HABIBI

Nye, Naomi Shihab. 1999. HABIBI. New York: Simon Pulse.
ISBN-10: 0689825234

PLOT SUMMARY
Liyana is devastated when her father informs the family that they will be moving back to his homeland of Jerusalem. Her parents have always talked of this, but Liyana never thought it would actually happen. Having no other choice but to follow their father the family sells most of their possessions and travel half way around the world. Once in her new home Liyana is faced with relatives she has never meet, customs that do not allow her to be friends with boys and a language she does not know. Even though she is homesick for St. Louis she attempts to give her new home a chance by learning the language, getting to know her Sitti, and exploring the city. It is through this exploring that she meets a new friend Omer who happens to be Jewish. However, she never expected to have to deal with the political and religious issues in the country. Many of which affect her friends and family. Even with all these issues she is able to become a part of her new home.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Nye has done a wonderful job describing the landscape, customs and dress of Jerusalem. Her detailed description of the village outside the city ” The dusky green of olive trees planted in terraced rows up hillsides, walls of carefully stacked stone, old wells with real wooden buckets….” helps the reader to look past all the politics and violence that they may have seen on the news and realize what a beautiful place Jerusalem really is. Another cultural marker that Nye uses to help the reader is her description of custom and dress. “ The women’s long dresses were made of thick fabrics, purple, gold, and navy blue, and stitched brightly with fabulous, complicated embroidery.” As the reader reads lines like these they are transformed to another world.
Besides her use of detailed descriptions another reason her book works so well are her characters. As you read you immediately fall in love with all the characters. Even though it would be easy to dislike her father for moving his family she never allows Liyana to speak ill of him like most teenagers would do in the situation. The family sticks together and supports each other and that is evident in their interaction. The secondary characters are also extremely likeable such as Omer and Sitti.
Overall, this is a wonderful story for any young adult. It touches on many topics that a young adult may face as well as the culture of a new land. This book would help a class touch on many subject areas while reading a wonderfully written story.


REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal
When Liyana's doctor father, a native Palestinian, decides to move his contemporary Arab-American family back to Jerusalem from St. Louis, 14-year-old Liyana is unenthusiastic. Arriving in Jerusalem, the girl and her family are gathered in by their colorful, warmhearted Palestinian relatives and immersed in a culture where only tourists wear shorts and there is a prohibition against boy/girl relationships. When Liyana falls in love with Omer, a Jewish boy, she challenges family, culture, and tradition, but her homesickness fades. Constantly lurking in the background of the novel is violence between Palestinian and Jew. It builds from minor bureaucratic annoyances and humiliations, to the surprisingly shocking destruction of grandmother's bathroom by Israeli soldiers, to a bomb set off in a Jewish marketplace by Palestinians.

The New York Times Book Review
Adolescence magnifies the joys and anxieties of growing up even as it radically simplifies the complexities of the adult world. The poet and anthologist Naomi Shibab Nye is meticulously sensitive to this rainbow of emotion in her autobiographical novel, Habibi…. Habibi gives a reader all the sweet richness of a Mediterranean dessert, while leaving some of the historic complexities open to interpretation.


Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Habibi-Naomi-Shihab-Nye/dp/0689825234


CONNECTIONS
Additional books by the author:
Sitti's Secrets ISBN-10: 0689817061
The Flag of Childhood: Poems From the Middle East ISBN-10: 0689851723

WHAT'S WRONG WITH TIMMY?

Shriver,Maria. 2001. WHATS WRONG WITH TIMMY?.Ill. Sandra Speidel. New York: Warner Books.
ISBN-10: 0316155489

PLOT SUMMARY
Kate is a curious young girl who asks lots of questions. One day while at the park Kate sees a young boy that looks different. “He had brown hair like her brothers, freckles on his nose, and wore a t-shirt and shorts just like her brothers.” However, Kate can not get over the fact that he somehow looked different. When Kate goes to ask her mother about the new boy she learns that the moms are friends. As she sets and talks with her mom she learns that Timmy has a learning disability and he can do things just like her. Timmy just needs a little longer to learn them. After feeling more at ease Kate goes and makes friends with Timmy and tries to get a game of basketball going with her other friends. When they show a bit of apprehension Kate stands by her new friend and begins playing with just him. The other friends soon join in and all the children become friends.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Our story starts out almost like a fairy tale “Once upon a time there was a girl named Kate”. This beginning is the start of several problems within this book. The reader is lead to believe from the beginning that the story is about a girl named Kate rather than about a boy named Timmy. This seems to be true for a majority of the story. Shriver spends a large part of the story dealing with how Kate feels and how she thinks Timmy looks strange. Shriver could have focused more on Timmy and his feelings. Another issue with the story is the conversation between Kate and her mother. It is often not believable. Kate speaks more like an adult than a child when asking her mother questions about Timmy.
Speidel’s illustrations are done in hazy pastels setting the mood for a more delicate topic. The pictures do a nice job telling the story. Overall, the message behind the book is a good one and there are not many books available to help children deal with disabilities however, I feel this one falls short.


REVIEW EXCERPTS
Amazon.com
When 8-year-old Kate meets a boy who seems somehow different, she feels funny inside. After talking with her mom, though, Kate begins to understand that Timmy is just like her in many ways. Timmy has special needs; he takes longer to learn than Kate, and can't walk or run as well. But he also "loves his family, he wants friends, he goes to school, and he dreams about what he wants to be when he grows up." Kate and Timmy meet, and the seeds of a friendship are planted.
From School Library Journal
The warm pastel illustrations support the theme of acceptance of all people no matter their differences. However, the little girl's questions and actions are quite mature for her age. The lack of paragraphs might be a bit confusing to young readers, and the intermittent use of bold-faced, larger-sized type is a bit disruptive, although its purpose seems to be to highlight the theme. The book reads well, though, and would be a good introduction for youngsters welcoming a disabled child into their school or neighborhood.


Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Whats-Wrong-Timmy-Maria-Shriver/dp/0316233374

CONNECTIONS
Additional books on the topic.

