So You Want to Be President? - Caldecott Medal Winner

St. George, J. (2000). So you want to be president? New York: Philomel Books.

Although this book is now becoming somewhat outdated (it does not include our current president nor will it include the president elected this year) I still think that it is wonderful and provides great tid-bits from history that will never be outdated. These interesting and little-known facts are what makes this book so wonderful. The book is written in a very kid-friendly way with easy-to-read and understand language. It includes facts but does not read like a textbook. I enjoy reading about history when it is presented in an interesting way - this book does just that. Of course the illustrations were great and added to the humor and light-hearted feel of the book. I especially loved the cartoon-like representations of the different presidents. At a time when we are hearing so much about the upcoming presidential election and tensions are running high about what the future holds and what changes a new president will make, it was nice to step back and take a relaxed look at the history of the presidency. From reading this book, I learned that it is possible to present facts and history in a way that is fun, humorous, and appealing to children. Thank goodness for books like these that can be used as supplements to the generally boring Social Studies books found in the classroom!

The Three Pigs - Caldecott Medal Winner

Wiesner, D. (2001). The three pigs. New York: Houghton Mifflin.

This book was not at all what I expected it to be! I was reading along the expected story of the three pigs when, all of the sudden, the story took a completely different route! Sometime during the wolf's attack on the second pig's house, the pig is prompted by the first pig (who was "blown out of the story") to walk out of the story. The three pigs spend the remainder of the book adventuring through other stories and rescuing characters out of other books. The illustrations and the idea is very original and unique - I never would have expected it! Although Wiesner provides an interesting twist on a classic story, I can't say that I really like it. I guess I'm just too traditional! I was hoping to find a nicely illustrated version of the story Granny used to tell me at bedtime, and, just I was getting into the story, the characters decided to walk out! I have to hand it to the author/illustrator for originality but it just didn't appeal to me. This book kind of reminds me of The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. This is another twist on the basic story that in my opinion, outshines Wiesner's Three Pigs.

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers - Caldecott Medal Winner

Gerstein, M. (2003). The man who walked between the towers. Brookfield, CT: Roaring Book Press.

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers is an absolutely fascinating story based on true events. The illustrations are somewhat impressionistic and compliment the story wonderfully. I have always been interested in acrobatics and it is amazing to think that someone actually tight-rope walked between the two World Trade Center towers. The book includes two fold-out pages of illustrations that really help bring the story to life and allow the reader to get a better idea of how amazing Philippe Petit's task was.

One thing that makes this story so special is, of course, the events of September 11, 2001. As I read the story, I remembered watching the news as the two towers collapsed. Whenever I think of the towers, I immediately think of their collapse and all the lives that were lost and impacted when they fell. It is interesting to have another story to connect with the towers. Philippe Petit's story can be viewed as somewhat of a parallel to the story of the people who had to overcome terrifying obstacles in order to move on with their lives and dreams after the fall of the towers.

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins - Caldecott Honor Book

Kerley, B. (2001). The dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins. New York: Scholastic.

This book is brought to life by the magnificent illustrations of Brian Selznick. I love that this book is based on the true story of Waterhouse Hawkins. I find that books based on true stories are always some of the most interesting. One thing that I particularly liked about this book is that Waterhouse did not give up. He continued on with his passion even after devastating losses.

Although I enjoyed this book, it is not one of my favorites. I do like animals but I do not know a lot about dinosaurs and am not particularly interested in them. I do think, however, that this book would appeal especially to young male readers. A lot of young boys (and girls) love dinosaurs and would enjoy the illustrations as well as the story of Waterhouse Hawkins. I am a fifth grade teacher and a segment of this story is included in our reading series. I enjoyed reading the entire story for the first time and plan to read the full version with my class this year rather than the abridged version in our reading series.

Caldecott versus Newbery

Both the Caldecott and Newbery Awards are awarded each January by the Association for Library Service to Children. This association is a branch of the American Library Assocaition.

The Newbery Medal is named after John Newbery who was a British bookseller during the 18th century. According to the ALA website, the Newbery award is given to the "author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." Each year, one book is declared the winner of the Newbery medal. Other books can be named as Newbery Honor books. The first Newbery Medal was awarded in 1922.

The Caldecott Medal is named after Ralph Caldecott who was an English illustrator during the 19th century. According to the ALA website, the Caldecot award is given to the "artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children." Like the Newbery Award, one book is chosen each year to be the Caldecott Medal Winner, but more books can be chosen to receive Caldecot Honors. The first Caldecott Medal was awarded in 1938.

Neither of these awards is necesarrily "better" than the other. They are both well-recognized and considered a great honor to receive. The main difference between the two is that the Caldecott Medal is limited to picture books while the Newbery can be awarded to short stories as well as novels.

