LSSL 5360 Module 3, review #4- FOLLOW FOLLOW

Book Review #4, Module 3
FOLLOW FOLLOW by Marilyn Singer, Illustrated by Josée Masse

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Singer, M., & Massee, J. (2014). Follow Follow: a book of reverso poems. New York: Scholastic.

2.  PLOT SUMMARY
Follow, Follow is a collection of reverso poems- read them top to bottom, they mean one thing, but if you reverse and read them bottom to top, they tell a different story! This clever and witty book gives us an intriguing twist on some of our favorite classic fairy tales.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In this interesting story where poems are presented forwards, and then backwards, we learn to appreciate an entirely new form of poetry where the sheer structure of the words changes the meaning entirely! The thing that struck me the most about this book is the raw talent of Marilyn Singer- I don’t think I could construct a pair of reverso poems if I wanted to, and she has put together an entire collection of them. Each one is unique and draws you in, making the reader interpret some of the most classic, well-known stories in a completely new way. Josée Masse’s illustrations are vibrant and fitting- I loved the bright colors and the “yin-yang” split of the drawings, each character reflecting off of each other while also reflecting the poetry itself.

My favorite reverso poem was “The Little Mermaid’s Choice.” The opening lines of the first poem lead us to the expected, traditional plot: "For love, / give up your voice. / Don't / think twice." However, this very opening line has an entirely different meaning as it closes out the second poem: "Think twice! / Don't / give up your voice / for love." It's a perfect transposal, and my favorite example of a twist on the classic princess tale.

4.   REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

“Marilyn Singer’s verse in Follow Follow practically dances down each page .  . . the effect is miraculous and pithy.” – The Wall Street Journal

“Singer’s poetry begs to be read aloud as listeners savor Masse’s accompanying illustrations. This is a must-have book for a library’s poetry section as well as for any personal collection.” – Library Media Connection, starred review

*Booklist’s 30 best books of the year
*Cybils Award Finalist
*IRA Teachers’ Choices Reading List pick

5. CONNECTIONS
*A great introduction to a unqiue type of poetry that will intrigue elementary aged kids
*Create teams and have them write their own small, simple reverso poems
*Other book to consider: Mirror Mirror: a book of reverso poems by Marilyn Singer

LSSL 5360 Module 3, review #3- DIAMOND WILLOW

Book Review #3, Module 3
DIAMOND WILLOW by Helen Frost

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Frost, H. (2011). Diamond Willow. New York: Square Fish.

2.  PLOT SUMMARY
Diamond Willow is a collection of poetry that tells a story of 12 year old Willow, a dog musher, and her lead dog, Roxy. This story is set in Alaska, and told in diamond-shaped poems that lead us through a journey in the voices of both Willow and the animals.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Diamond Willow is a deep story filled with symbolism about a unique girl with a unique name who feels anything but unique. Willow feels just as she describes: “skinny, average height, brown hair, and ordinary eyes.” She believes she is the girl who blends- nothing like a sparkly diamond, despite her name. We connect her name to the most obvious symbolism present in Frost’s writing: the free verse poems are cleverly constructed in the form of a diamond. Frost also strategically bolds certain words throughout each poem, and if the reader only reads these words, we discover the innermost thoughts of Willow hidden within each poem. These bolded words represent Willow’s subconscious- thoughts that perhaps she isn’t even sure she is having. I love this style of detail; what a great way to get young readers to really read and pay attention to the hidden messages of Willow’s thoughts.

The content of the story itself is interesting, deep, and intriguing, but the folksy presence of reincarnated ancestors as animals was a weird twist for me. Perhaps it was a fun (albeit creepy) look into the Alaskan culture that Willow lives in. I loved that we start from Willow’s perspective as she dives deep into a search for who she is, for her other half, you may say, even before she knows why. In a heartfelt surprise, we find that the dog she loves so dearly, Roxy, is the reincarnated spirit of her twin sister. Slowly, we watch the pieces Willow is searching for start to come together.

