The Color of My Words (NOVEL)

 

Title: The Color of My Words

Author: Lynn Joseph

Published By: Harper Collins Children's Books

The Color of my Words by Lynn Joseph is about a 12-year-old girl Ana Rosa Hernandez that loves to express her feeling on paper. Any paper she would see she would write on it like napkins and old paper bags. However, as I read I found out that in the Republica Dominicana, the only person that could write books was the President.  Ana Rosa wanted so much to be able to write books so Ana Rosa explained to her mother how she wanted to write poems and stories. “Ana Rosa,” there always has to be a first person to do something” ‘Mami said’. Her mother understood but she also knew that her words weren’t going to be heard. Unless she really put her heart into it. Ana Rosa’s beautiful poetry starts each chapter of this novel, as she dreams of becoming a writer in the Dominican Republic at the age of 12. Because only the president of the country writes, her dream is always challenged. She steals paper for her craft, recording everything she sees. This is a coming of age story as the heroine recounts events in her life, introducing her family, her close relationship with her older brother Guario, her first crush and the meringue filled days of her home.

The story helps us realize the power we hold behind our words. They are so strong; they have the ability to take a life. You also learn that our aspirations have a power all their own, if you allow them to be made known. The characters are real, each having a trait that reflects the real world (ex. a drunk and an adulteress.).

The details are spectacular and the descriptions fantastic. I feel as though I am there with the characters, which is no doubt, what the author wanted.Again, this book is beautifully written, as the reader you can see the setting and feel like you know the people. The rich character development was the best I have ever experienced in such a short novel. The author's ability to weave poetry into the narrative perfectly complemented the unfolding plot. Despite its length, the novel is packed with twists and turns to amuse any reader.

Perfect Square

 

Title: Perfect Square
Author/Illustrator: Michael Hall
Published by: Greenwillow Books

 Perfect Square is a fun and colorful picture book that takes readers on a shape-changing adventure. The shape begins as a simple,square that is confined and then throughout the week continues on a journey of rips, breaks, tears, and the building of different shapes/figures. This book provides readers with a visual experience! It promotes creativity and the colors are fun and eye-catching. The illustrations are creative, yet simple enough for a young child to understand. I also enjoyed how the illustrations together provided a story-line and allowed the reader to visually go along with the square on his journey. I could tell while reading this book that the illustrator had a clear understanding of who he thought would use and read this book, due to the fact that he presented his pictures in such a way that children would appreciate them. This is a wonderful book that I would definitely consider reading to elementary students. It could be used to introduce a geometry lesson or in an art class.

Crazy like a Fox - A Simile Story

 

Title: Crazy like a Fox- A Simile Story

Author / Illustrator: Loreen Leedy

Published by: Holiday House

In this book, there is definitely a lot of figurative language going on. This book is dedicated to similes. The similes are all strengthened by the story line. I can see and hear the layering in the story. This story is strengthened by you as the reader having to wait for the conclusion to figure what is going on. I have never read a book quite so interesting about similes. This is a brief picture book but on the other hand adds power and insight to the entire story. Without the similes, it wouldn't be as entertaining.  Example:  Rufus tiptoes up behind her, takes a deep breath, and starts to roar like….You have to turn the page to find out the answer, a lion.
"RROOAAARRR!!!!!"

In this book, the dialogue goes right along with the story. The similes (dialogue) are running the show but the pictures are helping you to understand the story. The sidebars are also helping with their little witty phrases. Example: You have to imagine this little lamb is scared and shaking like a leaf (literally). Then she chases after Rufus (the fox) because she's as mad as…..…a hornet.  Now just imagine that sweet little lamb looking like a hornet and her stinger has a glow around it. She has her hands on her hips (all 4) and her eyes are glowing green and she is gritting her teeth.

