Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Montgomery, Sy. 2010. Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot. Photos by Nic Bishop. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN 9780618494170

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot is an amazing look at the extremely rare kakapo parrots, who only remain on the remote Codfish Island off the southern coast of New Zealand. At the beginning of the book there are only 87 kakapos left in the world. They are unusual birds, the world’s largest parrot, weighing in at nine pounds, with soft green feathers that smell of honey (due to bacteria that lives on their feathers) and facial whiskers. They live underground, are nocturnal, and cannot fly. They growl, boom, or make the “ching” sound of a cash register instead of talk. They are curious about people, a characteristic which has led to their downfall in the past. The author gives a detailed natural history of the bird who once numbered in the millions and the suffering the species has encountered in the last 700 years of its contact with humans, who through hunting and the introduction of non-native species have decimated the birds’ populations. The author explains how difficult it is to find these birds in the wild and the extraordinary efforts fourteen volunteers are making to try to prevent the extinction of this remarkable species. 

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Naturalist and award-winning author Sy Montgomery’s writing is sympathetic to the plight of the bird as she eloquently and accurately relates their story, one she has waited five years to tell. She has once again teamed up with acclaimed photographer/illustrator Nic Bishop for their sixth book together. Through her easy-to-understand words, readers are able to learn extensive details about the birds’ biology, behavior of animals on Codfish Island, and the technology used to track the kakapo. Her presentation is engaging, never dry or overwhelming. Readers will feel as if they are there with the volunteers and scientists who with strong dedication and passion explain their work on behalf of these amazing birds. Part of the Scientists in the Field Series, Montgomery’s adventures in her ten-day excursion with the scientists and volunteers makes the lives of those scientists in the field real and accessible to readers ages 6 through adult. Her narrative is moving and inspiring, exploring the wonder of a new chick and the sadness of the passing of a patriarch. She thoroughly explains the uniqueness not only of the kakapo but of New Zealand and a number of the unusual inhabitants of the isolated island nation. Montgomery also includes author’s notes, a postscript and bibliography giving information on websites, how to support the kakapo rescue effort, and further suggested reading, along with an index of important terms to aid in research.

Dr. Nic Bishop’s finely detailed, color photographs help readers to see the bird up-close, providing otherwise impossible glimpses into the lives of these extraordinary birds. His stunning photography is matched with maps and diagrams to allow readers to have a feeling for the daily lives and location of the kakapo. There are insets on maps to ensure that readers understand the birds’ location. There are boxes of fascinating facts about the birds and New Zealand to intrigue readers. R. Wingrave’s drawings give young readers an introduction to scientific illustration. Altogether the book is visually rewarding, showing science in action, providing a glimpse into the life of the birds and those who are trying to save them.

This wonderful book introduces an amazing animal that most readers will have never heard of before, but will never forget. The captivating story of the race to save the kakapo will inspire readers, young and old, to consider their role in the world and in the lives of the animals with whom they share the planet. It is a highly recommended read.

4. AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2011 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal

2011-2012 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Master List 

Starred review from Booklist Review: “As usual, Montgomery's delight in her subject is contagious, and throughout her enthusiastic text, she nimbly blends scientific and historical facts with immediate, sensory descriptions of fieldwork. Young readers will be fascinated by the incredible measures that the passionate workers follow to help the new birds hatch, and many will share the team's heartbreak when some chicks die. Bishop's photos of the creatures and their habitat are stunning; an awe-inspiring, closing image of the world's eighty-seventh known Kakapo emerging from its shell captures the miracle of birth, for any species. Like many of the team's previous titles, this offers excellent support for units about animal conservation. Grades 4-7.” 

Starred review from School Library Journal: “Grade 5–8—Take a parrot. Color it green. Give it soft, fluffy feathers, and whiskers. Give it sumo proportions and take away its power of flight. Make it nocturnal, and have it nest underground. Aha! A kakapo! Once millions of these rather affable birds waddled all over New Zealand...Excellent photos and a readable, conversational text provide an intimate look at a concerted effort to save a drastically endangered species unfamiliar to most of the world outside Down Under.” 

Starred review from Kirkus Reviews: “Under the careful supervision of forest rangers and volunteers on an island off the New Zealand coast, the nearly extinct, flightless Kakapo parrot is the object of an intensive rescue effort described by this experienced writer-photographer team...As always, the photographer's remarkable and clearly reproduced photographs support and enhance the text. The book's careful design is unobtrusive: The progress of an opening egg sets off page numbers, and fern patterns provide a subtle decoration. Bibliography and a website encourage readers' further explorations. Wonderful.”

Starred review from The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books: "More than most books about environmentalism or endangered species, this will encourage kids to consider how hands-on action can genuinely make a difference and how scientific contributions can be made by people who never go near a test tube."
 

5. CONNECTIONS

*Watch the story of the Kakapo rescue at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v5ViXUeofA

*Have children explore websites about the Kakapo such as:

Kakapo Recovery:  http://www.kakaporecovery.org.nz/  and their kids’ site at: http://www.kakaporecovery.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=15&Itemid=244 where they can listen to the Kakapo’s voice

The Fabulous Kakapo, for more facts about the kakapo: http://www.kakapo.net/en/

*Investigate if there are any endangered animals locally using the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s website:  http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ and discuss what could be done to help them.

