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