IN OUR MOTHERS' HOUSE by Patricia Polacco

Bibliography
Polacco, Patricia. 2009. In Our Mothers’ House. NY: Philomel Books. ISBN: 9780399250767

Plot Summary
The eldest daughter of Meema and Marmee recounts the good times of her family. Raised by two mothers, three children have a happy and fulfilling childhood. Even one disapproving neighbor cannot come between this family’s love for one another and their community.

Critical Analysis
This story simply chronicles the good times of a family raised by two mothers. It is not preachy. It shows through key events how loving a household with a same sex couple with adopted kids of different ethnicities can be. The illustrations play on the story by showing the characters with huge smiles and lots of hugs to go around. The only conflict is one neighbor who is disapproving of the mothers’ relationship. However, this neighbor is ignored and life goes on.

I wish there was more to this book. I like the idea of a picture book about a family with two mothers raising kids of different ethnicities living in a neighborhood full of people of various cultures. The neighborhood is much like my own. There is a conflict with the one disapproving neighbor, and I feel the book would have more depth if this conflict was explored more in the story. It may even be confusing to children as to why the neighbor is upset because it is not explained why the neighbor is disapproving of the mothers.

The illustrations and text portray that this book is about a lesbian couple raising a multi-ethnic family. Marmee and Meema are portrayed as strong professional women, a pediatrician and paramedic, who make family life a priority. It definitely shows parenting done right, and I think children from non-traditional households will appreciate reading about a non-traditional family presented in such a positive light.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• Rainbow List, 2010; American Library Association 
• Booklist: "The energetic illustrations in pencil and marker, though perhaps not as well-rendered as in some previous works, teem with family activities and neighborhood festivity." 
• Kirkus Reviews: "There is a desperate need for books that present queer families as just another part of the American quilt, but this title, despite its obvious good intentions, doesn't do it." 
• The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books: " . . .this might offer a nice balance to the multitudes of heteronormative picture books, and children in similar situations will certainly appreciate seeing their own experiences reflected in their literature."

Connections

• Other books about homosexuality:

          Brannen, Sarah S. Uncle Bobby's Wedding. ISBN 9780399247125
          González, Rigoberto. Antonio's Card. ISBN 0892392045
          Haan, Linda de, and Stern Nijland. King & King. ISBN 1582460612
          Richardson, Justin, and Peter Parnell. And Tango Makes Three. ISBN 0689878451

• Visit Patricia Polacco’s website at http://patriciapolacco.com.

RULES by Cynthia Lord

Bibliography

Lord, Cynthia. 2006. Rules. NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439443822

Plot Summary

Twelve-year-old Catherine tells about her summer. She has a brother, David, with autism, and this can be inconvenient and embarrassing for her at times. Plus, it is not fair that her parents give him most of the attention and always asks her to babysit. However, a new neighbor next door her own age and an unexpected new friend help Catherine to distinguish the things that truly matter from the trivial.

Critical Analysis

Lord takes on a topic that is hard to find in young adult novels, which is autism. Catherine tells her story and conveys to readers her life living with a younger brother with autism. The strength in this novel is that it brings readers closer to understanding the details involved with having a close relative with autism. Catherine describes many things in detail, such as her brother David’s speech patterns, intense emotions, and the frequent therapy visits involved. Readers also get a sense of the hardships that families with autistic children must face, such as Catherine’s resentfulness of always feeling that she must be responsible for her brother.

What I find lacking in this book is there are so many characters that are not developed fully. Catherine’s parents are naïve and seem unaware of the responsibility it takes to raise an autistic child. It seems work is the most important thing to them. Jason’s mother seems to exist just to take him around in his wheelchair. Kris, the new next-door neighbor who Catherine desperately wants to be friends with, comes across as the cookie-cutter shallow type. I was hoping to get more depth from the characters.

Heim (1994 quoted in Vardell) states that in many children’s books characters with a disability are used to grow another character. This is true in Rules. David and Jason, both characters with disabilities, are used so that Catherine reaches enlightenment at the end. Carroll and Rosenblum (2000 quoted in Vardell) state that the character with the disability should grow instead. However, no one knows if David or Jason benefit from emotional growth by the end of the novel.

Despite these shortcomings, I do like the insider perspective the novel gives on autism. Any child with an autistic sibling could benefit from reading this book. Hopefully, they can relate to Catherine’s love for her brother and the distress certain social situations bring.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• John Newbery Medal, 2007 Honor
• Schneider Family Book Award, 2007
• Booklist: "A heartwarming first novel."
• Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices: "The parent of an autistic child, Cynthia Lord writes with familiarity and empathy for Catherine and her family."
• Kirkus Reviews: "Catherine is an appealing and believable character, acutely self-conscious and torn between her love for her brother and her resentment of his special needs. Middle-grade readers will recognize her longing for acceptance and be intrigued by this exploration of dealing with differences."
• The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: "his is an absorbing tale about valuing people even when it’s difficult, and it may encourage readers to consider the benefits and challenges of their own families and friends."

Connections

• Try reading Touch Blue (ISBN 9780545035316) also by Cynthia Lord.
• Try another good read about autism:

           Baskin, Nora Raleigh. Anything but Typical. ISBN 9781416963783

•  Visit Cynthia Lord’s website at http://cynthialord.com.

Reference

Vardell, Sylvia M. 2012. “Culture 6 Inclusive Lit: Cultural Markers; Awards.” Lecture. Texas Woman’s University. Denton, TX.

DOES MY HEAD LOOK BIG IN THIS? by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Bibliography
Abdel-Fattah, Randa. 2005. Does My Head Look Big in This? New York: Orchard Books. ISBN 0439919479

Plot Summary
Sixteen-year old Amal is a Muslim and has decided to wear the hijab as a symbol of her religious devotion. However, she knows such a decision will prove a challenge due to the existing prejudices and misconceptions that many people hold concerning her religion. If this is not enough stress, she must also face the normal challenges that many high school girls go through, such as boys, studying for exams, and helping her friends through their problems.

Critical Analysis
This book is about Amal’s journey after deciding to wear the hijab. Through this journey one learns about her spunky personality, her cleverness, her culture, her friends, teenage pressures, and the prejudices that exist concerning Muslims and Middle Easterners. Amal faces many challenges that would make any weak person decide to stop wearing the hijab. However, her maturity is in her resolution to continue to wear it despite the opposition she faces. The setting is Melbourne, Australia. Amal attends a prestigious prep school. Her mom is a dentist, and her dad is a doctor. Despite the well-to-do background of Amal and her friends, they face many events that any teenager can relate to, such as crushes, lying to parents in order to attend a party, and bullying, to name a few. Although there are a few moments where Amal has a preachy moment, such as fussing at her friend Adam about not judging people but individuals, readers will find the characters endearing and cheer Amal on to the end (Abdel-Fattah 2005, 147).

