Kidnap at the Catfish Cafe

Author Study Selection

Author:  Patricia Reilly Giff, 1998, Viking

Illustrator:  Lynne Cravath

This is the third and final choice for my author study, and I found it quite different from the previous Giff books.  Kidnap at the Catfish Cafe is a juvenile detective book, and it takes the reader on a hunt to find a purse snatcher.  The detective is a teenage girl who lives in Florida, I believe.  She takes a cat, who is thought to be a stray but turns out as someone's missing pet, as her co-detective.  This cat takes on human qualities and is described as nodding and making other gestures that would make one believe it is speaking to Minnie, the main character.  Minnie ends up solving the case, as I would have expected, and she becomes friends with another amateur detective named Cash. 

The entire plot is exactly what I expected from the beginning.  It is one installment in a series called The Adventures of Minnie and Max.  The characters follow the typical route to solving a mystery.  By that, I am referring to some classic mysteries such as Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.  Each book was a carbon copy of the other, just with different twists, turns, and characters.  This makes it easy for readers to fall in love with the books, but it also makes it easy for them to predict what will happen.  While I have not read other Minnie and Max books, I would suspect that they do the same.  I liked this book, but as I said earlier, it was unlike the other books I have read by Patricia Reilly Giff.  Her recent juvenile chapter books are more historical in nature, and they are more believable.  This book was dull, uninteresting, and very predictable.     



The Jazz Man

Author:  Mary Hays Weik, 1966, Atheneum

This piece of realistic fiction takes us into the home of young Zeke.  He is an African-American boy growing up in an urban era in, what I suspect to be, the 1920s.  Zeke does not go to school.  Instead, he stays at home all day by himself in the apartment he shares with his mom and dad.  The family had recently moved from the Deep South where Zeke was born.  Mom and Dad go to work each day, and Zeke stays home and looks out the window at his neighbors.  One day, a piano is moved into the apartment directly across from his, and it is something he has never seen before.  Suddenly, the tenant brings his friends to his apartment, and they have a jazz session.  It is music that Zeke has never heard before, and he is enthralled.  Day after day, Zeke listens to the music, and it is healing for his small, delicate soul.  Soon after, his mom and dad have a fight, and both of them leave.  Zeke is by himself, and cannot afford food because he is a little boy.  His neighbors look after him, but he is tormented by his parents' departure.  One night, while he is dreaming of the music from the Jazz Man, his mom and dad wake him up.  I think this was eluding to the fact that part of the story was a dream, but I am not sure about that.  It is difficult to understand.

I liked the story, but there were a lot of things I could not believe.  First, why doesn't Zeke go to school?  He has a lame foot, but that is not a reason to stay home.  Second, why on earth do his parents abandon him and leave him to fend for himself?  This is perhaps the most shocking part of the story to me.  I can't believe parents would do that to their children, especially to one so young.  It is an unsettling account of what life was like for a black family in the early part of the 20th century.  I suppose children could identify with the musical descriptions, but I think it would be a stretch of the imagination.  I admit, this was not one of my favorite books, but it is a fictitious story that parallels real events that occurred in America, so I must admire it.

Water Street

Author Study Selection

Author:  Patricia Reilly Giff, 2006, Wendy Lamb Books

Water Street is another excellent piece of literature from Patricia Reilly Giff.  The main character, Bird, is only thirteen years old in 1875, but she has many responsibilities that make her seem older than she is.  She meets Thomas, a boy about her age, who moves into the apartment above her family.  Though neither of them wants to be forward about their feelings, she loves Thomas, and he certainly loves her, and that main theme runs throughout the entire story.  They are witnesses to the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, and Bird's father is a worker on the building crew.  Both Bird's and Thomas's families immigrated to the United States from Ireland at the time of the potato famine.  Bird is almost done with the 8th grade, and it will soon be time for her to work.  She has fancied the idea of becoming a healer like her mother, but she is not sure she can stomach all the blood.  Through twists and turns of life, Bird and Thomas both graduate from the eighth grade and attend high school--Thomas on a scholarship, and Bird on the money saved by her parents.  The hard road to this point is the crowning achievement in the lives of these children.

I thoroughly enjoyed every part of this book.  The author carefully integrated love, disappointment, heartache, joy, and family in a seemingly effortless way.  I thought the characters were accurately portrayed as having lived in the 1870s in America, and the real problems associated with this time period, including injury, poverty, and crime, were evident in the story.  This would be an excellent piece of historical fiction for middle schoolers to read.  I think teachers would also really like this book because it is another great story by a time-honored author.        

The Polar Express

Author & Illustrator:  Chris Van Allsburg, 1985, Houghton Mifflin

The Polar Express is an excellent example of  Fantasy literature.  Every child has probably dreamed about the North Pole and Santa's Workshop, and this book brings that dream to life.  The main character wakes up to find a train outside his house ready to pick him up for the journey North.  Along the way, they pass under bridges, through forests, and over bodies of water.  Nothing can prepare the travelers for what they find at the North Pole that Christmas Eve.  Santa and his elves are ready and waiting for the clock to strike midnight so that they can deliver the presents they have been creating all year, but they are also looking forward to the children's visit.  The main character receives Santa's first gift that year, which is a bell from one of the reindeer collars.  He loses it on the train ride home, but Santa puts it in its place under the tree for the next morning.  Though the adults have lost the ability to hear the bell (they no longer believe), this child will always hear the special sound because he actually met Santa. 

I regard this story as a Christmas classic.  It makes me feel happy, gives me images for what I have always pictured in my head, and provides me with amazing illustrations.  In case you hadn't noticed, the author and illustrator are one-and-the-same.  The pictures give a look of shrouded mystery, and it helps, too, that the events take place overnight.  I not only love the book, but I also love the movie of the same title that features Tom Hanks in many roles.  This is a must-read for children of all ages, including those of us who will forever love the magic of Christmas.    

Eleven

Author Study Selection

Author:  Patricia Reilly Giff, 2008, Wendy Lamb Books

Sam is afraid of the number eleven, and he can't remember why.  He is eleven years old, his birthday is April 11, and he vaguely remembers something about his childhood that deals with the same number.  The trouble is, Sam finds a newspaper clipping with his picture at age 3 only with a different last name.  Is he adopted?  Why hasn't his grandfather, Mack, ever told him the story?  What is the secret behind this family? 

Sam has a reading disability and, at eleven years old, cannot read simple words.  He goes to the resource room every day for help, and he is disgusted by his impediment.  That does not impair his ability for craftsmanship, however.  Sam is excellent at woodworking, a trait he learned from his grandfather.  Sam's teacher assigns him the project of crafting a medieval castle for an upcoming event.  He deftly includes a new student, Caroline, in his work because he wants her to help him read the newspaper clipping.  Under the guise of working together on the project, Sam and Caroline find out the details of Sam's early years through careful research.  I will not reveal the inner-workings of this story because you need to read it for yourself. 

