Module 15 - King and King by Linda de Haan

Bibliography:

de Haan, Linda. (2002). King and King. Berkeley: Tricycle Press. ISBN: 9781582460611

Summary:

There is a kingdom where the queen rules...and she is tired of it. So, she decides that her son, the crown prince, must marry. She wakes him up from his slumber to tell him her decision and continues to talk and talk and talk to her son about it until he finally agrees to marry, although he mentions that he was never that fond of princesses. Upon getting the okay from her son, the queen calls up every princess in the world, near and far, and they all show up the next day to meet the prince, hoping he will choose them. There was a princess from Austria, who sang opera, a princess from Texas who preforms magic acts and there was a princess from Mumbai with really long arms and legs. There was even a princess from Greenland, and although the prince was not interested in her, the prince's page fell in love with her at first sight. The queen and prince began to lose hope, until finally the page announced the arrival of Princess Madeleine and her brother, Prince Lee. It was love at first sight between the princes. The prince and queen were very happy, and then a beautiful wedding was held for the princes, with the wedding cake having two grooms on top. The queen passes on control of the kingdom to her son and has time for herself, and the princes become king and king. The king and king share true love's kiss. The page and his love, the two kings, and the queen all live happily ever after.

Impressions:

I thought this book was very cute. Although it slightly differs from other books falling into the happily ever after fairy tale sort, moving from boy meets girl, to boy meets boy, I think it accomplishes the same things, while also quietly addressing homosexuality. It may be a greatly opposed book because of this, but I see nothing wrong with this book being available for children to read. It leads children to have an open mind about homosexuality, which is better for us as a society. Everyone is equal, no matter who they love romantically. The illustrations are also very appealing, although unusual and unique, sticking to the whole theme and uniqueness of the whole book. I liked the book a lot and was happy that I was able to find it in my library (although, apparently it was only added in the library system last month although the book has been published since 2002).

Reviews:
"The text is brief and lighthearted, and it presents the gay relationship with matter-of-fact ease. But it's the illustrations that really shine. Whimsical, textured collages mix beautiful papers, fabrics, and bright paint in scenes that show the bossy queen, the wildly imagined town, the eclectic princesses, the wedding, and finally, a kiss between the two starry-eyed princes. Adults will know what's coming early in the story, but many kids won't. They'll simply like the fun artwork and the final twist on conventions."

Engberg, Gillian. (July 01, 2002). American Library Association.  [Review of the book King and King.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"Indeed a book whose time has come, this is no pusillanimous bibliotherapy; it is, rather, a joyful celebration that at the same time firmly challenges the assumptions established and perpetuated by the entire canon of children's picture books. Hurrah to newcomers de Haan and Nijland and to the publisher for bringing them to an American audience."

 (February 01, 2002). Kirkus Reviews. [Review of the book King and King.]. Kirkus Reviews. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

This book would be perfect for introducing issues associated homosexuality to young readers. By doing this, their minds are open to such things, instead of growing up closed minded and prejudiced about the whole affair. I think its a great book to show that whether you are in love with a man or woman, happily ever afters can still happen, and its okay. Not only that, but by reading this at a young age, things such as bullying could be weeded out later for students that are gay or that have gay parents. A discussion could be had about the matter and any prejudiced thoughts that might have been passed on from others could be addressed. Children should know that even if a person happens to love someone of the same sex, we are all equal.

Module 14 - A Curious Collection of Cats by Betsy Franco

Bibliography:

Franco, Betsy. (2009). A Curious Collection of Cats. Berkeley: Tricycle Press. ISBN: 9781582462486

Summary:

This is a book of poems, all about cats. Readers are introduced to over thirty cats, each with their own personality and spunk. There are cats that want to catch squirrels, there are cats that hang from a dog's mouth, there are cats that sleep on folded laundry and there are cats that pee on hats. Each poem is about a cat (or a couple), that artistically portrays each cat. For the cat who has a long tongue to lick her neck, the words are written in the shape of the long tongue. For the cat who paces in between legs, the words are written in such a way to show the cat pacing. The book combines poetry and illustrations perfectly, illustrating cats and the world they live in.