*Other Scientists in the Filed Series books by this author/photographer team:

Montgomery, Sy. Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea. ISBN 0618496416

Montgomery, Sy. Saving the Ghost of the Mountain. ISBN 0618916458

Montgomery, Sy. The Snake Scientist. ISBN 0756907403

Montgomery, Sy. The Tarantula Scientist. ISBN 0618147993

*Other Scientists in the Field Series books. There are a total of thirty-six books in the series:

Burns, Loree Griffin. Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion.  ISBN 0547328605

Carson, Mary Kay. The Bat Scientists. ISBN 0547199562

Jackson, Donna M. The Wildlife Detectives: How Forensic Scientists Fight Crimes Against Nature. ISBN 0395869765

Lourie, Peter. The Manatee Scientists: Saving Vulnerable Species. ISBN 054715254X

Turner, Pamela S. Project Seahorse. ISBN 0547207131

*Other conservation and endangered animal books:

Dobson, David. Can We Save Them? Endangered Species of North America. ISBN 0881068233

Garbutt, Nick. 100 Animals to See Before They Die. ISBN 1841622362

Hoare, Ben. Eyewitness: Endangered Animals (DK Eyewitness Books).  ISBN 0756668832

Jenkins, Steve. Almost Gone. ISBN 9780060535988

Kalman, Bobbie. Endangered Tigers (Earth Endangered Animals Series).  ISBN 0778718506

Wright, Alexandra. Will We Miss Them? Endangered Species. ISBN 0881064890

The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Engle, Margarita. 2010. The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette’s Journey to Cuba. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Co., LLC. ISBN 0805090826 

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

The Firefly Letters, a poignant verse novel told in first person narrative, shares the voices of four individuals to tell the stories of young lives affected by slavery in Cuba in the 1850’s. The story opens with the first memories presented by eight-year-old Cecilia, originally stolen from the Congo, who has just been traded by her father for a stolen cow. Seven years pass in a few pages and readers then hear the voice of Elena, a twelve-year-old wealthy plantation owner’s daughter, enslaved by society’s ideal of a young woman and local superstition. Her family is the owner of Cecilia, who is now fifteen, married and pregnant. Both of their lives are shaken up by the arrival of Frederika and her unusual ideas that all people are equal, who herself resisted love and marriage to preserve her own freedom. While Cecilia becomes her translator and companion, Cecilia experiences previously unknown freedom of the body and mind. Elena, whose sense of propriety is initially disturbed by Frederika, soon realizes that Cecilia has more freedom than she. Through Frederika’s teaching and example, with lessons such as the purchasing of  fireflies from locals to save them from captivity, the lives and perspectives of the girls as well as that of Beni, Cecilia’s husband, are expanded and changed, with the two girls becoming friends. Frederika instills a freedom of thought, culminating in Elena, being brave and courageous, acting on her own secret plan to sell all of the items in her hope chest to raise the money to buy the freedom for Cecilia’s unborn child. 

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The Firefly Letters is realistic in style, full of history and political awareness, with themes of unrequited love, slavery, and superstition, starting with an initial feeling of hopelessness. Based on the true historical letters, diaries, and sketchbooks of Swedish suffragette Frederika Bremer, award-winning Cuban-American poet Margarita Engle portrays sorrow, brokenness, envy, and other emotions as effects of the different forms of slavery, due to physical and mental bondage. Engle’s prose is flowing and smooth, authentically and vividly describing the lives of the various people groups and the beautiful verdant Cuba, “a land where freedom does not grow.” Engle’s style is succinct, often completing one character through the later perspective of another character. For example, we learn that Cecilia was indeed traded for a cow through the revelations of Elena, who originally sees her as “just as a slave.” Her style allows for quick reading and the reader is rapidly drawn into the story and feelings for each of the characters. She portrays them with a full range of emotion and foibles, which makes them real and endearing. Her story provides a role model for young adult readers, ages 12 and up, to stand up for what they believe is right and for the fundamental right that all people are created equal. Engle uses the rescuing of the fireflies as a symbol for the liberation of human beings. Yet there is a bittersweet ending to Engle’s novel, as we do not know the fate of Cecilia and her baby, Elena and her family, and Frederika’s reception back in Europe as she shares the stories she had gathered. A Historical Note included by the author explains some of the story of Frederika Bremer, Sweden’s first woman novelist and an early advocate for women’s rights. The author explains that Cecilia was described in Frederika’s diaries, letters, and sketches. There is also an Author’s Note in the back of the book further explaining how she developed her characters. 

 There are no illustrations besides the cover art, yet Engle’s rich description of Cuba and its people are more than enough to establish a firm mental image of this beautiful place filled with lives tragically and painfully impacted by the sin of slavery.

4. AWARDS  AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

ALSC Notable Children's Book

Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year

Capitol Choices Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens

IRA Notable Books for a Global Society

Jane Addams Award

Pura Belpré Author Honor

Texas TAYSHAS High School Reading List

Starred Review from Kirkus Reviews: “Like the firefly light, Engle’s poetry is a gossamer thread of subtle beauty weaving together three memorable characters who together find hope and courage. Another fine volume by a master of the novel in verse.”

