Bibliography:
Nelson, Kadir. 2008. We Are The Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. New York: Jump At The Sunn /Hyperion an imprint of Disney Book Group. ISBN 13:978078608328
Plot Summary:
Kadir Nelson's We Are The Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, is the story or stories of players who played for the Negro League Baseball teams. This books starts off with forewords from Hank Arron of the Milwaukee Braves. Nelson does a great job of telling the stories of these unsung heroes who had to overcome segregation, hatred, terrible conditions and low pay to do what they love best; play baseball. These players, to only name a few: Sol White, 'Smokey" Joe Williams, John Henry "Pop" Lloyd and Rube Foster were all gifted athletes and determined to play the game they loved best. These players faced triumphs both on and off the fields. But through integrity, hard work and a great love for baseball these players overcame racial discrimination and did what they loved best; play baseball.
Critical Analysis:
Kadir Nelson does a great job of capturing the readers attention through his breathtaking oil painting illustrations. These illustrations could be taking from the book in put in frames to display on walls as beautiful art-work. These illustrations are rich in emotional as they detail each players features from the the players eyes to his body built. This book reads as if you are sitting at a barber shop or a family gathering listening to someone talk about the "old times or old days". This book's narrator depicts the story as if he was there; from the beginning in the 1920s through the decline after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the major leagues. The narrator seems to very knowledgeable about presenting the facts. This book can be read by just simply opening up to any page without being lost if you did not start from the very beginning. Nelson takes time to offer his reader forwords from one of the greatest African-American players of all times Hank Aaron. He also provide reader with bonus pages such as on page 77 of his book : EXTRA INNINGS: The end of the Negro Leagues; Negro Leagues who made it to the major leagues and Negro Leagues in the national baseball hall of fame. His author's notes gives a more intimate detail of how he came to write this book. Nelson offers acknowledgments, bibliography, filmography, endnotes and index at the end of his book which helps communicate the subject matter much clearly and effectively. This book is intented for middle school students or higher because the pages are lengthy and written in a small font. Mostly likely those students who love baseball will be attractive to this book the most.
Review Excerpt(s):
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Award-winning illustrator and first-time author Nelson’s history of the Negro Leagues, told from the vantage point of an unnamed narrator, reads like an old-timer regaling his grandchildren with tales of baseball greats Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and others who forged the path toward breaking the race barrier before Jackie Robinson made his historic debut. The narrative showcases the pride and comradery of the Negro Leagues, celebrates triumphing on one’s own terms and embracing adversity, even as it clearly shows the “us” and “them” mentality bred by segregation. If the story is the pitch, though, it’s the artwork that blasts the book into the stands. Nelson often works from a straight-on vantage point, as if the players took time out of the action to peer at the viewer from history, eyes leveled and challenging, before turning back to the field of play. With enormous blue skies and jam-packed grandstands backing them, these players look like the giants they are. The stories and artwork are a tribute to the spirit of the Negro Leaguers, who were much more than also-rans and deserve a more prominent place on baseball’s history shelves. For students and fans (and those even older than the suggested grade level), this is the book to accomplish just that. Grades 5-8. --Ian Chipman
Product Description
"We are the ship; all else the sea."--Rube Foster, founder of the Negro National League
The story of Negro League baseball is the story of gifted athletes and determined owners; of racial discrimination and international sportsmanship; of fortunes won and lost; of triumphs and defeats on and off the field. It is a perfect mirror for the social and political history of black America in the first half of the twentieth century. But most of all, the story of the Negro Leagues is about hundreds of unsung heroes who overcame segregation, hatred, terrible conditions, and low pay to do the one thing they loved more than anything else in the world: play ball. Using an "Everyman" player as his narrator, Kadir Nelson tells the story of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through its decline after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947. The voice is so authentic, you will feel as if you are sitting on dusty bleachers listening intently to the memories of a man who has known the great ballplayers of that time and shared their experiences. But what makes this book so outstanding are the dozens of full-page and double-page oil paintings--breathtaking in their perspectives, rich in emotion, and created with understanding and affection for these lost heroes of our national game.
We Are the Ship is a tour de force for baseball lovers of all ages. About the Author Kadir Nelson began his professional career as an artist, publishing his work and receiving commissions from publishers and production studios such as Dreamworks, where he served as the lead conceptual artist for Steven Spielberg’s “Amistad” and “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,” Sports Illustrated, Coca-Cola, The United States Postal Service and Major League Baseball, among others. Presently, almost twenty illustrated books are in print, including Debbie Allen's DANCING IN THE WINGS, Ntozake Shange’s Coretta Scott King Award-winning book, and Carol Boston Weatherford’s MOSES: When Harriet Tubman Led her People to Freedom,” for which Nelson won a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, a Caldecott Honor and an NAACP Image Award. Most recently, Nelson released his authorial debut, “WE ARE THE SHIP: The Story of Negro League Baseball” (Jump at the Sun/Disney), a New York Times best-seller. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Connections:
Students could use this book as a source when studying African-American history or baseball. It is a great resource of how the Negro Leagues got started offering many insightful information such as Negro Leagues that went to the majors baseball leagues and those who made it into the national baseball hall of fame.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull
Bibliography:
Krull, Kathleen. 2003. Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez. San Diego: Harcourt, INC. ISBN 0152014373
Plot Summary:
Kathleen Krull's Harvesting Hope; The Story of Cesar Chavez is a biography about Cesar Chavez. This biography starts off showing Cesar 's life as a child, the good times of his childhood where he grow-up on his family ranch: "Until Cesar Chavez was ten, every summer night was like a fiesta." "Cesar's grandfather had built their spacious abode house to last forever." But the fiesta halted in the summer of 1937 a drought had taken over Cesar's family ranch. Cesar and his family were forced to join "hundreds of thousands of people fleeing to the green valleys of California to look for work." His old life was gone, he and his family were now migrant workers, working "on other people's farms, crisscrossing California, picking whatever fruits and vegetables were in season." Conditions were rough, far from living on the family's ranch. Cesar and his family were forced to live in overcrowded housing which was filthy and "meals were sometimes made of dandelion greens gathered along the road." The work was hard and painful but Cesar worked along side his family baring the torment. Besides the hard work he was forced with prejudice; signs that read "WHITE TRADE ONLY" displayed in many stores and restaurants. School was not a safe place either, just an extension of the prejudice he faced. If he "broke the rule about speaking English at all times, a teacher hung a sign on him that read, I AM A CLOWN. I SPEAK SPANISH." As Cesar grow into his teen years, life did not get any better. He notes how farmers treated their workers like "farm tools" and not human beings. "They did not provide no clean drinking water, rest periods, or access to bathrooms. Anyone who complained was fired, beaten up, or sometimes even murdered." At first Cesar was afraid to speak up but as time progress and things did not get any better Cesar knew it was time for a change. Cesar followed the guidance of nonviolence. He believed "in the fight for justice, he told everyone, truth was a better weapon than violence." In an old abandoned theater in Fresno, Cesar held his first meeting of the National Farm Workers Association and which he unveils its flag- a bold eagle, the sacred bird of the Aztec Indians and "La Causa-The Cause- was born." Cesar's cause give his people hope and together they fought for equality, better working conditions and to be treated as human beings. Through marches and fasting Cesar accomplishes his goal and life for migrant farm workers is made better.