Impressions:

Being a cat lover and owner myself, I absolutely loved this book. I thought it was adorable. I loved how each poem perfectly described the quirks of cats. What made the book even better was the way in which the poems were illustrated and the words arranged. I loved how it wasn't just a simple book filled with poems in a structured form. The book clearly shows how much fun poetry can be and that there are no limits. The poems made me laugh and the pictures made me smile. The arrangement of words had me flipping the book over and sideways to continue reading, and the whole thing was a blast. I never knew reading poetry could be so much fun.

Reviews:
"Words and pictures blend in these concrete poems about cats, written in forms that include haiku, limerick, and free verse. Once kids get the feel of how to follow the lines up and down or in curving jumps or around the page borders--they will have fun with the playful images."

Rochman, Hazel. (March 15, 2009). American Library Association.  [Review of the book A Curious Collection of Cats.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"Franco understands the nuanced world of the fluffy, fractious, and faithful feline friend. Thirty-two unusual, concrete poems, one per page with a single exception, are matched by Wertz's monoprints. The words move in several directions and sometimes inhabit multiple objects. The poems are so embedded within the illustrations that it is hard to imagine them without the artwork; they are virtually inseparable."

 Pfeifer, Teresa. (April 01, 2009). Library Journals LLC. [Review of the book A Curious Collection of Cats.]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

I think this book would be a great way to introduce poetry. There are a wide range of forms and types of poetry included in the book, but more than that, these poems are fun and they are written in such a way to make them that way. This book shows readers that poetry can be fun and that it is not just about structure. In my opinion, this book should be read and passed around before any talks of structure even happen. A love of poetry and their meanings should be acquired before diving in deeper to such things as structure. This would be the puurrfect book to do that, especially since it deals with a topic everyone can relate to: cats!

Module 13 - Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale

Bibliography:

Hale, Shannon. (2008). Rapunzel's Revenge. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN: 9781599900704

Summary:

In this graphic novel remake of the classic fairytale, Rapunzel takes her happy ending into her own hands. Growing up in a beautiful villa, but always surrounded by a very tall wall, Rapunzel climbs over the wall of her "mother's" house, who happens to be an evil witch, and discovers who her real mother is, a mother who is a slave to the evil witch, Gothel. She finds out that Gothel stole Rapunzel from her parents when she was a young girl because Rapunzel's father stole into Gothel's garden to bring his pregnant wife some Rapunzel lettuce. Upon discovering the truth, Rapunzel lashes out against Gothel, her fake mother, and in turn Gothel has Rapunzel taken into an over grown forest and locked in a room inside a very large tree. Because of Gothel's growth magic in the tree, Rapunzel's hair grows and grows. She finally manages to escape by learning how to wield her hair as a lasso and weapon. Upon escaping, she meets the handsome prince that is to rescue her, but she realizes he is a rich snob, so she deserts him and eventually meets up with Jack, as in Jack and the Giant Beanstalk, and his goose (whom he is waiting to lay a hefty egg..)and they decide to travel together, in through the land that Gothel has made barren with her powers. Rapunzel travels in the efforts to right the wrongs Gothel has created and to help people along the way, but most importantly, to try to save her real mother. Rapunzel and Jack are constantly chased by the evil witch's henchmen as well as people after Jack. But eventually, they manage to free Rapunzel's mother, destroy Gothel's magic as well as Gothel, and restore the land back to its healthy, green self. Not only that, but Jack and Rapunzel realize their love for one another and kiss, which is apparently the moment the goose was waiting for to lay her golden egg.