In this story of a girl who feels quite ordinary, you will find rich writing, clever poetry, characters, and spirits that are anything but ordinary. Frost brings us through a journey of a girl and her dog who are connected on a deeper level than we imagined. Through mistakes, struggle, and consequences, Willow not only finds who she is, but finds the sweetest companion, too.

4.   REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
*2009 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award
*2008 Mitten Award--Michigan Library Association/
*The Lion and the Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Poetry
*2009 Honor Book
*2009 Winner of Best Books of Indiana, Children and Young Adult Book
*2009 CCBC Choices List
*Indie Next Kids' List Great Read
*Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Finalist
*Bank Street List of Best Children's Books
*Capitol Choices Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens

"This complex and elegant novel will resonate with readers who savor powerful drama and multifaceted characters." —School Library Journal

“Set in a remote part of Alaska, this story in easy-to-read verse blends exciting survival adventure with a contemporary girl’s discovery of family roots and secrets.” —Booklist

5. CONNECTIONS
*ideal for middle school; I would suggest ages 8 and up- heavy theme, emotionally mature content
*would be great for a story book- could draw the animal characters and put visuals to this picture-less book
*Other book to consider: The Braid by Helen Frost

Podcast- Dr Carol Simpson- LSSL 5370

https://taldud.podbean.com/e/carol-simpson-library-leader/?token=2ee0f7caf2b7a38fad7b4f0cd829c7fd

LSSL 5360 Module 3, Review #1 BOOKSPEAK!

Book Review #1, Module 3
BOOKSPEAK! By Laura Purdie Salas, Illustrated by Josee Bisaillon

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Salas, L. P., & Bisaillon, J. (2011). Bookspeak!: poems about books. Boston: Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 9780547223001

2.  PLOT SUMMARY
BookSpeak! is a whimsical collection of poems about books and their features, characters, and literary elements written as if the books were writing the poems themselves. Each poem has a different voice, just as each book does, and the illustrations for each poem match that featured voice.  Salas takes us through the journeys of book covers and indexes, bringing our imagination to life with each poem she delivers.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In many of her poems in BookSpeak!, Laura Purdie Salas highlights that the written word is being phased out by technology, phones, and TVs. Several of the poems are the books themselves begging to be read, and characters pleading to be introduced. An element of humor is present throughout the entire book as well. The Sky Is Falling was my favorite poem featured in the book, and a poem we can all relate to- As we read “I’m buried under cheek and drool, and hair three inches deep,” we realize that the voice is coming from pages of a book and the reader has fallen asleep on it.

The illustrations are fun, and vibrant, but they leave some to the imagination, just as the titles of the poems do. Josee Bisaillon uses these creative illustrations to tell us just enough without giving away the voice of the poem.

Throughout each poem, we realize the theme is to show the whimsical, adventurous worlds that books can create for us all. I love that young readers will be encouraged to read this book, as well as other literary works.

4.   REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
"Well-crafted and clever, covering a variety of aspects of books and reading...An appealing offering that will be especially popular with librarians."--School Library Journal

“Words soar across the page like “inky black birds,” an unloved book mourns its loneliness, a bookplate is a “paper love tattoo,” and characters plead for their stories to continue. Throughout each poem, one theme is clear: The written word creates worlds.” –starred review, Goodreads

*The Minnesota Book Award
*NCTE Notable
*Bank Street Best Books
*Librarians' Choice
*Honor Book - Gelett Burgess Center for Creative Expression
*White Ravens book
*Nerdy Book Award

5. CONNECTIONS
*It says the target age for this book is 4-7, but I don’t agree. The sheer concept of the book seems pretty complex for anyone in elementary school, in my opinion. This is ideal for middle school poetry unit.
*great choice for sharing in the classroom as well as in writing workshops
*could utilize this to teach different parts of books and literature in an innovative way
*If you enjoyed BookSpeak! I would also suggest Stampede!: Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School by Laura Purdie Salas

