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After countless hours of reading, watching films, and blogging, my reading blog is now complete. I hope you enjoy reading each of my entries! This assignment gave me the opportunity to broaden my horizons and learn more about children's literature. Happy reading! :)

The Lorax: by Dr. Seuss

Interestingly, tomorrow is Earth Day- a day in which people all around the globe take time to focus on environment issues and take proper actions, such as planting trees, recycling and picking up trash, in an effort to protect our environment and keep it clean. What a wonderful book to read and enjoy as a reminder of our duty to keep our environment healthy for everyone! While this book was published in 1971, ecological issues are still a major focus today. For example, there is currently an big initiative to "Go Green" to make the Earth a better place to live. For example, Western Kentucky University is taking part in this "green" action by changing hard copy tuition bills normally sent by mail to students' bills being sent via the Internet.
In The Lorax, Dr. Seuss clearly sends a serious didactic message to readers of the important responsibility of taking care of the environment, while also cleverly remaining true to his powerful rhyming schemes and vivid imagination. He does a fascinating job showing the progression of a beautiful and lively environment to an unattractive, desolate, and unhealthy atmosphere as the Once-ler arrives and destroys the peaceful and healthy environment. This book has a brilliant storyline with very interesting characters. Furthermore, Dr. Seuss's colorful description of how chopping down trees and polluting the air and water can cause a chain reaction of harmful affects at all levels of nature. At the end of the story, after many years, the Once-ler has a complete change of heart and sends the child in the story a message that it is up to people like him to make the world a better place to live. The Once-ler then gives the boy the last Truffula seed to plant and offers him specific instructions to care for it by providing it water, fresh air, and protection from axes.
I do believe there are didactic stories that are published today. There are countless children's books on topics such as environmental issues, challenges of family life, having new experiences, and growing up and dealing with emotions and bullying, that can lend themselves to have themes behind the stories and subtly teach children important lessons through entertainment and even humor.

Books that show tension as in The Cat in the Hat

Dr. Seuss is one of the most imaginative and brilliant children's authors of all time. He definitely had a way of making his books come to life. The Cat in the Hat is one of his most popular books. In this story, two bored young children are home alone with nothing to do, that is, until the Cat in the Hat arrives at their house. The Cat in the Hat turns the children's boredom into fascination as the Cat performs outrageous tricks. In the story, the children's pet fish is the voice of reason, making bold statements such as, "He should not be here when your mother is out!" and the children allowing the character of the cat do what he wants represents the tension between anarchy and maintaining order.
One contemporary book that I feel also depicts the tension presented in The Cat in the Hat is a book entitled I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! (2005) by Karen Beaumont and illustrated by David Catrow. In this story, a rebellious little boy finds a paint set. Naturally he desires to paint anything he can get his hands on. He paints the floor, the curtains, the walls, and even the ceiling. When his mother discovers what he is up to, she scolds him by telling him that he will not paint anymore. She then puts him in the tub to soak. When the mother hides the paint in the top of a closet, her son saw exactly where she placed the paint. So, when the mom wasn't looking, he went straight and maneuvered his way to the top of the closet where she placed the paint. Once he had the paint in his hands again, he decided that this time he would paint himself! I feel this story displays kid-friendly anarchy. The mischievous little boy tests his small freedoms with his mother.
I feel this book would appeal to children for various reasons. The use of vibrant colors utilized throughout the book would catch the attention of young children. Also, this book features simple rhyme, which allows the text to flow smoothly. This book can be sung to the tune "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More" which can make it exciting for children. Additionally, the author writes the story in a way that leaves children guessing which body part the little boy will paint next. Finally, I believe children will find this story humorous and some will be even be able to relate to similar experiences.
Another contemporary book that displays tension is Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2004)by Mo Willems. I read and responded to this book for one of my Caldecott Honor choices earlier in my blog. In this story, the pigeon desperately wants to drive a bus while the bus driver is away. However, the bus driver gives the reader specific instructions to not allow him to drive the bus. The pigeon pleads to try and persuade the reader to allow him the freedom to drive the vehicle. He even imagines himself at the end of the story driving a big truck. In this story, the bus driver is the character who does not quite condone anarchy.
I believe this book would appeal to children because the story is highly interactive. Willems allows the reader to play an important part in the story from the very beginning. Simple text and illustrations are ideal for this children's book.

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson (chapter book that addresses diversity)

