Traditional Literature_In a Dark Dark Room by Dirk Zimmer

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schwartz, Alvin. 1984. IN A DARK DARK ROOM AND OTHER SCARY SOTRIES. Ill. by Dirk Zimmer. New York, NY: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780060252717.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories, contains seven traditional scary stories. Each folktale has a protagonist with approximately two to three additional characters. The setting for each story is familiar to the protagonist and takes place during the dark of the night. In addition, the protagonist in each story confronts his/her fear or exposes a fearful moment.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
By today’s standards of terror and horror, the majority of the stories retold by Alvin Schwartz are mild and tame. Five of the seven stories are light in humor and can be read with friends during a sleepover. I believe children between the ages of eight and ten can deal with the contents and exaggerations in each story. The two stories that held my attention were, “The Green Ribbon” and “The Night It Rained.” Both had events that led to eerie climaxes. The illustrations were also eerie. Zimmer did an outstanding job matching the pictures to the text.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
-Harper Collins Publishers: “In a dark, dark room, in a soft, soft voice, tell a scary story—it’s fun! It’s fun to scare your friends with stories about ghosts and pirates, skeletons and strange happenings, especially if they are told by Alvin Schwartz and illustrated with spooky-funny pictures by Dirk Zimmer.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*At the end of the book, the reader is provided with the origins of each story. This made me think of the importance cultural awareness plays when sharing folktales with children.
*Getting fourth grade students to expound on the stories with more details would be an innovative way of getting them excited about writing.

Traditional Literature_Cindy Ellen by Jane Manning

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lowell, Susan. 2000. CINDY ELLEN: A WILD WESTERN CINDERELLA. Ill. by Jane Manning. U.S.A. Joanna Cotler Books. ISBN 0064438643.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Cindy Ellen is a Cinderella tale set in the West. Cindy Ellen’s father, a rancher and widower, marries a cantankerous woman who has two mean-spirited daughters. Although Cindy Ellen’s new life is filled with hardships, she remains a sweet and beautiful girl. One day neighbors of the biggest cattle tycoon are invited to a two-day “Western fandango.” Everyone in the household attends, except Cindy Ellen. Upon their departure, Cindy Ellen’s fairy godmother appears and provides her with all of the gear a cowgirl would need. On the first day Cindy Ellen’s arrival at the ranch causes a stir. The rich rancher’s son takes notice and is swooned. On the second day at the square dance, Cindy Ellen loses one of her diamond spurs. The search to find the owner to the diamond spur emerges and the truth unfolds.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Illustrator, Jane Manning, does a surperb job matching the pictures to the text. The image she creates of the step-mother complements the descriptive words of Lowell. The various settings and color choices of browns, oranges, and rusts give the reader a taste of the arid western desert.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Inside book cover- “Winner of the Storyteller Award from the Western Writers of America.”
Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Bright, stylish….Manning trick out her characters in dazzling modern cowboy dress.”
Starred review in THE HORN BOOK: “Expressive regional turns of phrase and exuberant full-color comic illustrations in skewed perspective place the action squarely in the dry desert of the West.”

5. CONNECTIONS
* This book can be used with students in kindergarten to students in high school. It supports many of Texas’ TEKS/SEs. For instance, teachers can address Compare and Contrast texts/characters/settings, Author’s Purpose, Author’s Point of View, Analyze Characters, Drawing Conclusions, applying Graphic Organizers, and many more.