Impressions:

Growing up, I have read my fair share of graphic novels, and so its almost hard to impress me with one. I enjoy reading them all the time, and I enjoyed reading this one just as much. Even better, I was really impressed! The plot was interesting, giving a twist to a classic tale. It was fun and fast paced, which lends a hand to the action packed storyline. I also enjoyed the fact that it has a strong female main character, a girl who can take care of herself and others. The illustrations were great, and they bring the story to life. I thought it was a very clever remake of a classic fairytale story, and everyone should read it.

Reviews:
"This graphic novel retelling of the fairy-tale classic, set in a swashbuckling Wild West, puts action first and features some serious girl power in its spunky and strong heroine...Hale's art matches the story well, yielding expressive characters and lending a wonderful sense of place to the fantasy landscape. Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers. "

Coleman, Tina. (September 01, 2008). American Library Association.  [Review of the book Rapunzel's Revenge.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive. Knowing that there are more graphic novels to come from this writing team brings readers their own happily-ever-after."

 Kinsey, Cara von Wrangel. (September 01, 2008). Library Journals LLC. [Review of the book Rapunzel's Revenge.]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

I think this graphic novel would be great to introduce interesting reading material for struggling readers. With a fast paced story, as well as great illustrations, I believe struggling readers would find this book interesting and overcome their hesitations in order to read through it. I think graphic novels are a great first step for struggling readers, whether they are struggling because of their reading abilities (graphic novels include pictures that help tell the story just as much as the words), or if they struggle with motivation (graphic novels are a great way to get students reading).

Module 12 - Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein by Don Brown

Bibliography:

Brown, Don. (2004). Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN: 0618492984

Summary:

Albert Einstein was born in Germany in the year1879. Upon his arrival in the world, his family thinks he is too fat and a huge head. Although his head stays misshaped, he otherwise appears to be normal until his parents start to worry about when Albert will start speaking. When he finally does start to speak, his words and sentences are clever and sharp. When Albert is three, his parents have another child, a girl named Maja. He is shown being mean to his sister as well to his tutors, having a wicked temper. He had very few friends. While the other boys at school liked to play sports, Albert did not. He did not give much effort to things he did not like or have an interest in, even at school. But things he was interested in, he devoted all of his attention. He excelled in math and puzzles. But still, people and teachers wondered if he was dull witted. Albert later makes a friend named Max Talmud, who introduces Albert to geometry, and from there, Albert's love of math expands. Although Albert eventually graduates college, attains a job, and marries and becomes a father, Albert is still engaged in the wonder of mathematics in the world around him. He creates a view of space and time and energy that changed the world, changing the world for everyone. Because of his contributions, Albert Einstein is not the odd boy out anymore, but a revolutionary and great thinker.

Impressions:

I thought this book was a great view into who Albert Einstein was as a person, as a boy growing up. It was nice to see that Albert had problems and issues just like "normal" children growing up, and that he struggled as well. But in a way, it is important to see the differences in how he struggled because he was so brilliant. The illustrations help illustrate this with illustrations that are sometimes funny, such as a teacher running from Albert's cruelty, but more importantly, the illustrations show how lonely Albert must have been, such as Albert sitting by himself while other boys played. This book makes Albert Einstein a person as well as one of the most brilliant and magnificent thinkers of all times. I also enjoyed how on the last page of the book, it illustrates what he has done for us, not only in his magical creation of E=mc^2, which younger readers might not be able to understand and appreciate yet, but he also illustrates Albert's contribution in a way young readers can appreciate, such as automatic doors and television.

Reviews:
"Young readers won't come away from Brown's newest picture-book biography understanding the theory of relativity, but they will be heartened by the parallels between their own experiences and those of an iconic science guy. "

Mattson, Jennifer. (September 01, 2004). American Library Association.  [Review of the book Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"Through eloquent narrative and illustration, Brown offers a thoughtful introduction to an enigmatic man. This book will pique the interest of readers with little or no knowledge of Einstein."

