Blog 16

Keith Bradford
SLIS 5420
Hilbun

Blog 15

Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space (and the Subsequent Assault of the Equally Evil Lunchroom Nerds)

by

Dave Pilkey

Plot Summary: The aliens Zorx, Klax and Jenifer land on the planet Earth with the intention of taking over the entire world. at the same time George and Harold learn that the combination of vinegar and baking soda has explosive consequences. Generally being up to no good George and Harold leave a recipe for some cupcakes for principal Krupp in the kitchen. The lunch ladies wanting to celebrate principal Krupps birthday with some gusto decide to make 200 cupcakes. Of course when all that vinegar mixes with all that baking soda goop goes all over the place making a big mess inside the school. The lunch ladies are very upset by this and quit. Principal Krupp promptly hires three new replacements. Unbeknownst to Principal Krupp the three new lunch ladies he hired are the aliens who want to take over the world. The next day as George and Harold got to lunch and see that after eating the food the students become zombie nerds. George and Harold attempt to prevent more zombie nerd creation by taking the growth serum and pouring it out the window. Unfortunately that creates a giant man eating dandelion. the alien lunch ladies get wise to Harold and George's plan and lock them up with Principal Krupp. The only one who can get the out of this jam is the one the only Captain Underpants. Captain Underpants defeats the alien lunch ladies and the man eating dandelion.

My Impression: I get what this book might be censored by parents and teachers. The humor is crude and primarily of the potty variety. I'm no elitist there is a time and a place for every kind of joke. I myself have laughed and the occasional piece of well timed and well placed potty humor. However, for my taste this book goes off the deep end. But kids respond to it and it gets kids to read. Mr. Pilkey's books could very well inspire the next Mark Twain or at least some to enjoy a life of reading. If either of those events happen I'm okay with it. If neither of those events happen, this book should still never ever be banned. When I grew up I had Garbage Pail Kids trading cards and I thought they were the coolest thing ever. After reading this book I went back and looked at them, I can honestly say that I was a little grossed out by them. yet those cards also brought a nostalgic grin to my face. I remember feeling so cool that I had something my parents didn't like but allowed me to have. No one should deny a child a future nostalgic smile. What a child is into now certainly does not reflect there future endeavors. If that were case I imagine I would be a garbage man (a well paid and under appreciated profession), some sort of hobo who eats from the garbage or possibly a sideshow carnival attraction. I'm not though, I'm trying to become a librarian.

Onto Mr. Pilkey's writing. The styles of the book bridges the gap between chapter books and comic books. Mr. Pilkey's artwork is crude, but the style lends itself to the subject material.

Reviews:

Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies(The third book in the Captain Underpants series)(1999)A novel by


Hooray for Captain Underpants! Every body's favorite waistband warrior is back, ready to fight for Truth, Justice, and all that is Pre-Shrunk and Cottony. If you've read Dav Pilkey's first two comic epics, The Adventures of Captain Underpants and Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets, you already know the brave Captain is really just crabby old Principal Krupp, hypnotized into becoming the world's greatest superhero every time someone snaps their fingers. And of course you know the trouble-making hypnotists are none other than Jerome Horwitz Elementary School's two most notorious tricksters, George and Harold ("We rule!" "Me, too!").Well, George and Harold--surprise, surprise--are at it again. The cranky lunch ladies quit after George and Harold fool them into baking super-volcanic krispy kupcakes that flood the school with gigantic green globs o' goo. Mr. Krupp finds replacements and fast, but he unwittingly hires the tentacled alien trio of Zorx, Klax, and Jennifer in disguise! Will they turn everyone in school into evil zombie nerds? Can George and Harold save the world before it's too late? All seems lost until the diabolical Zorx snaps his... um, tentacles in front of Mr. Krupp, and the power of wedgies comes to the rescue once again.Captain Underpants's third outing is better than ever, with patented Flip-o-Rama animation and wacky bonus comics like "Captain Underpants--Wedgie Wars" and "Captain Underpants and the Night of the Living Lunch Ladies." (Ages 8 to 12) --Paul Hughes

Hughes, Paul [Review of Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space (and the Subsequent Assault of the Equally Evil Lunchroom Nerds)] Retrieved from http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/p/dav-pilkey/invasion-of-incredibly-naughty-cafeteria-ladies.htm

REVIEW BY JAMIE WHITFIELD
Fans have been anxiously awaiting this third "epic" of new adventures of this most unusual superhero. Dav Pilkey once again holds George Beard and Harold Hutchins, the incessant pamphlet writers and reluctant fourth graders at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School, responsible for both creating the havoc that nearly destroys the world and for saving the world from said havoc and destruction.
They're the ones who decide to use the elements of a classroom experiment as part of a practical joke in the cafeteria, causing an explosion of goop which causes an exodus of the cafeteria ladies who are also angry about the way Harold and George depicted them in the latest edition of their comic strip, "Captain Underpants and the Night of the Living Lunch Ladys."
So George and Harold are responsible when the principal, needing new cafeteria ladies in a hurry, hires three large, heavily made-up women who, unbeknownst to all, are really evil guys from outer space. Thus begins the adventure part of the story, the part that requires the principal, Mr. Krupp, to turn into the superhero we've all been waiting for: Captain Underpants.
But Pilkey must take some responsibility. He is the one who gives grownups names like Miss Anthrope and Miss DePoint. He is the one responsible for the wonderfully rugged drawings that ensure those who look at illustrations as they read will be more aware of plot than will those who merely read text, and therefore won't be as surprised when the dandelion growing outside the school tries to devour the main characters. He's also responsible for The National Board of Boo-Boo Prevention's warning about the incredibly graphic flip-o-rama, which leaves anyone who follows directions howling with laughter.

Wjitfield, Jamie. [Book review of Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space (and the Subsequent Assault of the Equally Evil Lunchroom Nerds) ] Retrieved from http://www.bookpage.com/9909bp/childrens/captain_underpants.html

Suggestions for library use: The pictures tell so much of the story so it would be exceedingly difficult to use this book for a storytime. The library could do a Dave Pilkey display and set up the books with information about the author. This book would also be a good suggestion to children who are reluctant to read. The crude humor is very attractive to children. The book would also be good in a comic book club or perhaps a class on maing your own comics. The book is a good example that one does not have perfect drawing to make an engaging story.

Draw Me A Star

by Eric Carle

Plot Summary: The book has no real narrative through line. An unnamed narrator asks a boy to draw a star, sun people, animals and eventually another star. The book begins and ends in the same spot, giving a circle of life theme that is not directly stated.

My Impression: I've never been a huge Eric Carle fan. For some reason his illustration style has never been that dynamic for me. The reason this book is banned or challenged at least, because there is a picture of a naked man and woman. However, the nudity is presented in an innocent light. The story never mentions nudity it is just there. The drawings themselves are not very detailed. You can see the distinguish the differences between the male and female form, but is in now way provocative or inappropriate. The only thing I can equate to the picture in the book is having naked pictures of your own kids.

That being said this book lacks the purpose of some of his books, like The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Caterpillar like others are interactive and creatively engage children with simple lessons that presented in such a playful manner they don't feel like work. I just don't see that in this book.