Critical Analysis:
Kathleen Krull uses beautiful earth tone colors that flow behind words that tell a story of a brave story of hope. This biography is kid friendly because it starts off telling about Cesar Chavez' childhood giving young readers the opportunity to connect to the character. This biography is organized in chronological order giving accurate information about Chavez's life. At the end of the book the author offers author's note giving more detail and explanation of Chavez's life. The design is attractive and full of water color illustrations. It is inviting and very readable for older elementary students. Younger readers (pre-K through second) may find it a little challenging to read on their own. The pages are a little lengthy with small white bold words, which will probably cause younger readers to ask for help. The water colored illustrations gives the reader a clear visual of what is going on in the story. The illustrations also reveal the voice of the author. The soft water color allows the reader to feel sympathy, sadness, bravery and happiness when story demonstrates the need. For example at the beginning of the story Cesar is happy living on his grandfather's ranch and everything is going well. The illustrations shows him under the star with his family having story time and him and his brother swimming and enjoying their childhood. These pictures made the readers feel happy. Overall this biography was wonderfully written and illustrated.
Review Excerpt(s):
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6-The dramatic story of Chavez's 340-mile march to protest the working conditions of migrant farm workers in California is the centerpiece of this well-told biography. Readers meet Chavez at his grandparents' home in Arizona where he lived happily amid a large extended family. His childhood was cut short when, due to financial difficulties, the family was forced to move to California to seek employment. After years of laboring in the fields, Chavez became increasingly disturbed by the inhuman living conditions imposed by the growers. The historic 1965 strike against grape growers and the subsequent march for "La Causa" are vividly recounted, and Chavez's victory-the agreement by the growers granting the workers better conditions and higher pay-is palpable. While sufficient background information is provided to support the story and encourage further research, focusing on one event makes the story appealing to younger readers. The text is largely limited to one side of a spread; beautifully rendered earth-toned illustrations flow out from behind the words and onto the facing page. A fine addition to any collection.Sue Morgan, Tom Kitayama Elementary School, Union City, CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 2-4. When Cesar Chavez was 10 years old, drought forced his family to leave its Arizona ranch and move to California. The family became migrant workers, poorly paid and badly treated. As an adult, Chavez organized a nonviolent revolt, culminating in a 300-mile protest march that produced the first farm workers' contract. Krull's language demonstrates a poetic sensibility ("The eighty acres of their ranch were an island in the shimmering Arizona desert, and the stars were all their own."), but the vocabulary will challenge young children, and a few socio-cultural details aren't made clear: some kids will wonder about the "White Trade Only" signs and why Chavez couldn't speak Spanish in school. But Morales' gorgeous paintings, with their rounded, organic forms and lush, gemstone hues, more than make up for glitches as they draw children deeply into an inspiring picture-book account of a young boy who grew up to change the world. Traci Todd Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Connections:
This book can be used as the students learn about Civil Rights Leaders. It could be used to teach contrast because it shows contrast of Cesar Chavez's life before and after and how it had an affect on him as a person.
Krull, Kathleen. 2003. Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez. San Diego: Harcourt, INC. ISBN 0152014373
Plot Summary:
Kathleen Krull's Harvesting Hope; The Story of Cesar Chavez is a biography about Cesar Chavez. This biography starts off showing Cesar 's life as a child, the good times of his childhood where he grow-up on his family ranch: "Until Cesar Chavez was ten, every summer night was like a fiesta." "Cesar's grandfather had built their spacious abode house to last forever." But the fiesta halted in the summer of 1937 a drought had taken over Cesar's family ranch. Cesar and his family were forced to join "hundreds of thousands of people fleeing to the green valleys of California to look for work." His old life was gone, he and his family were now migrant workers, working "on other people's farms, crisscrossing California, picking whatever fruits and vegetables were in season." Conditions were rough, far from living on the family's ranch. Cesar and his family were forced to live in overcrowded housing which was filthy and "meals were sometimes made of dandelion greens gathered along the road." The work was hard and painful but Cesar worked along side his family baring the torment. Besides the hard work he was forced with prejudice; signs that read "WHITE TRADE ONLY" displayed in many stores and restaurants. School was not a safe place either, just an extension of the prejudice he faced. If he "broke the rule about speaking English at all times, a teacher hung a sign on him that read, I AM A CLOWN. I SPEAK SPANISH." As Cesar grow into his teen years, life did not get any better. He notes how farmers treated their workers like "farm tools" and not human beings. "They did not provide no clean drinking water, rest periods, or access to bathrooms. Anyone who complained was fired, beaten up, or sometimes even murdered." At first Cesar was afraid to speak up but as time progress and things did not get any better Cesar knew it was time for a change. Cesar followed the guidance of nonviolence. He believed "in the fight for justice, he told everyone, truth was a better weapon than violence." In an old abandoned theater in Fresno, Cesar held his first meeting of the National Farm Workers Association and which he unveils its flag- a bold eagle, the sacred bird of the Aztec Indians and "La Causa-The Cause- was born." Cesar's cause give his people hope and together they fought for equality, better working conditions and to be treated as human beings. Through marches and fasting Cesar accomplishes his goal and life for migrant farm workers is made better.
Critical Analysis:
Kathleen Krull uses beautiful earth tone colors that flow behind words that tell a story of a brave story of hope. This biography is kid friendly because it starts off telling about Cesar Chavez' childhood giving young readers the opportunity to connect to the character. This biography is organized in chronological order giving accurate information about Chavez's life. At the end of the book the author offers author's note giving more detail and explanation of Chavez's life. The design is attractive and full of water color illustrations. It is inviting and very readable for older elementary students. Younger readers (pre-K through second) may find it a little challenging to read on their own. The pages are a little lengthy with small white bold words, which will probably cause younger readers to ask for help. The water colored illustrations gives the reader a clear visual of what is going on in the story. The illustrations also reveal the voice of the author. The soft water color allows the reader to feel sympathy, sadness, bravery and happiness when story demonstrates the need. For example at the beginning of the story Cesar is happy living on his grandfather's ranch and everything is going well. The illustrations shows him under the star with his family having story time and him and his brother swimming and enjoying their childhood. These pictures made the readers feel happy. Overall this biography was wonderfully written and illustrated.
