Saturday, February 28, 2015

Analyzing 10 Story Elements

This month I have been  participating in Picture Books 14:14, a challenge created by Christie of Write Wild that encourages bloggers to review up to 14 picture books in 14 days, starting on Feb. 14th. Each review was meant to focus on one of her Top 10 Story Elements for Picture Books. I thought it might be useful to put together a quick summary of the ten elements and my related posts. Each of these books would make a great mentor text to use with students when planning for their own story writing and also as a mentor text for your own picture book writing endeavors.


The Top 10 Story Elements for Picture Books

1. Character. Characters are the heart and soul of any story. Emmanuel's Dream tells the true story of a young man, Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who was born in Ghana with only one working leg. Emmanuel teachers reader the importance of bravery and perseverance, as well as giving kids the important chance to relate to an individual with a disability.

2. Conflict. They say that there are only four real conflicts in literature: man vs. man, man vs. self, man vs. nature, and man vs. the system. New Shoes is an excellent example of the difficulties of man vs. the system. It is a historical fiction story that follows young Ella Mae and her experience with Jim Crow Laws in the South. Ella Mae takes her first trip to the real shoe store only to find out that the white girl who comes in after her gets waited on first, and that only whites are allowed to try shoes on in the store. Ella Mae and her cousin Charlotte comes up with their own powerful solution to this injustice.

3. Plot. The basics of plot are well-known, and the story mountain, introduced in the longer post, is one way of formulating them. The picture book Freedom Song tells the true story of Henry "Box" Brown, a slave who mailed himself to freedom in 1849. This post analyzes the events of the story through the lens of plot and the traditional story mountain.

4. Dialogue. Dialogue is an easy way to establish characters and voice in picture books. I Want My Hat Back is told entirely in dialogue, and author/illustrator Jon Klassen uses color rather than quotation marks and dialogue tags to differentiate the speakers. It is what happens when you read between the lines of dialogue in this story that the full picture comes to life.

5. Theme. Theme is the underlying message of a story, and themes can be direct or indirect; they can be blatant or subtle. In  One Green Apple the theme develops slowly and powerfully, and every year I am astounded at how much symbolism and metaphor my third graders catch on to when we discuss the story.

6. Pacing. Pacing is especially important in picture books, with the limited number of pages and the important impact of page turns and their alignment with the text and the story. In the soon-to-be released The Red Bicycle, the author manages to balance three separate but interconnected stories about the same bicycle into one picture book.

7. Word Play. Children and adults alike delight in words and word play, and the best books are those that make us come back again and again. E-Mergency! is the king of word play among my third graders. The word play is constant throughout this book and even hidden in the illustrations. The letter characters are always arranged intentionally in every layout, and deciphering these hidden gems will keep kids returning to this book again and again.

8. Patterns. Patterns are commonplace in picture books and operate on many different levels. In The Runaway Wok, there is the overall patterning of the story, reminiscent of The Gingerbread Boy, but there is also deliberate patterning in the way that the story skips back and forth between the houses of the Zhang family and the Li family. Deep in the Sahara is another book that relies upon patterning. The interaction between the questions of the young girl and the responses of her family members forms the structure of this meaningful story about a young Muslim girl in Mauretania, west Africa.

9. Rhyme. Rhyme and rhythm are a common component of picture books, especially those for younger readers. My favorite rhyming books, however, are those where the power is in the words and the story, rather than in a forcible-cutsy sing-song rhyme. Nocturne is much more of a rhythm and a feeling than it is a typical poem like a couplet or a quatrain, and the power comes from the minimal words and the power they convey. Tap Tap Boom Boom is another incredible use of rhythm and rhyme in less traditional ways to make for an incredible read aloud. Some of my students, completely unprompted, turned this book into a song when reading it aloud to each other.