Review from Booklist: “Through this moving combination of historical viewpoints, Engle creates dramatic tension among the characters, especially in the story of Elena, who makes a surprising sacrifice.”

Review from Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: “The author has a gift for imbuing seemingly effortless text with powerful emotions. . . .This uncommon story will resonate when placed in the hands of the right reader.”

 Review from Publisher’s Weekly: ““This slim, elegant volume opens the door to discussions of slavery, women’s rights, and the economic disparity between rich and poor.”

Review from School Library Journal: “This engaging title documents 50-year-old Swedish suffragette and novelist Fredrika Bremer’s three-month travels around Cuba in 1851. …The easily digestible, poetic narrative makes this a perfect choice for reluctant readers, students of the women’s movement, those interested in Cuba, and teens with biography assignments.” 

5. CONNECTIONS

*Have students investigate plantation life and Cuban customs using the Internet. Have them put together a visual project such as a glog, blog or PowerPoint, incorporating what they learned from their research and reading the book.

*Investigate fireflies, their lives, and the traditional ways people have interacted with them.

* Have students do a comparative study, investigating slavery in the United States and Cuba, looking at similarities and differences. What were some of the cultural differences between the two nations? How did the daily life of a slave in each country compare? What were the likelihoods of slaves in either country becoming free in the 1850’s? Compare how ultimately the situation was changed.                                     

*Have students write reader response journals in prose answering the question of what happened to all of the main characters. Share the alternative endings together as a class.

*Other books by Margarita Engle:

Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck. ISBN 0805092400

The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano. ISBN 0312659288

The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom. ISBN 0805086749

Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba. ISBN 0805089365

Footprints on the Roof

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Singer, Marilyn. 2002. Footprints on the Roof. New York, NY: Alfred A.Knopf. ISBN 0375810943

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Footprints on the Roof  is a collection of short, lively poems about nature, ranging from underground to the far-flung reaches of outer space. Starting from home, a safe place, Marilyn Singer takes the reader on a journey of exploration, celebrating the wonders of our world. Through her poems she teaches scientific concepts and principles, such as where creatures live and showing us why we should leave only footprints on their roof, hence the title of the compilation. She teaches over a wide range of topics in nature and science, including natural disasters, weather, islands, prehistoric animals, the seasons, and ecosystems. Through her poems, she presents to readers of any age the perspective of seeing the Earth as our address and why we should appreciate its infinite worth. 

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS 

In a fun, delightful way, award-winning author Marilyn Singer brings to bear key ideas in environmental stewardship: the Earth and our dependence on its wonders, our presence and role, and the presence of other creatures and our interdependence. Her prose moves across the page, with wide gaps between words where she wishes readers to pause and think, or to slow the reader down to emphasize and recreate the sensory experience, such as, “The flavor…subtle…bold…is stored in every grain of rice” in the poem, “Dining Out.” Her prose, flowing and smooth, carries the reader along, like a leaf on a stream, that occasionally eddies and then moves along on its way. Her prose is also imaginative, as in the personification of volcanoes as dragons. She introduces scientific words while creating vivid imagery, as in “Caves”, “Stalactites Stalagmites Rivers made of crystal Flowers made of stone.” Her clever writing is accessible, making science interesting and leaving readers wanting to learn more. With child-friendly topics, such as dinosaurs and mud, she creates eager interest with lines such as, “Sometimes I'm in the mood for mud When my toes have tasted too many sidewalks. In the park or by the river I choose ooze,” from the poem “Mud.” She presents complex scientific concepts, such as the difference in seasons between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, in a straight-forward, understandable way. Fun alliteration energizes the pages, with examples such as “I’m a fan of fens” and “harvested in Chile or in China.” Her poems provide guidance for dealing with nature, such as the desert being the place “where hope is not for fools.” Singer also includes a poem, “Patience,” where she explores the restoration and solace we can find in nature. 

Meilo So’s lively India ink illustrations complement each poem with energy, movement, and the feeling of Japanese silkscreen. Moments of whimsy created by details such as the teapot as a cloud add to the enjoyment of this book. Pictures, such as those showing the animals in their burrows underground, the house perched on the Earth, and the juxtaposition of a boy in winter clothes on one side of the globe while a girl eats an ice cream cone on the other side, all help readers to visualize and understand the scientific concepts presented.  

Overall, Footprints on the Roof  is a very enjoyable introduction to the wonders of our home, planet Earth, and a gentle lesson in the responsibility of mankind to appreciate and preserve its beauty, written in an accessible form for all readers.

5. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

From Booklist : “Gr. 5-10. Trees are go-betweens / listening to the stories / of both earth and sky." The poems in Singer's latest collection are deeply earnest celebrations of the natural world. Some selections are immediate, with sounds and images that will capture young readers: "I choose / ooze," Singer says of mud. Many other poems are filled with an older person's sense of insignificance--the fear and awe of nature's power to create and destroy--and some readers may find the lines lean too heavily on an adult's reverent vocabulary: "This is trees' work / and they do it with such uncomplaining grace." Best are the poems that show connections--that nature is everywhere: the taste of the earth and rain in food, for example. So's fluid, childlike watercolors might suggest an elementary audience, but middle-school and teen writers will probably enjoy this book the most.”

