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.