The story is filled with cultural richness. Amal identifies her background as Australian-Muslim-Palestinian and is just as specific about her friends’ backgrounds as well. For instance, her friend Leila is half Pakistani and half British. Distinctions and respect for a variety cultures are made throughout the book. Each culture is treated individually and with respect. There is no lumping of cultures here. Celebrations and religious practices are described as well. For example, Amal describes how her family celebrates Ramadan. There is also a nice description of a Syrian and Afghani wedding that Amal attends where she explains how each Middle Eastern culture has its own version of a dance called the dabke (Abdel-Fattah 2005, 283).

I thoroughly enjoyed this book for a variety of reasons. Ramal is a strong female character. I like how different cultures mentioned, even those outside of the Middle Eastern cultures, are treated with respect. Most importantly, I was able to relate to Amal’s struggle to wear the hijab. I had the same struggle about a year ago trying to decide to wear my African American hair curly and natural. Like Amal, I was afraid that doing so would make it difficult for me to get a job or cause people to judge me unfairly. Like Amal, I made the decision to be myself and all of the worries I had are other people’s problem, not my own.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• Best Children's Books of the Year, 2008; Bank Street College of Education
• Booklist Top 10 First Novels for Youth, 2007
• Booklist Top 10 Religious Books for Youth, 2007
• Kirkus Best Young Adult Books, 2007
• Booklist: "More than the usual story of the immigrant teen’s conflict with her traditional parents, the funny, touching contemporary narrative will grab teens everywhere."
• Kirkus Reviews: "Abdel-Fattah's fine first novel offers a world of insight to post-9/11 readers."
• The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books: "But as bad hair days get replaced by bad hijab days, she steadily grows into an increasingly mature and nuanced understanding of what it means to be a Muslim woman, helped by the positive example of her stylish, professional, devout mother and the negative examples of her assimilation-obsessed aunt and her best friend’s tradition-strictured mother."
• VOYA: "This novel is an excellent addition to the multicultural and chick-lit genres, and it is recommended for most collections."

Connections

• Try this other novel by Randa Abdel-Fattah:

          Where the Streets had a Name. ISBN 0545172926

• Other books about Muslims:

          January, Brendan. The Iranian Revolution. ISBN 0822575213
          Kovarik, Chiara Angela. Interviews with Muslim Women of Pakistan. ISBN
          092963649X
          Staples, Suzanne Fisher. Under the Persimmon Tree. ISBN 0374380252

BAMBOO PEOPLE: A NOVEL by Mitali Perkins

Bibliography
Perkins, Mitali. 2010. Bamboo People: A Novel. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.

Plot Summary
Chiko is a Burmese teenager whose father has been taken to prison under suspicion of being a traitor to the government. It is not long after that Chiko is kidnapped by the Burmese government to fight in the army against the native Karenni people. Tu Reh is a Karenni refugee living on the Thailand border. Although the boys are on opposite sides of the fight, their lives converge unexpectedly.

Critical Analysis
Perkins tells a powerful story about the crisis in Burma by providing two sides of a story, that of a Burmese boy forced by corrupt military officials to fight in the army as well as the story of a Karenni boy willfully joining in the fight against the Burmese to resist the government’s taking of their land, homes, and other civil rights. The story is told in two parts, in which the first part develops Chiko’s story and the second is Tu Reh’s. Chiko’s character is developed wonderfully, and it seems as if Tu Reh’s character is not developed as well as Chiko’s although the intention is to make readers sympathetic to both. However, both characters achieve significant emotional growth throughout the novel. Chiko learns the true meaning of friendship by putting his own life in danger in place of another. Tu Reh comes to realize that the enemy is also a human being with family, fears, and kindnesses just like everyone else. These lessons are universal although the setting of a modern war torn Burma with child soldiers is extremely foreign to the average American.

The whole set-up of this story is specific to two Burmese cultures, the Burmese and Karenni people. In an author’s note, the author explains that she lived in Thailand and has first-hand experience with Karenni refugees as well as Burmese teens. Perkins showcases this knowledge in her overall story and also in smaller details throughout the story. For example, characters address each other in accordance to relationship, respect, and age. Chiko’s mother respectfully addresses her next-door neighbor as Ah-Ma, meaning older sister. Foods specific to the Burmese culture are also included in the text. For instance, Chiko’s mother fixes a meal of ngapi (shrimp paste), rice, and curry. However, when researching the culture, I found information explaining that ngapi is actually fish paste in the Burmese culture (Encyclopædia Britannica Online 2012). The shrimp paste is found in Thailand, and curry is a common Thai food as well (Encyclopædia Britannica Online 2012). I wonder how much of the culture is assumed, true, or even researched based on this. The religion seems accurate from what I have been able to find on the culture with mentioning of Buddhists and Christians (Central Intelligence Agency 2012). However, I am an outsider unfamiliar with the culture, and many things in the book may prove true and not easily found in a reference resource.

Despite the possible inaccuracies I have uncovered, I enjoyed this book and its message. I am appalled at the horrors that the people in Burma are currently facing, and my heart goes out to them. I am curious as to how people from within these cultures feel about the book’s cultural authenticity or if the message it sends is more important than anything.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• Asian Pacific American Award for Literature, 2010 and 2011 Honor Book 
• Booklist: "Though occasionally didactic and a bit preachy, this is nevertheless a story that invites discussion of the realities of warfare rooted in long-standing antagonism and unreasoning hatred of 'the other.'" 
• Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices: "Mitali Perkins sheds light on the current political oppression in Burma (Myanmar) in this eye-opening story." 
• Kirkus Reviews: "While Perkins doesn't sugarcoat her subject—coming of age in a brutal, fascistic society—this is a gentle story with a lot of heart, suitable for younger readers than the subject matter might suggest." 
• The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books: "Most problematic, though, is the improbable tidying of loose ends, in which all outcomes are far too rosy for even the most optimistic readers to expect in a war story."

Connections

• The Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook contains information about Burma: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bm.html.
• Try reading this fictional book about Burma as well:

          Smith, Roland. Elephant Run. ISBN 9781423104025

• Other books by Mitali Perkins:

          The Not-So-Star-Spangled Life of Sunita Sen: A Novel. ISBN 0316699438
          Rickshaw Girl. ISBN 9781580893091

References

Central Intelligence Agency. 2012. “The World Factbook: East & Southeast Asia :: Burma.”  Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed November 21. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bm.html.

