Draw Me a Star
Bibliographic Information
Carle, E. (1992). Draw me a star. New York: Philomel Books.
Summary
The first words of the story are instructions, "Draw me a star." A young boy does what is asked and draws a star, which then asks the artist to draw a sun. This pattern continues throughout the book, where each thing he draws asks him to draw something new. Finally the blank, white background is covered with everything he's drawn combined in a beautiful work of art, and the artist has grown into a man. After adding "the night" to his work, we find ourselves back where we began, with the now elderly artist once again being asked to draw a star. The story ends perfectly, with the artist holding onto the star he created, and "together, they traveled across the night sky."
Impressions
This book is a true work of art. The text could be seen as a simple story of an artist creating more and more throughout his life, but readers could also find deeper, more complex ideas underneath. The blank, white pages at the beginning and circular ending seem to represent the cycle of life and Creation. The illustrations really are wonderful. Their vibrant colors set against the white background are captivating. Whether reading one-on-one or with a group of students, this work is meant to be shared and enjoyed.
Review
A young boy is told (readers are not sure by whom) to "Draw me a star." The star then requests that the boy draw it a sun; the sun asks for a "lovely tree," and throughout his life the boy/man/artist continues create images that fill the world with beauty. The moon bids the now-elderly artist to draw another star, and as the story ends, the artist travels "across the night sky" hand-in-hand with the star. This book will appeal to readers of all ages; its stunning illustrations, spare text, and simple story lines make it a good choice for story hour, but older children will also find it uplifting and meaningful. Especially pleasing is a diagram within the story, accompanied by rhyming instructions on how to draw a star: "Down/over/left/and right/draw/a star/oh so/bright." An inspired book in every sense of the word.
Review Reference
Larkin, E. (1992, October). [Review of Draw Me a Star, by E. Carle]. School
Library Journal. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2114/ehost/
pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=30&sid=ac785ab1-4d74-4ffe-9fe9-cfce68c80448%
40sessionmgr4004&hid=4103
Library Use
~ This would be an excellent book to use with younger students for a story time. The large, colorful illustrations and simple text would capture their attention, and they could use the instructions in the book to draw a star as a follow-up activity.
Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars
Bibliographic Information
Florian, D. (2007). Comets, stars, the moon, and mars. Harcourt.
Summary
This informational book of poetry captures the reader with rhythmic phrases and beautiful illustrations. While all of the poems are about space, each focuses on a specific topic. From the universe to singular planets and on to "The Great Beyond," the book provides information in short, rhyming verses with a painted background that adds a dreamy quality to the text.
Impressions
I love this book because it is about a high-interest topic, so readers may choose it because of the subject matter even if they don't normally enjoy poetry. The poems are short, which may also be a selling point for some students. Readers can easily connect to the text. Such phrases as, "All persons throughout history- Including you, Including me" and "Start out when the day is done. Most of all: Have lots of fun!" draw you in. The painted illustrations are true works of art that add description and detail for each poem.
Review
Nothing gladdens the heart of believers in good poetry for children more than a new collection by Florian, whose verses and paintings consistently capture the essence of his featured themes. This one literally sings the music of the spheres. Twenty playfully lyrical poems treat topics such as the universe, the individual planets, constellations, and black holes. Each selection is presented on its own spread and adorned with a magical painting done in gouache, collage, and rubber stamps on brown paper. Circles abound in the artwork, and many pages have round cut-outs that lead into the next picture. For example, "the earth" ("Two-thirds water./One-third land./Valleys deep./Mountains grand") is illustrated with a colorful globe decorated with circled collage prints of animals and plants. A smaller orb appears nearby, made from a cut-out circle that reveals part of the illustration for the next selection, "the moon." Some of the paintings incorporate mythological names and images. The pleasing blend of faded shades and brilliant colors, of old-fashioned prints and fanciful sketches, makes the illustrations seem both antique and high-tech. An appended "Galactic Glossary" provides additional information. In both language and artwork, Florian strikes the perfect balance between grandeur and whimsy. Like Myra Cohn Livingston and Leonard Everett Fisher's Space Songs (Holiday House, 1988; o.p.), this book is a work of art worthy of the vastness of its subject.
