John Henry

Lester, Julius.  1994.  John Henry.  ill Jerry Pinkney.  New York: Penguin Books.  ISBN 083716060.

Summary
Julius Lester retells the tale of John Henry in this colorful book.  When John Henry was born, all the animals, the sun and the moon were very fascinated by this baby.  When mom and dad came to show them, they all oohed and ahhed.  He grew so fast that the sun stayed up late.  After the next day, John Henry took off into the world with sledge hammers from his father to make his way.  He helps work on a tunnel through the mountain.  His hammers ring out along with his voice and create a rainbow that wraps itself around his shoulders.

Analysis
This is a good book to demonstrate to children of all cultures that the spirit with which you live life is important.  "Dying ain't important...What matter is how well you do your living."  The writing is rhythmic and would make a good read-aloud.  The illustrations are water-colored, detailed, and go well with the story.

The illustrations demonstrate many cultural markers.  First, the skin tones of the characters in the story do accurately portray African American skin tones.  The hair color and texture, especially in the picture where the parents are showing the baby to the animals, are evident cultural markers.

The writing demonstrates cultural markers as well.  Using words such as "ain't" and "gon" [going] in the song John Henry sings while he's hammering away at the boulder or mountain.

One things that bothered me a little about the book was that the owner/operator of the steam machine was white and the workers were all black.  Is this just to symbolize the time in which this tale was supposed to take place?  I hope so!

Review Excerpts
* A Caldecott Honor Book
* Winner of the Society of Illustrators' Gold Medal
* An ALA Notable Book
* An NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
* Winner of the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award
* The Horn Book Fanfare List
* A Parents Magazine Best Children's Book of the Year
* A BCCB Blue Ribbon Book
* Winner of the Aesop Prize

Another winning collaboration from the master storyteller and gifted artist of Tales of Uncle Remus (Dial, 1987) fame. -School Library Journal

"A tall tale and heroic myth, a celebration of the human spirit....The story is told with rhythm and wit, humor and exaggeration, and with a heart-catching immediacy that connects the human and the natural world." --Booklist, starred review


Connections
More tall tales to check out from the library.
Kellogg, Steven.  Pecos Bill.  ISBN 9780688099244 .
Kellogg, Steven.  Paul Bunyan.  ISBN 9780688058005.
Isaacs, Anne.  Swamp Angel.  ISBN 9780140559088.
Lindberg, Reeve.  Johnny Appleseed.  ISBN 9780316526340.

For adults, here's Julius Lester's blog.  Here, in addition to his thought, you can find links to photos, his webpage, etc.
http://acommonplacejbl.blogspot.com/

Mirandy and Brother Wind

McKissack, Patricia C. 1988.  Mirandy and Brother Wind. ill. Jerry Pinkney.  New York: Dragonfly Books.  ISBN 0758731434.

Summary
Mirandy is going to the cake walk and wants to take Brother Wind as her partner.  First she has to catch him!  She wants to badly to win the cakewalk.  While she goes about asking others how to catch him, she keeps running into the clumsy young boy named Ezel.  There's no better partner than Brother Wind, is there?

Analysis
Mirandy's quest for Brother Wind holds many cultural markers relevant to the African-American population.  One of the main ones, is the story of the cakewalk, which was first introduced in the Americas by slaves.  Couples dance around incorporating complicated movements and are judged.  The winners take home an elaborately decorated cake. 

Another cultural aspect that plays an important part in Mirandy's story is language.  Written in Black dialect, McKissack incorporates vernacular that makes the story more authentic to that time.  One example is "I'm gon' dance with the Wind!" Another example would be Grandmama Beasley saying "Can't nobody put shackles on Brother Wind, chile.  He be special.  He be free."

The illustrations also offer cultural markers that enhance the story.  For example, Mirandy's hair is styled as many African-American girls' hair.  The faces and skin-tones of the characters, including Brother Wind, have African-American features.

Review Excerpts
Caldecott Honor Book
Coretta Scott King Award
ALA Notable Book
Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies

McKissack has created in Mirandy a character full of vigor, humor, and imagination.  An entertaining, unusual story.  -Kirkus (pointer review)

An endearing glimpse into America's entertaining past. - Horn Book

Mirandy sparkles with energy and determination.  A treat to pass on to new generations.  -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Connections
Check out these other stories with roots in African-American culture...
Stevens, Janet.  Tops and Bottoms. ISBN 9780152928513.
Seeger, Pete.  Abiyoyo.  ISBN 9780689718106.
McDermott, Gerald.  Anansi the Spider.  ISBN 9780805003116.

