Swamp Angel Book Review

Bibliography:

Isaacs, Anne, Paul O. Zelinsky, and Sarah Reynolds. Swamp Angel. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 1994.

Plot:

In the year 1815, a special girl named Angelica Longrider was born in the land of Tennessee.

Angelica is a larger-than-life girl who stops a flood with her apron, pulls clouds down from the sky, and frees wagons from Dejection Swamp. Thereafter named “Swamp Angel”, her biggest challenge awaits her one summer when a huge bear, Thundering Tarnation, devours all the settler's food and wreaks havoc in the land. Determined to hunt and kill the vicious beast, Swamp Angel embarks on a wrestling match through land, water, and even the night sky to save the settlers.

Critical Analysis:

Swamp Angel is a story with a lovable character who is both believable and unbelievable at the same time. Readers will invest in Angelica’s good hearted nature, and Thundering Tarnation’s wily villain behavior. The wrestling match is carefully written to give the readers the apprehension and excitement of who will be victorious; nothing is given away to the end. Traveling through the storyline are pieces of folklore and placemarks, such as the Great Smoky Mountains and Shortgrass Prairie. Readers will be pleased as punch to listen to the language of the story, including phrases such as “varmint”, “spring up like sunflowers” and “wondrous heap of trouble”. The book is a terrific read-aloud, as traditional literature should be.

Perhaps most intriguing and delightful about the book are the illustrations. Zelinsky outdoes himself with the vision of both Angelica and Thundering Tarnation. Complimenting the tall tale ideals of the text, the illustrations show the grandeur of the Tenessee frontier and the vastness of the characters. Double paged illustrations are framed in wood, bringing an old time feel to the pictures, as if the reader is paging through a picture album. Angel’s jovial determinism and Tarnation’s gruffness are expressions that grow with each page, making the reader cheer for Angelica and wish the best for her outcome.

Personal Response:

Laughing my way through this rip-roaring tale, I found myself marveling over the exaggeration and enjoying the beautiful illustrations. Swamp Angel is a tall tale with heart; the main character is seen constantly helping others with her unique gift. Throughout the story, her parents are seen in the illustrations, perhaps to help encourage her in her endeavors. Thundering Tarnation is a villian who fits with the setting, and is buoyant in his recovery from Angel's various moves against him. The language is endearing and helped pull me into the story and the time and place of the tale.

Excerpts of reviews:

“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.”

Booklist

“The pictures and words cavort across the page in perfect synchronization, revealing the heroine's feisty solution. Buy for a great guffaw in small groups or one-on-one. It's an American classic in the making.”

School Library Journal

“It is Ms. Isaacs's dry, tongue-in-cheek style, moving us from possibility to impossibility, matched by the stunning primitive and burlesque-style oil paintings done on wood veneers by Paul O. Zelinsky, that makes this book one of the most intriguing and hilarious tall tales to be published in recent years...”

New York Times

Connections:

-Look up the geographical regions and areas mentioned in the book. Have children research the areas and create powerpoint presentations.

-Share other stories of tall tale characters who were huge. Such as:

Dona Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart by Pat Mora

Paul Bunyan by Steven Kellogg

-Make connections with real life people who had tales of bear hunting, such as Theodore Roosevelt or Davy Crockett. Suggested literature includes:

Theodore Roosevelt : Bear of a President by Nathan Olson

American Tall Tales by Mary Pope Osborne

-Read other stories by Anne Isaacs, such as:

Dust Devil

Treehouse Tales

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

The Three Little Javelinas Book Review

Bibliography:

Lowell, Susan, and Jim Harris. The Three Little Javelinas. Flagstaff, Ariz.: Northland Pub., 1992.

Plot:

Three little javalinas start off to seek their fortune. Along the way, they create three different houses made out of tumbleweeds, saguaro ribs, and adobe bricks. When a hungry coyote finds the first little javelina, he begins a series of blowing down houses and scampering javelina’s to the next siblings home. When all three javelinas end up at the sister’s “solid little adobe house”, the coyote will take one more attempt at eating the feast. Ending with an outsmarted coyote, the reader will also find the secret to the coyote’s yowl.