I Can, Can You? ISBN-10: 1890627577
Don't Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability ISBN-10: 0764121189

KING AND KING

De Haan, Linda & Stern Mijland. 2000. KING AND KING. Toronto: Tricycle Press.
ISBN-10: 1582460612

PLOT SUMMARY
When a Queen is ready to retire and relax she encourages her son the prince to find himself a wife so he can marry and take over as King. This task is not as easy as she believes. The young prince reveals that he has never been “fond of princesses”. After inspecting several of the nearby princesses he and the Queen are frustrated. They are down to the last princess and it seems as all hope is lost. As Princess Madeleine and her brother Prince Lee enter the room it is love at first sight for the princes. It seems that Prince Lee is everything the young prince has been looking for. After the wedding celebration the Queen is able to relax and the two Kings live happily ever after.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Mijland and de Haan have taken a serious subject and tried to make it less serious. Their use of the fairy tale theme is a nice idea to help reach younger readers. This format also lends it self well to the message of living happily ever after even in a same sex marriage. However, the illustrations are huge distractions from the story. The illustrations are busy with many of them slanted on the page. Several of the pages have patterned backgrounds behind the characters drawing the reader’s eyes from the characters to the patterns. The use of color varies throughout the book. On many pages you have bright colors while on the next page you are given darker colors. The characters are drawn with harsh expressions on their faces and are ugly. In many of the illustrations the prince looks almost sickly and he has a rather feminine appearance like the stereotypical homosexual. The illustrations are the biggest down fall for this book. Overall the theme of same sex marriage in a fairly tale format is a good idea, but the illustrations do not carry the story. There are better choices out on the market on the same subject.


REVIEW EXCERPTS
Publishers Weekly
When a grouchy queen tells her layabout son that it's time for him to marry, he sighs, "Very well, Mother.... I must say, though, I've never cared much for princesses." His young page winks. Several unsatisfactory bachelorettes visit the castle before "Princess Madeleine and her brother, Prince Lee" appear in the doorway. The hero is smitten at once. "What a wonderful prince!" he and Prince Lee both exclaim, as a shower of tiny Valentine hearts flutters between them.

From School Library Journal
Unfortunately, though, the book is hobbled by thin characterization and ugly artwork; the homosexual prince comes across as fragile and languid, while the dour, matronly queen is a dead ringer for England's Victoria at her aesthetic worst. Some of the details in the artwork are interesting, including the "crown kitty" performing antics in the periphery. However, that isn't enough to compensate for page after page of cluttered, disjointed, ill-conceived art. The book does present same-sex marriage as a viable, acceptable way of life within an immediately recognizable narrative form, the fairy tale. However, those looking for picture books about alternative lifestyles may want to keep looking for a barrier-breaking classic on the subject.


Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/King-Linda-Haan/dp/1582460612

CONNECTIONS
Additional books on the subject.
And Tango Makes Three ISBN-10: 0689878451
Emma and Meesha My Boy: A Two Mom Story ISBN-10: 1413416004

THE EARTH DRAGON AWAKES

Yep, Laurence. 2006. EARTH DRAGON AWAKES. New York: Harper Collins
ISBN-10: 0060275243

PLOT SUMMARY
Yep’s historical fiction novel looks at the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco from the point of view of two young boys. Written in journal style we meet Henry, the son of a well off banker, and Chang, the son of the family house boy have become fast friends and want what every child wants, excitement. Both boys plan to grow up and do exciting things and not be “boring” like their fathers. They soon have more excitement then they could have ever imagined when the earthquake hits. The boys and their family’s are soon left homeless in a city that is on fire. Together they overcome the obstacles and make plans to stay in San Francisco and help rebuild.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Yep’s journal style story is action packed and would be a great book for that reluctant reader or boy who loves adventure. However, there seems to be a few cultural markers that Yep is breaking. One example is the Asian American as the house boy. Ah Sing is always their for the family to save the day repair the clothing and clean up around the house. I understand that in San Francisco many Asian American men and women worked for the well off families at this time, but as I read the story I could not get the stereotypical view of the house boy out of my mind. Another example is the language of Ah Sing. He is seen in the story speaking to the family in broken English. “I got plenty. I sweep, I find, I keep.” However, at the end of the book he is seen speaking to the Travis family in clear English. “May I help you with your luggage?”
Overall, the story is exciting and Yep does do a good job describing what life would have been like in san Francisco and Chinatown during the time of the quake. He also tries to show the family as appreciative of the service of Ah Sing and his son. They are like family.Mr.Travis even suggest recommending lawyers to help the Asian American family’s when he learns that the citizens of San Francisco want Chinatown rebuilt elsewhere. The inclusion of actual photos from the earthquake and an afterward describing the quake are wonderful additional information for the reader who wants to learn more.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

School Library Journal
Yep looks at the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 from two points of view. Chin is a young Chinese immigrant whose father is a houseboy for a prominent banker and his family. He has become friendly with young Henry Travis, the banker's son, through their interest in low-brow but exciting penny dreadfuls. The stories depict heroic people doing heroic things and, while both boys appreciate their fathers, they certainly do not regard them as heroes. Not, that is, until the Earth Dragon roars into consciousness one spring morning, tearing the city asunder and making heroes out of otherwise ordinary men.

Booklist
On the evening of April 17, 1906, neither eight-year-old Henry nor his friend Ching is aware that the earth beneath their San Francisco homes is shifting. Devotees of "penny dreadfuls," both boys long for excitement, not their fathers' ordinary routine lives.

Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Dragon-Awakes-Francisco-Earthquake/dp/0060275243


CONNECTIONS
Related websites
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/earthquakes/

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/nca/1906/18april/index.php

GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY

Say, Allen. 1993. GRANDFATHER’S JOURNEY. Boston, Mass: Houghton Mifflin.
ISBN-10: 0395570352

PLOT SUMMARY
Based on his grandfathers life. Allen Say tells a touching story of a man caught between to lives, the one he leaves in Japan and the new one he finds in America. We follow the young man as he leaves the safety of his home and ventures out to a new land full of “enormous sculptures that amaze him’ and huge cities of factories and tall buildings that bewildered and excites him”. After making a home for himself he returns to his homeland to marry. He then returns to America with his bride and lives contently for many years. However, he begins to miss his homeland and returns with his family. While happy with his life in Japan he can not get his adopted home out of his mind and lives the remainder of his life hoping to return one day.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Say’s Caldecott winning picture book gives the reader a personal look at a man torn between two worlds. Rather than focusing solely on the grandfathers story Say incorporates three generations of the family and how they too are torn between two countries. The simple straight forward text tells a lot without distracting from the beautifully done watercolor illustrations. Say has chosen to use sepia colors much like old photographs. This technique helps to give the reader the sense of the past. It is as if the reader is looking through a family photo album listening to someone tell a story. Because this is Say’s family story he has an insider perspective. He has made sure to accurately show the clothing, housing, and landscape of the countries. He has also been sure to depict the characters with the proper facial expressions and skin color both in America and Japan. Overall, this is a lovely story that not only is a wonderful addition to Asian American literature, but a wonderful tool in teaching about immigration and the mix of two cultures.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Amazon.com
Home becomes elusive in this story about immigration and acculturation, pieced together through old pictures and salvaged family tales. Both the narrator and his grandfather long to return to Japan, but when they do, they feel anonymous and confused: "The funny thing is, the moment I am in one country, I am homesick for the other

From Publishers Weekly
Say transcends the achievements of his Tree of Cranes and A River Dream with this breathtaking picture book, at once a very personal tribute to his grandfather and a distillation of universally shared emotions. Elegantly honed text accompanies large, formally composed paintings to convey Say's family history; the sepia tones and delicately faded colors of the art suggest a much-cherished and carefully preserved family album.


Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Grandfathers-Journey-Caldecott-Medal-Book/dp/0395570352

CONNECTIONS
The following sites include lesson plans and activities.
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/socialstd/MBD/Grandfathers_Journey1.html
http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/lessonplans/profbooks/grandfatherjn.htm

THIS NEXT NEW YEAR

Wong, Janet S. 2000. THIS NEXT NEW YEAR. Ill. by Choi, Yangsook. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
ISBN-10: 0374355037

PLOT SUMMARY
Wong has written a wonderful story describing a young boys preparations for Chinese New Year. Our young narrator explains how Chinese New Year is different then the New Years Day that he celebrates on January 1st. We learn how his family prepares for their celebration by cleaning the house and cooking special meals. The reader is also introduced to some of the traditions of the holiday such as receiving money in red envelopes and the belief that if your palms itch you will be coming into money. Just like New Years Day on January 1st or main character looks forward to s fresh new start with the new year and “making all his dreams come true.”

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Wong does a wonderful job explaining the tradition of the Chinese New Year to an younger audience. She is able to take a subject that could be a bit dry and add humor so that an younger child can relate. Her explanation of the young boy’s palms itching is typical of all children. “My brother thinks it’s warts, but I know the luck is coming.” It is passages like this that make the reader realize that our young narrator is no different then any other American boy. Another cultural marker Wong uses in the story is the fact that our character ask for luck with school. He is not shown as the “smart Asian student” he obviously could use all the help he can get. A nice addition to the story is the author’s note at the end in which she explains her own memories of the holiday.
Choi’s illustrations work well with Wong’s story. She uses warm colors to show the excitement of the holiday. Though the illustrations are simple they have lots of action showing the excited preparations that most people face before the holidays. The characters are shown with warm tan to brown complexions. Some do appear to be of Asian decent but they are not drawn as the stereotypical Asian.
Overall this is a wonderful book to reads to introduce the custom of Chinese New Year. It is simple enough for younger students yet would be a great jumping point for older students who want to learn more.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Amazon.com
A spunky young boy makes plans for "this next new year" in Janet S. Wong's festive, truly engaging story of the Chinese Lunar New Year, celebrated annually in late January or early February. "And all day tomorrow, Lunar New Year's Day, I will not say one awful thing, none of that can't do/don't have/why me because this is it, a fresh start, my second chance, and I have so many dreams I'm ready now to make come true." So he flosses his teeth and helps his mom scrub the house "rough and raw so it can soak up good luck like an empty sponge," and plans to be brave when his family sets off firecrackers at midnight. The Chinese Korean boy tells us, in a funny, fresh, first-person voice, how his best friends, a German French boy and a Hopi Mexican girl, like to celebrate the Chinese New Year, too. Yangsook Choi's artfully composed, action-packed paintings add uplifting color to the happy spirit of the holiday, and an author's note provides more details about the Chinese New Year and Wong's childhood memories of the celebration.
From School Library Journal
Youngsters will enjoy the bright colors and the sense of motion and activity conveyed as the boy helps his mother clean, flosses his teeth, and cringes from the noise of the firecrackers. A good choice for anyone getting ready to celebrate Chinese New Year.


Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/This-Next-Year-Janet-Wong/dp/0374355037

CONNECTIONS
Sam and the Lucky Money ISBN-10: 1880000539
The Dancing Dragon ISBN-10: 1572551348

The Birchbark House

Erdrich, Louise. 1999. THE BIRCHBARK hOUSE. New York: Hyperion Books.
ISBN-10: 0786803002


PLOT SUMMARY
Omakayas lives with her family on the Island of the Golden Breasted Woodpecker. Their lives are controlled by the seasons. In this tale we follow Omakayas and her family as they prepare for each season by hunting, fishing, and preparing their home. Life seems to be moving along smoothly for the family until a stranger comes to the village and brings small pox. Many of the tribe members catch the illness including Omakayas’ mother, father, sister and younger brother. However, the most devastating is the illness of her baby brother. With the help of her grandmother they nurse the family back to health. All accept her baby brother. Devastated by the loss and the hard winter the family struggles not to starve and return to normal. It is during this time that Omakayas learns of her special powers to heal and her past that lead her to her family and the completion of the circle.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Endrich wrote this story almost accidentally. She was researching her family’s tribe the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwa with several family members and decided to take what she learned and turn it into the first adventure of Omakayas. She spent much time listening to elders and visiting the island to make the story authentic. One example that helps to make her story authentic is her use of language. Native Americans spend much of there life guided by the seasons so it was nice to see that the book was divided up into sections that are named after the seasons in Ojibwa. There are many more examples of her use of the Ojibwa language through out the story such as the name she calls her father Deydey. Another example that helps with the authenticity is her description of the daily routine of the family. The way the hunted and gathered for the season helps to make this story more than a good read. Readers are learning about the culture of a specific Native American tribe. Endrich also contributed the illustrations to the book as well. The simple drawings help to give the reader a peak at what the author had in mind when creating the characters.
Overall this is a good story for upper grades to read. The author’s note and the glossary help to aid the reader and teacher in better understanding the story.



