DIAMOND WILLOW

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Frost, Helen. 2008. DIAMOND WILLOW. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0-374-31776-8

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Helen Frost tells the story of Willow, a young teenage girl that feels unconnected to her community and desires more closeness to people in her community and her grandparents. Willow has a deep connection to one sled dog and during a rough wild adventure; there is a terrible accident that changes their lives forever. Willow struggles through the whole book and is oblivious to the ancestors that surround her in the form of wild animals. These animals help willow through her journey and when her journey is over she has a new appreciation for her past and a new knowledge of her family.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Frost uses a unique jewel pattern on each page to help illustrate the overall message that knowledge grows through time and being cultured, just like precious jewels. This unique styling also lends itself to another technique used by Frost. This secondary technique is the use of bold words to convey a deep inner thought of the character or theme of the page.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Frost casts a subtle spell through innovative storytelling. Her poems offer pensive imagery and glimpses of character, and strong emotion.”

BOOKLIST review: “Frost, who spent years teaching in Alaska, blends the young teen’s viewpoint with a strong sense of place and culture.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*This book is great for young readers who enjoy books of personal discovery and growth.

*Other engaging books of concrete poetry for middle graders:

Smith, Hope Anita. KEEPING THE NIGHT WATCH. ISBN 978-0805072020

Herlong, M.H. THE GREAT WIDE SEA. ISBN 978-0-670-06330-7 

HERE IN HARLEM

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Myers, Walter Dean. 2004. HERE IN HARLEM. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0-8234-1853-7

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Walter Dean Myers has combined many poems written in different styles and rhythms to portray the many different types of personalities from his home town of Harlem. These poems connect to form a foundation and concrete vision of what it is like in Harlem during this time period he tells a story through verse and passionate portrayals. Myers’ style is based off of a book by Edgar Lee Masters entitled SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGIES in which Masters’ also shares the stories of different individuals to create a single work.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

From the cover on the book to the thick heavy pages, Myers creates a physical appearance with his work that is reminiscent of a photo album or scrap book. There are photographs of different periods and generations that show the passing of time and create a sense of community members being present with you as you explore the world that is Harlem.

In these poems the different characters speak out about their experiences, memories, feelings, and dreams with passion and soul. Each poem reflects the personality of the teller and builds up their character in dramatic and moving ways. From the chorus of the Party Girl “Oh, swing that swing, Sing the song you need to sing” to Clara Brown’s Testimony “I told him not to worry. Harlem has been worse off, and it’s been better.” These portrayals build and collide to leave you breathless at the end.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “The rich and exciting text will give readers a flavor of the multiplicity of times and peoples of Harlem, and the more than 50 voices will stay with them”

BOOKLIST review: “Some of the individual poems are exceptionally strong and memorable. Collectively, they offer a colorful and warmly personal portrayal of Harlem.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*Using a poem book such as this in a literature class would be a way to introduce young adult readers to a different style of poetry that expresses the essence of a life lived.

*Other engaging books of similar style:

Masters, Edgar Lee. SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGIES. ISBN 978-0-14-310515-2

Myers, Walter Dean. HARLEM. ISBN 978-0590543408

WORLD OF WONDERS

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lewis, J. Patrick. 2002. A WORLD OF WONDERS. Ill. by Alison Jay. New York: Dial Books. ISBN: 0-8037-2579-5

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In this charming book of poetry, J. Lewis has created a unique, flowing, and clever collection of poems that introduce and describe many wonderful geographical locations, events, and phenomenon such as the aurora borealis. These short poems take the reader on an adventure around the world through rhythmic discovery and beautiful illustrations. This book is a unique way of introducing young people to some of the wonders of the world.

 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The illustrations used by Alison Jay throughout this book are eye catching and give the impression of the reader being there in person with a bird’s eye view. At the very beginning of the book there are two kids seen flying over the earth on a giant flying book as if they are in a fairytale with a magic carpet.

Each poem is about traveling and discovering different wonders from around the world and also introduces great explorers and their world changing discoveries. In “On Top of the World” Lewis creatively describes the journey of the first men to climb Mount Everest. Lewis uses facts about the location to play into his poems, “Five miles from earth, they set up camp. A vicious wind tore at their tent.” These details are so helpful to young readers who have never visited these sites.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Ranging from free verse to rhymes and riddles, the 26 witty selections muse about the exploits of explorers, play with geographical words and concepts, and extol the wonders of disparate locals.”

THE HORN BOOK MAGAZINE review: “Allison Jays illustrations are witty yet understated in color so that they complement rather than compete with the subject.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*Have children pick their favorite topic, place, or person related to geography and have them create their own unique poem about their chosen topic.

*Other books of poetry for young readers:

Cowan, Mark. POEMS FOR THE GEOGRAPHY CLASSROOM. ISBN 978-1905637645 

The Girl Who Helped Thunder

1. Bibliography

Bruchac, James, and Bruchac, Josheph.2008. THE GIRL WHO HELPED THUNDER AND OTHER NATIVE AMERICAN FOLKTALES. Ill. by Stefano Vitale. New York: Sterling. ISBN: 978-1-4027-3263-8

2. Plot Summary

THE GIRL WHO HELPED THUNDER is a Native American folktale from the Lenape people and is a story created to teach young girls a lesson about making wise decisions before they jump into marriage. In the story Pretty Face is the most beautiful girl in the village and refuses to marry the men of her village because they are not good enough. After several years of being unmarried, a handsome stranger visits the village and asks Pretty Face to marry him. Pretty Face decides to marry the stranger against her family’s wishes and warnings of caution. The handsome stranger takes Pretty Face to his home in his village in the river. Pretty Face knows that this is a strange place to live and when the stranger reveals himself as the great snake that lives beneath the river she is frightened and cries out to the Thunder Being for help. The Thunder Being appears before Pretty Face and tells her to follow a path and to run as fast as she can back home. As she is running the great snake begins to chase her and eventually they both reach the surface of the water where the Thunder Being is waiting to kill the great snake. After killing the snake, the Thunder Being invites Pretty Face to live with the thunder people in the sky and that is where Pretty Face remains to remind young girls every time they hear thunder to make wise decisions.

