The Year of the Rat

Lin, Grace. 2008. The Year of the Rat. New York: Little Brown and Co. ISBN 9780316114264.

Summary
The Year of the Rat is the beginning of the Chinese calendar and is known for bringing changes.  Last year, in the Year of the Dog, Pacy met her best friend and found her true talent.  This year, however, Pacy must face the fact that her life is changing.  Melody is moving across the country!  What is she to do? 

Analysis
First, the illustrations included cultural markers by showing many different things. For example, Pacy's family is well-represented.  In addition to people, Taiwanese foods, such as steamed buns, moon cakes, and long-life noodles are featured throughout the book. Lin even includes illustrations about clothing typical in a Taiwanese family like tiger shoes and the dress she had to wear that had dragons on it.  A picture of the Kitchen God is also included.

Within the text, the reader can see many cultural markers as well.  For example, Lin often includes other family members' stories within the text that tell of Chinese/Taiwanese markers.  The story of how the years came to be names was incredibly interesting.  In addition to traditional stories, Lin includes stories of inclusion and exclusion that her parents felt coming to America.

Finally, while these may not necessarily be cultural markers, Lin shares prejudice that Pacy encounters.  One example of this is Pacy's friends assuming that Pacy would have to marry Dun-Wei because he's the only other Asian in the school.  Also, so many students call Dun-Wei "Dumb-Way."  Pacy's friends even suggest that she do karate for the talent show.  She's never studied karate!  They just assume.

This is a great read for students of all ages.  Not only is this a good story, it shows perseverance, love, courage, and how to stand up for yourself, your beliefs, and what you're good at. 


Review Excerpts
School Library Journal- This heartwarming sequel will leave readers hoping for more about this engaging heroine and her family.

Kirkus Review - Readers of this gentle, appealing sequel will appreciate the way the engaging protagonist discovers she can survive the changes a new year brings.

Booklist - An endearing story that will touch readers.
Connections
Read more fiction about Chinese/Taiwanese Americans:
Chen, Pauline. Peiling and the chicken-fried Christmas. 978-1-59990-122-0

Lin, Grace. The Year of the Dog. 978-0-316-06002-8

Hoobler, Dorothy. The Chinese American family album. 978-0-19-512421-7

Tea with Milk

Say, Allen. 1999. Tea with Milk. ill. Allen Say. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395904951.

Summary
Leaving the only home you ever knew to move to the country your parents came from would be hard for anyone.  The same stands true for May, or Masako as she's called in Japan.  She misses so much from her home: fried chicken, spaghetti, college, San Francisco, and even taking her tea with milk and sugar.  She now has to go back to high school, learn calligraphy and flower arranging, and even be introduced to men through a matchmaker.  Through an act of rebellion, May learns that home can be wherever you make it and that love can cross many borders.

Analysis
This is a beautiful book full of many cultural markers.  First, the language is important in this book.  For example, many times May is called "gaijin" which means foreigner. In addition, Say discusses how May wears a kimono.  She is also taught how to perform the tea ceremony and has to work with a matchmaker to find her a husband.  The book also speaks how May's mother felt it was disgraceful for her to work.

In addition to the language, the illustrations about with cultural markers.  For example, in many she is wearing a kimono.  In the pictures, the reader can see the hair texture and styles, face shapes, and oftentimes, Japanese writing in the background.

Finally, this book talks about being out of place.  I think that, regardless of culture, if you are forced to move from your natal home, you feel like a fish out of water.  Any reader from any culture can identify with that feeling and the feeling of wanting what you used to have.

Review Excerpts
School Library Journal - This is a thoughtful and poignant book that will appeal to a wide range of readers, particularly our nation's many immigrants who grapple with some of the same challenges as May and Joseph, including feeling at home in a place that is not their own.

Library Journal - This perfect marriage of artwork and text offers readers a window into a different place and time.

Kirkus Reviews - In describing how his parents met, Say continues to explore the ways that differing cultures can harmonize; A stately cousin to Ina R. Friedman's How My Parents Learned To Eat (1984), also illustrated by Say.

Connections
More books by Allen Say about Japanese cultures:
Emma's Rug
Grandfather's Journey
Erika-San
Kamishibai Man
Tree of Cranes
The Bicycle Man
Home of the Brave
The Lost Lake
Allison
And more...

Bee-Bip Bop

Park, Linda Sue. 2005.  Bee-bim Bop! ill Ho-Baek Lee. New York: Clarion Books.  ISBN 0618265112.