 Taniguchi, Marilyn. (October 01, 2004). Library Journals LLC. [Review of the book Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein.]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

I think this book would be great to use in a set of books about inventors who have influenced our life today. Reading this book and then talking about the effects that Albert's works on light, energy, space and time have made on our daily lives would be a great introduction into such a topic. It is important for children to understand why we have the things we do, and that these were real people, with real problems who created these solutions. Not only that, but this book could also be tied into a science class when introductions to the E=mc^2 equation are being taught. It would give a nice background to the lesson.

Module 11 - Aliens are Coming!: The True Account of the 1938 War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast by Meghan McCarthy

Bibliography:

McCarthy, Meghan. (1988). Aliens are Coming!:The True Account of the 1938 War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast . New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN: 0375835180

Summary:

Aliens are Coming! begins with a brief explanation of the context surrounding the 1938 radio broadcast of War of the Worlds. After explaining the significance of radio programming to Americans in 1938, readers are informed of a particular prank phenomena that occurred during this time. After establishing the time an setting, the day before Halloween in the United States, readers are given an impression of how the broadcast must have sounded - as a legitimate new flash rather than part of a radio play. Following this setup, the book mainly uses actual dialogue from the War of the Worlds broadcast itself. Seeing this dialogue, readers follow how radio listeners in 1938 would have perceived the broadcast as a series of genuine news reports, elaborating interstellar disturbances from Mars, followed by the arrival of a UFO in Grovers Mill, New Jersey, and then the hostile first contact between witnesses and alien technology. Once the dialogue from the broadcast culminates into a doomsday warning and report of alien ships appearing nation-wide, the book takes a turn, describing the significance of the radio play in terms of the reactions caused. It tells of both the mass panic as evidenced by crowded highways and evacuations, as well as specific anomalies such as one man's confused identification of a water tower as an alien vessel. Only after this hysteria do the broadcasters conclude that aliens have not actually invaded, but that the whole broadcast was nothing more than a Halloween special. 

Impressions:

I thought this was a cute depiction about the true event of the radio scare in 1938. I liked how the books contained an author's note, giving a denser version than the story itself. Although the story is fully, if simply, explained in the earlier, thoroughly illustrated pages, it is followed by an author's note much longer than the rest of the book, which provides much more detailed information about the event for more advanced readers.The note lends help towards giving a more thorough understanding of the event. The illustrated section makes learning about the even entertaining and more suitable for younger audiences. The illustrations are comical and unique and easily reflect the time era in which the broadcast occurred. The illustrations are stylishly cartoonish, making it enjoyable for young readers, and me. It amazes me that the nation was taken in by such a widespread prank, even though they were warned that it was just a play. It makes me wonder if such a thing could happen today with our advanced technology.

Reviews:
"Using a 1930's art style, and a palette comprising mostly muted grays and reds, McCarthy evokes an era gone by, at the same time creating a cozy nostalgia. Even somewhat older, media savvy kids, who may view the gullibility of the characters with a disdainful eye, will be disarmed by the depictions of panicked faces and slimy Martians, eyes on stalks, that appear amid eerie red light. An abrupt ending notwithstanding, this is packed with age-appropriate thrills and scares."

Karp, Jesse. (February 01, 2006). American Library Association.  [Review of the book Aliens are Coming!:The True Account of the 1938 War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"The interplay between the text of the play and the author's description of actual events is effective, and the illustrations are exaggerated and funny. A unique treatment of a fascinating topic, and sure to have wide appeal."

 Vilmar, Rachael. (April 01, 2006). Library Journals LLC. [Review of the book Aliens are Coming!:The True Account of the 1938 War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast.]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

I think this book would be great to read aloud, and even better, given to the children to read in dramatic announcer voices. Its a good opening for general education on the importance radio used to have in day to day life, as well as a great opener for any lessons on the 1930's. The kids could act out the crazy event, taking turns giving the "devastating" news. The book also includes questions throughout its pages, that would be great to talk about with the kids, such as "What would you do?", "Would you have been fooled?", and "What would you do if an alien came to visit you?" These are great starters for fun conversations that could get the ball rolling on more intellectual conversations.