REVIEW EXCERPTS
Amazon.com
Readers will be riveted by the daily life of this Native American family, in which tanning moose hides, picking berries, and scaring crows from the cornfield are as commonplace as encounters with bear cubs and fireside ghost stories. Erdrich--a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwa--spoke to Ojibwa elders about the spirit and significance of Madeline Island, read letters from travelers, and even spent time with her own children on the island, observing their reactions to woods, stones, crayfish, bear, and deer. The author's softly hewn pencil drawings infuse life and authenticity to her poetic, exquisitely wrought narrative. Omakayas is an intense, strong, likable character to whom young readers will fully relate--from her mixed emotions about her siblings, to her discovery of her unique talents, to her devotion to her pet crow Andeg, to her budding understanding of death, life, and her role in the natural world

From Publishers Weekly
Erdrich's (Grandmother's Pigeon) debut novel for children is the first in a projected cycle of books centering on an Ojibwa family on an island in Lake Superior. Opening in the summer of 1847, the story follows the family, in a third-person narrative, through four seasons; it focuses on young Omakayas, who turns "eight winters old" during the course of the novel. In fascinating, nearly step-by-step details, the author describes how they build a summer home out of birchbark, gather with extended family to harvest rice in the autumn, treat an attack of smallpox during the winter and make maple syrup in the spring to stock their own larder and to sell to others. Against the backdrop of Ojibwa cultural traditions, Omakayas also conveys the universal experiences of childhoodAa love of the outdoors, a reluctance to do chores, devotion to a petAas well as her ability to cope with the seemingly unbearable losses of the winter. The author hints at Omakayas's unusual background and her calling as a healer, as well as the imminent dangers of the "chimookoman" or white people, setting the stage for future episodes. Into her lyrical narrative, Erdrich weaves numerous Ojibwa words, effectively placing them in context to convey their meanings. Readers will want to follow this family for many seasons to come

Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Birchbark-House-Louise-Erdrich/dp/0786803002


CONNECTIONS
The second book in the series.
The Game of Silence
ISBN-10: 0064410293

Crazy Horse's Vision

Bruchac, Joseph. 2000. CRAZY HORSE’S VISION. Ill. by S.D. Nelson. New York: Lee and Low Books.
ISBN-10: 1880000946

PLOT SUMMARY
Curly, better known as Crazy Horse, was a quiet boy. Even as a quiet child he showed his bravery. At the age of eleven he conquered a wild horse his father brought into camp. Two years later he killed a mighty buffalo and gave it to the people of the camp that could not hunt for themselves. Things were good for Curly until one day when the white man killed Chief Conquering Bear in a battle at the camp over a lost cow. Sensing that his people would need someone to guide them he defied tradition and went out on a vision seeking guidance without being properly prepared. It is this vision that guides Curly to become Crazy Horse and to one day defend his people.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Bruchac has done a wonderful job telling the story of a young Crazy Horse. Children are often amazed at seeing their heroes as young children. Much detail is given to the personality of Curly. He is seen as a quiet yet brave child who soon finds his mission in life. Bruchac makes sure to give accurate detail about the traditions of the Lakotas such as the vision quest. The author’s note at the end of the story gives additional details on the entire life of Crazy Horse so that students and teachers can continue their learning experience after the story ends.
Nelson, a Sioux artist, used the Plains Indian style of ledger book for many of his illustrations. Special attention was given to colors. Crazy Horse is painted blue to show his connection with the sky and the connection with the spirit world. His double page spreads help to draw the reader into the story and the small print does not distract from the illustrations. The illustrators note at the end of the book gives additional information on the style and technique that is used to create the pictures.
Overall, this is a wonderful story to share with students. They will enjoy looking at a hero as a child and seeing the important events that shaped his life.


REVIEW EXCERPTS
From Publishers Weekly
As he did in Gift Horse, Sioux artist Nelson blends contemporary and traditional elements for the striking illustrations that accompany this story of the legendary Lakota warrior. Bruchac (A Boy Called Slow: The True Story of Sitting Bull) traces Crazy Horse's boyhood, zeroing in on a pivotal event in his life and highlighting an important Native American rite of passage. As a youth, Crazy Horse (then known as Curly) witnesses U.S. Army soldiers brutally and unjustly attack his people. Troubled, he embarks on a vision quest and sees a figure on horseback riding untouched through a storm of lightning, hail and bullets. His father interprets the vision, telling him that "the man on that horse is the one you will become" and that he is destined to defend his people. Bruchac's description of the vision quest is compelling, and his decision to limit his canvas to a few select events demonstrates his understanding of his audience; an afterword describes subsequent events in the warrior's life. Endmatter also illuminates Nelson's approach. The artist explains his approximations of the Plains Indians' traditional ledger-book style (characterized by indistinct facial expressions and flat, two-dimensional figures) and his symbolic use of color (Crazy Horse is painted blue, representative of a connection with the spirit world). His sweeping vistas and somewhat ghostly textured brushwork bolster the book's visionary theme..

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 5-Crazy Horse is the revered Lakota warrior who defeated General Custer during the Battle of Little Bighorn. Bruchac provides this information and much more in an author's note, but the main narrative involves scenes of his subject's youth. He presents details from oral history, such as "Curly's" quiet nature, early leadership skills, and vision quest. The boy sought divine inspiration after his tribe was invaded by white settlers; the vision, which taught him to "Keep nothing for yourself," was to guide him throughout his life. Nelson's note acknowledges the influence of his ancestors' ledger-book style on his acrylic paintings executed on wood panels. The artist uses stylized figures, symbolic color, and texture to create dynamic scenes. While there are many stylistic similarities to Nelson's art in Gift Horse (Abrams, 1999), here the artist has a stronger sense of book design, and takes better advantage of double-page spreads, full bleeds, and tight croppings. Older children will appreciate comparing the images to the 19th-century ledger-book drawings reproduced in Russell Freedman's The Life and Death of Crazy Horse (Holiday, 1996). A fine introduction to a hero long overlooked.


Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Horses-Vision-Joseph-Bruchac/dp/1880000946


CONNECTIONS

Classroom teaching guide
http://www.leeandlow.com/pdfs/vision.pdf

Jingle Dancer

Smith, Cynthia Leitich. 2000. JINGLE DANCER. Ill. by Van Wright, Cornelius. and Ying-Hwa Hu. New York: Morrow Books.
ISBN-10: 068816241X

PLOT SUMMARY
Jenna daydreams of becoming a Jingle Dancer like her grandmother. When grandmother tells Jenna she can dance at the next powwow she is excited. She watches videos of her grandmother over and over so she will be perfect. However, all the practice will not fix her problem. Grandmother does not have enough time to order Jingles for her dress. Determined to have the jingles for her dress she goes to her friends and family in the neighborhood to ask for help. Generously the allow her to borrow a few jingles to make her regalia perfect and carry on the tradition of their cultures dance.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Smith has done an excellent job telling the tale of Jenna a member of the Creek nation. Smith herself a member of the Creek nation is able to write from the insider’s point of view. This view is so rare in Native American Literature. Jenna the main character is seen from a modern perspective. She lives in a modern community with her family close around. This modern view is evident in the clothing and activities that Jenna participates in and the women Jenna visits in order to get jingles for her dress. These women are independent, strong, and modern. One example is Jenna’s cousin Elizabeth the lawyer. Besides showing strong women Smith has also made sure to include accurate information about the dress and customs surrounding it. At the end she has also included an author’s note explaining the Creek nation and the history behind the original jingle dancers. The end also includes a glossary explaining some of the words used in the story that readers may be unfamiliar with.
Wright and Hu’s illustrations in soft colors work well with the story. The colors are not overwhelming and do not take the readers attention away from the story. The skin tone on the characters is a soft tan color indicating that they are of ethnic background. The tone is never too red like many pictures of Native Americans. They have made sure to illustrate the community like any other community in America. The final scene when Jenna is dancing is shown as a blur to emphasis Jenna and her dress. This is nice to see rather than an over drawn Powwow with feathers and drums.
Overall, this is an excellent book to share with children about the customs of the Creek Nation.