Review Excerpt(s):
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6-The dramatic story of Chavez's 340-mile march to protest the working conditions of migrant farm workers in California is the centerpiece of this well-told biography. Readers meet Chavez at his grandparents' home in Arizona where he lived happily amid a large extended family. His childhood was cut short when, due to financial difficulties, the family was forced to move to California to seek employment. After years of laboring in the fields, Chavez became increasingly disturbed by the inhuman living conditions imposed by the growers. The historic 1965 strike against grape growers and the subsequent march for "La Causa" are vividly recounted, and Chavez's victory-the agreement by the growers granting the workers better conditions and higher pay-is palpable. While sufficient background information is provided to support the story and encourage further research, focusing on one event makes the story appealing to younger readers. The text is largely limited to one side of a spread; beautifully rendered earth-toned illustrations flow out from behind the words and onto the facing page. A fine addition to any collection.Sue Morgan, Tom Kitayama Elementary School, Union City, CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 2-4. When Cesar Chavez was 10 years old, drought forced his family to leave its Arizona ranch and move to California. The family became migrant workers, poorly paid and badly treated. As an adult, Chavez organized a nonviolent revolt, culminating in a 300-mile protest march that produced the first farm workers' contract. Krull's language demonstrates a poetic sensibility ("The eighty acres of their ranch were an island in the shimmering Arizona desert, and the stars were all their own."), but the vocabulary will challenge young children, and a few socio-cultural details aren't made clear: some kids will wonder about the "White Trade Only" signs and why Chavez couldn't speak Spanish in school. But Morales' gorgeous paintings, with their rounded, organic forms and lush, gemstone hues, more than make up for glitches as they draw children deeply into an inspiring picture-book account of a young boy who grew up to change the world. Traci Todd Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Connections:
This book can be used as the students learn about Civil Rights Leaders. It could be used to teach contrast because it shows contrast of Cesar Chavez's life before and after and how it had an affect on him as a person.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? by Steve Jenkins
Bibliography:
Jenkins, Steve. What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395825148
Plot Summary:
Steve Jenkins' What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? is enjoyable. This books teaches readers how wild animals defend themselves from their enemies. Jenkins uses cut paper collages to capture his images of silkmothes, pangolin, glass snake and more. On one page the reader views predator and prey. But once reader turns the page s/he views what the prey's defenses are and how they use them to defend themselves. This book is kid friendly because you do not see any of the animals being eaten, only escaping from it predator, for example on the first page of the story you see an octopus and a very large fish, much larger than octopus. The books does not tell what type of predator it is just gives a picture of predator and tells how prey defends itself and shows prey escaping.
Critical Analysis:
Jenkins' book What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? is kid friendly. None of the animals are eaten by their predator. It's written for pre-school to early elementary but could be used by older students as a source for researching what mechanisms different animals use to escape their predators. Jenkins uses simple illustrates of cut collages of solid colors that mainly focused on the animals. The accuracy of Jenkins' information is true. If you search each animal using Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia or website for animal defense mechanism: http://www.essortment.com/all/animaldefense_rbbc.htm you will find Jenkins' information to be correct. Jenkins does not offer any foot-notes or bibliographies to support his findings. Jenkins' organization of this book is to be read cover to cover because you see the animal and predator on one page and on the next the animal's defense mechanism. If you skip a page you will see different animal and predator and miss defense mechanism of that animal. He does provide a pattern of animal and predator on one page and animal using defense mechanism on the next page. Jenkins' book does not offer any subheadings or a table of contents. This book is truly designed for very young readers. Yes, children will look at the cover and want to open it. It is very attractive with it's cut collage illustrations, inviting and readable for very young readers. Jenkins' style is enthusiastic, giving off a level of excitement as you see that the animal has used special defense mechanism to escape its predator. For example it is exciting to see the flying fish flying above the water away from its predator. Jenkins does a wonderful job of capturing the attention of his audience. His book is bright, interesting and lively.
Review Excerpt(s):
From School Library
Journal Grade 3-5. Jenkins answers the question of what different creatures do when another wants them for dinner. He identifies the animal on one page ("the bombardier beetle defends itself...") and then follows up with its defense mechanism on the next ("by shooting a mixture of hot chemicals from its rear end and into the face of an attacker"). The artist's trademark cut-paper collages on textured backgrounds show both attacker and potential prey on one page, and then a close-up of the animal escaping on the next. Defenses include mimicry, camouflage, and speed as well as specific responses such as the ink that octopuses use or the puffer fish's ability to expand itself. The final page invites readers to imagine, "What would you do if something wanted to eat you?" Useful for teachers introducing animal defenses and the terms that go along with the subject and a great choice for a storytime.?Sally Bates Goodroe, Houston Public Library Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Kirkus Reviews
The art of camouflage works on several levels here: Jenkins (Big and Little, 1996, etc.) cleverly conceals a factual compendium of 14 animal and insect defenses as a colorful picture book. Predators are depicted in pursuit of prey on each right-hand side of the spread; a flip of the page uncovers the clever escape mechanism employed by the would-be victim, from the bombardier beetle that can spray hot chemicals up to 500 times a second, to the glass snake that conveniently segments its tail. Whether curling up into an armor-plated ball, squirting clouds of ink, or imitating a leaf, the tricksters are described in a couple of sentences that invite further investigations of these survival techniques. Layered cut-paper collage animals are positioned in dramatic stances against textured handmade-paper backgrounds. In a few instances, the black typeface is difficult to discern when it is superimposed on the dark green of leaf or grass. One final question, ``What would you do if something wanted to eat you?'' takes readers into their own cat-and-mouse scenarios. A dashing look at natural escape routes. (Picture book/nonfiction. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Connections:
This book can be used as a good source for science for early elementary. Students could use it when studying how animals protect themselves from their prey; older students could extend or add to the book by searching the web for other animals that are not listed in book and tell how they defend themselves from their prey. They could even list the predator of these animals by name since Jenkins does not give names of the predators.
Teacher could also use this book for making predictions. While teacher reads the book, students could guess what mechanisms the animals use to defend them self from their prey. Before teacher turns to the page where it shows how animals defends themselves, student could collaborate as a group how it protects themselves from predator or use T-chart; one side for prediction and other side for what they learned.
