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ericasbookblog-blog · 6 years ago

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Newbery Medal

Bell, C. (2014) El Deafo. New York, NY: Amulet Books.

Introduction

In El Deafo by Cece Bell, the reader is able to learn about a young child named Cece and her journey in learning to accept who she is. In addition, the reader is able to learn more about what it really means for someone to be deaf and ways to be more respectful. With vivid illustrations and an engaging story, the reader is able to appreciate Cece’s story.

Evaluation of Book

One of the primary traits within the illustration is the ability for it to define and develop characters. Right at the beginning the illustrations are able to demonstrate what kind of character Cece is. She is a young girl who is just living her life when she has an accident that ends her up in the hospital. The situation is then determined to be fluid from her spine which can cause a whole other world of things. Being able to see everything about Cece in the illustrations, from the very beginning to the end of the story helps really see how much she grows as a character as well as her journey throughout.

Another trait within the illustrations that is evident is the depiction of action. Perhaps one of the most evident scenes of this is when Cece is trying to get used to using her hearing aid. The reader is able to see all the different actions that are occuring, in addition to the actions Cece is having to observe herself such as lip reading. Being able to see the actions that Cece is having to go through helps the story become more realistic. Since there is so much that Cece goes through in the story, being able to see the actual actions depicted in the illustrations helps to be able to follow the story.

A trait within the text in the story is dialogue. Since this is a graphic novel, most of the graphic novel is done with conversations happening between different characters. What is particularly interesting about this specific story is that most of the talking that Cece does is to narrate the story, as she is learning to speak again herself. However, it is pretty neat to be able to follow Cece from not saying much to having full blown conversations. It is a tough ride there but she slowly begins to speak again to the point where narrating is not all she does.

Response

This book was one of the most interesting books I read this time around. I really liked the different it story it told in comparison to other stories we have read. I think a message that children can take from this story is that it is okay to be different. At first Cece is having a hard time getting used to her hearing aid and she hides it in her shirt. It is not until the end of the story that she has the courage to have a friend who accepts her for who she is. Being different does not mean that you have to be put on the spot and reminded of differences, instead it can mean that it is more reasons to thrive and shine. Of course a change like this would not be easy on no one, so this book can also serve as a reminder to parents that children do really need the most support especially when changes like these occur.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I thought that the subjects that it touched upon were done in a manner that was easy to follow especially for kids. Also as an aside, my favorite part of the book were the illustrations. I really enjoyed following the different illustrations and colors that were in the pictures. Even though this situation was not easy, the colors in the entire graphic novel still hold some type of optimism as they are bright and bubbly.

Summary

I definitely enjoyed El Deafo by Cece Bell. The content along with the illustrations made the book a wonderful read. Also, I thought that the topics it touched upon were done in a way that is appropriate for kids to read. I would give this book five out of five stars.

Citation

Bell, C. (2014) El Deafo. New York, NY: Amulet Books.

Jamieson, V. (2015). Roller Girl. New York, NY: Penguin Random House Company

Introduction

In the graphic novel Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson, the reader is introduced to Astrid, a spunky character that is fascinated by the sport of roller derby. Through determination and practice, Astrid reminds all of us that you can accomplish what you want, and sometimes the best thing to do is just be a good friend.

Evaluation of Book

One of the traits that is visible within the illustrations is the illustration’s ability to define and develop characters. Through the illustrations, the reader is able to learn more about Astrid, and who she is. Astrid is not your typical girl, the only way I can describe her is spunky. In addition, the reader is able to learn more about other characters, such as her best friend Nicole. Something important to note about Nicole is that the illustration is able to show her very hesitant personality. When she’s talking to Astrid, she almost seems torn between her friendship and the friendship she has with Rachel. In addition, the illustrations are able to demonstrate the change in personality that happens between Astrid in the beginning, and at the end when she becomes Asteroid.

Another trait that is seen in the illustration is the text being reinforced. Through the majority of the book, the reader is able to see that Astrid and Rachel do not get along. The illustrations are able to depict this perfectly. An example of this is when Astrid explodes on both Rachel and Nicole and she spills soda on them. It is at that moment that the reader is really able to learn just how much Astrid does not like Rachel based on the illustrations. Also, I think the illustrations are able to remind the reader that Astrid is just a kid. She is trying really hard to be this tough derby girl, but she is about to start junior high and she has a lot going on, and it is not until the end when she opens up to her mom that she is able to be more at peace.

One of my favorite traits within the writing is the dialogue that is present. The entire book is told from Astrid’s point of view, and the reader is able to see what is really going on in her head when she is having internal quarrels. A perfect example of this is when she is upset that Zoey gets to be jammer, and she does not. You can see how torn Astrid really is about the whole situation because she wants to be able to support a good friend and be happy for her, however, the role that she obtains is one that she had been working to get for a long time. In addition, it is fun to see the dialogue that her and her mom have. Her mom still thinks of her as a kid and Astrid is just a kid about to become a teen so she is having a lot of conflicting emotions.

Response

Personally, I was able to connect with Roller Girl and just how different she was from the rest of the kids. While her best friend is going off and learning ballet, she is over here trying to learn how to fall safely and not break anything. I can say that growing up I was not like my older sisters who were into dancing, rather, I wanted to play soccer or join a sport of some kind. One of the ways I was able to relate to the book is when Astrid dyes her hair blue because she wants to fit in with the derby girls. This reminded me of the first time I dyed my hair, and my mom had the exact same reaction! I was not smart enough to do other things to lessen the shock like Astrid did, however her mom’s reaction really reminded me of my own mom’s when she noticed my hair!

I think it is important for children’s literature to be able to portray how hard it is to be a kid transitioning from that elementary to middle school transition. One of the things the text really teaches is how difficult it was for Astrid to be able to accept her best friend’s new friend. As we get older, we tend to react differently to things, however as a kid, this can feel as betrayal and other emotions. This is exactly what Astrid felt. Perhaps my favorite part of the text, however, is that the reader is able to see just how much Astrid grows, especially towards the end. Being able to set all things aside and wish the best for your teammate really shows just how much she has grown.

As a whole, I think this was a wonderful read. It had a lot of content, enough to explain what roller derby was and how it worked, enough to get me pumped about learning more, and enough for me to be excited for Astrid and her halftime bout. This story has a lot going on with the characters and it does make me sympathize to my younger self. Growing up around that time can be rough and seeing Astrid’s story really puts into perspective how confusing that time can be. Overall, this book really shows the power of friendship and just the power of believing in yourself.

Conclusion

I enjoyed reading Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. With all of the events occuring, and the friendships, I was able to connect with the text, and see a little bit of myself in Astrid. Also, I really enjoyed learning more about roller derby. I would give this book four out of five stars.

Citation

Jamieson, V. (2015). Roller Girl. New York, NY: Penguin Random House Company

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ericasbookblog-blog · 6 years ago

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Horror

Note: I was able to read Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark 3, however the only copy I was able to get a hold of was in Spanish. I have done the book review of this book’s Spanish version.

Helquist, B. (2011). Historias de miedo 3: Para contar en la oscuridad. Barcelona, España: GranTravesia.

Introduction

In Alvin Schwart’s Historias de Miedo 3: Para Contar en la oscuridad (also known as Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones) the author brings the reader a series of short scary stories for children. In addition, the illustrator provides illustration to be able to aid the reader in piecing some of the stories together. Through short stories, the author is really able to bring some fright and scare even the bravest.

Evaluation of Book

One of the most prominent traits within the writing in this book is understatement. For many of the scary stories, they end on a note where the reader can pretty much assume what has happened or what is going to happen. For some of the stories however, the fact that there are cliffhangers that occur just adds on to the mystery. One of the stories in the book is titled La Parada de el Autobus or The Bus Stop. In this story, the end has the reader come to a realization that the character that was waiting by the bus stop actually died 20 years ago. This allows the reader the ability to be able to conclude their own belief on what happened to the woman.

Another trait within the book is figurative language. There is a lot of figurative language within the book. There is a specific story titled Es El! Or in English It’s Him! Which uses a lot of figurative language to describe a specific woman and a man to describe their relationship. The woman goes ahead and cuts the husband’s head because she cannot stand him, however, the way that the entire story is explained is with sound effects and the screeching of the voice is very eerie. The figurative language that is provided throughout the stories makes the stories feel a lot real and really have a creepy element that is necessary for horror stories.

There are very little illustrations within the book, however the illustrations that are present extend or develop the plot. For many of the stories, they are able to provide a picture to really be able to depict the story that is occuring. There is a story titled La Mano Muerta which is The Dead Hand. The illustrations that are provided are really able to show the character a lot more along with the setting that he is going through. This is the case for the rest of the illustrations. The illustrations are able to add to the plot. In addition, it is important to acknowledge that the color that is provided is strictly black and white. This adds to the eeriness of the stories.

Response

This was one of the toughest reads for me- not so much because of the format because I love short stories but because it was horror. Scary books have always been my weakness and almost everything scares me! I do have to say, however, this was a read I was able to get through. Perhaps it was the fact that the stories were short, however I was able to enjoy the stories even the scariest ones. One of the things I really liked about this book in particular was that it did have cliffhangers which left room for imagination. Some of the stories were able to give the reader an immediate answer as to what had happened to a certain character, however others did have cliffhangers which made the stories so much scarier. This particular book is rather interesting at this moment as they are making a movie out of it. For some adults, this is something that is rather exciting as this is a story they might have read as kids. Now, they are able to enjoy the book on one of their childhood classics while perhaps sharing it with their children.

One thing about this story is that it does have a connection to the world. In many instances, there are stories that are passed down from different generations. The same can be said about scary stories. I specifically remember folklores and folktales that have been passed down in my family and some of them are terrifying. Some of these stories have that same type of feel as they are short and sweet. There is a specific story in this book titled Cada Vez Mas Rapido or in English Quicker Every Time. This story has that scary element that resonates with parents warnings to be safe when children are exploring. In this case you have two characters that go explore the forest and one of them does not make it back. Personally, I think these kinds of stories have a connection to folktales of some sort.

Conclusion

As a whole, I enjoyed reading Historias de Miedo 3: Para Contar En La Oscuridad. This book had the right amount of horror for me to the point that I was able to enjoy the content itself. Being that it was the right amount of horror, I was able to enjoy how short and sweet the stories were. There is a lot of content that is provided within the small stories. I would give this book four out of five stars.

Citation

Helquist, B. (2011). Historias de miedo 3: Para contar en la oscuridad. Barcelona, España: GranTravesia.

Schwartz, A. (1991) Historias de miedo 3: Para contar en la oscuridad. Barcelona, España: GranTravesia.

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ericasbookblog-blog · 6 years ago

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LGBTQ+

Love, J. (2018). Julian is a Mermaid. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Introduction

In Jessica Love’s Julian is a Mermaid, the reader is introduced to Julian, a young boy that wishes to be a mermaid too. Through illustrations, the reader is able to really see how much being a mermaid means to Julian. In the end, his wish finally comes true.

Evaluation of Book

In this story, one of the details that is able to be translated from the illustration is the ability for it to define and develop characters. The reader is able to learn a lot about Julian in this short story. The reader is able to see just how much he loves mermaids and how much he wants to be one as well. Once Julian and his grandmother’s bus ride comes to an end, he stays longing, looking at what it would really be like if he became a mermaid as well. When his grandmother takes a shower, he manages to make his dream come true- he becomes a mermaid himself. The illustrations are able to show the actual transition from him becoming Julian to him becoming a mermaid. There is a lot of details in the illustrations, as well as a lot of colors that he believes are representative of mermaids.

Another trait within the illustration is the illustration’s ability to provide interesting asides. The illustrations are able to show right from the beginning the mermaids outside of Julian’s window. Those are the ones that inspire Julian to develop who he wants to be. In addition, the illustrations are able to show what kind of community Julian lives in as well as what his living situation is with his grandmother. When Julian dresses up in his mermaid attire, it appears as if he does it in his grandmother’s space. From there, the reader is able to see the grandmother’s reaction to him dressing up as a mermaid as well as the gift that she bestows upon him.

One of the traits that was visible within the text was music in language. This specific book is very short in text. Some of the pages simply have illustrations. However, the very few text that is provided is beautiful in nature as it is able to aid the reader in understanding what it is like for Julian to become a mermaid. One of my favorite examples of this is when Julian’s grandmother takes him to a surprise location- which turns out to be the place where all the mermaids are. The very little text that is provided is able to help the reader imagine a lot more of what is going on.

Response

This specific story really touched my heart. In this specific story, we have a Hispanic young boy and a grandmother that are spending time together, when a young boy finally reveals to his mom that he is also a mermaid. His grandmother does not respond in any way, even after he fully transforms into a mermaid himself. One of the things that I thought was the most beautiful is that he is able to reveal to his grandmother that he is a mermaid. There is a specific show that I am watching on Netflix and it is called One Day at a Time and it describes the ins and outs of a Hispanic family, along with all the struggles life brings. There is a specific episode where the main character’s daughter comes out to her mom. The mom takes it well, and she voices that she will support her, however then her daughter says she doesn't know how she will tell her grandmother especially because she does not know how she will react. In the Hispanic culture, I feel like the extended family is extremely close, so their opinions matter just as much as a parent’s opinion might. The beautiful thing about this book is that the young boy was able to tell grandma that he was a mermaid and instead of her reacting negatively, she actually comes back with a pearl necklace for him.