REVIEW EXCERPTS
Publishers Weekly
Smith, a mixed-blood member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, convincingly juxtaposes cherished Native American tradition and contemporary lifestyle in this smooth debut. Watching a videotape of Grandma Wolfe performing a jingle dance, Jenna is determined to dance at an upcoming powwow. But she lacks the cone-shaped, tin jingles that are sewn on to dancers' dresses as part of the regalia. The girl walks down a suburban sidewalk lined with modern houses as she sets out to visit her great-aunt, a neighbor, a cousin and Grandma Wolfe, all of whom lend her jingles for her dress. Smith's language consciously evokes legend. For example, "As Sun caught a glimpse of the Moon" indicates the time of day; and Jenna is careful to borrow only a limited number of jingles, "not wanting to take so many that [another's] dress would lose its voice." Van Wright and Hu's (Jewels) lifelike renderings capture the genuine affection between Jenna and these caring older women.

School Library Journal
Without enough tin jingles to make her dress sing, how can Jenna be a jingle dancer just like Grandma Wolfe at the next powwow? She borrows one row from Great-aunt Sis, whose aching legs keep her from dancing; another from Mrs. Scott, who sells fry bread; one from Cousin Elizabeth, whose work keeps her away from the festivities; and a fourth row from Grandma, who helps Jenna sew the jingles to her dress, assemble her regalia, and practice her bounce-steps. When the big day arrives, the girl feels proud to represent these four women and carry on their tradition.

Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Jingle-Dancer-Cynthia-Leitich-Smith/dp/068816241X


CONNECTIONS
Additional Books on Native American Culture
Pushing up the Sky: Seven Native American Plays for Children
ISBN-10: 0803721684

The First Strawberries
ISBN-10: 0140564098
Teaching Guide
http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/CLS/cyn_books/jingle/guide_to_jingle.html

Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan

Ryan, Pam Munoz. 2004. BECOMING NAOMI LEON. New York: Scholastic.
ISBN-10: 0439269970


PLOT SUMMARY
Naomi lives a rather simple life in the Avocado Acres Trailer Rancho with her brother Owen and her Gram. They do not have many possessions but they do have the love from their friends like Fabiola and Bernardo and their next door neighbor Mrs. Maloney. Life seems to be moving along until one night when an unexpected guest shows up at their door. At first the children are unsure of who the guest is. Once they realize that it is their mother they are both shocked and happy. It has been seven long years since she dropped them off with Gram. Thinking this is a new life for them Naomi and her physically challenged brother Owen try to get to know their Mom. They soon learn that she and her boyfriend are not good. Afraid that their mother might fight for custody Gram, Fabiola and Bernardo sneak away in the night to Oaxaca, Mexico in search of the children’s father. In the end they find their long lost father and get the chance to explore their Mexican heritage.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Ryan has done an excellent job painting a picture of a loving non traditional family. Though she includes information on the traditions of Oaxaca, Mexico during the holidays this story is not primarily about Mexican American family. Any reader would be touched by the love Gram has for the children as well as the care and patience she has for Owen and his special needs. The characters are likeable and easy to fall in love with. Your heart breaks when Owen tries so hard to make his Mom like him after being gone for more than seven years. Ryan also does a fine job in her unlikable characters. Clive and Skyla have been written well and are easy to dislike. Overall this is an excellent story for any student in the upper grades who wants to see the love and support of a nontraditional family.


REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal
Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw lives with younger brother Owen and her fiercely practical Gram in a trailer park in California in this novel by Pam Munoz (Scholastic, 2004). An unpopular fifth grader, she spends lots of time in the library with the other outcasts and the kind librarian. Naomi's talent is carving objects out of soap. After being gone for seven years, her mother shows up one day with a scary boyfriend, Clive. Gram lets the children know that their mother, Terri Lynn, has always been wild and irresponsible. They're worried that she will assert her parental rights and take the children away. Naomi is insecure and particularly susceptible to her mother's attention. Owen is essentially ignored by Terri Lynn because he has some physical deformities, but Clive thinks he could use Owens’s deformities to make money gambling. Gram, the neighbors, and the children go to Oaxaca to find the children's father and get him to sign papers making Gram their guardian. Their dad is thrilled to see them, and Naomi learns that her talent for soap carving is inherited from her father.
Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Americas-Childrens-Literature-Commended/dp/0439269695/ref=ed_oe_h/102-7454338-7744927


CONNECTIONS
Additional books that would be beneficial on the importance of families.

Ida B: . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World ISBN-10: 0060730269

Esperanza Rising ISBN-10: 043912042X

So Be It ISBN-10: 0064410471

Pablo's Tree By Pat Mora

Mora, Pat. 1994. PABLO’S TREE. Ill. by Lang, Cecily. New York: Macmillan.
ISBN-10: 0027674010


PLOT SUMMARY
Each year on his birthday Pablo can hardly wait to spend the night with his grandfather and visit his special tree. Pablo’s tree was chosen by his grandfather in hopes that he would one day have a grandson. The tree was finally planted on the day that his daughter adopted Pablo. Every year since Pablo’s birth his grandfather has decorated the tree with some special gifts like streamers on his first birthday and wind chimes on his fifth birthday. The love between Pablo and his grandfather is as strong as Pablo’s tree and evident throughout this touching story.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Mora does a nice job telling the story of love and tradition between a grandson and his grandfather. It is also nice to see adoption being addressed in a Mexican American picture book. She mixes English text with small amounts of Spanish. Rather than having a glossary for the Spanish words in the back of the book she has chosen to include the meaning of the words in the text.” Como este mi nieto grande? How is my big grandson?” The love and respect shown for the grandfather is also an important message in this story. The role of a grandparent in a Mexican-American family is a valued one and nice to see. Besides these cultural markers the only other evidence is the illustrations. Lang has done a superb job with her bright collage paper cut outs. The detail is focused on the characters and Pablo’s tree. The background does not distract from the important parts of the story. She has made sure to show the characters skin tone and hair appropriately. The white haired grandfather is shown as a loving warm man. The kind anyone would want as a grandfather.
Overall, it is a nice story of the love and special bond between a grandson and grandfather. The text is a bit bland and would work well for younger children.


REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist
Five-year-old Pablo can hardly wait to see how Abuelito, his grandfather, has decorated Pablo's tree for his birthday. When Mam{ }a first told her father that she was going to adopt a baby and name it after him if it were a boy, Lito went out and bought the tree for his grandson. He moved the tree from place to place and watered it, but he waited to plant it until the day that Mam{ }a finally brought Pablo home. And every year since then, Lito has decorated the tree for Pablo's birthday. For his first, Lito hung colored streamers on the tree. For his second, Lito tied balloons. For his third, it was paper lanterns, and last year, it was birdcages. What will it be this year? As in A Birthday Basket for T{¡}ia (1992), Mora and Lang tell a story that focuses on the special relationship between a child and an older person within a Hispanic family. Boldly cut and bright with detailing accents, Lang's clever cut-paper collages fill each page like a photo album with picture after picture of a family history that sparkles with love and a sense of belonging. A lovely and resonant picture book that, like the tree that Pablo discovers decked with bells and wind chimes rings with happiness and family love.

Kirkus Reviews
It's Pablo's birthday, and he's ready for his birthday visit to his grandfather Lito's house, where Lito has decorated a special tree in Pablo's honor. Pablo's tree was planted when his mother adopted him. It was put in a special place--not in the front yard (where it was too noisy), not in the rose garden (where there were too many thorns), but in a quiet spot in the sun. Each year on Pablo's birthday, Lito picks something different with which to decorate it--streamers, colored balloons, paper lanterns, tiny birdcages. This birthday it is festooned with chimes. Pablo and Lito celebrate the day by munching apples and listening to the music the wind makes blowing through Pablo's tree. Pablo looks forward to next year's decoration, which Lito assures him will be yet another surprise. Though this is a charming story about a particularly joyful Mexican-American birthday tradition, the text wanders.

Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Pablos-Tree-Pat-Mora/dp/0027674010

CONNECTIONS
Additional books by Pat Mora on Mexican American cultural.
Tomas and the Library Lady ISBN-10: 0375803491
A Birthday Basket For Tia ISBN-10: 0689813287

The Skirt by Gary Soto

Soto, Gary. 1992. THE SKIRT. Ill. by Velasquez Eric. New York: Delacorte Press.
ISBN-10: 0440409241



PLOT SUMMARY
Miata Ramirez has a problem; she loses things. One Friday afternoon she accidentally leaves her mothers Ballet folklorico skirt on the bus. Not only does Miata need the skirt to dance in on Sunday but, her mom is always reminding her not to loose things. Unable to tell her family about the missing skirt she must think of a way to get it back. In order to get the skirt off the bus Miata enlist the help of her friend Ana. Hoping to not get caught the girls sneak into the bus yard in search of the skirt. To their surprise they see Miata’s father working on one of the buses. After barely making their escape with the skirt Miata’s mother surprises her with a gift. The new skirt Miata is given is beautiful but, she feels a loyalty to her mother and the skirt and wears both the new and old skirt together to honor her mother.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Gary Soto has done an excellent job of highlighting the cultural of a Mexican American family as well as the daily issues present in all families. Soto has touched on several cultural markers necessary to make a story culturally accurate. One marker is Miata’s family. The family is extremely close and they work hard. Miata’s father often takes extra jobs to help support the family. Another marker is Soto’s description of food. “At dinner they had steak, frijoles, and papas fritas.” Another example of culturally authentic food would be breakfast food of chorizo con huevos. A final marker is celebration of Ballet folklorico. The group performs traditional Mexican folk dances wearing beautiful colorful skirts. All of these markers help to make this book a good example of life in a Mexican American home.

The pencil drawn illustrations by Eric Velasquez help to give the reader a closer look at the characters in the book. The use of black and white illustrations is a good choice. They do not draw the reader’s attention away from the text which is the most important element in a chapter book.

Overall, this book would be an excellent read aloud and great book for the discussion of families and cultural differences.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
From Publishers Weekly
Described by PW as a "spunky and imaginative" heroine, Miata comes up with a clever plan to retrieve her beloved folklorico dance skirt.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
This is a light, engaging narrative that successfully combines information on Hispanic culture with familiar and recognizable childhood themes. The San Joaquin Valley, California, setting is realistically drawn, and the closeness of Miata's family is reassuring.

Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Skirt-Gary-Soto/dp/0440409241


CONNECTIONS

Additional books by Gary Soto that would be great for an author study.
Chato and the Party Animals ISBN-10: 0142400327
Too Many Tamales ISBN-10: 0698114124
Baseball in April and Other Stories ISBN-10: 0152025677

Minty

Schroeder, Alan. 1996. MINTY A STORY OF YOUNG HARRIET TUBMAN. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney.New York: Dial Books . ISBN-10: 014056196X


PLOT SUMMARY
This fictional story tells the tale of a young Harriet Tubman. Known to her family as Minty, Harriet is a slave on a Maryland plantation and suffers daily at the hands of her owner as she works in the fields. Not satisfied to live her life this way, Harriet often tells her family that she is going to run away even though she knows the price if she is caught. Knowing that she really will run away one day her family teaches her how to surive in the woods. At this young age she was already displaying the fire that would one day make her a leader in the Underground Railroad.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Schroeder does an excellent job bringing this historical figure to life. Telling Harriet’s story from a child’s view helps younger students relate to this hero. His use of dialect that would have been common during the time of the slaves, “No, Missus” helps to make the story more authentic. Another cultural marker that Schroeder uses is food. The description of the food that the Broda’s family eats as well as the muskrats that Minty lets out of there traps would have been common on the plantation. As students read about the young Harriet they will want to learn more about her. This book would be an excellent introduction into her life.
Pinkney’s illustrations created through the use of pencils, water colors and, colored pencils help to make young Harriet come to life. His research of the period is evident in the illustrations. The plantation house is modeled after homes in Maryland during the same time. He also is careful to make sure the clothing and hairstyles of the slave owners and slaves are authentic for the time. Even though Minty is beaten in the story the illustrations do not show this violence. Pinkney’s choice to not show this makes this book appropriate for sharing with younger children.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Publishers Weekly
With color and feeling he humanizes a historic figure, coaxing readers to imagine or research the rest of the story. Pinkney's full-bodied watercolors evoke a strong sense of time and place. Laudably, Pinkney's scenes consistently depict young Minty's point of view, giving the harshness of her reality more resonance for readers. A formal author's note follows the text and both Schroeder and Pinkney have included personal messages about the history of the book project. A firm stepping stone toward discussions of slavery and U.S. history

School Library Journal
Pinkney's illustrations are outstanding, even when compared to his other fine work. His paintings, done in pencil, colored-pencils, and watercolor, use light and shadow to great effect, and his depictions of Minty are particularly powerful and expressive.

Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Minty-Harriet-Tubman-Picture-Puffin/dp/014056196X

CONNECTIONS
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/biographies/activity/9410.html

Songs of Faith

Johnson, Angela. 1998. SONGS OF FAITH. New York: Orchard Books. ISBN-10: 0531300234

PLOT SUMMARY
Set in the small town of Harvey Ohio, the year is 1976 and as the country is preparing for the bicentennial. While everyone else is ready to celebrate thirteen year old Doreen and her little brother Robert are trying to cope with the divorce of their parents. Not only has their father moved to Chicago their mother has gone back to school and is to busy to notice that her children are suffering. When Robert stops talking Doreen does not think things can not get any worse. She is proven wrong when her best friend moves away and her brother goes to live with their father. However, Doreen learns that faith in love can help her through anything.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Johnson has done an excellent job describing life of a divorced family living in a small town. Her description of the smelly river full of trash, and the closed down mill helps to set the scene for the reader. One can imagine a town that was once a thriving place but because of business closers has become a town of poverty and divorced women.
The characters in the story are likable and are like any normal child of the 1970’s. If it were not for the cover photo the reader may not realize that the characters are African-American. Johnson first person account uses dialect that would be common in many small towns. The central story of divorce is also a common theme in young adult literature and could be related to any ethnic group. One of the few examples of cultural markers in the story is the name that the children call their mother “Mama Dot”. Another example would be the church that their neighbor Miss. Mary attends.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
From Publishers Weekly
In Johnson's (Humming Whispers) absorbing character study, the country prepares the bicentennial celebration of Independence Day while 13-year-old Doreen and her younger brother Robert start a new chapter in their lives without their father. The finalization of their parents' divorce sharpens Doreen's sense that nearly everyone else is moving forward while she "stays put" in Harvey, Ohio, a place "far out of everything and everybody." With the closing of the steel mill, the town's population is shifting ("Mama Dot says Harvey's becoming a place full of just-divorced women and their kids").

School Library Journal
A deftly detailed novel set in 1976. Johnson uses the particulars of the months after Doreen and Robert's father moves to Chicago and Doreen's best friend moves away to illuminate the universal experience of coping with loss. At the same time, a new girl, Jolette, moves into the neighborhood with her stepmother and too-quiet younger brothers. The sad setting, a neighborhood just outside the projects in a decaying Ohio town where the mills are closed and the trash-filled river smells, mirrors the depression of the characters: troubled children, recently divorced women, and men emotionally scarred from their service in Vietnam.

Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Songs-Faith-Angela-Johnson/dp/0531300234

CONNECTIONS
Additional books for students on divorce.
Dear Mr. Henshaw ISBN-10: 0380709589
How Tia Lola Came to (Visit) Stay ISBN-10: 0375902155

Beautiful Blackbird

Bryan, Ashley. 2003. BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD. New York: Simon and Schuster.
ISBN-10: 0689847319

PLOT SUMMARY
Based on an old Zambian folktale Beautiful Blackbird tells the story of how the birds of Africa used to be many bright colors. The only bird that had any black on his feathers was the blackbird. He was thought to be the most beautiful of all the birds. Suddenly the ringdove wants to be black like beautiful blackbird. Soon after other birds want to have the color black on them so they too will be beautiful. Blackbird agrees to paint them black but, wants them to realize that it is not the color on the outside that makes them beautiful, it is what on the inside.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Winner of the Coretta Scott King Award for illustrations in 2004, Beautiful Blackbird does a superb job of passing on the folktales of Africa. The rhythm of the text and chants in the book make this book an enjoyable read aloud. The Blackbirds message of “Color on the outside is not what’s on the inside. You don’t act like me. You don’t eat like me. You don’t get down in the groove and move your feet like me.” The folktales message is to be proud of who you are and embrace your culture. This self affirming message is one that is important to all races not only African-Americans.

Bryan’s paper collage cut outs are colorful and jump off the page at the reader. He overlaps many of the bird cutouts to make them seem 3-d. Each illustration has little background detail to take away from colorful birds. The double page illustrations were created with scissors that were his mothers. Readers can learn more about this at the end of the story in the authors note. Overall, the illustrations and text do a wonderful job sharing the message of it’s not what is on the outside that matters.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Publishers Weekly
Storyteller Bryan's (What a Wonderful World) singular voice provides rhythm and sound effects throughout this musical adaptation of a Zambian tale. When gray Ringdove calls the other monotone birds together and asks, "Who of all is the most beautiful?" they all reply, "Blackbird." They then encircle Blackbird, dancing and singing, "Beak to beak, peck, peck, peck,/ Spread your wings, stretch your neck./ Black is beautiful, uh-huh!/ Black is beautiful, uh-huh!" At the birds' request, Blackbird agrees to paint black markings on them (with the blackening brew in his medicine gourd), but he warns Ringdove that it's not the color black that will make them beautiful. "Color on the outside is not what's on the inside.....

School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-Because they haven't got a spot of black on their bodies, the colorful birds of Africa envy Blackbird. They extol his feathers that "gleam all colors in the sun" in their songs and dances. And although he assures them that "Color on the outside is not what's on the inside," he generously shares the blackening brew in his gourd

Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Blackbird-Coretta-Illustrator-Winner/dp/0689847319

CONNECTIONS
These websites contain additional material on Ashley Bryan as well as lesson plans for Beautiful Blackbird.
https://www.roundrockisd.org/docs/4-beautiful_blackbird.pdf

http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/bryan.htm

How I Became an American

Gundisch, Karin. 2001. HOW I BECAME AN AMERICAN. Trans. James Skofield. Chicago Ill.: Cricket Books. ISBN-10: 0812648757.