Critical analysis:

Lowell pulls the traditional tale of the three little pigs to a delightful southwestern theme. The magical coyote ties the plot together in a way that compliments the original tale and corresponds to traditional Coyote fables told by southwestern Indians. The three Javelina’s are each unique in their actions, but lack additional characterization that sets them apart. Lowell does not apply customary character traits such as laziness or wisdom and a hard working attitude, but the reader will still become enchanted with the Javelina’s through the variant. The book as a whole applies the traditional literature characteristics of outwitting the villain, the happy ending, and the ability to use the story in any time or place. Readers will be held in suspense as each javelina runs away from the coyote, and wonder at what magic the coyote will enact at the conclusion. Lowell's inclusion of cultural languages and customs will hold readers attention and involve them in the setting. A fantastic re-telling of this familiar tale occurs through The Three Little Javelina’s, a version worth sharing.

The illustrations in the story are part of the appeal to read and share the book out loud. Illustrator Jim Harris created detailed and vivid pictures, where the reader will see the hairy javelina’s in all their facial expressions. Each illustration engages readers with details from page to page, such as the mouse following the main characters through the story. Each page also invokes the sensations of the southwest through imaging the sweat, wind, and light through the pictures.

Personal Response:

This version of the classic Three Little Pigs tale is charming in its presentation and interesting in its perspective. I enjoyed the references to various Southwestern animals, nature, and language throughout the story. The vivid illustrations not only set the scene for the story, but enhance the new version in ways that stay true to the familiar tale.

Excerpts of reviews:

“This clever and flavorful change of scene puts a diverting spin on an old favorite. Harris's lively, finely detailed illustrations, with the bristling, pink-nosed peccaries clad in cowboy outfits, amusingly contrast the villain's vigorous wiles with the title characters' cozy domesticity. Sprightly fun.”

Publishers Weekly

“The text is fast-paced and witty in both languages, and is accompanied by energetic, full-page illustrations done in rich earthy tones that evoke the setting as faithfully as the text. Whether read aloud or in amused solitude, this is a picture book that will be enjoyed again and again.”

School Library Journal

Connections:

-Read the book in both Spanish and English and have children collect a list of words they want to learn from either version in the opposite language.

-Research the three different cultures mentioned in the book and have children create presentations on them and compare various aspects of each culture.

-Discuss the use of traditional literature techniques of writing used in the book, specifically linking coyotes howl with the stove pipe experience. Have children think of an animal characteristic and write the story of why the animal does that behavior.

-Read other books set in the Southwest, such as:

Cinderella in the Southwest: Bubba the Cowboy Prince: A Fractured Texas Tale by Helen Ketteman

The Tortoise & the Hare by Jerry Pinkney

How Jackrabbit Got His Very Long Ears by Heather Irbinskas

-Read other books by Susan Lowell, such as:

Little Red Cowboy Hat

Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella

Dusty Locks and The Three Bears

The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit

The Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol

The Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol Book Review

Bibliography
Kimmel, Eric A., and Trina Schart Hyman. The Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol. New York: Holiday House, 1995. Print.

Plot

A collection of ten stories tells the tales of Hershel of Ostropol, a light hearted, witty and slightly off-kilter Yiddish man. Hershel lives poorly, with his wife and children, interacting with the other poor people of the town as well as Rabbi and Uncle Zalman. In each story, Hershel is presented a problem (usually something to do with money) and solves it using his wit for the betterment of the poor and often to the detraction of the rich. Many of the stories share a laugh-inciting twist at the conclusion.

Critical Analysis: Eric Kimmel writes with a fast-paced style that begs to be read aloud with animation. From the very first story, where all capital letters signify yelling and the reader can feel the uncertainty facing the innkeepers, Kimmel engages the reader with the character of Hershel of Ostropol. Readers will gleefully follow Hershel's antics throughout the stories' plot, which becomes predictable at times. The symbiosis between the city of Ostropol and characters creates a world that is relatable even in a different time and place. True to the genre, this makes the stories timeless, allowing for them to be told, read, and embellished throughout future time as they were in the past. The appeal of these stories lies in their quick wit and familiar character, and readers will find themselves laughing over Hershel's humorous escapades. Kimmel lists Hershel of Ostropol's sayings, linking the folktale to a real person, struggles and mischievousness included.

