1. Bibliography
Simon, Seymour. 2003. PYRAMIDS & MUMMIES. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. ISBN 1587172402
2. Plot Summary
This book, intended for readers in grades 2-4, uncovers the mystery behind Egyptian pyramids, mummies, and burial rituals. It explains in detail the architectural masterpieces that are the largest of the Egyptian pyramids, the power and importance of the Pharaohs, and even the science and religious beliefs behind mummification. It also provides a brief introduction to pyramids form other parts of the world including those built centuries later by the Mayan Indians in Mexico.
3. Critical Analysis
This work provides a scientific look at the process of mummification as well as the architectural feat of building the great pyramids, however, it does so in a simplified writing style appropriate for young readers. For example, Simon states that "the process of preserving a body is called embalming" (Simon, 2003). But he does not stop there. He goes on to explain, step by step, the process that the Egyptians used to prepare a Pharaohs body to be entombed. This fascinating and fairly complex process is summed up in a two page spread that makes the information understandable while, at the same time, not talking down to the reader.
The accuracy of this work, while not cited within the work itself, is reliable and completely verifiable by other sources. Simon uses specific dates, names, and statistics within this book, which adds not only interesting details, but also adds credibility to the simple writing. Also, Simon uses comparisons to make the scale of these colossal pyramids understandable to young readers. For example, Simon tells the reader that "the square base is 756 feet on each side. That's about as big as seven city blocks" (Simon, 2003). These comparisons allow the reader to personally connect with the information about these ancient people.
Lastly, every page of text within this work has an accompanying photograph. Pictures include those of pyramids, mummies hieroglyphics, statues, and treasures uncovered from deep within the buried tombs. These photographs are large and detailed, although somewhat monochromatic. Laughingly, everything is the color of sand. These photos, however, do add life to the otherwise bland and simple text.
4. Review Excerpts
Horn Book Guide: An interesting, well-researched text is supported by appealing color photos. The book focuses mainly on Egypt but also mentions the pyramids of the Aztecs and Mayans.
Criticas: Pyramids and Mummies explores the Egyptian Empire using a considerable amount of information and details that will captivate the more experienced readers. The photos are crisp and pertinent.
5. Connections
* Other Books About Egypt
THE PHARAOHS OF ANCIENT EGYPT by Barron's Educational Staff
LAND AND PEOPLE by Salima Ikram
ART AND RELIGION IN ANCIENT EGYPT by Leslie Kaplan
THE GODS AND GODDESSES OF ANCIENT EGYPT by Leonard Fisher
* Other Books About Pyramids
PYRAMIDS AND TEMPLES by Jane Parker
PYRAMIDS: TOMBS FOR ETERNITY by Mildred Pace
PHARAOHS AND PYRAMIDS by Tony Allan
* Other Books About Death Rituals
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AFTERLIFE BELIEFS AND PHENOMENA by James Lewis
BURYTHE DEAD: TOMBS, CORPSES, MUMMIES, SKELETONS, AND RITUALS by Christopher Sloan
Friday, October 26, 2007
ENCANTADO: PINK DOLPHIN OF THE AMAZON
1. Bibliography
Montgomery, Sy. 2002. ENCANTADO: PINK DOLPHIN OF THE AMAZON. Photographs by Dianne Taylor-Snow. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0618131035
2. Plot Summary
This book takes the reader on an amazing journey deep into the Amazon rainforests where s/he encounters deadly insects, prehistoric looking birds, indigenous people, and PINK freshwater dolphins.
3. Critical Analysis
Sy Montgomery has made four separate expeditions into the Amazon to study the elusive pink dolphins. She has also sought out the advice and expertise of many scientists and native peoples to help her better understand these shy creatures. All of her credentials as well as her research techniques are made available to the reader at the end of the book in a section entitled "How This Book Was Researched" (Montgomery, 2002). Overall, while the information presented in this work can, at times, seem too enchanting to be real, the accuracy is both legitimate and verifiable.
Although I recommend reading this book from cover to cover, its organization does permit the reader to pick and choose only certain chapters to read. There are chapters on the pink dolphins themselves, on myths surrounding the dolphins, on other exotic creatures of the Amazon, as well as on how to help preserve this lush tropical rainforest. Each of the chapters may be read independently, however, there is no table of contents included.
The writing style of this work is very fluid and extremely personal. It is quite easy to imagine yourself in the canoe right next to Sy Montgomery, peering into the murky water of the Amazon River. The personalized nature of this work is created most dramatically by the creative use of second person prose. For example, the first line of the book begins with, "You're traveling to a world that is full of water" (Montgomery, 2002). This personal tour of the jungles of the Amazon continues throughout the rest of the book.