From School Library Journal: “Grade 1-4-In this celebratory collection, Singer's images are fresh and accessible and her wordplay never seems forced. In "Burrows," she observes, "Where what you see is nothing- what counts is what you smell or hear or feel I try to tread softly: a quiet giant leaving only footprints on the roof." In "Dormant Dragons," she writes, "Volcanoes there are that sleep the sleep of dragons With cool heads and hot bellies-." So's India-ink illustrations on rice paper capture the heart of each poem. Singer and So have created a work of minimalist art, in which harmony is achieved between text and image with no extraneous words or strokes. A welcome addition to nature-poetry collections.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*Go on a nature walk with students, collecting nature items, such as stones, twigs, and pinecones (none alive, please). Using the items as prompts, have the students write poems about nature and our place in it. Create display posters or boards of poems attaching nature items and display them.

*Explore nature guides to find out more about nature. Have students create poem pictures about a particular aspect of nature that fascinates them.

*Other books of poetry about nature by Marilyn Singer:

Singer, Marilyn. Central Heating: Poems About Fire and Warmth. ISBN 0375829121

Singer, Marilyn. Fireflies at Midnight. ISBN 0689824920

Singer, Marilyn. How to Cross a Pond: Poems about Winter. ISBN 037582376X

Singer, Marilyn. Quiet Summer Night. ISBN 0618120440 

*Other books of poetry about nature:

Alarcon, Francisco X. and Maya Christina Gonzalez. Laughing Tomatoes: And Other Spring Poems / Jitomates Risuenos: Y Otros Poemas de Primavera. ISBN 0892391995

Brenner, Barbara. The Earth is Painted Green: A Garden of Poems.  ISBN 0590451359

Christian, Peggy. If You Find a Rock. ISBN 0152063544

Florian, Douglas. Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems. ISBN 0152053727

George, Kristine O’Connell. Old Elm Tree Speaks. ISBN 0618752420

George, Kristine O'Connell. Hummingbird Nest. ISBN 0152023256

Yolen, Jane and Jason Stemple. Color Me a Rhyme: Nature Poems for Young People. ISBN  1590781724

*Nature guide books:

Boring, Mel, Diane Burns, and Leslie Dendy. Fun with Nature. ISBN 1559717025

Evert, Laura. More Fun with Nature. IBSN 1559717953

Kahl, Jonathan D.W. National Audubon Society First Field Guide: Weather. ISBN 0590054881

Milord, Susan. The Kids’ Nature Book: 365 Indoor/Outdoor Activities. ISBN

Birmingham, 1963

Picture from: The Pennsylvania Center for the Book

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Weatherford, Carol Boston. 2007. Birmingham, 1963. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong. ISBN 1590784402

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

A survivor of the September 15, 1963 Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombings in Birmingham, Alabama, a fictional ten-year-old African-American girl, tells of her life before the bombing and what happened on her fateful tenth birthday. She remembers protests, Mama and Daddy taking her to Washington, D.C. to march, and being at church when plans were made. She tells the small details of normal life: singing, dancing, eating, and going to church, until a horrific act of hatred changed their lives and the lives of a city and a nation forever. Dynamite, lit by hate, exploded their sacred place, wounding twenty-one people and leaving four innocent girls dead. Time stops for a moment, then trusting the Lord, grief and trouble follow, and protests begin once again. She prays and wishes she could be nine once again.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

From her dedication, “To all who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom,” to her closing notes concerning the aftermath of the bombings, award-winning author Carole Boston Weatherford brings the struggle for Civil Rights emotionally to life for readers aged nine and up. Told in first person narrative, her free verse prose is written in short triplets, yet filled with historical information. The reader is drawn into the accurately portrayed life of an unnamed African-American girl. Weatherford’s poetry appeals to the senses with the mention of songs, snarling dogs, red-eye gravy with biscuits, coffee, gospel radio, a soft kiss and giggles. These wholesome, common sensory experiences set the stage for the contrast of the unexpected horror of the bombing of the Church. The author’s notes at the end of the book provide further information about the Civil Rights Movement, that fateful Sunday, and the final, full determination of the perpetrators, closing the case thirty-nine years later. She also provides notes for all of the photographs and suggestions for further reading. 

The book is produced in shades of gray and tan, with a sepia quality, with accents of rust, which adds to the drama of the poem and the haunting black-and-white period photographs. The rust accents are discontinuous, like an unfinished picture, perhaps emblematic of four young lives cut short. There are photographs of objects common to childhood in the 1960’s: pencils and erasers, bobby socks, white gloves, patent leather shoes, Motown records, hula hoops, and Barbie doll clothes accompanying the poem on the left side of the double-page spread. The right side is dedicated to moving, real-life photographs of the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement. There are pictures of children with protest signs, the March on Washington, a sign reading “Colored Waiting Room,” African-American choir members, and the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Then there are pictures which attempt to describe the hate, terror and tragedy of the bombing-a Ku Klux Klansman, the aftermath of the bombings and the closing photograph of “No More Birminghams.” The final four photographs are portraits of the four girls, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Denise McNair, and Carole Robertson, each accompanied by a biographical poem.