LSSL 5360 Module 3 review #2 WHEN GORILLA GOES WALKING

Book Review #2, Module 3
WHEN GORILLA GOES WALKING by Nikki Grimes, Illustrated by Shane Evans

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY
Grimes, N., & Evans, S. (2010). When Gorilla Goes Walking. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN-13: 9780439317702

2.  PLOT SUMMARY
When Gorilla Goes Walking is a sweet and humorous collection of poems about a young girl, Cecilia, and her furry, tailless cat named Gorilla. Cecilia takes her readers through the good, bad, jealous, sassy, sweet, cuddly, and comforting adventures of Gorilla, and leaves us running to our fur-babies to hug them close. The unique relationship between Cecilia and Gorilla is silly and loveable. This is truly a great collection of poems perfect for any animal lover.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

When Gorilla Goes Walking brings us into the sweet connection between Cecilia and her cat, Gorilla, through the medium of poetry in many forms. The book opens with full page illustrations of two best friends, both named Cecilia, and moves straight to an introduction of Gorilla. This transition parallels Gorilla to best-friend-Cecilia and allows the reader to immediately recognize that this sassy cat is there for its owner in every circumstance imaginable. We then walk through several situations, written poetically, where Gorilla and Cecilia experience everyday life side by side. Some situations paint Gorilla as a spoiled pet, yet in the very next poem we see how warm Cecilia’s furry friend can be.

I love how the illustrations are vibrant, yet simple, and take up the entire page; it brings a realistic feel to the poems, while not overwhelming the reader with excessive detail. Evans does a fantastic job of showing us the relationship between Gorilla and Cecilia by placing us in each and every situation with them. It’s easy to see from these realistic yet silly illustrations that this furry, tailless cat never leaves its owner’s side.

It’s worth noting that the last poem of the book ends with, “I’m Gorilla’s human, don’t ever forget!” which for me, puts a humorous twist on the poem and shows a shift of power- Gorilla is truly the one running that household!

4.   REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

“Grimes' skillfully chosen sounds and rhythms echo the distinctly feline behavior, from erratic, zooming action—"skate 'cross the floor. / Sail by the window, / leap through the door"—to soothing, purring comforts: "Gorilla raised a paw / and pet me." In spare, expressive lines and bold colors, Evans' dynamic paintings capture the messy intimacy of the cat and human bond.” –starred review, Gillian Engberg in Booklist

Awards:
*Bank Street Best Books for Children

*Starred review in Booklist

*Starred review in Publishers Weekly

*2009 California Readers Collection

5. CONNECTIONS
*Great read for ages 7 and up as poems are more mature and some words are more advanced
*Perfect for making connections to other books with animals
*Could be utilized in a poetry unit as this collection features different types of poems

*Would work well in group readings
*Could have the kids write their own poem about them and a pet 

LSSL 5360 Mod. 2, Book Review #2, The Three Ninja Pigs

Book Review #2- Module 2- Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz
Illustrated by Dan Santat

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Schwartz, Corey R., & Santat, Dan. (2012). The Three Ninja Pigs. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 9780399255144

2.  PLOT SUMMARY
These three pigs decide they are tired of being bullied by the wolf, so they each take ninja lessons to defeat him next time he tries to huff and puff their houses down! Unfortunately, pig one and pig two don’t exactly prepare as much as they should, but luckily, their sister has some serious karate moves for the wolf! This story is a perfect example of a comical fractured fairy tale- a fun rhyming story that is enjoyable for all ages.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This story was one of my very favorite children’s books so far. The rhyming nature of the writing truly flows with ease. It’s perfect for a fun read aloud- I found myself reading it out loud even by myself! The idea of three ninja pigs is just plain funny, and the illustrations are absolutely too cute for words. My favorite line was “The teacher said, ‘excellent progress, but Pig-san, you must study more.’ Pig two said, ‘no way. Sayonara, Sensei! I’m ready to settle a score!’” Santat’s illustrations really added a dynamic sense of action that perfectly paralleled to Schwartz’s storytelling, and aided in the reader’s visualization of the pigs’ karate chops and skillful training. The expressions of the characters were so realistically drawn that, by the end of it, the idea of ninja pigs didn’t sound so crazy after all!

