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Poetry Book Ellen Hopkins

Title: Crank

City/ Publisher: New York/ Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Characteristics: My favorite aspect or characteristic of this book, and all books written by Ellen Hopkins, is the fact that some (not all) poems are written in a way that one word or sentence might be set off in a different stanza almost. And the page can then be read from top to bottom, left to right and it will say one thing, then the reader must single out the second stanza and read only that, and it will give the entire poem a new meaning, or open your eyes to the other things happening outside of the main characters control or view.

Audience: Ages 14 and up because of the mature content

Summary: Crank by Ellen Hopkins tells the story of a teenage girl who becomes addicted to crank, a form of methamphetamine. The novel follows Kristina's downward spiral as she attempts to feed her addiction and deal with the consequences of the bad decisions that she has made.

Response: This is another one of my favorite books. It contains a very deep, emotional message that too many kids know all too well. But it is also one of those books that if taught in the wrong way, as a teacher, could potentially be bad. This story forces you to look outside of yourself and look around you because guaranteed there are several people who we encounter daily that are either suffering from an addiction or have been affected by someone with an addiction. This book showcases without a filter, without watering it down, the reality of what comes to those who dance the flames with what the narrator calls the Monster. This book is raw, and pure in every sense.

Graphic Novel Marjane Satrapi

Title: Persepolis

City/ Publisher: France/ L’Association

Genre: Graphic Novel Autobiography

Characteristics: One of the profound characteristics of this graphic novel was that of the contrast used. The graphic novel itself is strictly black and white which i think the author intended to relay a certain feel and attitude towards the happenings in the story.

Audience: Ages 6-14

Summary: At the opening of the book, Marjane, or Marji, is ten years old. It's the year after the Iranian Revolution, and although her family has always been secular, Marji must wear a veil and attend a religious, girls-only school. She's imaginative, but doesn't really understand what's happening.

Response: This was a very interesting read. I like the fact that the narrator changes her attitude throughout the story based on the things she sees going on around her and the things she hears. I wasn’t expecting such a heavy message inside of a graphic novel, that was indeed surprising. However, I did like how very real it was. I think my biggest take away from it was her seeing the death around her and the terrible rule of the elected officials, and the attitude of those around her are comical. Therefore, in her eyes, these things can be things we play. That is a very real reality. And it’s alarming that there are those like myself that have never envisioned these people in that way. We in America, teach our children that the people of Iran are soulless terrorists, all of them. And none should be spared. But by doing that, we have become ourselves, no better than they with their extremist thinking.

Biography/Autobiography Peter Sis

Title: The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

City/ Publisher: New York/ Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Genre: Autobiography, Memoir, non-fiction

Characteristics: I think this biggest characteristic to this book that deserves attention is the simple fact that it is based on true events and the happenings in are things that the author experiences first-hand. And then secondly, that it contains original artwork meant to be a means of escapism.

Audience: Ages 8 and up

Summary: I was born at the beginning of it all, on the Red side - the Communist side - of the Iron Curtain. Through annotated illustrations, journals, maps, and dreamscapes, Peter Sis shows what life was like for a child who loved to draw, proudly wore the red scarf of a Young Pioneer, stood guard at the giant statue of Stalin, and believed whatever he was told to believe. But adolescence brought questions. Cracks began to appear in the Iron Curtain, and news from the West slowly filtered into the country. Si; s learned about beat poetry, rock 'n' roll, blue jeans, and Coca-Cola. He let his hair grow long, secretly read banned books, and joined a rock band. Then came the Prague Spring of 1968, and for a teenager who wanted to see the world and meet the Beatles, this was a magical time. It was short-lived, however, brought to a sudden and brutal end by the Soviet-led invasion. But this brief flowering had provided a glimpse of new possibilities - creativity could be discouraged but not easily killed.