Before each story begins, the illustrator Hyman has placed an intriguing pencil drawing of a key part of the action. Rather than giving the story away, these draw the reader into the story and provide motivation to find out what happens based on the action in the illustration. The large type of the book makes it more accessible to younger readers who would find smaller font intimidating without more pictures.

Personal Response

These stories are good for a quick laugh, but reading all of them at once left me searching for some more substantial reading. Kimmel includes a few of the phrases and ideologies of Hershel in his stories, but many of the plot lines are the same train of thought. This train is not ideal; focused on money and trickery, impressionable children may learn that lying is a way to get what you want and money is the most important object you can hold. I would suggest this book for older readers who can use discernment in the theme and appreciate the underlying witty humor of the stories.

Excerpts of reviews
“Ten superbly retold Hershel of Ostropol tales, many of which are unavailable in popular collections.” School Library Journal

“Funny and humane, Kimmel's 10 Yiddish folktales about the trickster Hershel are rooted in the shtetl village community of the nineteenth-century Ukraine. Kimmel says that Hershel was a real character, a wandering beggar, who endeared himself to the common folk by making the pompous and arrogant look foolish. The joy and wit of these stories never denies the daily struggle with poverty and homelessness...” Booklist

Connections
-Research aspects of Yiddish culture and livelihood that occur in the stories, such as the Rabbi or the 'burial society'.

-Have children write about a time when they were a trickster or witty.

-Discuss family members with children and have children write or draw a funny story about their family.

-Read other Yiddish traditional literature, such as:

It Could Always Be Worse: A Yiddish Folk Tale by Margot Zemach

A Sack Full of Feathers by Debby Waldman; Cindy Revell, illus.

Shlemazel and the Remarkable Spoon of Pohost by Ann Redisch Stampler; Jacqueline M. Cohen, Illustrator

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed Book Review

Bibliography
Willems, Mo. Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed. Hyperion Books for Children, 2009.

Plot
Wilbur is a naked mole rat who likes clothes. All the other naked mole rats make fun of him and say sarcastic things to him. Wilbur continues to follow his inner taste and opens a store, which causes the other naked mole rats to show him a picture of the oldest naked mole rat, Grandpah. Wilbur still believes that clothes are cooler, so the naked mole rats take the matter to Grandpah himself. Grandpah thought for a long time and decides to make a proclamation. All the naked mole rats gather, and Wilbur decides to go safe and just wear shoes. Grandpah ends up making a big decision, which causes all the naked mole rats to have a great time.

Critical analysis
A lively tale from start to end, readers will enjoy Willem's style as an artist and delightful theme of trying to fit in, and maintain independence at the same time. Wilbur tries to follow the advice of his friends, reminding readers of a time when they went along with the flow. But no matter what he does, he is always rejected on the basis of majority rule. Readers will have no trouble identifying with either the main protagonist or his antagonistic friends; who hasn't gone along with the flow based on the group's opinion? Willems uses both text and simple drawings to evoke large feelings of belonging, frustration, and longing to fit in. A clean style and color choice of illustration helps enunciate the lack of clothing that all naked mole rats have, and make Wilbur stand out in the crowd. The silly, and satisfying ending will leave readers with a lesson that is subtle and firm. Kindness and appreciation for differences is an enduring aspect of being a good friend.

Personal Response
This book made me laugh out loud and cheer at the end. The style of writing offered questions and then promptly answered them through the narrative. Why does Wilbur want to wear clothes? Why don't the other Naked Mole Rats give it a try? What will Grandpah say? What would Wilbur have chosen to wear to the big reveal? All of these were prompted by the connection to the main character and the hope that eventually, all the naked mole rats will realize that ideas that go against the grain may be good ideas. Equally satisfying at the end was the picture which depicted that not all naked mole rats immediately switched to wearing full outfits, but all were having fun. A hilarious adventure from start to finish.