Module 10 - The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

Bibliography:

Yolen, Jane. (1988). The Devil's Arithmetic. New York: Viking Kestrel. ISBN: 0670810274

Summary:

Hannah is a young Jewish girl, living in present day New York who feels forced to participate in the Jewish holidays and traditions. She feels that her family is weird; they act out, especially the older ones, and always talk about remembering. But Hannah is tired of remembering, especially with the boring traditions, and only wants to have fun. But, during Seder, Hannah gets transported into the past as a young Jewish girl named Chaya during the time of WWII. The people there believe her to be Chaya, and with no one believing her when she protests, she finally lets it be and goes with it, thinking eventually she will get back home. On the day of her "cousin's" wedding, the Nazis come and force all the Jews into vans to relocate them. Hannah finally figures out what is going on, and tries to warn everyone, but they do not listen. They are forced onto cramped trains, where many die, and finally come to a concentration camp where they are forced to separate from the men, forced to strip, shower in a huge room together, shave off all their hair, and given a tattooed number on their arm: their new identity. They are forced to work everyday. Weak workers or sick workers are killed in the ovens. Hannah and the others concentrate on surviving one day at a time. A lot of her friends die, including some that tried to escape and instead were caught and made to line up, then shot. Caught gossiping one day with three of her friends, a guard forces the three friends with Hannah to follow him to the ovens, but Hannah takes the place of her friend Rivka and tells her that she must remember before walking away to die. Upon walking into the ovens, she realizes she is back at home. She notices that her Aunt Eva's number on her arm is the same that Rivka had. Her aunt and Hannah discuss what happen and what happened after Chaya saved her life. Hannah now understands the importance of all the remembering and the importance of her heritage and family.

Impressions:

Although the time travel is far-fetched, I didn't see a problem with it, and I really think it was played off well. Besides, how else would you get a girl from today's day and age to witness the holocaust? Readers are able to connect with her easier because of that fact. I think its a great book to go with teaching about the Holocaust. I think children will relate to the protagonist because she is a girl from our time and age who somehow gets thrown back in time. And with this connection to this girl, readers are also able to make the connection to the past, and the characters and events there. I loved being able to see impressions of this horrific event, that I know is based on facts. Reading something like this is one of the ways that readers today can help make sure that nothing like that ever happens again.

Reviews:
"Through Hannah, with her memories of the present and the past, Yolen does a fine job of illustrating the importance of remembering. She adds much to children's understanding of the effects of the Holocaust, which will reverberate throughout history, today and tomorrow."

Harding, Susan. (November 01, 1988). Library Journals LLC.  [Review of the book The Devil's Arithmetic.]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

"The book's simplicity is its strength; no comment is needed because the facts speak for themselves. This brave and powerful book has much it can teach a young audience."

 (October 14, 1986). PWxyz, LLC. [Review of the book The Devil's Arithmetic.]. Publishers Weekly. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

I think this novel would be a great book to tie into the history lessons of the Holocaust, of WWII, of the Nazis, of the whole gruesomeness of the whole affair. With history books, people are left out, and only numbers and facts are written, but reading this while studying the same thing in history would help put things into perspective. Discussions could arise, and kids could begin to grasp the realness of it all. The book could either be read aloud or individually, with discussions as a group.