Summary
"Hungry, hungry, hungry for some Bee-bim Bop!" is a phrase repeated often in this tale.  It's a story about the process of making this traditional Korean dish.  A little girl goes to the store with her mom then helps her prepare the ingredients.  She watches as her mom fries the eggs, cooks the rice, and prepares the meats and vegetables.  Then, finally, she gets to mix it up and eat it.

Analysis
This delightful picture book is fun book for all ages.  It's colorful illustrations, step-by-step process, and rhyming verses is a great way to teach children about this traditional Korean dish.  Park's book is a fun read-aloud and would open doors to conversations about traditional foods in the children's own kitchens.  Kids can relate to wanting to help and watching their parents cook their favorite foods.

The illustrations by Ho Baek Lee offer the cultural markers in this picture book.  First, the hair styles and textures of the characters, in addition to the skin tones and eye shapes, represent the Korean culture very well.  None of these seem stereotypical.  For example, the eyes are round, not slits.

Next, when preparing foods, the mother uses chopsticks, a whisk, a spoon, and a rice paddle.  These are all things that can be found in most homes, but especially a Korean-American one.  When the daughter sets the table, she puts both spoons and chopsticks on the table.

Finally, the grandmother lives with this family.  This is not often seen in American households.  However, it is traditionally held in many cultures that the elders live with their children and their families.  The grandmother is wearing traditional Korean dress.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal - A fine addition to any collection, this book is a terrific way to introduce Korean culture to young children.

Booklist - Lee's watercolors extend the flurry of activity, humor, and delight in uncluttered spreads, many from a child's-eye view.  Step-by-step descriptions will intrigue children who love learning about the process of putting a meal together.  A recipe for Bee-bim Bop, with instructions for "you" and a "grown up" closes this cheerful offering, which will partner nicely with the books in the adjacent read-alikes, "Kids in the Kitchen."

Connections
More stories about Korea and its culture:
So-Un, Kim. Korean Children's Favorite Stories.  ISBN 0804835918 .
Heo, Yumi. The Green Frogs: A Korean Folktale. ISBN 0618432280.
Cheung, Heychong. K is for Korea (World Alphabets). ISBN 184507789X.
Patz, Nancy. Babies Can't Eat Kimchee. ISBN 1599900173.
Tae-Jun, Lee.  Waiting for Mama (English and Korean Edition). ISBN 0735821437.
Recorvits, Helen. My Name is Yoon. ISBN 0374351147.

The Magic Spider Woman

Duncan, Lois.  1996.  The Magic Spider Woman. ill. Shonto Begay. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0590461567.

Summary
In every culture, disobeying a deity is a bad idea.  The Wandering Girl, after bringing her sheep back from grazing on the mountain, has returned to find her people living in 'hogans' and she had no home.  The Spider Woman teaches the Wandering Girl how to weave in order to stay warm.  Renamed Weaving Woman, she wonders how can she weave in the cold winter?  Man Who is Happy invites Weaving Woman to marry him and live in his hogan and weave all winter long.

The Weaving Woman was warned by the Spider Woman not to weave for too long, as the Navajo People try to live their lives in balance and respect the Middle Way.  After the idea comes to her to weave a picture for the Spirit Being, she becomes enthralled in her work and ends up disobeying the Spider Woman. 

Analysis
This book is a long picture book.  I feel that this book is best for children 4th grade and up to read.  I think the concepts would be lost on a younger audience.  It begins with a drawn-out history that I don't find overly necessary.  Perhaps in the context of oral story-telling it would come across better?  The illustrations, however, are beautiful and do seem to depict the story Duncan is re-telling.

The illustrations show beautiful Native American skin tones and the landscape in which they lived.  In addition, the reader can see the clothing, shoes, hair styles, and accessories the Navajo people wore.  The 'hogan' is also depicted in the illustrations and shows the type of dwelling used in that area by the Navajo.

The narration discussed many cultural markers.  First, is the language.  Duncan uses names indigenous to the population such as Wandering Woman, Fourth World, Spirit Being, and more.  In addition, the narration shows the changing of names when new crafts or events are introduced to their lives.  Native words are also used throughout the book including Dineh and hogan.

In addition to the language depictions, Duncan also introduces other traditions such as the Hand Trembler and Shaman and how they ground cornmeal and chanted in order to heal the Weaving Woman.  And finally, in the end, the book discusses the moral of not doubting the wisdom of the creators.

Review Excerpts
School Library Journal - Begay's dramatic shifts of perspective, his innate sensitivity to the land and people depicted, and the text's powerful message about pride's deadly effects combine in an appealing and meaningful way.
Booklist -
Although the message may have more resonance for adults than for kids, the tale appears here in a colorful, picture book edition that should hold the interest of primary-grade children.