Finally, accompanying Sy on her journey was Dianne Taylor-Snow, who was able to capture the amazing photographs printed in this book. Some are small snapshots of people and exotic animals, while others are full spread views of amazing scenery. Despite their size, however, all of the photos transport the reader to an exotic world far away. The pictures of the pink dolphin (although the one photographed is not while but held in captivity in Pittsburgh) add credibility to this seemingly unbelievable tale. Also, although they a meant to accompany and enhance the text, simply looking at the photos and reading the cations tells a fascinating story y themselves.
4. Review Excerpts
Horn Book Magazine: While she is successful in showing that researchable questions are everywhere, her questions about the pink dolphins are less focused, and her narrative is driven more by her quest to see a dolphin than to solve a specific scientific challenge. However, this is more than made up for by remarkable descriptions and color photographs of the Amazon rainforest and its inhabitants, human and nonhuman.
School Library Journal: A stimulating text and vibrant, full-color photographs entice readers on this trip down the Amazon to meet these freshwater rain-forest creatures. Written in second person and in a light, conversational tone, the narrative evokes a magical environment as readers accompany the author and a guide on a voyage to investigate these little-known animals.
Kirkus Review: She writes with a contagious sense of wonder-mixed with frustration, for though she does find dolphins, all she's able to see of them are occasional flashes on the river's surface. Children will get a better look at this bright pink, lumpy-looking creature, as Taylor-Snow intersperses atmospheric, crisply clear on-site color photos with nose-to-nose shots of Chuckles, a resident of the Pittsburgh Zoo and the only pink dolphin in captivity in North America.
5. Connections
* Other Books by Sy Montgomery
THE MAN-EATING TIGERS OF SUNDARBANS
THE SNAKE SCIENTIST
JOURNEY OF THE PINK DOLPHINS: AN AMAZON QUEST
* Other Books About the Amazon
THE AMAZON by Julia Waterlow
THE GREAT KAPOK TREE by Lynne Cherry
THE SHAMAN'S APPRENTICE: A TALE OF THE AMAZON RAINFOREST by Lynne Cherry and Mark Plotkin
* Other Books About Whales and Dolphins
DOLPHIN MAN: EXPLORING THE WORLD OF DOLPHINS by Lawrence Pringle
WHALES AND DOLPHINS by Anton Ericson
RESCUE OF THE STRANDED WHALES by Ken Mallory and Andrea Conley
LOOKING AT DOLPHINS AND PORPOISES by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
Montgomery, Sy. 2002. ENCANTADO: PINK DOLPHIN OF THE AMAZON. Photographs by Dianne Taylor-Snow. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0618131035
2. Plot Summary
This book takes the reader on an amazing journey deep into the Amazon rainforests where s/he encounters deadly insects, prehistoric looking birds, indigenous people, and PINK freshwater dolphins.
3. Critical Analysis
Sy Montgomery has made four separate expeditions into the Amazon to study the elusive pink dolphins. She has also sought out the advice and expertise of many scientists and native peoples to help her better understand these shy creatures. All of her credentials as well as her research techniques are made available to the reader at the end of the book in a section entitled "How This Book Was Researched" (Montgomery, 2002). Overall, while the information presented in this work can, at times, seem too enchanting to be real, the accuracy is both legitimate and verifiable.
Although I recommend reading this book from cover to cover, its organization does permit the reader to pick and choose only certain chapters to read. There are chapters on the pink dolphins themselves, on myths surrounding the dolphins, on other exotic creatures of the Amazon, as well as on how to help preserve this lush tropical rainforest. Each of the chapters may be read independently, however, there is no table of contents included.
The writing style of this work is very fluid and extremely personal. It is quite easy to imagine yourself in the canoe right next to Sy Montgomery, peering into the murky water of the Amazon River. The personalized nature of this work is created most dramatically by the creative use of second person prose. For example, the first line of the book begins with, "You're traveling to a world that is full of water" (Montgomery, 2002). This personal tour of the jungles of the Amazon continues throughout the rest of the book.
Finally, accompanying Sy on her journey was Dianne Taylor-Snow, who was able to capture the amazing photographs printed in this book. Some are small snapshots of people and exotic animals, while others are full spread views of amazing scenery. Despite their size, however, all of the photos transport the reader to an exotic world far away. The pictures of the pink dolphin (although the one photographed is not while but held in captivity in Pittsburgh) add credibility to this seemingly unbelievable tale. Also, although they a meant to accompany and enhance the text, simply looking at the photos and reading the cations tells a fascinating story y themselves.
