Bibliography and Goodbye

Unfortunately, the semester is at an end and my adventure in blogging is complete. For organizational purposes below is the bibliography (in reverse module order) of the books that are listed in this blog. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Module 15 - Henkes, K. (2003). Olive's ocean. New York: Greenwillow Books.
Module 14 - MacLachlan, P., & Charest, E. M. (2006). Once I ate a pie. New York: Joanne Cotler Books.
Module 13 - Telemeier, R. (2006). The truth about Stacey. New York: Graphix.
Module 12 - Fleming, C. (2005). Our Eleanor. New York: Atheneum Books for Children.
Module 11 - Aston, D. (2006). An egg is quiet. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.
Module 10 - Peck, R. (2006). Here lies the librarian. New York: Dial Books.
Module 9 - Springer, N. (2006). The case of the missing marquess. New York: Philomel Books.
Module 8 - DuPrea, J. (2003). The city of Ember. New York: Random House.
Module 8 - Colfer, E. (2001). Artemis Fowl. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
Module 7 - Mackler, C. (2003). The earth, my butt, and other big round things. Cambridge: Candlewick Press.
Module 7 - Birdsall, J. (2005). The Penderwicks. New York: Knopf.
Module 6 - Pennypacker, S. (2006). Clementine. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
Module 5 - Hankes, K. (1990). Julius: the baby of the world. New York: Greenwillow Press.
Module 4 - DiCamillo, K. (2006). The tale of Desperaux. Cambridge: Candlewick Press.
Module 4 - Konigsburg, E. L. (1967). The mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. New York: Atheneum.
Module 3 - Zelinsky, P.O. (1997). Rapunzel. New York: Dutton's Childrens Books.
Module 3 - Hodges, M. (1984). St. George and the dragon. Boston: Little, Brown.
Module 2 - Graham, K. (1966). The wind in the willows. New York: Grosset and Dunlop.
Module 2 - Thompson, K. (1955). Eloise. New York: Simon and Scheuster.
Module 1 - Silverstein, S. (1964). The giving tree. New York: Harper and Row.

Module 15 - Olive's Ocean

Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes

Summary - One moment Marth Boyle is just an average girl with her own thoughts, troubles, and dreams, and the next she is so much more. When Olive Barstow's mother shows up and gives Martha a journal entry of her deceased daughters, in which she wished desperately to become friends with Martha, she changes the trajectory of Martha's summer, and maybe even her life. In this haunting, yet uplifting 'summer tale' Martha explores the meaning of life, friendship, and dreams by living for both herself and Olive.

Impressions - This is a very powerful book that can force readers to think outside of themselves, while remaining tied to feelings and experiences they are going through so that they can identify with the text. The search for self grounds Martha, as does the eventual return to the heart - home - and by experiencing a summer for Olive, or at least with the memory of Olive and her thoughts and dreams attached, Martha experiences life both internally and externally, and brings the reader along with her. More importantly, it is the relationships that grow, change, and end throughout Marth's trip to her Grandmother(Godbee)'s house near the ocean help to move the text from an examination of death to an experience of life. The quiet nature of the text and the action in the book may alienate some readers, as may the female protagonist(s), but the message within is powerful enough to speak on a number of levels to a number of potential readers.

Reviews - School Library Journal's review of Olive's Ocean references the "themes of death, growing up, family relationships, and the mysteries of life" that are "seamlessly interwoven into this engrossing story" helps a reader to identify what the book is about and why it is something they should strive to read (and/or have their children read). T author, B. Allison Gray, gives enough detail on the story without ruining the major plot/theme points, and offers an insightful look at this powerful story, although the age range she offers with it (grades 5-8) could be adjusted to late middle school to middle high school, not due to text complexity, but more in regards to an individual child's reaction to, and ability to deal with, the idea of childhood death.