Excerpts of Reviews 
"Willems eschews a black-and-white encouragement to stand out from the crowd, offering instead a story that makes a case for different opinions to operate side by side."  Kirkus Review

"Straightforward and engaging." Publishers Weekly

"Kids will giggle-and wish their daily dramas had similar endings." School Library Journal

Connections
1.) Investigate mole rats and other mouse animals as part of science.
2.) Have children role play situations where they may be required to accept differences.
3.) Read other books by Mo Willem and see if children can spot similarities in how he writes and illustrates- what is his style? Other books include: Knuffle Bunny, Don't Let The Pidgeon Drive the Bus! and There is a Bird on Your Head!
4.) Use as an intro to a lesson on pros vs. cons and have children create their own list.
5.) Launch a discussion on when to play it safe and follow the crowd, and when to stand out. Have children share their experiences both ways.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Invention of Hugo Cabret Book Review 

Bibliography 
Selznick, B. The invention of Hugo Cabret: A novel in words and pictures. Scholastic Inc., 2007.

Plot 
Hugo Cabret is an orphan and thief who lives in a train station in Paris, France. He has been stealing parts from a toy shop, until one day when he is caught by the owner. This grumpy old man and his goddaughter steal a notebook from Hugo, with sketches of an automaton that Hugo was trying to rebuild. The automaton holds the key for Hugo to understand his father, but the old man and his goddaughter hold the key to finishing it. Hugo has to get the notebook back, finish the automaton, and see what the message is from his father. Along the way, he gains a family, the goddaughter starts to understand her godfather, and someone's imagination is reignited.

Critical Analysis 
Selznick has written an interwoven story full of twists and turns, and unexpected surprises. Alternating between text and beautiful, pencil drawn pictures moves the story rapidly for the reader, and will keep readers engaged. The cohesiveness of the plot lines not only helps the story gain in attraction, but also creates that feeling of wanting to go back and read more for the details that are sure to turn up later in the story. Hugo, Isabelle, and Etienne are developed over a series of interactions which show their character and deepen them personally. Readers will even be rooting for the main character of conflict, Georges Méliès, by the end of the book. Selznick develops his characters with both good and bad evident, and makes the reader realize that all people have capacity for both. At the conclusion, the theme of family and forgiveness truly shines through a climax which accumulates all plot points in the past and present of the characters.

The illustrations of the book accurately capture the setting of 1930's Paris. Although portrayed in black and white, the illustrations serve the book in displaying the theme of dark and light through the shadowy double paged pictures and detailed close ups. Selznick uses the effect of zooming in on an object with each page turn frequently; this heightens anticipation and will leave readers wanting to know why and what is next. The book is beautifully distinguished as partial picture book, partial novel. This will appeal to a wide variety of age levels and may draw reluctant older readers to try deeper stories.

Personal Response 
When I first picked up The Invention of Hugo Cabret in the library, I thought it might take me a few nights to read it. I was incorrect; the book kept me turning pages into the night to reach the end. The story captivated me with its interconnectedness of the characters in the past and as they interacted in the present. The emerging theme of family and healing through forgiveness struck a chord and caused me to keep reading on. Finally, the pictures were stunning in their detail and thoughtfulness. As noted above, the effect of each successive picture zooming in to a new detail of the picture before was delightful. The book has so many details, I felt I should read it again immediately after I'd finished it. For example, in the book there are frequent close ups on shoes, and it is referenced later that the old man has an awful past experience with shoes. The entire book is beautiful, and a type of book that I had not encountered before, being both novel and picture book. I highly recommend this to any reader.

Excerpts of Reviews 
"The hand-off between the written sections of the novel and its illustrated portions always occurs at precisely the right moment, such as the introduction of a new character or at the beginning of a chase scene. Likewise, the text provides welcome opportunities for the reader to catch his breath by offering some distance from the action and allowing Selznick to take the storytelling reins once again."  Christian Science Monitor

"A unique reading experience lies between the covers of Brian Selznick's ingenious The Invention of Hugo Cabret. "This is very different than a graphic novel," says the author. "It's more like a 550-page picture book." Kirkus Reviews

"With characteristic intelligence, exquisite images, and a breathtaking design, Selznick shatters conventions related to the art of bookmaking in this magical mystery set in 1930s Paris." School Library Journal

