1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Phelan, Matt. 2009. THE STORM IN THE BARN. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this graphic novel set during the dust bowl of the Great Depression, young Jack wants nothing more than to be helpful to his family. Kansas hasn't seen rain in four years, and the children barely even remember what it was like. He is harassed by the local gang of bullies, and many adults, including his own father think that he is worthless--possibly because of a condition they call "dust dementia". Jack does find some support from his pneumonia stricken sister and a kindly general store owner who likes to tell him "jack stories" in the hopes of boosting the child's confidence. An abandoned barn seems to beckon Jack inside, even in the middle of the night. When Jack visits the barn, he knows that something is not right. There are puddles on the floor and an odd smell in the air. One day, Jack decides to figure out what is going on in the barn and discovers a monster made of rain, or the rain king. The monster taunts Jack and tells him that the more the rain refuses to fall, the more power it gains over people. Jack defeats the monster by stealing it's bag of thunder and causing the rain to fall. In the end, all seems to be well and Jack is received by his father with open arms.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
It is amazing how Phelan is able to tell such a moving and wonderfully detailed story with so few words. The only text here is dialog; the rest of the story is told entirely through brilliant pencil, ink, and watercolor illustrations. One would have to write a paragraph to match the depth of emotion in one character's facial expression as drawn by Phelan. Most of the color used in the drawing reflects the dull, depressing mood of the setting. He judiciously uses color just when most important. For example, the shame of the jackrabbit drive is reflected in the bright red blood stains on Jack's father's lead pipe.
As an eleven year old boy, Jack faces a world that hasn't seen rain since he was seven. Even so, young readers will be able to relate to Jack. Bullies have not changed in seventy years, nor has the urge to be respected by your parents.
The author includes a little bit at the end of the book about how he decided to write about the dust bowl, and how he did his research. Readers who enjoy this story will find this section particularly helpful because Phelan divulges what books and movies inspired him most, so that others may enjoy them too.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
starred review SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "complex but accessible and fascinating book"
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "kids will identify with Jack and appreciate his success"
5. CONNECTIONS
*Give students a story that they must retell using pictures.
*Gather non-fiction books about the causes and experience of the dust bowl.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Book Review: The Witch of Blackbird Pond
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Speare, Elizabeth George. 1986. THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395071143.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this book, a sixteen year old girl named Kit Tyler journeys from her home of Barbados to Wethersfield, Connecticut to live with her aunt who is the only family she has left. During her voyage on The Dolphin, she meets Nat, the Captain's son, and Prudence, a malnourished and abused little girl. Kit's aunt did not know that she was coming, and the family is hesitant about taking her in. Her stylish clothes and privileged background do not sit well with their Puritan sensibilities. Throughout the book Kit struggles with trying to fit in and make her family happy while all she wants to do is rebel and do what she thinks is right. Because Kit is educated, she is given the opportunity to teach children how to read in the Summer, but her unorthodox ways get her into trouble. She finds peace with a sweet old Quaker woman, Hannah Tupper, whom she is forbade to visit due to rumors that she is a witch. A many member love triangle brews all throughout the story which includes Kit, her two cousins, and three different suitors. Kit does not listen to her family and visits Hannah Tupper regularly, bringing along poor Prudence so that she may also find escape in the meadow. After rescuing Hannah from a witch hunt, Kit finds herself on trial for witching due to her association with an alleged witch. Kit is acquitted, and the plot settles into a satisfying ending in which each young woman finally ends up with the young man that the reader's new they ought to all along.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This piece of historical fiction reads part adventure story, part romance novel, and all coming of age tale. The dialog is certainly circa 1687, but the language is simple enough that a young adult reader would not feel bogged down by it. The subject matter focuses on issues that would have been important to the characters during the time period: Puritanism vs. other faiths, the power struggle between colonists and the British Crown, and fears about witches. However, there are many other main subjects in the book that are completely relatable to contemporary teens like love, rebellion, and trying to find oneself and fit in at the same time.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT
Newbury Honor Medal
HORNBOOK: "a solidly written character study"
5. CONNECTIONS
*Have students to read THE CRUCIBLE and THE SCARLET LETTER and write a paper that compares and contrasts the three stories.