Jacqueline Woodson won a Newbery Honor in 2008 for her outstanding work, Feathers. I feel this book should be in every elementary and middle school library media center. There are numerous components embedded throughout the story that cleverly address diversity. This book allows the reader to step inside the 1970s to take a closer look at many themes such as racial tension, cultural language, Christian religion and faith, inside the world of a young boy who is deaf, and even adoption. The book also metaphorically weaves a part in one of Emily Dickinson's poems "Hope is the thing with feathers."
Frannie, the narrator and main character in the story, is a sixth grader who attends an all black middle school; that is until a white young boy joins her classroom one winter day. For a girl Frannie's age, she has had many things to cope with her older brother's deafness and her mother losing a young child. So, when the calm white boy shows up in Frannie's classroom, she is able to "see" him differently than most of her other classmates. The class calls him "Jesus Boy." While there is no more segregation in this time period, the reader gains a sense of the racial tension that was still present. For example, throughout the book Trevor, the class bully, constantly harasses Jesus Boy and Frannie also mentions life on "both sides of the highway." However, toward the end of the story, there is a warm sense of hope that leaves the reader feeling appreciative.
The book is an excellent choice because there are many dimensions that allow the reader to make connections and also to gain a better perspective inside the different lives of other people. I feel if this book were used as a literature unit, there would be many wonderful and deep discussions on diversity and the idea of feeling different. The story also allows the reader to come to the important realization that even though we are all different, we all have things in common as well, i.e hope, and I believe that is one of the best features of this story!

Chato and the Party Animals by Gary Soto (Picture book that addresses diversity)

The Latino population is growing rapidly in the United States. In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the Latino population was an estimated 13% of the total in 2000. As a result, I feel that every library should be equipped with literature that allows students to gain more insight into this culture. Chato and the Party Animals, written by Gary Soto, is a cleverly written and beautifully illustrated story. Because this story contains Spanish language, this book features a glossary as a important reference for readers.
Chato is a "cool" cat who loves to have fun! While having a blast at Chorizo's birthday party, he notices that his good friend Novio Boy seems unhappy. When Chato asks him what's wrong, Chato learns that Novio Boy is indeed sad. Novio Boy does not know much about his past. For example, he doesn't know who his mother is and he doesn't even know when his birthday is. In addition, Novio Boy has never experienced his own birthday party. So, being the kind of friend Chato is, he decides to throw Novio Boy a birthday party. Chato prepares for the festivity by ordering a cake, booking a DJ, creating a catfish pinata, making party food, and inviting friends. When the arrangements and preparations are finalized, Chato and his buddies set out to find his friend. After searching the neighborhood, the trees, and under cars, they begin to think the worst and then decide to head back to Chato's home. Novio Boy finally arrives at his friend's house after going dumpster hopping. They surprise the birthday boy and all enjoy the party until the sun goes down. Novio Boy appreciates what his friend does for him.
I would recommend this book in any school library media center collection. The reader is able to get a better insight into the language and customs of the Latino culture. The authentic illustrations help depict the customs of the Latino experiences. For example, the character's costumes and the rich, vibrant colors resemble the Latino culture. The story's illustrator, Susan Guevara, won the Pura Belpre Award, in 2002 for excellent cultural illustrations. This award
honors Latino authors and illustrators for outstanding work representing Spanish culture. I also enjoyed the theme of friendship that was embedded in the story. This is an excellent multicultural story that I believe children would enjoy reading.

Resource:

http://www.census.gov/

The Two Foolish Cats: by Yoshiko Uchida (a critique)

The Two Foolish Cats, based on a Japanese folktale, is a story about two silly cats who live in the forests of Japan. Field mice and birds are frightened by the cats because they love to hunt these small animals for food. One spring morning the two cats, Big Daizo and Little Suki, could not find the mice and were not quick enough to catch fish in the stream. After arguing, the two animals finally discovered two rice cakes nearby. However, there was a slight problem- the rice cakes were not of equal size. While the animals continued to argue and scuffle over who should get the bigger cake, the field mice and the birds cheered them on and called them greedy and stubborn, hoping they would eat each other. Finally, a badger came out from the forest and advised them to have the wise old monkey settle their dispute. Big Daizo and Little Suki agreed and ventured through the forest to locate him. When they finally found the old monkey sitting in a tree, they told him their dilemma. The wise old monkey said he knew how to solve their problem and went inside his house. He brought out a small scale and quickly found that the rice cakes were not of equal weight. So, the monkey began to take a bites of both rice cakes to make them equal, but instead had soon eaten both rice cakes. The old monkey informed the cats that he had stopped their arguing because the food was equally gone. The cats felt foolish and the blue jays relayed the story to the other animals in the forest. After the animals snickered at the two silly cats, Big Daizo and Little Suki went back into the forest and never squabbled again.
I enjoyed reading the humorous Japanese story. The story was simplistic, but entertaining. I was quickly drawn in the story because I wanted to find out what would become of the two foolish cats. I feel Uchida cleverly got her point across about the consequences of being greedy. I did, however, find it puzzling that the field mice were terrified of the cats, but yet was around them quite often throughout the book. I thought this aspect of the book was contradicting. This is the first book I have read by this author.
Yoshiko Uchida, a Japanese-American author, has written several books. These include The Best Bad Thing, The Birthday Visitor, The Bracelet, The Happiest Ending, The Invisible Thread, A Jar of Dreams, Journey Home, The Magic Purse, Picture Bride, Samurai of Gold Hill, Rooster Who Understood Japanese, The Dancing Kettle and Other Japanese Folk Tales, Sea of Gold, The Wise Old Woman, and The Terrible Leak. Yoshiko Uchida died in 1992.

