The Talking Eggs

The Talking Eggs retold by Robert D. San Souci tells the story of a mean mother and two daughters, Rose; mean and spiteful like her mother and Blanche; kind and thoughtful. The mother and Rose mistreat Blanche. One day Blanche runs to the woods for solace and meets an old lady. The old lady treats the girl with kindness and rewards her behavior with riches. Upon Blanche’s return home, Rose and her mother want the same riches that Blanche has. Rose is sent into the woods to find the old lady, but does not treat the old lady kindly and is rewarded accordingly.

This folktale from the south offers fairy tale elements. The plot is fast paced and the setting timeless. The conclusion immediately follows the plot climax. The universal theme of rewarding good and punishing bad is conveyed in this book. This book was honored as an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book, a Randolph Caldecott Honor Book, and Colorado and Delaware State Awards. The engaging illustrations provide story detail and capture the readers’ imagination. I love the expressive illustrations in this book. They tell the story with memorable detail. The characters and setting of this book could be changed and the story would still be meaningful.

I would recommend this book to students in grades K –4. This would make a great read aloud book.

Keywords: imagination, poverty, spirit, promise, honor, wicked

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble is the story of a girl who loved horses. She tends to them and understands them. She spends her days with them as they graze in the meadow. One day a storm comes and frightens the horses. As the horses begin to flee the storm, she mounts one. She cannot get the horses under control and they gallop until they are lost. The next morning a wild stallion welcomes the girl and her horses to his range. Eventually she is found and returned to her people. Upon returning to her people she becomes ill and her family realizes her heart is truly with the horses she loves so much.

The theme of this story is a girl loving horses. This story could be about any girl anywhere, not just a Native American. The story crosses all cultural lines. All the actions in this book are presented in a positive fashion. The fine detailing of the pen and ink and watercolor illustrations tell the story visually. This book was a Randolph Caldecott Award winner, an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book, and a Notable Children’s Trade Book in the National Council for the Social Studies. I’m an old girl who loves horses so I found the story as enchanting as the first time I read the book.

I recommend this book to students in grades 2-4.

Keywords: wild horses, Indians, weather, freedom, love

Tornadoes

Tornadoes by Seymour Simon describes how tornadoes develop, where and when they are likely to strike, the destruction, measurement tools, and safety precautions needed to survive them. It also covers the scientist that study them and the best protection from tornadoes.

This is the latest in Seymour Simon’s series about natural disasters. This topic is riveting to many young readers and this book enables students to not only read relevant facts about tornadoes but also view captivating full-color photos of them and the destruction they leave behind. Tornadoes was a National Science Teachers Association winner in 1999. This is a fascinating and factual book about nature at its worst. I enjoyed the pictures, it was like watching The Weather Channel.

I would recommend this book for students in grades 3-7 for independent reading. Younger children will love the photos alone.

Keywords: tornadoes, supercell, Doppler radar, Fujita-Pearson Tornado Intensity Scale, meteorologists, destruction

Cowboys of the Wild West

“I want to be a cowboy!” Cowboys of the Wild West by Russell Freedman tells how it really was to be a cowboy long ago. The book explores the life of cowboys. Apparel, tack, open range roundups, trail life, ranch life, and old-time cowboys are the topics covered. Hard work, danger, and loneliness were all part of a cowboy’s daily life. Interesting tidbits are interspersed with other more common information about cowboys. Excerpts from old-time cowboys are used throughout the book.

Whether handling contrary cattle, bronco busting, surviving the extreme weather, or coping with loneliness the author reveals the reality of a cowboy’s life through interesting text and fascinating black and white pictures. The pictures and drawings enhance the credibility of the text. The life of the cowboy is told truthfully with both good and bad aspects included. The skill needed to be a top hand is offered along with the dangers those skills brought to the cowboy. The adventure of the open range and trail drive is exciting to read. The author also shares the hazards faced daily on the trail drives continuing to bring the topic alive. The book is easy to read and when finished the reader has a whole hatful of knowledge. The American Library Association Notable Children’s Book, National Council for the Social Studies, and School Library Journal Best Books honored Cowboys of the Wild West in 1985. I grew up on ranch and this book thoroughly captivated my attention. I especially liked the photos.