I enjoyed reading this book a lot. I definitely enjoyed the message behind the story as well as the illustrations that were provided. The illustrations that are provided for the story really demonstrate just how magical mermaids are to Julian, as all the beautiful colors encompass them. In addition, the story follows Julian’s journey to become a mermaid himself as towards the end of the story he is enveloped in the beautiful colors as well. My favorite part of the story is when Julian’s grandmother gives him a pearl necklace, as it is a sign of beauty and also a sign that she is supportive of him becoming a mermaid. Having a book like this in children’s literature can really aid an adult in case they are trying to convey that message of acceptance to their child. In many instances, having a story that is more or less relatable can help get a message across a lot more.

Conclusion

As a whole, I definitely enjoyed reading Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love. The story had a wonderful message as well as beautiful illustrations to support it. In addition, I personally believe that books like these have their place in children’s literature. I would give this book five out of five stars.

Citation

Love, J. (2018). Julian is a Mermaid. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

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ericasbookblog-blog · 6 years ago

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Coretta Scott King

Mora, O. (2018). Thank You , Omu. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company

Introduction

In Thank You, Omu by Oge Mora, the reader is taken to a place where a delicious meal is shared with everyone. Omu creates a soup that has everyone coming in to try some. With kindness and vivid illustrations, the author is able to transport the reader to a world where kindness is radiated.

Evaluation of Book

While there are several traits spotted in this story, one of the most noticeable within the illustration is the ability for it to establish setting. In the story, the reader is taken into Omu’s city, a city that seems very vivid and quick paced. However, through all the craziness that is happening, no one can seem to not notice the delicious smelling soup that is cooking in her home. One of the biggest takeaways from that aids the illustration’s ability to establish setting is the texture. Through the description of the smell of the soup, there is clearly a different colored type of artwork, which sets it apart from everything else that is happening in the story. Even though there is so much going on, so many different textures and things happening in the neighborhood, the smell of the soup stands out along with people’s reaction.

Another trait the illustration is able to provide is establish mood. The mood is clearly set from the beginning when Omu is seen cooking the soup. The reader can easily tell that the soup is being cooked from a place of warmth and wanting to cook a delicious dish. In my opinion, this is already a staple for the entire mood of the book. When she has her first guest arrive, she is immediately willing to share the soup and that is the trend for the remainder of the story. The fact that the book is serving a warm dish, and it is coming through with a warm character, does make the entire story feel like a hug. It is all positive and beautiful energy throughout the story.

One of the traits in the text that was the most evident to me was music in language. The entire story, Omu has people come that want to have soup, however, she never says no. Even at the end when she has nothing to give she still opens her doors and has people over. The way the book was written is in a way where it flows and is easy to read. Also, because the book is so positive in nature, it allows for it to be a read that is enjoyable. There is a little bit of predictions that can be made since the reader is able to pick up on the trend that is occuring, however it is still a story that flows well.

Response

While reading this book, I was able to connect to it immediately. Whenever I visit my grandmother in El Salvador, people will swarm to her house to eat her cooking- and she never says no. Her kindness is able to allow people to come into her home and enjoy the food. I think this book shared a message that many children will be able to relate to. First and foremost, we all have that person in our lives that will never say no and would be willing to even give their shirt off their back- that is who I feel Omu was in the book. Even in the end when she had nothing, she still opened her home. It is important for children to read about kindness in this regard, as it allows them to want to be just as kind, if not more. Being able to have literature that demonstrates strong kind characters allows children to know that kindness is appreciated, and we want to strive to be good people in our communities.

I definitely enjoyed reading this book. As I mentioned in the beginning of the book, I felt as if the book was a big warm hug. The dish itself was warm, Omu’s intentions of cooking the soup were warm, and all the warmness radiated throughout the story. Also, I enjoyed that the title of the book was Thank You, Omu I as it means that the people coming were indeed thankful for all Omu had done for them. Also, I enjoyed the illustrations as they depicted just how kind Omu’s intentions were. My favorite part was what happened after someone got a bowl of soup. When they left Omu’s place, they radiate with joy, and the rest of the neighborhood got to see just how delicious the soup smelled.

Conclusion

Reading Thank You, Omu by Oge Mora was a wonderful warm read. There was enough text and writing to make the reader understand and fall in love with Omu, as well as illustration to be able to support all the writing. I would give this book five out of five stars.

Citation

Mora, O. (2018). Thank You , Omu. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company

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ericasbookblog-blog · 6 years ago

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Pura Belpre

Ramirez, J. (2018). When Angels Sing: The Story of Rock Legend Carlos Santana. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Introduction

In Michael Mahin’s book When Angels Sing: The Story of Rock Legend Carlos Santana, the reader is taken through the life and world of Carlos Santana. While much is known about the artist himself, there are various details that are shared within the book that make it a book to enjoy. Through vivid pictures and engaging text, the reader is able to learn about the moment when Santana heard the angels sing.

Evaluation of Book

One of the things the illustration is able to do well is define and develop characters. Throughout the book, Santana is developed well as well as his love and passion of music is developed through the illustrations. Perhaps one of the most evident scenes of this is when Santana is trying different instruments and he finally comes to find the guitar. Through the illustrations the reader is really able to gauge just how hard it was for Santana to be able to connect to other instruments that were not the guitar. At the same time, the reader is able to see the joy that was him when he picked up the guitar. In the sections of the book where he is shown playing live, the reader can really see just how much his passion for guitar playing extends to. With these details, the reader is really able to learn more about Santana himself and his passion for music and the instrument.

In addition, another trait visible within the illustration is the illustration’s ability to provide interesting asides. The illustrations are able to depict the scenes that are being written, however there are small details that do make all the difference. For example, in all the pages, there are very faint numbers which are meant to represent the year in which the specific scene was taking place. There is a specific section which has the time set as 1958 and it has Santana and his family in a corner dressed as charros playing music to earn money. The specific illustrations show other details, such as the details in the windows as well as the details in the street. From the details it is evident that the scene is taking place in Mexico. The text is able to reinforce this by stating the scene takes place in Tijuana.

One of the biggest traits within the writing is music in language. Perhaps my favorite part of the story is that it is written going back and forth in English and Spanish. Personally, I feel that because it is written in this type of way, it is able to bring more of a connection within the artist himself and the reader. Reading about different things in Mexico and the different things he encountered did make me feel like there was so much about Santana that I did not know, however I felt some type of a connection to him. I could see through the illustrations just how his story came to be and how he really found that his passion was the guitar, specifically music as a whole.

Response

Reading a book like this I think is inspiring. Above everything, this is the story of someone and how he found the light and passion to create music. This is also the story about how he knew in his gut that no other instrument was for him as much as the guitar was. Having books like this for young readers is inspiring as it does tell children to follow their dreams and trust their gut feeling when all else fails. Perhaps my favorite part in the story is when the reader sees that Santana found the angels- they were inside him all along. In many cases, children do tend to have doubts about a lot of the things they do. I remember specifically when I was in high school having all the doubt in the world about what I wanted to do with my life after high school. A book like this reminded me that the answer to all my questions was really inside me- I knew it all along. Of course it took years for me to find out this was true (and a lot of degree changes) however many times children need to be reminded to follow their heart and everything will work out in the end.

I enjoyed reading this book very much. I do believe, however my favorite part of this book were the illustrations. The illustrations had so many vivid colors that reminded me so much of Mexican culture and the colors you see in much of the Mexican art. One of my favorite parts of the illustrations were the facial expressions that the illustrator gave Santana. When he was playing, he would always be depicted with his eyes shut which really allowed the reader to see just how passionate he was about playing his instrument. In addition, I enjoyed seeing just how important Santana’s family was to him.

Conclusion

Overall, I enjoyed reading When Angels Sing, The Story of Rock Legend Carlos Santana. The story included various different depictions of Mexican culture which made it a beautiful and enjoyable read. Also through the text the reader is able to learn many facts about Santana. I would give this book five out of five stars.

Citation

Mahin, M. (2018). When Angels Sing: The Story of Rock Legend Carlos Santana. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Ramirez, J. (2018). When Angels Sing: The Story of Rock Legend Carlos Santana. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

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ericasbookblog-blog · 6 years ago

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The Older Years

Tayshas

Carroll, E. (2018). Speak: The Graphic Novel. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.

Introduction

In Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson, illustrated by Emily Carroll, the reader is taken into Melinda’s world where she is trying to live every day as if nothing happened. Through amazing writing and illustration, the reader is able to travel with Melinda as she finds her courage to speak. Sometimes the hardest thing is to open up.

Evaluation of Book

One of the first things the illustrations in Speak: The Graphic Novel portray (within the very first pages) is the mood of the book. For starters, the entire illustration is in black, gray, and white. While some graphic novels tend to be like this, I do believe that this was done on purpose to relay the mood of the entire story. It is really clear from the beginning how Melinda is feeling about everything- school, home life, her friends, etc. Also, it is very visible that Melinda is not really present- her mind is elsewhere. This is present in every situation, like her home life and school life. For the majority of the book, Melinda just looks like she has not interest in anything. It is extremely visible that something is going on. It is not until the reader sees her reaction when she sees “IT.” When Melinda sees Andy Evans her air gets cloudy, she feels like she wants to throw up. It is clear that the Melinda is hiding something that she must tell someone about in order to be able to move forward and heal. Also, the illustrations are able see more characteristics past Melinda, like her life at home and the tension that is her living situation.

Another trait that is seen within the illustration is understatement. This goes hand in hand a bit with the mood of the story. While the pictures do depict the pain and horror that she is trying to live in day by day, it is clear words are not necessary for the reader to really understand what is going on with her. There is a scene where David invites her to his house for pizza. From the illustration, it is clear that she is biting her lip, and saying no because of fear. Her body language has her with her arms crossed and her eyebrows are scrunched. At no point does Melinda say “ No because I’m scared” instead Melinda says excuses which she is all too familiar with.

Perhaps a trait that is the most evident within the book is unexpected insight. The entire story is told from Melinda’s view, and all that she has gone through. Near the end of the book when she is confronted by Andy Evans, you can really see the anger and horror in her eyes from all that she has had to endure. She has come to a space that she considered safe and IT has entered the space and is now trying to attack her. The scene goes from Melinda trying to escape to Melinda trying to save her life. This type of unexpected insight allows the reader to see Melinda confront the horror that she has feared all school year, and she must now confront it with her life. Also, one of the biggest staples of the entire scene is when she clearly tells him “I SAID NO.”

Response

This book was one of the very few books where I got sucked into the character’s personality and aura. Throughout the entire book, I could not help but really see and wonder what was holding Melinda down, and why she was having to face all of this alone. It is not until she was able to explain that it became clear why she was withdrawing herself so much. It makes sense to me why it took her so long to open up, simply because it was not until the end of the book (and the end of the school year) that she was able to face him and confront him that she was then able to confront everything that was going on with her.

One of the biggest messages I took from the book were the signs that she was exhibiting all pointing to something being wrong. There were so many signs that anyone could have picked them up, but no one was really looking out for her. Her parents were caught up in their own problems, she lost her closest friend and the only friend she had was too busy trying to figure things out on her own, and the teachers she encountered were just upset that she was not speaking. Although it is important that Melinda was able to open up when she was ready, she did not have to endure the loneliness and pain that came through her journey if she would have just had someone that was interested in hearing what was going on with her, rather than judging everything she did wrong.

As a whole, I definitely enjoyed the book. This book touched many subjects that are difficult to address, however it did it in a way that the reader was able to keep up with the story and still learn more about the character. One of the reasons this book stood out to me the most was the overall details in the illustration. Through the colors and the illustrations the reader is able to learn a lot about who Melinda was before the school year started, and just what she is going through throughout the year.

Conclusion

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is a book that I would recommend to anyone. Through the difficult topics that are addressed, the reader is able to see a different type of story that is able to still keep the reader engaged. Overall, I would give this book five out of five stars.

Citation

Anderson, L. (2018). Speak: The Graphic Novel. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.

Carroll, E. (2018). Speak: The Graphic Novel. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.

Krosoczka, J. (2018). Hey Kiddo, How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt With Family Addiction. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Introduction

In Hey Kiddo, How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt With Family Addiction by Jarrett Krosoczka, the author takes the reader through the story of his life and how he experienced so many things and events that shaped who he is now. Through letters and conversation, the text is able to depict Jarrett Krosoczka’s childhood and just how much he endured.

Evaluation of Text

One of the main things the illustration is able to provide is the mood of the entire book. Through varying shades of gray, and the only different color is that to show Jarrett’s red hair, the reader is able to see just how much of a difficult time Jarrett had growing up. One of the biggest things you are able to see in the illustration is how much he was forced to grow up at such a young age. It is not until he is told about what is really going on with his mom that he is able to grasp what is really going on, and his mood changes from hopeful to see his mom, to just not wanting to talk about her or address what is really going on with her. Through reading the book, I was surprised by the overall feeling that was portrayed, and I did feel for Jarrett because it could have not been easy growing up with that.

Another trait that is visible within the illustration is the setting. Right at the beginning of the book, the reader is able to see the house that he grows up in with his mom until his grandparents take him away. Then the reader is able to see the house that he lives in for the rest of his life until he leaves for college. Right off the bat, it is very visible that the living situation with his mother is not working, as she clearly has her own demons to deal with. The illustration shows various times when he is just at home, but clearly Leslie has people over all the time, and she has her own stuff she’s dealing with. Once her drug addiction is revealed, all the pieces make sense as well as all the stuff she was having to go through.

Within the text, one of the traits that is seen the most is dialogue. The entire story is told through Jarrett’s eyes and the reader is reading the book with Jarrett narrating the entire story and his experiences. Something is to be said about how admirable it is to write a book about such a tough life, and still narrate it for the world to know about it. Looking at the story, this is a tough life that Jarrett Krosoczka had, and somehow he still managed to follow his dreams! Also, the dialogue that occurs within Jarrett and his mother really shows the dynamic of their relationship. Right from the moment that he learns what is going on, he begins to treat her different, however he is just a child, and he does not really know how to process the information that he has been given.