4. Review Excerpts
Horn Book Magazine: While she is successful in showing that researchable questions are everywhere, her questions about the pink dolphins are less focused, and her narrative is driven more by her quest to see a dolphin than to solve a specific scientific challenge. However, this is more than made up for by remarkable descriptions and color photographs of the Amazon rainforest and its inhabitants, human and nonhuman.
School Library Journal: A stimulating text and vibrant, full-color photographs entice readers on this trip down the Amazon to meet these freshwater rain-forest creatures. Written in second person and in a light, conversational tone, the narrative evokes a magical environment as readers accompany the author and a guide on a voyage to investigate these little-known animals.
Kirkus Review: She writes with a contagious sense of wonder-mixed with frustration, for though she does find dolphins, all she's able to see of them are occasional flashes on the river's surface. Children will get a better look at this bright pink, lumpy-looking creature, as Taylor-Snow intersperses atmospheric, crisply clear on-site color photos with nose-to-nose shots of Chuckles, a resident of the Pittsburgh Zoo and the only pink dolphin in captivity in North America.
5. Connections
* Other Books by Sy Montgomery
THE MAN-EATING TIGERS OF SUNDARBANS
THE SNAKE SCIENTIST
JOURNEY OF THE PINK DOLPHINS: AN AMAZON QUEST
* Other Books About the Amazon
THE AMAZON by Julia Waterlow
THE GREAT KAPOK TREE by Lynne Cherry
THE SHAMAN'S APPRENTICE: A TALE OF THE AMAZON RAINFOREST by Lynne Cherry and Mark Plotkin
* Other Books About Whales and Dolphins
DOLPHIN MAN: EXPLORING THE WORLD OF DOLPHINS by Lawrence Pringle
WHALES AND DOLPHINS by Anton Ericson
RESCUE OF THE STRANDED WHALES by Ken Mallory and Andrea Conley
LOOKING AT DOLPHINS AND PORPOISES by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
SHIPWRECK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD: THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE OF SHACKLETON AND THE ENDURANCE
1. Bibliography
Armstrong, Jennifer. 1998. SHIPWRECK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD: THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE OF SHACKLETON AND THE ENDURANCE. New York: Crown Publishers. ISBN 0517800144
2. Plot Summary
This book chronicles the amazing and perilous Antarctic expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton, Captain of the Endurance, and his 28 man crew. These brave men set out to be the first ever to cross the barren wasteland of Antarctica on foot. However, when their ship becomes trapped in the ice, their already dangerous excursion becomes a life or death race back to civilization. After being shipwrecked and trapped on the ice for eighteen months, Shackleton makes a daring rescue mission to South Georgia Island in search of help for his homesick, frostbitten, dying men. In the end, the Captain and the full 28 man crew were all saved despite what seemed many times to be insurmountable odds.
3. Critical Analysis
The most important aspect of any non-fiction work is accuracy. This book was written based on the personal accounts of the men who survived this perilous journey. Armstrong has carefully cited books and diaries written by several of the men including Shackleton, Worsley, McNeish, Hurley, and many others, as well as newspaper and journal articles written at the time of this amazing feat. Also, she has included maps of Antarctica as well as blueprints of the Endurance. Armstrong has provided evidence of vast amounts of research as well as venues for further reading for those interested in learning more.
This work is stylistically well written and appropriate for a young adult audience. It is easy to read, yet at the same time, the gruesome and often cruel reality of the situation is always present. For example, Armstrong does not neglect to tell us that the men had to kill their sled dogs for food or that the stowaway, Blackborrow, had to have his toes amputated because of frostbite. She begins the book by asking the reader to "imagine yourself in the most hostile place on earth" (Armstrong, 1998). She invites the reader to do more than read about this adventure, she wants the reader to witness it.
Finally, and this is perhaps my favorite part of the whole book, are the photographs. The book contains prints of many of the original photographs taken on the journey by Frank Hurley in 1915-1916. These candid photos add realism to this otherwise unbelievable tale as they illustrate, in stark black and white images, the dire situation that these men survived.
4. Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: The text moves from diary entries to explanations of how to read the sun, and the descriptions of the terrain and weather are superb. This is a very effective presentation of not only how the disaster occurred, but of the toll it took on the crew and how they rose to the challenge
Horn Book Guide: Her captivating, complete account, which identifies and tracks practically every crew member and liberally employs quotes from crew diaries, will find an audience with the detail-oriented, want-to-know-it-all kind of reader.
Publisher's Weekly: Armstrong's absorbing storytelling, illustrated with dramatic black-and-white photographs, make this an enthralling adventure
5. Connections
* Other Books About Shackleton and The Endurance
THE SHACKLETON EXPEDITION by Jil Fine
SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON: BY ENDURANCE WE CONQUER by Patricia Calvert
ICE STORY: SHACKLETON'S LOST EXPEDITION by Elizabeth Kimmel
* Other Books About Antarctica
HERE IS ANTARCTICA by Madeleine Dunphy
SOUTH POLE PENGUINS by Amanda Lumry
DISCOVERING ANTARCTICA: PLANTS AND ANIMALS by June Loves
WILDLIFE IN ANTARCTICA by Mary Adrian
* Other Books About Survival
AMAZING STORIES OF SURVIVAL by People Magazine Staff
ADRENALINE HIGH: EXTREME OUTDOOR SURVIVAL by Larry Mueller
THE WORLD'S MOST AMAZING SURVIVAL STORIES by Tim O'Shei
Armstrong, Jennifer. 1998. SHIPWRECK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD: THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE OF SHACKLETON AND THE ENDURANCE. New York: Crown Publishers. ISBN 0517800144
2. Plot Summary
This book chronicles the amazing and perilous Antarctic expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton, Captain of the Endurance, and his 28 man crew. These brave men set out to be the first ever to cross the barren wasteland of Antarctica on foot. However, when their ship becomes trapped in the ice, their already dangerous excursion becomes a life or death race back to civilization. After being shipwrecked and trapped on the ice for eighteen months, Shackleton makes a daring rescue mission to South Georgia Island in search of help for his homesick, frostbitten, dying men. In the end, the Captain and the full 28 man crew were all saved despite what seemed many times to be insurmountable odds.
3. Critical Analysis
The most important aspect of any non-fiction work is accuracy. This book was written based on the personal accounts of the men who survived this perilous journey. Armstrong has carefully cited books and diaries written by several of the men including Shackleton, Worsley, McNeish, Hurley, and many others, as well as newspaper and journal articles written at the time of this amazing feat. Also, she has included maps of Antarctica as well as blueprints of the Endurance. Armstrong has provided evidence of vast amounts of research as well as venues for further reading for those interested in learning more.
This work is stylistically well written and appropriate for a young adult audience. It is easy to read, yet at the same time, the gruesome and often cruel reality of the situation is always present. For example, Armstrong does not neglect to tell us that the men had to kill their sled dogs for food or that the stowaway, Blackborrow, had to have his toes amputated because of frostbite. She begins the book by asking the reader to "imagine yourself in the most hostile place on earth" (Armstrong, 1998). She invites the reader to do more than read about this adventure, she wants the reader to witness it.
Finally, and this is perhaps my favorite part of the whole book, are the photographs. The book contains prints of many of the original photographs taken on the journey by Frank Hurley in 1915-1916. These candid photos add realism to this otherwise unbelievable tale as they illustrate, in stark black and white images, the dire situation that these men survived.
4. Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: The text moves from diary entries to explanations of how to read the sun, and the descriptions of the terrain and weather are superb. This is a very effective presentation of not only how the disaster occurred, but of the toll it took on the crew and how they rose to the challenge
Horn Book Guide: Her captivating, complete account, which identifies and tracks practically every crew member and liberally employs quotes from crew diaries, will find an audience with the detail-oriented, want-to-know-it-all kind of reader.
Publisher's Weekly: Armstrong's absorbing storytelling, illustrated with dramatic black-and-white photographs, make this an enthralling adventure
5. Connections
* Other Books About Shackleton and The Endurance
THE SHACKLETON EXPEDITION by Jil Fine
SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON: BY ENDURANCE WE CONQUER by Patricia Calvert
ICE STORY: SHACKLETON'S LOST EXPEDITION by Elizabeth Kimmel
* Other Books About Antarctica
HERE IS ANTARCTICA by Madeleine Dunphy
SOUTH POLE PENGUINS by Amanda Lumry
DISCOVERING ANTARCTICA: PLANTS AND ANIMALS by June Loves
WILDLIFE IN ANTARCTICA by Mary Adrian
* Other Books About Survival
AMAZING STORIES OF SURVIVAL by People Magazine Staff
ADRENALINE HIGH: EXTREME OUTDOOR SURVIVAL by Larry Mueller
THE WORLD'S MOST AMAZING SURVIVAL STORIES by Tim O'Shei
Thursday, October 11, 2007
MY MAN BLUE
1. Bibliography
Grimes, Nikki. 1999. MY MAN BLUE. Ill. by Jerome Lagarrigue. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 0803723261
2. Plot Summary
This book is a collection of poetry describing the relationship between a boy with no father who befriends a man who lost his young son to street violence. While they are somewhat leery of each other at first, they soon begin to fill the voids in each others' lives and create an unbreakable bond.