Response: This was an incredible book and story to follow. I’m not typically someone who appeals to non-fiction literature for the simple fact that I prefer what author’s can dream up rather than actual fact, however this story was definitely different and may in fact hold a place in my future classroom curriculum. I think my favorite aspect is the artwork involved throughout the story, and how you see it change the narrator and the effects the outside world has upon it. Very similar to The Book Thief in the idea that these are children unable to escape the world and political struggles around them. They do what they know in order to make sense of their world around them.

#autobiography

Fantasy/ Science Fiction J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone

City/ Publisher: New York/ Scholastic, Inc.

Genre:Fantasy/ Science Fiction

Characteristics: One of the most intriguing characteristics of Harry Potter is the setting it presents. J.K. Rowling went above and beyond any other author in the realm of Fantasy Fiction, and created a world that is almost impossible to not believe in. You only see a small piece of this with the opening novel of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone, but with every new addition to the world of Harry Potter, the setting thickens and becomes more and more tangible to its readers.

Audience: Target age in between the ages of 9-12; however Harry Potter contains something for all ages to enjoy.

Summary: Harry Potter and Sorcerer’s Stone is a thrilling tale of a young orphan boy living with his uncaring aunt and uncle, discovers he is a wizard on his 11th birthday and has the ability to go to a school of magic.

Response: This is by far one of my all time favorite books! It gives the reader such imagination. The world created is so real, and you can almost see how this could happen to anyone especially to the likes of young Harry Potter. It contains several themes throughout that help to build the characters of Harry and the friends he makes. It contains themes of love, loyalty, friendship and bravery. Which are all things young children need encouragement with at times. Some people that have read Harry Potter are against because of the magic element of the story, however I think this is why I like it most! The magic contained provides somewhat of an escapism for young minds and allows them a time to think outside the box into the multitude of endless possibilities that children or anyone can dream up.

#fantasy #harrypotter

Historical Fiction Markus Zusak

Tittle: The Book Thief

City/Publisher: Australia/ Picador

Genre: Historical Fiction

Characteristics: Symbolism, and Imagery are probably the most common characteristics we can pull and view in The Book Thief. The most well know imagery and symbolism would be that of the colors in the Nazi flag showing up in the deaths where Death himself sees The Book Thief. Also, there is the idea that the theme of stealing books throughout the novel is Liesel’s way of showing her resistance to the Nazi party and the the things happening in her world she can not control.

Audience: 4th to 8th or 9th grade

Summary: The Book Thief is a story narrated by a compassionate Death who tells us about Liesel, a girl growing up in Germany during World War II. She steals books, learns to read, and finds comfort in words. She and Max, the Jew her family protects, are the only main characters that survive the war.

Response: Very good book, and excellent storyline reveal. It intrigued me from the beginning that Death was the narrator of the story. There is a lot going on that can be pulled and analyzed more closely. For example, when the Nazi’s are marching through the streets with prisoners of war, and Hans Hubermann sees one of the old men struggling to keep up, he throws him a piece of bread to him. This draws a very clear parallel to the last supper with Jesus. The imagery and symbolism is heavy within the storyline, I also like the idea of this being Liesel’s way of rebellion against the Nazi’s. It showcases a young girl, unable to control the world around her, and its changing and people are dying and there is no food. Stealing books, and reading- that is her protest. That is her shouting from the tops of the roofs, “You can’t take this from me!”

Additional Picture Book #6 Chae Strathie

Title: The Tickle Tree

City/Publisher: Bath, UK/ Parragon

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Characteristics: It has a very odd and hard rhyme scheme. It flows if you can make out all the words without slipping. The illustration is heavy with both dark and light colors, as well as heavy shades contrasting one another. It provides round objects and pointy objects, and impossible things. But it is done so with the purpose to draw you in and open the child’s imagination. It is ALMOST to much, but the heavy rhyme scheme I feel pulls the attention away somewhat from the contrasting shapes and sizes and all that is going on in the illustration.