This was an incredible book.  I was captivated by every turn of events, and the author did a fantastic job of creating suspense for the reader.  One can tell that Patricia Reilly Giff is an expert in her field, and expert writer that is.  Sam's difficulty will allow anyone else with the same situation to identify with him.  He is a determined young fellow who seeks to understand his past, and in doing so, he makes a new best friend.  This is a story of surprise, suspense, and superb writing.  I give it two thumbs up.   



Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Author:  Roald Dahl, 1964, Puffin Books (2nd ed. 1998)
Illustrator:  Quentin Blake

I would hypothesize that many of your students have at least heard of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or by a more current title:  Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  This book has been made into movie adaptations, the most recent starring Johnny Depp.  I saw the 1971 version with Gene Wilder, and honestly, it was the strangest movie I had ever seen.  I believe, though, it was a somewhat accurate portrayal of the book, because the book was strange too.  Charlie is dirt poor and lives with his four grandparents and mom and dad.  The grandparents are all over 90 years old and sleep in a bed together, which they never leave. (Weird.)  Charlie is fortunate enough to find one of Willy Wonka's 5 golden tickets that allows him an inside look at Wonka's ultra-secret factory.  In his midst are four spoiled children who all end up receiving the treatment they use on others.  For example, Violet Beauregarde chews gum incessantly, and she chews one of Wonka's unperfected blueberry gums.  She expands to the size and color of a blueberry, and she has to be "stretched" out to her normal size, which ends up being very tall and thin.  The moral of her story is that too much gum is bad for you.  In the end, Charlie is promised the chocolate factory when Wonka retires because he survived the tour.  Therefore, his family never again lives in poverty and inherits an expansive chocolate empire.

This book is purely fantasy, and is, rightfully so, extremely unbelievable.  The odds that Charlie would find a golden ticket are more than impossible, and the cherry on top is his inheritance.  I did not care for the movie, and I can't say I cared for the book, either.  The descriptions are so colorful and unimaginable that you almost wonder what the author was eating when he wrote it.  I dislike the fact that the author made all the bad things happen to the wealthy children and allowed the reader to believe that Charlie had a better chance of winning because he was poor and unsuspecting.  I suppose the author was going for a "feel-good" story instead of a believable one, and he certainly achieved that.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Author:  Judith Viorst, 1972, Scholastic
Illustrator:  Ray Cruz

Have you ever had an "Alexander" day?  By that, I mean, have you ever had such a horrible day that you wish you could move to Australia?  Judith Viorst does a fantastic job of identifying with children's and adolescents' everyday troubles in this classic piece of realistic fiction.  Alexander wakes up to find gum in his hair; his brothers all find toys in their breakfast cereal and he doesn't; he gets smushed on the ride to school; his friends decide he is suddenly their "3rd best friend"; he goes shoe shopping with his mom and brothers after school only to discover the shoe he wants is out of stock; he disrupts his father's office; and, in the end, he has to eat lima beans for supper.  All through the book, he wishes he could move to Australia.  His mom assures him that, even in Australia, little boys (and others) have bad days every once in a while. 

Realistic fiction is an important genre for young readers.  Sometimes, ordinary adults and individuals cannot identify with children on certain issues, and this type of literature allows readers to understand that others face the same trials as they.  Everyone has faced at least one bad day, including children.  I think Judith Viorst created a standard by which other realistic fiction can be written.  The words and illustrations are simple, the storyline is smooth, and the issues covered in the story are common to all.  This book has a permanent place in my bookshelf, as I'm sure it does in many households.  I believe this is one book with which any child can identify, even those who live in Australia.

The Gettysburg Address

Illustrator:  Michael McCurdy, 1995, Houghton Mifflin

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, gave a very famous speech at a battlefield called Gettysburg in 1863.  It became known as the Gettsburg Address, and in this book of the same title, Lincoln's words come to life through a pictorial account.  I love the powerful words of the address, and I have heard them countless times before, but having pictures to tell the story added to the appeal.  I enjoyed the fact that the pictures were in black and white because it encourages the reader to imagine the destruction faced by soldiers in the Civil War.  The pictures in this book were satisfactory; I thought they were rather bland in many cases, but the meaning behind the words was more important.  The illustrator did a good job of bringing the story to life.

In addition, I enjoyed the foreward by Garry Wills and the afterword by the illustrator.  McCurdy had ancestors that fought in the Civil War, so this took on a special meaning for him.  This is not only a biographical account of a major American battle, it is also a reflection of the sadness and heartache faced by that generation.  Bring the Gettysburg Address to life in your classroom with this book.  It is sure to prompt heartfelt discussion.

Don't You Dare Shoot That Bear!

Author:  Robert Quackenbush, 1984, Prentice-Hall

Everyone needs to read a good "retro" book every now and then, so why not check out Don't You Dare Shoot That Bear!  A Story of Theodore Roosevelt?  This book was published in the mid-1980s, and you can tell how far we have come technologically since then.  For example, the author gives excellent, historically-accurate information about TR, but the illustrations are very bland in comparison to other books I have reviewed.  Two little teddy bears provide some humor on every page, though I can't say I laughed too often.  The humor was dry, and many children may not understand it.  The one positive aspect about this book is definitely the accurate historical information.  I gathered that the author has had some experience writing about famous individuals based on the other books he has written, which are listed on the inside back dust cover.  While this was certainly not my favorite book, I enjoyed it because of the information about our 26th president, who, incidentally, is the inspiration for the beloved teddy bear.

Jack's Path of Courage

Author:  Doreen Rappaport, 2010, Disney
Illustrator:  Matt Tavares

Wow! 

That is all I can say after reading Jack's Path of Courage.  The illustrations are so astounding and so life-like that I thought they were photographs.  We all have images and ideas of the Kennedy family, especially the President, but this book gives a lot of childhood information about our 35th president.  For example, I did not know that President Kennedy suffered severe back pain all his life.  He seemed like he had a lot of vitality, but he was secretly suffering.  Perhaps the most familiar part of the story, his assassination, was only briefly covered in this book.  I was pleased that the author explored more of his early years instead of only focusing on the trauma of November 22, 1963.  This is an incredible source of history, and I would encourage everyone who reads this blog to read this book.  It is thoroughly researched and includes a selected bibliography at the end.  I was surprised at how much I liked it, and I think you will too.