Review:

Draw Me A Star, written and illustrated by Eric Carle, the author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, is another cyclical book, and a good one to read at bedtime. An artist is asked by an unseen friend to draw a star. The star then asks the artist to draw the sun. The sun asks for a tree, and before long an entire universe has sprung up. Night falls, the moon rises, the moon asks for a star, and the circle is complete. Mr. Carle’s media are paint and collage. The book is wholly satisfying.”
- by Cynthia Zarin, The New Yorker, November 18, 1992
“A young boy is told (readers are not sure by whom) to “Draw me a star.” The star then requests that the boy draw it a sun; the sun asks for a “lovely tree,” and throughout his life the boy/man/artist continues to create images that fill the world with beauty. The moon bids the now-elderly artist to draw another star, and as the story ends, the artist travels “across the night sky” hand-in-hand with the star. This book will appeal to readers of all ages; its stunning illustrations, spare text, and simple story line make it a good choice for story hour, but older children will also find it uplifting and meaningful. Especially pleasing is a diagram within the story, accompanied by rhyming instructions on how to draw a star: “Down/over/left/and right/draw/a star/oh so/bright.” An inspired book in every sense of the word.”
- by Eve Larkin, School Library Journal, October, 1992
“During his youth, this gifted author-artist explains in his newest book’s afterward, his German grandmother would often draw him a star while chanting a nonsense rhyme. Taking that symbol as his foundation, Carle here creates a world pulsating with life and color—a world that bursts forth from “a good star” sketched by a young artist. This kaleidoscopic pentagram requests a sun from the artist’s pen; the sun asks for a tree, and so on until a man and woman are living happily among Carle’s characteristic collages—flora and fauna of all shapes, sizes and vivid hues. Meanwhile the artist, now a bearded old man, continues to draw and create. This unusual, practically plotless work seems to embody a personal scenario close to the artist’s heart. His unadorned language, pulsing with a hypnotic rhythm, adroitly complements the familiar naive artwork. Though some may be disturbed by similarities between Carle’s evolving world and the biblical creation story (the unclothed male and female figures, for example), this tale of imagination and creativity pays homage to the artist within all of us—and may well fire youngsters’ imaginations. Ages 4-up.”
- Publishers Weekly, September 7, 1992

[Book Review of Draw Me A Star] Retrieved from http://www.eric-carle.com/rev-DMAS.html

Publishers Weekly
During his youth, this gifted authorartist explains in his newest book's afterword, his German grandmother would often draw him a star while chanting a nonsense rhyme. Taking that symbol as his foundation, Carle here creates a world pulsating with life and color-a world that bursts forth from a good star sketched by a young artist. This kaleidoscopic pentagram requests a sun from the artist's pen; the sun asks for a tree, and so on until a man and woman are living happily among Carle's characteristic collages-flora and fauna of all shapes, sizes and vivid hues. Meanwhile the artist, now a bearded old man, continues to draw and create. This unusual, practically plotless work seems to embody a personal scenario close to the artist's heart. His unadorned language, pulsing with a hypnotic rhythm, adroitly complements the familiar naive artwork. Though some may be disturbed by similarities between Carle's evolving world and the biblical creation story (the unclothed male and female figures, for example), this tale of imagination and creativity pays homage to the artist within all of us-and may well fire youngsters' imaginations. Ages 4-up. (Sept.)

Retrieved from http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Draw-Me-a-Star/Eric-Carle/e/9780698116320

Suggestions for Library Use: Like most Eric Carle books Draw Me a Star is a good book to read aloud. The library could make display of Eric Carle's work. The library could also have an rt activity of something the children would like to draw or simply try to mimic Carle's style.

Blog 14

Blog 14

What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know
by
Sonia Sones

Plot Summary: Robin Murphy is one of the least popular kids at Cambridge High School. The other students pick on him relentlessly. In fact, his last name is one of the most common insults. You would think that everything would change for him when he starts dating Sophie, the most popular girl in school, but it doesn’t. The school, including her best friends, begins to shun her as well. An understanding art teacher, Schultz, signs Murphy up to audit an art class at Harvard University. He develops several real friendships and begins to gain some desperately needed confidence. During each class, he is required to draw nude portraits. Robin, not having much sexual experience, is very excited with each class. Robin can’t share with Sophie just how wonderful his art classes are. Sophie begins to spend more time with her friends as they start accepting Robin and Sophie’s relationship. Robin feels more alone with Sophie spending more time with her friends. In the very end of the book, Robin is tempted by Tessa (friend, fellow art class student, and sixteen year old Harvard student) who is willing to do more, sexually, than Sophie. The height of the conflict occurs when Sophie observes Robin kissing Tessa. All is resolved when Sophie forgives Robin after he makes a handmade Valentine’s gift.

My Impression: For a fast read this book felt long. The book is written in short spurts of verse, but these spurts seem to labor over the point. I felt that the point was made very clear very early. The author just seemed to go on and on about the various emotions of the characters. Long sections of the book felt redundant. There also wasn't enough plot to really hold my interest and not enough information for me to care about the characters. I'm not sure why this book would ever be popular.

Reviews:
WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND DOESN'T KNOWSonya Sones

In this sequel to WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN'T KNOW, we learn what happens next with Sophie and Robin --- but this time, it’s from the artistic outsider Robin Murphy’s point of view. Struggling to make sense of how he’s actually dating pretty, popular Sophie Stein, Robin learns that getting your heart’s desire isn’t always easy. Author Sonya Sones once again masterfully creates a book in verse that throws the reader into the depths of the character’s soul. With her amazing poetry, the voice of Robin is so strikingly real and full of self-doubt. “I told her I’d understand if it has to end. / And sure I’ll understand. / Because, I mean, what girl in her right mind / would want to be seen hanging with me? / With Murphy… / the ugliest guy at Cambridge High? / The guy whose last name people use as a diss. / As in: “You are a real Murphy.” But even though he is wracked with confusion, life is looking up for Robin. Not only is he dating gorgeous Sophie, but he also is selected by his art teacher to audit an art class at Harvard University. There, he finally feels like he belongs. Nobody knows him as “a Murphy,” the butt of all jokes. At Harvard he is the jokester, and better yet, he makes new friends, including a female student who develops a crush on him. Back in his real high school life, however, things with Sophie become tough. Her friends have ostracized her for dating Robin. Even though they love each other, it’s as if it’s Robin and Sophie against the world. Can Robin allow Sophie to sacrifice her social life just to date him? Like Sones’s previous books, WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND DOESN'T KNOW is a truly enjoyable and fast-paced read. Her story feels so rich and full of life, and it’s amazing what she can do with so few words. Robin is an authentic male teen voice whose struggle is often heartbreaking, realistic and funny. As a reader, I can’t wait to see what Sones writes next. --- Reviewed by Kristi Olson

Olson, Kristi. [Review of What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know] Retrieved from http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/0689876025.asp