Jenkins, Steve. What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395825148
Plot Summary:
Steve Jenkins' What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? is enjoyable. This books teaches readers how wild animals defend themselves from their enemies. Jenkins uses cut paper collages to capture his images of silkmothes, pangolin, glass snake and more. On one page the reader views predator and prey. But once reader turns the page s/he views what the prey's defenses are and how they use them to defend themselves. This book is kid friendly because you do not see any of the animals being eaten, only escaping from it predator, for example on the first page of the story you see an octopus and a very large fish, much larger than octopus. The books does not tell what type of predator it is just gives a picture of predator and tells how prey defends itself and shows prey escaping.
Critical Analysis:
Jenkins' book What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? is kid friendly. None of the animals are eaten by their predator. It's written for pre-school to early elementary but could be used by older students as a source for researching what mechanisms different animals use to escape their predators. Jenkins uses simple illustrates of cut collages of solid colors that mainly focused on the animals. The accuracy of Jenkins' information is true. If you search each animal using Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia or website for animal defense mechanism: http://www.essortment.com/all/animaldefense_rbbc.htm you will find Jenkins' information to be correct. Jenkins does not offer any foot-notes or bibliographies to support his findings. Jenkins' organization of this book is to be read cover to cover because you see the animal and predator on one page and on the next the animal's defense mechanism. If you skip a page you will see different animal and predator and miss defense mechanism of that animal. He does provide a pattern of animal and predator on one page and animal using defense mechanism on the next page. Jenkins' book does not offer any subheadings or a table of contents. This book is truly designed for very young readers. Yes, children will look at the cover and want to open it. It is very attractive with it's cut collage illustrations, inviting and readable for very young readers. Jenkins' style is enthusiastic, giving off a level of excitement as you see that the animal has used special defense mechanism to escape its predator. For example it is exciting to see the flying fish flying above the water away from its predator. Jenkins does a wonderful job of capturing the attention of his audience. His book is bright, interesting and lively.
Review Excerpt(s):
From School Library
Journal Grade 3-5. Jenkins answers the question of what different creatures do when another wants them for dinner. He identifies the animal on one page ("the bombardier beetle defends itself...") and then follows up with its defense mechanism on the next ("by shooting a mixture of hot chemicals from its rear end and into the face of an attacker"). The artist's trademark cut-paper collages on textured backgrounds show both attacker and potential prey on one page, and then a close-up of the animal escaping on the next. Defenses include mimicry, camouflage, and speed as well as specific responses such as the ink that octopuses use or the puffer fish's ability to expand itself. The final page invites readers to imagine, "What would you do if something wanted to eat you?" Useful for teachers introducing animal defenses and the terms that go along with the subject and a great choice for a storytime.?Sally Bates Goodroe, Houston Public Library Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Kirkus Reviews
The art of camouflage works on several levels here: Jenkins (Big and Little, 1996, etc.) cleverly conceals a factual compendium of 14 animal and insect defenses as a colorful picture book. Predators are depicted in pursuit of prey on each right-hand side of the spread; a flip of the page uncovers the clever escape mechanism employed by the would-be victim, from the bombardier beetle that can spray hot chemicals up to 500 times a second, to the glass snake that conveniently segments its tail. Whether curling up into an armor-plated ball, squirting clouds of ink, or imitating a leaf, the tricksters are described in a couple of sentences that invite further investigations of these survival techniques. Layered cut-paper collage animals are positioned in dramatic stances against textured handmade-paper backgrounds. In a few instances, the black typeface is difficult to discern when it is superimposed on the dark green of leaf or grass. One final question, ``What would you do if something wanted to eat you?'' takes readers into their own cat-and-mouse scenarios. A dashing look at natural escape routes. (Picture book/nonfiction. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Connections:
This book can be used as a good source for science for early elementary. Students could use it when studying how animals protect themselves from their prey; older students could extend or add to the book by searching the web for other animals that are not listed in book and tell how they defend themselves from their prey. They could even list the predator of these animals by name since Jenkins does not give names of the predators.
Teacher could also use this book for making predictions. While teacher reads the book, students could guess what mechanisms the animals use to defend them self from their prey. Before teacher turns to the page where it shows how animals defends themselves, student could collaborate as a group how it protects themselves from predator or use T-chart; one side for prediction and other side for what they learned.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Keesha's House by Frost, Helen
Bibliography:
Frost, Helen. 2003. Keesha's House. New York: Frances Foster Books (Farrar, Straus and Giroux). ISBN 13:978037430643
Plot Summary:
One by one troubled teens find their way to Keesha's House, a refuge and safe place for anyone needing a home. The house does not belong to Keesha, it belongs to a man named Joe. Joe understands what it is like to need a safe place to sleep, so he opens his house to kids in need. There are no strings attached, they may stay as long as needed without anyone bothering them. Although the house does not belong to Joe, Keesha is the one spreading the word whenever she senses one of her high school classmates might need a place to stay, known as Keesha's house.
Critical Analysis:
Helen Frost's Keesha's House give the perspective of six different kids through poem. As I read these poems I was sure they were written in style of free verse but to my surprise they are written as strict traditional form. The way she gives her character a voice appears to me as free verse because the character express themselves freely and with comfort and ease. These six characters have all odds against them. Stephie is pregnant and not sure what to do. Jason is Stephie's boyfriend and father of her baby. Dontay is a foster kid whose foster parents don't seem to care much about him. Harris' father has disowned him when he learned that he was gay. Carmen's been arrested for DUI. Katie is running away from her mom because her mom's boyfriend is very abusive. All of these teens have their own problems to bare, but at Keesha's house they feel safe and supportive. Keesha is the one they can confide in and assigns the rooms, just as if it was her house. Keesha's house is written from two different perspectives. One from the teen point-of-view and adults and the teens. The adult point-of-view is written in sonnets, giving a different view of how the teens view the world as compared to the adults. I enjoyed this book and appreciation it style and format. This book gave me a new perspective of poetry in action.