PLOT SUMMARY
Based loosely on letters collected from German immigrates in the early 1900’s. This first person tale follows along with ten year old Johann and his family as they emigrate from Austria-Hungary to Youngstown, Ohio. Johann keeps a journal at his mothers urging and describes his family’s daily life in their home town as well as their adventures traveling across the ocean. Once in America Johann describes the hard times as well as the good times as their family adjust to their new life and seem to be on the road to the American dream.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Gundisch’s choice to use the voice of Johann was a wise one. The story at times tends to be a bit slow. Often the details written in our young narrator’s journal are boring and would not be exciting for the attended audience of this book. However, the likable young narrator keeps you going through the slow times.
The author’s use of letters as research helps to make the story more authentic. I would have liked to have known the author used these letters at the beginning of the story rather than the end. Many of the trials and tribulations that Johann writes about in his journal are ones that many immigrants faced on their journey to American. One example that makes the story realistic is the family’s fears on the ship as they journey to America. The illness and death of their shipmate was a common fear faced by many travelers. After the family arrives in the new land they are faced with another struggle, the death of the baby. Johann’s mother asks “why did Eliss have to die? If we had stayed at home she would still be alive.”
Even with all their struggles the family begins to adjust to their new home. All of them accept the mother. She seems to have the hardest time embracing the new ways and letting go of their homeland. She continues to make soap and rather than buy it. Eventually she stops her tradition of bread making and buys it and becomes wrapped up in the American dream of making money to support the family and get ahead. Overall, it would be a good story to use for an historical fiction study or a unit on emigration.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Publishers Weekly
In this rather rambling and awkward chronicle, based on letters written by immigrants between 1902 and 1986 (according to an afterword), a fictional boy describes his family's experiences emigrating from Austria-Hungary to the United States.

School Library Journal
An immigration story of the early 20th century, this lively and interesting account is told through the eyes of "Johnny" (Johann on his birth certificate). His father is the first of this German-speaking family to emigrate from Siebenburgen (Austria-Hungary) to a job in the steel foundries of Youngstown, OH. Eldest son Peter follows him, and, in 1902, 10-year-old Johnny and the rest of the family arrive

Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/How-Became-American-Karin-Gundisch/dp/0812648757


CONNECTIONS
Annushka's Voyage by Edith Tarbescu ISBN-10: 039564366X
Coming To America: The Story Of Immigration by Betsy Maestro ISBN-10: 0590441515

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge

Fox, Mem. 1985. WILFRID GORDON McDONALD PARTRIDGE. Ill. by Julie Vivas. Brooklyn, NY: Kane Miller . ISBN-10: 0916291049


PLOT SUMMARY
Unlike most children Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge is not afraid of old people. In fact he lives next door to an old folk’s home and he knows all its residents. He loves spending time with the residents and learning all that they have to share with him. His favorite resident is Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper because she has four manes just like him. Through his talks with Miss. Nancy and the residents he learns what memories are and how wonderful they are to share.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Mem Fox’s tale of how the old and young have something to teach each other is heart warming. The relationship between Wilfrid and the residents is a unique one. Most children are scared of old people and they seem to be an inconvenience to them. Fox used her personal memories with her grandfather, who was in a home to show how special the bond can be with someone older. She even deals with the issue of the elderly loosing their memory and how it does not have to be frightening.
Originally published in Australia the characters in the story work well in both Australia and America. There is nothing about the characters appearance or clothing that makes them “Australian”. However, there are a few words in the book that are not common in America. One example is the word cricket and another example is the word porridge. These words would be an excellent opportunity to introduce younger children to vocabulary from other countries.
Overall the soft pastel illustrations of Julie Vivas and the loving conversations created by Mem Fox make for a beautiful story of love and respect for your elder. This book is a good message for children of all ages.


REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal
A small boy, Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, knows and likes all of the old folks in the home next door, but his favorite is Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper she has four names, too. Hearing that she has lost her memory, he asks the old folks what a memory is ("Something from long ago" ; "Something that makes you laugh;" "Something warm;" etc.), ponders the answers, then gathers up memories of his own (seashells collected long ago last summer, a feathered puppet with a goofy expression, a warm egg fresh from the hen) to give her. In handling Wilfrid's memories, Nancy finds and shares her own.

Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Wilfrid-McDonald-Partridge-Television-Storytime/


CONNECTIONS
http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/byrnes-literature/PALAZZ~1.HTM
http://www.etvconsortium.com/catalog/..%5CGuides%5Cwilfrid_gordon_mcdonald.pdf
http://www.nwrel.org/assessment/lessonplans.php?odelay=2&d=1&search=1&grade=0&trait=1&l=1

The Story of Rosy Dock

Baker, Jeannie. 1995. THE STORY OF ROSY DOCK. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN-10: 0688114911

PLOT SUMMARY
Rosy Dock tells the story of the central desert of Australia and its destruction because of careless settlers. We meet a gardener who has the best intentions as she plants her favorite plant the rosy dock. As the wind and rain spread the seed, the plant begins to grow out of control spreading like a wildfire across Australian desert. No longer seen as a beautiful thing the plant then begins to contribute to the extinction of other native plants and wildlife. The message of the story seems to be that even with the best intentions the introduction of plants and animals from other parts of the world can be devastating to native plants and animals.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In the Story of Rosy Dock, Baker’s collage illustrations do an excellent job painting a picture of what life is like in the Australian desert. Her use of oranges, reds, and browns give you the feeling of a hot dry land. The architectural structure of the house and yard seem to be typical for rural life on the outback. The tin roof and stucco walls of the house would be appropriate building materials in this rural location. Our gardeners clothing does not make a cultural statement. Her clothing is what any woman working in the yard around the world might wear. Because the story is told in third person we do not get to hear our gardener speak so we do not see any language pattern that would single her out as Australian.
Overall, the stories message is a good one but, it is often hard to follow. The story did not make sense the first time I read it. I found myself going back and rereading and checking to see that I did not skip a page. The ending was also a bit of a surprise. On the final page you see this beautiful field full of rosy dock and then on the next page you learn how destructive it is. The publisher recommends this story for K-4 grade students. I believe that Kindergarteners would not get the message of the story and feel it is more appropriate for older children.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal
Baker examines the consequences of introducing non-native flora and fauna into the environment. An unthinking gardener cultivates rosy dock in the central desert of Australia and the seeds spread over a wide area during a flash flood. Now, when precious rain falls, the imported plant thrives at the expense of native species. The book's final illustration depicts a field of gloriously blooming rosy dock hiding several rabbits, agricultural pests also introduced into Australia.

Publishers Weekly
"For thousands of years almost nothing here changed," writes Baker of the area around Australia's Finke River. Then come European settlers, among them a woman who "brought seeds from the other side of the world and planted a garden." One plant-rosy dock-is a special favorite of this fictional gardener. Seemingly three-dimensional but muted renderings of the riverbed landscape show the area ravaged by cyclical periods of drought and flood, until, after fierce storms, rosy dock "is spreading like a great red blanket farther than the eye can see."

Reviews accessed at:
http://www.amazon.com/Story-Rosy-Dock-Jeannie-Baker/

CONNECTIONS
Websites that contain educational activities to support the book.
http://www.nexus.edu.au/Divisions/Curriculum/units/html/english/rosydock/act-rosy.htm
http://www.discover.tased.edu.au/sose/environ.htm