Traditional Literature_Gershon's Monster by John J. Muth

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kimmel, Eric A. 2000. GERSHON’S MONSTER: A STORY FOR THE JEWISH NEW YEAR. Ill. by John J. Muth. New York, NY: Scholastic Press, ISBN 043910839X.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Gershon is a crass and thoughtless man who makes no apologies for his sins of broken promises, white lies, and quick temper. Every Friday, Gershon sweeps his thoughtless acts and gathers them in a cellar. Annually at Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Jewish New Year, he packs his sins and tosses them out to the sea. His baggage eventually catches up to him when it jeopardizes the lives of his children. The harm that may befall his children causes Gershon to repent.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The theme of the story is universal. Making amends for hurtful words and actions is something most parents and teachers emphasize with children and one we personally can relate to. Jon Muth’s use of dark and hazy watercolor illustrations set the tone for the story and setting. Both author and illustrator give readers insight into an area of Jewish culture as well as the significance of Rosh Hashanah.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Reviewed on Amazon: “Eric Kimmel, a prolific Jewish children's book author, presents this book for the High Holidays based on a Hasidic tale about tashlikh and repentance. The book is based on a Hasidic tale attriuted to the Ba'al Shem Tov (BeSHT). It also incorporates the writings of Rabbi Maimonide's 12th Century "Laws of Repentance (Chapter 2)", and Rabbi Benay Lappe's 20th Century "Six Steps for Doing Teshuva." The back page includes the steps needed for real repentance.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Years ago, a fellow teacher and I would get together and plan culturally diverse lessons. It started with “Christmas Around the World” and progressed to New Year’s Day Celebrations. Gershon’s Monster is a book that can be added to how and why people of diverse backgrounds celebrate New Year’s Day.
*“Community Circle” is something I did with students K-2nd grade. Issues that affected our community of learners were discussed openly. Showing remorse and repentance were keys to making amends and getting along with our community. This tale touches on this and can stimulate great discussion and social learning.

Genre: Picture Books_Talking with Artists Vol. 3 by Peter Catalanotto

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cummings, Pat. 1999. TALKING WITH ARTISTS VOLUME THREE. Ill. by Peter Catalanotto, et al. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395891329.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Pat Cummings, an artist herself, highlights thirteen artists in this third series of conversations with artists. She organized the book by dedicating a section to each respective illustrator. Each section begins with a brief self-introduction by the artist. The author’s story is followed by his/her responses to eight standard questions. Cummings also offers a section titled, “Secret Techniques.” In this section, each author reveals an art technique that one can apply. The final section provides the reader with a list of book titles that display the art work of each artist.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is definitely for aspiring artists of all ages. The text is personal and personable. The artists’ biographies were windows into their childhoods, thoughts, and beginnings as artists. The candor with which the biographies were written gave me a sense of connectedness. The joy, passion, and determination these artists have for drawing began at an early age. I pondered about how often I have crossed paths in the school’s halls with future artists and did not honor it.
Consequently, I find this book to be one all parents, teachers, and librarians can share with children who enjoy drawing. The first person accounts in this book made me reflect on how this book can be utilized with certain teachers and students. One specific fifth grade teacher comes to mind. She enjoys art so much that she not only incorporates it in her reading, math, science, and social studies lessons, but she also formed an after-school art club. This would be a great book to share with her so that she shares the “secret techniques” with her students. In addition, she can do a read aloud with each section, asking students to listen for how the artist started, what medium the artist uses, what the artists prefers to draw, and so many more comprehension purpose questions.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
None found.

5. CONNECTIONS
*If you want to tap into the hidden artistic talents of children, this is book is a must.
*Learn about other illustrators’ accounts and their secret techniques in Pat Cummings volumes one and two.

Genre: Picture Books_Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Weatherford