Review Reference
Whalin, K. (2007, July). [Review of Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars]. School
Library Journal. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2071/ehost/
detail/detail?vid=26&sid=80f95763-8ad9-4cd9-a44a-133982e17831%
40sessionmgr113&hid=127&bdata=JnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#db=lls&AN=
25655647
Library Use
~ I would use this book to connect literature with third grade science TEKS. This would be a great way to include poetry throughout the year, integrated into other areas of the curriculum.
Giants Beware!
Bibliographic Information
Aguirre, J. (2012). Giants beware! New York: First Second.
Summary
Claudette longs for adventure outside the walls of her town. Sadly, to Claudette at least, the walls were built to protect her and the rest of the townspeople from the "baby feet" eating giant that lives on the mountain. After hearing a story about how the giant was chased away to the mountain, Claudette decides that it is time for her to find the giant and slay him so that he'll never eat babies feet again. She convinces her young brother, Gaston, who aspires to be a pastry chef, and her best friend, Marie, who longs to become a princess, to go along on the journey and help her slay the giant. The trio meets several obstacles along the way, and they each find a side of themselves that they hadn't seen before. After surviving the "Forest of Death" and the "Mad River King," the three friends are very surprised by what they find at Giant's Peak. The giant is actually a baby giant who only wants friends to play with him. After managing to convince the adults who came to save them that Claudette did indeed slay the giant, things return almost to normal. Marie, Gaston, and Claudette have a new friend, and they return to Giant's Peak as often as possible to play with him.
Impressions
This is the first graphic novel I've read cover to cover, and I really enjoyed it once I got used to the format. The story is full of wit and larger than life characters. The dialogue is funny and filled with humor that the target audience will love. Illustrations are bright and bold but are simplistic enough that younger readers could enjoy this book. The thing I liked best is the growth of the three main characters. They each find bravery within themselves at different points in the story, and their true friendship and affection for each other is clear throughout. I can see why it was nominated for the Texas Bluebonnet Award last year.
Review
A blacksmith's daughter is unsatisfied with her peaceful life within the fortress of Mont Petit Pierre. Rambunctious and loudmouthed, Claudette yearns for action, like killing the giant that lives on the mountain outside of town. With her timid brother, Gaston, and her ladylike friend, Marie, she blusters her way through the fortress gate and into the Forest of Death, beyond which lies the Mad River, and then Giant's Peak. Can these three kids, armed with a wooden sword, Marie's intelligence, Gaston's fortitude, Claudette's stinky feet, and a pug named Valiant, survive in the wilderness and defeat the giant? Of course they can, but not in the ways they might have expected. The adults in the story are distinguished by exaggerated characteristics, but their actions are driven by realistic, largely generous motives. The story strikes a fine balance between being action-and friendship-driven. The art is similarly well-balanced: Rosado's ink drawings are strong and lively, with expressive characters and well-drawn landscapes. Digitally applied color is natural, bright, and nonintrusive. Fans of Jimmy Gownley's "Amelia Rules" (S&S) and Jeff Smith's "Bone" series (Scholastic) will snap this title up.
Review Reference
Wiley, P. (2012, May). [Review of Giants Beware!]. School Library Journal.
Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2114/ehost/detail/detail?
vid=13&sid=b3423b3f-9137-426a-aa04-89e3c56314ff%40sessionmgr4003&
hid=4202&bdata=JnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#db=lls&AN=74998704
Library Use
~ This would be a great book to use as an introduction to the Graphic Novel genre for second or third grade students. Second grade is when more students become interested in these types of books, and this title is good for them because there isn't too much text on each page. There are fewer panels on many pages as well. The story is fun and full of adventure, and since two of the main characters are girls, it would interest a wide range of students.