Kirkus Reviews - After a start too dense with background, irregularities further spoil this tale: Spirit Being, who fills ``the earth, the sky, and the mountaintops,'' teaches all the people his ways, but somehow skips Wandering Girl; enthusiasm and artistic passion somehow become pridefulness; there may be a connection between perfection and entrapment, but children are unlikely to comprehend it. Begay's vibrant paintings are replete with the dreaminess that cradles the story, far outstripping it in their beauty.
Connections
Try reading some of these other Navajo tales:
Thompson, Hildegard. Navajo Coyote Tales.  ISBN 0941270521 .
Oughton, Jerrie. How the Stars Fell into the Sky: A Navajo Legend.  ISBN 0395779383 .
Oughton, Jerrie.  The Magic Weaver of Rugs: A Tale of the Navajo.  ISBN 0395661404.
Keams, Geri. The Snail Girl Brings Water: A Navajo Story.  ISBN 0873587731 .

The Great Ball Game: A Muskogee Story

Bruchac, Joseph. 1994. The Great Ball Game: A Muskogee Story. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0803715390.

Summary
Joseph Bruchac writes a compelling tale about why birds migrate south for the winter.  Just as American Indians did, the animals and the birds played a game with the right to name punishment for the loser as the prize for winning.  Animals are the ones with teeth and the birds are the ones with wings.  But, what about Bat?  He has both wings and teeth!

Analysis
The story itself is an interesting one that will captivate the imagination of children of all ages.  It is short and uses simple language that will not hinder understanding.  In addition, the illustrations are very interesting to look at.  They are collages on colorful backgrounds that really bring the images to life.  At the beginning of the book, Bruchac explains the reasoning behind ball games and how many tribes would play a game instead of going to war.

In terms of cultural makers, Bruchac includes many.  The first is the basic story in the beginning of the book behind the meaning of the game.  He portrays the ball game as a lacrosse-like sport that originated among the Native Americans.  One of the second markers is how the animals are portrayed.  They are portrayed as proper nouns as opposed the common noun.  For example, Bear is an animal represented in the story and is always called "Bear" not "the bear."

Finally, the story itself is a cultural marker.  Just as myths explain the natural phenomena that people couldn't explain, yet, this story explains the reasoning behind bird migration.  In addition, the story was originally passed down orally as Bruchac tells us in the foreword.

This is a fun read.  It lends itself to being read aloud and the pictures will entice anyone to read this book.
Review Excerpts
Booklist - Short and well told, this appealing pourquoi tale lends itself to reading aloud.

Kirkus Reviews - As an explanation for migration, this story has it all over the stellar-geo-electro-magnetic theory currently in vogue. Roth's distinctive collages have a Red Grooms busyness ranging from bright and appealing to appropriately subtle, rendered from elegant handmade papers gathered in Tibet, Italy, Japan, and Thailand. There is one problem, though. Many bats don't stay home and rest. They migrate, too. Oops.

School Library Journal - This porquoi tale is told in clean, spare sentences with the emphasis on action and character...Unfortunately, the cut-and-torn paper illustrations are too crudely done to convey character or provide details that would have enriched the book. The helter-skelter compositions distract readers from what is otherwise an entertaining tale.

Connections
Learn more about Native American games with these books:
Miller, Jay. American Indian Games: A True Book. ISBN 9780516260921.
Bruchac, Joseph. Native American Games and Stories.  ISBN 9781555919795.

You should also check out Joseph Bruchac's website: http://www.josephbruchac.com/.
You can hear him read different poems.

Jingle Dancer

Leitich Smith, Cynthia. 2000. Jingle Dancer. ill. Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu. New York: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688162428.

Summary
Jenna needs four rows of jingles in order to be able to dance at the powwow.  She longs to dance the jingle dance just like her grandmother.  This is a wonderful tradition the women in her family have shared for generations.

Analysis
First, this book is a fun read-aloud for children of many ages.  Children often want to hear about how traditions are passed down through the generations and how the characters come about learning the tradition itself.  In addition, this book shows that the ties of family are important regardless of culture.  This pictures are colorful and detailed and show the different jingle dancers' costumes.  Carol Leitich Smith also includes a glossary and a note in the back of the book describing the trip and the words that they use.

The Jingle Dancer also offers many cultural markers significant to the Native American culture.  First, the pictures themselves demonstrate many cultural aspects of this Native American tribe.  You can see the skin colors, faces, and hair styles.  In addition, the costumes portrayed in the illustrations are fantastic.  They show the "jingles," feathers, scarves, and more.  The illustrations also show that this tribe does not just walk around in these costumes.  Their daily clothing is very typical of the ages portrayed in the book.  Readers can see jeans and t-shirts, jackets, and suits.  It also shows that just because they are Native American, does not mean they all live in tepees.  The illustrations show a traditional suburban neighborhood and talks about Mrs. Scott's new duplex with a dishwasher.