3. Critical Analysis
This collection of poetry is contemporary and edgy as it describes the life of a young African American boy who, with no father in his life, has to be the man of the house. His friend, Blue, becomes his father figure and guides him and teaches him how to survive without giving in to the temptation of the streets.
The overall tone of the collection is hopeful as the boy, Damon, finds a friend in Blue, who helps him and keeps him safe. At the same time, the poetry is somewhat didactic without being overtly preachy. Throughout the book, Blue teaches Damon life lessons that we, as readers, learn as well. For example, in "The Plan", Grimes says, "What makes somebody/ Want to shoot to kill?/ 'It's hate,' says Blue./ 'And fear. One/ Holds the gun/ while the other/ Pulls the trigger.'" (Grimes, 1999). Also, in "One-on-One" Grimes tells us that "While some/ Aim guns./ We hit/ The hoops/ And shoot/ For fun." (Grimes, 1999). Lastly, in "Class Bully" we learn that "It's guys/ who don't hit girls' Who're strong' (Grime, 1999). All of these are examples of life lessons taught through Grimes' poetry
The illustrations in this collection were created using acrylic paint on Canson paper. The pictures are awash with vivid colors, drawing the eye to the page. Both the people and the surrounding scenery are distinct enough to be recognized at a glance, but not so distinct that they look like any particular person or place. This enables the reader to connect to the poetry on a more personal note, envisioning themselves or people they know within the illustrations. Overall, the collection is greatly enhanced by the illustrations which help to tell the story and allow the reader to better visualize the poetic contents.
4. Review Excerpts
Booklist: In a simple, lyrical series of poems, Grimes speaks in the voice of Damon, a child in Harlem, whose "missing daddy's left a hole" and who finds a mentor in Blue, who lost a son to the streets. Lagarrigue's strong realistic acrylic paintings show the poignant connection between the needy child and the gentle, heavily built man in the dangerous neighborhood, where wedges of blue sky are sandwiched in between the roofs. A great picture book for older readers.
Horn Book Guide: The poems are accessible and filled with imagery, and the intergenerational friendship is believable, though Damon sometimes sounds older than he is. The unsentimental acrylic paintings aptly reflect the poems.
Publisher's Weekly: Though each of these accomplished poems could easily stand alone, together they form an enticing story arc. The deep-hued acrylic paintings have a rough, slightly smudgy texture, and they demonstrate a remarkable color sense. Unexpected fields of sharp blues and greens blend into the gritty cityscapes, and blocks of text are set against canvases thinly brushed with paint in palettes that complement the facing illustration. The art creates an ideal setting for the text: the look is inescapably urban but also subtly lyrical.
5. Connections
* Other poetry collections by Nikki Grimes
THANKS A MILLION
WHEN GORILLA GOES WALKING
AT JERUSALEM'S GATE
* Other Urban Poets for kids
Walter Dean Myers
Holly Black
Grimes, Nikki. 1999. MY MAN BLUE. Ill. by Jerome Lagarrigue. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 0803723261
2. Plot Summary
This book is a collection of poetry describing the relationship between a boy with no father who befriends a man who lost his young son to street violence. While they are somewhat leery of each other at first, they soon begin to fill the voids in each others' lives and create an unbreakable bond.
3. Critical Analysis
This collection of poetry is contemporary and edgy as it describes the life of a young African American boy who, with no father in his life, has to be the man of the house. His friend, Blue, becomes his father figure and guides him and teaches him how to survive without giving in to the temptation of the streets.