Duke Ellington

Author:  Andrea Davis Pinkney, 1998, Hyperion
Illustrator:  Brian Pinkney

Duke Ellington is a famous jazz musician credited with creating a unique musical sound.  Andrea and Brian Pinkney bring him to life in their biography for children, Duke Ellington.  Duke was ahead of his time, playing at renowned venues such as the Cotton Club in Harlem and Carnegie Hall in New York City.  I enjoyed this story, but I was a bit distressed by the informal tone that the writers used.  No doubt, the book gives excellent biographical information about Ellington, but readers who are unfamiliar with musical terms will feel lost.  I liked the rich illustrations and their almost magical appearances.  This book will definitely take the reader back in time to 1920s America and the struggles that Black musicians faced.  I was pleased to see a bibliography at the end of the book, as well as other resources that the reader can look at.  Overall, this is a good biographical account of Duke Ellington, a forerunner in American jazz music.

Anne Frank

Author:  Josephine Poole, 2005, Random House
Illustrator:  Angela Barrett

Anne Frank has become a name synonymous with Nazi persecution of Jews.  She posthumously became famous as a result of her diary being published, and the world saw how her Jewish family hid from the Nazis until they were caught.  I have read excerpts from her diary, as well as from other biographies about her, so I had a fair amount of background knowledge as I began reading this particular story.  I suppose it would be improper to say how much I enjoyed the story, given the horror and trauma Anne's family faced.  However, I can say that I learned more about her, the Nazis, and Nazi Germany from Josephine Poole's Anne Frank. 

I really enjoy studing World War II, and I noticed how accurate the facts were in this book.  The author does a fantastic job giving background information about Adolf Hitler, the Fuhrer of Germany.  She describes how Germany went from being one of the greatest nations in the world to the most embarrassed nation following World War I.  Hitler rose to power and began persecuting the Jews with the final goal of exterminating them from the world.  As a result, many Jews went into hiding for months and even years.  Anne Frank's family did so until they were discovered and removed.  Her diary was recovered and became a primary source of the horror she experienced.

This book had beautiful illustrations and enough information to teach the reader more about this time period.  I enjoyed reading the timeline in the back of the book to get a broader understanding of the other world events.  I would recommend this book to any teacher without the slightest reservation.  In fact, I believe this book should be in every library around the country.  It is appropriate for all age groups, and it teaches world history in an informative and interesting way.  

Heart of a Shepherd

Author:  Roseanne Parry, 2009, Random House

When I find a book I really enjoy reading, I treasure it.  I cannot describe how much I liked Heart of a Shepherd  by Roseanne Parry.  Ignatius, commonly called "Brother," is not used to taking care of the family's ranch.  With 3 older brothers and a father, he is looked upon as a child.  But, everything changes when his father is called to serve in Iraq, and his brothers scatter to Boot Camp and boarding school.  Brother is left to help his grandparents run the ranch.  He communicates with his brothers via e-mail and instant message on the computer, and they constantly give him advice.  (That must be what older brothers are meant to do.)  Through all the ups and downs of life on the ranch without his family, Brother ends up the hero as he rises to man of the house.  He also realizes a call into Christian ministry during this period, which is a huge part of his growth.  And, in the end, his brothers respect his work unlike ever before.

This is the ultimate heart-warming, heart-wrenching juvenile chapter book.  I identified with Brother because I also grew up on a farm and know the challenges associated with rural living.  His call into ministry touched me deeply because I have felt a similar call for my life.  I loved the honesty and determination of the characters in this book, especially when Brother stepped up and took charge at a very young age.  I admit to crying by the end of the story because of the life changes experienced by this family.  It is more than one would wish for an adolescent to experience, but it happens in our world more often than we may realize. Try this book with 6-8 graders.  The reading is not difficult, and the storyline is appropriate.  I promise that the heart of this shepherd will melt yours. 

Dandelions

Author:  Eve Bunting, 1995, Harcourt Brace & Co.
Illustrator:  Greg Shed

As Zoe and her family made their way into Nebraska Territory in the 19th century, the promise of new life was evident, but sadness lingered.  They had just left their family in Illinois to move west, lured perhaps by the Homestead Act of 1862.  Mama was pregnant, and she, Zoe, Rebecca, and Papa hitched up the wagon and set off toward a distant, unfamiliar land.  Papa had gone a year earlier to stake their land, and they found his stake amid miles of unsettled territory.  Their closest neighbors were three hours away, and the "town" was even farther.  Mama was depressed about leaving everything she had ever known, and the rest of the family wanted to make it better for her.

So, one day, Zoe and her father left Rebecca and Mama at the neighbors' while they went onto town.  Once, when Zoe looked down, she saw beautiful yellow dandelions, and she convinced Papa to dig them up.  She wanted to take them home to Mama.  When they got home, they planted the dandelions on the roof of their sod house because Mama had been afraid Zoe and Papa wouldn't find their way back.  Now, their home had a beautiful yellow roof, and it symbolized everything about their life:  Some of the flowers might die, but many will take root and prosper.  Just like their family.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I can't imagine picking up my family and moving them to unsettled territory, hoping that everything will go well.  This period of time was ripe for settlement west of the Mississippi River, and people were lured by the promise of free land.  The illustrations in this book were beautiful and reminiscent at the same time.  The simplicity of their design encouraged the use of my imagination.  Pick up a copy of this book and make it available to your students.  I'm sure they will enjoy it, too.

Thanksgiving is...

Author:  Gail Gibbons, 2004, Scholastic

Thanksgiving is... is a great informational text.  The reader first learns the history of Thanksgiving celebrations around the world, then the book culminates with the traditional American Thanksgiving.  I learned that President Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November to be Thanksgiving, but it was changed by President Franklin Roosevelt to be the fourth Thursday in November, beginning in 1939.  Traditions, such as decorations, family gatherings, and of course, the food, are covered throughout the book.  I really liked the simple, yet colorful, illustrations.  They do not detract from the message conveyed by the author, but they are a helpful addition to the reading.  Not only is this a great informational text, it is also a powerful teacher of culture.  Children (and adults) who read this book will think of their own traditions and how those traditions have changed over the years.  I was unaware of some traditions mentioned in the book, such as sending Thanksgiving cards and flowers.  In my family, we send Christmas cards, but not Thanksgiving cards.  I would categorize this as not only a book of information, but also a book of history.    

Skittles Riddles

Author:  Barbara Barbieri McGrath, 2000, Scholastic
Illustrator:  Roger Glass

Why are Skittles Original Bite Size Candies always happy?
BECAUSE THEY'RE NEVER BLUE!  :)

What's not to love about Skittles?  These delicious fruit chews are a favorite of many Americans, including both children and adults.  Now, teachers can use this popular candy to teach math!  In the book Skittles Riddles, children learn addition, subtraction, and fractions using Skittles.  This idea is great for a group activity, but make sure to give students a fresh set of Skittles after they have handled them.  Hershey's also makes a book about their famous chocolate bars and math, so take your pick.  I remember using this book when I was in school, and I'm sure it will never go out of style.  After all, who doesn't like to mix food and math?