What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know Book Review

Courtesy of Simon & Schuster
Author: Sonya SonesRobin Murphy isn’t the most popular kid at Cambridge High School. In fact, he’s so unpopular that the jocks use his last name as an insult—“You’re such a Murphy!” If Murphy were in the dictionary, the definition would read loser, loner, moron, geek or any other hurtful insult you can dream up.
Outlaws RuleYou’d think his circumstances would change now that he’s dating the beautiful, popular Sophie. Perhaps he’d get a little kudos from the jocks for landing such a catch, or raise a few notches on the popularity totem pole. But you’d be wrong. Instead, everyone at school thinks Sophie’s gone insane. Even her best friends refuse to be seen with her while she’s dating Robin. People at school try to sabotage their relationship. But Sophie stands her ground. She likes Robin and that’s all that matters. Robin can’t believe his luck.
In The Nude
Robin does have one thing going for him—he’s a very talented artist. His art teacher signs him up for a drawing class at Harvard University. There, he’s given the ultimate test of faith…twice. The students aren’t drawing bowls of fruit in that art class. No, sir! They’re drawing nude portraits…of real naked women! Robin can’t help but get excited. After all, when else can you stare at a woman’s breasts without being called a pervert? Art class is a dream come true!
Temptation
Drawing a naked woman turns out to be no big deal. But the second test of faith proves more challenging. He becomes friends with a few students in his art class. And one gets a little too friendly. She’s willing to do more than kiss, something that Sophie isn’t ready for. Robin loves his girlfriend. But can he resist the temptation?
The Bottom Line
What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know follows fourteen year-old Robin as he chooses between loyalty and temptation. Written in a series of poems, the story feels raw and real. Readers will get an inside look at Robin’s conflicting emotions—his excitement and lust, along with his fear and guilt. This book isn’t a long read, but it’s definitely enjoyable.
What My GIrlfriend Doesn't Know Rating:

http://www.kidzworld.com/article/16294-what-my-girlfriend-doesnt-know-book-review

Suggestions for Library Use:
Beacuse the pages have shorts amount of writing some of this could be read out loud. However, I would only read this to teens and tweens. This book might be a good book to introduce to a poetry club or a club that encourages the writing of young patrons.

Crank
by
Ellen Hopkins

Plot Summary: Kristina Georgia Snow is the ideal daughter. Kristina is smart, good at school and pretty. Then Kristina goes to visit her father and Kristina turns into Bree. Kristina turns into Bree, because of a boy, Adam, who turns her on to the drug crank; crystal meth to the uninformed. Crank is refered to as the monster in the novel. At first the use of crank is a great deal of fun for Kristina. However, when Kristina returns home to her mother decides to continue to have fun with crank. Kristina meets two boys Brendan and Chase who have connections to crank. Kristina tells people that her name is Bree. Eventually Bree bonds with Chase over crank and the two of them fall in love. Bree's addiction to crank continues to grow as she meets others who also use. Robyn the sister of Trent (a former friend) shows Bree how to smoke crank. Although she is in a relationship with Chase, Bree begins an infatuation with Brendan. Brendan rapes Bree at a party. Bree reveals her name to be Kristina to Brendan as he takes her home. Brendan has nothing to do with Kristina for the rest of the novel. Kristina gets pregnant. Thinking that the baby is his Chase proposes. However, Kristina refuses his proposal because she finds out the baby is Brendans. Chases goes off to UCLA. Kristina decides to keep the baby and raise it with her parents.

My Impression: Crank does badly what Go Ask Alice did quite well years before. The message is still a good message even is the writing isn't. The book felt like and after school special. However, not having Kristina die at the end was a nice twist. Having the girl have to live with the consequences of her actions I think is a mor sobering end to the tale. It is eerie to me that 500 page books with less than a fifth of the page filled with text are being praised. We are supposed to congratulate children because they feel accomplished when they read 500 page novels in a day and half.

Reviews:
Crank by Ellen Hopkins: a Review
Published by Poetic Enigma, May 31, 2008
Warning: Don’t read this if you don’t want anything to be ruined, because it has some specific facts out of the book.
If you ever have taken a walk with the monster called Crank, you may relate to this novel written by Ellen Hopkins.
Hopkins’ books are real and raw and Crank does not fall short of that endeavor.
Her book shows the highs and the lows of trying the drug and becoming addicted.
In the novel, it all starts when the main character, Kristina Georgia Snow is sent to her fathers house in Albuquerque, far from her home in Reno and far different than what she imagined the trip to be.
There she meets Adam, A.K.A. Buddy. It is Buddy who introduces Kristina to the monster.
Kristina called herself Bree to the new people she met. Bree was her alter-ego. Someone who was outgoing and carefree while Kristina was held back and shy.
Bree (and Kristina perhaps) fell in love with Buddy (or was it Adam?) but eventually Kristina had to go back home to Reno. They wrote letters back and forth after she returned home, but their love did not last.
At this point she was addicted to the monster and needed to get her hands on it. Anyway she could. In trying to find the monster she wound up dating two guys. Chase and Brendon.
Chase ended up leaving for college sometime after they fell in love and Brendon raped her. At the end of the book she learned that she was going to have a baby.
Guess whose it was?
I will leave that one as a surprise for those who have not read the book yet.
The ending of this book is not as tragic as the others Ellen Hopkins has written, however there is a sequel to Crank called Glass.
I think her book Crank is just amazing, and so full of truth.
What do you think?

http://bookstove.com/drama/crank-by-ellen-hopkins-a-review/


Book Review: Crank-- Story About a Monster
By Patricia Irizarry
Crank is more than a drug. It`s a way of life. You can turn your back. But you can never really walk away. "
Those were the words spoken from 17-year-old Kristina Georgia Snow, the young meth addict in Ellen Hopkins`s book, Crank. " While this story is fictitious, it is based on true events "the events that happened to Hopkins`s daughter. Crank " is about Kristina going through a complete turn-around in her life, going from a well-behaved straight-A student living in Reno to being succumbed to using meth, also known as the monster. "
Kristina`s first encounter with the monster " was through a boy she met and fell in love with while visiting her drug-addicted father in Albuquerque one summer. However, no one in Albuquerque knew her as Kristina. Everyone knew her as Bree, the girl who would take over Kristina`s mind and eventually her life.
In the author`s note, Hopkins writes according to her daughter`s past, The monster did touch her life and the lives of her family. My family. It is hard to watch someone you love fall so deeply under the spell of a substance that turns him or her into a stranger. Someone you don`t even want to know. "
Kristina, or Bree, was exactly that "a stranger. Hopkins`s Crank " shows how this young teenager would turn her back on everyone that loved and cared about her so much, all because she wanted to get high; to escape the norm that was her life in Reno, Nevada. Kristina ended up having two boyfriends "both using crank as well "getting poor grades in school, losing her best friends and betraying her parents` trust. The monster had changed her dramatically and she found out at a youthful age that things would never be the same.
Hopkins`s use of free verse brings out the descriptive narration in Crank. " The entire book is written beautifully, yet tragically, to paint a picture of Kristina`s ride with the monster. " Hopkins writes, Nothing in this story is impossible. Much of it happened to us, or to families like ours. Many of the characters are composites of real people. If they ring true, they should. "
Crank " has definitely touched my heart and has made me aware of what happens when one dances with the monster. " Hopkins has accomplished what she sought out to do "having this story speak to people. Crank " could be used as a guide for many people of all ages, male or female, to be more aware of the dangers of meth and all drugs that are out in this world.
As she concludes her author`s note, Hopkins said, Crank is indeed a monster "one that is tough to leave behind once you invite it into your life. Think twice. Then think again. "
Comment on this story, by emailing Judyth Piazza at comment@thesop.org or join the SOP friend network with your Google, Yahoo, AOL, MSN or one ID account located on the front page of http://www.thesop.org.

Irizarry, Patricia [Review of Crank] Retrieved from http://thesop.org/art/2007/06/04/book-review-crank-story-about-a-monster

Suggestions for Library Use: I would suggest this book to teen users who I suspect might have be having a troubled home life or a drug problem. however, I would try to be as discreet as humaly possible. This book would also be a good book for a teen poetry appreciation club.