Resource:

http://www.biblio.com/author_biographies/2107284/Yoshiko_Uchida.html

Noah's Ark: by Jerry Pinkney (a critique)

Jerry Pinkney, author and illustrator, received a Caldecott Honor Award in 2003 for his work, Noah's Ark. This book retells the biblical story found in the book of Genesis. In this story God told Noah that He would bring a flood upon the earth because He was not pleased with the evilness of humankind. Noah was a faithful servant to the Lord and obeyed His commands. God gave Noah instructions that included building a large ark made of cypress wood and filling it with two creatures of every kind, bringing enough food for the animals and Noah and his family. God made Noah a promise that he would keep his family and those animals safe. While Noah built the ark, the people questioned Noah. After Noah, his family, and the animals were safe on the ark, the rain came for forty days and forty nights and flooded the earth. After the rain ended and the water levels dropped, Noah sent a dove to find out if the land was dry. The dove returned with an olive branch and Noah knew there was dry land. Noah and his family praised God and cared for the earth. God assured that He would never flood the earth again and sent a rainbow as His promise.
The illustrations in this story are absolutely exquisite and very unique. His illustrations proved to be distinguished because he received a Caldecott Honor Award for his work. Pinkney used a combination of watercolors, colored pencils, and pencils to create his pictures. I admire Pinkney's attention to detail in his illustrations. In addition, the contrasting bright and subtle color combinations that were used throughout the book were phenomenal . The method in which he drew the winds, the waves, and the rain truly made the book come to life. He did an excellent job of helping make the illustrations tell the story.
Jerry Pinkney is a well-known artist and has illustrated over one hundred children's books. Some of his other works include The Moon Over Star, Little Red Riding Hood, The Old African, God Bless The Child, The Nightingale, In for Winter, Out for Spring, Journeys with Elijah, John Henry, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, The Little Match Girl, Goin' Someplace Special, Ain't Nobody a Stranger to Me, The Hired Hand, The Ugly Duckling, and Sunday Outing.

Resource:

http://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/frameset.html

The Polar Express: Similarities and Differences in Book and Movie

The Polar Express, written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg, is a very popular children's picture story. This book was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1986 because of the exquisite and distinctive illustrations. The book tells about a story of skeptical young boy who boards a train on Christmas Eve and travels on a magical adventure to the North Pole. As a result of the experience, he receives the first gift of Christmas from Santa and then finds himself always truly believing in the magic of Christmas.
This award-winning feature film, released in 2004, starred well-known actor Tom Hanks and was directed by Robert Zemeckis. The movie was comparable to the children's book. The brilliant illustrations in the book greatly resembled many of the background scenes in the movie. I found the computer animations were a very interesting choice which truly brought the book to life. In addition, many of the characters in the movie paralleled many characters found in the book. The young boy, the mother and father, Sarah, the conductor, the elves, and of course Santa were featured in both the book and the movie. There was a small amount of dialogue embedded in the book. However, nearly all of the dialogue that appeared in the book was used throughout the film. Furthermore, the main idea, along with many of the same events, were evident in both versions of the story. For example, in both forms, the young boy was unable to sleep on Christmas Eve and was uncertain about the magic of the holiday. In the middle of the night, he heard a loud screeching sound outside and discovered a long train in front of his house. The boy ran outside and met the conductor who informed him the train, The Polar Express, was heading to the North Pole. The boy boarded the train and immediately noticed other children on board. In both the book and movie, the children received hot chocolate while on board the train. After riding though wildernesses, mountains, and hills, they arrived at the luminous North Pole packed with numerous elves. Once there, Santa chose the young boy to obtain the first gift of Christmas. He asked for a silver bell from Santa's sleigh and he granted the boy's request. While back on the train the children asked to see the silver bell, but the boy quickly discovered he had lost the bell due to a hole in his pocket and was unfortunately too late to search for it. The young boy arrived back home and then awoke on Christmas morning to open a present from Santa that contained the silver bell from Santa's sleigh. While the young boy's parents did not hear the sound of the shaken bell, both the boy and his sister heard the magical sound.
While the book and the movie had many similar features, there were many differences as well. The one hour and forty minute feature film added many scenes that were just not found in the rather short children's book. For instance, there were more events at the beginning of the movie. In the movie, for example, the inquisitive young boy searches the word 'North Pole' in the encyclopedia. This scene did not occur in the book. Another difference I discovered toward the beginning of the movie was when the boy hesitated going on The Polar Express. In the book, however, the boy did not hesitate going aboard. Moreover, in the movie, the young boy encountered many more adventures on the train and at the North Pole. At one point, for instance, the young boy found himself on top of the train talking to a rather strange traveler. Another noteworthy difference were the train tickets. In the movie, the tickets were a very big part of the film. In the book, on the other hand, the tickets were not ever mentioned. Also, there was naturally more dialogue throught the movie, especially among the conductor and the children. Furthermore, there were two central characters on the train, a young girl and a young boy named Billy, that appeared in the movie, but were not in Chris Van Allsburg's book.
I personally did not enjoy the movie as much as I thought I would and was disappointed because I usually love Christmas movies. I really enjoyed Allsburg's simplistic version better. I found the movie to be too long in places, especially on the way to the North Pole, and as a result, found myself really struggling to focus on what exactly was happening. I also thought some of the scenes were somewhat bizarre, especially the entire scene of when the young boy meets the strange man on the top of the train. I did, however, enjoy the scenery and the animation. It truly is amazing what can be done with the use of technology!

