature compared to an adult human's body or hand, along with more detailed information on each creature, including, but not limited to their size, weight, how they move and what they eat. In addition, Jenkins provides a bibliography that supports his research and ability to provide factual information, as well as a visual depth illustration to help readers understand that though divers may explore as deep as 2,000 feet (61 meters) with gear or special suits, one would need a special research vessel to reach the deepest spot in the ocean at 35, 838 feet (10,923 meters).

3.     REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

From Hornbook: "Jenkins takes his signature collage to the oceans, sinking readers from the surface of the Pacific Ocean down nearly 11,000 meters to the bottom of the Marianas Trench.”

From Booklist: “In this plunge into the deep, Jenkins displays his usual keen awareness of what is fascinating about biology and imparts it without sensationalism—the facts speak for themselves . . Sophisticated cut- and torn-paper collage-work fit the alien qualities of the subjects well.”

From 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."

2010 ALA Notable Children's Book for Middle Readers

2009 Cybils Award Nominee for Nonfiction Picture Books

Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee


4.     CONNECTIONS

Gather other book about the ocean to read such as:

•                      Johnson, Rebecca. A Journey Into the Ocean. ISBN-10 1575055910

•                      Baker, Jeannie. The Hidden Forest. ISBN-10 0744578760

Gather other Steve Jenkins books to read such as:

•                      Biggest, Strongest, Fastest. ISBN-10  0395861365

•                      What Do You Do with a Tail Like This. ISBN-10 061899713X

•                      Eye to Eye: How Animals See The World. ISBN-10 0547959079

Lesson Ideas:

Ocean animals research - report on particular animals with illustrations including the depth in which they live. Finish research with a field trip an aquarium - our first grade class visits Sea Life every year when we start up out animal research.

Review: Inside Out & Back Again

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lai, Thanhha. Inside Out & Back Again. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2011.  ISBN 978-0-06-196278-3

2.     PLOT SUMMARY
This is the story of Ha, a ten year old  girl who loves her home in Saigon, but is forced to leave when the Vietnam War reaches her home. With her family, Ha travels to America in hopes of a safer life, but has a difficult time adjusting. 

3.     CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Thanhha Lai's novel in verse has a touching story told through the eyes of a ten year old girl named Ha, using short poems, short lines, short stanzas and simple vocabulary. Lai's protagonist, Ha, is an innocent girl who cherishes her home, everyday life and the simplicity of watching her papaya tree grow. As readers follow Ha's journey, through what seems to be her personal and carefully dated journal entries, reader's are given an insight into war, loss, change, hardship and hard work from an easy to read perspective that flows beautifully. Though there is no rhyme pattern present, each word in carefully chosen to help the metaphors, similes and personification jump right out of the pages.  

The author is able to capture a sweet, ten year old girl's voice of humor and hope, and meticulously describe the way she would see the world and the things in it. A good example is when Ha is describing her American, cowboy sponsor, "I love him immediately and imagine him to be good-hearted and loud and the owner of a horse" or when she calls her teacher "MiSSS SScott" to emphasize her S's after a few short lessons in the English language. Through her words and use of imagery, Lai is capable to making readers feel what Ha is feeling, and imagine what Ha is talking about as if they were there with her. 

In this heart warming story for 9-12 year olds, readers see people they can relate to, like the mother who pushes their kids to be their best, siblings who argue and irritate one another, and a little girl who finds joy in the little things, but also struggles with bullying at school. Ha's experiences and the message of hope and finding humor amidst the storm is enlightening. 

4.     REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2012 John Newbery Medal

2011 National Book Award for Young People's Literature

New York Times Bestseller
From Publishers Weekly: “The taut portrayal of Hà’s emotional life is especially poignant as she cycles from feeling smart in Vietnam to struggling in the States, and finally regains academic and social confidence. An incisive portrait of human resilience.”