A Sweet Smell of Roses

Johnson, Angela. 2005.  A Sweet Smell of Roses. ill. Eric Velasquez.  New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689832524.

Summary
Two young girls, sisters, sneak out of their house.  They run through their neighborhood to meet with the many people who listen to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak and "march for equality and freedom."  They hear shouts of negative words and the positive words of Dr. King, all while smelling the sweet smell of roses.

Analysis
This book takes a difficult concept, the fight for freedom, and puts it into words children can understand without talking down.  The illustrations that accompany this book are charcoal and life-like and truly seem to evoke the emotions people are feeling.  The look on the faces of both the marchers and the "hecklers" seem to reveal every emotion they are feeling: from angst, anger, and disappointment to contentment, peace, and freedom.  Within the illustrations, the only color is a little bit of red on every two-page spread: the teddy bear's ribbon, the stripes on the flag, or the roses.

This book touched me to the core.  It spoke of the civil rights movement and the unknown people who marched, boycotted, and worked for the freedom the constitution granted them.  We all know the names of Rosa Parks, Dr. King, Malcolm X, etc.  However, countless individuals, including children, strove for freedom alongside them.

The skin tones, facial features, and hairstyles (especially the children's) are accurate portrayals of the African-American populations.  The adults featured in the illustrations are wearing the styles typical of the time.  The portrayal of the white family shouting at the marchers is also accurately portrayed, both in their words and features.

This book is, by far, my favorite from this module.  It brings me to tears every time I open it.  I keep staring at the faces that marched (including the man who appears to have white features) and reading the emotions on their faces.  It's touching.  I loved this book.

Review Excerpts
"The pervasive smell of roses is an effective metaphor for the scent of freedom in the air, and Johnson's poetic text is powerful." -- Horn Book

"This book is not only about segregation; it's also about the crowds of people 'walking our way toward freedom,' the thrilling portrait of Dr. King, and the two brave kids who cross the line." -- Booklist

"Powerful and moving." -- Kirkus Reviews

Connections
Look for the other picture books about the civil rights movement.
Wiles, Deborah.  Freedom Summer. ISBN 9780689830167.
Woodson, Jacqueline.  The Other Side. ISBN 9780399231162.
Coleman, Evelyn.  White Socks Only.  ISBN 9780807589564.
Weatherford, Carole Boston.  Freedom on the Menu.  ISBN 9780142408940.

Koala Lou

Fox, Mem. 1988. Koala Lou. ill. Pamela Lofts. Singapore: Harcourt.  ISBN: 0152005021

Summary
Koala Lou, the first-born of her family, has heard her mother tell her "Koala Lou, I DO love you," since she was born.  However, as the family has grown and her mother become more and more busy, Koala Lou doesn't hear it anymore.  In order to impress her mother and hear her favorite line again, Koala Lou hatches a scheme to win the upcoming Bush Olympics.

Critical Analysis
This story is a fun, sweet read that will have children in any country hugging their mommies.  It is a simply written story with a nice plot.  The illustrations are done in colored pencils and show native Australian animals in expressive poses that make the story come alive. 

The animals and setting do a good job of reminding the reading the creatures are Australian.  The Bush Olympics, gum trees, emus, kookaburras, etc. all help familiarize children with the animals.

Reviews
School Library Journal: "Koala Lou is appealing and truly believable...Fox brings out the best in her characters, and also conveys an important message about competition."

Kirkus Reviews: "This satisfying reworking of a familiar and ever-important theme is appealingly illustrated - bring colors , soft-edged sculptural forms, precise detail, dozens of expressive animals.  Another winning import from tone of Australia's favorite authors."

The Horn Book Magazine: "A first-rate choice for bedtime, story hour, or reading aloud."

Publisher's Weekly: "A perfect example of why the Australian writer has become one of today's top authors of children's books.