Working together, Weatherford’s choice of words and pictures create a soul-stirring tribute to those who gave their lives in the struggle for Civil Rights that Sunday morning in September, 1963. The book stands as a poignant reminder of the tragedy that shook our nation and deserves to be on the shelves of every library. 

4. AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2008 Jane Addams Children's Book Award

2008 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award 

Starred Review from Kirkus Reviews: “Exquisitely understated design lends visual potency to a searing poetic evocation of the Birmingham church bombing of 1963...It's a gorgeous memorial to the four killed on that horrible day, and to the thousands of children who braved violence to help change the world.”

Starred Review from School Library Journal: “In understated free verse, an unnamed, fictional girl narrates the events that preceded the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church…An emotional read, made even more accessible and powerful by the viewpoint of the child narrator.”

 

5.      CONNECTIONS

*Read aloud the poem, “The Ballad of Birmingham,” by Dudley Randall. It can be found on the Poetry Foundation webpage. The site also includes a context and background page on the poem.

*Watch the Spike Lee documentary, 4 Little Girls, (1997), available as DVD or on Google videos. It examines the lives of the four girls killed in the bombing and the after-effects on both the family and the nation. It features interviews with the girls’ families. Watch the Bobby Rivers interview with Spike Lee and Chris McNair, the father of one of the girls, Denise McNair, on YouTube as a preview.

*Discuss Martin Luther King, Jr., his role in the Civil Rights Movement, and his philosophy of non-violent protest.

*Investigate the Ku Klux Klan, who are they and why do they hate?

*Listen to songs from the 1960’s, such as the CD, Voices of the Civil Rights Movement: Black American Freedom Songs 1960-1966 (1997), Sing For Freedom: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement Through Its Songs (1992), or Let Freedom Sing! Music of the Civil Rights Movement (2009).

*Listen to Joan Baez’s song, Birmingham Sunday, about the morning of the bombing. It is available on YouTube with an accompanying video.

*Examine the role of children and young people in the Civil Rights Movement. Have children introspect about what they might have done about the situation. Have them write reader response journals after reading the book.

*Have the children write a poem about an important serious event in their lives.

*Other books about the Birmingham bombings and the Civil Rights Movement:

For younger readers (age 4-8):

Bridges, Ruby.  Ruby Bridges Goes to School: My True Story. ISBN 0545108553

Coles, Robert. The Story of Ruby Bridges. ISBN 0439472265

Pinkney, Andrea Davis. Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down. ISBN 0316070164

Woodson, Jacqueline. The Other Side. ISBN 0399231162

For older readers (9-12+):

Bridges, Ruby. Through My Eyes. ISBN 0590189231

Brimner, Larry Dane. Birmingham Sunday. ISBN 1590786130

Curtis, Christopher Paul. The Watsons Go to Birmingham. ISBN 0440228004

Turck, Mary C. The Civil Rights Movement for Kids: A History with 21 Activities. ISBN 1556523700

Weatherford, Carole Boston. Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins. ISBN 0142408940

 *Other books that discuss the role of children in the Civil Rights Movement:

Hoose, Phillip M. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. ISBN 0374313229

Johnson, Angela. A Sweet Smell of Roses. ISBN 1416953616

Levine, Ellen S. Freedom’s Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories. ISBN 0698118706

Mayer, Robert H. When the Children Marched: The Birmingham Civil Rights Movement. ISBN 0766029309

Partridge, Elizabeth. Marching For Freedom: Walk Together Children and Don’t You Grow Weary. ISBN 0670011896

Wiles, Deborah. Freedom Summer. ISBN 0689878299

    

Swamp Angel

Image from: Anne Isaacs

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Isaacs, Anne. 1994. Swamp Angel. Ill. by Paul Zelinsky. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 0-525-45271-0.

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

In this tall tale, Angelica Longrider, born in 1815, “scarcely taller than her mother”, grows up to become the greatest woodswoman in Tennessee. From the beginning, Angelica performs fantastic feats, building a log cabin at the age of two, saving cabins from fire, stopping a flood, and rescuing a wagon train from a swamp, which earns her the nickname of “Swamp Angel” at the age of twelve.  Time passes quickly as she performs these heroic acts, bypassing quilting, which she sees as men’s work, and culminating in an all-out battle with her nemesis, Thundering Tarnation, the bear who threaten the winter food supply for the entire state of Tennessee. Their wrestling brawl lasts for several months, with some high-flying, tornado-whirling, lake-drinking, loud-snoring action. Her snores finally best the bear, felling a humongous tree, which flattens the bear, providing a feast for all the settlers and enough food to last the winter.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Anne Isaacs’s writing is colorful and full of rustic expressions, such as “as plentiful as dewdrops on corn,” “I’m much obliged,” and “That was mighty refreshing,” which authentically convey the feeling and atmosphere of the 1800’s, the time of Angelica’s epic adventures. The words chosen to impart her daring feats, such as “powerful reputation” and “lasting impression,” will help to expand the vocabulary of a young reader, ages 8 through 12, as well as young listeners, age 4 and up. Isaac’s style is clear and straightforward, telling a big story in a big way, with Angelica as the larger than life, feminist heroine. This tall tale is also a pour quoi tale explaining the origin of the Great Smoky Mountains, the constellation of Ursa Major, and the Shortgrass Prairie in Montana. Isaac’s uses irony effectively in comments such as “her father gave her a shiny new ax to play with in the cradle, like any good Tennessee father would.” Also, Isaac adds that stories about Swamp Angel continue to spring up even today and “every one is true,” creating a flavor of high exaggeration. 