10. Beginnings and Endings. Beginnings and endings are critical to a memorable picture book. There are many ways to connect a story's ending to its beginning. Rain School is a bit of a circular story, which makes it an ideal candidate for studying the importance and interrelationship of beginnings and endings.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Tap Tap Boom Boom (Rhyme)


TitleTap Tap Boom Boom
Author: Elizabeth Bluemle
Illustrator: G. Brian Karas
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Year: 2014
Word Count: 263
Top 10 Element: Rhyme

I am participating in Picture Books 14:14, a challenge created by Christie of Write Wild that encourages bloggers to review 14 picture books in 14 days, starting on Feb. 14th. I am also including this post for Poetry Friday, which this week is being hosted by Heidi at My Juicy Little Universe.

Tap Tap Boom Boom is based on the author's own experience with an urban rain storm. This delightful story reads much like a spoken word piece and is a book that begs to be read aloud, likely again and again. This book is a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book this year. You can read about the other Zolotow winners here.

Analysis: Rhyme

Again, like with Nocturne last week, I have chosen to highlight a picture book for rhyme that is really more about the rhythm than a strict rhyme scheme. The sharp staccato of mainly two-word lines mimics the pattern of the arriving, crashing, and departing storm, while the repetition of the title phrase creates a refrain that echoes through the story.


The opening lines, shown above, give you a taste for the style of this poem. You can find typical rhymes (air/hair) but also alliteration (dark clouds/damp/cold drops/dot) and repetition (tap tap). When I brought this book into my classroom, a group of boys immediately decided to read it out loud to each other. Totally unprompted, the lead reader ended up turning the book into a song.

Try it yourself. See if you can resist the urge.


Want more picture book analyses? Click here to read my other posts for Picture Books 14:14 or check out these other great posts for the Picture Book 14:14 Challenge going on the rest of this month.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

New Book Alert: The Red Bicycle (Pacing)


Title: The Red Bicycle: the extraordinary story of one ordinary bicycle
Author: Jude Isabella
Illustrator: Simone Shin
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Year: 2015 (March 1st, ARC provided via Net Galley)
Word Count: unavailable (lots)
Top 10 Element: Pacing

I am participating in Picture Books 14:14, a challenge created by Christie of Write Wild that encourages bloggers to review 14 picture books in 14 days, starting on Feb. 14th.

The Red Bicycle is a powerful story of the life of one red bicycle and its multiple reincarnations through donation. The story traces the bicycle from its initial purchase by a young boy in North America (Canada) to a young girl in Africa (Burkina Faso) to a young hospital employee (also in Burkina Faso) and beyond. This is a great story for sharing with kids the power of one person (or one bike) to make a difference.

Analysis: Pacing

The pace of a story depends on many factors, from the macro scale of how the story itself is laid out across the 32 pages of a picture book to the micro scale of sentence length and formation and the placement of paragraph and page breaks. With an information-dense picture book such as this one, it is the pacing of the story across the pages and the pull of the page turn that keep us reading on.

The story is focused around the first three owners of the book. (Each layout referenced below actually refers to a two-page spread.)

  • Leo (Canada) - two layouts with the bike, one layout packing up the bike, one layout of the bike's journey across the ocean
  • Alisetta (Burkina Faso) - one layout unpacking the bike, one layout learning to ride, one layout for the impact of the bike, two layouts for deciding to send the bike on
  • Haridata (Burkina Faso) - one layout to rehab the bike, one layout choosing the bike, one layout of the impact of the bike, and one layout for the conclusion
  • The book wraps up with two final layouts for What You Can Do to Help and A Note for Parents and Teachers with more information about organizations involved in bicycle donation and reusing including http://www.worldbicyclerelief.org/
The approximately similar amount of time devoted to each owner of the bike helps add to the even pacing and feel of the book, while the short duration for each owner (only 4-5 two-page spreads) keeps the reader engaged and wondering what will happen next. This page-turn suspense is highlighted especially by the emotional connections for each character as they say goodbye to the bike without being able to follow it (though we, the readers, can). 

"Leo feels a lump in his throat as the door closes."