Use - Olive's Ocean is a lovely homage to childhood which is saved from morbidity by the warmth and innocence of its main character, Martha, and the power of her personality and dreams. Especially useful for child readers who have, or may soon, experienced loss, parents and teachers should not be scared by the element of death in the text, but use it as a starting off point for discussion on what it means to live an authentic life and how death can help us learn who we want to be. The age range of late elementary for more sophisticated readers, to high school for others can be adjusted on a case by case basis, but teachers for students younger than middle school should hesitate to make it required reading as some readers may not be able to handle the depth of the text.

(1) Gray, B. A. (2005) Olve's ocean. School Library Journal, 51(10), 81.

Module 14 - Once I Ate a Pie

Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest, Illustrated by Katy Schneider

Summary - Once I Ate a Pie is a delightfully charming book of poetry written from the perspective of a variety of dogs especially for children. Starting with "Puppy" and moving through a series of dogs with different types, ages, and personalities, these poems help engage children in poetry by offering it to them through a fun and approachable subject matter - dogs!

Impressions - The poems in this books are simple and to the point, and all convey a story about their dog 'author' that children can immediately understand and feel connected to the language. The illustrations are beautiful, lyrical in a similar manner to the poetry, and appropriately detailed so as to draw children in, but not too intricate so as to confuse or detract from the language. The use of differing sizes throughout the text, and the changing placement in straight and wavy lines, in connection with words and phrases that the poems wish to emphasize or where the beat changes help readers to 'hear' the language correctly and keep readers interested and moving. Most of all it is the characters themselves, from Mr. Beefy and his pie eating to Pocket who truly thinks he is HUGE, the dogs and their personalities are the heart of this book and will engage readers of all ages.

Reviews - In the Booklist review of Once I Ate a Pie, Abby Nolan points how the simple poems reflect the simple pleasures in life which they describe and, while told from the perspective of the dogs, are similar to those that the readers themselves enjoy. She enjoys the illustrations, although the palate is not very colorful, as they express "the individuality of each animal", and thinks that the level of the text and the pictures is just right for the intended audience.

Use - This book is a wonderful introduction to poetry for young children, approximately ages 5-10, and has the potential to be a beloved favorite for a child who identifies with any or all of the unique dogs portrayed and who has the ability to hear the music in the simple poems within. Other children will be drawn first to the dog stories and only later realize that they were experiencing a new style of text. This is a great, engaging book which parents and children can enjoy together, and which is also an incredibly useful teaching tool for classes beginning to explore different styles of literature.

(1) Nolan, A. (2006). Once I ate a pie. Booklist, 102(17), 87.

Module 13 - The Truth About Stacey

The Baby-Sitters Club: The Truth About Stacey a Graphic Novel by Raina Telgemeier from the book by Ann M. Martin

Summary - In The Truth About Stacey, the Baby-sitters Club faces the reality of health problems for the first time, has a show down with a rival babysitting group, and learns how friendships can change over time and distance. The classic Ann M. Martin children's series has been updated for modern audiences in a series of graphic novels that allow young audiences today to identify with characters experiencing classic childhood dilemmas who were created for a very different era. This book follows Stacey, the baby-sitter who has recently moved to Stoneybrook from New York City as she navigates her diagnosis with Diabetes, a trip back to New York to settle things with old friends, and competition from a group of girls who threaten the very existence of the Baby-Sitters Club.

Impressions - The Baby-Sitters Club (BSC) books had an enormous audience when they were first released in 1986 and continued to grow with their audience in spinoffs of the original series until 2000. By updating the first few books that originally started the series, Raina Telgemeier is able to bring a whole new audience to these classic stories which early teenaged girls will identify with and enjoy. The simplicity of the original text, and its clearly defined character types are brought to life in the graphic novel in a much more modern sense that will bring more readers in than the original, somewhat outdated, chapter books.

Reviews - In her review on Young Adult Books Central.com(1), the reviewer known as 'Young Willow" raves about the renewal of the BSC, "the beloved books", in graphic novel form as bringing these "squeaky-clean" books to a modern audience. Telgemeier's artwork is called "adorable" and the series is "highly" recommended as classic and age appropriate. Giving readers an overview of the text, while placing this graphic novel in context in the larger BSC universe, this review is a good insight for parents and children and may bring in readers who would not have found this series on their own.