Caldecott-award winning artist Paul O. Zelinsky has painted vibrant, folksy illustrations that add depth and understanding to the tall tale, helping readers to see and imagine the enormity of Swamp Angel and her escapades. He captures Angelica’s good nature as she helps those in need and her strength as she wrestles tornados and bears. From the opening of the book with its wood paneled end pages, Zelinsky’s artistry gives the book a woodsy, homespun feeling, contributing to the story’s 1800’s atmosphere. He painted on wood veneers of cherry, maple, and birch, as the copyright page states, giving each picture a wooden frame. Each two page spread helps express the beauty and ruggedness of the American Frontier, in the mountains and foothills of Tennessee. His paintings show the scale and size of Angelica in proportion to normal human beings, yet they also contain a lot of small details of animals and people, which adds humor, such as mountain lions playing with balls of yarn. These details will cause readers to pause over each page, to search out some new small detail, enriching their reading experience in the process.

Angelica’s exploits will encourage children to stand up to the challenges in their lives and be heroic like Swamp Angel, a role model for both boys and girls. Angelica’s final admonishment to the dead bear, “Confound it, varmint. If you weren’t the most wondrous heap of trouble I ever come to grips with,” speaks to her persistence in the face of trouble, a valuable lesson to the audience, even if they cannot drink a lake dry. This story, Anne Isaac’s first, along with Zelinsky’s supporting artwork, is a wonderful modern tall tale that will please readers.

4. AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*1994 Caldecott Honor Book
*1995 Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book
*1994 ALA Notable Book
*New York Public Library, 100 Books Every Child Should Read
*New York Times Best Illustrated Books of 1994
*School Library Journal Best Books of 1994
*Booklist Children's Editors Choices 1994
*Publisher's Weekly Best Books of 1994
*Time Magazine's 8 Best Children's Books, 1994
*Parenting Magazine Reading-Magic Award, 10 Best Books of 1994
*1995 Notable Trade Book in Language Arts, National Council of Teachers of English
*Book of the Month Club featured selection
*featured on Storytime, PBS

Starred Review in Horn Book: “Move over, Paul Bunyan, you are about to meet Swamp Angel, an original creation in the tall-tale tradition whose exploits are guaranteed to amaze and amuse a wide swath of readers. . . Visually exciting, wonderful to read aloud, this is a picture book to remember.”

Starred Review in Kirkus: “It is impossible to convey the sheer pleasure, the exaggerated loopiness, of newcomer Isaacs's wonderful story. Matching the superb text stride for stride are Zelinsky's altered-state, American primitive paintings--gems that provide new pleasures, reading after reading.”

Starred Review in Booklist: “Isaacs tells her original story with the glorious exaggeration and uproarious farce of the traditional tall tale and with its typical laconic idiom. You just can't help reading it aloud. . . Zelinsky's detailed oil paintings in folk-art style are exquisite, framed in cherry, maple, and birch wood grains. They are also hilarious, making brilliant use of perspective to extend the mischief and the droll understatement.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*Have children explore live on the American Frontier. Have them answer questions such as: How did people live? What did their houses look like? What food did they eat? Was it an easy life or a lot of hard work? What were the benefits and disadvantages of living on the Frontier? Would you like to live then and there?

*Investigate the elements that make up a tall tale. Have children create their own tall tales.

*Compare and contrast Swamp Angel  to other tall tales. How are they alike or different? 

*Other tall tales with female protagonists:

Kellogg, Steve. Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett. ISBN 978-0-688-14042-7

Nelson, Jerdine. Thunder Rose. ISBN 978-0-152-06006-0

San Souci, Robert D. Cut from the Same Cloth: American Women of Myth, Legend, and Tall Tale. ISBN 978-0-698-11811-9

*Other related tall tale books:

Kellogg, Steve. Paul Bunyan 20^th Anniversary Edition. ISBN 978-0-688-05800-5

Kellogg, Steve.  Pecos Bill. ISBN 978-0-688-09924-4

Lester, Julius. John Henry. ISBN 978-0-140-56622-2

Osborne, Mary Pope. American Tall Tales. ISBN 978-0-679-80089-7

The Three Pigs Los Tres Cerdos Nacho, Tito and Miguel

Scanned image. 