Response

Through reading Hey Kiddo, How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt With Family Addiction, there are various messages that can be taken away. First off, this is a real life story of someone that had all these factors in their life- drug addiction, missing father, and many things. What is admirable is that through it all, Jarrett was able to get through it, and even write a book about it. Perhaps the most powerful message of the book comes at the end when he writes his Acknowledgements. Having a book like this opens up discussion for young people to talk about what is going through. The worst part about the story is the demons that he kept seeing in his dreams, and how he just did not deal with them. It is not until now that he is dealing with them. Having books like this sends a message to young people that if they are dealing with something similar, it is okay to reach for help because there is absolutely no reason that they should be going through this alone.

While reading this book, I was able to take a different message that related to myself. I was able to really zone into all the events that have happened in my life and be thankful of everything. When reading this book and seeing the images of Jarrett as a preschooler being transferred from custody, I cannot even imagine a child that young having to go through all the different pressures and changes that he was going through. Reading about situations like these really make me thankful for the way I grew up. I might have not had the best childhood but I had both of my parents and that is something I am extremely thankful for.

As a whole, I really enjoyed this book. I think it had a wonderful message and it really helps understand Jarrett as a person himself. Having gone through everything he has gone through is really crazy, especially because he was just a child when most of those things happened. The events that occurred to him helped him shape who he is now and I am sure that he is glad that he was able to write everything that happened and share his story.

Conclusion

Overall, I really enjoyed Hey Kiddo, How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt With Family Addiction by Jarrett Krosoczka. The story had a very deep message and it still managed to keep me engaged. Overall, it made me thankful for the life I have lived. I would give this book five out of five stars.

Citation

Krosoczka, J. (2018). Hey Kiddo, How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt With Family Addiction. New York, NY: Scholastic.

0 notes

ericasbookblog-blog · 6 years ago

Text

Graphic Novels

Yue, S. (2010). Smile. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

Introduction

Growing up and being a teenager is hard enough, but it is even harder when you have got a million things going on! Friends, family, boy troubles, and even dentists visits do not make being a teenager any easier. In Raina Telgemeier’s Smile, the reader is taken through Raina’s journey through all of her struggles, and is reminded that sometimes all you have to do is smile!

Evaluation of Book

Through reading Raina Telgemeier’s Smile, one of the traits that is seen within the illustration is the illustrator’s ability to create depth with detail. I think it is important to highlight just how beautiful the colors are within the illustration and how the colors work together to create the depth that the reader is able to see. For most of the book, Raina is seen having conversations, and in times that she is not, the reader is able to read what Raina is narrating. One of the biggest examples of depth within detail comes towards the end when Raina is at her high school dance. The two pages of pictures have no text, all you see is Raina and her new group of friends having an amazing time dancing, and at the bottom the rest of the events that are happening within the dance, and the reader can just see how different Raina is looking in comparison to the beginning of the book. Through the depth in detail, the reader is able to really go Raina’s journey with her and the reader really feels invested in the story, hoping that she will find the joy and confidence to smile and be happy with herself.

Another trait illustrated is understatement. There are various examples within the book where the text is depicting something different than what the character might be expressing. An example of this is when Raina is at Juan’s party and everyone is playing “Spin the Bottle.” Everyone is excited to be participating, except Raina. From the illustrations, it is clear that something is going on that is making her not want to be a part of the game. Later on, it is revealed in the text that Raina does not want her first kiss to say it was “gross” kissing her, and she does not want any of the “ugly boys” that are there to be her first kiss. There are various instances aside from this one where the reader does not need explicit text to put pieces together on how Raina is feeling or what is going on with her.

This book was a fun read, primarily because the dialogue in the book makes it so easy to follow. It is not until you are reaching the end of the book that you realize that you have been with Raina through 6th grade, and now she is at her first high school dance! So much happens throughout the book, so many events that are monumental for anyone, however the dialogue that is present makes it so much easier and relatable to follow. There is a specific scene in the book where Raina is describing how perfect the day is, then an earthquake happens. Everything that is depicted, from Raina’s mom’s reaction, to her siblings, to even then worrying about her father are all relatable and told in a dialogue that the reader can keep up with. Through it all, you really forget that through everything Raina is going through because the reader is consumed on everything and everyone that Raina is meeting in her life.

Response

While reading this book, I felt all types of emotions. This book reminded me of being in middle school and having braces, it reminded me of my first time I had a crush, and I was ALSO in band (I played the clarinet though), and it reminded me just how annoying my little sisters were while I was going through all the struggles of becoming a teenager. I think one of the reasons this book is such a wonderful read is because you really do go through a journey with the character. While reading, I do feel like I got to see Raina grow up and become a much happier version of herself. One of my favorite parts in the book is when she finally stands up to her friends after they pull her skirt down. She finally realizes that those are not real friends- they have been treating her negatively for so long, and she distances herself from them. Ultimately it works out for the best because then she makes new even better friends! It is really easy to get consumed in the story and for the reader to connect, as so many of these events have happened to most of us.

I think it is important for books like these to be out there, because even though the book takes place a long time ago, a lot of these events are relatable to children and teens now. Raina is such a relatable teen for many kids and teens out there, but perhaps the best part of the whole story is that she gets through it! For many children, going to middle school, having their first crush, getting braces, getting acne, it is all too much! It is nice for there to be books that are able to depict a person that has gone through it. Sure, it was not easy, and she literally lost two teeth in the process, but she gets through it and even has moments where she does enjoy school and everything else. In my opinion, it is so much harder being a teen now than it was when I was a teen- having positive role models can be helpful and even characters in literature than can be relatable.

As a whole, I think this is a wonderful book. I think there are so many subjects and topics that are touched that you really do not notice it, until you are towards the end and you realized “oh, what a journey it has been!” I personally think this book has a lot of detail and other wonderful qualities that make it a great read. At my current library, children are always trying to get their hands on one of Raina Telgemeier’s books- and I can see why. With a character like Raina it is so easy to feel like you get what she is going through. I think this is a great book for kids or teens to read.

Conclusion

Overall, I enjoyed reading Raina Telgemeier’s Smile. The book has so many wonderful qualities, from the colorful pictures, to the engaging dialogue, it is a book that is relatable to any teen at any part of their teen years. Also, I think there is so much more content than just Raina’s story about her braces that makes it appealing to readers. I would give this book five out of five stars.

Citation

Telgemeier, R. (2010). Smile. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc. Yue, S. (2010). Smile. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

Tamaki, M. (2014). This One Summer. New York, NY: First Second.

Introduction

In Jillian Tamaki’s This One Summer, the author tells the story of two girls and their summer at Awago Beach. Though it is a tradition that both girls have to attend Awago Beach in the summer, there is no shortage of exciting events and challenges that they each face. At the end, Windy and Rose leave Awago Beach hopeful for the following summer.

Evaluation of Book

One of the main traits that is seen within the illustration is the depiction of action. There is a lot of action occurring in the story, and the illustration does a great job in portraying those actions. One of the specific scenes that reminds me of this trait is when Rose and her mom have their disagreement. The illustrations really portray how angry Rose is as well as her mom’s feeling of just not knowing how to communicate how she is feeling. Also one of the things the illustration does is show noise. The illustrations have a recurring “ticka, ticka, ticka” in the background, which only seems to intensify along with their argument. The illustration’s ability to portray action makes it easier for the reader to visually imagine what is really going on, and how all the characters are feeling.

Another trait within the illustration is texture. The texture that is displayed within the book also goes hand in hand to create the total composition of the illustrations. One of the best examples of the texture is when Rose and Windy are seen walking from the beach back home. When they walk, they have to go through grass and other tropical greenery. Seeing the texture in the illustrations really reminds me of what it is like to go back to El Salvador. The weather over there is extremely humid and sticky. Seeing the illustrations I get the same type of feeling. In addition, the texture is evident within the character’s faces. An example of this is Rose’s mom. She does not look old, neither does her dad. However because of the texture in the illustration, you can see that there has been aging maybe because of some stress that she has encountered. It is not until later in the book that the reader finds out that she had a miscarriage last year, and going back to Awago reminds her of it.

A trait that is seen within the writing is precise vocabulary. One of my favorite parts in the book is when Windy always questions things. She always questions things or events with the precise vocabulary- at the end of the day all she wants is an answer! Also, the entire story is written in a way where the vocabulary makes the story easy to understand and follow. One of the things that is hard to believe is that the entire book takes place in the span of one summer. A lot of events occur within that time and it does not feel like it because most of the events occur within the span of watching horror movies, going to the beach, and just Rose hanging out with Windy. The fact that the words are easy to follow along with the illustration, makes this a story that is a fun read.

Response

One of the ways that I was able to relate to the story is by the dynamic that the main character, Rose, has with her father. It is very clear from the beginning that Rose and her father have a very close relationship and she is very upset when he leaves because of an argument with her mom. I remember growing up I was very close to my father. I would always prefer to go do things with him than with my mom. Reading and seeing the character in the story be similar, really brought me back to that time. Another way in which I related to the story was just remembering what summers were like growing up. I personally never went to any specific location, however I remember just repeating the same action over and over and it almost made you dread the summers. Reading about Rose and Windy’s summer reminded me of just being bored doing the same thing, but still- being thankful that you were not in school!

Having books like this in literature can send out various messages. One of the primary messages it sends is the importance of communication. Throughout the story, there are various times that the characters are not able to communicate effectively and it ultimately ruins their relationship. An example of this is Rose and her mom. They are not able to communicate effectively about their entire situation so it creates a very hostile situation. Another example is the events happening with the Dud (Duncan) and Jenny. Since Jenny becomes pregnant, there is never really a time in the story where her and Duncan talk about the situation. Instead there is always a harsh exchange of words, to the point that she almost drowns. Another message is the importance of family. Personally, I think Rose would have had a much more enjoyable summer had she cleared up the situation with her mom. However, because there were so many emotions that were happening, they did not clear things up until the end, and it is only because Rose overheard the conversation her mom was having with Windy’s mom.

Overall, I do think this book was a good book. I was a bit surprised by the events that occurred throughout the book, however, I noticed quickly that those events were not altering the main characters and their situations. Ultimately, they were trying to have a great summer and leave their problems, but that is not how things work- you cannot run away from your problems. I also enjoyed reading about two really good friends and their summer. It is a wonderful thing to read about two kids that do not go to the same school, but still they remain as friends every summer. Seeing friendships like these definitely sends out a positive message.

Conclusion

I really enjoyed reading This One Summer by Jullian Tamaki, illustrated by Mariko Tamaki. The story was exciting enough to follow as well as the illustrations. Personally, I think I enjoyed the illustrations a lot more than the text, simply because they allowed the story to be elevated to a new level. I would give this book four out of five stars.

Citation

Tamaki, J. (2014). This One Summer. New York, NY: First Second. Tamaki, M. (2014). This One Summer. New York, NY: First Second.

0 notes

ericasbookblog-blog · 6 years ago

Text

Caldecott Medal

Lin, G. (2018). A Big Mooncake for Little Star. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Introduction

In Grace Lin’s A Big Mooncake for Little Star, the author tells the story of a curious little girl named Little Star, and her curiosity of what a mooncake tastes like. Through vivid illustrations, the reader is taken into Little Star’s journey and gets to learn just how much Little Star loves mooncake.

Evaluation of Book

Through reading this book, there were various illustration traits that stood out, but perhaps the most noticeable is the illustration’s ability to provide interesting asides. Throughout the story, Little Star makes a mooncake with her mom and promises to her that she will not touch it until she says though. However, the reader is quick to notice that this is a promise that Little Star has a hard time keeping. She sneaks out to have one bite, and it turns into Little Star eats the entire cake! The illustrations, however are able to show the crumbs from the cake that she eats, and it makes them look like stars. Towards the end when she eats the moon, the illustrations even depict different moon shapes as well as the tiny crumbs all around as stars. The illustrations also place Little Star on a black setting which makes it seem as if she is a part of space, and she really is carving out the shapes of the moon.

Another trait that is visible within the illustration is the reinforcement of text. Through the illustrations, the text that is written matches the illustrations. This is most prominent in the end when Little Star’s mom finds that she has eaten the entire cake and she has a smirk on her face. The details on mom’s expression are stated in the text as well as Little Star’s expression. Being able to have the illustration match the text makes the story easier to follow; this is particularly important for this specific book as the story is actually quite short. Also, in the beginning of the story, Little Star’s mom has the same expression, almost confirming to the reader that she will indeed have a hard time keeping herself away from the mooncake.

Within the text aspect of the story, music in language is visible. This specific story is very short and sweet. It is a short story about a mom and a daughter making a mooncake, as well as a promise her daughter makes that she will not eat the cake. The story itself is very beautifully written and the reader can almost feel the warmth of the entire scene. The text possessed the ability to flow naturally and it allowed for the reader to have more of a connection. My favorite lines in the story are those that describe how much Little Star loves the mooncake. Every time she tries it she says “Yum!” and she leaves as if nothing happened, however the cake is getting smaller and smaller.