Review Excerpt(s):
From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up-Frost has taken the poem-story to a new level with well-crafted sestinas and sonnets, leading readers into the souls and psyches of her teen protagonists. The house in the title isn't really Keesha's; it belongs to Joe. His aunt took him in when he was 12, and now that he's an adult and the owner of the place, he is helping out kids in the same situation. Keesha needs a safe place to stay-her mother is dead; her father gets mean when he drinks, and he drinks a lot. She wants to stay in school, all these teens do, and Keesha lets them know they can stay at Joe's. There's Stephie, pregnant at 16, and terrified to tell anyone except her boyfriend. Harris's father threw him out when his son confided that he is gay. Katie's stepfather has taken to coming into her room late at night, and her mother refuses to believe her when she tells. Carmen's parents have run off, and she's been put into juvie for a DUI. Dontay is a foster kid with two parents in jail. Readers also hear from the adults in these young people's lives: teachers, parents, grandparents, and Joe. It sounds like a soap opera, but the poems that recount these stories unfold realistically. Revealing heartbreak and hope, these poems could stand alone, but work best as a story collection. Teens may read this engaging novel without even realizing they are reading poetry.Angela J. Reynolds, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Hillsboro, ORCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 6-10. Like Virginia Euwer Wolff's True Believer (2001) and much contemporary YA fiction, this moving first novel tells the story in a series of dramatic monologues that are personal, poetic, and immediate, with lots of line breaks that make for easy reading, alone or in readers' theater. Keesha finds shelter in a house in her inner-city neighborhood and helps other troubled teens find home and family there ("like finding a sister when I'm old / enough to pick a good one"). Stephie is pregnant, and she's heartbroken that her boyfriend doesn't want the baby. Harris is gay; his dad has thrown him out. Carmen is fighting addiction. Dontay's parents are in jail, and he doesn't feel comfortable in his latest foster home. Interwoven with the angry, desperate teen voices are those of the adults in their lives: caring, helpless, abusive, indifferent. In a long note, Frost talks about the poetic forms she has used, the sestina and the sonnet. But most readers will be less interested in that framework than in the characters, drawn with aching realism, who speak poetry in ordinary words and make connections. Hazel RochmanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Connections:
You could have students act out book as if it was a play, assigning students to play the different characters written in the book.
Frost, Helen. 2003. Keesha's House. New York: Frances Foster Books (Farrar, Straus and Giroux). ISBN 13:978037430643
Plot Summary:
One by one troubled teens find their way to Keesha's House, a refuge and safe place for anyone needing a home. The house does not belong to Keesha, it belongs to a man named Joe. Joe understands what it is like to need a safe place to sleep, so he opens his house to kids in need. There are no strings attached, they may stay as long as needed without anyone bothering them. Although the house does not belong to Joe, Keesha is the one spreading the word whenever she senses one of her high school classmates might need a place to stay, known as Keesha's house.
Critical Analysis:
Helen Frost's Keesha's House give the perspective of six different kids through poem. As I read these poems I was sure they were written in style of free verse but to my surprise they are written as strict traditional form. The way she gives her character a voice appears to me as free verse because the character express themselves freely and with comfort and ease. These six characters have all odds against them. Stephie is pregnant and not sure what to do. Jason is Stephie's boyfriend and father of her baby. Dontay is a foster kid whose foster parents don't seem to care much about him. Harris' father has disowned him when he learned that he was gay. Carmen's been arrested for DUI. Katie is running away from her mom because her mom's boyfriend is very abusive. All of these teens have their own problems to bare, but at Keesha's house they feel safe and supportive. Keesha is the one they can confide in and assigns the rooms, just as if it was her house. Keesha's house is written from two different perspectives. One from the teen point-of-view and adults and the teens. The adult point-of-view is written in sonnets, giving a different view of how the teens view the world as compared to the adults. I enjoyed this book and appreciation it style and format. This book gave me a new perspective of poetry in action.
Review Excerpt(s):
From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up-Frost has taken the poem-story to a new level with well-crafted sestinas and sonnets, leading readers into the souls and psyches of her teen protagonists. The house in the title isn't really Keesha's; it belongs to Joe. His aunt took him in when he was 12, and now that he's an adult and the owner of the place, he is helping out kids in the same situation. Keesha needs a safe place to stay-her mother is dead; her father gets mean when he drinks, and he drinks a lot. She wants to stay in school, all these teens do, and Keesha lets them know they can stay at Joe's. There's Stephie, pregnant at 16, and terrified to tell anyone except her boyfriend. Harris's father threw him out when his son confided that he is gay. Katie's stepfather has taken to coming into her room late at night, and her mother refuses to believe her when she tells. Carmen's parents have run off, and she's been put into juvie for a DUI. Dontay is a foster kid with two parents in jail. Readers also hear from the adults in these young people's lives: teachers, parents, grandparents, and Joe. It sounds like a soap opera, but the poems that recount these stories unfold realistically. Revealing heartbreak and hope, these poems could stand alone, but work best as a story collection. Teens may read this engaging novel without even realizing they are reading poetry.Angela J. Reynolds, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Hillsboro, ORCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 6-10. Like Virginia Euwer Wolff's True Believer (2001) and much contemporary YA fiction, this moving first novel tells the story in a series of dramatic monologues that are personal, poetic, and immediate, with lots of line breaks that make for easy reading, alone or in readers' theater. Keesha finds shelter in a house in her inner-city neighborhood and helps other troubled teens find home and family there ("like finding a sister when I'm old / enough to pick a good one"). Stephie is pregnant, and she's heartbroken that her boyfriend doesn't want the baby. Harris is gay; his dad has thrown him out. Carmen is fighting addiction. Dontay's parents are in jail, and he doesn't feel comfortable in his latest foster home. Interwoven with the angry, desperate teen voices are those of the adults in their lives: caring, helpless, abusive, indifferent. In a long note, Frost talks about the poetic forms she has used, the sestina and the sonnet. But most readers will be less interested in that framework than in the characters, drawn with aching realism, who speak poetry in ordinary words and make connections. Hazel RochmanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Connections:
You could have students act out book as if it was a play, assigning students to play the different characters written in the book.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Insectlopedia by Douglass Florian
Bibliography:
Florian, Douglas. 1998. Insectlopedia. San Diego, California. Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0152013067
Plot Summary:
Insectlopedia makes you want to get out the bug spray as Douglas Florian skillfully describes 21 different types of creepy, crawling insects. These insect poems celebrate swooping dragonflies, whirling beetles, army ants and feasting mosquitoes. As you read these poems aloud your listeners can visualize insects swarming, buzzing and slitting all over the place. The illustrations are wonderful. The bright watercolors of light and dark blues, greens and yellows all collage together making great visual aides for the listeners and readers.
Critical Analysis:
Douglas Florian brings the Black Widow spider, Weevils and many other insects to life. He gives insects a voice. As you read about the Black Widow spider you can picture in your mind her dress attire as she states: "I always wear black. From my eight dainty legs to my shiny round back." Florian's book Insectlopedia is a specialized anthology, it focuses on insects. His book gives life to the insect world. The reader will enjoy opening up and letting this infestation of bugs into his or her room. The subject and writing style makes this book appealing to elementary students. This book opens with a table of content, making it a good source to look up particular insects. This book is both informative and fun, engaging young readers' interest in words and images.