 

Punctuation Celebration

Author:  Elsa Knight Bruno, 2009, Scholastic
Illustrator:  Jenny Whitehead

Punctuation Celebration is a good literature source to use when teaching students about grammar.  In today's "text lingo," people often neglect punctuation, and that spills over into formal and professional writing.  This book takes each punctuation mark and uses it in a rhyme.  There are colorful illustrations that correspond with the rhymes, and the final page of the book puts everything together.  When I was young, I loved School House Rock, and I can still remember some of the chants, songs, and rhymes.  That, along with literature such as this book, gives children a way of remembering some of the nuances of the difficult English language.  Overall, I thought this book did a fantastic job of using writing to teach proper punctuation. 

Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens

Author:  Cindy Neuschwander, 2009, Scholastic
Illustrator:  Wayne Geehan

Want to learn a way to teach your students how to group numbers in sets of 10?  Look no further than this modern tale of a medieval noble who groups party guests in order to count them.  In Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens, Sir Cumference and his wife, Lady Di of Ameter, throw a surprise party for King Arthur.  So many people arrive (9,000+) that the hosts have no idea how to count them for lunch!  They finally figure out how to arrange the guests in groups of 10, 100, and 1000.  This makes their counting much easier and more accurate than a very good guess. 

I thought this book was a good teaching tool for the math concept of grouping.  We all know some children who have difficulty understanding how numbers fit together to make bigger numbers, and I thought the illustrations in this book helped tremendously.  The story line was funny, and the pictures added humor to the text.  I was a little confused at first why a book with a character named "Sir Cumference" dealt with grouping, and I would have thought circles would have had a prominent role in the story.  Regardless, this book is a fun way to teach a necessary math concept.  

Liliuokalani: The Last Queen of Hawaii

Author:  John MacGregor, 2009, Scholastic
Illustrator:  Pamela Johnson

On August 21, 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States of America.  Today, tourists from all over the world bask in the beauty of Hawaii's tropical climate, but many do not know the turbulent history of this tiny island.  Hawaii was an independent royal kingdom until Americans forced their way in to make money off the sugar crop.  Queen Liliuokalani, the last monarch to sit on the Hawaiian throne, watched her nation slip from power throughout her lifetime.  It was a sad day when she stepped off the throne and was arrested in her own palace.  There was no way of stopping the Americans from annexing the Hawaiian nation; therefore, she avoided war by peacefully surrendering.

This book by John MacGregor gives a realistic view of Queen Liliuokalani's life.  She was raised in a life of privilege, and she had every right to become queen of Hawaii.  She served as queen from 1891-1893, but this time period was wrought with turbulence.  Children will find this book to be very informative in many aspects.  It not only details the queen's life, but also the events surrounding her acension to and surrender of the throne.  Hawaiian vocabulary words, history, and other tidbits of information are included throughout the book.  I really liked that the information was presented in a simple and concise manner.  This would be a wonderful text to use as a resource for classroom study.

The Gingerbread Man

Author:  Jim Aylesworth
Illustrated:  Barbara McClintock, 1998, Scholastic
Traditional Literature

"Run, Run, as fast as you can.  You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!" 

As soon as I saw this story, I knew I had to read it for my blog.  I can still remember reading The Gingerbread Man when I was a young child, and I had to reread how a cunning cookie could outwit so many, and be outwitted by an equally cunning fox.  The Gingerbread Man runs away from the people who baked him, from a butcher, from a cow, and from a sow, but a sly fox tricks him and gobbles him up.  It is a fun tale that many children have probably heard, so as a teacher, you can have the children act it out or retell it to each other.  The pictures in this particular version are quite amusing, and they include cows and sows who wear dresses and bonnets.  I laughed at the expressions on the characters' faces throughout the story and, in the end, I knew that the Gingerbread Man had gotten what he deserved.  Have fun with this piece of traditional literature, and allow your students to actively take part in the telling of this tale.

    

The Emperor's New Clothes

Author:  Hans Christian Andersen
Illustrator:  Eve Tharlet
Traditional Literature

In the classic tale The Emperor's New Clothes, a young ruler loves his wardrobe so much that he changes clothes every hour of the day.  When two weavers come to town saying they make beautiful clothing that can only be seen by intelligent people, the emperor decides he must have them.  He orders these conniving men to design him a set of clothes so that he may impress everyone in his kingdom.  Day after day, the young emperor sends his most trusted authorities to the clothesmakers so that he can hear the progress that is being made.  No one wants to admit that they can't see the clothes because, if they admitted it, people might call them stupid.  So, everyone assures the emperor that his clothes look wonderful.  The day finally comes for him to wear the custom-made garb in public, so he orders a parade, gets dressed, and begins walking among the villagers.  Everyone, including the emperor himself, pretends that they can see the clothes, but it isn't until a child cries out the obvious that realization occurs.  The tricky designers had already skipped town and had taken the gold paid to them by the gullible emperor.

This is a story that applies to many.  Often, "keeping up appearances" is a way of showing how put together one feels, instead of simply being truthful.  This is exactly what happened to the emperor.  He was so vain that he had to have the best clothing money could by, and someone capitalized on his stupidity.  This is a good lesson for students to learn early.  The book was easy to read, and the pictures were simple, yet informative.  I noticed that this book was translated from the original story.  If students have heard it before, this might be a different version.  Let them tell you the differences, and compare/contrast the many versions.  It will make for a great discussion!

The Lion and The Mouse

Author:  Jerry Pinkney, 2009, Little, Brown & Co.
Traditional Literature

Take a timeless fable, put a new spin on it, and tell it without using words.  That is essentially what Jerry Pinkney did with The Lion and The Mouse.  A mouse happens upon a lion one day, and in a great show of compassion, the lion lets the mouse go free.  Later on, when the lion is captured in a poacher's net, the mouse hears his cries, finds him, and nibbles through the thick cords to free his lion friend.  The moral of this story, in Pinkney's words, is that the meek sometimes trump the mighty.

I read this story in my children's literature class recently, so some discussions in our class lent insight into the differences between this modern version and the original tale.  Some of my classmates have read a version in which the lion gets a thorn in his paw and the mouse frees him.  Regardless of the differences, Pinkney brings this piece of traditional literature to life with his rich watercolor drawings and word-less pages.  The reader is forced to use his imagination to pull the pillars of the story together in his mind.  I am always in awe of Jerry Pinkney's illustrations, and this book certainly does not disappoint me.  Allow your students to draw upon their prior knowledge of the story (if they have heard it before), and open the classroom to a discussion of differences between the two (or more) versions.  It is a great way to appreciate rich artwork, and in the meantime, to apply a moral standard to real-life situations.     