3. Critical Analysis

This story is very indicative of how folktales are used to relay morals or important lessons through dramatic happenings with severe consequences. In this particular story Pretty Face is a vain young woman who makes a hasty decision and finds herself in a bad situation. Even with the help of Thunder Being, Pretty Face decides she cannot return to her village because of her shame and instead lives on in the sky with the thunder people to help remind other young girls to make better decisions. The illustrations are colorful and vibrant with an artistic expression that is very common in Native American art.

4. Review Excerpts

LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION: “These well-written, simple stories are short and provide the reader with a variety of examples from Native American culture and history.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Storytellers captured the imaginations of their audiences while teaching lessons about respect and personal responsibility”

5. Connections

This story and the others in this book are great for teacher students about the Native American culture and how their culture views the earth and social interactions.

Erdoes,Richard. AMERICAN INDIAN MYTHS AND LEGENDS (PANTHEON FAIRY TALE & FOLKLORE LIBRARY) ISBN: 0-394-74018-1

Hitakonanulaxk. THE GRANDFATHERS SPEAK: NATIVE AMERICAN FOLK TALES OF THE LENAPE PEOPLE (INTERNATIONAL FOLK TALES) ISBN: 1-56656-128-0

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!

1. Bibliography

Scieszka, Jon. 1989. THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS!. Ill. by Lane Smith. New York: Viking Penguin. ISBN: 978-0140544510

2. Plot Summary

This version of THE THREE LITTLE PIGS is retold by Jon Scieszka as a first person tale from the viewpoint of A. Wolf (The Big Bad Wolf) and how he has been framed of committing the crimes of eating the first two pigs and trying to eat the third. A. Wolf guides you through his story from the beginning when he was making a cake for his sweet old granny all the way to how he ended up in jail being framed by the media as a really bad guy.

3. Critical Analysis

Jon Scieszka does a great job of writing as the wolf and speaking out as the innocent neighbor just seeking out a cup of sugar and getting caught in some bizarre situations and misunderstandings. The writing is straight forward, but there is a hint of embellishment and a sense that the wolf is not telling the whole truth when he “accidentally” kills two of the pigs and instead of calling the police to explain he instead eats the pigs because “It seemed like a shame to leave a perfectly good ham dinner lying there in the straw.” The illustrations are cartoonish and in darker shades of color to give the feel of a memory being experienced firsthand.

4. Review Excerpts

NEW YORK TIMES: “It is a kind of revisionist history in that it is told by one Alexander T. Wolf”

5. Connections

The story of THE THREE LITTLE PIGS is one that spans ages and this version would be great to read out loud and use to help young readers identify a writing style that may be new to them.

Shaskan, Trishia Speed. HONESTLY, RED RIDING HOOD WAS ROTTEN! THE STORY OF LITTLE RED RIDNG HOOD AS TOLD BY THE WOLF.  

Trivizas, Eugene. THE THREE LITTLE WOLVES AND THE BIG BAD PIG.   ISBN: 0-689-81528-X

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

1. Bibliography

Taback, Simms, Trans. 1997. THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY. Ill. by Simms Taback. New York: Penguin Books USA Inc.    ISBN:  978-0670869398

2. Plot Summary

This wonderful folk poem originated in America with different versions from a handful of states. The original author is unknown and Taback has taken hold of this story and put a true touch and brand on it. THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY is a story about an old woman who at first swallows a fly and continues to eat other animals to get the fly. The old lady grows and grows as the pages are turned and the cutouts in the middle of the pages slowly reveal all the animals that have been swallowed. No one knows why she eats the fly, but the old lady keeps on eating animals until she finally swallows a horse and dies!

3. Critical Analysis

This singsong poem has a wonderfully repetitive rhythm that gives the story in a linear pattern traveling from one animal being swallowed to the next. An example of this is after the old lady swallows a bird the phrase goes “There was an old lady who swallowed a bird. How absurd, to swallow a bird! She swallowed the bird to catch the spider.” This method is repeated with each additional animal. Taback also adds comments from the other animals about what she just swallowed. When the old lady first swallows the fly, the cat, dog, bird, and cow all pitch in saying “But it’s only a fly.” “She gulped it out of the sky.” And there is even a bit of foreshadowing here because written in the background in giant letters it says “Perhaps she’ll die.” There are colorful and funny illustrations throughout the book and even with the demise of the main character these illustrations give a light heartedness to the story and make the death of the main character comical.

4. Review Excerpts

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “All in all, this illustrator provides an eye catching, energy filled, interpretation that could easily become a classic in itself.”

BOOKLIST: “The funky art and the terrific humor are a winning combination.”

5. Connections

This story can be enjoyed without the book and is a poem that can be remembered and shared orally on the playground or around the home.

Childs Play International, THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY. ISBN: 978-1904550624

Colandro, Lucille. THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED SOME SNOW. ISBN: 978-0439567039

Arnold, Tedd. THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED FLY GUY. ISBN: 978-0439639064