Audience: Pre-k through 3rd Grade

Summary: A phantasmagorical flight of fantasy is at your fingertips in this vibrant book with clever, intricate illustrations and fun rhymes! Ideal for beginning readers and perfect for the whole family, this read-along book is an imaginative tale that will soon become a family favorite

Response: A really good book overall. The first time I read it, I stumbled a lot with the rhyming and made up words, but once you do it aloud a few times, it reads much easier. I love the illustration, as stated above, it is ALMOST too much, but the idea that the author and illustrator had a purpose behind all the chaos going on in the pages, to provides images for the dreams children may have or encourage them to dream further! The colors used are very subtle and darkly blended, to almost give a dream like state appeal or aura to them. The other thing that out is most of the writing in writing in such a way that it twists and turns similar to the way you may imagine your own thoughts moving or the way we depict someone sleeping with zzz’s over there heads.

#picturebooks

Additional Picture Books #5 Karen Carter

Title: Please

City/Publisher: Lutherville, MD/ Flying Frog Publishing, Inc.

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Characteristics: This is one of those good hard books to give to toddlers because they are grab for throwing and chewing. Use of color is bold and contrasting. Lots of round shapes making the story inviting and safe. Basic and simple story line, to hold the attention of a toddler.

Audience: Toddler through Pre-k

Summary: Good manners means being polite- and that’s good! See how saying a special word at the right time shows what good manners you have and that you care.

Response: Definitely a cute and vital book. It is so important to teach children manners. And the earlier you start, the more likely they are gonna be to keep them. The book is very simple and basic, making it easy to read to toddlers and keep their interest and bridge into why we say please. Or why it is an important thing to have manners. The use of color is inviting and flows very well. Each page is similar in the sense that the right page has the whole illustration, where the left page has the words and smaller version of the little boy pig that is the narrator of the story. The aspect of the boy being the narrator also makes it more relatable to the younger readers.

#picturebooks

Additional Picture Book #4 Roger Duvoisin

Title: Donkey-donkey

City/Publisher: New York/ Grosset and Dunlap, Inc.

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Characteristics: The illustrations are scribbled to make it look as small children’s drawings might. This technique may have been used to draw in the younger audience. Not a whole lot of color is used, but big bold pictures are used to captivate the eye.

Audience: Pre-k

Summary: A little donkey, unhappy that his big ears stick straight up, asks other farm animals for advice on how to improve his appearance.

Response: This story was okay. I liked the overall message of the story, however the writing isn’t the greatest. But I’m not very versed in common styles of 60′s picture books, so this may have been something to do with the time period in which it was written. It is a cute story in the sense of bringing awareness to self-love and self-acceptance. However, the writing is so elementary that I feel the message itself is too big a concept for the audience it best targets in its writing style. I do like the scribbled drawing, that in itself provides excitement for children that their scribbles can be art.

#picturebooks

Additional Picture Book #3 Lisa Tawn Bergren

Title: God Gave Us You

City/Publisher: Colorado Springs, CO/ WaterBrook Press

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Characteristics: This book uses repetition throughout its story. Its use of color is soft, muted tones. Blend of colors that work well together, that are pleasing to the eye. Then of course, it has the spiritual element to it, of bringing in God, and an bridge into explaining God to children.

Audience: Pre-k through 5th/6th Grade

Summary: When a charming polar bear cub climbs into bed one night, she asks her Mama a very important question–one that little “human cubs” often wonder about, too: “Where did I come from?”As Mama bear tucks her youngest cub under the quilts, she gently, tenderly, and reassuringly communicates the message loving parents everywhere (bears and non-bears alike) want their little ones to hear: “We wanted you very, very much, and we are so very glad because–God gave us you.”

Response: This is such a cute story. It provides a cute story for children before bedtime, and also leads them to questions of their own like, where did i come from? Or who is God? This story provides an easy bridge into sometimes difficult conversations with kids. It also helps brooch the topic of pregnancy and childbirth, which is why I said the audience could be through a much older age range. Its use of color is very subtle and creates beautiful images, especially in contrast with the white of the polar bear family pictured. I love this book. It is one of my favorites to read to my kid. The first time I read it to him, when he was still too small to understand, I cried. Because every word is so true, and probably because I was still on the emotional roller coaster of childbirth.