Review Excerpt(s):
From School Library Journal
Grade 2-6?As he did in Beast Feast (1994), On The Wing (1996), and In the Swim (1997, all Harcourt), Florian offers 21 short, inventive poems and paintings that create playful images of animals. Here, the subjects are arthropods such as the mayfly, praying mantis, hornet, black widow spider, and weevils. The verse form is as varied as the creatures presented. Shaped or pattern poems about the inchworm, whirligig beetles, and mound-building termites work particularly well. The words are arranged in pleasing patterns and the rhythms fit the characteristics of the subjects. The design adds to the overall appeal. Each selection is given its own page, allowing for the use of large type and plenty of glossy white space, and paired with a full-page watercolor with a neat border of white. These portraits build on the imaginatively integrated realistic and anthropomorphic images created in the text. There are other books of poetry about insects and lots of collections of humorous verses about animals but none match Insectlopedia.?Carolyn Angus, The Claremont Graduate School, CA Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 3^-5. Florian, the author/illustrator of beast feast (1994) and on the wing (1996), now presents a witty collection of short poems about insects and spiders. The verse rhymes at the ends of lines, and often internally as well, as Florian plays with sound and meter, word and sense, and even the placement of words on the page to create poems that children will enjoy, such as "The io moth / Has mam-moth eyes / That are not real--/ They're a disguise / To ward off birds / And other creatures, / Like garter snakes / And science teachers." The illustration on the facing page shows that the "mam-moth eyes" are eyespots on the moth's wings. The book is handsomely designed, with each short poem appearing on a large white page across from a full-color illustration. The artwork consists of collages of drawn and painted images and printed letters on paper that is cut and juxtaposed for effect. The clever artwork, deftly constructed, and the entertaining collection of insect and arachnid verse it illustrates will delight readers. Carolyn Phelan
Connections:
Florian, Douglas. 1998. Insectlopedia. San Diego, California. Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0152013067
Plot Summary:
Insectlopedia makes you want to get out the bug spray as Douglas Florian skillfully describes 21 different types of creepy, crawling insects. These insect poems celebrate swooping dragonflies, whirling beetles, army ants and feasting mosquitoes. As you read these poems aloud your listeners can visualize insects swarming, buzzing and slitting all over the place. The illustrations are wonderful. The bright watercolors of light and dark blues, greens and yellows all collage together making great visual aides for the listeners and readers.
Critical Analysis:
Douglas Florian brings the Black Widow spider, Weevils and many other insects to life. He gives insects a voice. As you read about the Black Widow spider you can picture in your mind her dress attire as she states: "I always wear black. From my eight dainty legs to my shiny round back." Florian's book Insectlopedia is a specialized anthology, it focuses on insects. His book gives life to the insect world. The reader will enjoy opening up and letting this infestation of bugs into his or her room. The subject and writing style makes this book appealing to elementary students. This book opens with a table of content, making it a good source to look up particular insects. This book is both informative and fun, engaging young readers' interest in words and images.
Review Excerpt(s):
From School Library Journal
Grade 2-6?As he did in Beast Feast (1994), On The Wing (1996), and In the Swim (1997, all Harcourt), Florian offers 21 short, inventive poems and paintings that create playful images of animals. Here, the subjects are arthropods such as the mayfly, praying mantis, hornet, black widow spider, and weevils. The verse form is as varied as the creatures presented. Shaped or pattern poems about the inchworm, whirligig beetles, and mound-building termites work particularly well. The words are arranged in pleasing patterns and the rhythms fit the characteristics of the subjects. The design adds to the overall appeal. Each selection is given its own page, allowing for the use of large type and plenty of glossy white space, and paired with a full-page watercolor with a neat border of white. These portraits build on the imaginatively integrated realistic and anthropomorphic images created in the text. There are other books of poetry about insects and lots of collections of humorous verses about animals but none match Insectlopedia.?Carolyn Angus, The Claremont Graduate School, CA Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 3^-5. Florian, the author/illustrator of beast feast (1994) and on the wing (1996), now presents a witty collection of short poems about insects and spiders. The verse rhymes at the ends of lines, and often internally as well, as Florian plays with sound and meter, word and sense, and even the placement of words on the page to create poems that children will enjoy, such as "The io moth / Has mam-moth eyes / That are not real--/ They're a disguise / To ward off birds / And other creatures, / Like garter snakes / And science teachers." The illustration on the facing page shows that the "mam-moth eyes" are eyespots on the moth's wings. The book is handsomely designed, with each short poem appearing on a large white page across from a full-color illustration. The artwork consists of collages of drawn and painted images and printed letters on paper that is cut and juxtaposed for effect. The clever artwork, deftly constructed, and the entertaining collection of insect and arachnid verse it illustrates will delight readers. Carolyn Phelan
Connections:
- Use to introduce poems
- Use to emerge entomologists into poetry
- Make a word search of the insects from this book
- Have students bring insects to class to write a poem about
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Bibliography:
Hesse, Karen. Out of the Dust. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN: 0590371258
Plot Summary:
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse is about a girl named Billie Jo. It takes place in the 1930's during The Great Depression. Billie Jo in her family are struggling through hard financial times on their farm which is typical for this time period. Billie Jo liked to heard her mother play the piano. Her mother plays the piano beautifully. Her mother's piano playing causes her father's eyes to lighten up, with is something seldom seen by Billie Jo. Billie Jo playing of the piano is not as wonderful as her mother. She played a very different style, with caused her mother to wince when she played. But Billie Jo playing was well liked by her peers. This becomes her faith for getting out of the dust. Her faith and dreams are shattered when a tragedy accident happens. Her mother and unborn sibling are burned to death leaving Billie Jo's hands burned as well. When her hands are burned so are dreams and her faith of getting out of the dust. Eventually Billie Jo leaves the dust only to realize it's the place she should be.