Connections 
1.) Watch a film by Georges Méliès, or another French movie producer.
2.) Draw scenes from their own imagination, such as Georges Méliès did to create the movies.
3.) Research and find out more of what life was like in Paris, France, during the 1930's. Learn about the history of the time.
4.) Discover more about the concept of time, and read other stories which have time involved. Some of these stories may include: A Child's Calendar by John Updike, How Do You Know What Time It Is? by Robert E. Wells, or Just a Second: A Different Way to Look at Time by Steve Jenkins.
5.) Learn about other famous clocks around the world with books such as:
Clocks by Tony Barrs
The Grand Central Terminal Clock, New York, United States - Peter in Grand Central Station by Leonard W Shortall
Glockenspiel, Munich, Germany  - Gordon and the Glockenspiel by Lee Ryland
Big Ben's Great Clock, London, England -Big Ben : a little known story by Mark Loyd

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble Book Review

Bibliography
Steig, William. Sylvester and the magic pebble. New York: Windmill Books, 1969.

Plot Summary
Sylvester is a donkey who enjoys collecting pebbles. One day he finds a red pebble while it is raining. As he was holding the pebble, he wished it was not raining, and the rain suddenly stopped! Sylvester sets out to home with big dreams about making everyone's desires come true. While he is on his way home a lion comes across his path, making him very frightened. He says the first thing that came to his mind, and turns himself into a rock. He couldn't reach the pebble and turn himself back. His parents missed him, and so much time went by while they searched for him that they eventually gave up. Then the next spring, they were going to try to cheer up with a picnic, and came across Sylvester as a rock. His father put the pebble on him, and something magical happens!

Critical Analysis
The story of Sylvester is one where the little donkey shows that family comes of first importance. From the first moment, the reader is intrigued by the pebble, and the anticipation grows as Sylvester proves the pebble and sets out to make more wishes come true. The reader can feel the nervousness and uncertainty when the lion comes, and even start wishing themselves that Sylvester will turn the lion into a mouse, or make himself home safe as the author suggests. It is here that the story takes an unprecedented turn; Sylvester turns himself into a rock. This moves the plot into the hands of the parents, where love, devotion, and perseverance for their child causes them to search and sorrow. The author writes with such attention to the feelings of the characters that the reader feels similar devastation. As the book moves through the seasons, it is as if a long time is passing, and this pulls against the original feeling of hopelessness. Even at the end of the story, the book retains a sense of anticipation as the family is reunited with joy. The reader of this story will continually be asking, "what happens next?" from the first page to the last.

The illustrations of this book serve to both give additional imagination to the story and demonstrate clearly the plot line. A young child may accurately tell the story using the pictures, and older children or adults will enjoy the simple, clean lines and color. The characters faces are well done and give visual emphasis to their emotions. Steig's colorful portrayal of the setting, especially the landscapes, mold the idea of abandonment and loneliness. At the end, the sun comes out showing the happiness of the family reunited and the peacefulness as they live together again, without the magic pebble.

Personal response
I had not read this book before, or even the author. As I started the book, I thought it would be about all the adventures that Sylvester has with his pebble. However, the more I read the greater my surprise was. The plot line included a bit of waiting, in which the author took time to build anticipation and grow my understanding of the feelings of each character. This was well done, because by the end I was rooting for the family instead of the magical things the pebble could do. I have a feeling that this was exactly what the author wanted to inspire in readers, the feeling that family is most important instead of things.

Excerpts of reviews
"A remarkable atmosphere of childlike innocence pervades the book; beautiful pictures in full, natural color show daily and seasonal changes in the lush countryside and greatly extend the kindly humor and the warm, un-self-conscious tenderness."
reviewed in the June 1969 issue of The Horn Book Magazine

1970 Caldecott Medal Winner: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig (Windmill Books)
ALA Review

Connections:
1.) Use to prompt prediction thinking by asking what happens after the family returns home.
2.) Use to show the difference between cool colors and warm colors in art from the pictures.
3.) Discuss seasons, how they change, and favorite activities to do during the seasons.
4.) Read other books that use seasons to show the passing of time, such as:
     Rabbits Good News by Ruth Lercher Bernstein, How Does the Wind Walk by Nancy White Carlson, or The Hello Goodbye Window by Norton Juster.
5.) Read other books by William Steig, such as: Shrek!, The Amazing Bone, Amos & Boris.