*Stage a mock witch trial, assigning roles to different students in the class.
Speare, Elizabeth George. 1986. THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395071143.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this book, a sixteen year old girl named Kit Tyler journeys from her home of Barbados to Wethersfield, Connecticut to live with her aunt who is the only family she has left. During her voyage on The Dolphin, she meets Nat, the Captain's son, and Prudence, a malnourished and abused little girl. Kit's aunt did not know that she was coming, and the family is hesitant about taking her in. Her stylish clothes and privileged background do not sit well with their Puritan sensibilities. Throughout the book Kit struggles with trying to fit in and make her family happy while all she wants to do is rebel and do what she thinks is right. Because Kit is educated, she is given the opportunity to teach children how to read in the Summer, but her unorthodox ways get her into trouble. She finds peace with a sweet old Quaker woman, Hannah Tupper, whom she is forbade to visit due to rumors that she is a witch. A many member love triangle brews all throughout the story which includes Kit, her two cousins, and three different suitors. Kit does not listen to her family and visits Hannah Tupper regularly, bringing along poor Prudence so that she may also find escape in the meadow. After rescuing Hannah from a witch hunt, Kit finds herself on trial for witching due to her association with an alleged witch. Kit is acquitted, and the plot settles into a satisfying ending in which each young woman finally ends up with the young man that the reader's new they ought to all along.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This piece of historical fiction reads part adventure story, part romance novel, and all coming of age tale. The dialog is certainly circa 1687, but the language is simple enough that a young adult reader would not feel bogged down by it. The subject matter focuses on issues that would have been important to the characters during the time period: Puritanism vs. other faiths, the power struggle between colonists and the British Crown, and fears about witches. However, there are many other main subjects in the book that are completely relatable to contemporary teens like love, rebellion, and trying to find oneself and fit in at the same time.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT
Newbury Honor Medal
HORNBOOK: "a solidly written character study"
5. CONNECTIONS
*Have students to read THE CRUCIBLE and THE SCARLET LETTER and write a paper that compares and contrasts the three stories.
*Stage a mock witch trial, assigning roles to different students in the class.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Book Review: When My Name Was Keoko
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Park, Linda Sue. 2002. WHEN MY NAME WAS KEOKO.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
This is the story of a Korean family during the last years of the Japanese occupation of
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Linda Sue Park uses simple language to convey a very complex story. From the beginning, the reader gets a sense that this book exudes cultural authenticity. When the author thanks her parents, she uses both their Korean names, as well as their Japanese ones, which just happen to be Keoko and Nobuo. This little detail lends the reader to believe that Park may have gotten some inspiration from her parent’s life experiences in
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
PAPER TIGERS: “a beautifully crafted story that engages and delights as it informs”
starred review-PUBLISHERS WEEKLY “points up the differences between male and female roles in Korean society and telling details provide a clear picture of the siblings and their world.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*A reading class could choose Japanese names for a few days to experience some of what the characters in this book must have felt.
*Students could construct a timeline of historical events that occurred in
*More historical fiction about Korean history:
-A SINGLE SHARD by Linda Sue Park **Newbery Winner**
Book Review: Hitler Youth
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. HITLER YOUTH: GROWING UP IN HITLER'S SHADOW. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439353793
2. SUMMARY
In this informational book, Bartoletti weaves the stories of dozens of German youths within the context of the major historical moments of World War II and the years that led up to it. Using the stories of real German children, Bartoletti describes how the Hitler Youth formed in the mid 1920s, before Hitler had gained control of the German government. This organization was founded based on Hitler's belief that the best way to create the all powerful Germany that he desired, he must cultivate the next generation of Germans while they were still young, strong, and easily influenced. Although popular early on, the Hitler Youth was just one of many youth organizations. The Hitler Youth enticed children to join by having many of the same desirable elements as the other organizations: uniforms, sports and camping excursions in the countryside. However, the pull of the Hitler Youth came from the sense of purpose it instilled in members. According to the program's leaders, the children's participation was essential to securing a brighter future for their country. Many parents did not approve of the group, but as the Nazi's gained more and more power, the parents realized that their children's involvement with the Hitler Youth was unavoidable. Military training became the main focus of the groups and joining the Hitler Youth eventually became compulsory for all Aryan boys and girls. When the war begins, some of the youth find excitement and jump into their forced war assistance wholeheartedly, even meeting death with pride and a sense of accomplishment. Others, however, were not so disillusioned. Bartoletti discusses the heroic acts of Hitler Youths like Hans and Sophie Scholl and Helmuth Hubener who were all executed for trying to spread the truth to the German people.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is very well written. Bartoletti does not hold back when divulging gruesome details and seems to make no attempt to coddle her young audience. Best of all, the legitimacy of her claims are not only documented in the book with an extensive bibliography, she also takes the time to include a section which lists every direct quote in the book as well along with her source for each. She also describes her entire research project, explaining that she used a variety of research methods including library, museum and archival work, travel, and personal interviews. Bartoletti may include only facts in this book, but the stories she tells are so compelling that there is no need for her to embellish.