Critical Analysis:
Karen Hesse's book Out of the Dust is written in first person, Billie Jo is personally telling her story. She is the protagonist of the story, who lived in the gritty farmlands of Oklahoma. Hesse writes Billie Jo's story in diary form as a series of free-verse poems. She tells how the dust storms affects her life. The climax is the tragedy of the book. Billie Jo's father careless leaves a bucket of kerosene near the stove, her mother thought it is was water, spills it on the stove making tea. Billie Jo thinks it water also and pours it on her, only to make things worst and burns her hands in the process. Later after giving birth her mother and newborn baby brother die. This accident shatters her dreams and faith leaving her motherless and hopeless. She once played the piano, like her mother. But since the accident her dreams are left faded and untouched. Now her dreams of getting out of the dust are no more. Billie Jo's father is a quiet man. He becomes unreachable after the death of Billie Jo's mother and baby brother. Billie Jo fears that they're both turn into the dust that has covered everything. But finally once she finds her inner strength she hops a train west and get away from the dust and all it has taken from her , only to realize her place is back home. "I can't get out of something that is inside of me." Hesse has many literary qualities use of sentence structure, line break and chapter division. Going back to point of view of first person it is apparent to the audience is young people. This story of a young girl life appeals to other young girls especially. Young female readers can relate to being alone and longing for a cause of hope and faith. Hesse's character Billie Jo gives young readers the hope and faith to keep living. At one point it seems that Billie Jo has lost everything ; her father's love, her mother and baby brother. How can a young girl possible survive through all this and the dust. But she does and in the process learns to forgive herself and her father. Her dreams are not faded for long and at the end she finds enough hope to play the piano again: "I stretch my fingers over the keys and I play." She realizes that '.. hard times aren't only about money, or drought, or dust. Hard times are about losing spirit, and hope, and what happens when dreams dry up."
Review Excerpt(s):
From Publishers Weekly
In a starred review of the 1998 Newbery Medal winner, set during the Depression, PW said, "This intimate novel, written in stanza form, poetically conveys the heat, dust and wind of Oklahoma. With each meticulously arranged entry Hesse paints a vivid picture of her heroine's emotions." Ages 11-13. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 5 Up. After facing loss after loss during the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, Billie Jo begins to reconstruct her life. A triumphant story, eloquently told through prose-poetry. Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Kirkus Reviews Billie Jo tells of her life in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl: Her mother dies after a gruesome accident caused by her father's leaving a bucket of kerosene near the stove; Billie Jo is partially responsible--fully responsible in the eyes of the community--and sustains injuries that seem to bring to a halt her dreams of playing the piano. Finding a way through her grief is not made easier by her taciturn father, who went on a drinking binge while Billie Joe's mother, not yet dead, begged for water. Told in free-verse poetry of dated entries that span the winter of 1934 to the winter of 1935, this is an unremittingly bleak portrait of one corner of Depression-era life. In Billie Jo, the only character who comes to life, Hesse (The Music of Dolphins, 1996, etc.) presents a hale and determined heroine who confronts unrelenting misery and begins to transcend it. The poem/novel ends with only a trace of hope; there are no pat endings, but a glimpse of beauty wrought from brutal reality. (Fiction. 9-12) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Connections:
Hesse, Karen. Out of the Dust. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN: 0590371258
Plot Summary:
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse is about a girl named Billie Jo. It takes place in the 1930's during The Great Depression. Billie Jo in her family are struggling through hard financial times on their farm which is typical for this time period. Billie Jo liked to heard her mother play the piano. Her mother plays the piano beautifully. Her mother's piano playing causes her father's eyes to lighten up, with is something seldom seen by Billie Jo. Billie Jo playing of the piano is not as wonderful as her mother. She played a very different style, with caused her mother to wince when she played. But Billie Jo playing was well liked by her peers. This becomes her faith for getting out of the dust. Her faith and dreams are shattered when a tragedy accident happens. Her mother and unborn sibling are burned to death leaving Billie Jo's hands burned as well. When her hands are burned so are dreams and her faith of getting out of the dust. Eventually Billie Jo leaves the dust only to realize it's the place she should be.
Critical Analysis:
Karen Hesse's book Out of the Dust is written in first person, Billie Jo is personally telling her story. She is the protagonist of the story, who lived in the gritty farmlands of Oklahoma. Hesse writes Billie Jo's story in diary form as a series of free-verse poems. She tells how the dust storms affects her life. The climax is the tragedy of the book. Billie Jo's father careless leaves a bucket of kerosene near the stove, her mother thought it is was water, spills it on the stove making tea. Billie Jo thinks it water also and pours it on her, only to make things worst and burns her hands in the process. Later after giving birth her mother and newborn baby brother die. This accident shatters her dreams and faith leaving her motherless and hopeless. She once played the piano, like her mother. But since the accident her dreams are left faded and untouched. Now her dreams of getting out of the dust are no more. Billie Jo's father is a quiet man. He becomes unreachable after the death of Billie Jo's mother and baby brother. Billie Jo fears that they're both turn into the dust that has covered everything. But finally once she finds her inner strength she hops a train west and get away from the dust and all it has taken from her , only to realize her place is back home. "I can't get out of something that is inside of me." Hesse has many literary qualities use of sentence structure, line break and chapter division. Going back to point of view of first person it is apparent to the audience is young people. This story of a young girl life appeals to other young girls especially. Young female readers can relate to being alone and longing for a cause of hope and faith. Hesse's character Billie Jo gives young readers the hope and faith to keep living. At one point it seems that Billie Jo has lost everything ; her father's love, her mother and baby brother. How can a young girl possible survive through all this and the dust. But she does and in the process learns to forgive herself and her father. Her dreams are not faded for long and at the end she finds enough hope to play the piano again: "I stretch my fingers over the keys and I play." She realizes that '.. hard times aren't only about money, or drought, or dust. Hard times are about losing spirit, and hope, and what happens when dreams dry up."
Review Excerpt(s):
From Publishers Weekly
In a starred review of the 1998 Newbery Medal winner, set during the Depression, PW said, "This intimate novel, written in stanza form, poetically conveys the heat, dust and wind of Oklahoma. With each meticulously arranged entry Hesse paints a vivid picture of her heroine's emotions." Ages 11-13. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 5 Up. After facing loss after loss during the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, Billie Jo begins to reconstruct her life. A triumphant story, eloquently told through prose-poetry. Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Kirkus Reviews Billie Jo tells of her life in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl: Her mother dies after a gruesome accident caused by her father's leaving a bucket of kerosene near the stove; Billie Jo is partially responsible--fully responsible in the eyes of the community--and sustains injuries that seem to bring to a halt her dreams of playing the piano. Finding a way through her grief is not made easier by her taciturn father, who went on a drinking binge while Billie Joe's mother, not yet dead, begged for water. Told in free-verse poetry of dated entries that span the winter of 1934 to the winter of 1935, this is an unremittingly bleak portrait of one corner of Depression-era life. In Billie Jo, the only character who comes to life, Hesse (The Music of Dolphins, 1996, etc.) presents a hale and determined heroine who confronts unrelenting misery and begins to transcend it. The poem/novel ends with only a trace of hope; there are no pat endings, but a glimpse of beauty wrought from brutal reality. (Fiction. 9-12) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Connections:
- Read other related books and compare and contrast them:
- Ann Turner's Dust for Dinner with illustrations by Robert Barrett (Harper Collins, 1995)
- David Boothe's The Dust Bowl with illustrations by Karen Reczuch (Kids Can Pres, 1997)
- History: study the The Dust Bowl. Use an almanac or search the Internet to research droughts.