Another thing I loved about The Three Ninja Pigs is that it has an underlying tone of “girl power,” as the third pig who defeats the wolf is their sister. I love the empowerment of the sister pig as she splits the stack of bricks and says to the wolf, “that could have been you!”

This is truly a hilarious, well-written story with a rhyming limerick structure that will have audiences of all ages reaching for this empowering twist on the traditional Three Pigs story.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

“A fractured fairy tale to out-charm the original, “The Three Ninja Pigs” manages to one-up the well-worn story by setting it in Japan, sprinkling it with the language and discipline of martial art, all in hilarious, impeccable rhyme.” - The New York Times Book Review

“A standout among fractured fairy tales, masterfully combining rollicking limerick verse with a solid story… Have the contact info for the local dojo handy–readers will want to try out these martial-arts styles for themselves.” - Kirkus Reviews

5. CONNECTIONS

*Unit on fractured fairy tales
*Could do an entire unit on The Three Pigs and different variations of it, noting the writing, illustrations, and what category of folktales it falls under

Could utilize this book during lessons on-
* Standing up to bullies
* Empowerment
* The value of hard work
* Sticking up for each other

Similar book to consider:
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, Illustrated by Lane Smith

LSSL 5360 Mod. 2, Book Review #3- Joseph Had A Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Book Review #3- Module 2- Joseph Had A Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Taback, S. (1999). Joseph had a Little Overcoat. New York, NY: Viking.
ISBN 0670878553

2.  PLOT SUMMARY
“Joseph had a little overcoat, but it was full of holes- just like this book!” (Taback, 1999). As Joseph’s overcoat starts to ware away, he savors it by making it into a jacket, and then a vest. He continues to make his overcoat into items until he is left with nothing, and then, he even makes something out of that! The moral of this super interactive story is that we can always make something valuable, even out of nothing.

3.       CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Two things struck me the most about this book- the culturally rich subtleties found all over the beautiful illustrations, and the sweet lesson we can all learn from the creative die-cut format. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is simply sweet and fun for all ages, but to me, the most intriguing aspect of the book was the added cultural details throughout the illustrations. As a young reader, it would be a great project to go through and research the significance of the Yiddish and Jewish items featured throughout the book. Some of the details I noticed were different languages throughout the newspapers, faces of culturally significant figures on the walls, as well as garbs and attire significant to Jewish culture.

Looking through the pages of this book, you can truly find something new every time you read it if you really explore the detailed, colorful pictures. It’s obvious why this book was a Caldecott Medal Winner- the illustrations draw you into every detail with rich, vibrant colors. In the end, the reader discovers that this book was based on a Yiddish folk song. The same premise as the song, the story teaches us that we can “always make something out of nothing,” be that a story, or a song!

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*Caldecott Medal Winner 2000

“As children turn the pages of this book, they can use the die-cut holes to guess what Joseph will be making next from his amazing overcoat, while they laugh at the bold, cheerful artwork and learn that you can always make something, even out of nothing.” Starred review, Goodreads

5. CONNECTIONS

*Great book to read and tie in with a sing-along for elementary ages
*Could use in an “It’s a small world” unit and touch on the Yiddish folk song as well cultural attire; perhaps have the kids construct their own overcoat with materials gathered.
*Personal journaling- “Give an example of a time that you made something fun or important out of something insignificant.”
*Research project on the Yiddish/Jewish cultural significance found in the illustrations (4^th-6^th grade)

LSSL 5360 Module 2 book review #4, The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

Book Review #4- Module 2- The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Wiesner, David. (2001). The Three Pigs. New York, NY: Clarion Books.
ISBN 0618007016