Blog 13

Blog 13



The Amulet: The Stonekeeper (Book One)

by

Kazu Kibuishi



Plot Summary: Emily, her mother and father are on their way to pick up Emily's brother Navin, when an unfortunate car accident kills Emily's father. Two years after the death of her father Emily, her mother and Navin are moving to a house in the country. The house they are moving into used to belong to Emily's grandfather, Silas. Silas disappeared under mysterious circumstances. While cleaning and prepping the house to move in, Emily comes across an Amulet. Putting the Amulet on unleashes a spectre. The spectre begins to create noises. The mother goes to investigate the noises and she gets swallowed by a monster. Navin and Emily chase the monster and go through a portal to another world. The monster that swallowed Emily's mother swallows Navin and Emily uses the amulet to free Navin. The Amulet tells Emily to find a house. They find a house but it is surrounded by water. As Emily and Navin prepare to swim they notice a boat coming toward them. Emily and Navin run and hide, which is when they notice that they are being followed. The man in the boat zap the man who is following them and tells them to get into the boat. Emily and Navin get into the boat and go to the house. When they get to the house the man in the boat turn out to be robot, Miskit, who was in a larger robotic body. Miskit introduces other robots and Silas. Apparently Silas has been in this alternate world Alldia. Silas asks Emily to go on a quest, shortly before he dies. Now Emily is in charge of Silas's robots. Emily's first mission is to save her mother. So Miskit, Navin and Emily go on a dangerous flying mission through a cave with rakers, an octopus like creature. Emily is about to rescue her mother when she has to stop to rescue her brother. Emily then confronts the man following her and evil elf who wants her help to kill his father. Emily is resistant so the evil elf tries to use a worm to control her mind. Emily escapes. To be continued...



My Impression: This a pretty solid story. The book moves which is one of its benefits. However, it moves so fast that you are done before you know it. But I guess that works to it's advantage, sales wise anyway. The story is a mix of fantasy, sci-fi and cartoons. So there is kid appeal to spare. It feels like The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Bone & Harry Potter all at the same time. All kid reference points for any kids book. What I like about the story is that while you don't get a great deal of information about Emily or her family it doesn't stray away from tough emotions. Emily is still raw about her Dad. Emily's mom is lost and confused. These emotions are not shyed away from, kids are allowed to feel bad. The robots are cute and in general there is a consistency in the design of the characters and the design of the world. Another aspect of this book that works is, not having read any of the other books, it feels like the author illustrator has a clear idea of what he is doing. There is some foreshadowing at play and I am looking forward to seeing how it plays out.



Reviews:

The Stone Keeper: Amulet, Book One (Amulet #01)by Kazu Kibuishi

All Ages AdventuresA review by Donald Lemke
Since Jeff Smith's Bone, few graphic novels have truly captured the imagination of an all-ages audience. It's a difficult task, satisfying the curiosities of youth while pandering to the expectations of adults. Fortunately, Kazu Kibuishi, creator of Daisy Kutter and editor of the acclaimed Flight anthologies, has discovered the secret formula in Amulet: The Stonekeeper, book one of his much-anticipated series from Scholastic.
In Amulet, Kibuishi doesn't give readers, young or old, a chance to turn away. His distinctly cinematic style will immediately captivate readers from the opening panels. A loving family travels peacefully along an icy, mountain road. Suddenly, oncoming headlights blind the father's view. He swerves, and the station wagon skids off the side of the road, careening down a steep hillside. Miraculously, a tree stops the car from plummeting over a deadly cliff. The mother and her daughter, Emily, scramble out of the doomed vehicle; the father, however, is trapped inside, his legs pinned underneath the dashboard. As the car teeters on a ledge, Emily instinctively clings to the rear bumper, desperately trying to stop the vehicle from falling. Her attempts are useless. She is powerless...at least in this world.
The heart-pounding opening sequence demonstrates Kibuishi's skill for pacing, which he proves time and again throughout the book. Some moments, such as the accident, move rapidly, like the linear frames of a film. Others are deliciously decelerated, like the painful moments before the father's death. The sequence also establishes a tone for Kibuishi's entire series. A dose of harsh reality immediately grounds readers before sending them into a world of fantasy and science fiction. It also sets the stakes of life and death, a barometer for the risks versus consequences during the adventures to come.
After the tragic accident, Emily, her mother, and her younger brother Navin move into a shabby, old country home to start a new life. The house belonged to Emily's great-grandfather Silas Charnon, an eccentric puzzle maker; although Silas mysteriously disappeared long ago, a few of his puzzles and inventions still remain. On the very first day, Emily and her brother discover a crimson amulet in the dusty attic, and unaware of its power, Emma ties the amulet around her neck. That night, after drifting off to sleep, Emily is awakened by a voice from within the glowing amulet. "Your family is in danger. Stay with them. Keep them safe," the mysterious voice cautions. (40) Moments later, a loud "thump!" echoes from the basement, and Emily's mother investigates. The children chase after her, but they are too late -- a giant, tentacled beast has swallowed her up and scuttered away through a door to the netherworld. In the first of many decisions to come, Emily and Navin head through the portal as well.
On the other side of the doorway, the real story begins, and Kibuishi's illustrations start to shine. While rescuing their mother, Emily and Navin encounter a grand landscape of spiraling peaks and bottomless valleys, each richly colored in murky shades of blue. The simple, moody scheme of the background makes the life-forms discovered within all the more appealing. Mauve mushrooms, pink and purple snails, and, of course, the brilliant glow of the amulet, all exude a sort of kindness and light. In contrast, a dull, grey creature known as Trellis, the son of an Elf King, follows the children in their quest. He lurks like a shadow, seeking the amulet's power. The children, on the other hand, follow the guidance of the amulet, which advises, "Seek the aid of the man who lives at the house...your great grandfather, Silas Charnon." (62)
Their arrival at Silas's house is a pivotal moment in the story, and Kibuishi treats it accordingly. For much of the book the images are confined to small, almost claustrophobic panels. Although Kibuishi's illustrative skill is evident throughout, the tight angles and talking heads don't give the reader an opportunity to view the full extent of his abilities. When he finally opens up, in one of the book's few splash pages, the result is a wonderfully majestic image, like the photograph of a daydream.
The nonhuman characters found in the house are also brilliantly imagined and rendered. Dozen of multi-colored robots live within, including a mechanical rabbit named Miskit. Unfortunately, the children soon discover that their great grandfather is ill, and the robotic world cannot outlast his own death -- unless, of course, Emily agrees to accept the power of the amulet and rule over the land of Alledia. "What if I told you this power would allow you to turn back time?" says Silas, trying to entice his hesitant granddaughter. "There must have been a time in your life when you were happier." (100) Like Emily, the reader experiences the weight of this decision. It's more than a fantastical choice; Kabuishi has woven layers of responsibility, family, survival, and childhood happiness into the outcome.
Kabuishi answers the question of what Emily decides to do in book one, but he leaves many other problems unresolved, and though a dramatic battle with Trellis provides a climax, the story will leave some readers unfulfilled.
Thankfully, Kabuishi has at least two more volumes of Amulet in the works -- plenty of time to satisfy his fans and attract even more all-ages readers to this refreshing series.