The overall tone of the collection is hopeful as the boy, Damon, finds a friend in Blue, who helps him and keeps him safe. At the same time, the poetry is somewhat didactic without being overtly preachy. Throughout the book, Blue teaches Damon life lessons that we, as readers, learn as well. For example, in "The Plan", Grimes says, "What makes somebody/ Want to shoot to kill?/ 'It's hate,' says Blue./ 'And fear. One/ Holds the gun/ while the other/ Pulls the trigger.'" (Grimes, 1999). Also, in "One-on-One" Grimes tells us that "While some/ Aim guns./ We hit/ The hoops/ And shoot/ For fun." (Grimes, 1999). Lastly, in "Class Bully" we learn that "It's guys/ who don't hit girls' Who're strong' (Grime, 1999). All of these are examples of life lessons taught through Grimes' poetry
The illustrations in this collection were created using acrylic paint on Canson paper. The pictures are awash with vivid colors, drawing the eye to the page. Both the people and the surrounding scenery are distinct enough to be recognized at a glance, but not so distinct that they look like any particular person or place. This enables the reader to connect to the poetry on a more personal note, envisioning themselves or people they know within the illustrations. Overall, the collection is greatly enhanced by the illustrations which help to tell the story and allow the reader to better visualize the poetic contents.
4. Review Excerpts
Booklist: In a simple, lyrical series of poems, Grimes speaks in the voice of Damon, a child in Harlem, whose "missing daddy's left a hole" and who finds a mentor in Blue, who lost a son to the streets. Lagarrigue's strong realistic acrylic paintings show the poignant connection between the needy child and the gentle, heavily built man in the dangerous neighborhood, where wedges of blue sky are sandwiched in between the roofs. A great picture book for older readers.
Horn Book Guide: The poems are accessible and filled with imagery, and the intergenerational friendship is believable, though Damon sometimes sounds older than he is. The unsentimental acrylic paintings aptly reflect the poems.
Publisher's Weekly: Though each of these accomplished poems could easily stand alone, together they form an enticing story arc. The deep-hued acrylic paintings have a rough, slightly smudgy texture, and they demonstrate a remarkable color sense. Unexpected fields of sharp blues and greens blend into the gritty cityscapes, and blocks of text are set against canvases thinly brushed with paint in palettes that complement the facing illustration. The art creates an ideal setting for the text: the look is inescapably urban but also subtly lyrical.
5. Connections
* Other poetry collections by Nikki Grimes
THANKS A MILLION
WHEN GORILLA GOES WALKING
AT JERUSALEM'S GATE
* Other Urban Poets for kids
Walter Dean Myers
Holly Black
ZOO'S WHO
1. Bibliography
Florian, Douglas. 2005. ZOO'S WHO. Ill. by Douglas Florian. New York: Harcort Inc. ISBN 0152046399
2. Plot Summary
This book is a collection of short poems that use rhyme, alliteration, wordplay, as well as other literary techniques to create silly descriptions of uncommon animals that one might encounter at a zoo.
3. Critical Analysis
In this collection, Douglas Florian uses an array of literary techniques to create fun animal poems suitable for young children. For example, in "The Penguin" Florian coins new terms such as "penginsulation", "penguinter" and "penguinsome". These made up, silly words describe a penguin and its behavior while at the same time creating an entertaining poem. In the poem "The Sharks", Florian uses alliteration to make this poem appealing. The repeated "s" sound throughout the poem adds intensity to the text as well as makes it a cohesive and memorable work. Finally, in the poem "The Snake". Florian creates a visual effect by shaping the final line of the piece in the form of a snake. All of these techniques, as well as others, create visually as well as aurally stimulating poetry intended to entertain young readers.
The illustrations in this book are flat, two dimensional depictions of the beasts described in the poetry. They consist of dark, muted earth tones with the name of the animal hidden within the background of the drawing. Overall, while the illustrations are nice, their somber tones seem at odds with the playful quality of the poetry it is meant to mirror. I find that the combination of the two (poetry and illustration) does not mix well and , therefore, creates a sense of dissonance among the pages.
4. Review Excerpts
Horn Book: The twenty-one poems in Florian's latest collection are as fresh, imaginative, and witty as ever. The illustrations are something of a departure. Made with "watercolor, gouache, colored pencils, inks, tin foil, candy wrappers, shredded papers, stencils...and much collage on primed brown paper bags," the large, square pictures frequently use rubber-stamped letters to extend the wit of the poems.
Booklist: Florian continues his series of books that deal with animal life in all its permutations. However, children will need a certain sensibility to understand the wordplay. The more astute the reader, the better the time he or she will have with this. But there are joys here for those who take the poems and pictures on face value as well.