#picturebooks #godgaveusyou

Additional Picture Book #2 Mem Fox

Title: Possum Magic

City/Publisher: Orlando, FL/ Omnibus Books

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Characteristics: Has a rhyme scheme. Light and dark shades are used alike, but illustration is drawn somewhat like a comic strip. In which it shows the Possums in their hurried adventure. The illustrator uses an interesting way of making the little possum seem invisible.

Audience: Pre-k through 2nd grade

Summary: The two main characters are Grandma Poss and Hush. Hush has been made invisible by Grandma to protect her from Australian bush dangers. The story details the duo's adventures as they tour Australia searching for the secret to Hush's visibility. It is a rhythmical story of Australia's varied landscapes and the animals in them.

Response: This was a cute story. Some of the rhyming was a bit weird in some places, like been, and seen. Just how it reads doesn’t flow. The illustration is good, but I like more use of color. I don’t see the pictures really holding a pre-schoolers attention. With the exception of the drawing of the invisible possum, that to me was probably the most enjoyable aspect of the illustrations.

#picturebooks

Additional Picture Book #1 Karen Beaumont

Title: Doggone Dogs

City/Publisher: New York, NY/ Scholastic Inc.

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Characteristics:Very bold and contrasting colors. And a unique rhyme scheme. The illustration is very big and although it is styled in cartoon form, it also takes a realistic appeal to the eye.

Audience: Pre-k through 2nd or 3rd grade

Summary: Ten doggone dogs can’t wait to go to the park. Once there, however, they wreak havoc at the Perfect Pooch Obedience School, causing one doggone disaster after another. Finally, after making one too many messes, the dogs are captured by the pet patrol, and incarcerated. But they are not locked up for long. As the guard drifts off to sleep, these clever canines put some of their “tricks” to good use!

Response: I absolutely loved this book. One of roommate’s kids’ brought this to me to read one night, and I fell in love. It is so cute and impossible to not like. The use of color is so bright and vibrant, and then contrasting but not in a negative way. It’s not overwhelming. The rhyming that it contains and use of counting forward and backwards is extremely appealing to the kids. I know from experience.

#picturebooks

Classic Children’s Picture Book #6 Margaret Wise Brown

Title: Goodnight Moon

City/ Publisher: Harper and Row

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Characteristics: Lots of bold contrasting colors. Mostly those of primary colors with will stand out to younger children, as well as the rhyme scheme.

Audience: Pre-K

Summary: Story written about a rabbits routine before he goes to bed. Before his bedtime, the rabbit goes around the room and notices items within eye sight and says goodnight to all of them.

Response: This is honestly one of my favorite picture books from childhood. I love stories that rhyme well and have a good flow. And this one does. I also enjoy the bold colors that appeal to younger children because of the primary colors.

Classic Children’s Picture Book 5 Maurice Sendak

Title: Where The Wild Things Are

City/Publisher: Harper and Row

Genre: Fantasy Picture Book

Genre Characteristics: This book has the ability to have several unique characteristics with it not having words. This allows the reader to simply take the picture and make sense of it. So with that said, it has some amazing use of color, and a way with how the story flows that it could almost be thechild transitioning to sleep.

Audience: This book is geared towards an upper child, about 10. But can be read or told to kids much younger.

Summary: Story centers on a young boy named Max. After his mother sends him to bed with no dinner, Max falls asleep and his room immediately transforms into a moonli forest in land of the wild things. He becomes their king, but soon smells something delicious and makes his way out of the land of the wild things and back into his room, where his mother has left him dinner.

Response: I do enjoy this one. I like that you, the reader can put your own words into what is happening on the page. It challenges the reader in a different way to be creative. The use of color is amazing as well. It starts with Max’s room, very bland and nothing stands out. Then the trees are added, and then suddenly you are in a forest. Very effective when reading to children.