From Booklist: “Based in Lai’s personal experience, this first novel captures a child–refugee’s struggle with rare honesty. Written in accessible, short free–verse poems, Hà’s immediate narrative describes her mistakes—both humorous and heartbreaking; and readers will be moved by Hà’s sorrow as they recognize the anguish of being the outcast.”

From School Library Journal: “Ha’s voice is full of humor and hope.”

From The Horn Book: “Lai’s spare language captures the sensory disorientation of changing cultures as well as a refugee’s complex emotions and kaleidoscopic loyalties.”


5.     CONNECTIONS

Read other poetry books about wars:

•                    From Both Sides Now: The Poetry of the Vietnam War and Its Aftermath. ISBN 978-0684849478

•                    Unaccustomed Mercy: Soldier-Poets of the Vietnam War. ISBN 0896721906
•                    Carrying the Darkness: The Poetry of the Vietnam War. ISBN 0896721884

•                      

Lesson Ideas:

•           Study on the Vietnam War through poetry
•           Compare and contrast the different points of views, perspectives and experiences of the war
•            Learn about different styles of poetry
•            Have students write a poem about a difficult time in their lives

Review: This Is Just to Say

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sidman, Joyce. This Is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007. ISBN-10: 0-618-61680-2

2.     PLOT SUMMARY
After reading the poem "This Is Just to Say" by William Carlos Williams, Mrs. Merz asks her sixth grade class at Florence Scribner School to write "sorry" poems. They enjoyed their poems so much, they decided to put them all together to create a book. They then added to the original idea when they decided to have responses from the people who received those poems make up the second part of the book.

3.     CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Is this compilation by Joyce Sidman, she writes from the perspective of a fictional sixth grade class, and does so beautifully. She is able to portray emotions using language that a sixth grader would use to capture relationships between friends, siblings, teacher and student, parent and child, pets and their owners, just to name a few. Some poems have a bit of a humorous tone, like when Thomas ate a stolen jelly doughnut from the teacher's lounge and was given away because "the powdered sugar spilled all over" his shirt, while many go much deeper in talking about loss, broken relationships, and unmet expectations, as readers witness when Anthony wrote to his mother seeking her approval: "I saw you turn away from me and in that moment would have given anything to be your champion". Throughout the book, readers will find poems that speak to them about the silliness of just being a child, making mistakes, or even just wanting to impress a boy. 

Through Sidman's haiku, pantoums, two-art poems, snippets, and rhymes, the reader will be given the opportunity to learn the art of apology and forgiveness. Though many of the fictional poets are very sorry for their actions and truly seek forgiveness, others, such as Bobby, are sorry "(but not really)". On the other hand, the reader sees different aspects of forgiveness in part two of the book. Some of the characters responding pour their hearts out, another writes a short and sweet "roses are red, violets are blue" poem to express that she is still really upset about eh situation, while others did not understand why the poets were apologizing in the first place, like Mrs. Merz' mother, when she says "Why are you sorry, my little Ruth?"

The author's ability to portray a young child makes the poems relatable to the targeted 9-12 year old audience. The well-thought out poems and responses allows readers to see the complex relationship between characters, but not without a little bit of effort. After the first read for enjoyment and to grasp Sidman's style and ideas, a reader might find themselves flipping between the poems and their responses in order to connect and truly understand the extent of the characters relationships.

4.     REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Claudia Lewis Poetry Award
Cybils Poetry Award
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
IRA Teacher's Choice Book
New York Public Library's "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing"
Book Links Lasting Connection Book
From School Library Journal: “Sidman's ear is keen, capturing many voices. Her skill as a poet accessible to young people is unmatched.”

From Booklist: "Children will find much to identify with in the situations presented in the apology poems, and they'll appreciate the resolutions given in the responses."

From Kirkus Reviews: "Packed with the intensity of everyday pain and sorrow, kids and adults exchange the words that convey grief, delight, love and acceptance of themselves and others."