Response

After reading the story, I went ahead and read Grace Lin’s note at the end of the story. She states that the story was not written so much with roots in Chinese mythology, but rather the Moon Festival. After reading this, I was able to see the story from a different light. This kind of story reminds me of those little memories that we all have growing up, that might be tied to some type of holiday. For example, for me that holiday is Christmas. Every Christmas, my mom makes tamales and she would always make me help her (she still does!). Once the tamales were done, she would tell me to wait until they cooled, or they would upset my stomach. However, I hardly listened because they smelled so yummy and I knew exactly what they had so I wanted to taste them! Reading A Big Mooncake for Little Star reminded me of that place. Having literature like this available for children can make them really treasure the different memories/traditions that they are having growing up. Reading a book like this can create that discussion, and it can make kids also learn about the different traditions that other children might have around them.

I enjoyed reading this book as it has a fundamental role to really be able to remind children and adults about how important small moments can become traditions. I am certain that something as simple as baking a mooncake is something that is treasured by someone as it is not just simply baking, but rather a time that can be shared with the family and remind of the Moon Festival. Having literature that is able to allow readers to feel a connection, aside from what culture or background they are from is great literature.

Conclusion

In A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin, the author is able to transport the reader into a journey both through text and a personal journey. Reading the book took me to a place that reminded me of traditions with my mother. Through illustrations, the author is also able to demonstrate that Little Star is not so little, as she is the reason the story is so lively. I would give this book five out of five stars.

Citation

Lin, G. (2018). A Big Mooncake for Little Star. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Lies, B. (2018). The Rough Patch. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children’s Books.

Introduction

In Brian Lies The Rough Patch, the reader is taken through Evan’s day to day life with his dog- and is show how amazing their bond is. However, when something horrible occurs, Evan has a hard time processing it. Although, the reader is reminded that even in the worst situations, you can get through the roughest patch.

Evaluation of Book

One of the illustrative traits within this book is establish mood. The illustrations that are provided are able to demonstrate the mood of the entire story. The story starts off extremely high- very happy showing the relationship that Evan has with his dog, all up until he has to say goodbye. From that moment the illustrations are able to support the change in mood. The colors in the pages turn from vivid colors to dark and the expressions in Evan are very angry. The illustrations demonstrate something that Evan enjoyed to do as something that he does to try and process his anger. It is not until the end of the story when the color starts to change and the mood does as well. The mood becomes a lot more positive at the end when he has been around other individuals and he takes a brand new friend home.

Another trait within the illustration is the illustration’s ability to establish setting. Through the illustrations the reader is able to learn just how important gardening is to Evan. The majority of the book takes place with him in his garden, and it is also the place in which he lays his dog to rest. Through the illustration, the reader is also able to notice how important the garden is to Evan. He is able to mourn through his loss through gardening. Although he does garden to reflect just how angry he is, he is able to push through it and find joy as he begins to grow a pumpkin.

The text is able to provide understatement. Through the beginning of the book, there are various scenes that are shown that show just how happy Evan is. When Evan’s dog passes, it is something that the reader is able to pick up on, it is not necessary to be pointed out. The understatement that is provided within the book allows the reader the ability to make sense of the text that is being provided as well as the many emotions that Evan is feeling. It is extremely hard for Evan to process his dog’s death, however he does it by doing something that him and his dog enjoyed doing together.

Response

While reading The Rough Patch, I was able to feel a lot of emotions. The first thing I felt was that feeling of sadness. I have a puppy myself and I love him so much. I quickly empathized with the character as I cannot imagine losing my little pup as he is my closest friend. Also, although this is just a children’s picture book, the message behind it is extremely deep. The title itself led me to believe this was going to have something gardening related, and while it did it was so much more than that. This book demonstrated the process of someone trying to deal with loss, the loss of someone that was extremely close to them. Reading a book like this to children can serve many purposes. First and foremost it can allow children to know that it is okay to feel different emotions of anger, confusion, and sadness when someone close to them passes. Also, it is able to show that things do get better. The illustrations that are provided are able to really dig into a topic that is difficult to discuss, but in a manner that is okay for children to question about.

I enjoyed reading this book. Usually when a book is able to take me through a journey and make me feel all types of emotions, I have a great time reading it. Although the emotions that I felt through the course of this book were mostly sad, I still enjoyed reading it. Loss is not something fun at all, but being able to read a picture book that brought it up in a way that was still okay to be read to children was wonderful. The entire message is that things will be okay, and it is okay to feel the way you do when you lose someone. That is definitely a message that can be shared with a child that might be suffering with the loss of someone close.

Conclusion

Overall, I enjoyed reading The Rough Patch by Brian Lies. The topics that are discussed are deep, however they are presented in a way that children will be able to process. Also the illustrations that are provided encourage the text that is being provided. I give this book five out of five stars, however, if I could, I would give it ten out of five stars, just because I enjoyed it so much.

Citation

Lies, B. (2018). The Rough Patch. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children’s Books.

0 notes

ericasbookblog-blog · 6 years ago

Text

The Younger Years

2x2

Pizzoli, G. (2018). Crunch The Shy Dinosaur. New York, NY: Penguin Random House, LLC.

Introduction

In Crunch The Shy Dinosaur by Cirocco Dunlap, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli the reader gets to learn about Crunch, a shy dinosaur that is in his habitat and is a bit shy. This is an interactive story where the reader must be able to help out in order to be able to have Crunch participate. Through fun illustrations and an interactive story, the reader is able to learn about Crunch.

Evaluation of Book

In the book Crunch The Shy Dinosaur by Cirocco Dunlap, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli one thing that the illustration is able to depict is action. Throughout the story, the reader is able to see a day in the life of the very shy dinosaur, Crunch. The illustrations are able to depict Crunch as he is in his environment, and they do depict the reader as someone who is coming into his environment as an observer. Also, through the text, the author tells the reader to “Say Hello” or say the reader’s name, and in the following pages, Crunch will either be frightened, or extremely excited! The actions depicted in the illustrations are able to make this story seem more realistic and they do allow the reader to be engaged in the meeting of Crunch.

Another trait that is visible with the illustration is the reinforcement of the text. The illustrations that are provided go very much hand in hand with the text that is being displayed. For example, for one of the pictures, the text reads, “That was too quiet, he’s gotten uncomfortably close to you!” and in this specific scene, the dinosaur appears extremely close, to the point you can only see his head! The majority of the book contains scenes like these where the text is reinforced by the pictures that are provided.

The biggest trait noticed within the writing is dialogue. Dialogue is present throughout the entire story as the book is written with the intention of having the reader participate with the author in the telling of the story. Having this trait really makes the book engaging for the reader, because the reader is able to be hand in hand with the author as they make their way to meeting Crunch. One of the ways I could compare the dialogue in the book is of that like you are in the forest meeting an animal, and the author is the guide, telling you about the animal and what type on environment they live in and so forth.

Response

One of the great things about this book is that it is able to really push children to use their imagination. For many children, dinosaurs are their favorite animal and they have seen them in TV shows or in the books they read. To be able to have a read aloud book that is able to engage the reader in the meeting of a dinosaur is pretty exciting as the dialogue makes it seem extremely realistic. The prompts that the text provide makes it seem as if the reader has to participate if they want to meet Crunch and get to know him. Also, one of my favorite things about this book is that Crunch is shown in his habitat, not in some house or something that is far off. He is shown in nature and the reader is portrayed as someone that is just visiting his habitat while trying to be respectful of it.

Overall, I have to say the book was enjoyable. There were various parts that I really enjoyed, especially when the author asks the reader to say their name, and in the following picture, the author states that Crunch has written their name, however the reader just sees a bunch of colors painted on a rock. The humor that is provided within the text makes the story enjoyable for the reader while the illustrations make the story easy to follow.

Conclusion

As a whole, I really enjoyed Crunch The Shy Dinosaur and I think this is an enjoyable story for any child willing to engage with a book. The illustrations and the text make the book enjoyable. The one thing I would have wanted is more of the book. While the book is great, I personally felt like I did not get enough of it. I would give this book three out of five stars.

Citation

Pizzoli, G. (2018). Crunch The Shy Dinosaur. New York, NY: Penguin Random House, LLC.

Dunlap, C. (2018). Crunch The Shy Dinosaur. New York, NY: Penguin Random House, LLC.

Tejas Star

Long, L. (2018). Amor. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

Introduction

In Matt De La Peña’s Amor, the reader is taken into a world where they are shown the love that is surrounding them as they grow older. Through marvelous illustrations and text to go along with it, the reader is submerged into a story that is there to demonstrate just how much you are loved.

Evaluation of Book

In Amor by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Loren Long, a trait seen within the illustrations in the setting being established. The illustrations portray so many different traits and characteristics of so many different families and cultures. There is a specific scene that has a family surrounding the television, while a child is just looking from the stairs to see what the fuss is about. Perhaps the thing that stands out to me the most is the illustration of the cross at the top as well as the picture of Jesus, along on the other side as there is a picture of Frida Kahlo. This specific representation of the setting hits really close to home as it reminds me of what my house at my parent’s looks like. We have different artwork around, especially those of Hispanic artists, as well as many religious pieces, such as pictures or crosses. I was fortunate to have read the book in Spanish, so while reading the book in Spanish, as well as seeing the images, it hit very close to home.

Another trait that is visible within the illustration is providing a differing viewpoint. The scene that I described above is a perfect example of this. While the entire family is surrounded looking at the television, there is a child at the stairs. This allows the reader to take a look at two different viewpoints. First there is the viewpoints of the family, and whatever they might have found out about, second comes the viewpoint of the child. The child is standing their with their teddy bear, wondering what is going on, unaware of what has her family surrounded by the television. Providing differing viewpoints allows the reader to understand what is being said in the text, while still bringing a different appreciation of the literature.

Lastly, another trait that is seen within the text is music in language. As I stated before, I was fortunate enough to have been able to read the book in Spanish. Reading the book in Spanish made it possible to really see the beauty in the words and the intention behind the book. The only way I can describe the text is like a big warm hug. Reading it brought me back to a lot of different places, particularly me growing up. Because the words were written in a way that made them flow so well, the reader is able to submerge themselves in the text and able to be reminded of all the love that surrounds them.

Response

While reading this book, I was really taken back to how important it is to be able to have books like this in literature. There are various stories that exist out there that are telling a fiction story, or not, however this book serves as a story to really remind the reader- hey you are loved. Having books like these is extremely important because our world moves so fast, that many times we forget to tell those around us how much we love them. Many children grow up with a routine already in place- mom and dad might work all the time, and they might just feel like they are not appreciated. Stories like these are able to remind children of all the love that is around them, and all the overwhelming support that they have.

As I stated previously in the review, the only way that I am able to describe this book is like a big warm hug. When I was reading it, I was brought back to all those moments that I truly felt loved by my parents, and all those memories have stuck by me. I think having the illustrations hit so close to home, as well as reading the book in Spanish, really brought a different appreciation of the text. Perhaps my favorite part in the text is when the father and son are fishing. They have their red and white tiny cooler and their fishing supplies. This took me back to the very few times I went fishing with my dad, and how much I enjoyed it. Different illustrations were able to have different meaning for me, but overall they reminded me of the love my parents have for me, and the love I have for them.

Overall, I have to say I enjoyed this book very much. I think that the illustrations match up with the text so well, but they also allow for more depth in the story. Also, I think that there are so many different situations and scenarios portrayed that it is easy for anyone to relate to the book. This book also gave me a slight reminder to really tell those around me how much I love them, and to remind them of how much love they are surrounded by.

Conclusion

As a whole, Amor by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Loren Long is a wonderful read for anyone any age. This book is able to remind the reader and the audience of the love that surrounds them as well as the love that is yet to come. I would give this book five out of five stars.

Citation

Long, L. (2018). Amor. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

De La Peña, M. (2018). Amor. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

0 notes

ericasbookblog-blog · 6 years ago

Text

Fantasy

Image

Santoso, C. (2017). Wishtree. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

In a story that captures a tree as its main character, Wishtree by Katherine Applegate reminds everyone just how important it is to treat everyone around them. This beautiful tale also demonstrates just how powerful a tree and a few critters can be. Lastly, it reminds the reader that just when you think no one is watching, someone might just be keeping an eye on you.

Evaluation of Book

While reading Wishtree by Katherine Applegate, there are various themes and traits that appear in the writing, but perhaps the one that stands out the most is dialogue. First off, it is important to acknowledge that the dialogue that is occurring throughout the majority of the book is done between a tree (specifically a Northern Red Oak tree named Red) and a crow (named Bongo). Of course there are other characters that interact with Red, but the majority of the talking is done by Red and Bongo. The story itself is told from Red’s perspective and his story quickly changes from just a tree talking about what he is doing to a tree with a purpose and a mission to make someone’s wish come true, after all he is a wishtree. I’ll be honest, when I was reading this, there were times that I found myself forgetting that he was a tree. There were times when I was saying “just get up and walk!” But I quickly remembered that he is a tree! However, even though he is a tree, he accomplishes so much more than most humans have.

Another trait the book contains is music in language. The best representation of this is when Red is describing what he has been through, and all the things he has seen. Red states:

“When you stand still for over two centuries while the world whirls past, things happen. Mostly, by far and away, good things have been my lot in life. My leaves have cooled picnickers and proposers. Beneath my boughs vows have been made, hearts mended. Nappers have napped; dreamers have dreamed. I’ve watched ascents attempted, listened to stories spun” (Applegate, 2017).

The way the entire book is written is almost in a poetic nature, Red is very eloquent with his words and he is very passionate about his home and his tenants. Something important to note is how he describes the tenants around him, Samar and Stephen. Seeing him trying to make Samar’s wish come true and the different steps he takes are wonderful, as they are small steps, but they do make a big difference.