Lemke, Donald. (2008). [Review of The Amulet: The Stonekeeper] retrieved from http://www.powells.com/review/2008_03_09.html




Review of Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
Book One: The Stonekeeper is an Excellent Young Adult Read
© Benjamin Royce Jaekle Jan 11, 2008
Book One: The Stonekeeper by the Daisy Kutter, Flight, and Copper artist is a four-star work of children's literature in graphic novel form.
Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet, a series of as-yet-undetermined length, begins powerfully with the lovingly-illustrated The Stonekeeper. While it sips from the gene pool of Harry Potter and similar kids-in-a-fantastic-situation literature, Amulet is more easily and fairly likened to one of Kibuishi’s idols, legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, whose influence is felt in the sparsely-defined and round-faced protagonists, steam punk robotics and airborne creatures of gooey consistency.
The Stonekeeper, being Book One, is a whirlwind tour-de-force of introduction. It is an action-packed volume lined with tender moments and an eerily beautiful atmosphere. Whether entering houses lit by bioluminescent trees, floating with a giant mushroom for a parachute, or waging magically-charged battles, the book is saturated with stunning art and a sense of wonder.
Every page is expertly laid-out, beautifully lined and lushly colored. The quality of painting especially is top-notch; every newly-turned page is a highly-detailed, engrossing piece of sequential art which, while clinging to its cartoon roots with simple characters and Kibuishi's deliberately casual lettering, conveys a sense of physical texture and powerful lighting, giving every panel weight and substance.
The tale suffers the unfortunate burden of being the first in a series, and as such the ending is, while wholly satisfying for the weight of the volume and the individual through-line, ultimately inconclusive, leaving a reader to desperately scan the internet for signs of a pending sequel. Kibuishi undoubtedly has the conclusion, or more likely merely the continuation, thumbnailed and in the steamer already, but the wait will still be tedious for the many who enjoy this excellent start.
To sum Amulet up in brief, it is the tale of a girl who finds a magical world to which she is mysteriously tied by her great grandfather. The eponymous amulet comes to her (the eponymous “stonekeeper”) with a dubious promise of power, a power which would allow her to rule the strange new world in which she finds herself and, more importantly, the power to reunite her endangered family. The petulant and manipulative amulet unavoidably finds some comparison to Tolkien’s One Ring, and the series will almost certainly feature the struggle between the girl and the burdensome power of the stone as its most potent conflict.
For children and young adults, this is an instantly recommendable read. The Stonekeeper taps universally familiar themes of family, loss and even troublesome friends, and winds them into a fantastic, fast-paced adventure. The work is gripping and thrilling, and stonekeeper Emily is an understandably conflicted yet apt and moral protagonist, a fierce big sister, loving daughter, and a capable and determined leader in the dangerous times she faces.
In fact, Kibuishi provides an excellent cast overall. Emily's is a strong, stable family that, despite suffering tragic loss, is able to adjust and band together in even the most turbulent times simply because they are family, and that love is enough. Also of note is the book’s commendable if quiet stance on video and computer games, treating them not as a fattening seed of familial decay but as a regulated family activity with positive results for players.
For lovers of the comics form and readers young and old, The Stonekeeper is a promising first work whose sequels are sure to entertain with high-fantasy adventure, potent themes, and already-memorable characters. Fans of high fantasy, adventure, Harry Potter, Miyazaki, and Kibuishi’s brilliant webcomic, Copper, should all add Amulet to the top of their reading queue. It’s a quick, easy, and amazing read.


Jaekle, Benjamin Royce. (2008). [Review of The Amulet: The Stonekeeper] retrieved from http://graphicnovelscomics.suite101.com/article.cfm/review_of_amulet_by_kazu_kibuishi



Suggestions for Library Use: Graphic Novels do not lend themselves to read alouds. If a theme could be created around graphic novels that might work. I would also suggest this book to children who enjoyed Jeff Smith's Bone. Perhaps this book or series would be a good place to start a graphic novel or fantasy book club.



Buddha: Volume One Kapilarstu

by

Osamu Tezuka



Plot Summary: This is a manga that ties several stories together. The book begins with the telling of a story about a rabbit that throws itself into the fire infront to feed an hungry old man. The old man turns out to be Oshala and the story is being told to prepare Brahmin to search for the next wise person of merit. A young Brahmin goes in search of this person.


Chapra who is carrying some cloth, when he is attacked by Tatta who takes the cloth. Chapra must face his master who gives Chapra three days to find the cloth. If Chapra does not find the cloth, Chapra's mother will be sold. Chapra goes out to find his mother but can't. He eventually comes across Tatta's tribe of paraihs. A scuffle ensues and Chapra is knocked unconcious. When he comes to he sees that the cloth has been given to Tatta's mother. Chapra tries to get it back, but fails. Chapra does convince Tatta to help him get his mother back. Chapra's mother is saved. On the way back Tatta reveals that he can take over the minds of animals. Continuing home Tatta sees his village has been burned and his mother killed. The group goes into hiding. They hide in wine barrels that are taken to the soldiers who burned the village. Tatta leaps out and attacks the soldiers, most of his comrades are killed. The Brahmin tries to reason with the soldiers,but tono avail. Tatta, the Brahmin and his friends are chained in the dessert and left for dead. Then Chapra and some locusts free them. The soldiers are looking for Chapra and the rag tag crew. The General decides to take a bath in a stream where he is attacked by some crocodiles. Chapra jumps into and save him. For saving him the General makes Chapra his son. He begins to train Chapra as a soldier. Eventually Chapra becomes the peoples champ. However, the people discover that Chapra was born a slave and make him a slave once more.



My Impression: This book is somewhere between Carl Bark's "Uncle Scrooge" and Jeff Smith's "Bone." While this book deals with heavy subject matter slavery, spirituality, love, death and contains pictures of nudity it does so with the lightest of touches. This is not to say that the subject matter is made light of, but the book isnot above taking a dip into cartoon enjoyment. The majority of the illustrations are simple and direct, but inspersed are some absolutly lovely painstakingly detailed drawings. The story while dense with several characters moves rather quickly and I am anxious to read the other seven volumes.