"Alisetta wheels Big Red to the pickup truck, pats the seat, and whispers, 'Thank You.'"

You'll have to wait until the book is published and available next week to read the final emotional goodbye and conclusion!



Want more picture book analyses? Click here to read my other posts for Picture Books 14:14 or check out these other great posts for the Picture Book 14:14 Challenge going on the rest of this month.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Deep in the Sahara - point-of-view and patterns


Title: Deep in the Sahara
Author: Kelly Cunnane
Illustrator: Hoda Hadadi
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books
Year: 2013
Word Count: 521
Top 10 Element: Patterns
Awards: A Junior Library Guild Selection

I am participating in Picture Books 14:14, a challenge created by Christie of Write Wild that encourages bloggers to review 14 picture books in 14 days, starting on Feb. 14th.

Deep in the Sahara is an immersive picture book told in second person, placing you, the reader, as young Lalla, a Muslim girl living in Mauritania in west Africa. During the course of the book, Lalla explores why she wants to wear the malafa like her mother and relatives.

Analysis: Patterns

The language in this brief picture book is lovely and rhythmic, and the second-person point-of-view is unique and unexpected. The patterning of the language matches the patterning of the story and helps reinforce the character's journey (and ours) to understanding the malafa and all it represents.

Each time, Lalla sees a different person in her malafa and expresses her wish in a lyrical way. The first one is, "More than all the stars in the sky, you want a malafa so you can be beautiful too." But then Lalla's request is rebuffed, as her mother tells her, "'Lalla, a malafa is for more than beauty.'"

For each pair of two-page spreads, the verbal patterning continues. The malafa is for more than being mysterious, the malafa is for more than being like a lady, and so forth. It is only when Lalla requests a malafa so that she can pray like her mother does the pattern stop with a powerful one-line, two-page spread. "Mama stops and looks at you." Only then is Lalla's questioning and understanding rewarded.

Second-person, present tense narration is tough to pull off and generally rare in literature, but I think that it works well in this book because most of us readers know as little about the malafa and its importance in west African Muslim communities than does Lalla. Through her eyes and through the patterning of the text, we all learn an important lesson.


Want more picture book analyses? Click here to read my other posts for Picture Books 14:14 or check out these other great posts for the Picture Book 14:14 Challenge going on the rest of this month.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Blog Tour Review: The Search for the Stone of Excalibur

The Search for the Stone of Excalibur - Blog Tour Button


About the Book

Title: The Search for the Stone of Excalibur (The Chronicles of the Stone, Book 2) | Author: Fiona Ingram | Publication Date: October 6, 2014 | Publisher: The Educational Publisher / Biblio Publishing | Pages: 376 | Recommended Ages: 10+

Summary: A modern day adventure as our protagonists search for Excalibur and the treasures it holds! Continuing the adventure that began in Egypt a few months prior in The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, cousins Adam and Justin Sinclair are hot on the trail of the second Stone of Power, one of seven ancient stones lost centuries ago. This stone might be embedded in the hilt of a newly discovered sword that archaeologists believe belonged to King Arthur: Excalibur.

Join Justin and Adam as they search not only for the second Stone of Power, but also for the Scroll of the Ancients, a mysterious document that holds important clues to the Seven Stones of Power. As their adventure unfolds, they learn many things and face dangers that make even their perils in Egypt look tame.

The Secret of the Sacred Scarab by Fiona Ingram

The first book in the series, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab has enjoyed the following book contest wins and nominations: Finalist Children's Fiction Next Generation 2009 Indie Book Awards, Finalist Juvenile Fiction USA National Best Books 2009, Winner Pre-Teen 2009 Readers' Favorites Awards, Number 2 in the Children's & Teens Book Connection Top Ten Favourite Books of 2009 for Kids, Tweens & Teens, Winner Silver Medal Teen Fiction 2010 Nautilus Book Awards, Finalist Children’s Fiction 2010 International Book Awards, Winner Bronze Medal Pre-Teen Fiction 2010 Moonbeam Book Awards, Finalist 2011 Rubery Book Awards, Winner Gold Award Mystery Pre-Teen 2011 Children’s Literary Classics Awards, 2nd Place 2011 YA Sharpwrit Book Awards, and Winner Gold Medal 2013 Wise Bear Book Awards


Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Goodreads


My Review

The Search for the Stone of Excalibur is a thrilling middle grade adventure/mystery novel, similar in focus and as action-packed as the 39 Clues series. Protagonists Justin and Adam are joined by new companions Kim and Ink, as they travel to Scotland to unravel the mysteries behind the second Stone of Power.

The author does a good job of weaving significant background information in about King Arthur as well as archaeological and historic evidence about the man, Arthur, as distinct from the legends. This combination of ancient myths with modern resonances makes for an appealing framework for the series.

(While I always recommend reading series books in order, author Fiona Ingram does a good job of recapping the important events and characters from the first book so that readers just jumping in feel right at home with the story and its background.)

The book is lengthy, but there are many different locations and mini-adventures packed within. While some of the major plot points are clearly telegraphed well in advance, they may still come as a surprise to some readers. The adult characters are all fairly one-dimensional and are clearly intended as background noise to the intrepid duo and their new pals (or occasional foils), but many kid readers are not interested in the adults in this type of book anyway.

The book is listed as recommended for ages 10 and up, but I would feel comfortable recommending this book to advanced younger readers. There is no inappropriate or teen content, though there are ghost stories, attempted poisonings, kidnappings, and the like.

If you are looking for an eBook for a reluctant reader or adventure-fiend, then this might be a good book for you. My biggest complaint about the book is that the eBook format makes it difficult if not impossible to have in a classroom library and the listed Amazon prices for "paperbacks" seem outrageous.

(I was provided a free e-review copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.)

Additional Early Buzz

"Fiona Ingram's storytelling is masterful; she adroitly weaves historical fact and fantasy in a smooth and fluid style that makes reading this book both an exciting and intellectually satisfying treat. The Search for the Stone of Excalibur is filled with action and adventure, puzzles and ghostly presences, and stalwart companions ready to face any and all perils that come their way. What more could a reader ask for? The Search for the Stone of Excalibur is a marvelous historical adventure tale, and it's most highly recommended. (5 stars)"~ Jack Magnus, Readers Favorite

"Character development is the key to the story, and the dialogue is snappy... If there are young reluctant readers in your family, this might just be the kick they need to get over that hump. (5 Stars)" ~ Lit Amri, Readers Favorite

About the Author: Fiona Ingram

Fiona Ingram, Author 

Fiona Ingram (B.A., Hons. (Natal), M.A., (Wits)) was born and educated in South Africa, and has worked as a full-time journalist and editor. Her interest in ancient history, mystery, and legends, and her enjoyment of travel has resulted in The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, the first in her exciting children’s adventure series—Chronicles of the Stone. The second book is entitled The Search for the Stone of Excalibur, a treat for young King Arthur fans. She is busy with Book 3 entitled The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


The Search for the Stone of Excalibur Blog Tour Schedule (2015)

February 16
February 17
February 18
February 19
February 20
February 21
February 23
* February 24 *
February 25
February 26
February 27
February 28
March 1

* Blog Tour Giveaway *

Amazon 25 gift card

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice

Contest closes: March 15, 11:59 pm, 2015

Open to: Internationally

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by Fiona Ingram and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

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Monday, February 23, 2015

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 2/23/15


It's Monday! What are you reading? was started by Sheila at Book Journey and was adapted for children's books from picture books through YA by Jen of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee of Unleashing Readers. You can visit either site for a round up of blogs sharing their weekly readings and thoughts or search Twitter for #IMWAYR.


Last Week's Posts

    • A Chinese Twist on Favorite Tales - to coincide with the beginning of Chinese New Year, I posted a collection of favorite fairy tales either set in China or with a Chinese (or Chinese New Year) bent to them.