Reference:

http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/literaryrelated.cfm

Dr. Seuss

The Cat in the Hat
As stated in the prompt, there is a certain "tension" present in The Cat in the Hat. The mind wants to give in to the crazy imaginings and flights of fancy that appear on the surface. However, the adult reader can't quite ignore the subtle references to anarchy included in the story. I can't think of a specific contemporary book that includes a similar tension. One book that may be comparable is The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket. This book is somewhat fanciful yet also includes the overshadowing presence of Count Olaf. I think that The Cat in the Hat still appeals to children and will likely continue to appeal to children for many years to come. Although I don't think that kids probably pay much attention to the underlying message about anarchy, I think that they enjoy this book because it is funny, has colorful illustrations, is fun and easy to read, and because of its rhyming pattern.

The Lorax
I think that The Lorax is didactic because it tries to teach the reader a lesson about environmental conservation. Although there are still some didactic books for children being written and published today, they are few and far between. I think this is because writers and publishers are afraid to publish didactic books because they think that children will not like them. Although this may be true, it's important to remember that just because a book teaches a lesson doesn't mean that it has to be boring. The Lorax is the perfect example. It is a fun and wacky story but still manages to teach a valuable lesson.

John Henry by Julius Lester

Lester, J. (1994). John Henry. New York: Dial Books.

In this adaptation of the classic tall tale, Julius Lester brings John Henry to life with sing-song, southern, tall-tale language. One of the reasons that I enjoyed this book is because of the way the author expresses the story and the language that he uses. For example, when describing what the sun saw as it awoke one morning, Julius Lester mentions a "mountain as big as hurt feelings." As a child, I loved to read and write tall-tales. It was fun to think back on those memories as I read this story. Jerry Pinkney does an excellent job of illustrating this book and his pictures perfectly compliment Julius Lester's words.

Julius Lester has written many other books including Sam and the Tigers, The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit, From Slave Ship to Freedom's Road, To Be a Slave, Pharaoh's Daughter: A Novel of Ancient Egypt, and Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue. Many of Lester's books are illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and focus on African American heritage and folk tales.

Charlotte's Web - Book & Feature Film

White, E.B. (1952). Charlotte's web. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

I love this book!! It is a timeless classic and a favorite of many because it includes great characters, humor, and a wonderful storyline. My favorite thing about this book is all of the different personalities shown by the animals. I love to look at animals and imagine what they would say if they could talk - E.B. White did an excellent job of giving personalities to the animals in this book.

Charlotte's Web has been released more than once as a cartoon/movie but the most recent release was in 2006. The movie closely follows the book and does not lose any of its bittersweet joy. The actors in this film do an excellent job of portraying the characters and animal voices. I especillay love Dakota Fanning as Fern and the voice of Julia Roberts for Charlotte. I think that anyone who has read and loved Charlotte's Web will not be disappointed in this latest release of the movie. This book/movie has so many lessons for us to learn about the friends we make and the friends we lose during our life journey, and that is what makes it a classic.

Because of Winn-Dixie - Book & Feature Film

DiCamillo, K. (2000). Because of Winn-Dixie. New York: Scholastic, Inc.

Who couldn't love Because of Winn-Dixie? It is a inspiring and somewhat bittersweet story of a girl who finds more companionship with a mutt she found at the Winn-Dixie store than she's ever been able to find with her family. One of the things that I enjoyed most about this book is all of the intriguing characters that Opal and Winn-Dixie meet as they explore the town. The story appeals to boys and girls of all ages so it's easy to see why this book was made into a feature film.

Because of Winn-Dixie, the movie, was released in 2005. It has quickly become a family classic. Although the movie strays somewhat from the book, it is still excellent. The cast does a great job of bringing to life the characters from the book. When reading a book, I always form mental images of the characters in my mind. Often, when movies are made based on books that I have read, I find that the characters in the movie don't exactly match with the mental images that I've created. However, in Because of Winn-Dixie, I was happy to find that the most of the characters in the movie matched what I had in mind and what was protrayed in the book.

Holes - Book & Feature Film

Sachar, L. (1998). Holes. New York: Frances Foster Books.

Holes is a wonderful book with a twist of dark humor. Thanks to the storyline created by the author, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The main character, Stanley, is an unusual character that can demonstrate to readers the importance of staying strong in tough situations. In a world of literature that lacks strong characters and strories that appeal to boys, Holes helps to fill in the gap.
Holes was released by Walt Disney Pictures as a feature film in 2003. It was a huge success and an excellent movie. Although I generally find that book-based movies are far less interesting than the book, Holes happens to be an exception. The movie follows the book very closely and does not leave the viewer dissapointed and wondering why various parts of the story were not included. Louis Sachar not only authored the book but also wrote the screenplay for the movie. I would recommend both this book and movie to anyone who likes adventure, mystery, and humor.

Child of the Owl by Laurence Yep

Yep, L. (1990). Child of the owl. New York: Harper Collins.

Child of the Owl is the story of a young Chinese American girl named Casey. While her gambling father is recovering from injuries, Casey goes to live in Chinatown with her Grandmother, Paw Paw. Until this time, Casey has never really thought of herself as Chinese. While living with PawPaw, Casey not only learns about her Chinese heritage, she learns about her own self and her deep strength. The thing that I enjoyed most about this book is the way that Casey and her grandmother interact and learn from each other. In my opinion, an opportunity to know a grandparent is a blessing that many people take for granted. In many cases, grandparents are a valuable key to our own personal histories and the source of much wisdom and strength. Like Casey, I have learned a lot about myself just by listening to stories that my grandparents have told and, through their stories, have a better understanding of where I come from. This understanding of my past and ancestors helps to give me more confidence in the direction I should go in the future. I think that Casey experiences these same feelings in Child of the Owl.