Use - This graphic novel is a great starting point for young teen girls who are looking for a simple, yet entertaining, series to get "hooked on" but who may not be as comfortable with books in general. As a lead in to the newly updated chapter book series, these graphic novels with their clear drawings and basis in text vice art, are wonderful examples of what this genre can accomplish if done from a literary perspective, vice when they are created with more illustrations than text and only to entertain.

(1) Willow, Little. (Unk). Treasured truth. http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion/index.cfm?fuseAction=books.review&review_id=14928.

Module 12 - Our Eleanor

Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable Life by Candace Fleming

Summary - Our Eleanor is a comprehensive biography of Eleanor Roosevelt, the former First Lady, told in a style somewhere between a scrapbook and a newspaper. Following this incomparable woman from her childhood, riddled with death and disillusion, through the years she served as the First Lady of the United States to her waning years of service and, finally, her death, this book offers detailed information on her family, life, and impact in an easy to read (if not always follow) manner. Older children especially will enjoy how the author humanizes Eleanor while still offering a staggering amount of information on the subject (quite useful to someone studying on writing on her).

Impressions - This book is almost overwhelming in the amount of information it gives on Eleanor Roosevelt. Covering every facet of her life from childhood to marriage to public works, the text offers readers insight into Eleanor's feelings, experiences, and beliefs - and allows them to follow how each impacted the other, in turn affecting the world as Eleanor was such a prominent figure throughout her husband's terms as President. The style of the book may overwhelm some readers as it vacillates between text (usually one page of explanatory text on the events of the era being discussed) and article-type discussions covering one piece/aspect of Eleanor's life, her family and friends, her works, etc. Trying to follow this book linearly may cause confusion or disinterest, it is designed more for a browsing or overview interest review and/or for someone who uses the index to find information on a particular issue/event within the overall text. There are tons of pictures, breaking up the text further, and the overall impression is one of an in-depth and interesting portrait of a full life - vice one timeframe or issue - therefore, it acts as a great resource work for anyone interested in Eleanor Roosevelt.

Reviews - In a starred review(1), Publishers Weekly called Our Eleanor a "standout biography" with an "attractive design". Discussing how the book offers a comprehensive look at all of the aspects of Eleanor's life, it marvels at the even-handedness of the book that allows "readers to draw their own conclusions", although the age range (10-14) they advise for the book is a little young and should really be more in the 14-18 range, as the density of the text may overwhelm some younger readers.

Use - Our Eleanor would be perhaps most useful to children who need to gather a large amount of information in an easily accessible manner for a general understanding of Eleanor Roosevelt's life. Older children will find it most easy to use, although some sophisticated middle school aged children would also find it helpful and enjoyable. As an introduction to biography asa genre, this is a great opening piece which both instructs and entertains, and may lead some kids to want to explore more non-fiction and biography books.

(1) Unk. Our Eleanor: a scrapbook look at Eleanor Roosevelt's remarkable life. (2005, September 19). Publishers Weekly.

Module 11 - An Egg is Quiet

An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Aston and illustrated by Sylvia Long

Summary - An Egg is Quiet is a beautifully illustrated work which depicts the world of eggs, and their many natural settings and services, in a restful and informative manner, similar to the style of 19th century "flower books" or "naturalist's diaries". Vacillating between highly detailed pages and whole leafs which only show one egg, this book is designed for individual exploration and offers children a quiet place to explore natural items and ideas at their own pace. Although it is not conducive for either a read aloud Storytime or for readers who need more stimulation, An Egg is Quiet is a beautiful and interesting book which will both engage and enlighten young readers.

Impressions - This book is designed as a educational work of art for children. The subject matter is interesting, if a little obscure, and the text is sporadic enough to set it in the realm of picture book first, information piece next. It has a number of subtle additions (rulers at the top of pages and text placed in unique positions on the page) which most children will most likely discover only over time or intense review unless they are specifically pointed out. However, the discovery aspect of this book is a large part of it charm and children should be given quality time for review with it and allowed to progress at their own pace. While their is no real 'story' in the text, it does follow a natural progression from birth to life, with the genesis stages between, and the lyrical nature of the language allows kids to read it without feeling as if their are being 'taught', increasing their enjoyment factor and, hopefully, establishing non-fiction or information books as part of their literary world.