Author: A True Story
Bibliographic Information
Lester, H. (1997). Author: A true story. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Summary
Helen Lester describes how she loved to write from the earliest age, 'writing' grocery lists at the age of three that were the same even turned "upside down." When she began school, they discovered that she had a learning disability when they saw that she wrote everything backwards. Lester overcame this "thanks to a lot of help," and continued to write, even though it was still hard at times. She describes how difficult it sometimes was to come up with ideas and edit her stories when she was a student. After spending some time as a teacher, Lester was encouraged to write a children's book. She talks about receiving rejection letters and how through hard work and perseverance she finally published her first book. The last few pages of the book are full of great advice for young writers: how to come up with and choose the best ideas, revising to make a story better and better, and when and where to write. She ends with her love of being an author and how her life is "better than a dream come true."
Impressions
This autobiographical account of becoming an author is lighthearted and fun even though it discusses overcoming challenges in life. Her description of being a "mirror writer" is written in a straight-forward way that young readers can understand and relate to. She focuses on the facts in her explanation of trying to publish a book and being rejected repeatedly before she achieved success. Her illustrations are simplistic and a perfect companion to the text. It is obvious to the reader that Helen Lester loves being an author.
Review
Lester's (Tacky the Penguin) lighthearted look at how she came to write children's books will give aspiring authors of any age a lift- and encouragement to persevere, even in the face of learning disabilities (as a child) and multiple rejection slips (as a novice writer). Candid and a little self-effacing, Lester tells of her struggles with the creative process, noting that both as an elementary school student and a published author, "Often I can't come up with a single idea, and my stories get stuck in the middle, and I can't think of a title." She accompanies her breezy narrative with her own cheerful, somewhat rudimentary cartoon pictures, save on one spread where she drolly juxtaposes her childlike drawing of a pig next to a highly polished rendering by her frequent collaborator, Lynn Munsinger. Some of the best moments here are transitional: a picture shows the young Lester dreaming of joining the circus when she grows up; the next page continues, "Since no one from the circus came looking for me, I became a teacher." Her ending playfully concludes, "I'm glad I didn't join the circus... I never dreamed I'd become an author. So this is better than a dream come true." Her admirers will agree.
Review Reference
(1997, February 3). [Review of Author: A True Story, by H. Lester]. Publisher's
Weekly. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2114/ehost/
pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=12&sid=9b5f661f-b1fd-48f5-bd9c-54db4c644bbd
%40sessionmgr4001&hid=4103
Library Use
~ This book would be a wonderful read-aloud to explain the writing process with the easy to understand text and to encourage aspiring, young authors.
The Boy on the Wooden Box
Bibliographic Information
Leyson, L. (2013). The boy on the wooden box. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Summary
This is the memoir of Leon Leyson, one among many on Schindler's list. He begins telling his story by describing what his life in Poland was like before World War II began. He lived with his his mother and siblings in a small village in the country, while his father was in Krakow, working in a factory and saving money so his family could join him. After five years, Leon's father had enough saved, and they all finally moved to Krakow. Everyone was excited because they felt like this was a new start for their family, a chance for new experiences and better opportunities.
For a short time, things were looking up, but then the Leyson's started hearing rumors of another war. Not long after, the German army rolled in and occupied Poland. Leon and his family immediately felt the effects of the occupation. They were suddenly barred from many public places like the park, the trolley, and stores, and his father lost his job at the factory. As times grew worse, they had to sell off belongings just to have food to eat. Even though things were bad, the Leyson family had no idea just how horrifying they would get. The family was moved from their apartment into the Jewish ghetto, where they were forced to share a one-room apartment with another family. They lived in fear of being arrested and sent to work camps.
One lucky day, Mr. Leyson was called to open a safe for a prominent Nazi, and he so impressed the man that he was hired to work at the man's factory. That man was Oskar Schindler. Over the next few years, Leon's father's job offered the family some protection from the Nazis, but when it became all too clear that his job with Schindler couldn't protect them forever, Mr. Leyson began asking Schindler to hire the rest of his family. After months went by, months in which Leon was moved to a work camp and separated from his parents and siblings, months that Leon didn't think he would survive, he finally received word that he would now be working in Oskar Schindler's factory. Leon Leyson and his family worked for Schindler until the war ended. A few years after World War II ended, he moved to America with his mother and father. Leon married and had children and worked as a teacher for many years. He didn't often speak of what he went through in WWII, not until a reporter convinced him to share his story years and years later, when the film, 'Schindler's List,' was being released.