Although there is very little illustration, I think it is important to acknowledge how the little illustration that is provided is able to extend and develop the plot. There are various illustrations that are provided allow the reader the ability to see the different characters that Red talks about, including an illustration of what Red really looks like. There is one specific illustration that makes the text richer than it already is. It is on page 202 and it is right before they are about to cut Red down. All the animals that consider him a home, are seated on his branches. The illustration shows owls, cats, raccoons, rats, and Bongo the crow. The story goes on as the characters are in awe with all the animals just sitting on the tree, refusing for it to move. Although the text does justice in telling the reader what exactly is happening, the way the illustration is shown just add more detail that makes it seem so much more real.

Response

I am unsure how to describe it, but while reading Wishtree by Katherine Applegate, the one connection I had with the text was that it was very calming. The main character itself is a tree, and trees themselves are shown to be staples in nature, perhaps even aiding to a calming environment. When I read the book, I found myself reading it with a different type of sense and approach; the main character was calm and he was witty and when the toughest things arose, he still handled them in such a poised manner. This type of attitude did not remind me of myself so much, because I am the complete opposite, but rather of how acting and reacting in this manner can have its own strengths. If I was a tree, and I knew I was getting cut down in a few days, I would not be as calm as Red was, rather I would be freaking out, mostly because I am a tree that cannot move! However, reading this book did remind me that there is definitely a positive at just staying calm and being observant at things.

I think sometimes as human beings we have a very quick and on the go type of lifestyle that we do not stop to really enjoy what is going on around us. For example myself, I cannot remember the last time I sat under a tree; maybe it happened when I was a child, and maybe it was on a spring day, but I cannot remember any time after that. I think after reading this, I definitely saw the saying “You don’t know what you have until it's too late.” Luckily, Red was able to stay and continue to be a part of the community, but in general, since we are living such a quick lifestyle, sometimes we are not able to stop and enjoy what is happening around us. This book definitely made me realize that there are other things to be enjoying around the world, and I should not be living such a busy lifestyle; it is not healthy for me and it is also not healthy for those around me.

I think this book is one of the very few books that I have read that falls into the category of both wonderful text and a wonderful work of art. The way the book is written almost makes you forget that you are reading about a tree, but rather the reader feels very connected with this tree and the troubles he is going with. Also, it is important to acknowledge the two separate stories that are happening at the same time; sure this is a story about Red and his purpose as a wishtree, but it is also a story about how we wishes to make one girl’s wish come true and the lengths he goes to do that. He breaks the one rule he is supposed to follow, which is to never speak to a human, but as soon as he finds out his days are numbered, he breaks it just so he is able to give Samar the wish she wished for, “A Friend.” It is important for books like these to have a place in children’s literature because they are able to remind young readers that things will get better, even if it feels like they won't, they do.

Conclusion

Throughout reading Wishtree by Katherine Applegate, I learned that sometimes you have to stop and enjoy what you have before it’s gone. Although this story is fantasy, some of the themes that were presented were extremely relatable for children even adults. In addition, I do believe that this book falls into a category of great text and great illustrations overall making it a great piece of art. I would rate this book a five out of five stars.

Citation

Applegate, K. (2017). Wishtree. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.

Santoso, C. (2017). Wishtree. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.

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Baynes, P. (1950). The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

It is hard to imagine a whole other world than the one we currently live in. It is especially hard to imagine that there might be a world behind a simple wardrobe. Through curiosity and discovery Lucy, Edmund, Peter, and Susan are able to enter another world and perhaps become a part of something greater than they thought ever possible.

Evaluation of Book

Throughout The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, there are various forms of dialogue that take place. What makes the dialogue in the book particularly special is that at no point does it feel like you are not talking to a human. This specific story is fantasy, and so are the characters inside it. However, the conversations that take place between the children as well as the many characters (such as Tumnus, Aslan, and Mr. Beaver) feel natural to the reader, as if you are just carrying a conversation with any other human. The way the book is written is able to transport you to another world, with the comfort of dialogue being simple and relatable enough for the reader.

Another trait within the book is understatement. There are various scenes within the book that allow the reader the opportunity to conclude what the character is feeling without being directly told by the writing. An example of this is when Edmund asks the queen for “Turkish delight.” Upon asking her for this, Edmund continues eating and having a conversation with the White Witch. The reader can easily conclude that he is eating his food and enjoying his time as he is getting practically everything he could ever want. Many of the actions that occur within the book occur on their own, and the reader can then conclude how they are making the character feel. Another example of this is when Edmund is confronted by his siblings on whether there really is a world on the other side of the wardrobe and he denies it. The reader can conclude that Lucy must have felt all types of emotions, even though they are not clearly stated.

In addition to the previous two traits, another trait that is in the writing is unexpected insight. There are various times that the reader knows things that the character in the book might not. An example of this is the entire dynamic between the White Witch and Edmund. Although the character himself might not know what is happening, the reader knows that the witch is bad and is up to no good. Of course, this is something that the character does not discover right until the end when it is a bit too late and too tricky to escape. Unexpected insights in this particular story are essential because they are able to keep the reader going with the story, wondering when the character themselves will be able to know the information the reader has known for quite some time.

Response

I was able to connect with the text, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis on a personal level. I vaguely remember reading this book as a child in elementary school. Reading it a second time around reminded me of all the details of the book that I enjoyed, and it definitely gave me a different meaning the second time around. I think for many of the books that we have had to read, there has been an awakening to new books I did not know I would love so much, as well as a reminder of all the great books I have read. There is definitely a huge difference reading books as a kid and as an adult. Now, I am able to make more meaning of the literature as well as make connections and piece things together that I perhaps was not able to do when i was younger.

This book was able to address one specific thing I find important- the genre of fantasy itself. This is probably one of the few fantasy books that I have read that has had a long term impact on me. In one of our previous discussions, I stated that fantasy is one of those genres that I do not feel too connected to because I just have a hard time imagining anything outside the realm of possibility. However, this is probably one of the only books where I did allow myself to travel to Narnia and be with all the characters during the different times. I do think one of the reasons for this is because there was a type of fantasy that was being portrayed with the possibility of relation. For example, I remember being just like Lucy when I was a child, discovering and getting into things that I was probably not supposed to be getting into. Having that aspect of relatability within the text was something that was able to help me personally connect with the book a lot more.

As a whole, I enjoyed reading the book. I think this specific book is more of an entertainment piece rather than a work of art. While I do think there were several parts and characters that qualify to be art, I do not think the whole book is. For example, in my opinion, the character of Aslan is one piece that I would consider art simply because he was well developed and portrayed in a beautiful manner. On a different account, I would also consider the White Witch a piece of art too. The different features in which she is portrayed as well as her character as a whole is fascinating enough to qualify as art. I think this book is great for anyone trying to read something fun and engaging that will be out of the ordinary. This book is able to transport the reader and provide a wonderful story that keeps the reader on edge.

Conclusion

Overall, I enjoyed reading The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. It was definitely a book that had enough adventure and excitement while still encompassing different fantasy aspects to keep the reader engaged. Also, the different twists and turns do make the reader eager to read other books that are within the series. Overall, I would give this book four out of five stars.

Citation

Baynes, P. (1950). The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

Lewis, C.S. (1950). The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

0 notes

ericasbookblog-blog · 6 years ago

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Romance & Poetry

Smith, L. (1992). The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. New York, NY: Penguin Books.

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Metropolitan Museum of Art & Bennett Hopkins, L. (2018) World Make Way: New Poems Inspired by Art from The Metropolitan Museum. China: Abrams Books.

World Make Way: New Poems Inspired by Art from The Metropolitan Museum by Metropolitan Museum of Art and Lee Bennett Hopkins

Art is beautiful on its own, but when poetry is attached to it, it develops another meaning. In the book World Make Way: New Poems Inspired by Art from The Metropolitan Museum, the reader is able to take a look at a beautiful piece of art, while having a poem next to it. Both things merged allow for a brand new form of artwork to be born.

Evaluation of Book

The beautiful poetry along with the artwork that is provided in World Make Way: New Poems Inspired by Art from The Metropolitan Museum come together to provide the reader with a differing viewpoint. When I read the book, I took a look at the artwork first, prior to reading the poem to try and make meaning of the art. Afterwords, I went ahead and read the poem. When you look at both things together you are able to see a little bit of what drove the poet to create the poem that was written. An example is the first poem Paint Me which is inspired by a paint by Gustav Klimt. When you look at the painting, the young woman looks serious. She has an arm to her hip and a white dress with flowers. The poem is written as if the young lady is talking to the artist, telling him/her to hurry up and paint her, she’s got places to be! After reading the poem and seeing the artwork, I am able to see what drove the poet to write this poem, and the same can be told for the other poems.

Perhaps the one thing this book had that most of the other ones I read did not have, was texture. For most of the paintings, there was a description of what they were painted on in the bottom corner (oil on canvas, color on silk, watercolor on paper, and so forth). Many of the paintings that were displayed had evidence of the type of material they were on. The specific piece The Chess Players has very evident cracks and a solid brown border around it. On the bottom corner it says “tempera on wood.” Being able to see the texture of the artwork just makes it all that real that someone was on another end painting the object with the intention of it being seen. I also think this feature makes this book that much more special. Personally, I have never been to New York, and I do not know if I will ever get to see The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Seeing the paintings this close and being able to connect with them on another level with poetry makes it that much more special.

The way the poetry is written throughout the book demonstrates music in language. With most of the poetry in the book, you are able to hear how the words were meant to blend and how they were meant to sound in sync. The specific poem, This Is the Hour, you can hear the syllables blend together when you read them. The artwork becomes one with the poetry because the fact that the colors are so subdue made me personally read this in a very mellow tone. Had the colors been brighter or perhaps demonstrated another emotion, I would have read the poem in a different way.

Response

Throughout reading World Make Way: New Poems Inspired by Art from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, there were a lot of emotions that both the artwork and the text evoked. Reading the book made me feel a connection to the specific time that the poem was written; a connection to that specific poet and what their frame of thinking was at the time. There are various time frames and cultures that are touched upon with the art, and while reading them, I found myself wanting to know more about the background of a painting. It is hard not to feel a connection with the artwork and the poetry especially since artwork can be interpreted in so many ways. While a poem might be right next to it, it does not mean that that specific representation is the only one that can be drawn from it.

One thing I noticed right off the bat for myself was how the color in the artwork represented emotion. In some of the pieces, there were strong colors or perhaps the view of cloudiness within the painting and that signified anger or some type of confusion. When I read the poem Walking to Temple I felt almost a contradictory feeling within, because there are bright reds which exhibit anger, however the contrast with the white and the gray skies make it a more mellow atmosphere. As a pair, the poem is very mellow and does not exhibit any type of anger in its emotion. With art, one piece can exhibit a different emotion for almost anyone. Perhaps someone else will see that specific piece and think a whole different emotion, perhaps sadness or confusion.

As a whole, I definitely enjoyed reading the poems and looking at the artwork that accompanied it. It made me realize that the some of the poems that are inspired by the artwork I am able to connect with, because I see the same representation within the artwork. However for those that I do not, that is okay because not everyone is going to see the same thing. The foreword that is provided in the beginning states:

“When you look at art, you may see and feel things differently than your friends or classmates. You might focus on a work as a whole, or you might zero in on a small detail that jumps out-- a patch of sky, a sailboat, even a swirl of color” (Bennett Hopkins, 2018).

I can definitely agree with this statement because I did feel at times that the poem I read was beautiful, but it did not match the art I was looking at. I think when looking at work like this, or presenting work like this to children, it is important to remind them how we much be accepting and respectful of people’s opinions that are different from our own. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Conclusion

As a result, reading World Make Way: New Poems Inspired by Art from The Metropolitan Museum of Art I was able to read wonderful pieces that were inspired by beautiful pieces of art. Although I might have interpreted certain pieces of art differently, I enjoyed reading all the poems. I would give this book four out of five stars.

Citation

Metropolitan Museum of Art & Bennett Hopkins, L. (2018) World Make Way: New Poems Inspired by Art from The Metropolitan Museum. China: Abrams Books.

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Smith, L. (1992). The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. New York, NY: Penguin Books.

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

If you think you have heard all the fairy tales, think again! In The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith, the reader takes a look at the classic fairy tales with a twist. Some of these stories will not have the “happily ever after” you are looking forward to.

Evaluation of Book

While reading The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith, there are various themes that are touched on with the illustration, but none other is seen more than the illustrations capability to define and develop characters. Throughout the stories, the reader gets to meet several different characters within the story. However, unlike in their fairytale counterparts, here they much more intense expressions and feelings. Take for example the story of The Tortoise and the Hair. The expression that both characters have in the story is much different than what the reader has seen in their original fairytale. The “rabbit” looks frazzled and is trying to grow hair quickly, and the tortoise looks almost annoyed. Throughout the remainder of the fairytales, the expressions of the characters are well developed and the reader is able to pair the feelings that are being stated by the characters through text and through illustration.

Another trait that is seen with the illustration is depicting action. Throughout the story the reader is able to see what actions are being portrayed by the characters and how they pair to the story. An example of this is in the story of The Stinky Cheese Man when the cow is carrying the cheese man, but he drops him because he is so stinky. The cow’s mouth has fallen to the ground as he looks completely shocked by the smell that is coming from the cheese man. For this particular book, depicting action is important as most of the stories have an action that is occurring. In addition, some of the actions are depicted in the text itself. For the story Jack’s Bean Problem, the illustrations depict the giant squashing the text down, which has made the text look completely crushed. Action is being depicted in both the text and the illustrations together in the book.