The photographs in this book do a lot to add interest and support the text. Being able to see the faces of the children in the story and see pictures of the activities described reinforces the sense of reality that the author wants the reader to feel as they read the book.
4. REVIEWS
Newbery Honor Book
Sibert Honor Book
starred review PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY "offers a unique and riveting perspective"
starred review HORNBOOK "the power of the account is matched by the many period candid and propaganda photographs"
5. CONNECTIONS
*Provide books about World War II from all perspectives, including books like JAPAN AT WAR: AN ORAL HISTORY by Haruko Taya Cook
*Facilitate small group discussions with young adults about the importance of thinking for oneself, and any situations in which someone may have tried to persuade them to behave in a certain negative way in response to someone that was different from them.
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. HITLER YOUTH: GROWING UP IN HITLER'S SHADOW. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439353793
2. SUMMARY
In this informational book, Bartoletti weaves the stories of dozens of German youths within the context of the major historical moments of World War II and the years that led up to it. Using the stories of real German children, Bartoletti describes how the Hitler Youth formed in the mid 1920s, before Hitler had gained control of the German government. This organization was founded based on Hitler's belief that the best way to create the all powerful Germany that he desired, he must cultivate the next generation of Germans while they were still young, strong, and easily influenced. Although popular early on, the Hitler Youth was just one of many youth organizations. The Hitler Youth enticed children to join by having many of the same desirable elements as the other organizations: uniforms, sports and camping excursions in the countryside. However, the pull of the Hitler Youth came from the sense of purpose it instilled in members. According to the program's leaders, the children's participation was essential to securing a brighter future for their country. Many parents did not approve of the group, but as the Nazi's gained more and more power, the parents realized that their children's involvement with the Hitler Youth was unavoidable. Military training became the main focus of the groups and joining the Hitler Youth eventually became compulsory for all Aryan boys and girls. When the war begins, some of the youth find excitement and jump into their forced war assistance wholeheartedly, even meeting death with pride and a sense of accomplishment. Others, however, were not so disillusioned. Bartoletti discusses the heroic acts of Hitler Youths like Hans and Sophie Scholl and Helmuth Hubener who were all executed for trying to spread the truth to the German people.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is very well written. Bartoletti does not hold back when divulging gruesome details and seems to make no attempt to coddle her young audience. Best of all, the legitimacy of her claims are not only documented in the book with an extensive bibliography, she also takes the time to include a section which lists every direct quote in the book as well along with her source for each. She also describes her entire research project, explaining that she used a variety of research methods including library, museum and archival work, travel, and personal interviews. Bartoletti may include only facts in this book, but the stories she tells are so compelling that there is no need for her to embellish.
The photographs in this book do a lot to add interest and support the text. Being able to see the faces of the children in the story and see pictures of the activities described reinforces the sense of reality that the author wants the reader to feel as they read the book.