Carol Leitich Smith also makes a point to talk about the food that this tribe.  Fry bread and Indian tacos are mentioned.  In addition to food, the language in the book demonstrates cultural markers.  For example, "As Moon kissed Sun..." Smith uses Moon and Sun as proper nouns, not just objects as in "the sun" or "the moon."  The book also refers to the Muscogee Creek story about Bat and the ball game and refers to the dress's jingling as "its voice."

Review Excerpts
Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies 2001

"The colorful, well-executed watercolor illustrations lend warmth to the story." -- -- Booklist

"... a welcome addition to stories about traditions passed down by woman of a culture." -- --School Library Journal

"Their easy integration of Native and standard furnishings and clothing gracefully complement Smith's heartening portrait..." -- --Publishers Weekly

Connections
To get the full story of the ball game that Jenna's grandmother talks about, read The Great Ball Game: A Muskogee Story by Joesph Bruchac.  ISBN 0803715390.

For more books about American Indian Dancing:
Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk. Dancing Teepees: Poems of American Indian Youth. ISBN 0823408795

Belting, Natalia. Whirlwind Is a Spirit Dancing: Poems Based on Traditional American Indian Songs and Stories. ISBN 1596871733.

Just in Case

Morales, Yuyi.  2008. Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book.  New York: Roaring Book Press. ISBN 9781596433298.

Summary
Doesn't everyone struggle with getting someone special the perfect gift? Señor Calaveras is no exception just because he’s a well-dressed skeleton. Zelmiro the ghost reminds him on his way to the party that he should bring Grandma Beetle something she would love the most. Señor Calaveras goes through the whole Spanish alphabet looking for the best gift. When disaster strikes, Señor Calaveras must think quickly to find a fix.

Analysis
As a book in general, this is a fun, well-written, and beautifully illustrated work that will engage both children and adults.  It's a great way to talk about Mexican culture with children as well.  For example, skeletons are not seen as scary in Mexican culture like they are in the U.S.  They are often portrayed as mocking life in a playful manner.

In terms of cultural markers, this book is a treasure.  It shows the Mexican culture, people, traditions, words, and even food.  The culture is shown through the skeleton and its playful nature.  In addition, the grandfather is brought back to his loved ones at the end.  This is traditionally seen around Day of the Dead which, while not at the time of the book, is not uncommon in this culture.  Another cultural event is the quiceañera which is shown under the 'q'.  In addition, at Grandma Beetle's party there is a piñata that is a traditional activity at events.

The people in the book (minus the skeleton!) are shown with a wonderful mix of Mexican skin and hair tones ranging from dark to lighter tones.  In addition to the people, the items that Señor Calaveras collects represent many items that are Mexican in nature.  For example, the lotería tickets, the 'kilo', and the traditional 'ombligo' bread.  And, we can't forget the alphabet itself!  There are 3 additional letters in the Spanish alphabet (the ch, ll, ñ) and they were represented well.  All of the Spanish words are clearly represented through both a translation and a picture.

This is such a fun book for all cultures to read!

Review Excerpts
Pura Belpré illustration winner 2009
Pura Belpré narration honor book 2009
2009 ALA Notable
2008 Kirkus best books of the year
 
School Library Journal - Part ghost story and part alphabet book, this trickster tale transcends both. Librarians will want to share it for the beautiful language, the spirited artwork, and the rightness of the ending.

Booklist - When disaster strikes and all the presents fly from Calavera’s bike basket, there is nonetheless a happy ending that brings both story and alphabet to a rollicking conclusion. This companion to Morales’ award-winning Just a Minute (2003) will be a hit for storytime.

Reforma - A perfect read aloud picture book for a birthday party celebration, grandmother’s day, el dia de los muertos or any time of the year. Highly recommended.

Connections
You have to check out Yuyi's site:  http://www.yuyimorales.com/2.htm.

Here, you can find SO many things!  Just click on the pictures of the books.  You can find:

• teacher plans
• more information on things she's written about (i.e. Cesar Chavez)
• games
• coloring pictures
• and more!!

Doña Flor

Mora, Pat. 2005. Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman With a Great Big Heart. ill. Raul Colón. New York: Random House. ISBN 0375923373.


Summary

Flor’s mother’s magical singing could grow even the tiniest seeds into the tallest of trees. This happened even to her mother’s little flower, Flor. This tall, tall girl was made fun of by the other local children until she began giving them rides with her giant strides. When grown, Doña Flor (as she became to be known) she made her own home and told everyone they were welcome. The townspeople ate her tortillas and welcome her help when a puma begins scaring the town.