Impressions
Words can't describe the depth of feeling this book evokes. Like many historical fiction novels set during WWII, this book relates a story that seems too horrific to be true. Sadly, this book is true because Leon Leyson lived it. The characters' sheer strength and will-to-live is inspiring, but at the same time you question how they managed it as you read about the conditions they lived through. I would recommend this book to anyone upper elementary and older because it shows the impact that just one person can have on the world.
Review
This powerful memoir of one of the youngest boys on Schindler's list deserves to be shared. Leon Leyson grew up in Poland as the youngest of five children. As WWII breaks out, Leyson's ingenuity and bravery, combined with the kindness of strangers and a bit of serendipity, save his life, time and again. The storytelling can at times meander, and the various reflections of his life in Poland during the war can result in a certain patchiness, but Leyson's experiences and memories still make for compelling reading about what it was like to suffer through the Holocaust. This memoir is a natural curriculum addition to WWII units for upper-elementary and middle school readers. Be sure to have additional materials on hand about Oskar Schindler, as readers will want to do more research into Leyson's story.
Review Reference
Thompson, S. B. (2013, September 1). [Review of The Boy on the Wooden Box:
How the Impossible became Possible... on Schindler's List: a memoir, by L.
Leyson]. Booklist. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2114/
ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=07e07b66-002e-4d0e-b4d0-5111560bd9ba
%40sessionmgr4004&vid=18&hid=4103
Library Use
~ I think this book would be a great companion to a historical fiction novel set during WWII. Students could compare the HF text to this memoir and discuss similarities and differences in the two genres.
~ This book would be a wonderful addition to a WWII display.
Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride
Bibliographic Information
Ryan, P. M. (1999). Amelia and Eleanor go for a ride. New York: Scholastic Press.
Summary
This is the story of the unique friendship between Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt. Both women were independent, adventurous spirits ahead of their time. One evening Amelia and her husband are invited to join Eleanor at the White House for dinner. Over dinner the two friends begin talking about flying, and Eleanor asks what it is like to fly at night. Amelia immediately offers to leave dinner and take Eleanor on a ride over Washington, and off they go. They fly for a while, enjoying the wonder of the city lights far below. The story fittingly ends with the women headed off another adventure, this time with Eleanor at the wheel of her new car, driving off into the dark night with Amelia by her side.
Impressions
I found this book to be inspiring and full of a sense of adventure. I think it accurately presents the two main characters as strong women who weren't afraid to think for themselves and act in a way that wasn't the norm for the time. With that being said, it is a thoroughly enjoyable picture book in its own right, telling a tale of two friends having fun together. The black and white sketches are a perfect match with the text and add to the sense of wonder and excitement on each page. The double-page spread of Washington, D.C. lit up at night is breathtaking. The author's note at the end provides readers with interesting facts about the two women and the real events that inspired the story.
Review
Ryan imaginatively expands on a true historical event in this intriguing
picture book. While dining at the White House in 1933, Amelia Earhart
convinces Eleanor Roosevelt to join her on a night flight to Baltimore.
The two women marvel at the sights and the excitement from the air.
After landing, they sneak away for one more adventure, as this time, the
First Lady treats her friend to a fast ride in her new car. The
fictionalized tale is lively and compelling, and the courage and sense
of adventure that these individuals shared will be evident even to
children who know nothing about their lives. Without belaboring the
message, the author clearly conveys how the "feeling of independence"
that both women treasured was a crucial part of their personalities.