5.     CONNECTIONS

Gather other children's poetry books to read such as:

•                    Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings. ISBN  0060256672

•                    A Child's Garden of Verses. ISBN 0689823827

•                    Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes. ISBN 1402718454

Gather other Joyce Sidman books to read such as:

•                      What the Heart Knows: Chants, Charms, and Blessings. ISBN 0544106164

•                      Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors. ISBN 0547014945

•                      Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems . ISBN 0618135472

Use as a lesson about apologies and forgiveness

Use when introducing self-to-text connections to allow students to reflect on what was read
Use it as an introduction to narrative writing - have students write about a time they had to
    apologize for something they had done and how it felt  to be forgiven

Review: beast feast

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Florian, Douglar. beast feast. Singapore: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1994.  ISBN 0-15-295178-4

2.     CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In this playful collection of short poems for young children, Florian plays with different rhythm, rhyme and age appropriate language to create a fun and engaging experience for the readers. The poems range from short and sweet to some that are a bit longer with more details, as it paints an image for the target audience about the animal it is describing. Florian's watercolor illustrations are simple and portrayed as paintings in a frame that compliments the color of the animals. Though one might think the illustrations may take away from the poetry itself, by filling a whole page next to the text, it is the carefully selected words and their placement that steal the show.

The black text surrounded by white space especially draws the reader's attention to the text, as its placement changes throughout the book to enhance the experience. For example, in The Sloth, the word "p a u s e" is written with spaces to symbolize the lack of movement. Throughout the book, one will find words that are written in "Oversized" font, with CAPITAL letters, diagonally, and even upside down for emphasis. Not only does Florian play with font sizes and placement, but he also introduces a play on words with text such as "Walrusty", "rhearranged", kangaroom" and "There's moa and moa and moa and moa". In addition, Florian strategically chooses to place page numbers in the middle of the page, rather than the corner, to draw the reader's attention to the next page.

This humorous interpretation of animals, through carefully thought out and placed words, with different rhyme patterns, flows beautifully off the tongue as a fun read aloud for kids. It is written in such a manner that will have kids engaged from the very first page, and the table of contents in the beginning of the book will help children go back to their favorite poems to read it "moa and moa and moa and moa".

3.     REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

From Publishers Weekly: “Florian ( Monster Motel ; Vegetable Garden ) indeed presents a feast--for the eyes and the ears--in this cheerful collection of brief, bouncy poems describing an eclectic roundup of animals.”

From Booklist: “Twenty-one animals are each the subject of both a watercolor painting and a poem. Brief and largely humorous, the poems often make rhymes or puns with the animals' names.”

From School Library Journal: “This collection is an uncluttered, short presentation by an author/illustrator who knows what children will find funny-add to that the bonus of factual information tucked into each poem, and the result is a winner. It's easy to imagine readers becoming inspired to write and illustrate their own poems after spending time with Florian. Clearly a wonderful book.”

From The Kirkus Reviews: “A frequent picture-book author-illustrator offers 21 snappy poems about animals, each depicted in a square, dynamically composed watercolor. The succinctly phrased verse is fresh, occasionally whimsical, and witty with wordplay and puns.”

ALA Notable Book Award

1995 Lee Bennet Hopkins Poetry Award

NCTE - CBC Notable Language Arts Book


4.     CONNECTIONS

Gather other children's poetry books about animals:

•                     Whipple, Laura. Eric Carle's Animals Animals. ISBN  0698118553

•                     Elliott, David. In the Wild. ISBN 0439915015

Gather other Douglas Florian poetry books to read such as:

•                    Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings . ISBN    978-0152053727

•                    Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric Poems and Paintings . ISBN 978-1416979784

•                    lizards, frogs, and polliwogs. ISBN 978-0152052485

Lesson Ideas:
Use in a lesson to introduce adjectives
Use to review rhyming words
Use as a listening activity - have students listen to one of the poems and illustrate what they believe the animal looks like, just from what they have heard