Encyclopædia Britannica Online. "Myanmar." Accessed November 21. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/400119/Myanmar.

Encyclopædia Britannica Online. "Thailand." Accessed November 21. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/589625/Thailand.

TEA WITH MILK by Allen Say

Bibliography
Say, Allen. 1999. Tea with Milk. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395904951

Plot Summary
A young Japanese American woman has to move to Japan with her parents after graduating from high school. She misses her old home while trying to adjust to the Japanese culture. Independence is found when she takes a job in Osaka.

Critical Analysis
Tea with Milk is the story of the author’s mother, May, and how she came to meet his father, Joseph. It chronicles the adjustment May had to make as a young woman when she had to move from the San Francisco area all the way to Japan, the home of May’s parents. This picture book shows the struggle between being American and of the Japanese culture, and this struggle is depicted clearly in the text as well as illustrations.

The illustrations clearly show May’s unhappy emotions of feeling like a foreigner in her parents’ home country. May is shown as being lonely at her school in Japan or sad when wearing a kimono. The illustrations show just how different American clothes for women are compared to the Japanese way of dressing. Cultural differences are also indicated in the text. May loves milk in her tea, but the Japanese drink plain green tea. Masako is May’s given name and is what her parents and those in Japan call her. She misses being called May, which is what she was always called in America. Lucky for May, she meets Joseph. Like May, Joseph is of Japanese heritage, but Japan is foreign to him as well. His parents are English, and he likes milk and sugar in his tea.

The illustrations and text also show the varying ways of living in Japan. The town where May’s parents return to is very traditional. Women are expected to marry and wear kimonos. The houses have paper windows. However, the city of Osaka is a noisy and bustling city with lots of cars and tall buildings with glass windows. Osaka feels like America to May.

I think this is a sweet story. However, although it is a picture book, it may not interest preschoolers. The meaning of the story may be difficult for them to understand. Elementary students will appreciate the message that one can make a home and find happiness anywhere. At some time and place in all of our lives, we have all experienced the uneasiness of feeling like an outsider. I like how this theme is told with a simple story about the author’s mother and father.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• Best Children's Books of the Year, 2000; Bank Street College of Education
• Notable Children's Books, 2000; ALSC American Library Association
• Smithsonian Magazine's Notable Books for Children, 1999
• Booklist: "Both an 'ugly duckling' romance and a universal story of leaving home, this is a picture book that will have intense appeal for older readers."
• Kirkus Reviews: "In describing how his parents met, Say continues to explore the ways that differing cultures can harmonize . . ."
• The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: "Say has a gift for descriptive prose that effectively communicates the emotional nuances of his family stories; that gift lifts his stories above nostalgia and invites young listeners and readers to an understanding of the passage of time, the impact of distance."

Connections

• Other books by Allen Say:

          The Boy in the Garden. ISBN 9780547214108
          Kamishibai Man. ISBN 9780618479542
          Music for Alice. ISBN 0618311181

• Find out more about Allen Say on the Reading Rockets website: http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/say/.

• Other Japanese fiction books:

          Meehan, Kierin. Hannah's Winter. ISBN 1933605987
          Preus, Margi. Heart of a Samurai: Based on the True Story of Nakahama 
          Manjiro. ISBN 9780810989818
          Uehashi, Nahoko. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit. ISBN 9780545005425

WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON by Grace Lin

Bibliography
Lin, Grace. 2009. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 9780316052603

Plot Summary
Minli and her parents are poor. They live in a village where Fruitless Mountain and the Jade River meet. It is hard to grow anything on the land near the village and so they live a life of hard work with meager reward. In the evenings, Minli loves to hear stories told by her father. Minli becomes inspired to find good fortune for her family from one of her father’s stories about the Old Man of the Moon who can answer any question. Thus, an adventure begins when Minli steals away from home to seek an answer from the Old Man of the Moon on how to bring fortune to her family.

Critical Analysis
Grace Lin explains at the end of her book how the story of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon came about. The text mends together Chinese folktales and fairy-tales which were her inspiration for embracing her culture. Visits to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China gave her the inspiration for many of her illustrations. A little imagination and some embellishments give us a wonderful story filled with love, adventure, and even a lesson learned at the end.

Like any traditional children’s tale, the plot involves a journey. Little Minli goes out alone to seek the Man of the Moon to find out how to bring fortune to her family. She meets many characters on her way including monkeys, a dragon, goldfish, twins, a king, and a goddess. The characters are all simple and easily understood. Yet, they are interesting and aid Minli in some way in finding the Old Man of the Moon. Throughout Minli’s journey, there is always a story to be told that explains a situation or how something came to be. For example, “The Story of Fruitless Mountain” explains why the village and the mountain are so barren. These stories come up throughout the chapters and in the end, one finds that they all connect together seamlessly.

I did a disservice to myself by reading this book on my Kindle. A book trailer from Lin’s website reveals beautifully colored illustrations that I was not able to experience on my black and white Kindle screen! Rich hues of red, blue, green, yellow, and purple bring the simple sketches to life. All characters are in traditional Chinese dress with long, straight black hair pinned up. This, with the rural settings, truly takes readers into a faraway land where anything can happen. It all reveals the beauty and imagination of the Chinese culture.

Although some may argue that the mystical setting and embellishments may take away from the authenticity of the book, the book is a fairy-tale. Until now, I have had no exposure to Chinese fairy-tales, and I find this one to be even more enjoyable than the European tales I grew up with. Unlike European fairy-tales, there is not much about good winning over evil. Lin’s tale focuses on being happy with what you have and the journey to get there. I feel that this focus alone is what makes this book so authentic to the Chinese culture.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• Cybil Award, 2009 Finalist Middle Grade Fantasy & Science Fiction
• John Newbery Medal, 2010 Honor Book
• Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature, 2010 Winner
• Booklist: "With beautiful language, Lin creates a strong, memorable heroine and a mystical land. Stories, drawn from a rich history of Chinese folktales, weave throughout her narrative, deepening the sense of both the characters and the setting and smoothly furthering the plot. Children will embrace this accessible, timeless story about the evil of greed and the joy of gratitude."
• Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices: "Grace Lin deftly inserts a series of tales inspired by traditional Chinese folktales into the larger tapestry of Minli’s extraordinary journey that is full of adventure and trials. Gorgeous book design augments this fast-paced fantasy, including occasional full-page color illustrations, chapter heading decorations, and a typeface treatment that visually distinguishes the folktale segments from the overarching story of Minli’s quest."
• The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books: "While the conclusion is somewhat contrived, readers will enjoy following the feisty heroine as she travels through this lush, mythical world; the episodic structure also lends itself easily to reading aloud, and listeners will be eager to share tales of their own journeys."