Within the text itself, dialogue is something that is seen throughout. The entire book is narrated by the character from Jack’s Bean Problem, which is Jack! He is narrating the story throughout the book and introducing the stories. However, when it comes to telling the stories, some of the stories might be told by some of the characters themselves, and Jack comes in to give some of his commentary. An example of this is seen in the story Little Red Running Shorts. Jack is extremely excited about the story and he shares his excitement with the reader a little too much, spoiling the story itself. The main characters are so upset that they walk away from the story completely! The dialogue that is presented within the story is able to keep it lively and upbeat for the reader.

Response

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales was such a fun read that I almost forgot I was reading a type of fairy tales! This type of fairy tale that is presented has a twist that is able to keep the reader on the edge of their seat because they do not know what is coming since it is not the classic fairy tales that the reader is used to. Personally, I think this would be a great book to present in an audience of children after they have learned about fairy tales. I think many times, we have seen our own version of fairy tales whether it be Disney or other TV or movies. Having this unique twist on fairy tales makes them silly and is able to keep the reader engaged and wondering what other silly thing will happen next.

I think sometimes educators might be too focused on trying to teach what is required, versus something that might make a long lasting effect. I never remember reading this book as a child, because when we learned about fairy tales it was from a great big textbook and it was just to cover the fairy tale lesson. I will admit that the representation of fairy tales the Disney way made more of a lasting effect on me, simply because they were different and much more engaging. This specific book would have been something that would have made me remember fairy tales a lot more. This book is so different and although they are not the exact fairy tale, they are able to engage the reader in able to question “is that really how the story goes?” and so forth. This type of story might make more of a lasting effect as well.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this story. I think this specific story falls under the category of both entertainment and a work of art. The text itself is entertaining. For example, throughout the entire story, the little red hen is trying to insert her story in, asking where everyone is so they can help her make the bread! This along with other details makes the story extremely funny for the reader. In addition, the illustrations that are provided are definitely eye catching for the reader as they are different than most of the illustration the reader might be used to. For example, in Cinderella’s story, Cinderella is very tall and her dress is made up of pieces of different cloths and materials. This is different than most Cinderella versions that are out there.

Conclusion

As a whole, I definitely enjoyed The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith. The story itself is extremely engaging and enjoyable for the reader, and this would make a great read aloud book for children. In addition, this type of book is able to help children compare and contrast between the differences between the original fairy tales and the ones presented in this book. Overall, I would give this book five out of five stars.

Citation

Scieska, J. (1992). The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. New York, NY: Penguin Books.

Smith, L. (1992). The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. New York, NY: Penguin Books.

0 notes

ericasbookblog-blog · 6 years ago

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Multicultural & International

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Luen Yang, G. (2006) American Born Chinese. New York, NY: First Second.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, color by Lark Pien

In the graphic novel, American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang the author tackles various different subjects, such as racial identity and differences. With a surprise twist, the author is able to do this in a way that is appropriate and engaging for the reader.

Evaluation of Book

In the graphic novel American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, the author does a great job of providing the reader with unexpected insights. One of the most amazing things about this book is that there are actually three stories being told within the book. At first, it might seem hard to gauge how each of them is related. However, it is not until the end that you are able to see how each of the stories was a look at a small story that came together to shape the bigger story. Perhaps the scene that reveals this the most in this book is towards the end when the Monkey King explains who he is and his story. Seeing how the three stories are related and form one is fascinating, however it is the fact that they are so unexpected and they reveal this towards the end that makes it wonderful for the story.

Another trait that the author is able to demonstrate is understatement. This graphic novel has a lot of emotion from all the characters, especially the main character, Jin Wang. For most of the scenes, it is very evident that he is not feeling to happy, or that he is undergoing some type of internal quarrel, however, it is never stated in the text. Rather, the illustrations are able to depict that by showing his body language. Personally, this made the book a lot more enjoyable to me because I was not being told what the character was feeling but rather I was able to participate in the thinking.

Perhaps the trait that I find to be the most important throughout the book is one specifically dealing with illustration: extend or develop the plot. The illustrations that are provided in the book are necessary of course (since this is a graphic novel) but they are done in a beautiful way so much that the reader can keep up with three stories at a time. The text that is provided in the text bubbles is not so significant of the art, rather the art that is provided is done to be able to catch more from what is being said. There is one specific frame that has three characters. It states:

Wei Chen: “Sorry Jin, Please say again? Suzy and I were looking at each other with eyes of love.”

Suzy:”HA HA!” (Luen Yang, 2006.)

From reading this text, you can imagine one boy looking at the girl, but what the artwork does is it extends it so the reader is able to see the other perspective. In this specific case, the main character, Jin Wang is standing to the side, rolling his eyes with his tongue out which almost makes the reader conclude that he is saying “eww” or “yuck” at their statement. Being that the artwork serves as another trait that benefits the text is definitely advantageous.

Response

I was able to connect with this book very quickly. As I stated in my review for Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos, something I have struggled in the past is my identity. This is something that is seen with the main character here. I completely understand how complicated it can be having one identity at home and being around another one at school, it makes it hard to figure out who you are. I think American Born Chinese is a great book for anyone that is undergoing this kind of struggle and wants to see it from another perspective. Perhaps my favorite quote from the book is from the Monkey King. He states:

“You know, Jin, I would have saved myself from five hundred years’ imprisonment beneath a mountain of rock had I only realized how good it is to be a monkey” (Luen Yang, 2006)

I think this speaks out to how important it is to not try to be someone or something else but rather how freeing it can be to just be happy and accept yourself. For me, I know I am Salvadoran-American. I love being a part of both worlds and it makes me who I am.

Personally, I believe that this book does hit on some topics that might be more apparent within our youth today. For many of our youth that is coming from another country to live in the United States, it can be hard to try and figure out who you are. When these kids go and start school, they are not taught how to assimilate into American culture, or what that is even like. Instead they are thrown into it while still having to deal with their own culture at home which can create a cloudy and confusing time. The one thing I wish American Born Chinese would have digged into a lot more is what happens after he is faced with his conscience. However, I do think the topic is dealt with great delicacy and sensitivity.

Overall, this was one of the most enjoyable reads I have had in a long time. This book had so many aspects that I enjoyed: the illustration, the content, the characters, and many more. I was completely pulled by all of them and I wanted to know what the point was to have three separate stories. This book definitely serves two roles: education and entertainment. When I saw the purpose of them, my jaw dropped and I thought it was one of the most beautifully merged stories.

Conclusion

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang is quite possibly one of the most beautifully written stories I have read in a while. Both the text and the images make for a very enjoyable story with an ending that is not expected. In addition, the topics that are discussed are done in an appropriate way. If I had to rate this book I would give it a five out of five stars.

Citation

Luen Yang, G. (2006) American Born Chinese. New York, NY: First Second.

0 notes

ericasbookblog-blog · 6 years ago

Text

Mystery/Suspense

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Sobol, D. (2012) Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Soccer Scheme. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Soccer Scheme by Donald J. Sobol

Through short stories and mysteries, Donald Sobol’s Encyclopedia Brown is able to share some of his wisdom and insight into solving mysteries. The short stories provided allow the reader to learn that sometimes the smallest details are the ones that are the most important. In addition, through his mysteries, the reader learns that it is always helpful to have a friend with a new perspective on things.

Evaluation of Book

Donald Sobol’s Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Soccer Scheme takes the reader on ten different mysteries. With all the mysteries, Encyclopedia is able to solve them even with the smallest of details. One of the most notable details in the writing is precise vocabulary. Throughout the story, you do not see complex vocabulary in the writing, instead the writing is focused on explaining what is going on so the reader can figure out the mystery along with Encyclopedia. One of the biggest examples of this is seen in the small story “The Case of the Jelly-Bean Holdup.” The entire time, everyone is trying to guess how many jellybeans are in the jar, and Encyclopedia is sure that the person that won the contest, Butch, cheated. The context in which this story is told is very straightforward and does not confuse the reader. Towards the end of the book, you are able to see exactly what Encyclopedia saw (the details, hints, etc.) that make him sure about his conclusions.

Another trait that is notable in the book is understatement. Throughout the book, the stories end with the same hook- Encyclopedia solving the case. However, at the end of every statement, the author then asks the reader a question, perhaps how Encyclopedia is so certain he cracked the case, or what confirmed his hypothesis and so forth. This type of understatement is important in a mystery because it does keep the reader guessing and it does allow for the reader to have their own conclusion. If it was reversed and it said word for word after the story how he solved the case, it would not allow the reader any input on what they thought of the case. Rather after the mysteries, the author goes on to tell another short story. At the end of the book, the answers to how Encyclopedia cracked the case is displayed.

In addition to the two traits listed above, another trait that is seen throughout the book is the dialogue between all the characters and Encyclopedia. One of the primary reasons for pointing out dialogue within this book is because Encyclopedia is a young boy and he is interacting with adults and authority figures throughout the book. In The Case of the Hole in the Book, Encyclopedia is seen trying to solve the case as he assists the librarian. The dialogue that occurs throughout most of the book is taking place between Encyclopedia, his assistant Sally, and whoever else needs help with the mystery. In addition, the dialogue is what helps Encyclopedia be able to find out the answer to the mysteries. If the reader is careful, they can also solve the mystery alongside Encyclopedia, they just need to be able to find those clues!

Response

While reading Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Soccer Scheme, one of the things I found the best about the book is how relatable the story can be. Sure there are certain mysteries that take place, but most of them occur in an environment which anyone can be a part of. For example, the specific story which the book is named after could happen just if someone was watching a soccer game. The ability of the book being so relatable allows the reader the opportunity to be able to connect more with the text along with the ability to be able to apply these types of questions in the real world. Perhaps a young reader will read one of these titles and it will allow them to ask more questions about the world around them. Another thing I particularly enjoyed about the book was how easy it was to read. I had never read an Encyclopedia Brown book, so I was surprised when I saw that there are ten small stories within the book. The fact that all the mysteries are quick and small does allow the reader the ability to stay engaged a lot more. It also allows the reader more time to absorb the material and try to come up with some conclusions. If the mystery kept dragging on for the entirety of the book, sure it would make the story full of details, but it might confuse a young reader. Keeping the story short and sweet allows the reader the ability to be able to take all of the details in and come up with a solution that might be fit.

Overall while reading the book, I have to say I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I found myself stumped on a few of the mysteries and now knowing what the solution was, but this book was much more interactive than I anticipated it to be. In addition, I enjoyed that Encyclopedia was never not taken seriously as a character. Instead, people did take his word, and trusted the information that he had to share. Perhaps one of my favorite things about Encyclopedia himself is his sign that he created advertising his detective agency, stating “No Case Too Small, 25 cents per day plus expenses” (Sobol, 2012).

Conclusion

Throughout reading Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Soccer Scheme I found myself enjoying the story more than I thought I would. I thought the characters were developed enough to be able to keep up with them, in addition to the stories having enough information to keep the reader engaged. Also, the fact that the stories were small allowed the reader the ability to be able to take in the case and try to make their own conclusion as to what they thought. I would give this book a four out of five stars.

Citation

Sobol, D. (2012) Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Soccer Scheme. New York, NY: Penguin Group

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Snicket, L. (2007). A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginnings or, Orphans! New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishing

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginnings or, Orphans! By Lemony Snicket

If you thought you had bad luck, think again! The Baudelaire children give the meaning of bad luck a whole other meaning! With so many twists and turns to the story, the one thing the reader learns about Violet, Klaus and Sunny is that they only have each other.

Evaluation of Book

While reading A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginnings, or Orphans!, one of the main traits I noticed was dialogue. The entire book is written as if someone is telling the story to the reader. I am not quite sure who the narrator is, but they are able to provide the reader with some of the backstory about the family, as well as define some terms throughout the story that the reader might be unaware of. Perhaps the most notable lines in the book are the first one the reader sees on Chapter I., they state:

“If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book. In this book, not only is there no happy ending, there is no middle” (Snicket, 2007).

Immediately the reader is hooked because, it is impossible to assume that such a successful series is going to be as boring as the narrator is making it seem. In addition, the cover of the book definitely does not make it seem as if there will be no happy ending, or no middle.

Another trait within the book is unexpected insights. Throughout the story, there are small surprises (or big ones) that the reader does not see coming. For example, when Klaus discovers exactly what Count Olaf’s plan is, he runs to tell him, but what he does not know is that Count Olaf already knows that Klaus figured him out, so he takes their small sister Sunny and keeps her in a cage. This specific obstacle leads the reader to learn more about Violet’s engineering abilities as she makes a device to try and rescue her sister. Throughout most of the events that occur, there is another insight that is revealed about the characters. This keeps the story very engaging, as the reader does not know what to expect next.

Perhaps the most apparent trait in the book is drawing a line in the sand. This trait is seen in the end, when Count Olaf escapes, and the last thing he tells Violet is:

“I’ll get my hands on your fortune if it’s the last thing I do” (Snicket, 2007).

From that moment, the reader knows that he has escaped, he is gone, and Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are all in danger. There is not much discussion about him in the book, just a statement that Mr. Poe makes that he will be caught, but that is it. I will say, personally, I think it is not going to be that simple since he was able to get away with so much already. The details that are presented throughout the book are just enough for the reader to be able to conclude things on their own.

Response

While reading A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginnings, or Orphans!, I was taken back to middle school. I remember when this book came out and I remember everyone waiting to read it. While reading it, I found myself relating to the three siblings, specifically how close they are. I come from a family of eight, and my five sisters and I are all very close. Reading about Violet, Klaus, and Sunny really reminded me of that bond I have with my sisters, and how sometimes it really does seem like you only have each other to lean on. When Sunny is taken and tied up by Count Olaf, I felt the pain that the siblings felt, as well as the urgency they must have felt as to do anything to try and free her up. One of the main themes that is represented in this book is family, and the importance of staying together. The maturity of the characters really is impressive as they are all kids and Violet, the eldest, really does try to take on that role of being the one in charge of her siblings.