    Picture Books


    Noah Webster and His Words (2012) by Jeri Chase Ferris and illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsh. This biography of Noah Webster explains how he came to create his eponymous dictionary but also his more popular (at the time) achievements, including his blue-backed speller. I thought the inclusion of dictionary definitions an interesting touch and only infrequently distracting. This would be a good companion book to the recently-award The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet. (H/T Elisabeth at The Dirigible Plum.)


    Emmanuel's Dream: the true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah (2015) by Laurie Ann Thompson and illustrated by Sean Qualls. I was thrilled to find out that I won a copy of Emmanuel's Dream from a giveaway hosted by Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers. It arrived earlier this month, and I realized that it would be a great fit with the PB14:14 analysis challenge. You can read my full post analyzing the depiction of character in this powerful true story about perseverance.


    Freedom Song: the story of Henry "Box" Brown (2012) by Sally M. Walker and illustrated by Sean Qualls. Freedom Song tells the true story of Henry "Box" Brown, a slave who mailed himself to freedom in 1849. You can read a fuller review, including an analysis of the plot, here. (H/T Elisabeth at The Dirigible Plum.)

    Middle Grade


    The Search for the Stone of Excalibur (2014) by Fiona Ingram. I received a review copy of this book as part of a Book Review Blitz with Mother Daughter Book Reviews. I really enjoyed the fast-paced adventure of this series, and stay tuned for my full review coming out tomorrow.

    Award-Winning Books Reading Challenge update: 9 books, 1 dedicated post (I Want My Hat Back)

    Dive into Diversity Challenge update: 26 books, 14 dedicated posts (One Green AppleThe Runaway WokEmmanuel's Dream, and Freedom Song)

    Happy Reading!

    I Want My Hat Back (Dialogue)


    Title: I Want My Hat Back
    Author and Illustrator: Jon Klassen
    Publisher: Candlewick
    Year: 2011
    Word Count: 253
    Top 10 Element: Dialogue
    Awards: A Geisel Honor Book and a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book

    I am participating in Picture Books 14:14, a challenge created by Christie of Write Wild that encourages bloggers to review 14 picture books in 14 days, starting on Feb. 14th.

    If you have not yet read I Want My Hat Back (or, its incredible follow-up, the Caldecott Award-Winning This is Not My Hat), then you are in for a treat. Bonus points for reading it aloud to kids too, as their reactions will make this book even more memorable.

    Analysis: Dialogue

    I Want My Hat Back is told entirely in dialogue, and author/illustrator Jon Klassen uses color rather than quotation marks and dialogue tags to differentiate the speakers. Our main speaker, the bear, speaks in black, and the rest of the characters he interrogates speak in red.

    The patterning of the book is established early on. After bear laments about the loss of his hat, he sets off to find it. The bear asks each creature he meets, "Have you seen my hat?" With the response being, "No. I haven't seen your hat." The bear politely ends each conversations with, "OK. Thank you anyway." The responses vary slightly, but the interactions are the same.


    Until we get to the rabbit. Wearing a jaunty red dunce-cap shaped hat on his head, the rabbit has the following response to the bear's basic question: "No. Why are you asking me. I haven't seen it. I haven't seen any hats anywhere. I would not steal a hat. Don't ask me any more questions." To which the bear responds, "OK. Thank you anyway."

    At this point, the alarm bells should be going off in any reader's brain, and children's reactions to this page and to the pages that follow are priceless. In the famous words of Reading Rainbow's LeVar Burton, "But you don't have to take my word for it." Read it for yourself.


    Want more picture book analyses? Click here to read my other posts for Picture Books 14:14 or check out these other great posts for the Picture Book 14:14 Challenge going on the rest of this month.