In this book, the music in language is clearly there. The sounds of the words increase as the story climbs to the climax, which is Babette surprise birthday party. This book really blends in, from the beginning, the story starts to unfold and really take you into this fantasy world of Rufus, Babatte and their friends. The story has a setting, plot and a surprise ending. If the reader reads it with feeling and exhilaration, the listeners will role out of their seats. Use this as an entertaining way of introducing children to similes and they will come away from a teachable moment with great information and knowledge and not even know they were learning.

Reptiles

  

Title: Reptiles

Text by: Sue Malyan

Editor: Fleur Star

Publishing Manager: Susan Leonard

Managing art editor: Clare Shedden

Jacket design: Simon Oon

Picture researcher: Sarah Mills

Production Luca Bazzoli

DTP designer: Almudena Diaz

(2009)

1.Some made up material on each page in this book. On page 6 the spotted salamander has a phrase above it saying, "I think I've spotted dinner."  Page 8, "Slurp".

Page 14: "Come here, little bird." Page 19: plod, plod, plod. Page 21: nibble, nibble.

Page22: "It's hard to find food out here."

2.Lots of information in this book about reptiles, there is information about:

Caiman -Their babies are just 18in long but adults can grow to be longer than your bed.

Green Iguana - Iguanas have amazingly good eyesight. They can see another iguana more than 330ft away.

Madagascan day Gecko - is a type of lizard that can grow 12in long.

Salamander- likes to live in a shady place to help keep skin wet.

Slow-worm - I'm really a lizard with no legs.

Snapping Turtle - has a bite that could easily snap off your finger or toe.

Just to name a few. Read the book for a lot more information.

3. Complex Structure: This book has many layers. On page 12 of the book it has:

A bite to eat

Don't come to close!

These snapping turtles look

slow and harmless, but

they could easily bite

off one of your

fingers or toes!

Did you know… Tiny plants called algae grow on a turtle's shell. This helps it to hide among the swamp plants. A little salamander is talking with a bubble.

4. Some narrative text in this book. On some pages, it is as if the reptiles are talking to you about themselves. Getting you as the reader to interact with the animals on a personal level.

Example: The king snake is saying, "I can't see very well, I only spot things that are moving around."

5.About 75% expository text. This book conveys and explains a lot about the text. It has a content page, index page and a glossary. On every other page, it has a "Did you know…." Quote on it. In addition, on each section there is a dotted circle with the size of every animal in the book.

6. Many Literary Devices:

This book has many ways of telling you detail. It has conversation bubbles and a salamander is telling you interesting facts. The book has a dotted circle that gives you the actual size of every animal in the book. (Tells you the size in inches and centimeters.)

7. Intense Authors Voice:

This author uses the animals to do his talking, he is giving you information through the voice of the reader. He is telling you information with a twist. This keeps students interested by having the animals speak to them directly. Information as fun facts to know.

8. Front matter and back matter appear in this book. It starts out with a table of contents and ends up with an index and a glossary. Plenty of information and easy to find in this book.

9. Copious Visual Materials. In this book there is so many pictures and again so much detail you can't help but to look at this book. The photos are authentic and the one that have been drawn are realistic to. I like how they show you how big the animals really are by either hands or feet. They also incorporate children handling these animals.

I really like this book because it does have so much information for students that are really into the reptiles. The photographs are phenomenal. 

MOSES When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

 

 Title: MOSES

When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

Author: Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrated by: Kadir Nelson

Published by: Hyperion Books for Children (2006)

Cladecott Honor Book

This Historical Fiction book starts with an amazing cover. Just looking at this cover is emotional for me. The colors are a sky blue and right tin the center of the cover is Harriet Tubman sitting with her hands held out and eyes closed with the sun shinning over her head as if she was an angel of God. It makes you wonder what is going on. The picture of Harriet is authentic clothing of a slave as pictured and described in the history books.  I also like the feature inside the book with the foreword describing the history of slavery, what it means, and how it affects United States history. It ends with an introduction to the Underground Railroad. This gives you the reader information that is pertinent to the book that you are about to read.