Reviews:
Learn from the Master
By Andrew D. Arnold Friday, Oct. 17, 2003
Looking in each of the four primary directions a young man faces a choice: an elderly man, a scabrous woman, a corpse or a monk. Rejecting old age, disease and death, the man, Siddhartha, chooses the life of the monk and goes on to enlightenment in one of the key moments in the story of the Buddha. Thoughtful comix readers can relate to such limited choices. Even among the more ambitious works of graphic literature there have been few explorations of spirituality or attempts at creating a distinct morality. But now a radical, epic, ambitious, brilliant option presents itself: Osamu Tezuka's "Buddha" (Vertical, Inc.; 400 pp.; $24.95).
Osamu Tezuka's "Buddha" Vol. 1
Osamu Tezuka (1928-1989), a former M.D., more or less invented Japanese comics — AKA manga — during the 1950s. Part D.W. Griffith and part Walt Disney, he is revered in Japan and throughout Asia but only recently has his work been appearing in quantity in the United States. His most famous creation, "Astro Boy," a series about a powerful robot who looks like a boy, has been reprinted by Dark Horse (see the TIME.comix review.) "The Phoenix Saga," a multi-volume series considered his life's work has properly begun to appear here courtesy of Viz. Now Vertical Inc., a two-year-old publisher of translated Japanese literature has begun the first-ever English translation of "Buddha." Originally appearing in serialized form during the 1970s, "Buddha," an imaginative re-telling of the story the 6th-century B.C. teacher and spiritual leader, will be collected in eight stylish hardcover volumes. Two volumes appear at a time in the fall and spring. Volume one, "Kapilavastu," appeared this month. Volume two, "The Four Encounters," is due at the beginning of November. Volumes three and four will hopefully come out in April and June of 2004.
It's lucky that practicing Buddhists tend to be liberal-minded. For one thing, the key events in the Buddha story appear in "Buddha" like cornerstones on which Tezuka constructs his own fantastic palace of myth and philosophy. The first volume, during which prince Siddhartha is born, barely concerns itself with this event. Instead the majority of the narrative follows Chapra, a talented slave child who hides his caste to become the adopted son of a general. Along the way he befriends Tatta, a cheeky little boy of the lowliest pariah caste. Tatta has the remarkable ability to take over the minds of animals, making him the target of intense interest by a young monk, Naradatta. With tragic consequences Chapra's secret eventually comes out, setting up the themes of escaping cycles of destiny and the futility of violence. Chapra, Tatta and many other characters too numerous to mention are wholly fictional and original to Tezuka. Besides adding levels of narrative sophistication, this gives Tezuka room to explore the issues he has always been most concerned with: the freedom, equality and sanctity of all life.
Siddhartha non-violently disarms the ruthless Bandaka in "Buddha" Vol. 2
During the first two volumes Tezuka particularly explores the injustice of the caste system, and by implication, all human hierarchies. Thus, the second volume opens with the young Siddhartha being told he cannot play with the toys of the slave children. The sickly child, who frequently dozes off into meditative states, becomes increasingly obsessed with the inevitability of death and the cruel arbitrariness of the caste system. An older Tatta, the mischievous pariah, reappears and takes the prince away from his palace of luxury to experience the real world. There he meets Migaila, a bandit that he falls in love with. Returning home, though, Siddhartha is compelled to marry a princess and struggles with the calling to become king of a defenseless country or a monk.
Neither reverent nor irreverent "Buddha" can best be described as playfully serious. (Tezuka takes the Middle Path!) Much of this comes from a uniquely Tezuka form of comix making. The characters have a simplified, "cute" design but inhabit a highly detailed, realistic environment — a style that became the foundation of the manga look. Recalling traditional Japanese landscapes, with careful pen and ink craftsmanship Tezuka depicts mountain vistas and waterfalls. In one remarkable scene a swarm of locusts fills an entire two-page spread.
Cameos by characters from previous works, nonsense doodles, and even Hitchcock-like appearances by the artist himself, are de rigueur to Tezuka. He has an almost Shakespearian desire to mix high drama with low comedy, though Shakespeare rarely had characters doing both. At one point during volume one a powerful general sends away his escorts when he wishes to bathe in a pond. Adopting a silly, girlish pose and sprouting long eyelashes he says, "I don't want you to see me naked. Pray, won't you go?" Some of the oddity may be attributable to the translation, which puts modern vernacular ("It ain't no trick dude!") in the context of ancient India. The references to New York, Paris and beer-drinking "college girls" seems to be authentic to the original, though. Tezuka never lets you forget the essential cartoonishness of the medium or even that you are reading a comicbook. Characters that get really over-excited, for example, will bounce all around the frame or even tear it up.
Filled with beauty, cruelty, drama, comedy, romance and violence, Osamu Tezuka's "Buddha" encompasses the entirety of life in a masterpiece of graphic literature. Deeply moral but never moralistic, "Buddha" merges the delight of cartooning with the epic seriousness of one of the great religions, becoming a thing wholly unto itself. Even if you can't achieve satori with "Buddha," you can open up another world.Read more:



http://www.time.com/time/columnist/arnold/article/0,9565,519424,00.html




Review – Buddha Volume One – Kapilavastu
Osamu Tezuka Writes an Epic Manga on the Birth of Buddhism
© Brian Jungwiwattanaporn Oct 19, 2009

Volume One of Osamu Tezuka's Buddha is a playful imagining of the events surrounding the birth of the Buddha.
Interspersed with the questions that Buddhism seeks to answer, Buddha by Osamu Tezuka stands as a straightforward adventure tale appropriate for young teens with an interest in Eastern philosophy. Buddha establishes the conditions in ancient India that led to Buddhism prospering, while also engaging in a tale that swings from serious to silly as it traces the paths of various characters.
A Manga About Ancient India
Master Asita, an enlightened Brahmin, sends his disciple Narradatta to find a mystery person who is destined for accomplishing great things. A theme quickly emerges as Tezuka explores the injustices and constraints of the caste system. Chapra and his mother are slaves who become acquainted with Tatta, a pariah, from the lowest caste of society. Tatta however has special powers that enable him to possess animals. As an army attacks their town, this group bonds as they try to survive.
With his mother captured by the invading army, Chapra seeks to rescue her with Tatta’s help. Chapra later sees an opportunity to rescue the life of cruel General Budai who quickly adopts Chapra. Chapra’s ambition to transcend his class and become a renowned warrior comprises a significant part of the book, as his mother, Narradatta, and Tatta wander northern India in order to reunite with him.
Chapra’s caste is ultimately exposed, and his mother’s status as a slave marks her for death as well. Narradatta, failing at his own quest for enlightenment, is magically transformed into a brute by Master Asita as penance, while the magical boy Tatta is left to fend for himself. The story dwells on sacrifice, and is filled with emotional content mixed with high adventure. Its ending leaves the reader with enough curiosity to approach the next volume in the series.
The Birth of the Buddha
There are three streams in Buddha, Chapra’s growth as a warrior, his mother’s search for him, and the story of the Buddha’s birth. In the city of Kapilavastu, a young king and his wife witness various portents as they await the birth of their son, who they name Siddhartha. In this volume he remains a baby and is secondary to the main story. Tezuka does ask questions about class/caste, god worship, and the cycle of life throughout however, laying the foundation for Siddhartha’s life in further volumes.Read more: http://manga.suite101.com/article.cfm/review_buddha_volume_one_kapilavastu#ixzz0Y8J67qe9

Suggestions for Library Use:
This is a tough one,because there is male and female nudity. I feel that a great deal of children and their parents might not be able to see past this minor detail. Although, the nudity is not presented in a lude or inappropriate manor. The nudity is there because thats the way things were. Because of its length and format this book is unacceptable to be read out loud. Due to the books content I would have to get to know a patron and detremine on a user to user basis whether or not to recommend it.

Blog 11

Keith Bradford
SLIS 5420

Blog 11

Actual Size by Steve Jenkins

Plot Summary: There is not much plot to summarize. Each page has at least one picture of a part of an animal each picture is accompanied by a scant amount of information. The animals include Gorilla, Goliath Bird eater Tarantula, Shark, Giant Squid, Lemur, Brown Bear, Ostrich, Goliath Frog, Siberian Tiger, etc.

My Impression: This is a phenomenal book. I found myself looking at this book again and again. The genius of this book is in its name, actual size. How many other books, how many shows about animals do children sit through without ever grasping how real these animals are. The pictures allow the children to get up close to these animals safely and gain real perspective on size. The range and types of animals are clever from the deadly to the rarely seen to the friendly and common place.