Mr. Putter and Tabby (Series)

Author:  Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator:  Arthur Howard

During spring break, I chose to read the Mr. Putter and Tabby series by Cynthia Rylant.  This children's series is about an old man and his cat, who are strikingly similar in demeanor.  Mr. Putter prefers tea and cakes to hard work, and his cat, Tabby, takes on a human personality.  The two of them live next door to Mrs. Teaberry and her dog, Zeke.  While Mr. Putter and Tabby are bleak, Mrs. Teaberry and Zeke are full of fun.  The foursome blends well together, and the reader can't help but notice the loving relationship between Mr. Putter and Mrs. Teaberry, as well as between Tabby and Zeke.  I loved this series because of its traditional storylines and feel-good endings.  From the series, I read the following books, all beginning with "Mr. Putter and Tabby..."

• Walk the Dog
• Stir the Soup
• Run the Race
• Row the Boat
• Paint the Porch
• Fly the Plane
• Feed the Fish
• Bake the Cake
• Toot the Horn
• Catch the Cold
• Pick the Pears

I don't believe I could pick a favorite from this list.  Each book has its funny parts, and they are perfect for young readers.  Children who are beginning to read chapter books would really enjoy this series.  Each book has around 5 chapters, and the chapters include only a few pages.  I remember when my sister was in first or second grade, she and my mom read the entire series several times.  My sister loved Tabby because she had a cat that looked just like Mr. Putter's.  I believe, for this reason, many young girls would love the stories in this series, but maybe some boys would like them too.  They are great stories of friendship, and that is a quality we all should cherish.

Mr. Putter and Tabby

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Author:  Sherman Alexie, 2007, Little, Brown and Company

When you are an adolescent on an Indian reservation, born with fluid on the brain and wimpy in every way, you are an easy target for bullies.  That is exactly what Arnold Spirit (a.k.a. Junior) has faced all his life.  Junior is an Indian on the Spokane Indian Reservation.  He attends Wellpinit School, and if it wasn't for his best friend, Rowdy, Junior would have been decimated years earlier.  Rowdy is Junior's protector and shares a unique relationship with him.  In fact, the reader almost suspects some sort of "male crush" between Junior and Rowdy, but thankfully, that question is put to rest when Junior meets Penelope at Reardan High School.  After being told by one of his teachers at Wellpinit that he could do better, Junior breaks barriers by commuting (sometimes walking) to Reardan High School more than 20 miles away.  No Indian from the Spokane reservation has ever gone to school in the neighboring white community of Reardan, and because of his decision, Junior takes a lot of flack.  Throughout the story, the reader sees Junior's grit and determination as he carves his own path, leading away from his roots on the reservation, but also sadness due to excessive drinking and death.  This story aligns itself with what we know from studying history, but it gives a human voice to a real problem.

Honestly, I did not care much for the book.  I thought the language was crude and sometimes disgusting, and there was really no reason for that.  I believe the author could have told the story in a more informative and wholesome way.  From my perspective, the author attempted to be humorous, and I'll admit, I laughed on occasions; however, the majority of the story was not funny, and it was a lame attempt at humor.  The story basically reinforces every stereotype we have of Indians, including violence and alcoholism.  Instead of turning a blind eye to these truths as we so often try to do, this story forces us to understand exactly what the Native Americans face.  Overall, I am not sure that I would ever use this book as an instructional material.  In fact, I don't know what age group to whom I would recommend this book.  Students who find this book on the shelf will undoubtedly have questions, and that is where teachers can be of great assistance.

Esperanza Rising

Author:  Pam Munoz Ryan, 2000, Scholastic

Esperanza Rising is the story of a privileged young Mexican girl, her servants, and their radical life change.  Esperanza Ortega is the daughter of a wealthy ranch owner in Aguascalientes, Mexico.  She means everything to her father, and he dies suddenly after being attacked by bandits.  Her whole life changes instantly when her greedy uncles take over the ranch, burn it to the ground, and force Esperanza, her mother, and their servants out of the country when one of the uncles imposes marriage on Esperanza's mother.  Alfonso and Hortensia, the servants, and their son, Miguel, take Esperanza and her mother to the United States, but they had to leave Abuelita behind due to an illness.  Esperanza finds her place in a whole new world, one in which she must work to provide for her family.  She is used to ordering people around, but now, she is equal to her former servants.  When her mother falls ill with Valley Fever, Esperanza desperately longs for her to get well, and she eventually does.  Secretly, Miguel goes back to Mexico to retrieve Abuelita many months after they fled.  When the family is together again, so is Esperanza's heart.

I thought this was a poignant story of major life changes, heartache, and new friendships.  Esperanza embodies the idea that present circumstances are not set in stone for ever.  I was saddened by the reasons for her life change, but I think she embraced them as best as she could.  This would be an excellent reading choice for upper elementary and junior high students.  I think the boys would like it, even though it features a female protagonist.  It is especially indicative of the time period, and, while it is difficult to imagine, it tells a real story in a fictional way.

There's a Zoo in Room 22

Author:  Judy Sierra, 2000, Scholastic
Illustrator:  Barney Saltzberg

There's a Zoo in Room 22 is a book of poems about animals that each begin with a different letter of the alphabet.  Room 22's teacher promises her students that they may make a "pet alphabet," so they create a poetry book about Amanda Anaconda, Boring Beetle Bill, Claude the Cat, and others.  This is a great way to introduce young children to poetry, especially with the alphabet being the guiding force behind the poems.  Not only do children reinforce their knowledge about the alphabet; they learn rhythm, rhyme, and detail.  I thought this was a neat book of poems, and I would highly recommend it to other teachers.  

Almost Late to School And More School Poems

Author:  Carol Diggory Shields, 2003, Puffin Books
Illustrator:  Paul Meisel

Almost Late to School is a compilation of several poems, all of them having to do with school.  There are traditional rhymes, haikus, and other forms of poetry.  One poem was about a snake that a student had brought to show-and-tell, and the poem was written in the shape of a snake.  I really liked this book of short poems, and I think children would love them also.  If I were a student in elementary school, I would especially like the fact that each poem has a different focus, but they all reflect the same common theme.  Overall, I would give this book a "thumbs up."

Yellow Star

Author:  Jennifer Roy, 2006, Marshall Cavendish Corporation

Yellow Star is another heartwrenching tale of an oppressed people overcoming adversity.  In this first-person account, a woman named Sylvia recounts her childhood as a Jew growing up in Poland during the second World War.  Sylvia is the name she took on as an American, whereas her birth name was Syvia.  Young Syvia and her mother, father, and sister, Dora, are forced to leave their home and relocate in Lodz, Poland, a Jewish internment camp when Syvia is five years old.  For the next five years, Syvia remained in hiding while her parents and sister worked, while narrowly escaping the clutches of Nazi soldiers who were searching for children.  Many of the Jewish children were sent to extermination camps under the guise of being taken care of by the Nazi government.  Due to the tireless efforts of her parents and only sister, Dora lives to see the rescue of her camp by the Russians, and her family is freed.  The author of this book is Syvia's niece, and she recorded her aunt's stories from telephone conversations and put them into a book.