The book is authentic to it historical background. As you read the book, you can sense the feeling of hopefulness in the character. This book is not at all sugarcoated. It tells how Harriet Tubman was feeling the trials and tribulations that she endured as a run away slave and her fight for survival and freedom. This book preserves the fabric of time, the story is based on historical facts that we know and admire. Harriet Tubman was a woman before her time.

The settings in the book are authentic to the time- period and integral with the story. The events and the people in the book allow the reader to place the characters in the correct historical framework. The language in this book is authentic for the time-period. An example is, "Please, Lord, don’t let them catch me and take me back to face Master's whip. Don't let my journey end here." The clothes that she and the others wear are authentic to the time-period.

The main point of view comes from that of Harriet Tubman and her relationship with God. I guess the other points of view are for you to infer as the reader. Obviously the men chasing her and wanting to take her back to the plantation is a point of view by the slave owners. They want to stay in control of the slaves and discipline anyone who dares to disobey them. Then you have the people that help Harriet to freedom they believe that slavery is wrong and want to help.

As a teacher, I would use this text to question, connect and transform strategies with a timeline. I could use this text for character mapping, story mapping and use technology to integrate this story into a literature/writing lesson. This book would make a great visual report for a person.

I also liked how the author ended the book with a note from her with more information about Harriet Tubman and how her journey in life ended with all her accomplishments noted.

BUD, NOT BUDDY (NOVEL)

 

Title: BUD, NOT BUDDY
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Published by: Scholastic Inc.


Young Bud tells his story in BUD, NOT BUDDY in his own lively voice, making his character practically leap off the page. At times tough, sad, resilient, and funny, 10-year-old Bud is completely irresistible. His personality, with the fast pace of the story, captured my attention on the first page and kept me hooked right through to the end. I like that he has a tendency to let me in on his lists and rules. I think the voice the author creates for Bud is effective and it really draws you in.

The setting for this novel is  in 1936, and is in the Depression Era of  Flint, Michigan. It concerns Bud (not Buddy, as he likes to point out) - a ten year old orphan trying to survive. His mother passed away a few years before the story starts, and he has never met his father. Bud has lived in terrible foster homes and orphanages. At the beginning of the story you think that he is going to finally get a break and here he goes again into a bad house. He gets beat up for no reason and put into the shed because Todd (Toddy, his mom calls him) tells lies on Bud. So Bud goes off on his own to find his father and the novel becomes a road novel. Luckily Bud keeps meeting up with good people who are willing to share what little they have, and to help Bud as much as they can. It is this portrayal of people at their best when circumstances are at their worst that ultimately makes the story a hopeful and heartwarming one. It is filled with tramp villages (Hoovertowns), jazzmen, and  grown-ups of all varieties.

 Sure that this Herman E. Calloway is his father, Bud sets out to find him. But when Calloway turns out to be a grumpy old man, Miss Thomas, the Dusky Devastator's kind "vocal stylist," convinces him to give the ten-year-old a place to stay. Bud moves into the big house known as Grand Calloway Station and, with the help of Momma's rocks, soon discovers that Herman E. Calloway isn't his father at all--he's Bud's grandfather!

This book uses emotions, verbs, and just good old fashion writing to pull you in and keep you reading. I finished this book in one day. I just couldn't put it down once I got started. I wanted to know how it was going to end. Boy, was I surprised. 

I like that there were no pictures in the book only on the front cover. But throughout the book I could see what the author was talking about. Every time I would read a part, with the descriptions that were given I could make a mind movie. This makes Christopher Paul Curtis not only an author, but a complete genius.
He took descriptive words and created mind pictures.