Charlotte's Web: Similarities and Differences in Book and Movie

Charlotte's Web, written by E.B. White, is a warm-hearted, classic children's novel that received a Newbery Honor Award in 1953. True friendship and loyalty is the central theme throughout the entire story. The movie, although recently released in 2006, proved to mostly stay true to the memorable and popular book.
After reading and watching Charlotte's Web, I discovered many similarities in both the book and the movie. The characters in the story remained the same as in the book. Fern, Mr. and Mrs. Arable, Avery, Homer and Edith Zuckerman, Lurvy, Henry Fussy, Dr. Dorian, modest Wilbur, loyal Charlotte, obnoxious Templeton, the sheep, the geese, and the cows all appeared in the movie and possessed many of the same character traits. In addition, much of the dialogue between the characters were very similar. I did note, however, there was a good deal of added dialogue among the barn animals, especially between the cows, in the movie that did not appear in the book.
Furthermore, the majority of the events embedded in the movie were also found in the book. For example, both book and movie began with Fern preventing her father, Mr. Arable, from killing the runt pig and then promising to take care of the animal whom she named, Wilbur. In addition, when Wilbur got too bundlesome to take care of, Fern's family sent Wilbur to live nearby in Uncle Homer's barn, where Fern frequently visited Wilbur. In both forms of the story, Wilbur was not thrilled to be in the new barn when he first arrived and felt like a stranger. However, Charlotte, a grey spider, noticed Wilbur and befriended him. After Wilbur discovered that his chances of survival were minimal and he would not see snowfall, Charlotte promised him she would devise a plan that would save his life and indeed she succeeded with a little help from the rat Templeton. Templeton helped Charlotte unrelentingly by scurrying around trying to locate words Charlotte could use. By cleverly working and weaving 'SOME PIG,' 'TERRIFIC,' 'RADIANT,' and 'HUMBLE' in her web in an effort to describe Wilbur, Wilbur not only gained the Zuckermans' attention, but also the townspeople's attention as well. They were all amazed at the miraculous signs from the web. In both the book and movie, the people never understood how the words appeared in the spider's web. Although Mr. Zuckerman decided to enter Wilbur at the County Fair, an enormous pig named Uncle won the blue ribbon. However, because Wilbur was admired by so many people, he was honored with a medal of appreciation. Toward the end, before Charlotte died, she completed her masterpiece filled with 514 eggs. Because of Charlotte, Wilbur got to experience his first snowfall. He, in turn, faithfully watched Charlotte's little sack for weeks upon weeks. Finally, springtime arrived and tiny spiders came out of the sack. All of Charlotte's children floated away except for three little ones, whom they named as Joy, Aranea, and Nellie. Wilbur pledged his friendship year after year to Charlotte's children and grandchildren, but they never took the place of his beloved friend in his heart.
While there were numerous similarities between the book and the movie, I detected several small differences as well. For example, a minor variation from the book and the movie was where the story took place. While the book never mentioned a particular setting, the movie created a specific setting, Somerset County. Another difference I found at the beginning of the movie was when Fern sneaked Wilbur in her shirt and then took him to school. This particular scene was not in the book. Furthermore, in the book Mr. Zuckerman bought Wilbur from Fern for six dollars. This, however, was not even mentioned in the movie. Additionally, Wilbur's escape when he first arrives at the barn is told differently in the book and movie. In the book, the goose told Wilbur that a board was loose on the fence and that is how the pig escaped. In the movie, on the other hand, Wilbur tried several times and finally succeeded at knocking the fence over without any help from the other barn animals. Moreover, in the book the old sheep told Wilbur about him being killed. In the movie, though, Templeton was the one who told Wilbur about his fate.
Even though there were differences in the book and movie, I truly enjoyed reading and watching Charlotte's Web. The story's theme of true friendship and Charlotte's unique qualities of loyalty and selflessness are to be admired and enjoyed by children and adults for years to come.