    Sunday, February 22, 2015

    Nonfiction Picture Book 10 for 10 #nf10for10

    Somehow I missed figuring out when the date was for February's Nonfiction Picture Book 10 for 10 (#nf10for10) and did not realize it had come until my inbox overflowed with wonderful posts on Feb. 19th! So, alas, here is my belated addition.


    Now in its third year, Nonfiction Picture Book 10 for 10 is co-hosted by Mandy Robek of Enjoy and Embrace Learning, Julie Balen of Write at the Edge, and Cathy Mere of Reflect & Refine.  This year all activity is collected on the Picture Book 10 for 10 Community.

    Top 10 Nonfiction Folktales for Reading Aloud

    Traditional tales fall under the Dewey realm of nonfiction. Since our third grade curriculum is based around world geography and world cultures, many of the books that I share aloud with students are folktales from different countries and cultures. This post brings together ten of my favorites, all of which are ideal for reading aloud to kids (and most of which are quite humorous). They are listed in geographical order, based on our units of study during the year.

    African Folktales



    Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock (1988) by Eric Kimmel and illustrated by Janet Stevens is probably my favorite of the Anansi the trickster stories from west Africa. Last year I turned it into a quick Reader's Theater-style play that my third graders ended up performing in front of the whole school, and it was riot. Here, Anansi discovers a strange moss-covered rock with the power to knock its viewer unconscious, and he uses it to trick a variety of animals. But little does Anansi know that he is being observed, and he ends up being tricked himself. Read about all the Anansi stories by Eric Kimmel in this post.


    Talk, Talk: an Ashanti legend (1993) by Deborah M. Newton Chocolate come from the Ashanti people of west Africa. Everything was going along just fine for Jumaani the farmer until his much-ignored yams decide to tell him just what they think about it! From then on, all sorts of creatures and objects begin sharing their opinions, and poor Jumaani and rest don't know what to think. Kids love the humor of all the unexpected talking - including the surprise twist of the ending.


    The Spider Weaver: a legend of Kente cloth (2001) by Margaret Musgrove and Julia Cairns. This picture book relates the legend of the discovery of kente cloth by two Ghanaian weavers. Students enjoy seeing how the weavers learn from the spider and how kente cloth has become what it is today.

    Asian Folktales



    Goha the Wise Fool (2005) by Denys Johnson-Davies and illustrated by Hag Hamdy and Hany. Goha is the Egyptian name for the "foolish" folk hero of the Middle East also known as Nasreddin and many other variations. These short, pithy tellings of the stories are wonderful and will keep your students cracking up. The amazing artwork was hand-sewn by a pair of Egyptian tentmakers. You can read more about Goha and other "foolish" wise men in this collection of tales.


    Tales Told in Tents: stories from Central Asia (2004) retold by Sally Pomme Clayton and illustrated by Sophie Herxheimer. This collection of tales includes those from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Favorites of mine include The Secret of Felt and The Bag of Trickness, featuring the well-known Central Asian trickster Alder Kose.


    The Empty Pot (2001) by Demi. This retelling of a Chinese folktale is also available in a multilingual printing that includes two versions of the Hmong language. Young Ping is overjoyed when the emperor puts forth a challenge - the child who can grow the most beautiful plant will become his heir. This story highlights the importance of honesty and good character, and kids will be surprised by the twist at the end!


    Tasty Baby Belly Buttons (1999) retold by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Meilo So. This Japanese folktale features Uriko-hime, the melon princess, born from inside a watermelon. She is the only one fearless enough to take on the terrible Oni when they kidnap the children of the town in order to devour their tasty baby belly buttons. The whole premise of the story keeps kids engaged, as do her rather creative solutions.

    European Folktales


    Squash It! (1997) retold by Eric Kimmel and illustrated by Robert Rayevsky. This absurdist tale comes from a collection of folktales from Spain and features ... a louse. Now, a louse is not normally a welcomed guest, but in this case, when a louse has bitten the King of Spain, he must be treated with respect, for he now has royal blood. The story only continues to ramp up from there, and kids will be delighted by the unexpected twists and circular ending of this humorous tale.