5. Connections
* Other books by Douglas Florian
OMNIBEASTS: ANIMAL POEMS AND PAINTINGS
BOW WOW MEOW MEOW: IT'S RHYMING CATS AND DOGS
LIZARDS, FROGS, AND POLLIWOGS
A PIG IS BIG
* Other authors of animal poetry for children
Jane Yolen
Valerie Worth
Rob Jackson
Susan K. Mitchell
Florian, Douglas. 2005. ZOO'S WHO. Ill. by Douglas Florian. New York: Harcort Inc. ISBN 0152046399
2. Plot Summary
This book is a collection of short poems that use rhyme, alliteration, wordplay, as well as other literary techniques to create silly descriptions of uncommon animals that one might encounter at a zoo.
3. Critical Analysis
In this collection, Douglas Florian uses an array of literary techniques to create fun animal poems suitable for young children. For example, in "The Penguin" Florian coins new terms such as "penginsulation", "penguinter" and "penguinsome". These made up, silly words describe a penguin and its behavior while at the same time creating an entertaining poem. In the poem "The Sharks", Florian uses alliteration to make this poem appealing. The repeated "s" sound throughout the poem adds intensity to the text as well as makes it a cohesive and memorable work. Finally, in the poem "The Snake". Florian creates a visual effect by shaping the final line of the piece in the form of a snake. All of these techniques, as well as others, create visually as well as aurally stimulating poetry intended to entertain young readers.
The illustrations in this book are flat, two dimensional depictions of the beasts described in the poetry. They consist of dark, muted earth tones with the name of the animal hidden within the background of the drawing. Overall, while the illustrations are nice, their somber tones seem at odds with the playful quality of the poetry it is meant to mirror. I find that the combination of the two (poetry and illustration) does not mix well and , therefore, creates a sense of dissonance among the pages.
4. Review Excerpts
Horn Book: The twenty-one poems in Florian's latest collection are as fresh, imaginative, and witty as ever. The illustrations are something of a departure. Made with "watercolor, gouache, colored pencils, inks, tin foil, candy wrappers, shredded papers, stencils...and much collage on primed brown paper bags," the large, square pictures frequently use rubber-stamped letters to extend the wit of the poems.
Booklist: Florian continues his series of books that deal with animal life in all its permutations. However, children will need a certain sensibility to understand the wordplay. The more astute the reader, the better the time he or she will have with this. But there are joys here for those who take the poems and pictures on face value as well.
5. Connections
* Other books by Douglas Florian
OMNIBEASTS: ANIMAL POEMS AND PAINTINGS
BOW WOW MEOW MEOW: IT'S RHYMING CATS AND DOGS
LIZARDS, FROGS, AND POLLIWOGS
A PIG IS BIG
* Other authors of animal poetry for children
Jane Yolen
Valerie Worth
Rob Jackson
Susan K. Mitchell
STOP PRETENDING:WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY BIG SISTER WENT CRAZY
1. Bibliography
Sones, Sonya. 1999. STOP PRETENDING:WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY BIG SISTER WENT CRAZY. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 0060283874
2. Plot Summary
This book, Sonya Sones' first published work, is a collection of poems, although commonly referred to as a verse novel, that explains the emotional turmoil endured by the narrator after her older sister has a nervous breakdown and is committed to a mental hospital. The book begins with the sister's breakdown and travels through the narrator's feelings of guilt, embarrassment, anger, fear, grief, and eventual acceptance of her sister's illness. Although the story is fictionalized, it is based on the author's own experience with a big sister who was diagnosed as manic depressive, or bipolar, as the disease is now called.
3. Critical Analysis
This collection of free verse poetry runs the gamut of human emotions. Essentially, Sones covers the seven stages of grief (disbelief, denial, bargaining, guilt, anger, depression, and acceptance) as her main character, Cookie, loses her sister, not to death but to mental illness. Just as the stages of grief progress and change over time, so too do the poems within the book. The tone of the beginning poems is dark and full of despair. For example, in "Three A.M. That Same Night" Cookie says, "I'm huddled on my bed,/ rocking in my quilt,/ wishing I could fall asleep/ and end this nightmare" (Sones, 1999). Clearly Cookie is having a great deal of difficulty dealing with her sister's sudden breakdown. Also, the poems at the beginning of the book have shorter lines and more spaces creating a fast paced, almost frantic feeling that mimics Cookie's emotions at the time.
This frantic feel and dark tone at the beginning, however, is a stark contrast to the longer lines, slower pace, and hopeful tone of the ending poems. In "Tonight", Cookie says, "And tonight,/ for once,/ it feels okay/ just to be three" (Sones, 1999). Obviously, by the change on tone and structure of these poems, we know that Cookie has found some measure of peace.