Holes: Similarities and Differences in Book and Movie

Holes, written by Louis Sachar, was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1999. The main character, Stanley Yelnats, had a difficult time with life in general. Stanley was overweight, which contributed to many altercations with the school bully Derrick Dunne. Stanley's parents were poor because his dad was an unlucky inventor and his family blamed their years of misfortune on a curse caused by Stanley's great-great grandfather's broken promise to a gypsy. To make matters worse, one afternoon after school Stanley got arrested by the police when they assumed he stole a pair of shoes from a homeless shelter. Stanely was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, which, of course, he blamed on his ancestor. In court, Stanley was given a harsh choice. He could either go to jail or attend Camp Green Lake, a juvenile correctional facility. Stanley chose Camp Green Lake, which actually proved to be no lake at all- just endless miles of desert with minimal plant life and wildlife except for a few oak trees, rattlesnakes, scorpions, and yellow-spotted lizards. Camp Green Lake's main purpose was to have the boys dig a hole each day that were five feet deep and five feet across as punishment, the warden claimed, to build stronger character.
A hundred years earlier, however, Green Lake was actually a lake surrounded by a nice town. However, one day Sam, a popular African American onion man, kissed Miss Katherine Barlow, a white school teacher. The people in the town burned the school. Katherine Barlow ran to report to the sheriff what was happening , but instead discovered he wanted a kiss from her and threatened to hang Sam. Katherine then slapped the sheriff and ran to tell Sam what was going to happen to him. After they made it halfway across the lake in his boat, Sam was shot. It didn't rain again after that evening. Three days later, Katherine Barlow, grief-stricken, shot the sheriff, kissed him with her bright red lipstick, and for the next several years was known as the bandit "Kissin Kate Barlow." Stanley's family also told him a story about his great grandfather, also named Stanley Yelnats, who lost his entire fortune when he was robbed by the well-known outlaw.
For weeks upon weeks, Stanley dug his holes in the hot, blazing sun along with Group D's obnoxious members, Squid, Armpit, Magnet, Zigzag, and X-Ray. Zero was a member of Group D also, but he was different. Through the experience, Zero and Stanley, became quite good friends, who stuck up for one another throughout the story. One day Stanley came across a lipstick tube with the initials KB, which was when he finally started putting the pieces of the puzzle together. The warden made the boys dig the holes because she and her cronies, Mr. Sir and Mr. Pendanski, among others were hunting for the treasure. After Stanley and his friend, Zero, escaped from "camp" for a few days, they went back to dig one last hole to finally locate the buried treasure that belonged to Stanley's great grandfather many years before.
Towards the end of the book, after two girls testify to the fact that Stanley was still at school trying to retrieve a notebook that was thrown in the toilet by Derrick when the shoes were stolen, Stanley's attorney came for Stanley. Zero also accompanied Stanley and the attorney because the facilitators at the camp destroyed Zero's records. Therefore, they didn't have any evidence to keep him. The Attorney General shut down Camp Green Lake to transform it into a Girl Scout Camp, Stanley's father finally formulated a new product to alleviate the problem of foot odor, and it finally rained again at Green Lake. Stanley used the money to buy a new house for his parents and Zero successfully used his part to hire private detectives to locate his long, lost mother.
After reading and watching Holes, I found the popular book to be very similar to the Disney movie, which was released in 2003. The majority of the characters in the movie were identical to the characters in the book. The director of the movie did a fantastic job of making the majority of the characters resemble the characters' descriptions in the book. For example, in the book, Stanley described the warden as tall and red-headed with many freckles. The warden, played by Sigourney Weaver, met this description. Zigzag was another character Stanley distinctively described as having wild and frizzy blonde hair. In the movie, Zigzag's character had wild hair.
I also found the movie utilized the description of Camp Green Lake to make it resemble the descriptions found in the book. The endless miles of desert, the mountains in the distance, and the countless holes helped me develop a better picture of what the camp actually looked like. In addition, much of the dialogue and the events in the movie was in order of how it appeared in the book: the bus ride to the camp, the flashbacks, Stanley taking the blame for the stolen sunflower seeds, and Mr. Sir getting scratched by the warden with her rattlesnake venom were just a few of the events that were almost identical to those found in the book.
On the other hand, I detected some differences in the book and the movie. The biggest difference I observed was in the physical characteristics of Stanley. In the book, Stanley was overweight and was bullied at school by Derrick Dunne. In fact, Stanley got released from camp because of the fact two girls saw him coming out of the boy's bathroom to retrieve a notebook from the toilet that was put there by the bully, Derrick. The character that played Stanley in the movie, however, was slim and nothing was ever mentioned about him being bullied at school. In my opinion, this was a critical difference because Stanley's awkward appearance and low self-esteem played a big part throughout the book.
Another difference I noted between the book and the movie was when Miss Katherine Barlow left the sheriff to go and find Sam. In the book, Katherine finds Sam, tells him what is going to happen to him, and they make it halfway across the lake before he gets shot. In the movie, however, Katherine doesn't get a chance to tell Sam what will happen to him because Sam is already out on the lake.
Furthermore, there is a slight difference in the event where Stanley decides to take Mr. Sir's truck to look for Zero. In the book, Mr. Sir only runs alongside the truck before Stanley drives the truck into a hole. However, in the movie, Mr. Sir runs alongside the truck and falls in a hole himself before Stanley drives in the hole. I also observed the differences in the warden's vehicle. In the book, the warden drove a truck, but in the movie, she drove a classic white car. Finally, in the book, Kissin Kate Barlow died when a yellow-spotted lizard jumped on her ankle and bit her. In the movie, however, Kate Barlow actually put the lizard on her arm for the lizard to bite.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading and then watching Holes. I found that the movie stayed very close to the book, with only a few differences.