I enjoyed this story because I consider it a primary source of history.  These words are straight from the mouth of someone who lived through one of the most horrifying times in the modern age, and they are a reminder to us of how evil people really can be.  I suggest teachers be mindful of the content and weight of this book before they assign it in their classrooms.  Seventh and eighth grades would be my ideal age suggestion, but one could easily extend that range into high school.  I definitely would not recommend this for any child under the seventh grade, simply because students need a concrete understanding of the events surrounding this time period, as well as the maturity that comes with older age.  Overall, this book was a somber account of a fairly recent occurrance, and it paints a picture of bleak optimism in a terrifying time.  

Hoover's Bride

Author:  David Small, 1995, Scholastic

Don't get too distracted by the title of this book.  At first, I thought it was a story about our 31st president:  Herbert Hoover.  As someone who loves history, I was excited to read a poem about a historical figure. 

But this has nothing to do with Herbert Hoover.

Hoover's Bride is a silly rhyming story about a man who marries his vacuum cleaner.  Hoover, the main character, lives alone and never cleans his house.  It acquires so much dust and dirt that one day, all the dust falls on Hoover.  His neighbors introduce him to a vacuum cleaner named Elektra, and instead of merely cleaning his house, he falls in love with it.  Somehow, they are able to get married, and while they are on their honeymoon, the people in the hotel room next door have a loud noise in their room.  When Hoover inquires about the racket, he finds a woman and her "husband", a lawn mower.  She, too, fell in love with her appliance and married it.  Long story short--she and Hoover end up legitimately married, and the two ex-spouses end up rusting together in the dump.  After all, a lawn mower can only go so far without gas and a vacuum cleaner needs someone to plug it in!

This story, while humorous, is absolutely ridiculous.  I understand the humor behind it, but what child will accept the idea that a man can marry a vacuum?  I would not use this story in my classroom, but again, it is what I like to call a "mindless read."  If it is one you have on your bookshelf, go ahead and leave it there, but if not, leave it in the dust.     

The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future

Authors:  George Beard and Harold Hutchins, 2010, Scholastic

Until I heard that I had to read a graphic novel for my children's literature class, I did not know what one was.  I never read comics as a child, so the idea of putting comics in a story format (such as a book) was hard for me to understand.  I must say, though, that I loved The Adventures of Ook and Gluk.  From a teacher's standpoint, I recognized its terrible grammar, punctuation, and word conjugation.  From a reader's standpoint, however, I though it was hilarious.  The two characters and their baby dinosaur set out to destroy Mr. Goppernopper, the leader of Caveland.  On the way, they get transported to the year 2222 A.D., where they stay and learn Kung-Fu for seven years.  The knowledge they gain under Mr. Wong, the Kung-Fu teacher, propels them to outwit Mr. Goppernopper and take back Caveland.  And, in the end, Ook marries Mr. Wong's daughter and takes her back in time.

The spelling and grammar is a nightmare for any teacher.  Just the idea that students read material like this makes me cringe.  It is almost written in a child-like format.  The illustrations are all done in pencil, retained in black and white, and reflect an elementary artistic pattern.  (Disclaimer:  I am not one to judge art because of my lack of artistic ability, but it is evident that this book is meant for young children.)  Nevertheless, as an educator, I see the value in reading for pleasure without needing to think critically, something I often refer to as "mindless reading."  This book certainly fits that bill.  I finished the book in just over an hour, and it made me laugh more than once while never managing to tax my mind. 

I would not suggest this book to be read aloud to a classroom because I think one might send the wrong idea to children, especially in a time when "text" language is already so prevalent.  However, this is a way to get your students who don't particularly care for heavy reading to enjoy books.  I especially think  boys will like this, and it is a great way to get them interested in reading.

Weedflower

Author:  Cynthia Kadohata, 2006, Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Cynthia Kadohata takes her readers on a trip of sadness and heartbreak in the book Weedflower.  Twelve-year-old Sumiko and her six-year-old brother Tak-Tak live with their aunt, uncle, cousins, and grandfather on their flower farm in California.  Sumiko and Tak-Tak came into their relatives' care when their parents perished in a car accident.  Their family unit is very strong, and their main struggle is to fit in with the rest of the world.  That is not a big issue, however, until December 7, 1941 when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.  Suddenly, Japanese-Americans become the target of hostility, racism, and segregation.  Sumiko's uncle and grandfather are moved to a work camp in North Dakota, and the rest of her family, including Sumiko, are shipped to Poston, Ariz. where there is a permanent relocation site for Japanese.  As far as the reader knows, Sumiko never returns to her home in California; rather, she spends many days in Poston, then moves near Chicago.  During her time in Poston, Sumiko makes many friends, and it is sad when she has to leave them behind.  This was a time of great sorrow for Japanese-Americans as they were treated like baggage instead of human beings.

I loved this book from cover to cover.  When I started reading, I did not realize that the setting was December, 1941, so I had no idea what was ahead.  Sumiko struggles to fit in with her peers, but she finds steadfast love and friendship in Poston.  I was amazed by how caring Sumiko was to Tak-Tak.  Tak-Tak seemed innocent and trusting, and he followed his sister everywhere.  Through the heartbreak of losing their parents to being relocated in a concentration camp, Sumiko and her brother never seemed to lose hope in the future.  Honestly, I do not know if I would have been as calm as Sumiko had I been in the same situation.  Looking back, some of the greatest injustices in history were done to some of the most innocent people, and Weedflower documents a story of strength, trust, and determination through a time of injustice.  For that reason, I will always remember this book.    

John, Paul, George and Ben

Author:  Lane Smith, 2006, Scholastic

If, by now, you have read some of the picture books I have reviewed, you have no doubt laughed several times.  Are you ready for another "laugher"?  I present to you:  John, Paul, George and Ben.  This children's book highlights facts about our founding fathers in an extremely hysterical way.  John (Hancock) had the best penmanship as a student; Paul (Revere) shouted very loudly; George (Washington), could chop down trees like nobody's business; and Ben (Franklin) always had a saying appropriate to the situation.  Perhaps the funniest part about this book is that all of these things were true when the men were adults.  We have no idea if they acted in this manner as children, but the author has presented historical facts to children in a funny way.