Classic Children’s Picture Book 4 Robert McCloskey

Title: Make Way For Ducklings

City/ Publisher: New York/ The Viking Press

Genre: Fiction

Characteristics: Personification is the main characteristic that pops out at me. The author uses a Duck family, and gives them humanistic qualities to tell the tale.

Audience: Pre-K to 2nd grade

Summary: The mallards finally decide on an island in the Charles River. From this island, the mallards visit a policeman named Michael on the shore, who feeds them peanuts every day. Shortly thereafter, the mallards molt, and Mrs. Mallard hatches eight ducklings named Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack

Reader Response: I quite enjoyed this book, and I am fairly certain I remember it from my own childhood. It is different from some other picture books, in that the illustration is mostly sketches and of bland colors. I think I mostly enjoyed the realistic aspect of it. The idea of of a couple looking for the perfect home to raise their children. And that’s a great bridge to teach your own children about the things that truly matter when searching for a home.

Children’s Classic Picture Book 3

Author: Dr. Seuss

Title: And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street

City/Publisher: New York/ Vanguard Press Inc.

Genre: Fiction

Characteristics: Rhyming and the use of the colors Red, Yellow and Blue.

Audience: PreK-2 grade

Summary: We’re introduced to the narrator Marco, who likes to tell tall tales about the things that he’s seen. And today is no exception. Marco goes home from school and turns a simple horse and wagon into a whole host of characters in his mind.

Response: Dr. Seuss uses rhyming and the primary colors to excite children about reading. He creates a mini escape to a fictional land and time that allows for imagination. He uses these two characteristics in most of his books. And then of course, although all his books illustrations are very different, they all have a similar style that tells you who the author is.

Children’s Classic Picture Book 2

Author: Arnold Lobel

Title: Frog and Toad Are Friends.

City/ Publisher: New York. Harper and Row, Publishers, Inc.

Genre: Fiction

Characteristics: There is a consistent theme of colors in this book. Greens, and browns. The watercolor style creates a softness. While the specific colors are calming and reflective.

Audience: Pre-K-2. Anywhere from 4-7.

Summary: Frog is looking forward to a whole year with her friend Toad. Only, Toad refuses to wake up from his winter nap. Then through 5 short stories, Frog and Toad go on many adventures together including a time when Frog gets sick and Toad takes care of him. There is even a story that touches on the effects of means words or malice laughter.

Response: Frog and Toad is actually a children’s series that I don’t care for very much. It’s hard to put my finger on exactly why, but I didn’t care for them growing up either. I think I’ve read one once that I enjoyed and actually liked. Overall, I feel it’s too wordy. The targeted age is such a Developmental age that I feel like it’s written in such a way that makes it easy to understand for the pre k level, however there is so much content, I don’t see it holding the same age levels attention. Also, the stories really have no point, therefore I feel it would also lose the attention of a 2nd grader on grounds of incompleteness or a sense of being unfulfilled.

Children’s Classic Picture Book 1

Author: Else Holmelund Minarik

Title: Little Bear

City/ Publisher: New York/ HarperCollins, Harper Trophy, and I Can Read Books

Genre: Fiction

Genre Characteristics: I feel like the illustrator used color as a leading element. The characters themselves are brown and neutral colors, but objects around them that they come in contact with are colored in pastel watercolors. It is a very subtle but bold difference. I think this could be an attempt at an overall softness to the text, because it doesn’t take away or distract but rather enhances.

Audience: Ages 4-8

Summary: “Meet Little Bear, a friend to millions of children. And meet Mother Bear, who is there whenever Little Bear needs her. When it is cold and snowy outside, she finds just the right outfit for Little Bear to play in. When he goes to the moon, she has a hot lunch waiting for him on his return.”

Reader Response: I did enjoy this book, and intend to read it with a 6 year old that is struggling with learning her alphabet and the sounds that letters make when attached to other letters in order to form words and sentences. It is a joyful book about curiousity and imagination, and drives home the idea that a mother is always there to care for her young.

#littlebear #elseholmelundminarik #picturebooks #childrensliterature

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