4. REVIEWS
Newbery Honor Book
Sibert Honor Book
starred review PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY "offers a unique and riveting perspective"
starred review HORNBOOK "the power of the account is matched by the many period candid and propaganda photographs"
5. CONNECTIONS
*Provide books about World War II from all perspectives, including books like JAPAN AT WAR: AN ORAL HISTORY by Haruko Taya Cook
*Facilitate small group discussions with young adults about the importance of thinking for oneself, and any situations in which someone may have tried to persuade them to behave in a certain negative way in response to someone that was different from them.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Book Review: A Woman For President
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Krull, Kathleen. 2004. A WOMAN FOR PRESIDENT. Ill. by Jane Dyer. New York, NY: Walter and Company. ISBN 0802789080
2. SUMMARY
Born Victoria Claflin, Woodhull was raised in a very large and impoverished family led by an abusive father. When she was five years old, she came to a neighbor's house to do chores in exchange for food, but what she found was a kindly young woman who taught her how to read. The neighbor died shortly after that, but this experience helped Woodhull not only see her potential, but see that there were other ways of living than the way she shared with her family. A few years later, Woodhull's father discovered that she had a talent for preaching and conducting seances so he took her on the road with her sister to earn enough money to support the family. This lifestyle caused her to become exhausted and sickly, and at the age of fourteen she decided to escape by marrying her doctor. Dr. Woodhull turned out to be an alcoholic and an unreliable husband and doctor, causing permanent damage to both of her children during the delivery process. Woodhull ended up supporting him with her spiritual readings, even after she divorced him. She became a millionaire when Mr. Vanderbilt shared half of his profit with her from a stock trade made based upon Woodhull's "spiritual reading". With this money, she and her sister began the first female run stock brokerage firm. Woodhull began speaking about the right to vote for women, and eventually decided to run for president, even though she still could not vote. She lost of course, but people noticed, which was what Woodhull had hoped for. Unfortunately, many people, including famous women like Harriett Beecher Stowe did not approve of what she was doing with her life and defamed her in any way they could. Woodhull's defense cost her most of her fortune, so she and her sister divorced their husbands and moved to England where they both married rich Englishman and "lived out their days in great style".
3. ANALYSIS
This biography does a good job of keeping the story as authentic as possible for its young readers. The reader gets a sense that all of the dialogue shared in this book is dialogue that the characters have actually been documented in saying because they are written with quotation marks around them. Also, Krull includes a bibliography at the end of the book. Listing her sources legitimizes her claims. It is true that Krull only paints a pleasing picture of the life of Woodhull and skims over her less accepted views on free love and eugenics, but nowhere in the book does she claim to be writing an all inclusive portrait of the life of a perfect woman. The story is about how a woman who started from humble beginnings decided to run for president. Her other political and social views are not relevant here.
Jane Dyer's watercolor illustrations are each beautiful and intricate enough to be a stand alone work of art. However, in many of the pictures, Woodhull appears to have bright rouge on her cheeks, lipstick, and even blue eye shadow. This image is in direct contrast with Krull's text that states that Woodhull never wore makeup.
4. REVIEWS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "This book, though soft-pedaling the more scandalous aspects of her life, rectifies that omission"
BOOKLIST: "lively and astute writing"
5. CONNECTIONS
* Collect and share other materials about the suffragette movement.
*Have both girls and boys plan their own platforms for fictional presidential campaigns.
Krull, Kathleen. 2004. A WOMAN FOR PRESIDENT. Ill. by Jane Dyer. New York, NY: Walter and Company. ISBN 0802789080
2. SUMMARY
Born Victoria Claflin, Woodhull was raised in a very large and impoverished family led by an abusive father. When she was five years old, she came to a neighbor's house to do chores in exchange for food, but what she found was a kindly young woman who taught her how to read. The neighbor died shortly after that, but this experience helped Woodhull not only see her potential, but see that there were other ways of living than the way she shared with her family. A few years later, Woodhull's father discovered that she had a talent for preaching and conducting seances so he took her on the road with her sister to earn enough money to support the family. This lifestyle caused her to become exhausted and sickly, and at the age of fourteen she decided to escape by marrying her doctor. Dr. Woodhull turned out to be an alcoholic and an unreliable husband and doctor, causing permanent damage to both of her children during the delivery process. Woodhull ended up supporting him with her spiritual readings, even after she divorced him. She became a millionaire when Mr. Vanderbilt shared half of his profit with her from a stock trade made based upon Woodhull's "spiritual reading". With this money, she and her sister began the first female run stock brokerage firm. Woodhull began speaking about the right to vote for women, and eventually decided to run for president, even though she still could not vote. She lost of course, but people noticed, which was what Woodhull had hoped for. Unfortunately, many people, including famous women like Harriett Beecher Stowe did not approve of what she was doing with her life and defamed her in any way they could. Woodhull's defense cost her most of her fortune, so she and her sister divorced their husbands and moved to England where they both married rich Englishman and "lived out their days in great style".