    Latin American and Caribbean Folktales

     

    Juan Bobo Goes to Work: a Puerto Rican folktale (2000) by Marison Montes and illustrated by Joe Cepeda (also available in Spanish, Juan Bobo Busca Trabajo. There really should be a bilingual version). This story introduces children to Juan Bobo or Simple John, an endearing character for whom nothing seems to ever go right. Children will be delighted by Juan's antics, as each day's problems escalate in silliness.

     

    Love and Roast Chicken: a trickster tale from the Andes Mountains (2004) retold by Barbara Knutson (also available in Spanish as Amor Y Pollo Asado). Poor cuy (guinea pig) is such a small, defenseless creature, that he must rely on his wits when he is threatened by Tio Antonio, the fox. His clever solutions to difficult situations will keep kids laughing and impressed by his creativity.

    Do you have a favorite folktale for reading aloud that I have missed? Please share in the comments below!

    Freedom Song (Plot)


    Title: Freedom Song: the story of Henry "Box" Brown
    Author: Sally M. Walker
    Illustrator: Sean Qualls
    Publisher: Harper Collins
    Year: 2012
    Word Count: 2018 (includes a wordy Author's Note and historical letter)
    Top 10 Element: Plot

    I am participating in Picture Books 14:14, a challenge created by Christie of Write Wild that encourages bloggers to review 14 picture books in 14 days, starting on Feb. 14th.

    Freedom Song tells the true story of Henry "Box" Brown, a slave who mailed himself to freedom in 1849. This story is one of several that I shared each year with my fourth graders when they were studying American History, the Underground Railroad, and the lead-up to the Civil War.

    Analysis: Plot

    The basics of plot are well-known, and the story mountain, shown below, is one way of formulating them. The story begins with an introduction: we meet our characters and the general situation. Quickly, the problem sets the story in motion; the rising action or important events start piling up; and the climax brings us the big moment or turning point before the ending wraps up with a solution or lesson (denouement for the older students).

    This formulation of the story mountain is the one I use with my students.

    Freedom Song opens with the birth of Henry Brown and introduces his family. The first hints of the problem arrives at the end of the second spread: "The whole family's love grew Henry strong. Even though they were slaves on Master's plantation." The illustrations echo this pronouncement, as there is a small silhouette of the Master visible through the open window of the family's cozy-appearing home.

    The full problem does not arrive until several pages later. Now, through the rising action, Henry has grown, married, and is a proud papa of several children. A friend rushes into work to inform Henry that his wife and children have been sold by the master.

    Henry's solution, after much deliberation, is to mail himself to freedom in a shipping box. His journey within the box covers more than 9 pages (one single page and four two-page spreads) until we reach the dramatic climax - the lid is pried off the box, and Henry finds himself safely in Philadelphia.

    The ending is swift. Henry is free, but the Author's Note brings home the rest of the historical information. There is no evidence that Henry was able to find, free, or be reunited with his beloved wife and children.

    This book is a powerful one to share with kids. Every year, several of my fourth graders picked Henry's story to analyze for our literary essay unit, and each one was able to find incredible insights in this amazing true story.


    If you haven't read it, you should also check out the Caldecott Honor winning Henry's Freedom Box (2007) by Ellen Levine and illustrated by Kadir Nelson.


    Want more picture book analyses? Click here to read my other posts for Picture Books 14:14 or check out these other great posts for the Picture Book 14:14 Challenge going on the rest of this month.

    Saturday, February 21, 2015

    New Book Alert: Emmanuel's Dream (character)


    Title: Emmanuel's Dream: the true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
    Author: Laurie Ann Thompson
    Illustrator: Sean Qualls
    Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books
    Year: 2015
    Word Count: unavailable
    Top 10 Element: Character
    Awards: A Junior Library Guild Selection

    I am participating in Picture Books 14:14, a challenge created by Christie of Write Wild that encourages bloggers to review 14 picture books in 14 days, starting on Feb. 14th.