Connections
Check out Mem Fox's web page.  There are lots of cool things to do here...including here her read a book outloud! http://www.memfox.com/welcome.html

Learn more about Australian animals!
Bancroft, Bronwyn. An Australian abc of animals. ISBN 978-1-877003-97-4
Mason Crest Publishers. Australian rainforest animals. ISBN 978-1-59084-213-3

Wexo, John Bonnett.  Koalas and other Australian animals. ISBN 978-1-888153-56-9

Pull of the Ocean

Mourlevat, Jean-Claude. 2006.  The Pull of the Ocean. New York: Random House. ISBN 0385733488.

Summary
After overhearing his father say he was going to kill all seven of them, Yann Doutreleau wakes his six older brothers and tells them they must flee to the ocean.  On this stormy night, Yann, tiny and silent, leads his brothers out of their house on a journey West.  The brothers, all twins except for Yann, are helped along the way by a truck driver and baker amongst others.  It is a captivating tale of brotherhood and a quest for something more.

Critical Analysis
The novel itself is written from many different perspectives: the Doutrleau brothers and parents, the people who interact with the boys, and eventually Yann.  All the names of the people (both first and last) are authentically French and provide a better context for the story.  The story itself, could have taken place in any run-down rural area of the U.S. or Europe.  By leaving the names, like Yann, Pierre, and Rémy, the reader understands that this is does not take place in the States.

There were two other things that stood out to me.  First, in English, we say "Mom went outside."  However, in Romance languages (such as French) they literally say "The mom went outside."  An article is used with that type of noun.  The translation is rather literal in that sense.  It uses the article in front of mom and dad.  Another small difference is that the baker in the story actually bakes bread.  This wasn't something the boys could go to the grocery store and buy sliced up like we do here.

Review Excerpts
The Batchelder Award
Prix Socixieres (France)
A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
An ALA Notable Book
A Bank Street College of Education Best Book

School Library Journal, Starred review, January 1, 2007: "A well-crafted mystery awaits anyone reading this fabled jigsaw puzzle . . . a memorable novel that readers will find engaging and intellectually satisfying."

Publishers Weekly, Starred review, January 1, 2007: "Mourlevat enchantingly blends the harshly read and the make-believe ... [in this] effectively haunting, fluidly translated tale."

Connections
Look for books with similar teen stories:
Garinger, Alan K. Alone : the journey of the boy Sims.  ISBN: 978-0-87195-2660
Choyce, Lesley.  Last chance.  ISBN: 978-1-55277-445-8

Ghosthunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost!

Funky, Cornelia. 2006. Ghosthunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost! New York: Scholastic.  ISBN 0439849586.

Summary
Tom is afraid to go down to their cellar.  Why?  The green slime and chilly fingers that he encounters on a trip for more orange juice gave him such a fright he no longer wants to go down there.  No one in his family believes his tale...except for his grandmother and her best friend, Hetty Hessop.  In order to rid his cellar of this Averagely Spooky Ghost (or ASG), Tom will need Hetty's help to remove the Incredibly Revolting Ghost haunting the ASG.

Critical Analysis
While this book was originally written in Germany, it seems to transcend cultural boundaries very well.  Kids across the world can relate to being scared of something or believing that certain rooms in their house are haunted.  Aside from a few names that are not common in the States (such as Hetty and Igor), there was very little in terms of cultural markers in this book.  The only thing that might be significant is that the ghost made different sounds and did different things (such as leaving a trail of slime) that differ slightly from the American perception of ghosts.

This book does not provide much insight into cultural differences.  However, as a book, it's an enjoyable, slightly scary, triumphing tale that kids can relate to.

Review Excerpts
Publishers Weekly

The story is not really funny enough to appeal to kids who want humor, and not scary enough to raise goosebumps; the text tends to rely on exclamation points to inject excitement. Funke's half-tone illustrations add appeal for readers just getting the hang of chapter books but, overall, this is a somewhat pedestrian offering from the talented creator of Inkheart and The Thief Lord.
Children's Literature
As in all her work, Funke creates a believable magical world and engaging characters. Her illustrations are just as fun to look at as her work is to read.

School Library Journal
In spite of the IRG's penchant for removing his head at key moments, children won't be unduly frightened by this tale.

Connections
Look for other Ghosthunter books...they're a series!
Cornelia Funke also wrote the Inkheart books.
Fans can also check out Cornelia Funke's website: http://www.corneliafunke.de/en.html

New class...new posts

From this point on and until further notice, the focus of this blog will be multicultural literature. You should still dive in and take a big bite.