Beneath a Meth Moon (NOVEL)

 

Title: Beneath A Meth Moon
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Published by: Nancy Paulsen Books



This book moves back and forth through time and is told by the main character, Laurel. She’s lost both her mother and grandmother in Hurricane Katrina and moves from her home to a new town with her father and little brother (which is only 3 months old). Laurel is a writer and was encouraged by her grandmother to keep writing everything down in a journal and this encouragement continues when she meets a new friend, Kaylee. The words aren’t enough though and in her pain and sorrow she finds some type of peace in her new boyfriend and with him comes his addiction and supply of meth. She quickly becomes addicted and ends up living on the streets because of  her addiction. There she meets Moses, an artist, who knows just what Laurel is up to and calls her on it, letting her know that she is going to end up dead if she continues on this way.
This book is written almost as a wake up call for young adults in which I have never read before. I read this quickly and in one evening, it is short and the words are printed in a large font on the pages. Even if it weren’t formatted that way, I still would have finished it quickly as it was truly a book that I couldn't put down. You see my sister had a drug addiction when after she got divorced. So I could relate to this very emotional story and that it deals with loss, being lost and not knowing how to process the feelings. The author has handled all of these thoughts and feelings wonderfully and made it very easy to relate to what Laurel is going through. I was crying again and again as I was reading and I was really surprised that a short read could be so emotional and informative. I can see this book being something  parents will want their children to read. This book does justice for children to understand and hopefully take away the life lesson learned and the horrible reality of addiction. People that you wouldn't think of have these problems, and this book would maybe show them that there is a way out.

The Other Side

Title: The Other Side

Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrated by: E.B. Lewis
Published by: G. P. Putnam's Sons

Clover has always wondered why a fence separates the black side of town from the white side. Her Moma told her it was to keep her safe and not to ever go over the fence. So she did just what her Moma said she never went over the fence. But this summer when Annie, a white girl from the other side, begins to sit on the fence, Clover grows more curious about the reason why the fence is there and about the little white girl who sits on it, rain or shine. Clover has to stay inside when it rains and it rained a lot that summer. But Annie is free to whatever she wants to on her side of the fence either rain or shine. She stomps in the mud puddles and plays by herself. And one day, feeling very brave, Clover approaches Annie. After all, why should a fence stand in the way of friendship? You have to read the book to find out the ending.

Earl B. Lewis's  lifelike watercolor illustrations are just amazing. The way that she spreads the illustrations over three quarters of the two page spread gives it so much more depth.I also like how both use white space as a time to reflect on what is going on in the story and the pictures.The pictures are detailed enough but not overwhelming. They set the ambiance for the story and Jacqueline Woodson gives us a moving, lyrical narrative told in the hopeful voice of a child that is confused about the fence someone else has built in her yard and the racial tension that divides her world. I like that is told from a different point of view other than that of a white person.

We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past

 

Title: We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrated by: Diane Greenseid
Published by: Hyperion Books for Children

 This author had me from the time I picked this book up.Every page is filled with color and people moving, as  the little girl, Teeka,  introduces you to all the members of her family. You can almost hear the different voices, from Grandma gossiping about Aunt Martha’s pie, to Uncle Luther serving up his famous cinnamon bread. Teeka is the narrator and introduces you to all her family members who bring a variety of home-made dishes to share on a Sunday picnic. Don't be in a hurry to read this book, take your time and sit down and get to know her family. This book is full of sassy comments made by her grandma and others. Teeka will make you chuckle, as you enjoy in a beautifully illustrated picnic full of soul food specialties.I know that this book brought back memories of going to my grandmothers house on Sunday and having dinner. And yes I had an Aunt Donna that couldn't cook and we was glad that she would bring store bought cakes or KFC to the dinners.

I love the pictures of the park and the details. I can even see the wrinkles on the pants of second cousin Laurie's son, Jefferson. The dialectic is authentic of how African Americans speak. I think that they speak from the heart and everything they say is said with love and understanding. The illustrations are amazing, you can see the brushstrokes in the grass, leaves and even the corn on the cob. Oh, and the emotions just jump right out at you. You can tell when someone is happy, sad, ignoring someone that thinks they are a ladies man (Cousin Trevor). I also liked how she used different fonts to set up emotions in her writing. The different colors of the fonts also are different for certain pages. I also like that every page begins with a Huge Letter of a different color to start each part of the story. She is just a genuine writer that writes from her own personal experiences. Children can relate to this type of genre.