The intense emotions found within these pages will fascinate young readers who will be better able to relate to Cookie's inability to understand her own emotions. However, the content of the poems as well as the free verse form in which they are written make this book better suited for older adolescent readers rather than beginning readers. On a personal note, I greatly enjoyed reading this book both for its challenging content and its creative style.
4. Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: An unpretentious, accessible book that could provide entry points for a discussion about mental illness-its stigma, its realities, and its affect on family members. The simply crafted but deeply felt poems reflect her thoughts, fears, hopes, and dreams during that troubling time.
Booklist: Based on Sones' own family experience, this debut novel shows the capacity of poetry to record the personal and translate it into the universal.
Kirkus Reviews: Individually, the poems appear simple and unremarkable, snapshot portraits of two sisters, a family, unfaithful friends, and a sweet first love. Collected, they take on life and movement, the individual frames of a movie that in the unspooling become animated, telling a compelling tale and presenting a painful passage through young adolescence.
Connections:
* Other books by Sonya Sones
WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN'T KNOW
NECESSARY NOISE: STORIES ABOUT OUR FAMILIES AS THEY REALLY ARE
ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES
* Other authors who write about Illness and Loss
Lurlene McDaniel
Adele Griffin
Jordan Sonnenblick
Donna Jo Napoli
Sones, Sonya. 1999. STOP PRETENDING:WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY BIG SISTER WENT CRAZY. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 0060283874
2. Plot Summary
This book, Sonya Sones' first published work, is a collection of poems, although commonly referred to as a verse novel, that explains the emotional turmoil endured by the narrator after her older sister has a nervous breakdown and is committed to a mental hospital. The book begins with the sister's breakdown and travels through the narrator's feelings of guilt, embarrassment, anger, fear, grief, and eventual acceptance of her sister's illness. Although the story is fictionalized, it is based on the author's own experience with a big sister who was diagnosed as manic depressive, or bipolar, as the disease is now called.
3. Critical Analysis
This collection of free verse poetry runs the gamut of human emotions. Essentially, Sones covers the seven stages of grief (disbelief, denial, bargaining, guilt, anger, depression, and acceptance) as her main character, Cookie, loses her sister, not to death but to mental illness. Just as the stages of grief progress and change over time, so too do the poems within the book. The tone of the beginning poems is dark and full of despair. For example, in "Three A.M. That Same Night" Cookie says, "I'm huddled on my bed,/ rocking in my quilt,/ wishing I could fall asleep/ and end this nightmare" (Sones, 1999). Clearly Cookie is having a great deal of difficulty dealing with her sister's sudden breakdown. Also, the poems at the beginning of the book have shorter lines and more spaces creating a fast paced, almost frantic feeling that mimics Cookie's emotions at the time.
This frantic feel and dark tone at the beginning, however, is a stark contrast to the longer lines, slower pace, and hopeful tone of the ending poems. In "Tonight", Cookie says, "And tonight,/ for once,/ it feels okay/ just to be three" (Sones, 1999). Obviously, by the change on tone and structure of these poems, we know that Cookie has found some measure of peace.
The intense emotions found within these pages will fascinate young readers who will be better able to relate to Cookie's inability to understand her own emotions. However, the content of the poems as well as the free verse form in which they are written make this book better suited for older adolescent readers rather than beginning readers. On a personal note, I greatly enjoyed reading this book both for its challenging content and its creative style.
4. Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: An unpretentious, accessible book that could provide entry points for a discussion about mental illness-its stigma, its realities, and its affect on family members. The simply crafted but deeply felt poems reflect her thoughts, fears, hopes, and dreams during that troubling time.
Booklist: Based on Sones' own family experience, this debut novel shows the capacity of poetry to record the personal and translate it into the universal.
Kirkus Reviews: Individually, the poems appear simple and unremarkable, snapshot portraits of two sisters, a family, unfaithful friends, and a sweet first love. Collected, they take on life and movement, the individual frames of a movie that in the unspooling become animated, telling a compelling tale and presenting a painful passage through young adolescence.
Connections:
* Other books by Sonya Sones
WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN'T KNOW
NECESSARY NOISE: STORIES ABOUT OUR FAMILIES AS THEY REALLY ARE
ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES
* Other authors who write about Illness and Loss
Lurlene McDaniel
Adele Griffin
Jordan Sonnenblick
Donna Jo Napoli
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