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Salinas, Bobbi. 1998. The Three Pigs Los Tres Cerdos Nacho, Tito and Miguel. Ill. by Bobbi Salinas. Oakland, CA: Piñata Publications. ISBN 0-934925-05-4

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Taking place in the American Southwest, The Three Pigs Los Tres Cerdos Nacho, Tito and Miguel  tells the story of three brother pigs who leave home to “seek new adventures and meet new friends.” The first pig, Nacho, builds in his out of straw and enjoys reading the original version of The Three Little Pigs until José, the hungry wolf, comes and blows his house in. José takes Nacho away to a pigpen and makes plans to turn him into carnitas and chicharrones for supper. Tito, the second brother, who is an artist, suffers the same fate as José blows down his house made of wood. Miguel, the third and wisest pig, built his house of adobe bricks. He is working on his computer in his library full of books when the wily José comes knocking. Unable to blow the adobe home down, the wolf attempts to trick Miguel into meeting him in a corn field, an apple orchard, and a feria (festival), but Miguel repeatedly outsmarts the wolf. At the feria, Miguel, scared at seeing the wolf, jumps into his barrel, which promptly rolls down the hill, chasing the wolf away. Later, the wolf tells of a giant rolling pin that tried to flatten him and Miguel laughs, telling José that it was him. The wolf gets so mad that he climbs down the chimney, burns his tail, and leaves the pigs alone. Miguel rescues his brothers and they sit down to a dinner of corn, applesauce, and green chile stew with tortillas. In the end, all three brothers build houses of brick.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The Three Pigs Los Tres Cerdos Nacho Tito and Miguel is a new take on the traditional tale. It is expanded and elaborated upon, adding dimensions of Hispanic culture and non-violence. With the exception of the rolling barrel, the wise pig Miguel uses his wits, not to kill the wolf, but to teach José a lesson. Miguel shows readers that sometimes those who seem powerful are not as scary as they might seem. This oversized book is bilingual with the story told in English and Spanish side by side on each page. Bobbi Salinas playfully uses Spanglish to add humor to the story, with “No way, José” in English and “Hasta la vista, Baby” in Spanish. Perfect for the older reader, ages 6-10, who is learning English or Spanish, the book makes it easy to see what each phrase means in each language. 

Salinas adds a strong Southwestern flavor to the story with her delightful, brightly colored illustrations. She provides a glimpse into various aspects of Southwestern culture, such as clothing, food and how it is grown, the way houses are built, and what people do for fun. From the first end pages which are decorated with children’s illustrations of the three little pigs, she creates a child-friendly, inviting visual story with her drawings of life in the American Southwest. Her illustrations are full of small details that beg to be explored, adding humor to the story. The visual puns, such as the “You Pull” bicycle moving wagons, the straw seller’s truck labeled “The Last Straw,” and the “No Pork Rinds” sign in Miguel’s kitchen add to the entertainment value of this book. Watching the changing expressions and happenings of the Sun on many of the pages is fun, as is examining the contents of the pigs’ homes. Nacho’s house is decorated in Southwestern style with brightly colored tiles and fired clay tile floors and he rests in a hammock. Tito’s home is full of labeled art, introducing “The Mona Frida” to readers. Every book (and there are over 100) in Miguel’s home is labeled with a famous title or author. In addition, Salinas draws native animals like iguanas and turtles, as well as native plants like prickly pears and barrel cacti. Her backgrounds show the landscapes of the desert and canyon lands so prevalent in the Southwest. Salinas adds interest and depth to the story filling in details not found in the words, such as showing the brothers building their homes or Miguel cooking dinner. 

The Three Pigs Los Tres Cerdos Nacho, Tito and Miguel addresses the growing need for bilingual books, for those learning English or Spanish. This book is an entertaining read and also includes instructions for many activities, for, as the cover states, “children ages 3-103, all colors, all sizes, and all sexes.”

4. AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

The Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award, 1998  

Review from Publishers Weekly: “This book offers a spicy retelling of the familiar tale of the three little pigs…The excellent illustrations are entertaining, intelligent, and witty, offering lots of visual jokes and cross-cultural references to the likes of Elvis Presley, Frida Kahlo, Cesar Chavez, and Cantinflas. The moderate use of Spanglish in the English text will irritate some readers and delight others. This book is meant to be read out loud.” 

5. CONNECTIONS

*Practice speaking the Spanish words in the glossary. Add other basic phrases found in the book, such as ¡Claro que sí!

*Perform a reader’s theater. Create simple costumes with suggestions found in the back of the book for sombreros, braids, pigs’/wolf’s snout, pigs’ ears, vests and chinny-chin-chin hairs.

*Gather other Three Little Pigs books. Discuss similarities and differences.

*Have children write and illustrate their own version of The Three Little Pigs (or other variety of animal). Have volunteers share their stories with the class.

 

*Other bilingual books:

Herrera, Juan Felipe. The Upside Down Boy/El niño de cabeza. ISBN  978-089-239217-9

Lomas Garza, Carmen. In My Family/En mi familia. ISBN 978-089-239163-9

Mora, Pat. Gracias/Thanks.  ISBN 978-160-060258-0

*Other Three Little Pigs books:

Kimmel, Eric A. Three Little Tamales. ISBN 978-0761455196

Lowell, Susan. Three Little Javelinas. ISBN 978-087-358542-2 

Scieszka, Jon. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. ISBN 978-014-054451-0

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The Story of Lightning and Thunder

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bryan, Ashley. 1993.  The Story of Lightning and Thunder.  Ill. by Ashley Bryan. New York, NY:  Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 0-689-31836-7.