2001 Coretta Scott King Award: Miracle's Boys by Jacqueline Woodson

Miracle's Boys is a painful, tear-jerking story that tells about the harsh, realistic struggles three brothers living in inner city Manhattan face after the death of both parents. Half Puerto Rican and half African American, Lafayette, twelve, Charlie, fifteen, and Ty'ree, twenty-one, each cope with grief in different ways. Ty'ree gives up his opportunity to attend a prestigious school to earn a living working to barely support his two younger brothers. Before their mother dies, Charlie gets caught robbing a candy store at the age of twelve and is then sent to Rahway Home for Boys, a juvenile correctional facility. After Charlie returns home, Lafayette and Ty'ree witness a totally different person. Charlie comes back home cold-hearted, distant, and harsh. In a desperate attempt to erase her memories, Charlie burns all of the pictures of their mother except for two. He ultimately feels guilty for not being present when their mother died and doesn't know how to express his agony. With the sudden death of his mother, Lafayette's whole existence is shattered to pieces. To make matters worse, Charlie blames Lafayette for their mother's death. Towards the end of the story, Charlie accompanies his "friend" Aaron to what he thinks is a harmless party. However, when Charlie arrives he discovers something totally different- a gang initiation. Charlie ends up fighting. He then gets accused and arrested when the police think he steals a car. Ty'ree and Lafayette arrive at the police station and take Charlie home. This experience changes Charlie because it makes him realize that he doesn't want to be a part of that life. Author Jacqueline Woodson leaves the reader optimistic that the three brothers will stick together and support one another when Charlie opens the lines of communication in an effort to hear more stories about their mother.
This was a very sorrowful and depressing story. In fact, after I read the first couple of chapters, I contemplated not finishing the rest of the story, but I am very glad I did. With each page I read, the more I wanted to find out if the brothers would come together despite their difficult circumstances. Even though this story was not a "happy feel good" book, I found myself wrapped up in the characters's emotions and their struggles. There were several moments within the book that actually brought tears to my eyes. I sympathized with them and even found myself wishing I could transform their heartache into joy. The realistic theme of the value of family unity was evident throughout the entire story. As I read this story, I thought about my own family and wondered what my sister and I would have done if we were in the same circumstances as the Bailey brothers. It was a very depressing thought!
I would recommend this book to middle school students. I believe the content, such as the subjects of death and gangs, are very deep topics. With the overall quality concept of the story and character development, Miracle's Boys is definitely worth reading. I am not, however, familiar with other books written by Jacqueline Woodson.
I find it amazing how children's literature can actually make the reader feel what the characters in the story are going through. That is the mark of a great book! In Miracle's Boys, I almost felt as if I were living that horrible nightmare with them.

Newbery and Caldecott Award Differences

The Newbery and Caldecott awards are both very prestigious medals given to outstanding authors and illustrators. However, there are differences between them. The Newbery medal, adopted in 1922 by the American Library Association's Executive Board, was named for the eighteenth-century English influential bookseller, John Newbery. This bronze-colored medal is awarded annually to an author of the "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in English in the United States during the preceding year." Whether the form of work is poetry, fiction, or non-fiction, committee members are to consider the literary qualities featured within the book such as the interpretation of theme, development of the plot, and should also consider elements like characters, setting, and organization. In addition to the Newbery award, the committee also chooses other quality books for honorable mention.
The Caldecott medal, on the other hand, is awarded annually to the illustrator of "the most distinguished American picture book for children published in English in the United States during the preceding year." This bronze-colored medal, named in honor of nineteenth-century well-known illustrator, Randolph J. Caldecott, originated in 1937 after many people expressed that, like authors of children's books, the artists were deserving of honor as well. The selection committee should consider aspects such as high-quality artistic technique, pictorial interpretation of the story, including the theme, characters, plot, setting, and mood, as well as how well the illustrations recognize a child's audience. In addition to the Caldecott medal, the committee also chooses other quality books for honorable mention.
In my opinion, both Newbery and Caldecott awards are equally impressive. Both awards showcase high-quality children's books. Both literature and illustrations can greatly enhance the overall quality of a book. For example, after reading Caldecott Honor book, When Sophie Gets Angry-Really, Really Angry, author and illustrator Molly Bang uses combinations of warm and cool colors to depict Sophie's moods. I feel this feature was very effective. Likewise, after reading Newbery Honor book, Rules, I felt the author's development of the theme and characters were phenomenal. While the Newbery and Caldecott medals vary in criteria, both awards have an amazing reputation for distinguished children's books.