3. ANALYSIS
This biography does a good job of keeping the story as authentic as possible for its young readers. The reader gets a sense that all of the dialogue shared in this book is dialogue that the characters have actually been documented in saying because they are written with quotation marks around them. Also, Krull includes a bibliography at the end of the book. Listing her sources legitimizes her claims. It is true that Krull only paints a pleasing picture of the life of Woodhull and skims over her less accepted views on free love and eugenics, but nowhere in the book does she claim to be writing an all inclusive portrait of the life of a perfect woman. The story is about how a woman who started from humble beginnings decided to run for president. Her other political and social views are not relevant here.
Jane Dyer's watercolor illustrations are each beautiful and intricate enough to be a stand alone work of art. However, in many of the pictures, Woodhull appears to have bright rouge on her cheeks, lipstick, and even blue eye shadow. This image is in direct contrast with Krull's text that states that Woodhull never wore makeup.
4. REVIEWS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "This book, though soft-pedaling the more scandalous aspects of her life, rectifies that omission"
BOOKLIST: "lively and astute writing"
5. CONNECTIONS
* Collect and share other materials about the suffragette movement.
*Have both girls and boys plan their own platforms for fictional presidential campaigns.
Book Review: Actual Size
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jenkins, Steve. 2004. ACTUAL SIZE. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618375945
2. SUMMARY
In this clever book, Steve Jenkins shows readers the actual size of some of the largest and smallest animals in the world. Under each picture, a caption tells the reader the name of the animal, as well as the average height and weight. Some of the creatures are too large to show the actual size of their entire bodies, so Jenkins chooses a particular part of the animal to show full size. For example, unable to fit a 59 ft giant squid on the page, Jenkins focuses on illustrating the actual size of the squid's eye. At the end of the book, more detailed information is given about each animal pictured, including information about where they can be found and what they like to eat.
3. ANALYSIS
This book is perfect for visual learners. It is one thing to tell a person how big an animal is, but measurements can be difficult to conceptualize. In order to fully comprehend what 12 inches or a half an inch means, it is helpful for many to be able to see what those measurements actually look like.
A wonderful thing about this book is that it is not simply illustrating items of common knowledge about animals. Even the child (or adult for that matter) that has done lots of reading about animals in the past will learn something new.
Jenkins' illustrations are essential in this book, as the text mostly serves to support the pictures. The illustrations are all carefully created to the correct measurements out of bits of torn paper.
4. REVIEWS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "a must-have for any collection"
BOOKLIST: "unusually effective tool for connecting children to nature's astonishing variety"
5.CONNECTIONS
*Have students graph the height and weight of each animal in the book to get the perspective of a side by side comparison.
*Plan an activity where students must choose an animal from the book and find other resources about that animal from the library.
Jenkins, Steve. 2004. ACTUAL SIZE. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618375945
2. SUMMARY
In this clever book, Steve Jenkins shows readers the actual size of some of the largest and smallest animals in the world. Under each picture, a caption tells the reader the name of the animal, as well as the average height and weight. Some of the creatures are too large to show the actual size of their entire bodies, so Jenkins chooses a particular part of the animal to show full size. For example, unable to fit a 59 ft giant squid on the page, Jenkins focuses on illustrating the actual size of the squid's eye. At the end of the book, more detailed information is given about each animal pictured, including information about where they can be found and what they like to eat.
3. ANALYSIS
This book is perfect for visual learners. It is one thing to tell a person how big an animal is, but measurements can be difficult to conceptualize. In order to fully comprehend what 12 inches or a half an inch means, it is helpful for many to be able to see what those measurements actually look like.
A wonderful thing about this book is that it is not simply illustrating items of common knowledge about animals. Even the child (or adult for that matter) that has done lots of reading about animals in the past will learn something new.
Jenkins' illustrations are essential in this book, as the text mostly serves to support the pictures. The illustrations are all carefully created to the correct measurements out of bits of torn paper.