Connections

• Grace Lin has a wonderful website at http://www.gracelin.com/. There is background information and activities for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon there. Try some of the book related activities: http://www.gracelin.com/content.php?page=wherethemountainmeetsthemoon&display=activities.
• Other books by Grace Lin:

          The Year of the Dog: A Novel. ISBN 9780316060028
          The Year of the Rat: A Novel. ISBN 031611426X

•  More Chinese Fairy-Tales:

          Bedard, Michael. The Painted Wall and Other Strange Tales. ISBN 0887766528
          Napoli, Donna Jo. Bound. ISBN 0689861753
          Yep, Laurence. Dragon Prince: A Chinese Beauty & the Beast Tale. ISBN
          0060243813

CROSSING BOK CHITTO: A CHOCTAW TALE OF FRIENDSHIP & FREEDOM by Tim Tingle, Ill. by Jeanne Rorex Bridges

Bibliography
Tingle, Tim. 2006. Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship & Freedom. Ill. by Jeanne Rorex Bridges. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press. ISBN 9780938317777

Plot Summary
Martha Tom, a Choctaw girl, disobeys her mother, in a search for blackberries, by crossing the Bok Chitto River over to the side where there are plantations. There, she meets a slave boy, Little Mo, and forms a friendship with him. When Little Mo finds out that his mother is being sold to another plantation, he convinces his family to escape across the Bok Chitto because any slave who crosses that river becomes free by law. Brave Martha Tom and her people devise their own plan to help Little Mo and his family across Bok Chitto.


Critical Analysis
This story is a treat! Never before have I seen two cultures intermixed in a single historical setting with such authenticity. The story occurs among the Choctaws and African American slaves living on opposite sides of the Bok Chitto River in Mississippi. My family has a version of this story. We are from Louisiana and have Choctaw heritage mixed with our African American one, so we think. My mother and her sisters have always told a story about how we have an ancestor who escaped from slavery aided by the Choctaws. I never knew that there were such stories told by the Choctaws. I shared this story with my mother, and we both view it as a gift. We now know that there may be truth in the stories that have been passed down in our family. We value Tingle’s inclusion of a picture of Louisiana Choctaws in his notes at the end of the story. In Tingle’s notes at the end of the book, he chronicles how the idea for the story came about and includes a write-up about today’s Choctaws in Mississippi and Oklahoma.

I would like to discuss cultural authenticity on the part of all races presented in the story, Caucasian, Choctaw, and African American. The shades of various skin tones make it easy to spot the various races in the illustrations. The light brown skin of the Choctaws, the darker brown of the African Americans, and the paleness of the Caucasians cause an immediate connection as to what is being portrayed in the illustrations. However, variance in shades of skin tone would have been nice as well. Each person of a specific race is colored with the same shade although all races have skin tone variances. The clothing is another dominant cultural marker. The slave owners have fine garments that look clean and warm. The Choctaws in their strikingly white wedding ceremony dresses allow the reader to see why the slave owners thought they were seeing angels. The poor and drab clothing of the slaves depict the conditions they must have lived in. Hairstyles and hair textures are nicely done as well. The long dark hair of the Choctaws, the short curly hair of the African Americans, and the proper well-maintained hairstyles of the slave owners are all in accordance with the time period and cultures. These are all visuals, and so the illustrations truly enhance the story.

The emotions and mood the illustrations portray are touching. The close-ups of the father and mother crying when they find out mother will be sold are sorrowful. Martha Tom’s mother looks so caring when Little Mo runs to her for help. As mentioned before, the visual of the Choctaw women in their dresses is striking. With their candles, they do look like angels. Little Mo’s family resembles spirits when they escape, shrouded by fog, right under the watchful eyes of the guards.

This story will appeal to Native Americans as well as African Americans. Very few stories honor two cultures like this one. Thank you, Mr. Tingle, for sharing a story about your people. Tingle states that his culture trusts stories more if they are told amongst each other by word of mouth. My culture trusts things more in written form. By writing this story down and explaining how it came about, Mr. Tingle has probably shown many African Americans that this story they have passed down through word of mouth for so long as well has truth.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• American Indian Youth Literature Award, 2008
• Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007; Bank Street College of Education
• Notable Children's Books, 2007; ALSC American Library Association
• Oklahoma Book Award, 2007
• Booklist: "In a picture book that highlights rarely discussed intersections between Native Americans in the South and African Americans in bondage, a noted Choctaw storyteller and Cherokee artist join forces with stirring results."

Connections

• Other books by Tim Tingle:

          When Turtle Grew Feathers: A Folktale from the Choctaw Nation. ISBN
           0874837774
          Saltypie: A Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light. ISBN 9781933693675

• Other books featuring Native Americans or their stories from North America:

          Bruchac, Joseph. Jim Thorpe's Bright Path. ISBN 9781584301660
          Erdrich, Lise. Bears Make Rock Soup and Other Stories. ISBN 0892391723
          Goble, Paul. Love Flute: Story and Illustrations. ISBN 0027362612
          McDermott, Gerald. Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest. ISBN
          0152207244   

• Other books about escaping from slavery:

          Carbone, Elisa.Night Running: How James Escaped with the Help of his Faithful 
          Dog. ISBN 9780375822476
          Hegamin, Tonya Cherie. Most Loved in all the World. ISBN 0618419039
          McCully, Emily Arnold. The Escape of Oney Judge. ISBN 9780374322250
          Walter, Mildred Pitts. Alec's Primer. ISBN 9780916718206

CODE TALKER: A NOVEL ABOUT THE NAVAJO MARINES OF WORLD WAR TWO by Joseph Bruchac

Bibliography
Bruchac, Joseph. 2005. Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 0803729219

Plot Summary
Ned Begay gets sent to boarding school where he is taught that all things Navajo must be forgotten, especially his language. However, World War II begins, and Ned joins the Marines where his sacred Navajo language is in dire need. He learns that his language is needed to send messages in code throughout the war, and his experiences as a code talker and fighting in the conflict with Japan are revealed.

