LSSL 5360 Module 5- Book Review #4 GINGERSNAP by Patricia Reilly Giff

Module 5- Book Review #4 Gingersnap by Patricia Reilly Giff

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Giff, Patricia Reilly. (2013). Gingersnap. New York: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN: 9780375838910

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

This is a quick, easy, touching read about a young girl, Jayna, who yearns for the family she has never known. In the midst of WWII, her older brother, Rob, the only living relative she knows, heads off to war as a chef on the Muldoon battleship. Jayna finds herself alone, left with the landlady who she is less than fond of. Just as Rob leaves for war, he tells Jayna that he believes they may have a grandmother in Brooklyn who owns a bakery. When she learns Rob is missing-in-action, she realizes the only company she has is her recipe book, her turtle Theresa, a mysterious and ghostly guiding voice, and her possible grandmother. Jayna, alone, scared, and being followed by this ghostly companion, decides to take a trip to discover the ‘Gingersnap’ bakery and search for the only family she may have left.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This is a sweet historical fiction book that depicts a touching story during a time of warfare, and I really enjoyed the details Patricia Reilly Giff gave to paint the pictures of Brooklyn during WWII. The descriptive writing, and Jayna’s young, hopeful, and often desperate voice added to the mood and gave the reader a taste of what it was like to be homebound while family members were off at war. Throughout the book, Giff continues to use “soup” as a motif, relating each recipe to a mood, feeling, or event. This was my favorite aspect of the story- tying in the aspects of food, family, hope, and courage by presenting a comparable recipe for each chapter.

For me, personally, I think the “ghost” character could’ve been developed more. I really enjoyed it throughout the book, but felt so much was left open at the end: Who was the ghost? Why did she look just like Jayna? I usually like spiritual aspects and supernatural occurrences in books, but this particular one left me underwhelmed and confused at the end. I wish Giff had come full-circle with the ghost character and tied up the loose ends a little bit better.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, heartfelt, and somewhat haunting story and a quick read that opens up the world of a young girl during war-torn times.

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

“Giff is one of few writers who can entwine an odd lot of characters, set them in Brooklyn during World War II, flavor the story with soup recipes, add a ghost and infuse the plot with a longing for family—and make it all believable.” –Kirkus Review

“I would recommend Gingersnap by Patricia Reilly Giff to anyone who enjoys historical fiction in grades four and up. I was lucky enough to listen to the audio of this wonderful book narrated by Olivia Campbell. She did an excellent job capturing Jayna’s voice and personality. The variety of voices for the different characters helped the book come alive for me. It was so fun stepping back in time and hearing about radio shows and actors from so long ago.” –Goodreads, starred review by Stephanie Robinson

5. CONNECTIONS

*This piece of historical fiction could be super fun for the classroom! I would use it to have the kids make up their own “soup” motif or recipe book that fits a set of moods or an event in their life.

*Recommended for Ages 9-12

LSSL 5360 Module 4, Book Review #4 EYE TO EYE: HOW ANIMALS SEE THE WORLD by Steve Jenkins

Module 4- Non fiction- Book Review #4 EYE TO EYE: HOW ANIMALS SEE THE WORLD by Steve Jenkins

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jenkins, S. (2014). Eye to Eye: How Animals See The World. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing.

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Eye to Eye is an informative text about different animals and their eyesight. Jenkins takes us through pages and pages of animals, with more than 100 eye balls total, of all shapes and sizes, some that can look in different directions, some that can only detect light, and many more.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In EYE TO EYE, Jenkins allows his readers to literally peer into the world of animal eyes and link us to their domain, showing us how they “communicate, find food avoid predators, or locate a mate” using their eyesight. Another non-fiction, educational read by Jenkins, it’s similar to Creature Features, with similar illustrations- big, bold, up close, and brings the eyes of each animal to the forefront of focus. He shows his readers how different capabilities make each animal unique in their own way.

I think you could incorporate this book best in a middle school classroom, perhaps for a research project or nonfiction unit where you can further explore these animals in depth. For me personally, the book left too much to be desired: I was left with interesting tidbits about each species, sure, but truly wanting more information and more detail at the end of the book.

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

“It’s difficult not to be drawn to this wonderful piece of informative text because the cover is covered in colorful eyes and it’s hard to resist wanting to know more.” –starred Goodreads review

*Caldecott Honor Winner
*Nerdy finalist for Non Fiction Picture Books (2014)

5. CONNECTIONS

This is a great book to teach with a  cross-curricular agenda. English and science elementary teachers would do great to team up and teach corresponding units centered around books like this one.

Readers may also enjoy Handle with Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey by Loree Griffin Burns, and Creature Features, also written by Jenkins.

LSSL 5360 Module 4- Book Review #2 CREATURE FEATURES by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page

Module 4- Non Fiction- Book Review #2 CREATURE FEATURES by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jenkins, S., & Page, R. (2014). Creature features: 25 animals explain why they look the way they do. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

This is book provides a look into 25 animal’s faces and why they look the way they do. From the Egyptian vulture to the babirusa, Jenkins and Page explain the most unique features on some of the most fascinating animals. The cut-paper art pictures give you a close up look of these funny animals’ features and help tell some very interesting and humorous facts that will keep young animal lovers intrigued from page to page.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book didn’t really spark my interest, but for someone who is an animal-lover, they’ll love how Creature Features will take you on a memorable ride through the animal kingdom. For any young scholar who needs a little inspiration for a research project, this could be a great starting point. I enjoyed the full-page, highly detailed, and bright colored illustrations, bringing each “creature’s features” to the forefront of the reader’s focus. It’s an educational read, but it’s still fun and colorful.