Selznick's larger-than-life pencil drawings add considerably to the
spirit of the tale. He captures the glorious beauty of the night flight
and the beauty of the city below. Varied perspectives and background
details consistently draw readers' eyes. An author's note clearly
defines which elements of the story are factual. The women were actually
accompanied by two I male pilots, but the author decided that it made
it "much more exciting" to imagine that they were alone. "Almost all" of
the dialogue comes from historical accounts. The title stands well on
its own, but will also work as an excellent inspiration for further
reading about the lives of Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart.
Review Reference
Engelfried, S. (1999, September). [Review of Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride,
by P. M. Ryan]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from
http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2114/ehost/detail/detail?vid=8sid=d18ee997-
be0b-470d-8aaa-db3c4efe6697%40sessionmgr4003&hid=4205&bdata=
JnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#db=lls&AN=2265141
Library Use
~ This book would be great when studying famous women in history.
~ It could also be used to teach the historical fiction genre.
~ The illustrations could also be the focus of a lesson, discussing how the black and white pictures compliment and lend voice to the story.
The Night My Sister Went Missing
Bibliographic Information
Plum-Ucci, C. (2006). The night my sister went missing. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc.
Summary
What begins as a typical night on the beach for Kurt and his group of teenage friends, turns into a nightmare. One minute they're all hanging out on the old pier, talking and having fun, but the next someone starts passing around a small handgun that was brought to the party. Suddenly a shot- or was it a firework?- is heard, and Kurt's sister, disappears over the edge of the pier into the rough surf. Kurt spends the rest of his night hanging out at the police station, waiting on his parents to get back in town, and eavesdropping on all the locals who stop by to give their testimony.
At first it seems pretty clear that their friend Stacy had something to do with the tragedy. Some people think she pulled the trigger in a fit of jealousy, others think the gun going off was an accident, but almost everyone agrees that the gun belongs to Stacy. As Kurt listens, he learns things about his friends that he hadn't seen before. With his eyes wide open, Kurt begins to gain understanding about the difference between the public persona of his friends and the struggles that some of them were hiding. He also starts to realize that what he wants out of life may not match the plans he's made with his parents. Now if only his sister, Casey, is found and she's okay, Kurt is ready to make some honest decisions about his life. Will all of his friends be able to do the same?
Impressions
This is a good little mystery with a lot of character development mixed in. The reader has a unique perspective through Kurt listening to his friends' testimony. We see his reactions to all the revelations at the police station, and we watch him change and grow as he starts to understand how little he really knew his 'friends.' It is very interesting to see how all these events work together to help Kurt grow up, seemingly overnight. Of course, as more and more clues come to light, the story keeps readers intrigued with twists and turns that seem unrelated at first. I think that middle and high school students will enjoy this book because it is a mystery that will keep you guessing and invested in the story right up to the end.
Review
A shot rings out at a beach party. A girl falls backward- or dives forward- into the water and disappears. Her older brother, Kurt, remains in the police station all night anxious for word and spying on those who come to give their statements. The thread running through the speculations and accusations is Stacy Kearny, a poor little rich girl, whose explosive family secrets make her a prime suspect in the shooting. Plum-Ucci returns to a familiar topic- a young missing person and the questions raised by the disappearance- to explore class prejudice, teen cruelty, and loyalty between friends. There's no doubt Plum-Ucci can tell a heck of a story. But there are chink's in the narrative's armor: characters tend to sound the same, and the one-way mirror in the station that enables Kurt to spy on the witnesses sticks out like the device that it is. Still, readers will be turning pages as new information is dispensed in each chapter, moving and changing the story in unexpected ways. They'll race to the ending and won't guess it until they get there.
Review Reference
Cooper, I. (2006, October 15). [Review of The Night My Sister Went Missing, by
C. Plum-Ucci]. Booklist. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2114/
ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=fd78c378-e7ac-4026a5e0-beda838a3479%
40sessionmgr4003&vid=23&hid=4113
Library Use
~ This would be a great book to read and discuss, focusing on how the events affect the characters in different ways and how those characters change throughout the story.
~ It could also be used in a Mystery display or in a lesson about the various elements found in mysteries