4. REVIEWS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "a must-have for any collection"
BOOKLIST: "unusually effective tool for connecting children to nature's astonishing variety"
5.CONNECTIONS
*Have students graph the height and weight of each animal in the book to get the perspective of a side by side comparison.
*Plan an activity where students must choose an animal from the book and find other resources about that animal from the library.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Book Review: Summersaults
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Florian, Douglas. 2002. SUMMERSAULTS. Hong Kong: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0060292679
2. SUMMARY
In this topical book of poems, Florian Douglas uses a variety of poetic styles to write dozens of short, humorous poems about different aspects of summertime. All of the poems employ rhyme, but the rhythms vary widely. He talks about what he likes about summer on one page, and foils that with what he doesn't like on the next page. He talks about summer activities like swimming, double dutch, and baseball. He celebrates the good and bad of summer creatures like bees and fireflies and assigns the season the color green. At the end, he encourages the reader to pack an "ocean spray" and save the memories of summer to help get through the winter.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
One of the most successful things that Douglas does in this book is his use of concrete poetry. The way that the words on the page are arranged in a way that reflects part of their meaning is a great way to help kids understand and enjoy the fun of poetry. The way he arranged the poem "Double Dutch Girls" makes the readers eye go from side to side, mimicking the way it feels to watch two double dutch ropes fly in circles. The poem "Fireflies" causes the readers eye to dart all around the page in a way that feels very similar to the experience of spotting fireflies as they appear and then disappear in the dark. The humor in this book is very well done and makes the poetry all the more appealing to its target audience.
Douglas also does a nice job with the illustrations in this book. The fact that they look as if a talented child drew them lends itself to the overall feeling of the book being one of jovial innocence. He even uses media that are common for school children to use: water color paint and colored pencils. The bright colors add to the summery feel of the book.
4. BOOK REVIEW EXCERPTS
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY "overflows with inventive verses celebrating the delights and discontents of summer"
BOOKLIST "a few poems are forgettable"
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL "language is simple enough for bridge-book-ready children"
5. CONNECTIONS
* Gather other books about Summer
* Have children illustrate their own favorite as well as least favorite things about Summer. Older students can write short, accompanying poems
* Have children brainstorm together what they think the "Sum of Summer" is and post their answers where everyone can enjoy
Florian, Douglas. 2002. SUMMERSAULTS. Hong Kong: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0060292679
2. SUMMARY
In this topical book of poems, Florian Douglas uses a variety of poetic styles to write dozens of short, humorous poems about different aspects of summertime. All of the poems employ rhyme, but the rhythms vary widely. He talks about what he likes about summer on one page, and foils that with what he doesn't like on the next page. He talks about summer activities like swimming, double dutch, and baseball. He celebrates the good and bad of summer creatures like bees and fireflies and assigns the season the color green. At the end, he encourages the reader to pack an "ocean spray" and save the memories of summer to help get through the winter.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
One of the most successful things that Douglas does in this book is his use of concrete poetry. The way that the words on the page are arranged in a way that reflects part of their meaning is a great way to help kids understand and enjoy the fun of poetry. The way he arranged the poem "Double Dutch Girls" makes the readers eye go from side to side, mimicking the way it feels to watch two double dutch ropes fly in circles. The poem "Fireflies" causes the readers eye to dart all around the page in a way that feels very similar to the experience of spotting fireflies as they appear and then disappear in the dark. The humor in this book is very well done and makes the poetry all the more appealing to its target audience.
Douglas also does a nice job with the illustrations in this book. The fact that they look as if a talented child drew them lends itself to the overall feeling of the book being one of jovial innocence. He even uses media that are common for school children to use: water color paint and colored pencils. The bright colors add to the summery feel of the book.
4. BOOK REVIEW EXCERPTS
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY "overflows with inventive verses celebrating the delights and discontents of summer"
BOOKLIST "a few poems are forgettable"
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL "language is simple enough for bridge-book-ready children"
5. CONNECTIONS
* Gather other books about Summer
* Have children illustrate their own favorite as well as least favorite things about Summer. Older students can write short, accompanying poems
* Have children brainstorm together what they think the "Sum of Summer" is and post their answers where everyone can enjoy
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