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Weatherford, Carole B. 2006. MOSES WHEN HARRIET TUBMAN LED HER PEOPLE TO FREEDOM. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York: Jump at the Sun. ISBN 9780316013567.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Born into slavery and contending with the idea of being sold to another master, Harriet Tubman plans her escape, but not without first consulting with God. Without telling anyone, she leaves the plantation, along with her husband and family, in the dead of night. Her arduous journey is guided by her faith in God. Trusting in His signs, she makes it to safety. However, she is alone and misses her family. A new faith-filled journey takes her back South to help her family and many other slaves escape.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Foreword provides concise, yet relevant information about slavery. This story and the illustrations are masterpieces. Weatherford takes a historical figure and her struggles during a period in slavery and turns it into poetry. I found Kadir Nelson’s illustrations to compliment the text throughout the book. When Harriet kneels down to speak with God in the field, you see a calm but desperate plea in her eyes. Nelson’s depiction of hardship is visible as the morning sun strikes on Harriet and fellow slaves. Harriet’s face displays fear and caution as she treads across water. In another illustration, you see her exhaustion as she lies asleep in the grassy woods. In addition, Nelson’s color choices are imposing. The different shades of blue give a sense of a cool, calm, nights filled with secrecy. The hues of browns and yellows produce sensations of heat and thirst. Regardless of the text or illustrations, both are mesmerizing. Weatherford brings this story full-circle by including factual information about Harriet Tubman in her Author’s Note, which is located on the last page of the book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Caldecott Honor Book
Starred review in Publisher's Weekly: “In this gorgeous, poetic picture book, Weatherford…depicts Harriet Tubman's initial escape from slavery and her mission to lead others to freedom as divinely inspired, and achieved by steadfast faith and prayer.”
Starred review in Kirkus: “Larger, italic type telegraphs the devout Harriet's prayerful dialogue with God: "Shall I leap, Lord?"
Star reviewed in Booklist: “There's no romanticism: the pictures are dark, dramatic, and deeply colored….”
Starred review School Library Journal: “The words and pictures create a potent sense of the harsh life of slavery, the fearsome escape, and one woman’s unwavering belief in God.”
*Starred reviewed in The Horn Book: “Weatherford's poetic telling of Harriet Tubman's role as a conductor on the Underground Railroad combines with Nelson's larger-than-life illustrations to portray the spiritual life of the African American visionary. “

5. CONNECTIONS
*A great book to use during February—Black History Month, or March—Women’s History Month.
*With permission from the publisher, this can be transformed into a Readers Theater script.
*Additional book related to Harriet Tubman:
Schroeder, Allan. MINTY A STORY OF YOUNG HARRIET TUBMAN. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. ISBN 0803718888

Genre: Picture Books_The Lion and The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Pinkney, Jerry. 2009. THE LION AND THE MOUSE. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. New York: Little, Brown Young Readers. ISBN 9780316013567.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
The Lion and the Mouse is a tale about a mouse that wanders through the dense yellow grass of Africa and inadvertently scales the back of a resting lion. Lion, who quickly catches the mouse, decides to set the mouse free. Shortly after releasing the mouse, Lion sets out through the jungle when suddenly he is ensnared by a concealed net set by hunters. The lion’s roar is heard and in no time the mouse comes to the lion’s rescue. The lion and the mouse have one final moment before mouse scampers away.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This picture book is a treasure trove of character trait lessons. Pinkney’s sharp illustrations and absence of words effectively convey mercy, compassion, kindness, humility, pre-judgments, friendship, and so much more. The traits of mercy and compassion are unveiled when the lion, whose enormous frame is spread across two pages, first releases the mouse. The act of kindness is evident when mouse repays lion by gnawing away at the net and freeing him. Last, but not least, a teacher or teacher-librarian can address humility. The final illustration between the lion and the mouse exudes a sense of humility from the lion. Pinkney shows Lion almost prostrate before the mouse with his front legs extended forward, head laying lower than his backend and his tail softly swiveling. This is definitely a book that offers many of life’s lessons and one worth keeping in the classroom.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
The Caldecott Medal
Starred reviewed in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: [The illustrator] “has no need for words, his art speaks eloquently for itself.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*This book lends itself to several social issues children in elementary deal with.
*I used the flannel board story of The Lion and The Mouse with students in kindergarten, first, and second grades. Conversations about bullying, friends coming in different sizes and brawn versus brain often came up.

First Blog Experimentation 6/8/10

Whew, I made it! Thought I'd test the waters before posting book reviews.