Analysis

First, Doña Flor is an engaging story for children. It will hold their interest and is a fun read-aloud. Second, the illustrations throughout are beautifully rendered with a combination of watercolor washes, etching, and colored and litho pencils. And finally, the cultural markers within the book are evident and wonderfully posed. Children and adults will treasure this book for ages.

The illustrations offer many views of cultural markers. First, Doña Flor is illustrated with a distinctly Native Central American face. The skin and hair tones of everyone in the book indicate Mexican villagers. In one illustration, you can see Doña Flor wearing a traditional blanket over her head. In other illustrations, you can see traditional small-village clothing, hair styles and hats.

In the writing, Mora uses many Spanish words within the text to create a more authentic reading experience. She incorporates words and phrases like “¿Qué pasa?” “gato” “¿Dónde estás?” and “una estrella.” There is almost context for the language so both speakers and non-speakers of Spanish can understand and enjoy the text. In addition to the Spanish words, Mora writes of authentic tortilla making and how they slap, slap, slap tortillas between their hands and how the whole place smells “corn good.”

This is a wonderful book to share a little folklore, heroism, and kindness with readers.

Review Excerpts
School Library Journal - There is great texture and movement on each page in the sun-baked tones of the landscape. With Spanish words peppered throughout, this is a welcome entry to the canon that includes other heroines like Sally Ann Thunder and Thunder Rose.

Booklist - A winning read-aloud, particularly for children who can recognize the intermittent Spanish phrases.
Connections

Other stories about awesome women:
Kellogg, Steven. Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett. ISBN 978-0688140434.
Nolen, Jerdine. Thunder Rose. ISBN 978-0152060060.

Check out Pat Mora’s Website for other books incorporating Spanish: www.patmora.com.

The Afterlife

Soto, Gary.  2003.  The Afterlife.  Orlando; Harcourt.  ISBN 0152047743.

Summary
A night out at a dance club, hoping to get a chance to dance with a girl, wishing he was cooler...it sounds like a typical night out for a seventeen year old boy.  After Chuy compliments a guys on his yellow shoes, the guy stabs him three times and leaves him for death on a dirty bathroom floor.  At this point, Chuy's ghost begins to roam around Fresno.  He finds those whom he loved and others who loved him.  In addition, Chuy finds other ghosts who he helps.  On this journey, he finds out even more about himself and his family despite being dead.

Analysis
Chuy's story is one that reflects many different cultural markers indicative of the Mexican-American culture.  One prominent marker is the language used throughout the book.  By incorporating Spanish words throughout the text, Soto is able to convey a lot of culture without an overwhelming the reader.  He is also able to do so without having to reference the glossary unless the readers want to.  Example of this type of incorporation are: "What did you say to me, cabron?" "...me all macho..." "mocosos" "Chale!"  Knowing Spanish, however, I did find that some words in the glossary in the back were not translated one-hundred percent correctly.  I assume this would be for one of two reasons: 1. To tone down the language or 2. The words used in that region have slightly different meanings than the ones I'm used to.

There are many other mentions in the book that reference the Mexican-American culture.  For example, "Chicano time" which means arriving late.  This is a very common occurrence in Hispanic cultures.  Being American, I kept arriving on time to events and finding the hosts completely surprised!  There are also references to Mexican-American foods such as carne asada and chicharrones and songs such as Cielito Lindo.

While you can see the culture throughout the book, I did not notice any ethnocentrism, overloading or romanticism.  While at one point Chuy and his father picked grapes for money, the owner of the farm was white with a Mexican wife.  It's not uncommon to find Mexican workers in vineyards like that, so I didn't feel like it was a touristic approach or showing anglo superiority.

Review Excerpts
School Library Journal - This plethora of plot lines wafts across and past the landscape of a narrative as lacking in developed form as Chuy finds himself becoming. After a strong start, The Afterlife seems to become a series of brief images that drift off as though in a dream. Soto's simple and poetic language, leavened with Mexican Spanish with such care to context that the appended glossary is scarcely needed, is clear, but Chuy's ultimate destiny isn't.

Booklist - *Starred Review* Soto has remade Our Town into Fresno, California, and he not only paints the scenery brilliantly but also captures the pain that follows an early death. In many ways, this is as much a story about a hardscrabble place as it is about a boy who is murdered. Both pulse with life and will stay in memory.

Connections
Find more information at http://www.garysoto.com/.
Also look for other works by Gary Soto: http://www.garysoto.com/catalog.html