Critical Analysis
Ned Begay recaps his story as a Navajo code talker in World War II to his grandchildren.  Although the account is fictional, it is a well-researched story that brings to life the racism the Navajos had to face in America at the time and the obstacles they had to overcome. These Marines were heroes, yet their story had to be kept secret for many years after World War II. The account rings true because the reader learns there is good and bad in everyone. Yes, the Navajos were treated badly in their own country. However, not all whites are portrayed as evil just like in real life there are good and bad people. Ned makes many Marine friends, Navajo and non-Navajo, whom he comes to love and respect and vice versa. Also, although America is fighting Japan, one realizes that the Japanese were not an evil people. Many wanted the war to be over. It was a select few who kept the war going which caused many lives to be lost, including a huge number of Japanese. Ned himself has a shocking revelation of realizing how much the Japanese resemble his people. He realizes that they are people just like him as the war progresses, and the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki move him deeply.

Any good work of historical fiction is thoroughly researched, and Bruchac did his research for this novel. An author’s note explains how he had conversations with his own relatives who served in the war. Since Bruchac is not of Navajo heritage, he consulted Navajos on their culture, especially actual Navajo code talkers. Recommendations for further reading about the Navajos, World War II, and code talkers are also given.

I like how Bruchac incorporates the Navajo culture throughout the book. Navajo words are used, and their meanings can be gathered from the surrounding text. When an important code is revealed, it is shown first in Navajo and then in English. Although seeing it written out in Navajo interrupts the flow of reading, I like how it signals that something crucially important to the war effort is being revealed. Bruchac also incorporates Navajo ceremonies that would naturally occur. Ned goes through the Blessingway ceremony before enlisting in the Marines so that he would be kept safe from harm throughout the war. Another element that I love is the respect and love for family within the Navajo culture. Ned enlists in the Marines only after asking his parents for permission. This novel is wonderful and will give any Navajo a sense of pride for the sacrifices their ancestors have made for America.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• Best Children's Books of the Year, 2005; Bank Street College of Education

• Booklist Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth, 2005

• Notable Children's Books, 2006; ALSC American Library Association

• Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2006; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS

• YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2006; American Library Association

• Booklist: "Readers who choose the book for the attraction of Navajo code talking and the heat of battle will come away with more than they ever expected to find."

• Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices: The horrors of discrimination and the harrows of battle are never minced in Bruchac’s honest novel.

• Kirkus Reviews: "With its multicultural themes and well-told WWII history, this will appeal to a wide audience."

• The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: " . . .this is a book about victory, not victimization; the focus is firmly on the resiliency and grace of Native America in the most trying of times."

Connections

• Bruchac offers a bibliography of resources that can help one learn more about the Navajos, World War II, and code talkers. Delve into a couple of these resources.

• Other books by Joseph Bruchac about Native Americans:

          Geronimo. ISBN 0439353602
          Our Stories Remember: American Indian History, Culture, & Values Through 
          Storytelling. ISBN 1555911293

• Other books with different viewpoints on World War II:

          Bass, Karen. Summer of Fire. ISBN 9781550504156
          Ruby, Lois. Shanghai Shadows. ISBN 9780823419609
          Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. ISBN 0375831002

RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Bibliography

Smith, Cynthia Leitich. 2001. Rain is not my Indian Name. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 0688173977

 Plot Summary

Rain loses her best friend, Galen. They have been friends since early childhood, and he is gone at the age of thirteen. The story covers Rain’s journey from the night of her best friend’s death through her recovery of dealing with his death. In addition, Rain must deal with life in general which includes political controversy around a Native American summer camp, growing up without a mother and with a father who works overseas, an older brother dealing with an unexpected pregnancy, and losing the friendship of the only other person besides Galen that she trusts with her secrets.

Critical Analysis

This story is about loss and dealing with death. Rain goes on an emotional journey throughout the story of learning how to live without her best friend. Other issues are explored in addition to loss such as living in a small town prone to gossip, being in love for the first time with your best friend, handling others’ perceptions of a mixed race heritage, being Native American in a town that is majority white, and living in a non-traditional household. Rain deals with all these issues one day at a time, and although full resolution is not achieved at the story’s end, there is the promise that Rain will get through her troubles just fine.

Cultural markers abound in this story. Rain is of mixed race; she is Muscogee Creek-Cherokee and Scots-Irish from her mother and Irish-German-Ojibway from her father. Those who do not know her usually assume that she is white. However, Rain tans fairly quickly. The story is full of insights about Rain’s Native American culture that may make readers curious to learn more. For example, Rain hesitates in buying a dreamcatcher because they are a fad with so many inauthentic ones out there. She groups them with being associated with fakelore. However, when she sees how beautifully handcrafted the one that Dmitri’s mother made is, she changes her mind and purchases it. Another culturally authentic moment that stands out to me is when Rain’s Aunt Georgia is being interviewed by the Flash for the newspaper. The Flash wants to know more about the wild-rice harvest, which is an Ojibway tradition. Aunt Georgia does not feel comfortable talking about another tribe’s traditions to an outsider and so politely tells the Flash to contact a tribal member if he wants more information about it. Rain explains that the harvest may have spiritual importance and this is Aunt Georgia’s way of telling him to not inquire. This moment also makes it apparent how each tribe is distinct with its own traditions and stories.   

As an avid reader of adventure tales, I find this story slow. However, I did find myself curious as to whether Rain would overcome her grief and was able to relate to many of the issues explored throughout the story. In fact, many readers will relate to the issues that Rain faces. I recognize that the goal of the story is not to entertain but to reveal certain aspects of everyday life. I can appreciate that, and I have to admit that this is the first book I have read about Native Americans in a modern context. This fact alone is refreshing!

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• Oklahoma Book Award, 2002 Finalist Children/Young Adult

•  Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers & Storytellers Award, 2001

•  Kirkus Reviews: "Tender, funny, and full of sharp wordplay, Smith's first novel deals with a whole host of interconnecting issues . . ."

• The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: "Unfortunately, Rain’s story does not come into focus quickly or clearly enough. Two short chapters introduce and then kill off Rain’s best friend/boyfriend; after that, the complexities of the local backstory make it difficult for the reader to put together the big picture, in which issues of friendship and family are explored through fragmented views of interrelated plots. Still, Rain’s observations are appealingly wry, and readers who stay with her until these themes are fully developed will find food for thought in this exploration of cultural identity."

•  VOYA: "A quick and easy read that will appeal to preteen and young teen girls, this novel is especially suited to ethnically mixed, Native American, or reluctant readers."

 Connections

• Cynthia Leitich Smith has a presence on the Web. Check out her website for more information about her, the books she’s written, as well as information about other authors and books at http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/.

• Rain is not my Indian Name is full of details about Rain’s heritage such as her mother’s tear dress and the Ojibway wild-rice harvest. Research some of the cultural elements mentioned throughout the story. There is so much to discover! To get you started, the following websites may be of interest.