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*Keystone to Reading Book Award Nominee (2016)

“Twenty-five animals with unique features--a purple tongue, a colorful nose, a featherless face, a very large beak, for instance--reveal the reasons for those unusual physical aspects. By setting the book up as a short question ["Why are you so spiny?" (unpaged)], followed by a quick response, readers can gain information quickly and in an appealing fashion.” –starred Goodreads review

5. CONNECTIONS

This would be a great book to include for a research project to further explore the 25 animals in the book.

Readers may also enjoy FEATHERS: NOT JUST FOR FLYING by Melissa Stewart, or EYE TO EYE: HOW ANIMALS SEE THE WORLD, also written by Steven Jenkins.

LSSL 5360 Module 4 Book Review #1- THE RIGHT WORD: ROGET AND HIS THESAURUS by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet

Module 4- Biographies- Book Review #1 THE RIGHT WORD: ROGET AND HIS THESAURUS by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bryant, J., & Sweet, M. (2014). The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus. Grand Rapids MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Peter Mark Roget is shy young boy who finds his best companionship in books. His mother worries about how quiet and shy he is, but he has a love for the written word, and he begins making lists of these words at a very young age. “If only all the ideas in the world could be found in one place,” Bryant writes, “then everyone would have one book where they could find the best word, the one that really fit. Peter carried this idea with him like a secret treasure” (16). As Peter grew older, his lists grew too, and one day he turned those lists into one of the most important books in the world- the thesaurus!

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book was super creative, unique, and the author really tells a cool story in a very interesting way. The illustrations are rich and fun, and have a unique style to them; they look as if they have been hodge-podged together like patchwork. I think for young students, this book may be pretty relatable for them as they read about Peter, a young, shy, introverted, yet very intelligent boy. It brings about an interesting point that perhaps kids have never considered- who writes the thesaurus, the dictionary, etc? As an adult, I’m not sure I, myself, have ever pondered this thought. It’s an intriguing story-line that could certainly ignite a passion for the written word in young readers’ minds.

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

“Bryant again captures the essence of a complicated individual in spare and beautifully crafted text.” –starred Goodreads review

*Caldecott Honor (2015)
*Sibert Medal (2015)
*Keystone to Reading Book Award Nominee for Intermediate (2016)
*Lupine Award for Picture Book (2014)
*Kirkus Prize Nominee for Young Readers' Literature (Finalist) (2014)

5. CONNECTIONS

I think this is a perfect introduction to a unit where you teach the class about how to use a thesaurus.

If you love this book, you may also want to check out Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown.

LSSL 5360 Module 4- Book Review #3- WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE? by Barbara Kerley

Module 4- Biographies- Book Review #3
What to do about Alice? by Barbara Kerley, Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kerley, B. (2010). What to do about Alice? New York, NY: Weston Woods Studios. ISBN-13:978-0-439-92231-9

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

I truly loved this book! Barbara Kerley tells a story of a strong-willed, sassy, and unique girl named Alice who “ate up the world” and drove her father, Theodore Roosevelt, crazy! This delightful picture book takes us through a journey of Alice’s life, painting a picture of her wild adventures and rambunctious personality.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Kerley’s stylish writing tells a story of a young girl who lived her life with no apologies, “running riot” and taking the world by storm. Yet, Kerley paints a picture of a mischievous daughter that grows up to be a beloved, intelligent, and admired woman that the reader grows to love as well.

Fotheringham has a zest for witty illustrations that truly match the sass of Alice and I think really fits the time period well. I loved the cartoon-like illustrations that still have a very realistic feel, and I appreciated how well Alice’s sassy expressions were portrayed in the full-page pictures.

We also see the development of maturity where Alice starts as a young girl, left without a mother, but refuses to let anyone feel sorry for her. Kerley gracefully shows a progression in this great biography of “Princess Alice,” and in the end we read about a diplomatic, intelligent woman, still very adventurous and one-of-a-kind in every way.

I love the curriculum connections you can make in this book, and you could take a lesson so many directions in the classroom. Historically, of course, we can take a deeper look into the Roosevelt family. Also, it’s a great way to discuss women’s rights and the progression of equality of the sexes, as Alice certainly blazed a trail for women who may not fit a specific mold in history. Among other topics we could connect to, it would be a great book to just connect to the time period of the early 1900’s, during Roosevelt’s presidency and Alice’s young adult years.

4.   REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

“Fotheringham’s digital illustrations perfectly evoke the retro styles of an earlier age, depicting a confident Alice sailing through life and tackling every challenge with delight and aplomb. The illustrator takes every opportunity to develop Alice’s character further; one memorable spread shows a blandly smiling Alice leading her smaller siblings in riding trays down the White House stairs while the text merely remarks, “She watched her younger brothers and sister so her stepmother could get some rest.” It’s a gleeful celebration of a fully, unapologetically led life. (author’s note) (Picture book/biography. 5-10)” –Kirkus Review

*The Robert F. Sibert Honor Book (2009)
*Irma Black Award Nominee (2009)

5. CONNECTIONS

This is a great book for History and English lessons alike! I love the idea of using this as a unit for biographies, and tying it to a research project about Alice and the Roosevelt family.

Although I think Alice will be loved by all, another great biographical option that may appeal to your male students is Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman by Marc Tyler Nobleman.

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