Reviews - An Egg is Quiet is discussed in a 2008 article on the use of information books in teaching(1) as examples of works which children can be enticed to love, and therefore learn from. Working off of the premise that children are in face more drawn to informational books than others in early childhood, the authors point to techniques that teachers can use to work off of this love, and show how books like An Egg is Quiet are especially helpful for establishing a foundation of non-fiction reading, because they encourage "knowledge seeking" and entice children to explore less familiar text styles, but only, as in the case of An Egg..., when they are well thought out and well structured.

Use - An Egg is Quiet is especially designed for young elementary aged students. It uses simple, but descriptive language, and includes beautifully detailed and colorful illustrations which will capture the attention of active children. Repetition may be necessary for children whose attention may not be able to last for long periods of quiet time, but each page offers enough detail to offer new discovery upon each reading. The interesting events and concepts described (camouflage, fossilization, birth) are expressed in a realistic manner which makes them real for children, with none of the sensationalism or over-sentimentality which sometimes makes its way into children's books.

(1) Read, S., Reitzel, D. R., & Fawson, P. C. (2008). Do you want to know what I learned? Using informational trade books as models to teach text structure. Early Childhood Education Journal, 36(3), 213-219.

Module 10 - Here Lies the Librarian

Here Lies the Librarian by Richard Peck

Summary - Here Lies the Librarian is a funny and engaging book that shows children an era and society, and the characters within, which they may not be familiar with, but which they will definitely understand. Beginning with a "twister" and descriptions of a most unusual collection of people, the book follows the (graveyard-free for the most part) adventures of Peewee McGrath and her older brother Jake, as they, and their town, welcome some big city librarian students, prepare for the Ten-Mile Stock Auto Event, thwart the machinations of the malicious Kirbys, and discover what family is all about.

Impressions - This book was not at all what I expected it to be, either from description or from the set up in the first few chapters. I will admit that the 'reveal' of Peewee as Jake's younger sister (purposefully and successfully concealed until that moment in the text) was a bit of a, pleasant, shock, as was the interweaving of the story lines of both the arrival of the librarian students and the auto racing event and its repercussions in the extended McGrath family. It was an unusual mix of themes and characters, almost haphazardly assembled, that should not have worked well together on the surface, but in reality complimented each other brilliantly creating a complex and realistic portrayal of a early 20th century society. Peewee (Eleanor) was endearing in her stubborn refusal to change, Jake in his quiet competence, Grace and Irene in their bubbling enthusiasm, the Colonel in his dottiness, and Aunt Hat in her subtle strength. Because of these characters, the text, and its meandering from the town hiring a librarian to auto car racing, made sense and drew the reader along with it, and showed the reader an experience and era which they otherwise may have been unfamiliar with.

Reviews - In a customer review on Amazon.com (1), Norman Stevens extolls Richard Peck's ability to depict "what life was like for children in a different era" but does a poor job of describing the book in a manner that would either enlighten or elicit new readers. Mainly concentrating on the differences expressed in the librarians described in the book, Stevens completely ignores any discussion of the main character(s) or the auto racing theme which takes up the majority of the book. Stevens is very positive about Here Lies the Librarian, he gave it all 5 stars on the review scale, but I don't think new readers will understand the connection between his review and the book after reading it, nor will they be drawn in by the manner in which he describes it.

Use - This book is a good example of a transition book for children moving from elementary reading to middle school aged books and themes. The old fashioned nature of the descriptions and events within the text and the characters involved may seem confusing or boring to some readers, but the 'action' of the auto racing and the Kirby family's sabotage will keep those who are hooked entranced, and the share of male and female characters in the book should make it accessible to both genders fairly equally, even with a female protagonist.

(1) Stevens, N. D. (2006, June 7). Newfangled librarians. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Here-Lies-Librarian-Richard-Peck/dp/0803730802