Resources:
http://www.ala.org/alsc/newbery.html

http://www.ala.org/alsc/caldecott.html

2007 Newbery Honor Book: Rules by Cynthia Lord

While reading Rules, I experienced a plethora of emotions that ranged from joy to sadness and even frustration. Rules is a heart-warming, realistic story that deals with the importance of accepting the differences of others. This book tells the story of a family whose eight-year-old son, David, has autism. David's autistic behaviors were evident throughout the book. For example, David was sensitive to sounds, obsessed with time, lacked the ability to initiate conversations, took everything literally, and was very regimented with his activities. Twelve-year-old Catherine, David's sister, had conflicting emotions about her brother. On one hand, she engaged in acts of love when she made rules to help her brother better function in the world, took up for him against an obnoxious boy named Ryan, and fixed his cassette tape several times so he could listen to Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad Together. On the other hand, when David did things to embarrass Catherine, such as opening up doors at other people's houses or pulling his pants down, she became frustrated, annoyed, and even sensitive to their different sort of life. When accompanying her mother to David's occupational therapy session, she met and became friends with Jason, a boy confined to a wheelchair who used a book filled with words and pictures to communicate. As Catherine assisted in adding words and pictures to his communication book and the more time she spent with him, the more Catherine learned about her own feelings and the feelings of others.
This children's book is great! I would definitely recommend this book to upper elementary and middle school students. I found myself sharing what was happening in the story to my husband. Cynthia Lord does an amazing job of allowing the reader to get an inside look at the innermost thoughts and emotions of the characters in the story. I was also able to gain a better perspective of what a family like this goes through because I was able to obtain a glimpse of their daily struggles and emotions. Furthermore, an awareness of the reality of this story touched my heart. I found myself thinking how blessed I am and how often I take things, like being able to walk and talk, for granted. Also, I couldn't help but be reminded of my three year old nephew and what life would be like if he were to be diagnosed with autism.
Thousands upon thousands of families deal with similar situations found in this book. I believe it is wonderful that through children's literature, stories of sensitive, real life issues can be passionately conveyed to others. Also, through this piece of children's literature, I was able to learn more about a disease somewhat unfamiliar to me.
Interestingly, Rules is Cynthia Lord's first children's book. Her website revealed another book, Touch Blue, coming out soon.

2001 Newbery Honor Book: Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

For a girl so young, 10-year-old India Opal Buloni's life was far from a fairy tale. When she was only three years of age, her mother left her. Another life-changing event occurred when Opal and her father, a preacher, moved to Naomi, Florida, leaving behind many of her friends. It was in a Winn-Dixie supermarket where she met and kept a big, disheveled dog. With the friendship from her dog, Winn-Dixie, Opal was not only able to meet new friends, but she also came to an important realization within herself that her mother would never come back, a burden that she had struggled with for a long time.
Once I began reading this story, I couldn't put the book down. I was immediately drawn into the characters the author created. I thought she developed her characters very well. Not only did the author describe the characters' physical attributes, but she also did a wonderful job of allowing the reader to get inside the characters' emotions. I enjoyed the overall theme of the importance of true friendship. I also found that the story had even a deeper meaning- that if we live long enough, we will all at some time or another experience hardships. In the book, most of the characters Opal befriended had one thing in common - they had suffered in some way. For example, Amanda's little brother, Carson, died when he was only five; some of Miss Franny Block's family had suffered great loss during the Civil War; Otis was put in jail mainly because he wanted to play his guitar for others; and Gloria Dump had a drinking problem in the past that she still dealt with. I liked how the author, Kate DiCamillo, told an authentic story about life in general- its ups and downs. I believe this is an excellent choice for children. I feel it is important for children to understand that life is not always peachy- sometimes it has disappointments and difficult times. But, the important aspect is how they deal with those adversities.
Kate DiCamillo has written a combination of several early chapter books and novels for children. In addition to Because of Winn Dixie, she has also written books such as The Tale of Despereaux, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. I have actually not read any of her other works.

2000 Caldecott Award: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is a well-known story comprised of simple sentences and repetitive phrases. Joseph, the main character, has an old overcoat. However, when the overcoat gets too shabby, he decides to make the overcoat into a jacket. Joseph, a very creative and resourceful individual, transforms the jacket into a vest, a scarf, a necktie, a handkerchief, and a button. After Joseph loses the button, the reader is led to believe he has nothing left. However, he then makes a book out about it. The moral to this story, which is stated at the end of the story is "You can can always make something out of nothing."
I am especially fond of the unique layout of the illustrations. Every other page reveals strategically placed die-cut holes in an effort to keep the reader predicting, "What will Joseph make next?" Allowing children to predict what will happen next in a story is an excellent reading strategy. When the reader turns the pages, the die-cut fits perfectly on Joseph. I found the vibrant combinations of watercolor, collage, gouche, pencil, and ink in the illustrations quite appealing. I also enjoyed looking at the detail embedded in the artwork.
As I read this story about Joseph, I was somewhat reminded of my own mother. My mom absolutely does not like to throw things away. In fact, when told she needs to throw something away, she will usually say, "Why would I want to throw that away? I might can use it sometime." My mom loves to reuse things! I believe it gives her a pleasant feeling of accomplishment.
Author and illustrator, Simms Taback, has written many books. Similar to Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, Taback has also written the popular children's book, There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. This humorous story has many similar features such as repetitive phrases, detailed and bold illustrations, and strategically placed die-cut holes found in the book.
After reading Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, one thing I learned about children's literature is that the possibilities of creativity truly are endless!