Laurence Yep is the author of many other books for young readers including Dragonwings, Dragon's Gate, Cockroach Cooties, Hiroshima, and The Magic Paintbrush. Yep has also written non-fiction works such as The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. Yep also writes American Girl books about the character Mia.

Surviving the Applewhites - Newbery Honor Book

Tolan, S. S. (2002). Surviving the Applewhites. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

Surviving the Applewhites is a comical story jam-packed with interesting and unusual characters. Although I found the book to be somewhat forgettable, it was an enjoyable read. In my opinion, the quirky characters are what "make" the book. E.D. alone is fabulous - she is spunky and independent - a great role model for young female readers. Jake Semple, on the other hand is determined to be "bad". It is interesting to see Jake change throughout the story and notice his talents as they slowly begin to surface. One reason that I found this book so entertaining is because of the home-school setting. I was homeschooled from the 1st grade through 8th grade. I always find it interesting to see how books/movies portray homeschooling and compare those portrayals with my own experiences.
If I were to compare Surviving the Applewhites and Al Capone Does My Shirts (the other Newbery Honor book included in this blog) I would first note that both books have several extraordinarily strong characters. I would also note that both books include humor and would likely hold equal appeal for both male and female readers.

Al Capone Does My Shirts - Newbery Honor Book

Choldenko, G. (2006). Al Capone does my shirts. New York: Penguin Young Readers Group.

Al Capone Does My Shirts is the story of Moose and his family's life on Alcatraz Island. Moose's younger sister, Natalie, is mentally handicapped and when Moose's mom takes a job as a piano teacher, Moose finds himselfe in charge of Natalie. I loved this book because of the characters and their interactions with each other. The reader can't help falling in love with Moose and the way he handles the adult-like responsibilites that he faces as a child. It is equally impossible not to notice the love and protection that Moose offers Natalie. I think that this is the thing that I will remember most about this book - Natalie responds best to Moose because, even though she is different than most other children, he treats her like a normal sister. One thing that may have influenced my reaction to this book is the fact that I have an older brother who somewhat reminds me of Moose. As a child, I would often tag along behind my brother, just as Natalie does with Moose. Although I could tell that my brother was not always thrilled to have me around, he always took care of me and made sure that I was okay.

One thing that I learned about children's literature while reading this book is that it's okay for children's literature to be a bit unconventional. In this book, Choldenko has included very blunt, and sometimes even crude language - but that's okay because it's REAL. Also, the author has included things that suggest innappropriate sexual notions between the inmates and Natalie. Although some may consider this to be too much to include in children's literature, the fact is that it is reality and children do not always need to be totally shelterd from reality.

Bud, Not Buddy - Coretta Scott King Award

Curtis, C. P. (1999). Bud, not buddy. New York: Scholastic, Inc.

Bud, Not Buddy is a heartwarming story of a young orphan boy trying to make his own way during the Great Depression. In this story, Bud is looking for the man whom he thinks is his father. Along his journey he meets many interesting characters and experiences many new things. Through it all Bud manages to take charge of his destiny while also clinging to his past. One of the things that I liked most about this book is Bud Caldwell's Rule and Things to Have a Funner Life and Make a Better Liar Out of Yourself. Bud references several of these comical rules as he meets new people and makes choices along his way. One particular reason that I enjoyed this book is that I appreciate historical fiction. My two favorite historical settings for literature are the Civil War and the Great Depression.

This book reminds me a bit of The Several Lives of Orphan Jack by Sarah Ellis. Both books are about young orphan boys who find that they are on their own in the world. Both Jack and Bud are forced to rely on their own plans and ideas in order to make it.

The Patchwork Quilt, Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Flournoy, V. (1985). The patchwork quilt. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

The Patchwork Quilt is a beautiful story of a young girl and her effort to help her grandmother make a quilt. This book received a Coretta Scott King award is beautifully illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. The thing that I most enjoyed about this book was the way that Tanya's grandmother included in her quilt a scrap of clothing from each member of the family. This makes it easy for the reader to see that Grandmother is a person who understands the value of family. I have a quilt that my mother made and gave me for my 16th birthday. Included in the quilt are scraps of cloth from clothes that I wore as a child and from clothes that my mom, dad, and brother wore. The Patchwork Quilt reminds me a book written by Jeff Brumbeau titled The Quiltmaker's Gift. Both of these books tell stories about a quilt and help the reader understand that quilts can be used as paths to friendship, learning, and memories.

The illustrator of this book, Jerry Pinkney, is a well-known and very talented artist. Some other books that he has illustrated include Song of the Trees, Riki-Tiki-Tavi, Home Place, and Sarney: A Life Remembered. Pinkney illustrates many African American cultural stories as well as folk-tales such as John Henry, The Ugly Duckling, and The Little Match Girl.