          Wisconsin Historical Society. “Wild Rice Harvesting.” 

          http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/tp-025/.

          Cochran, Wendell. “The Cherokee Tear Dress Facts.” 

           http://www.yvwiiusdinvnohii.net/Cherokee/WendellCochran

          /WCochran0102TearDressFacts.htm.

THE DREAMER by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Bibliography
Ryan, Pam Muñoz. 2010. The Dreamer. Ill. by Peter Sís. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780439269704

Plot Summary
Neftalí is whimsical, likes to collect things, loves to read and write, and daydreams of great adventures at every possible moment. His father is overbearing and does not like the things that Neftalí loves. To Father, these things are pure nonsense, and he will do everything possible to ensure that his children become doctors or businessmen. Is Neftalí capable of holding on to his dreams and living his own life instead of crumpling under his father’s overbearing and forceful nature?

Critical Analysis
The Dreamer is beautiful and captivating. It is hard to describe. It is part poetry and part historical fiction with a whole lot of whimsy in between. The story centers on Neftalí and follows his story from childhood into adulthood. Neftalí is the sweetest kid that any parent could wish for. He is smart, loving, and kind. Then, there is Father. He is the opposite of Neftalí. Father is overbearing and tries to control everyone, Mamadre (Neftalí’s stepmother), brother Rodolfo, sister Laurita, and the town of Temuco. Readers can identify to the situation of being forced into being what someone else wants one to be.

In between the story of Neftalí and his family are Neftalí’s musings, his fantasy world. Neftalí has an interest in nature and life. The sound of rain dripping on his roof enthralls him, he collects rocks and bugs, and the rarely seen wildlife in Chile, such as the chucao bird, amazes him. Sometimes Neftalí’s musings come in the form of a narrative, other times it shows up in poetry, and sometimes a simply yet beautifully drawn illustration captures them. Two pages can be filled up with just the sound of something, such as the dripping of rain. A simple word or phrase that interests Neftalí may show up repeated or in big print. Sometimes, a picture of something fanciful appears, like Neftalí riding the back of a rhinoceros beetle. Or, the story may just describe a musing, such as Neftalí imagining a perfect goodbye between himself and his first love, Blanca. All methods of storytelling evoke emotion and keep the story interesting.

The book itself is a feast for the eyes and the imagination. All text and illustrations are printed in beautiful forest green. The illustrations are simple and either illustrate a part of the story, show one of Neftalí’s musings, or illustrate a poem that expands on an idea within the story. There is a love of nature throughout the story, and the green print and simple illustrations expand on this theme nicely.

A couple of cultural markers stand out to me. The chucao bird can be found in Chile. Like the story, it is small. The following website has a picture of it along with its call: http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p_spp=411401. The plight of the Mapuche, the indigenous peoples of Chile, is incorporated into the story. The first chapter sets the place as Temuco, Chile. There is a nice picture of the country of Chile at the start of the first chapter. The story goes on to be very descriptive of the natural environment that surrounds the town of Temuco. Finally, the language itself sets the culture. Spanish words are encountered throughout the dialog and narration. Neftalí’s stepmother is addressed as Mamadre, which seems to be a mix between mamá and madre. There is also much formality between adults and children. However, this may be due more to the time period of the early 1900s than the culture itself.

I feel that this book is one unique and beautiful read. It is a lovely story that is thought provoking as well as inspirational. My only concern is whether young people will be drawn to this book. It is thick and has much depth. Young readers, such as ten and eleven-year-olds may need a little push to try it. However, I do think children will read it once they give it a try.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts
Pura Belpre Award, 2011

Booklist: "This book has all the feel of a classic, elegant and measured, but deeply rewarding and eminently readable."

Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices: "Ryan’s writing is beautiful, full of imagery suited to a story about a boy becoming a poet, while illustrations by Peter Sís feature a delicacy and strength suited to Neftalí’s character."

Kirkus Reviews: "The illustrator's trademark drawings deliver a feeling of boundless thought and imagination, suggesting, with whimsy and warmth, Neftalí's continual transformation of the everyday world into something transcendent."

Library Media Connection: "Well written and engaging, this book would be best suited for sophisticated readers who can empathize with Neftali's relationship with his father and his comfort in writing."

The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books: "While the considerable length contrasts with the fairly young-aimed text, the story is a readable blend of fiction and biography."

VOYA: "The Dreamer should readily appeal to both genders, as well as young and old alike."

Connections

• This book is fictional but based on Pablo Neruda’s childhood. Learn more about Pablo Neruda from these websites:

The Nobel Foundation. "The Nobel Prize in Literature 1971: Pablo Neruda."

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1971/neruda-bio.html.

Academy of American Poets. “Pablo Neruda.”

http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/279.

Poetry Foundation. “Pablo Neruda.”

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/pablo-neruda.

Guibert, Rita. "Pablo Neruda, The Art of Poetry No. 14."

http://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/4091/the-art-of-poetry-no-14-pablo-neruda.

• The Dreamer deals with many sophisticated issues such as overbearing parents, finding solace through an artistic outlet, and the mistreatment of indigenous peoples. Discuss these issues and any others that are presented within the story.

• The story is interspersed with thoughtful questions that are meant for reflection, such as, “ Which is sharper? The hatchet that cuts down dreams? Or the scythe that clears a path for another?” Take time out to reflect on a few of these.

BURIED ONIONS by Gary Soto

Bibliography
Soto, Gary. 1997. Buried Onions. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN: 0152013334
 

Plot Summary
Nineteen-year-old Eddie is a Mexican American living in a poor section of Fresno, California. A City College dropout, Eddie tries to walk the straight and narrow by seeking an honest job. However, the odds are against him, and it is a struggle to stay out of trouble as well as alive. With his cousin, father, two uncles, and best friend all dead, can Eddie make an honest life for himself?

Critical Analysis
Fresno, California is a tough area to live in. Although the book was written fifteen years ago, recent demographic reports still show that Fresno has a high crime rate, higher than state and national rates (CityRating.com 2012). Therefore, Eddie’s story of being a victim of the “onions” of sorrow, bad luck, and poor surroundings in his neighborhood is believable. Although the book lacks a solid plot, it is engaging in that one does not know what will befall Eddie next. He is a good kid, always running scared out of his wits, and rightly cautious of all things. He is trying to escape Fresno and get a chance at a better life, and we follow his journey of trying to discover a way out. However, it seems as if everyone, even his loved ones, is preventing him from doing so. His aunt wants him to avenge her son’s death by shooting the murderer, he gets accused of stealing his boss’s vehicle, and his mother tries to set him up with a girl who already has a child.