One of the things this book did is put into perspective what children must go through when they lose their family, and have no family left. Although this is a fictional story, this is something that some children do go through, unfortunately. When the children do try to go reach out to an authority figure (Mr. Poe) and tell him about everything that is happening to them, he does not take them seriously, and rather just tells them to go home. Sometimes children might over exaggerate on certain situations, but I think personally even if a child says something concerning, an authority figure should at least try to see what is going on, it might help the child or children in their situation.

While reading this book, I really found myself invested in the story. I kept telling myself “this is not real” and I kept wishing that the things that were occurring, were not really happening to someone out there. The story is extremely engaging and it is hard not to feel sympathy for the Baudelaire children. This is the first time I ever read A Series of Unfortunate Events and I was so engaged I will be picking up the second book. I will say, however, this is a mystery so there are a few loose ends that will (hopefully) be addressed in the second book.

Conclusion

Overall, I have to say I was extremely impressed with A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginnings, or Orphans!. The story itself is extremely engaging, and it has enough cliffhangers and mystery for the reader to keep up and be excited for what is upcoming. In addition, it is such a short book that the character development and story development that occurs is amazing. I would give this book five out of five stars.

Citation

Snicket, L. (2007). A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginnings or, Orphans! New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishing

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ericasbookblog-blog · 6 years ago

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Christian

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Catrow, D. (2017). When God Made You. New York, NW: Crown Publishing Group

When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner, illustrated by David Catrow

A young girl so vibrant and free is portrayed in the book When God Made You. In the book When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner, illustrated by David Catrow, the author tells a story about a young girl, and how God played a role into defining who she is today. Although the book does consistently say the word God, it does a well job as to tell the story of just what kind of person this young girl is without going too deep into religious topics.

Evaluation of Book

In the book When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner, illustrated by David Catrow, the illustrator does a swell job of extending and developing the plot. In most of the illustrations, the young child is seen to be on the go, ready for a new adventure every time. There are various scenes that do help in extend the plot by showing the reader more than is being told in the text. For example, in one of the pages the text reads:

“‘Cause when God made you, this much is true, the world got to meet who God already knew” (Paul Turner, 2017).

The text does slightly mention that the world gets to meet the child, however the illustrations depict the child riding her bright red bicycle in the middle of everyone else who is going about their day. Her expression, however is different than everyone else’s. She is joyously riding her bike with her pet in the back. From the illustration, the reader can further develop that the character is going somewhere and the story will now take place in a different location other than home.

Another trait that the illustration brings to the story is overall color. The colors in the book are very bright and vivid. Right in the middle of the book, the character is seen with a person who is crying because a leaf has fallen off their flower. There is more that might be behind this meaning itself. However, the child takes it upon themselves to take the paint brushes that are nearby and paint and color in her surrounding. It is very clear that once the colors are introduced into the pictures, the entire vibe changes. The person is no longer crying, rather he is smiling. The child keeps exploring the world around her based on what she is drawing, and they are now exploring together.

One of the traits the author explores in When God Made You is music in language. When reading the book, the reader can get carried away with the pattern and the rhyming that has been created. When reading the book, I found myself reading it at a certain tone, only because it flowed to melodically. The way in which the book is written does allow for there to be more of a musical reading than just regular reading. Also, most of the sentences that are within the book are short and sweet, so the rhyming and pattern that has been created is neither to long or short, but just right. Take a look at an excerpt below:

“God smiles and here’s why- in the spark of your eye, a familiar reflection shines bright from inside” (Paul Turner, 2017).

The sentences within the book follow this style while there is rhyming, there is just enough of a pattern and tone that can be developed when reading it.

Response

When reading the book When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner, it definitely reminded me of my nephews. The book itself portrays a young girl that is going about living her life as freely as she can be. The author then reminds the reader that God made this little girl (or you) and he sees you for who you are. My nephews are both 2 & 3 years old and when I look at them, I see an entire life waiting for them. Just at a young age they are unstoppable and eager to learn the most. The specific scene that was discussed above about the young girl with the gentlemen that is holding a flower reminds me of my nephews the most. The young girl in the book takes the colors and draws, this is something my nephews would do. They are always on the go using their imagination, and as the book states using their “talents and passions, those gifts that God fashioned” (Paul Turner, 2017).

This book is particularly interesting because it does say the word God in almost every page. We live in a society where it is accepted if you are a specific religion of course, however for the most part, you do not read these specific types of books unless you go to a specific school that studies a specific religion (like Catholic school) or you check them out or purchase them yourself. Personally, I think that if this book was read at a public school elementary school, it would create some clashing of opinions because everyone has their own opinions on God and religion. I think it is okay for this book to be out there to be read it is just a matter of being respectful of other religions that also exist.

I would have to say that overall, this book did address something that is close to me and my family. I consider myself to be somewhat of a religious person, and it did present me with a similar belief. I enjoyed the book overall as it did a great job of tying in some of the different Christian beliefs that exist while still keeping it appropriate for a child to read. Also, I did enjoy that the extent of the book’s Christianity was the word God. If there a further discussion into it, I would personally not deem it appropriate to read in a public setting, unless it was to inform and educate.

Conclusion

Overall, I enjoyed reading When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner, illustrated by David Catrow. The illustrations are vivid and engaging for the reader, and the story is quite wonderful. The ending does make the story feel like there is a “full-circle” effect; in the beginning the child is the one reading the book, and at the end the child is reading the book to her younger sibling. All in all, I would rate this book three out of five stars.

Citation

Catrow, D. (2017). When God Made You. New York, NW: Crown Publishing Group

Paul Turner, M. (2017). When God Made You. New York, NW: Crown Publishing Group

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ericasbookblog-blog · 6 years ago

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Realistic Fiction

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Russell, H. (2013) Eleanor & Park. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Young love- whether it be a crush you had in high school, or perhaps your first boyfriend or girlfriend, most people have felt that rush of emotions that comes along with first love. In the book Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, it is hard not to get trapped in the love story that blossoms, and even when you think their love story is about to end, you cannot help but still hold on to that string of hope.

Evaluation of Book

In the book Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, the author explores various themes. One of the traits that the author is able to provide is unexpected insights. Throughout the story, the reader learns about both characters: Eleanor and Park. Park comes from a family that is loved and lives fairly well. Eleanor lives in a completely opposite environment. The author is able to give details as to exactly what type of environment Eleanor is having to endure through various times in the book. A statement in the book reads:

“Her headphones were snapped in half and hanging from the edge of the bunk. Her grapefruit box was at the end of the bed, and Eleanor knew before she headed for it that it would be light as air. Empty. The lid was ripped almost in half, and someone had written on it in bold black marker- with one of Eleanor’s markers.

“Do you think you can make a fool of me? This is my house do you think you can hore around my neighborhood right under my nose and i’m not going to find out is that what you think? I know what you are and its over”” (Rowell, 2013)

From this scene, the reader is able to take a look at exactly what Eleanor is going through. She is not safe at home and she does not have the same support as Park does in his home. These unexpected insights allow the reader to see the world from Eleanor’s eyes and her trying to make sense of it, as well as seeing the world from Park’s eyes and seeing what he thinks she deserves in the world.

Another trait that Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor & Park novel provides is dialogue. The entirety of the book is written in dialogue. The chapters themselves are numbered but also named based on who is talking. One chapter will be Park, the other Eleanor. There is also no preset length. If the author wants the reader to know how the other character is feeling in the specific scene, the author ends one character’s dialogue and starts the other. Personally, because of how natural the dialogue is between the two characters, along with all the characters they interact with, this is a very easy book to follow. Through the dialogue the reader is able to get close and connected to the characters because the reader is able to learn certain aspects of who they are and they are able to connect with it.

Along with the previous two traits, a trait that is displayed in Eleanor & Park is precise vocabulary. I would have to go along and say that this is a trait that also goes hand in hand with the vocabulary also being able to bring the reader some type of connection or relatability. When reading this book, a lot of the dialogue and the words were interesting, but the actual content and the things they were talking about made it a fun read that I could personally relate to. There is a specific scene where Eleanor is grateful for everything Park has done, and she does not know how to repay him, however they she thinks of exactly how. She states “and then she realized that Park did now know about The Beatles” (Rowell, 2013). The way that the book is written is not in a fancy way, rather its in a very casual way that allows the reader that ability to feel connected to the text. The way it is written also allows the reader not to focus too much on the words, but rather what they mean.

Response

There are various emotions that Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell made me feel: happiness, anger, heartbreak, sorrow, etc. However, the one way I can describe what reading this book really felt like I was melting into the story. With every line and every phrase that Park would tell Eleanor and how kind he was, it made me remember of my first relationship and how kind the whole relationship was. The way each of the characters was developed was done in a way where it made me be able to relate myself to Eleanor as far as how she looks at herself and her body image. It also made me remember just how horrible high school really is and how thankful I am that that time has passed. While reading Eleanor and Park, there are definitely some scenes that would not be relevant now because we have other external factors that affect teens now a days, like technology. However regardless of actual things, there are several topics that are still problems in today’s society. One of the biggest one’s I saw was bullying. Eleanor is given several derogatory names throughout the book, such as “big red” and she is bullied by girls in her school. Unfortunately bullying is something that we still see in society today. Unfortunately children are bullied by other children for various reasons and while there are various programs in schools to stop this issue from occurring, it is still something you see happening. Perhaps the worst bullying scene in the book is when Eleanor’s clothes have been flushed down the toilet and she is forced to wear her gym outfit. I understand why Eleanor never decides to tell anyone about the bullying, but I do wish her character could have had the courage to tell an authority figure at school about them, perhaps a teacher she felt comfortable with.

Reading this book really made me enjoy it for both the literary content, and the work of art that it is. It is hard to be able to encapsulate two very different characters into one book, and make them seem so similar and so perfect for each other at the same time. Also with both characters there is so much development as far as who they are as individuals. There were times in the book where I was just holding on for dear life, hoping that everything would turn out for the best. There is a specific section within the book that is towards the end, which is a dialogue between Park and his father. Park is getting ready to take the car keys to take Eleanor to her uncle’s house, when his dad catches him. That specific dialogue made me feel so warm because I had seen their relationship progress throughout the book, and just when you think that his dad is not going to let him go, he tells him “I’ve got one condition- you’re taking the truck” (Rowell, 2013). This scene alone allows the reader to really picture how the dialogue happened- what their reactions were and how the scene progressed.

Conclusion

After reading Eleanor & Park I can say firmly that this is one of the best books I have read. There were so many details that kept me engaged and the two characters themselves were developed in such a wonderful way that it allowed me personally the ability to connect with them. In addition, I was able to enjoy the format in how the book was written because it allowed for a more intimate type of storytelling. I would give this book five out of five stars.

Citation

Russell, H. (2013) Eleanor & Park. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.

Rowell, R. (2013) Eleanor & Park. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.

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ericasbookblog-blog · 6 years ago

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Picture Books

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Salmieri, D. (2012). Dragons love tacos. New York, NY: Penguin Random House, LLC.

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

If you thought you loved tacos, wait until you read about these dragons! In the book Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri, we meet a young boy excited to invite some dragons over for a party, however, he must remember the golden rule of giving tacos to dragons- NO SPICY SALSA!

Evaluation of Book

In the book Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri, the illustration does a great job of showing various traits, however one of the strongest is depicting action. Throughout the entire story, you see the main character (a “kid”) getting ready for a taco party. Throughout all the scenes in the book, you can see the action that is taking place, from reading of the salsa recipe, to when the actual party is taking place, and even towards the end when someone gives dragons spicy salsa which makes the biggest explosion ever! This specific trait is able to guide the reader and feel more involved with the story. Perhaps one of my favorite scenes that depicts action in the story is towards the end when the dragons are helping the child rebuild his home. You can see various dragons helping with the construction, and other dragons eating tacos- per usual.

Another trait that is portrayed within this book is interesting asides. The illustrations provide various little tidbits of information that are able to engage the reader even more. For example, on page 5, you see the child preparing salsa, however the first line in the page reads “But wait!” (Rubin, 2012) as it reminds the child that dragons hate spicy salsa. However, all the ingredients that are surrounding the child are extremely spicy ingredients! There are jalapeño peppers, salsa’s that read “way too hot” or “Orla’s spicy salsa” (Rubin, 2012). This engages a conversation with the audience to ask if the child is choosing the right ingredients, perhaps he needs to change the ingredients he is using and then this begins the question of what those ingredients look like. The interesting asides that are provided allow the reader the ability to make more of a connection, and if this is a read aloud book, allow the audience more of a chance to participate.

In regards to the text, one of the traits that is portrayed the most is understatement. This is seen specifically in a scene where there is dragon standing tall and proud walking out of “Taco Cave.” The text reads:

“Either way, if you want to make friends with dragons, tacos are key. Hey dragon, why do you guys love tacos so much?” (Rubin, 2012)

That is the extent of the text. The text does not go on to have the dragon respond. Rather, it allows the reader to make their own inferences as to why dragons do love tacos so much. When I read this book aloud once, I had a child tell me during this scene that dragons love tacos because they are in a cave. Throughout the entire book, the reader never really gets an exact answer as to why dragons love tacos. The reader is allowed to make that conclusion on their own and it might be that the reason dragons love tacos is because of the same reason the reader might love tacos.