- Science: What caused the dust bowl, was it bad farming, freak weather or some of both.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Hersheland the Hanukkah Goblins (Folklore) by Eric Kimmel
Bibliography:
Kimmel,Eric. 1989. Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. New York: Holiday House. Hyman, Tina Schart (illustrator). ISBN 0823407691
Plot Summary:
Kimmel's Yiddish folklore uses a trickster by the name of Hershel of Ostropol to tell how Hanukkah was saved for a village. Hershel is traveling the first night of Hanukkah longing to reach the village where he looked forward to bright menorah lights and delicious potato latkes (potato pancakes) to eat. But when he arrives at the village it is dark and quiet. The villagers explains to him how they have been robbed of Hanukkah by mean goblins haunting the old synagogue, preventing them from celebrating Hanukkah. They (the goblins) refuse to allow them to celebrated Hanukkah because these goblin hate Hanukkah. Hershel is disappointed that Hanukkah was not being celebrated and offered to help. In the village there isn't anyone brave enough to stand up to the goblins. The village people explain to Hershel that rid the synagogue of the goblins he must stay in the old haunted synagogue for eight days, lighting the candles on the menorah. Hershel is very clever and deceives the goblins. He is even able to deceive the king goblin on the eight night and saves Hanukkah.
Critical Analysis:
Kimmel's character Hershel of Ostropol in his book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is very clever folklore. Hershel is clever and have very quick wit. He outwits all the goblins, all eight nights to rid them of the synagogue. The first night he tricks the smallest goblin into believing he was strong enough to crush rocks. When he was really crushing his dinner a hard boiled egg. The little goblin trembles with fear and allows him to light his candle, warning him that the next night a bigger goblin was coming. this warning only left Hershel to dig deeper into himself and develop a more clever trick to outwit the next goblin and he did. each night he became more clever than the first night. finally he outwits the king of the goblin by making him think he was not afraid and can not see him. He tells him "Don't be silly. You're one of the boys from the village. You're trying to scare me." This really upsetting to the king goblin, leading him to fall right into Hershel plan. He lights the last candle so Hershel can see him, which in turns brakes the spell, saving Hanukkah for himself and the village.
Eric Kimmel's Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is a Caldecott Honor Book, with great lively illustrations of goblins and people.
Review Excerpt(s):
Children's Literature
Can Hershel really rid the village synagogue of goblins? He successfully uses his wits to oust the eight creatures haunting the old synagogue and who are preventing the villagers from celebrating Hanukkah. Kimmel provides a humorous, entertaining and just slightly scary story for all young readers. Hyman's illustrations emphasize all of the tension with dark scenes of the goblins and their attempts to frighten Hershel. A Caldecott Honor Book.
Alternative Family - Bobbie Combs
Hyman's pictures are filled with drama, expressive people and ugly goblins, and on the last page there's an author's note with an explanation of the history and symbols of Hanukkah.
Connect:
Eric A.Kimmel's book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblin can be used as a winter project of how different people celebrate different holidays around the world. Students read this book and other folklore about different holidays and do a report or compare and contrast of how people celebrate different holidays around the world.
Kimmel,Eric. 1989. Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. New York: Holiday House. Hyman, Tina Schart (illustrator). ISBN 0823407691
Plot Summary:
Kimmel's Yiddish folklore uses a trickster by the name of Hershel of Ostropol to tell how Hanukkah was saved for a village. Hershel is traveling the first night of Hanukkah longing to reach the village where he looked forward to bright menorah lights and delicious potato latkes (potato pancakes) to eat. But when he arrives at the village it is dark and quiet. The villagers explains to him how they have been robbed of Hanukkah by mean goblins haunting the old synagogue, preventing them from celebrating Hanukkah. They (the goblins) refuse to allow them to celebrated Hanukkah because these goblin hate Hanukkah. Hershel is disappointed that Hanukkah was not being celebrated and offered to help. In the village there isn't anyone brave enough to stand up to the goblins. The village people explain to Hershel that rid the synagogue of the goblins he must stay in the old haunted synagogue for eight days, lighting the candles on the menorah. Hershel is very clever and deceives the goblins. He is even able to deceive the king goblin on the eight night and saves Hanukkah.
Critical Analysis:
Kimmel's character Hershel of Ostropol in his book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is very clever folklore. Hershel is clever and have very quick wit. He outwits all the goblins, all eight nights to rid them of the synagogue. The first night he tricks the smallest goblin into believing he was strong enough to crush rocks. When he was really crushing his dinner a hard boiled egg. The little goblin trembles with fear and allows him to light his candle, warning him that the next night a bigger goblin was coming. this warning only left Hershel to dig deeper into himself and develop a more clever trick to outwit the next goblin and he did. each night he became more clever than the first night. finally he outwits the king of the goblin by making him think he was not afraid and can not see him. He tells him "Don't be silly. You're one of the boys from the village. You're trying to scare me." This really upsetting to the king goblin, leading him to fall right into Hershel plan. He lights the last candle so Hershel can see him, which in turns brakes the spell, saving Hanukkah for himself and the village.
Eric Kimmel's Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is a Caldecott Honor Book, with great lively illustrations of goblins and people.
Review Excerpt(s):
Children's Literature
Can Hershel really rid the village synagogue of goblins? He successfully uses his wits to oust the eight creatures haunting the old synagogue and who are preventing the villagers from celebrating Hanukkah. Kimmel provides a humorous, entertaining and just slightly scary story for all young readers. Hyman's illustrations emphasize all of the tension with dark scenes of the goblins and their attempts to frighten Hershel. A Caldecott Honor Book.
Alternative Family - Bobbie Combs
Hyman's pictures are filled with drama, expressive people and ugly goblins, and on the last page there's an author's note with an explanation of the history and symbols of Hanukkah.
Connect:
Eric A.Kimmel's book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblin can be used as a winter project of how different people celebrate different holidays around the world. Students read this book and other folklore about different holidays and do a report or compare and contrast of how people celebrate different holidays around the world.
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