Review:

Actual Size Steve Jenkins Did you ever wonder just how big a gorilla’s hand is or how small the tiniest fish is? Come face to face with some amazing creatures in this creative book that shows us the actual size of certain animals. Whether it is the fold-out page with a 36 inch frog stretched across or a squid eye as big as your head peering out at you, Jenkin’s collage of cut and torn paper gives a wonderful perspective of how big and small certain animals are. Brief, interesting facts and physical dimensions accompany each animal along with more descriptive information at the end of the book. Check out this book and “see how you measure up” to these wild animals.

www.plcmc.org/bookhive/books/details.asp?id=1872

Actual Size will dazzle any reader, from preschoolers all the way up to the lucky adults who get to share it with their own children. The concept is simple: pictures of parts of animals are presented in the actual size they would be in real life.In the first place, it’s amazing how lifelike Steve Jenkins made the cut-paper illustrations. I wouldn’t have dreamed that a tiger face made of cut paper could look like it was about to bite.Besides the high quality of the pictures, readers will be stunned by the information presented. It’s one thing to be told that a giant squid grows up to 59 feet long. It’s quite another thing to look a squid in the eye, an eye that is actually 12 inches across.In this book you can confront the mouth of a great white shark, compare your hand with that of a gorilla or a pygmy mouse lemur, and shudder at the jaws of a saltwater crocodile.A truly wonderful book.

www.sonderbooks.com/ChildrensNonfiction/actualsize.html

Suggestions for library use: In my opinion this book could be read out loud to any group regardless of age. After reading the book have it available for the audience to investigate and flip through. Half the fun of the book is putting your hand on the pictures just to see how small or large you are by comparison. Afterwards an art activity perhaps a hand tracing or body tracing activity.

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins

by Barbara Kerley

Illustrations by Brian Selznick

Plot Summary: Before paleontology really took off Waterhouse Hawkins tried to get the scientific community excited about dinosaurs. He threw a lavish party inside the head of his iguanadon. However, trying to get his dinosaurs created met with some opposition. After working on a project for two years Boss Tweed restructures New York's Parks organization essentially dismantling Hawkins operations. Hawkins was undeterred, he went back to his native home in Europe where he was able to create the dinosaurs he loved.

My Impression: Unlike some other books that Selznick has illustrated, in this book he actually illustrates the scenes people want to see. My personal favorite is the meal inside the iguanadon head. Another appeal of this book is that Ms. Kerley's writing creates enthusiasm for dinosaurs even though now they are common place. The story is interesting a little overly detailed in some places, but it moves pretty quickly. All and all a thoroughly entertaining read.

Reviews:

Models of the prehistoric past
REVIEW BY DEBORAH HOPKINSON
Kids have always been fascinated by dinosaurs. And here's a book that proves it. In their inventive and well-researched biography, The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins, Barbara Kerley (who is, according to the back cover, "an authoress of thrilling character") and Brian Selznick ("famous artist to Her Majesty the Queen") bring to life the work of Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, the Victorian artist who was the first person to build life-size models of dinosaurs, much to the astonishment and delight of an admiring public. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert commissioned dinosaur models from Hawkins in 1853 for their art and science museum, the Crystal Palace.
Although new discoveries have rendered many of Hawkins' dinosaur models inaccurate, that hardly matters. Young readers will be fascinated by the story of his determination to share his passion for the past and the ways he went about it. And, thanks to Selznick's amazing illustrations based on on-site research, readers can see exactly how Hawkins worked. In a single two-page spread Selznick shows the scale of one of Hawkins' projects, depicting the creative process from first sketch to finished dinosaur -- a creature made of bricks, tiles and broken stones held together by cement.
Dinosaurs is as inventive as Hawkins himself. The book's design and illustrations playfully evoke the Victorian period, including a re-creation of a dinner party (complete with menu) inside an iguanodon model that Hawkins held for the foremost scientists of his day. With elaborate historical notes and ideas for further reading, Dinosaurs is sure to bring Hawkins back from obscurity into the admiring gaze of the public, which is exactly where he belongs.
Deborah Hopkinson's latest book for children is Under the Quilt of Night (Atheneum), illustrated by James Ransome.

Hopkinson, Deborah. [Review of The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins] Retrieved from http://www.bookpage.com/0201bp/children/dinos_waterhouse_hawkins.html

Book: The Dinosaurs Of Waterhouse Hawkins: An Illuminating History Of Mr. Waterhouse Hawkins, Artist And Lecturer( Series - Caldecott Honor Book )
In the mid-1800s, almost nobody knew what a dinosaur was until Victorian artist Waterhouse Hawkins built the first life-size models of the creatures in his native England and later American. This is the true story of how he dazzled the world with his awe-inspiring creations. Full color.That was true in the mid-nineteenth century, until a Victorian artist named Waterhouse Hawkins brought these ancient animals to life for all to see. Originally in his native England, and later in New York City, he devoted more than three decades to building the first life-size models of dinosaurs, and he dazzled the world with his awe-inspiring creations.
With style, spirit, and impeccable attention to detail, Barbara Kerley unearths a story of consuming passion, triumph, loss, and courage -- and ultimately, of an extraordinary legacy that lives on today. Brian Selznick celebrates this complex and fascinating individual through luminous and soul-stirring paintings that -- apropos of his subject -- form a visual masterpiece.
From the youngest dinosaur aficionados to those interested in art, science, or pioneering people, the unforgettable story of Waterhouse Hawkins and his dinosaurs has something to teach all of us about the importance of believing in oneself and following a dream.

http://www.flipkart.com/dinosaurs-waterhouse-hawkins-barbara-kerley/0439114942-5ww3f5enpf

Suggestions for library use: A little slow at some points, but this book would be good to read aloud to any grade level up to fifth grade. This book would be an especially good read if there was a dinosaur theme. A dinosaur activity to follow would be a good idea.

BLOG 10

BLOG 10

Wing Walker by Rosemary Wells
Illustrated by Brian Selznick

Plot Summary: Set during the depression, Reuben and his family are trying to make ends meet. Unfortunately both of Reuben's parents lose their jobs shortly before Reuben is to start third grade at his Oklahoma school. One day Reuben's father sees an ad for a wing walker at a carnival in Minnesota. The family sells off everything they own so they can make the trek. Once they arrive, they find a travelling carnival awaits them. The carnival is full of eccentric characters who each have a lesson for the reticent Reuben. Reuben not only learns to except his move, his father's new job but gains the courage to join to join him as a wing walker.

My Impression: Not liking history or historical novels I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. My enjoyment of the book comes primarily from Ms. Wells's writing, not Mr. Selznick's painting. Ms. Wells writes with a clear understanding of the emotions that Reuben goes through. At a young age, when my father lost his job I be came acutely aware of the value of money. I watched as looked for a job and my mother stoically scaled everything back in the house. The fear that Reuben feels is quite potent and accurately described. However, it is not just the fear of not having money that causes Reuben's fear, but he is also uncertain of himself. As good as the writing is the illustrations simply did not match the writings quality. Mr. Selznick's pictures are fine, its just that the scenes he chose to illustrate are anticlimactic. I would have liked to have seen more of the carnival people. With all of the interesting things that did happen in the book choosing boarded up windows and city skylines seems cheap.

Review:
Living on a wing and a prayer
Review by Ron Kaplan
Rosemary Wells is famous for the comforting, cuddly characters Max and Ruby, two young rabbits who get in and out of all sorts of trouble. In Wingwalker, she covers more serious territory, telling a tale in which faith and an open mind weave magic, and things heretofore unimaginable are, in fact, possible.Reuben is a second-grader in Ambler, Oklahoma, in the less-frantic era of the 1920s. At a county fair, he wins a ride in a bi-plane every young boy's dream. But the experience is so terrifying, the youngster vows never to ride in a plane again.The air holds woe as well as wonder when the dust storms of the Depression rush through Reuben's hometown. Suddenly his father, a dance instructor, and mother, a cafŽ cook, are thrown out of work and, together with millions of other Americans, are forced adjust to their new circumstances. How the family manages through the tough times makes for an inspirational tale of friendship and courage. Reuben's father scours the want ads daily. When he can't find work close to home, he decides to expand the family's horizons and look elsewhere. An unusual advertisement beckons them to Minnesota, where the job of "wingwalker" with a traveling carnival awaits. Reuben and his mother both have doubts about dad's career choice, but they hope for the best as they sell off their possessions and load up the car. Part of the book's magic (not just in a figurative sense) comes from the carnival's characters: the fat man, the tattooed lady, the fire-eater and the human snake. All have lessons to teach Reuben as he struggles to overcome his worries and turn them around so that he, too, can join his father as a "wingwalker." Wells' easygoing, honest storytelling makes Wingwalker the type of book kids and their parents will enjoy reading together. Brian Selznick's illustrations are full of brown and golden hues, which remind one of the sepia tones of old family photographs. And Wingwalker warmly addresses a basic child's fantasy soaring high through the air, free as a bird. Ron Kaplan writes from Montclair, New Jersey.