Module 9 - Wolf Rider by Avi

Bibliography:

Avi. (1986). Wolf Rider. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN: 0020415133

Summary:

Andy and his father just moved to an apartment a year after Andy's mother died in a car accident. As Andy was getting ready to leave to go to a party that night, the phone rings. Andy answers it and the voice on the other line claims that he just killed someone, a girl named Nina. The voice says is name is Zeke, and that the girl went to the college in town. Andy tries to keep Zeke on the phone for as long as he could, having sent his friend to cross the road and use a phone there to call the police to have them trace the call. But the call ends and the police don't trace the call. This starts Andy off on an investigation to discover who this Zeke person is once he realizes that Nina is a real person, attending the college in town where Andy's father works as a math professor. As Andy continues his investigation, people at all turns think he is crazy and that the phone call was a prank. They think he should just forget about the whole thing, but Andy is determined to help Nina. So, even though his father gets angry and upset at him many times, straining their relationship, and the police constantly turn him away, and the guidance counselor at school makes him attend meetings with her, he still strives to figure out the truth. Even Nina, when Andy confronts her about the whole matter, thinks he is mad and calls the police on him. But in the end, Andy reasons that Zeke must be a part of the math department, as they would be the only one with their new phone number, which wasn't listed yet. He calls each person in the department under the guise of calling from the newspaper, and finally finds the voice of Zeke: Dr. Lucas. With a series of phone calls to Dr. Lucas, Andy gets him to come to a meeting point where he knows Nina to be, hoping that Dr. Lucas will reveal himself as Zeke and have proof for the police. But, instead, Dr. Lucas kidnaps Andy and drives him out to a cliff. There they have a struggle, and the car drives off the cliff with Andy managing to get out of the car in time. In the end, he decides to tell no one about what happened. His father, upon finding a cufflink that he knows belongs to Dr. Lucas in Andy's pocket, decides not to confront his son about it and throws it away to protect his son.

Impressions:

This book was a very fast read. From the very first page I was hooked and wanted to figure out who the killer was. Although I thought that the story could have been filled out a little more, for I felt there were a lot of stray questions that Avi left unanswered, I thought the book was a good read. I enjoyed how Avi gave insights into not only Andy but Dr. Lucas and Andy's father as well. The ending caught me off guard, for I felt that Andy should have told his father the truth, if only so that he could finally been believed. It bothered me that no one seemed to trust what he was saying, even Nina I felt should have listened to him a bit more. But when faced with the truth that someone wants to kill you, I can understand her overreacting. I also didn't like the idea that Andy's father could be thinking that Andy killed Dr. Lucas somehow, when this wasn't the case; it was all an accident and Andy had actually tried to save Dr. Lucas. But Andy's father thinking that Andy murdered Dr. Lucas could put a strain on their relationship that could last a lifetime if the truth is not spoken. I also learned, while looking for reviews that the book has an alternate ending in which Andy dies on the plane ride to his aunt's house. I think if I had read this ending, I would have been a little more upset with the ending of the book. But all in all, I enjoyed reading the book and think that others would enjoy reading it as well.

Reviews:
"A charged beginning electrifies a plot that sizzles with suspense every inch of the way. Avi fortifies this excitement with staccato dialogue and a fast pace"

(November 01, 1986). American Library Association.  [Review of the book Wolf Rider.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"His attempts to ferret out Zeke and protect Nina, while compromising his own safety, make for an exciting tale of the terror lurking beneath everyday surroundings and behind ordinary events."

 (December 26, 1986). PWxyz, LLC. [Review of the book Wolf Rider.]. Publishers Weekly. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

This book could be read aloud and it would instantly attract the attention of it's listeners. The book has a great hook and it is fast paced, with the readers/listeners wanting to know things like what's going to happen, is Nina going to die, and who is Zeke? As well as being fast-paced and an interesting mystery, a discussion could be held later about different actions Andy could have taken, or about the ending of the book when Andy decides to not bother his father with what happened with Lucas, and Andy's father decides not to ask, although he knows his son had something to do with the death of Lucas, maybe even killed him. The ending leads much to speculation and would lead to a great conversation. Talks could also be had about what would be different in today's age, seeing as this was written in 1986. For example, most people don't have a home phone anymore, and even if they do, everyone has caller ID now.