    I was thrilled to find out that I won a copy of Emmanuel's Dream from a giveaway hosted by Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers. It arrived earlier this month, and I realized that it would be a great fit with the PB14:14 analysis challenge.

    Analysis: Character

    When we think about the term "character" in relation to books and stories, we often think about the qualities we ascribe to the invented peoples, animals, and objects that populate them. But character also refers to qualities of real people and to what it means to be a person with a strong or positive character.

    Emmanuel's Dream is the powerful true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, and I want to use the opening lines of the book to introduce him to you.

    In Ghana, West Africa, a baby boy was born:
    Two bright eyes blinked in the light,
    two healthy lungs let out a powerful cry,
    two tiny fists opened and closed,
    but only one strong leg kicked.

    Emmanuel is a boy who does not let his disability define himself or his character, and this book highlights his constant perseverance and determination. In order to learn, he hops to school, two miles each way, and must earns the respect and friendship of his classmates. Emmanuel even learns to ride a bike with only one good leg.

    What is even more remarkable about his accomplishments is the negative attitudes and stereotypes that he faced. His father left him and his mother shortly after his birth and some people felt that his disability meant that he was cursed or bad luck. People mistreated him or mistook him for a beggar, even when he was working to put himself through school and to support his family through his jobs.

    Through the story, the author emphasizes Emmanuel's strong character and his belief in himself. Emmanuel eventually came up with a plan to raise money and create positive awareness of people with disabilities - he completes a long-distance bike ride across Ghana!

    This book is a great story and a great tribute to a young man who is still working to change laws and the minds of people. Emmanuel is now a man of great character, and this book will inspire children to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of those around them too.


    Want more picture book analyses? Click here to read my other posts for Picture Books 14:14 or check out these other great posts for the Picture Book 14:14 Challenge going on the rest of this month.

    Friday, February 20, 2015

    Nocturne (Rhyme)


    Title: Nocturne
    Author: Jane Yolen
    Illustrator: Anne Hunter
    Publisher: Harcourt Brace & Company
    Year: 1997
    Word Count: 128 (est.)
    Top 10 Element: Rhyme

    I am participating in Picture Books 14:14, a challenge created by Christie of Write Wild that encourages bloggers to review 14 picture books in 14 days, starting on Feb. 14th. I am also including this post for Poetry Friday, which this week is being hosted by Linda at Teacher Dance.

    I was so happy to see yesterday the "rule change" allowing us to share one somewhat older picture book, as I had had my heart set on sharing this one for rhyme. Nocturne is a simply magical book and one destined to stay a classic.

    Analysis: Rhyme

    I am generally not a fan of rhyming picture books. There are so many out there that are sing-songly, annoying, and have to really ram words together in odd ways to make an attempt at getting the meaning across. Nocturne is not that book.

    The book jacket's description of the story as a lullaby is spot on. This story is much more of a rhythm and a feeling than it is a typical poem like a couplet or a quatrain. Listen to the opening lines:

    In the night,
    in the velvet night,
    in the brushstroked bluecoat velvet night,

    Isn't that gorgeous? This opening format begins each of the four sentences that comprise the entire story. For the second one, the third line becomes "in the quiltdown quietdown velvet night" followed by "moths flutter up, flutter down / like wind-up toys, without the noise."


    Read it out loud to yourself. Feel the way your mouth and lips move and how that motion repeats due to the repetition (flutter up, flutter down) and internal rhyme (toys/noise).

    Every time I read this book aloud to children, it is amazing how fast everyone becomes quiet. No matter the external situations, this is a book that inspires wonder for the power of its words and rhyme.

    The last stanza in the book is by far my favorite, but I won't ruin it here. Read it for yourself (preferably out loud). You won't be disappointed.


    Want more picture book analyses? Click here to read my other posts for Picture Books 14:14 or check out these other great posts for the Picture Book 14:14 Challenge going on the rest of this month.