If this book doesn't bring back fond memories of Sunday dinners with your family, then you need to start a tradition and have Sunday dinner at your house. I know that I did and I wouldn't trade it for nothing in the world.

Coming On Home Soon

 

Title: Coming On Home Soon
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrated By: E.B. Lewis
Published By: G. P. Putnam's Sons


I loved reading this story because it was how I felt when my husband was gone to the beach last week and I could relate to how someone feels when they are separated from a loved one. I think the story was powerful because I could infer the feelings that the daughter had while missing her mother without them being told to the me. The first page was emotional. You knew by the words that the mother had a warm heart. Her hands were warm and soft. So she had never worked outside of the home/farm. Now she was going to work on the railroad, this was unusual for black women or any women to work outside of the house. However, I was most drawn into the story with the repeated lines of “I love you more than rain; I love you more than snow” because it summarized how you hold onto memories or words of the ones you love when they are away. Unlike this story my husband came home on Friday. For Ada Ruth she had a long time before her mother comes back.
In the pictures you could see the pain in the faces of the mother and daughter as she packs for the trip. She said that she held back the tears when her Moma packed her Sunday dress. I even like how when the characters speak that they use italicized fonts. This is a good trait because then a teacher or whoever is reading it could put feelings and emotion into the story. 
The book also has two spread pages words on one side and the picture is of the setting on the other. I also noticed that the pages with writing on them sometimes has a significant picture located at the bottom. This signifies something major and important. One example is Ada lying on the floor next to her mothers chair holding her cat. The only words on the page are,

Time passes.

 The author didn't need to write anything else she got her point across loud and clear with only saying the minimum. I love how she ends the book with her Moma walking up to the house. Coming On Home Soon is a great book.

Show Way

 

Title: Show Way

Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Illustrated by: Hudson Talbott

Published by: The Penguin Group

First, the pictures in this book are fantastic. I just couldn't stop looking at the pictures. The start of the story got me hooked. I couldn't imagine at seven years being without my grandmother or any of my family. Yet this child is sold and sent on a journey of life without having a choice. The book itself is created to get you hooked by the way the front cover is made. The quilt has a cut out and the girl in the middle with the candle signify  to use the quilt to find your way to a safe place. Or that is how I took it after I read the book.

I wished that my family would have had passed down from generations the stories of our families. African American families see the significance of  passing down the stories and the history of their ancestors hardships and what makes them have strong family ties.

This book is significant of the trials and tribulations of seven generations of slaves that found comfort in the sewing of their quilts and helped others by using their god-given talents to set a foundation for freedom. 

The details in the pictures are truly amazing. On the first page you can see the texture in the muslin and the thread has vibrant colors. The watercolors on the pages of the stories are such great details. And for them to lay the quilt out to dry at night (or that's what the master thought) and the slaves would disappear and read the quilts as they traveled in the moonlight. I just love how she divides the pages up into triangle segments and still tells a story with few words.Oh, my god I just realized that it isn't triangles but the quilt patterns. This makes it work because she has created a flow from the beginning of the story. Also, the dialectic that she uses in authentic to the way that African American people speak. I love how she says, "Had herself a baby girl an named that child Mathis May. Loved that baby up so. Yes, she loved that baby up.

This is a very emotional story that I could read over and over. And what amazes me most was how she ended the book, the quilt with all of her ancestors on the quilt pieces and then I realized that it was her and her daughter as she begins to tell her daughter the story, "Now, Soonie was your great-great-grandma. And when Soonie's great-grandma was seven.....

There is so much of her soul and history put into this book that it just amazes me. I think of all of the books that I have read that this one is my favorite. Because I am all about family and that is what this book is about.