Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Cat, You Better Come Home by Garrison Keillor
This is an interesting and unique picture book because the story is a fable. I enjoyed how the story had a very simply rhyming scheme that made it fun and easy to read. For example, the last words of each line rhyme (cried and outside, etc.). The illustrations are very rich, lush paintings that work to complement the story perfectly. The main character of the story, Puff the cat, leaves home because she is "dissatisfied" with her owner. Puff moves to Greece and proceeds to become a very diva-like cat who dates owls and dumps dogs. The story is quite humorous and very entertaining to read. The lesson of the fable is made clear by the ending of the story: it's better to be yourself than try to be someone else. I found this book to be a very enjoyable read with an important theme.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Misfits by James Howe
CONTROVERSIAL BOOK
Prior to reading this book I had read some of James Howe's picture books before, but this was the first novel of his I have read. I really enjoyed how all five of the "misfits" (the main characters of the book) were engaging, realistic, and well fleshed out characters. In fact, nearly all of the characters felt quite real to me, and I rarely felt as if the characters or the story was unrealistic in any way. I also enjoyed how the characters took a stand for what they believe in throughout the story. For example, when Addie refuses to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance because she believes America doesn't respect minorities rights. I also liked how the "Freedom Party" was created to run in student government and perfectly paralleled a real third party. My favorite part of the book, however, is when Joe reveals to Skeezie and Bobbby that he is gay, and he gets a very subdued and undramatic reaction to the news. I liked how James Howe showed a completely different side of what it is like to be a homosexual in high school, rather than a typical portrayl. I would think this booko would be considered controversial because the main character is gay and it's a realistic representation of the social context of school. I really enjoyed this book, and found it quite enjoyable to read. I would certainly use this books with grades 5 and above.
Prior to reading this book I had read some of James Howe's picture books before, but this was the first novel of his I have read. I really enjoyed how all five of the "misfits" (the main characters of the book) were engaging, realistic, and well fleshed out characters. In fact, nearly all of the characters felt quite real to me, and I rarely felt as if the characters or the story was unrealistic in any way. I also enjoyed how the characters took a stand for what they believe in throughout the story. For example, when Addie refuses to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance because she believes America doesn't respect minorities rights. I also liked how the "Freedom Party" was created to run in student government and perfectly paralleled a real third party. My favorite part of the book, however, is when Joe reveals to Skeezie and Bobbby that he is gay, and he gets a very subdued and undramatic reaction to the news. I liked how James Howe showed a completely different side of what it is like to be a homosexual in high school, rather than a typical portrayl. I would think this booko would be considered controversial because the main character is gay and it's a realistic representation of the social context of school. I really enjoyed this book, and found it quite enjoyable to read. I would certainly use this books with grades 5 and above.
Nappy Hair by Carolivia Herron
CONTROVERSIAL BOOK
I found this book to be very interesting and fun to read because of the style of the story. The story is told in the way an African American family talks to each other and has a very loose and rhythmic feeling to it. For example, one of the lines in the book is the following: "It's your hhair, Brenda, take the cake yep. And come back and get the plate. Don't 'cha know." The story itself is about a little girl, Brenda, and her unbelievably "nappy hair." The story also deals with issues of slavery and reflects on the way "mothers and fathers were sold for a nickel and a dime." The illustrations complement the story perfectly, as they have a very original and loose look to them and appear to be done in chalk. I would think this book would be considered controversial because it deals with isses of slavery and the story is written in slang. However, I found the book to be very fun to read an would certainly reccomend it for 4th or 5th graders.
I found this book to be very interesting and fun to read because of the style of the story. The story is told in the way an African American family talks to each other and has a very loose and rhythmic feeling to it. For example, one of the lines in the book is the following: "It's your hhair, Brenda, take the cake yep. And come back and get the plate. Don't 'cha know." The story itself is about a little girl, Brenda, and her unbelievably "nappy hair." The story also deals with issues of slavery and reflects on the way "mothers and fathers were sold for a nickel and a dime." The illustrations complement the story perfectly, as they have a very original and loose look to them and appear to be done in chalk. I would think this book would be considered controversial because it deals with isses of slavery and the story is written in slang. However, I found the book to be very fun to read an would certainly reccomend it for 4th or 5th graders.
Sami And The Time Of The Troubles by Florence Parry Heide and Judith Heide Gilliland
CONTROVERSIAL BOOK
This book is about a ten year old boy, Sami, and his family who live in Beirut, Lebanon during "the time of the troubles" (war, guns, bombings, etc.). It is revealed early on in the story that Sami's father died in a bombing at a market. The plot is very serious and contains quite a few mature themes and ideas. For example, in one scene Sami and his friend Amir play with pieces of wood that look like guns and "...pretend to shoot, we pretend to die." The family has been forced to take reguge in the basement of Sami's uncle home from all of the bombings and gunfire. The illustrations are extremely rich, expressive paintings that complement the story perfectly. I think this book would be considered controversial because it deals with the brutality of innocent casualities of modern day war. However, I enjoyed this book and would certainly use it with older grade levels like 5th or 6th graders.