Response

One of the biggest connections I found to this book is when you have a love for something, and you just do not have the words to explain why. As stated in the previous paragraph, throughout the book, the reader never gets an exact answer as to why dragons love tacos, instead the reader is allowed to make their own guesses as to what the reason might be. I have my own personal opinion about tacos, but I can tell you exactly why I love them. However, there are sometimes things that we enjoy and things that we like in our lives that if someone was to ask us, why do you like that, you might answer, “I just do.” Without having to go too in depth, you just know you like that thing, maybe it makes you happy, maybe you are not sure, and that is okay. This is definitely a message that can be shared with children because sometimes they might not be too confident about the things they like or enjoy because they are afraid of what their classmates will say or think. Reading a book like this can reiterate the message that it is okay to love or like something for your own specific reason.

I think while reading this book, there were not any topics that clash with my specific view of the world. This book is a great book for children and it does not go into too many topics in depth. The topics that are touched upon with the book are very simple and do not push any type of deeper discussion. For example, when I read this book at an elementary school, this book started up a conversation of food. It allowed the students the ability to share what food they liked or disliked and why. Some of the students shared specific food that was near and dear to their heart based on their backgrounds. However, at the end of the day, the conversation started with food, not with anything too deep. I do think one of the great messages of this book is towards the end, when the dragons are helping the child rebuild his home. It does show that everyone can come together and help one another to get something done.

As a whole, I think this book is more for entertainment, rather than a book to have a long discussion afterwards. It does tell a wonderful story about dragons and tacos and what to do and not to do, while providing great illustrations, but overall it is more of a funny story. There is a specific dialogue before the dragons eat the spicy salsa between the narrator and the child and it goes as follows:

“It’s a good thing you got rid of all that spicy… Wait a second-- what are those little green things in the salsa? You didn’t read the fine print?!” (Rubin, 2012).

The illustrations that are provided on the page are entertaining for the reader because they show the child shocked at what is about to happen. This type of text and illustration allows the audience the ability to be able to react and feel more in the moment of what is about to happen. In many instances, if this is read aloud, the children are able to conclude what is about to happen.

Conclusion

Overall, Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri is a wonderful book to read aloud to children. In addition to having very humorous text, the illustrations allow the audience the ability to participate, and the ability to have a conversation after the book is done. I would give this book four out of five stars.

Citation

Salmieri, D. (2012). Dragons love tacos. New York, NY: Penguin Random House, LLC.

Rubin, A. (2012). Dragons love tacos. New York, NY: Penguin Random House, LLC.

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Robinson, C. (2016). School’s First Day of School. New York, NY: Roaring Books Press

School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex, illustrated by Christian Robinson

Do you remember your very first day of school? The smell of new crayons and freshly sharpened pencils? How do you think your school felt? I bet you have never thought about that. In Adam Rex’s School’s First Day of School, a very excited school goes through the first day of class, and shares their excitement.

Evaluation of Book

Throughout the book School’s First Day of School the illustrations demonstrate a lot of different aspects of the story. One of the things the illustration does best is establish setting. From the very first pages, the reader is able to identify where the school is exactly and what specific rooms of the school are being visited. There is a specific illustration that shows the kindergarten class learning about shapes. The illustrations depict a Kindergarten class as you would imagine it: ABC’s on the wall, a chalkboard, books, a bulletin board, a circle rug, and some children paying attention to their teacher! The way the illustration is set throughout the entire book does aid the reader in being able to piece together more about what this school really looks like and the different places inside of it.

In addition to the previous trait, the illustrations also reinforce the text. Much of the text that is written is very straightforward and easy to keep up with. The illustrations allow the reader the ability to be able to match both the text and the illustrations cohesively. There is a scene in the beginning that reads:

“A sign above the door reads, FREDERICK DOUGLASS ELEMENTARY. “That’s a good name for me,” thought the school.” (Rex, 2016).

The illustrations that are provided show a school, however the windows on the doors of the school look like eyes, and the door handles look like a nose, and at the bottom of the door a black line looks like a smile. Since the school seems to be talking in this page, it is appropriate that the school also have these characteristics as it makes the school look more human like.

A trait that is displayed wonderfully in the book is the dialogue that the book has with one of the characters, the Janitor. Through various scenes in the book, School seems to be doing actions and talking, however no one is noticing, it is not until the Janitor is there after everyone is gone that someone talks to the school. However, although no one seems to hear what the school is saying, he hears everything they are saying, and sometimes he does not particularly like or agree with some of the statements. At the end of the book, the Janitor comes back to clean up school for the next day, that is when School talks about his experience. Perhaps my favorite part from the entire dialogue is when School asks the Janitor if he could invite everyone back tomorrow, and the Janitor states, “I’ll see what I can do” (Rex, 2016). That type of attitude reminds me of a child when they had such a great day and they ask “can we come back again!” Since this was School’s first day of school, he has no idea that he will definitely have more than one day.

Response

One of the biggest things School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex did for me, is it reminded me of my first day of school. I have always enjoyed school, ever since I was a child, so to be reminded of that feeling of a first day of school was very nostalgic. I think a lot of the time when kids think about going back to school, they do not think about the school itself, rather what school means. For some kids, school might mean homework, and teachers, and friends, but it never means “big building with rooms and supplies.” I think this means a lot because we really do impact children’s views on school or their perception of what school means. If they are assigned work that is uninteresting or not fun, they can associate school (or that subject) with boredom or just dislike. Knowing that power, it is in our better interest to really make learning interesting and engaging for kids so they are able to associate school or learning with positive experiences.

In addition, this specific book demonstrates the different viewpoints that other children might have about school. While school might be a positive experience for some, that does not mean that it will be a positive experience for all. There is one specific child that School keeps mentioning, the little girl with freckles. She does not want to go to school so her mom has to carry her inside. School’s response is “I must be awful” (Rex, 2016). As the day progresses, she has a hard time opening up, but slowly she manages to get comfortable around the idea of school and her classmates. This specific viewpoint is something to share with children. Some children dread thinking about the first day of school for many reasons. It is important to show to children that it is okay to be scared, and that they are not the only ones that have ever felt this way.

Overall I have to say I enjoyed reading School’s First Day of School, however, I do associate part of that reasoning to the fact that I have always enjoyed school, and I have had positive experiences with school. If someone who does not like school or who has had negative experiences in school were to read this book, they might have a different opinion. I do think the way that the school was portrayed was wonderful, he was portrayed as a living breathing being with feelings and emotions. This is definitely something different from everything that I have read in the past. Also, I did particularly enjoyed how School went from thinking that he was probably not a cool place, to realizing he was way cooler than he thought.

Conclusion

As a whole, I enjoyed reading School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex. The content itself was written in a way that was easy to follow and very relatable for the reader. Also, it was wonderful that the school was made to almost seem as a living breathing being. The illustrations also played a role in making sure the story was well told. I would give this book four out of five stars.

Citation

Robinson, C. (2016). School’s First Day of School. New York, NY: Roaring Books Press

Rex, A. (2016). School’s First Day of School. New York, NY: Roaring Books Press

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Novak, B.J. (2014) The Book With No Pictures. New York, NY: Penguin Random House

The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak

In The Book With No Pictures B.J. Novak, the reader is able to engage in a story that does not have pictures, but also does not need them. Through funky sounds and colorful words, the audience is able to have a good time listening to this silly story.

Evaluation of Book

In the book The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak, there are absolutely no illustrations, however, there is color in the text of some words. The color does make the sounds from the page “pop” so when the reader reads them, it gives the reader the opportunity to really say things in a different manner. For example, there is a page that has nothing but sounds, and there are varying colors on the page, such as red, blue, orange gray, yellow, and so forth. Since most of the text throughout the page is in black and white, the contrast in the color is refreshing and it is able to contrast what the reader is meaning to read, versus the silly things the author wants you to read.

Another trait within the book is overstatement rather than understatement. Since this is a short book, there is not much room for understatement. Also, since there are no pictures, it is very hard for the reader to try and get an understatement from the text that is provided. However, there is a lot of overstatement, tons of noises and it is necessary for the book since it is so short and there are no illustrations. In this situation, overstatement is extremely important and necessary for the story as it makes the story interesting and engaging for the reader.

In addition to overstatement, the dialogue in the text is essential to making the story so engaging. The way the book is written is perfect for a read aloud book. Also because it is meant to be a read aloud book the dialogue that occurs within the book is between the reader and the audience. There are various parts within the book where the reader is talking to the audience and even mentions that the child listening to the book is “The Best Kid Ever” (Novak, 2014). Also, the fact that the way the book is written is in dialogue allows the reader the opportunity to give the narrator whatever personality they would like.

Response

I enjoyed reading this book a lot because I connected with the style of the writing. When I tend to read a picture book, I tend to be very animated, and I like for the kids to know what the intention was when the author wrote the book. The fact that there are no pictures is not a bad thing for this book, rather it really makes the audience appreciate the writing and the imagination behind it. Also, the fact that there are so many colors allow the reader to add a different twist to the words and sounds that are on the page.

The one thing this book did is kind of break that stereotype of picture books. This is a picture book, but it has no pictures. When you think picture books, you think a story with illustrations to match the text. Now a days, we even have picture books with no words, which allow the reader to make their own conclusions of what the book means. However, this book had nothing but words, and no pictures. Personally, I thought the book was great, and if it would have had pictures, it would have distracted the audience from the exact words that were being read. The lack of pictures is what makes the book so interesting and engaging.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I think this is a wonderful book to read aloud to a classroom as it will allow the kids to be silly and to enjoy the story. Also, I think it is a fun read for the reader. There is no concrete content within the book, but the overall point of the book is just to be silly which is enjoyable for the younger kids. I do think the book serves a purpose, not so much to imagine what is happening, but rather just be silly and listen to the content of the story.

Conclusion

As a whole, I would say this book is one I would recommend especially in a classroom setting. I think the book itself is enjoyable for both the reader and the audience. Also there are various aspects that make the reader realize that you do not need pictures to make this a picture book. Overall, I would give this book four out of five stars.

Citation

Novak, B.J. (2014) The Book With No Pictures. New York, NY: Penguin Random House

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Roberts, D. (2016). Ada Twist, Scientist. China: Abrams Books.

Ada Twist, Scientist

In the book, Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts, the author introduces us to Ada, a child that is full of questions and curiosity and is always asking “Why?” In addition, the young scientist is eager to make her first scientific discover. Through questions and hypothesis, maybe she will be able to find out why there are such stinky smells.

Evaluation of Book

Through reading Ada Twist, Scientist, there were various traits that were evident, but perhaps the most evident was the illustration’s ability to provide a different viewpoint. The entire book, in my opinion is a depiction of a differing viewpoint. Ada’s parents are trying to figure out why she does not talk or why she is always questioning things, but in reality, Ada just sees things differently than she does. An example of this is in the illustrations where everyone in her family is holding up illustrations of planets, and she has an illustration herself and its of a planet named “Haumea” her question then is “why?” (Beaty, 2016). The entire book, the illustrations depict the differences that her and her parents have in thinking, she has an approach where she questions everything, and her parents do not always have an answer.

Another trait that is evident within the book is define and develop characters. The illustrations within the book are able to show us what kind of dynamic takes place within the household Ada lives in. Also, it gives us a sense of who Ada’s parents and brother are. From the illustration, the reader can see that Ada’s parents are supportive and her brother plays tennis. Also, the reader can see that Ada’s class really does like her (they are always smiling and cheering when she does science experiments). Overall, the illustration is able to really help and see more of who Ada is and what is going on in her mind.

Perhaps the biggest thing with the text in the book is figurative language. The text within the book is written in a way that it rhymes. This makes the text easy to read and it flows very nicely. In addition, the words that are written are witty and they match the illustrations that are shown within the page. An example of the writing is:

“Her parents calmed down, and they came back to talk, they looked at the hallway and just had to gawk. No patch of bare paint could be seen on the wall, the thinking chair now was the great thinking wall” (Beaty, 2016).

In this scene, the reader sees the parents come back to check up on Ada, but what they see is a wall of thing written on the wall. This gives the reader and even her parents, an insight as to what is going on in Ada’s mind.

Response

Personally, I was able to relate to Ada Twist, Scientist especially to the fact that no one could understand what was going on through her mind. Sometimes I have felt like I have a really good idea, or I want to express something I am thinking, but I just do not have the words to do so. In the story, Ada just wants answers, and no one is able to understand that all she wants is to know why. I think this might be something that happens with many children. They might have a lot of questions about things or they might not know how to express themselves so I think it is important to be patient and give them opportunities to thrive.

This specific book did bring up one issue that I think is going on in our society. Sometimes, children just want the answer to questions because they are trying to figure out the world themselves, but parents might be too consumed in their own things (their phones, work, etc.). The easy thing to do is to just tell a child “because that’s how things are” but is that really encouraging kids discovery? I think it is important to encourage kids and to make time for kids to ask questions. If the adult does not know the answer to something, maybe that will spark up a conversation to try and figure out the answer.

Overall, I think this was a great book and it serves multiple purposes. I think it served as a wonderful book to read for entertainment, but it can also serve as an informational book to encourage children that it is okay to be curious about the world. Also, I think that the illustrations that are provided encourage different discussions about curiosity. Perhaps if reading this book aloud, the reader could encourage a discussion as to what items Ada is testing and what they think will happen when she does science experiments. This can also start a discussion about what science experiments are fun.

Conclusion

As a result, I think Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts is a wonderful book for kids at any age. I think it is a great read aloud book that has a lot of different characteristics that make it engaging for the audience and also is able to enable a lively discussion. I would give this book five out of five stars.

Citation

Beaty, A. (2016). Ada Twist Scientist. China: Abrams Books.

Roberts, D. (2016). Ada Twist Scientist. China: Abrams Books.

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