I recommend this book to students in grades 3-8.


Keywords: cowboys, vaqueros, longhorns, independent, skill, risk, respect, freedom

MEET DANITRA BROWN

This is my best friend and I love her is the theme of Meet Danitra Brown by Nikki Grimes. Zuri Jackson is proud of her friendship with Danitra Brown and wants everyone to know her. A collection of thirteen independent poems conveying different aspects of their life are shared by Zuri with exuberance. Poems about teasing, personal quirks-Danitra’s, playing, family, betrayal- (Zuri tells Danitra’s secret), dreams and hopes tell about not just Zuri’s and Danitra’s friendship, but good friendship in general.

The theme of this book is the sharing of friendship. The first poem sets the tone for the rest of the poems. Zuri introduces Danitra as the most “splendiferous girl.” What makes Danitra wonderful is that she is Zuri’s friend. This is a total feel good book. It is about friendship, given, taken, appreciated, and wallowed in as only young girls can. The illustrations enhance and support the feelings shared in the poems. The girls are the featured in the illustrations. The double page spreads offer a backdrop of inner city grimness to these poems creating a contrast between everyday realities and the optimism of youth.

I would recommend this book for students in grades 2-4.

Keywords: friendship, optimism, reality, dreams, inner city

LOVE THAT DOG

LOVE THAT DOG, a novel by Sharon Creech is story about a boy’s (Jack) reluctance to participate in poetry writing activities at school and his love for his dog. The boy resists and the teacher, Miss Stretchberry, gently insists, repeatedly. By continually sharing poetry with the class and allowing Jack to respond with his true feelings in his journal Miss Stretchberry eventually gets Jack to writing poetry, anonymously. Jack’s writing growth is shown in the length and content of his poems. One poem in particular inspires Jack and he models a poem about his dog after it. The story culminates with a school visit from Jack’s favorite poet and Jack’s thank you.

“I don’t want to” A bald statement that says exactly what Jack feels. On the first page of his journal Jack leaves no doubt this is not something he is going to willingly participate in. The author has grabbed the reader with a negative statement. The author uses free verse to tell the story of Jack’s reluctance to poetry writing to his growing confidence in his abilities and appreciation of poetry. The format is a student’s journal entries. This allows the date to show the time line. Use of blue ink reinforces the boy’s perspective. Italics, font type, and size are used to highlight Jack’s responses in his journal. Short entries convey the caring of the teacher and Jack’s hesitant (at the beginning) efforts. The author makes you feel Jack’s love for his dog and the pain he feels from his death. At the same time she allows you to share Jack’s growing excitement about poetry. The author includes the actual poems alluded to throughout the story at the end of the book.

I would recommend this book for students in grades 3-7.

Keywords: poetry, reluctance, acceptance, persistence, love, grief

A suitcase of seaweed and other poems

A suitcase of seaweed and other poems by Janet S. Wong is a collection of poems reflecting on the author’s life as an American of Korean and Chinese heritage. The poems illustrate the effect differing cultures have on a young person while growing up in yet another culture. The poems are divided into Korean, Chinese, and American sections. The author’s mother is Korean and her father is Chinese. At the beginning of each section the author tells a little about her parents. She talks about herself in the American section. Food is the basis for most of the poems in the Korean and Chinese sections. The American section mainly reflects on family life in America with Korean and Chinese influences.

The author uses free verse to create a collection of poems that allow reflection on multi-cultural family life. The author divides the book into three sections to maintain focus on one culture at a time. The poems are simple, short and concise, telling about life in that culture. The American part expresses how the author combines the two cultures that are her parents into her American culture. Illustrations are only at the beginning of the sections allowing the reader to create his own visual interpretation of the poems. This book leaves a sense of strength with the reader.

I would recommend this book for students in grades 3-7.

Keywords: culture, customs, Korean, Chinese, heritage