This book is about a ten year old boy, Sami, and his family who live in Beirut, Lebanon during "the time of the troubles" (war, guns, bombings, etc.). It is revealed early on in the story that Sami's father died in a bombing at a market. The plot is very serious and contains quite a few mature themes and ideas. For example, in one scene Sami and his friend Amir play with pieces of wood that look like guns and "...pretend to shoot, we pretend to die." The family has been forced to take reguge in the basement of Sami's uncle home from all of the bombings and gunfire. The illustrations are extremely rich, expressive paintings that complement the story perfectly. I think this book would be considered controversial because it deals with the brutality of innocent casualities of modern day war. However, I enjoyed this book and would certainly use it with older grade levels like 5th or 6th graders.
Smoky Night by Eve Bunting
CONTROVERSIAL BOOK
This story is about people, and cats, that are brought together in a city during a nigh of intense rioting. The book displays the violence of riots, as people are raging in the streets setting fires and looting. In the story the mother attempts to explain a riot to her son Daniel by telling him "It can happen when people get angry." The book also deals with issues of race and racism. For example, the mother and child don't go to Mrs. Kim's marker because, as the mother explains to Daniel, "...it's better if we buy from our own people." Finally, a fire breaks out in the family's apartment building and they are forced to stay in a shelter for a few days before being allowed back in the building. The illustrations are extremely original and unique, and they are expressive paintings that could easily stand alone as art work. I think this book would be considered controversial because it deals with race and rioting in an urban environment. However, I really enjoyed this book because it had an excellent story and wonderful illustrations. I would certainly use this book with 4th or 5th graders.
This story is about people, and cats, that are brought together in a city during a nigh of intense rioting. The book displays the violence of riots, as people are raging in the streets setting fires and looting. In the story the mother attempts to explain a riot to her son Daniel by telling him "It can happen when people get angry." The book also deals with issues of race and racism. For example, the mother and child don't go to Mrs. Kim's marker because, as the mother explains to Daniel, "...it's better if we buy from our own people." Finally, a fire breaks out in the family's apartment building and they are forced to stay in a shelter for a few days before being allowed back in the building. The illustrations are extremely original and unique, and they are expressive paintings that could easily stand alone as art work. I think this book would be considered controversial because it deals with race and rioting in an urban environment. However, I really enjoyed this book because it had an excellent story and wonderful illustrations. I would certainly use this book with 4th or 5th graders.
Faithful Elephants by Yukio Tsuchiya
CONTROVERSIAL BOOK
The first thing that struck me about this book were the extremely stimulating and colorful illustrations of Japan that resembled water colors. Also, I immediately realized that this book has an involved and complicated story with quite a bit of text. This book deals with a controversial aspect of history, and centers around a time when Japan was at war and being bombed. The Japanese army commanded zoo-keepers to poison and kill animals so they would not escape if bombs were to wreck the zoo. This book has some very dark aspects and themes. For example, in one scene zoo-keepers are starving an elephant to death over the course of seventeen long, painful days. However, eventually the zoo-keepers take a stand and begin feeding the remaining two elephants. The books is obviously controversial because it deals with war and the intentional, and brutal, killing of animals. I would use this book with 4th or 5th grade readers (perhaps in connection with a History lesson), as I found it to be a very informative and well written and illustrated book.
The first thing that struck me about this book were the extremely stimulating and colorful illustrations of Japan that resembled water colors. Also, I immediately realized that this book has an involved and complicated story with quite a bit of text. This book deals with a controversial aspect of history, and centers around a time when Japan was at war and being bombed. The Japanese army commanded zoo-keepers to poison and kill animals so they would not escape if bombs were to wreck the zoo. This book has some very dark aspects and themes. For example, in one scene zoo-keepers are starving an elephant to death over the course of seventeen long, painful days. However, eventually the zoo-keepers take a stand and begin feeding the remaining two elephants. The books is obviously controversial because it deals with war and the intentional, and brutal, killing of animals. I would use this book with 4th or 5th grade readers (perhaps in connection with a History lesson), as I found it to be a very informative and well written and illustrated book.
Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting
CONTROVERSIAL BOOK:
This books is about a young boy and his dad who are homeless and living in an airport. The story has some very somber and serious themes and characters. For example, there are a pair of homeless drunks that get caught living in the airport and are kicked out. Also, the boy's dad is a janitor who is only currently working on the weekends and making very little money. The family used to have an apartment before the boy's mother died, and the boy wishes for life to be back to "the way it was, before mom died." The very simple illustrations work well to convey the serious subject matter and airport setting. I really enjoyed the use of light and shading in the illustrations. I believe this story would be considered controversial because it centers around a homeless family and the death of a mother. However, I found this book to be very engaging and would certainly use it with grades 4 or above.
This books is about a young boy and his dad who are homeless and living in an airport. The story has some very somber and serious themes and characters. For example, there are a pair of homeless drunks that get caught living in the airport and are kicked out. Also, the boy's dad is a janitor who is only currently working on the weekends and making very little money. The family used to have an apartment before the boy's mother died, and the boy wishes for life to be back to "the way it was, before mom died." The very simple illustrations work well to convey the serious subject matter and airport setting. I really enjoyed the use of light and shading in the illustrations. I believe this story would be considered controversial because it centers around a homeless family and the death of a mother. However, I found this book to be very engaging and would certainly use it with grades 4 or above.
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