Kaplan, Ron. [book review of Wingwalker ] retrieved from http://www.bookpage.com/books-9845-Wingwalker

Book Review
Wingwalker by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Brian Selznick (Hyperion, 2002)
Ages 7 - 12
Wingwalker is a lovely piece of children's historical fiction set in the dust bowl drought of the 1930s. The story is told from the perspective of seven-year-old Reuben, who watches his families economic fortunes sink as the drought worsens. His family travels far from their home in Oklahoma when his father takes a job as a wingwalker in a traveling carnival.
The artwork is lovely, the scenes compelling, and the language rich and evocative.

http://www.biglearning.com/book-review-wingwalker.htm

Suggestions for Library Use: Although this book is primarily told through the eyes of Reuben, I would suggest reading this book to a group of first or second graders around father's day. this book really captures esteem children hold their parents. After the story the children could be asked to create a letter or card for their fathers.

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
by Gary D. Schmidt

Plot Summary: The story takes place in maine. Turner Buckminster III is new to Maine, after his father was called to be pastor of the Maine town. Turner is not happy and would rather have stayed in Boston. His first day in his new town Turner participates in a baseball game. this excites Turner because baseball is Turner's game. However, Willis Hurd, the deacon's son strikes him out in front of the whole town humiliating Turner. The next day while walking through town Turner throws a rock which hits Ms. Cobb's fence. Hitting her fence brings Ms. Cobb out of her house, who proceeds to chew Turner out. Because his behavior is a reflection on his father, his punishment for hitting the fence is that he has to go read to Ms. Cobb every day. On one of his free days he goes to the coast where he sees his first African American person, Lizzie Bright. Lizzie and Turner become friends. Lizzie helps Turner with his baseball game. Lizzie and her family lives on this island. The towns people want Lizzie and her family to move off the island so that a developer can develop the land. Obviously the towns people do not want Turner to be friends with Lizzie. Through a series of events Ms. Cobb leaves her house to Turner. Turner wants to give the house to Lizzie whose grandfather has taken ill. Turner's dad does not want him to, but Turner cajoles him otherwise. Eventually Lizzie and the rest of the African Americans are placed in an insane asylum. After Turner's father dies, Turner tries to get Lizzie out of they asylum, only to find out she has died. The developer leaves town making the town's people even more destitute. Turner and his mother move into Ms. Cobb's house and start a boarding house.

My Impression: This is a terrible book. The plot of this novel has more twists and turns and is more ham-fisted than any soap opera ever vomited onto the small screen. The only thing missing is a violin to tell you exactly when to cry. I get it we are supposed to treat everyone equally, racism is bad. Does everyone have to die and a town be brought to the brink of ruin for people to have to learn this lesson? There has to be subtler way for this message to be gotten across.

Reviews:
Taking a stand
REVIEW BY DEAN SCHNEIDER
Turner Buckminster has moved with his family from Boston to Phippsburg, Maine, where his father will be the new minister. Unfortunately for Turner, his first days start off poorly and go downhill from there. A star fast-pitch softball player, he's a washout here, where slow-pitch is the game. When he goes swimming, he's scared to jump into the ocean from the granite outcropping as the other kids do. And then he's accused of walking down the middle of the road half-naked, something not done in a God-fearing town such as Phippsburg.
Thirteen-year-old Lizzie Bright is aptly named, as she is the bright spot in Turner's early days in Maine. An African-American girl living on Malaga Island, a poor community founded by former slaves and just a short dory ride from Phippsburg, Lizzie meets Turner on the beach. Although Turner already feels like a misfit in his new community and wishes he could light out for the Territories like Huckleberry Finn, Lizzie loves her world on the island and wholeheartedly embraces it.
But the frock-coated, good God-fearing men of Phippsburg do not love Malaga Island. Their shipbuilding trade is dying out, and they want to remove the residents of the island and remake their community into a tourist haven. Racism and greed are a powerful and deadly combination, and Turner can do little to stop the adults from destroying Malaga Island.
Since the story is based on a true incident of an island's destruction in 1912, there will not be a happy ending here, but this is Turner Buckminster's tale as much as Malaga Island's, and in Turner we see a coming of age. He comes to realize that there are different ways to rebel, to stand your ground and seek a new world.
Though the story is tragic, Schmidt writes beautifully, with images of nature and scenes of humor that leaven the sadness of the tale. This is a great story that readers will long remember.

Scneider, Dean. [Review of the book Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy ] retrieved from http://www.bookpage.com/0408bp/children/lizzie_bright.html


Book Review: Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
By Matt Berman
What Parents Should Know Based on true events, which readers may want to research, this tragic novels offers much for discussion: in addition to its depiction of New England racism, there are relationships of many kinds to explore, moral growth and change in several characters, majority vs. minority rights, and unintended consequences of one's actions. Its lyrical and metaphorical writing are terrific examples for writing classes.
Common Sense Media Review Based on the true story of the destruction of the Malaga island community (described in an Author's Note), this complex and powerful novel deserves its Newbery Honor. Its richness of language and metaphorical meaning, and its three-dimensional and evolving characters are well summed up in a line from the end of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species which the author quotes near the end of the book: "From so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved."
The beautiful and wonderful forms that evolve here are the characters and their relationships and viewpoints, all complex, and all undergoing change. There's Turner, of course, struggling to live up to his father's teachings even when his father doesn't; Mrs. Cobb, a crusty old racist who learns to love a black girl and an ill-mannered boy; Willis, who seems to be a bully but has an ironclad sense of what's right; his father, Deacon Hurd, whose pride goeth before a fall; and many others, a Dickensian wealth of real characters. And evolution is not just individual -- the relationships and understandings between the characters change, and change again. This lovely, heartbreaking, and very real story doesn't always go where you think it will, but in the end it goes to a movingly spiritual place.
From the Book: And so Turner reached the whale's eye, and they looked at each other. They looked at each other a long time -- two souls rolling on the sea under the silvery moon, peering into each other's eyes. Turner wished with a desire greater than anything he had ever desired that he might understand what it was in the eye of the whale that shivered his soul.
He stretched his hand out across the side of the dory and reached over as far as he could without tipping the boat. But the whale kept a space of dark water between them, and they did not touch. Then slowly the whale sank, the water closing quietly along its black and white back.

Berman, Matt. [Book review of Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy] retrieved from http://family.go.com/entertainment/article-csm-117814-book-review--lizzie-bright-and-the-buckminster-boy-t/

Suggestions for Library Use: Don't use this book. Firewood perhaps. This book could possibly be used during black history month or to teach right from wrong. However this book should only be a last resort. Roll of Thunder Here My Cry would be a better book for what is essentially the same moral.