The first time I read this, I was laughing so hard that I was crying.  (If you did not get the same effect, you can stop reading now.)  I could picture these old men as children who were 10-going-on-50.  As the author notes in the front cover, this book is  "loosely based on the history tales [he] remembered from school."  Benjamin Franklin's sayings are true, John Hancock really did have beautiful cursive, George Washington cut down one or two trees, and Paul Revere announced that the British were coming.  The history is accurate, and the pictures are hysterical.  Read it for yourself and see if you can't stop laughing.  I guarantee that if you think it's funny, so will your young students.

Bill and Pete

Author:  Tomie de Paola, 1978, G. P. Putnam's Sons

I know what you are thinking:  Why on earth would Mr. Leeper choose a picture book from 1978 when there are so many new ones to choose from?  You have a very valid point, but I did this for a reason.  You see, this was another one of my favorites when I was a child.  The copy I have is actually my mother's (most likely from 1978!), and it is still in great condition.  The way I see it, no matter what the publication date is, if it is good literature, keep a copy on your bookshelf.  That is exactly what I have done with this story by Tomie de Paola.

William Everett is a crocodile who is getting ready to start school.  His mom takes him to the store to pick out a toothbrush, which is actually a living bird named Pete.  When William Everett starts school, he learns many things, including how to write his name.  Since his name is so long, he shortens it to"Bill" after Pete convinces him it is much simpler to write.  Bill and Pete become steadfast friends, and when an evil man steals Bill from the River Nile to make a suitcase out of him, Pete comes to the rescue, picks the lock of the cage, and lets Bill out.  Bill, wanting to make sure the man can never make suitcases out of a crocodile again, scares him while he is taking a bath.  And guess what?  The man didn't stop running until he got to Cairo.

In today's politically correct culture, teachers may not want to expose children to the reality of making suitcases out of crocodiles.  That is their call.  However, I challenge them to look past the evilness of that act and see the story rooted in friendship and love.  The pictures reflect de Paola's typical style, as seen in such books as Strega Nona.  I think this is a wonderful story and a reflection of a simpler time.  And, it showcases two friends and a loving mom, which will always remain very important parts of life.        

Owen

Author:  Kevin Henkes, 1993, Greenwillow Books

For my children's literature class this week, I am required to read five picture books.  As you can see from my recent posts, I tend to rate picture books very highly because they are so enjoyable to read.  So now, I present to you one of the best picture books ever written:  Owen.  I know by now you have looked at the copyright date and thought 1993 was ages ago, but that is beside the point.  Owen was one of my favorite books when I was a child, and it remains at that status 20 years later.  It is a story about a little mouse who loves carrying his blankie everywhere he goes.  It accumulates stains, smells, and general wear and tear, but no one can pry Owen away from his blankie.  His neighbor, Mrs. Tweezers, reminds Owen and his parents that he cannot take that blankie to school, and that greatly distresses Owen.  His mother figures out that by making small hankies from the blankie, Owen can preserve his best friend and still carry small pieces of it to school.

This is the story of my childhood.  I had a blanket that I drug around everywhere.  It got so thin and worn that everytime I visited one of my aunts or grandmas, someone had to mend it.  I was just like Owen.  And perhaps that is why my aunt gave me this book as a present when she got married.  It remains at the top of my picture book list, and I encourage anyone who teaches kindergarten to read it to their students.  It will bring a smile to your face as it still does to me, even after so many years.

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed

Author:  Mo Willems, 2009, Hyperion
Picture Book

Mo Willems has done it again.  He has managed to create another picture book that entertains children and adults alike.  In Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, a mole rat named Wilbur is having a hard time convincing his mole rat relatives that clothes are nice to wear.  From their standpoint, since when have "naked" mole rats worn clothes?  His family thinks he has all but forgotten the meaning of his name until Grand-pah proclaims that clothes are good.  After that, Wilbur is the hero of the colony.

I loved this book, just as I have loved every other book by Willems.  The pictures are a fantastic addition to the storyline.  Children (and adults) who read this story will find themselves laughing at the actions of a naked mole rat family.  It is a story of someone, albeit a naked mole rat, standing up for something he believes in, and that is a lesson we can all learn.  Whatever you do, please heed Wilbur's advice when you read this book.  In case you have forgotten, please WEAR CLOTHES! 

Memoirs of a Goldfish

Author:      Devin Scillian, 2010, Sleeping Bear Press
Illustrator:  Tim Bowers
Picture Book

If you are looking for a good laugh, check out Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian.  I must admit this was the funniest picture book I had ever read!  A goldfish--one day alone in a bowl, next day surrounded by other fish and excitement--just wants peace and quiet again.  He finally tells the others that he has had enough and wants his privacy back.  Leave him they do, and he leaves too, while the tank is being cleaned.

But while everyone is separated, he realizes how much he misses them--including the noise, the gunk, and even Fred the crab.  To his delight, they are reunited again in an even bigger tank.

This is a must-read for everyone.  I am typically an independent, introverted person who likes to work alone.  Therefore, I identified with the goldfish.  However, I know the feeling of loneliness when one is alone for a period of time, and I was so glad the main character in this story wanted his friendships back, too.  This is a great story to teach those independent students how to value their friendships even more than they already may.  I loved the pictures, and they did a great job of adding meaning to the story.

Check it out right away, and make sure there is a box of tissues close.  You will cry with laughter, and you are sure to delight your school children with this story of a humorous school of fish!

Leon's Story

Author:  Leon Walter Tillage, 1997, Douglas and McIntyre, Ltd.

If you are looking for a heartbreaking piece of history, look no further than Leon's Story.  This book is told in first-person by a man named Leon.  Leon was born to a slave family in North Carolina.  The stories he tells about how white people treated southern blacks is disgusting.  From segregated public facilities, unequal education, and KKK (Ku Klux Klan) oppression--to death, submission, and finally, black equality, this book tells it all.  Throughout the book, the author twists the reader's heart by detailing horrifying events that happened to him or his family members.  Every part of this book is non-fiction, and that is the scary part.

I truly cannot imagine what black Americans endured in the 19th and 20th centuries in America.  Racism was born in the late-1800s as a means of creating unity, which seems terribly backwards.  By castigating people based on their skin color, religion, or ethnic background, members of a certain population became unified as the supreme race.  This certainly led to the circumstances in which African-Americans found themselves--circumstances that were absolutely despicable.

After reading this story, I am more aware of what "segregation" actually meant.  It was not only a means of making white people use one drinking fountain and while blacks used another one; it was, without a doubt, a death to people of color.  This story is not appropriate for young children, even though the book is relatively small.  I would recommend this for eighth graders and older, simply because of some gruesome details.  I will never forget old Leon, and I will never forget his courage in the face of one of America's darkest hours.     

Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building

Author:      Deborah Hopkinson, 2006, Schwartz & Wade Books
Illustrator:  James Ransome
Genre Study--Historical Fiction

To this day, the construction of the Empire State Building is a feat not easily topped.  Once the tallest building in the world, the Empire State Building was opened on May 1, 1931.  According to this book, more than three thousand men put in over seven million hours to construct the magnificent structure.  And, perhaps most impressive, it was completed in record time:  410 days. 