2000 Caldecott Honor Book: When Sophie Gets Angry- Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang

This book regards an emotion that all human beings, no matter what age, have experienced - anger. People cope with this strong emotion in a variety of ways. This story tells about how a little girl named Sophie deals with her anger. After having a stuffed Gorilla taken from her by her sister, Sophie is furious. In an effort to calm down, Sophie leaves her house. Once outside, Sophie cries, finds a tree to climb, and takes comfort in observing nature. When Sophie's mood improves, she goes back home where things are back to normal again.
I believe this book is a valuable resource to teach children ways they can deal with their anger. Molly Bang uses warm colors, vibrant shades of reds and oranges, to convey Sophie's anger. She then transforms those colors into cool hues of greens and blues to depict a calming mood. I feel this is a very intesting way to illustrate the contrasting emotions evident in this book. The use of color in this example of children's literature is phenomenal!
Molly Bang has written few books that deal with emotions. However, she did illustrate the book, The Day Leo Said I Hate You! written by Robie Harris. In this story, a boy named Leo deals with frustration when he gets angry at his mother.
Molly Bang has also written and illustrated several children's books, such as Ten, Nine, Eight and My Light. These books do not have related themes. For example, Ten, Nine, Eight is about a little girl preparing for bedtime and My Light tells about how humans use the sun.

2001 Caldecott Honor book: Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type

I grew up in a small, rural county in western Kentucky. In fact, the entire county does not have one traffic light. Having access to my grandparent's farm, I recall many childhood memories of trying to catch kittens in the barn, riding through the fields on a tractor, and accompanying my uncle to help feed the cattle. While reading and viewing the illustrations of the farm environment in Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, many of those special memories on my grandparent's farm came back to me.
I enjoyed reading reading this light-hearted and witty children's book. Developing a story in which farm animals go on "strike" when the farmer refuses to give them electric blankets is a very imaginative plot. I especially enjoyed the way the problem was solved- the cows and the hens acquired the electric blankets, the ducks received a diving board for the pond, and Farmer Brown was able to manage his farm with the milk and eggs that the hens and cows provided. All parties involved were satisfied! I feel the watercolor illustrations successfully added to the overall country atmosphere.
I believe one of the principal themes in this story is cooperation. I have learned that children's literature can promote themes in subtle ways. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type was actually the very first picture book that Doreen Cronin wrote. Since then, she has written similar books, such as Giggle, Giggle Quack, Farmer Brown's Barnyard, Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack, and Thump, Quack, Moo. All of these stories feature many of the same characters as in her very first book.

2004 Caldecott Honor Book: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! tells an interesting story of a persistent pigeon whose mission is to drive a bus after the driver has to go away for a little while. The driver tells the reader at the very beginning of the book to not let the pigeon drive the bus. Throughout the rest of the story, the pigeon pleads for the reader to let him have permission to drive the bus. The bird says such things as "Please?", "I never get to do anything.", and "What's the big deal?" The bus driver finally comes back and asks the reader if he/she let the pigeon drive the bus. The reader is supposed to say "No!" As the bus driver is driving away, the pigeon then spots a huge truck and imagines himself driving that vehicle.
I found this story enjoyable, humorous, and interactive. I believe the author did a fantastic job of engaging young readers from the very beginning of the story. I often found myself giggling at some of the illustrations. I really enjoyed how Willems applied speech bubbles to tell the story. I believe this format worked very well for this book. I also thought the use of soft colors and "kid-friendly" illustrations were effective.
As I read this story, I was actually reminded of myself when I was little girl and wanted to do things that weren't always in my best interest. I would like to have a dollar for every time I have said things like "Please?" and "No fair!"
Mo Willems has written a series of similar books on the character of the pigeon. He has also written and illustrated The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!, Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!, and The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!
One important aspect I have learned from reading this children's story is that a book doesn't have to contain many words to tell the story. Effective illustrations are a significant component of children's literature. I have also learned that children's literature can be very interactive.

2001 Caldecott Award: So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George

In the summer of of 2001, I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. with my family. This experience was truly a trip of a lifetime for me as we were able to take a tour of the White House, visit the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, read the thousands of names of those who lost their lives in the Vietnam War, and attend a session in Congress at the U.S. Capitol. In addition, I stood in awe as I visited the thousands of graves at the Arlington National Cemetery. When I think back to that eye-opening historical experience, I feel very blessed to live in America. As I read So You Want to Be President? I was reminded of my firsthand experience. I also remembered watching history unfold just a few short weeks ago as our first African American President was sworn into office.
I truly enjoyed reading this story! The author and illustrator both did remarkable job of captivating U.S. history in a "kid-friendly" way. The manner in which Judith St. George presented interesting facts about former presidents was well-written and very enlightening. Furthermore, I enjoyed learning the information in this book. For example, I did not know that Theodore Roosevelt's children had numerous animals in the White House! The illustrator, David Small, also contributed to the overall success of the story. I feel his cartoon-like drawings of the former presidents were accurate and quite humorous. After reading the story, I gained a better understanding of how effective and organized presentation of historical facts can intrigue even young minds.
I actually haven't read any more of St. George's works. However, I did view other books she has written, such as You're on Your Way, George Washington and her most recent book, Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln. By looking at some of her other works, it appears that she has a strong passion for writing on American historical figures.

First Post

Hello. This is Crista Maddux and I am posting my very first blog post ever! Therefore, I am trying to understand how this process works. This will be an interesting way to respond to children's literature.