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

The Three Pigs starts just as you think it would… a familiar store we all know as each pig collects materials to build houses. With the introduction of the wolf’s character, Wiesner jumps right into the classic, “I’ll huff and puff and blow your house down!” Yet, this fun story takes a quick twist as the wolf “huffs” each pig right out of the pages and into a story-land where they encounter different stories and characters. The reader is guided through a realm of imagination that ends back where we began, but with an unexpected and happy ending.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This story, for me personally, was a very hard read-aloud because it was really all over the place, jumping from story to story and character to character. Additionally, the writing style changed, the illustrations transformed, and even the letters and words flew across the pages in new ways. The thought bubbles appeared and disappeared as the pigs jumped from one story to the next, taking the reader on an adventure, albeit, a choppy one. Nonetheless, I enjoyed being guided through the classic story, and I was entertained by the new friends we met along the way. Wiesner does a great job of bring a light-hearted feel to the wolf blowing the houses down, and as he “ate the pig up,” young readers find comfort in the fact that these pigs have found their way out of harm’s way!

Wiesner’s illustrations truly take center stage in this book. The drawings start just as the story, classic, clean, predictable, and two dimensional, yet as the characters move from place to place, the mood and style of each illustration changes to fit the scene. As the pigs navigate through the pages of other stories, the drawings turn three dimensional. This really added texture and visualization to the new twist on this story. I think my favorite part of the story is where the pig looks right out at the reader and says, “I think…someone’s out there.” It was a truly creative and unique twist that Wiesner gives us as the pig acknowledges us, the readers. This story is definitely a little more mature, solely based on its complexity.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*2002 Caldecott Medal Winner

“The famous three little pigs escape the huffing-puffing wolf AND the bounds of their pages and go a-roaming through other children's books. Clever concept, and artwork to die for! A fun and very cute time should be had by all.” –starred Goodreads review by Melkit

5. CONNECTIONS
* I would recommend to readers 5 and up- story is a little complex.
*Would be fun in a lesson where you group read in small groups- that way the students can really look at the great illustrations and follow the story. Not a great read-aloud, in my opinion.
*Could include in a lesson of story mapping, folktales, or retold stories with a twist

LSSL 5360 Module 2, book review #1- Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock retold by Eric A Kimmel

Book Review #1- Module 2- Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock
retold by Eric A. Kimmel, Illustrated by Janet Stevens

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kimmel, Eric A., & Stevens, Janet. (1988). Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock. New York, NY: Holiday House. ISBN 082340689X

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

In this old African folktale retold by Eric A. Kimmel, Anansi the spider discovers a “strange moss covered rock” in the forest, and soon after, realizes its magical powers to put observers to sleep for one hour. Anansi decides to use its magic to trick most of the animals in the forest, and stealing their bundles of food that he is too lazy to work for himself. Little Bush Deer will not be fooled, though, and uses the same moss covered rock to teach Anansi a lesson.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This folktale is multifaceted, and while it brings its readers humor, it also teaches a lesson: usually trickery and deception will come with consequences. Readers will enjoy Kimmel’s writing style and can join in on the fun repetition as Anansi goes “walking, walking, walking” through the forest. The repetition also builds suspense for the reader as we can start to predict that surely this moss-covered magic rock can’t be as good as it seems for Anansi the spider. Sure enough, the culmination of the story teaches us all that trickery will lead us nowhere and good always prevails!

I really loved the illustrations (and so did my 3 month old, who cooed every time I turned the page), although I’ve read mixed review from others. To me, the moss covered rock was indeed strange looking, and the characters were realistic but still done with a fun, cartoonish flair. I was drawn in by the colorful scenery and exaggerated texture. Anansi’s deceptive character was symbolized well by long, lanky, angular legs and cold, black color.

4.   REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Review from Africa Access Review: “Repetition and a well-paced narrative make this picture book a hit with the younger set....Educators teaching the concept of the African diaspora will find this book quite useful.”

Review from CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices) “A marvelously paced Anansi tale.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*teaching lessons on trickery/consequences, honesty, integrity, etc
*repetition and predictability allows for participation during read-aloud story time
*could assign different students to different characters and have them act out dialogue
*could use cut-out of moss colored rock to have the students do a story book, character analysis, etc.