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

The Story of Lightning and Thunder, a retelling of a Nigerian folktale, begins with Ma Sheep Thunder and Son Ram Lightning enjoying village life among people in Alkebu-lan (now Africa). Ma and Son were highly esteemed since they would call their friend, Rain, to water the people’s crops. Ma tries to raise her boy well, with admonitions like, “Use your head”, “If one way doesn’t work out, try another” and “Listen to me, I am your mother.” But Son Ram answers, “I hear you, I hear you!” and obeys in his own way, with unintended consequences and trouble. His impetuous ways result in their banishment, first to the edge of the village and then to the center of the forest. Trying to be a hero, Son “biff, bops” an ox in the farmer’s field, and in fear, runs away, causing a fire which destroys the crops. The King banishes them from the earth to the sky where they live today. Son still gets away from home even today, returns to earth and streaks lightning, causing trouble. Ma calls after him but he does not always listen.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Bryan has again produced a folktale that speaks to children in a conversational, easy manner they can relate to. His pour quoi folktale, The Story of Lightning and Thunder, explains the origin of the weather effects while also giving a few life lessons. Based on a folktale from Folk Stories from Southern Nigeria, West Africa, by Elphinstone Dayrell (London: Longmans Green, 1910), 70-71, as cited on the copyright page, the story has been slightly changed from the original, tamed, with the omission of killing people. Also, in Bryan’s version, the Ram acts not out of bad temper, but rather childish impetuousness. Bryan shows the consequences of not listening to your elders. Repetitive parental phrases from Ma, like, “Listen to me” and “Use your head” and the responses of “I hear you, I hear you!” from Son reflect typical everyday conversations between parents and children. Further admonitions and the use of proverbs by the King reinforce the authority of grownups. Dramatic tension builds between those who wish for Son to obey and Son, who wishes to do things his own way. Bryan expresses Son’s disobedience using onomatopoeia words, such as “biff, bam, butt”, which lead to humorous wordplays, such as Ma’s rebuke, “Whatever you do, no more biff, bam, butts out of you!” Even Ma’s use of “Baa-ba-lam” adds humor and irony to the story making it a delight to listen to and read, teaching children a moral lesson without being heavy-handed. Bryan’s lyrical, flowing prose is punctuated with several well-placed Uh-huh’s to keep attention, making the act of reading the story like listening to a storyteller. The clever last line of “I know somebody like that too, uh-huh, I do, but I’m not saying who” ensures that children know who the author is referring to.

Ashley Bryan’s bright, colorful illustrations convey energy and emotion, reflecting pride, joy, anger, contentment, surprise, playfulness, shock, sorrow, and dismay, working with the story to help children understand better the whole range of human emotions. The King is proud of Ma Thunder sheep and Son Lightning Ram’s accomplishment in bringing Rain, but later, readers can see the King’s wrath at having the crop lands destroyed. The characters display the full range of emotional responses, with the exception of remorse on the part of Son, to things that happen in everyone’s life, including those unexpected consequences from misbehavior. The stained glass-like watercolor illustrations are vibrant, visually representing the force of thunder and the spark of lightning, complementing the story while adding a visual dimension to the power of Bryan’s words.

Appropriate for self-readers in 2^nd through 5^th grade, as it is a bit too long for a beginner reader to conquer on their own, The Story of Lightning and Thunder is perfect for a read-aloud.   

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist review: “The text has music and style and moves along quickly, thanks to the humor inherent in the exploits of the rambunctious ram...This is a solid title for reading aloud that will appeal to a wide age range.”

Publisher’s Weekly review: "Joyful in both word and palette, this African story tells why lightning and thunder reside in the sky and not on earth, as they once did.”

Kirkus Reviews: “A delightful adaptation of a Nigerian folktale…Written to be read aloud (perhaps to a rambunctious child), with bits of rhyme and unexpected wordplay… There is one of Bryan's uniquely vibrant, swirling, light-filled paintings on every page.” 

5. CONNECTIONS

*Explore the real reasons and science behind thunder and lightning. Have children draw pictures to illustrate storms. They could even share their own stories of storms. Discuss why folktales were used to explain weather phenomena.

*Act out the story with an informal reader’s theater. Everyone can participate as the story calls for villagers as well. Consider adding a few extra lines to allow villagers to express their feelings about what has happened in their village and their crop lands. Be sure to vocalize, or use noisemakers to recreate, the sounds of the book, such as the “Moorow!” of the Ox, the sound of thunder, the crackle of the fire, the woes of the villagers, etcetera.

*Other books involving lightning and thunder include:

Branley, Franklyn. Flash, Crash, Rumble, and Roll. ISBN 978-006-445179-6

Polacco, Patricia. Thunder Cake.  ISBN 978-069-811581-1

Schmith, JD. Thunder and Lightning: They’re Not So Frightening. ISBN978-141-205631-1

Zolotow, Charlotte, The Storm Book. ISBN  978-006-443194-1