This book by Deborah Hopkinson is an informative piece of historical fiction.  It follows a boy plagued by the Depression and his family's struggle to get by.  He watches the Empire State Building being built and desperately wishes he could help in some way.  In the end, his father takes him to the observation deck to look down over the streets of Manhattan.  His father is amazed at the feat of mankind.  He believes if man could create such a structure, man can do anything.

I was in awe of the information presented in this book.  It presents true facts from the standpoint of an innocent young boy.  I have always wanted to visit New York, and when I do, I will definitely visit the Empire State Building.  It is an icon of New York City, as well as the United States of America.  In addition, I was intrigued to read about the TV tower that stands 204 feet above the roof of the building.  In doing some additional research, I learned that this tower was first utilized by NBC, and now it is shared by several television networks.  Interestingly, NBC's Today celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2012.  On the morning of January 13, the Empire State Building was lit in the colors of Today:  red, orange, and yellow.  This was the first time the colors have been changed to reflect a television show. 

I guess this iconic building actually represents two feats of mankind:  an opulent structure and a popular entertainment medium.  What would the little boy's father think today?


      

The Cats in Krasinski Square

Author:       Karen Hesse, 2004, Scholastic
Illustrator:  Wendy Watson
Genre Study--Historical Fiction

I must be honest:  I know very little about the non-American portions of World War II.  For someone who loves history, I need to study that period more closely.  Recently while doing so, I came across a fantastic piece of historical fiction called The Cats in Krasinski Square.  If the book included a time stamp, it would be set in Poland in the late-1930's and early-1940's.  A little girl who has escaped from a Jewish ghetto blends with the people of Warsaw.  She and her sister plan to sneak food into the ghetto but hear rumblings that the Gestapo (German State Police) will be at the train station with dogs to sniff for food.  The little girl cannot be outwitted, however, and she uses cats she feeds in Krasinski Square to lure the dogs away from the train station, thereby allowing the sisters to take food to their Jewish friends.

A book like this takes me back to a different time.  I assume a different mindset; one that allows me to empathize with people such as this little girl.  This was a horrible period in world history, and children who read this book will gain a tiny bit of insight into the life of a refugee.  In addition, there is a historical note included in the back of the book that gives information about Jews living in Poland.  I wholeheartedly recommend this book as a piece of historical fiction for middle and upper-elementary students.

Seeing the Elephant: A Story of the Civil War

Author:       Pat Hughes, 2007, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Illustrator:  Ken Stark
Genre Study--Historical Fiction

Seeing the Elephant is a moving story of heroism, determination, and patriotism.  Israel, a young boy of ten, waves goodbye to his older brothers who have gone into the Civil War to fight on behalf of the North.  While the brothers are gone, Israel writes numerous letters to them, and when one of them comes home with typhoid, he hopes to rekindle their brotherly affection.  Instead, their relationship has changed, most likely on account of the war, and Israel is sad.  But no sadness can describe how he feels when an acquaintance named Graff dies in the hospital.  Graff, a Rebel fighter from South Carolina, makes an unlikely friend with Israel, and when Graff dies, Israel realizes the true cost of the war. 

This somewhat-true account of a staunch Union family meeting a Confederate army man is captivating.  What surprised me the most is the maturity of this particular 10-year-old.  The book reflects the belief that "war makes boys into men," and even though Israel was too young to fight, he realized the gravity of the situation.  I would definitely recommend this book to older elementary children as a piece of historical fiction.  It is truly a window into a different era; an era that would change the face of America for decades.

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal

Author:      Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, 2009, Carolrhoda Books
Illustrator:  R. Gregory Christie
Coretta Scott King Award

If you were a settler on the western frontier in the late-1800s, you might have feared outlaws coming into your territory.  There was plenty of open space, and one could ride for miles without pause.  However, if Bass Reeves was in town, you would have nothing to fear.  This story is one about the true character of a black United States marshal who always caught the outlaws he chased.  Bass Reeves may be a man few people have heard of, but he was one of the greatest deputy marshals that ever patrolled the frontier.  This Coretta Scott King award-winning book is one to treasure, and every student will be enthralled with visions of the rough-and-tumble life of the early American west.

Not only is this an intriguing piece of non-fiction; the pictures are equally amazing.  They look almost child-like, and I assume that is what the illustrator was hoping to achieve.  The illustrations lack precise detail, and consequently, the reader must use his imagination to fill in the gaps.  Nonetheless, the entire book, including the historical timeline at the back, is a wonderful piece of American literature; one that shines a light on a black American who, during a time of racial inequality, did a fine job of bringing criminals to justice.  Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal, is certainly a notable figure of American history.

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Author:  Patricia MacLachlan, 1985, Harper & Row
Newbery Award

Do you ever wistfully think of a simpler time?  In our world today, time moves so quickly, and we often long for open fields, blooming flowers, and the wind blowing across the open plains.  That is exactly what I picture when I read Sarah, Plain and Tall.  This story takes me back to a bygone era, one in which entertainment had to be discovered; it wasn't readily available.  Anna and Caleb lost their mother after Caleb was born, and they long for a woman to make her home with them.  Their father puts an advertisement in the newspaper for a wife (talk about a mail-order bride!), and lo and behold, Sarah Wheaton responds from Maine.  She leaves her brother and aunts behind to find a family who loves her dearly. 

Most children in my area read this book in the third grade; however, I do not believe I ever read it.  Some people in my children's literature class thought I would really enjoy the book, and I am so glad they recommended it.  I am a simple person, and I loved picturing Anna's and Caleb's home.  It was a classic, feel-good story, and I enjoyed reading about a hassle-free, plain and tall life. 

Noah's Ark

Illustrator:  Jerry Pinkney, 2002, SeaStar Books

Caldecott Award

The biblical story of Noah's Ark is arguably one of the best-known stories of all time.  God was angered at his people, so he sent a flood to destroy every living creature and plant on earth with the exception of Noah, Noah's wife, sons, sons' wives, and two of every animal.  When the waters finally receded, God sent a rainbow as a covenant that He would never again flood the earth.  It is a story of faith, trust, and deliverance, and Jerry Pinkney brings it to life in this children's book.

The pictures are extremely moving and detailed.  Every facet of the story is depicted with accuracy (as best as we know) through the fine artistic details and array of colors.  I admire Pinkney for taking such a well-known story and making it real for children in the 21st century.  If you are familiar with the story or have never heard of it, this book is a real treat for the aspects of history and faith.  I closed the book with a more vivid picture of the story in my own mind, and for someone who has heard the story all his life, I was impressed.