Soto writes strictly about Mexican American life in Fresno. Eddie identifies himself as Mexican on the second page, and the culture unfolds. Eddie describes the brown skin of those in his neighborhood. Characters have names such as Juan, Belinda, Angel, José, and Jésus. The mixture of the Spanish language into Eddie’s storytelling and the dialog between characters is natural. There is a glossary of terms at the end just in case the reader cannot understand the meaning of the Spanish words from the contextual clues or lack of.

This story may not be for everyone. Derogatory language and violence abound. Also, it is bleak, but what I like about it is that it rings true. I have relatives who speak about the same mala suerte that Eddie talks about. It’s not bad luck. Sometimes the environment prevents the best of people from having a good and decent life.

Reference
CityRating.com. 2012. “Fresno Crime Rate Report (California).” CityRating.com. Accessed October 15. http://www.cityrating.com/crime-statistics/california/fresno.html#.UHy_ba47T6k.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 1998 - American Library Association
• YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 1998 - American Library Association
• Booklist: "The "buried onions," which Eddie imagines as the underground source for the world's tears, pervade the tone and plot, but the unvarnished depiction of depressed and depressing barrio life is as important as the positive images of Latinos Soto has created in his other works."
• Kirkus Reviews: "A valuable tale, it's one that makes no concessions."
• The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: "The conclusion is swift and somewhat ambivalent, but Eddie is a character with whom readers will empathize as they alternately grieve and hope for him."
• VOYA: "Buried Onions is Soto's best fiction yet."

Connections

• Other books by Gary Soto:

          Jesse. ISBN 015240239X
          Summer on Wheels. ISBN 059048365X
          The Afterlife. ISBN 0152047743

• Poems by Gary Soto:

          Partly Cloudy: Poems of Love and Longing. ISBN 9780152063016

• Short Stories by Gary Soto:

          Baseball in April and Other Stories. ISBN 015205720X

DIZZY IN YOUR EYES: POEMS ABOUT LOVE by Pat Mora

Bibliography
Mora, Pat. 2010. Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems About Love. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 9780375843754
 
Plot Summary
Pat Mora puts together a book of poems about all types and aspects of love: teenage love, love of oneself, love of parents, heartache of divorce from the children’s perspective, and many other topics concerning love. The poems are ordered according to the cycle of love: falling in love, heartache and healing, and falling in love again (Mora 2010, 3). Various poetic forms are explored, and definitions are given for each style. In some cases, there is an explanation of why a certain style is used.

Critical Analysis
Pat Mora’s collection of poems that covers many topics, which include falling in love, divorce, parents, dancing, singing, adoration, old age, and much more, all come back to the central theme of love. This poetry book is organized according to the cyclical nature of love: falling in love, heartache and healing, and back to falling in love again (Mora 2010, 3). Various poetic styles are explored, such as free verse, tercet, couplet, villanelle, tanka, and so forth, with explanations of each style. Some of these explanations and forms may be difficult to understand, but this does not take away from the beauty and message of the poetry. The poems are easy to relate to and apply not only to young adults but to adults as well. Some of the poems will remind one of a distant memory or feeling, while others may apply to some present circumstance. There is something for everyone here. For example, “Weird” captures the fascination a teenager has with a new love. Whereas, “Grandma’s Joke” is about a grandmother reminiscing about proposing to her husband. Many moments and feelings are captured in each poem.

The language used in each poem is reflective of the poetic style. This variance in style and language causes the book to be an exploration of poetry as well as love. For example, “Revenge x 3” is written as a tercet and rhymes. “To-do List” is a numbered list, and a humorous one at that. Another aspect to the poetry that adds to its richness is Pat Mora’s use of the Spanish language. The interchangeable use of Spanish and English throughout the book is a solid cultural marker. The use of Spanish varies and is dependent on the poem’s message. The poem “Spanish” specifically identifies the Hispanic American culture. It explores the difficulty of learning English in school and missing the ability to speak Spanish all the time. “Valentine to Papi” uses the forms of address, Papi and Mami, to mark the culture. It is about an adult daughter reminiscing about dancing with her father at a wedding ten years ago. Not all the poems contain cultural markers, but I feel that this rings true to the theme of love. Love is not culturally specific. For example, “I Can Dance” contains no cultural marker, but it does not have to because it is about the joy of dancing where no one can see. This is universal.

I love this book of poems. The author’s note may be misleading in that it may lead the reader into believing that all the poems deal with teenage love. This is not true. The book is much deeper than this and explores many more facets of love. There are visual graphics as well. There are patterns on the facing page of each poem that at times follow the poem’s message. However, these are so understated that I feel that they just add slight visual interest. The collection can stand on its own without the graphics.     

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature, 2011 - Commended Titles
• Booklist: "The tight structures intensify the strong feelings in the poems, which teens will enjoy reading on their own or hearing aloud in the classroom."
• Kirkus Reviews: "A must read for lovestruck teens, whether they're poets or not."
• Library Media Connection: "Add this if your poetry section needs a little extra something."
• VOYA: "This collection may be used to stimulate young adults to attempt their own poetry and could easily be employed as a classroom tool."

Connections

• Pick a poetic style and try writing an original poem in that style.
• Find other poems written in the poetic styles showcased in this book.
• Other collections of poems about love:

          Soto, Gary. Partly Cloudy: Poems of Love and Longing. ISBN 9780152063016
          Grimes, Nikki. Hopscotch Love: A Family Treasury of Love Poems.
          ISBN 0688156673
          Holbrook, Sara and Allan Wolf. More Than Friends: Poems From Him and Her.
          ISBN 9781590785874

JOHN HENRY by Julius Lester, Ill. by Jerry Pinkney

Bibliography
Lester, Julius. 1994. John Henry. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 0803716060

Plot Summary
This book is a version of the African American folktale that has been told and sung for generations. John Henry is a gentle giant born from ordinary parents. He is strong and fast. He wins a wager against the meanest man in town, finishes building a road smack through a boulder, and hammers faster than a steam drill straight through a mountain during the building of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad through West Virginia.

Critical Analysis
John Henry is an African American folktale so well known within the culture, that when my husband saw the book, he automatically recited, “John Henry was a steel driving man.” The illustrations play an important part in this story. John Henry is known for building the railroad. The illustrations set the time frame for this. It is immediately established that this story takes place in the West. The text confirms this later in the story, that it takes place somewhere around West Virginia. These are the days of the Old West, the Wild West.

The entire story is culturally authentic to African Americans just because it is a folktale specific to this culture. The text remains true to the story, and the illustrations bring it to life. Like every child imagines, John Henry is big, strong, and kind-hearted. He enjoys his work and using his strength to help others. His labor is hard and manual, so he sings to keep his spirits up and to make his work go quickly. This singing while working comes from days of slavery and is preserved in this story. The clothes worn by the people are those donned by the working class. They are the dusty and well-worn apparel commonly known to be worn in the Wild West. A time where people had to work from dawn to dusk just to survive.

I like this story not only for the illustrations but also because of the message given in the text. “Dying ain’t important. Everybody does that. What matters is how well you do your living.” The tale can be told in poetry or ballad form, and this is what I found myself missing. Ballad or poetry form always instantly grabs children’s interest as well.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• Aesop Prize, 1994
• Randolph Caldecott Medal, 1995 - Honor Book
• Booklist: "Pinkney's dappled pencil-and-watercolor illustrations capture the individuality of the great working man, who is part of the human community and who has the strength of rock and wind."
• Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices: "Julius Lester's uses of anthropomorphism and anachronism mark the story with his own distinctive flair as a skillful storyteller for contemporary children."

Connections

• There are many versions of John Henry and speculation of whether he was a real man. This website provides more information about this: http://www.ibiblio.org/john_henry/.
• Try reading more African American folk tales:
  Hamilton, Virginia. The People Could Fly: The Picture Book. ISBN 9780394869254
  Hamilton, Virginia. When Birds Could Talk & Bats Could Sing: The Adventures of Bruh Sparrow, Sis Wren, and Their Friends. ISBN 0590473727
  McGill, Alice. Way Up and Over Everything. ISBN 061838796X
  San Souci, Robert D. The Hired Hand: An African-American Folktale. ISBN 0803712960
• Other books by Julius Lester:
  Black Cowboy, Wild Horses: A True Story. ISBN 0803717873
  Let's Talk About Race. ISBN 0060285982
  Sam and the Tigers: A New Telling of Little Black Sambo. ISBN 0803720289
  The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit. ISBN 9780803702721
  

HEART AND SOUL: THE STORY OF AMERICA AND AFRICAN AMERICANS by Kadir Nelson

Bibliography
Nelson, Kadir. 2011. Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 9780061730740

Plot Summary
African American history ranging from 1565, the time when Africans first step onto North American soil, to present day, with the election of Barack Obama as the first African American U.S. president, is presented in this twelve chapter book written in a narrative style told from the point of view of a grandmother recounting her family’s role in history. Beautiful oil paintings of historic people and moments complete the story. A timeline, bibliography, and index are also included.

Critical Analysis
This history book is a wonderful resource about African American history for ages starting around eight. The text and beautiful oil paintings throughout the book are accurate. The illustrations show historical figures, such as Martin Luther King Jr.; moments, such as slaves on a slave ship to America; symbols, like the burning cross used for intimidation; events, like the march on Washington; occupations, such as a Tuskegee pilot; and everyday people throughout history, like the sharecropper. The illustrations of known historical people look just like the real life person. The ones of everyday people show the varying skin tones, hair textures and colors, and facial features that can be found in African Americans all over the United States. The paintings evoke feelings of pride, sadness, strength, unity, and love.

The pictures can stand on their own in any renowned gallery of art. There is no doubt that Kadir Nelson is an accomplished artist. What is also evident is his frank storytelling of a history that is hard to talk about and share with others. His historical facts are true, such as the American Revolution, the Civil War, World War I and II, the Civil Rights Movement, etc. The text is so intriguing because the facts are not sugar coated. It explores the harshness of slavery and how being treated unequally can destroy a person. Nelson does not paint a picture of all Caucasians being evil and wanting all African Americans to be subservient. Nelson paints a balanced picture showing the good and bad of all people. For example, slavery was profitable to the north and south. There were many people who did not want it abolished, but there were enough people who did. Nelson explains these delicate issues in a balanced, fair, and well-researched manner.

There are times in the text where the adult reader is aware of explanations of why certain historical events occurred. I feel that these explanations are presented through careful research. Also, it is natural for these explanations to occur because the history presented in the text is told from the point of view of an elderly relative recounting her family’s history. For example, Nelson states that World War II sparked the civil rights movement. This may not be found on a timeline marked with a precise date. Nor is it a hard-core fact. However, research, personal accounts, and exploration of the time period is why many accept this statement to be true. Children may not pick up on this distinction. Therefore, adults may want to show children how to recognize these explanations and how to do their own research to decide for themselves whether they agree with the author or not.

The book reads easily. One can read it straight through because the narrator is telling the story of her people to a young relative. The narrator has a laid-back southern dialect that may ring true to some readers that carries the recounting of historical events along smoothly. Everything is recounted in chronological order. Readers may also use the book as a resource for research. There is a timeline and index to aid in this.

I personally like this book and plan on sharing it with my oldest child, who is eight. I had no idea how to teach her about our people’s history properly, but I think this book and some discussion will do the trick. Also, the paintings are so beautiful! I find myself flipping through the pages just to look at them. This is the first time I’ve seen such art in one place that truly shows the beauty, hardship, and victory of my people.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

•  Coretta Scott King Book Award, 2012 - Illustrator Honor Book
• Coretta Scott King Book Award, 2012 - Author Winner
• Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children, 2012 - Recommended Book
• School Library Journal's Battle of the Kids' Books, 2012 – Nominee
• Booklist: " . . . powerful, accessible history which will find wide circulation in both schools and public libraries."
• Kirkus Reviews: "This intimate narrative makes the stories accessible to young readers and powerfully conveys how personal this history feels for many African-Americans."
• The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: " . . . it’s the powerful imagery that ultimately makes this essential to the American History collection."
• VOYA: "The topics are not new, but pulling them all together in one comprehensive historical stream feels fresh and helps the past come alive. History has never been taught so clearly. This would be an excellent book to share with teens who think they are not interested in history. Gazing at the stunning pictures and reading about the fascinating historical details written in such a straightforward yet powerful manner should cure anyone of historical apathy."

Connections

• Check out a few of these websites dealing with African American History:

          University of Illinois Board of Trustees. “African American History For Kids."
          http://urbanext.illinois.edu/bhm/historyforkids.html
          PBS Kids. “African American World.” http://pbskids.org/aaworld/index.html
          Time Inc. “Black History Month.”
          http://www.timeforkids.com/minisite/black-history-month

• Interested in Kadir Nelson’s art? There is more on his website http://www.kadirnelson.com/.
• Other award winning books written and/or illustrated by Kadir Nelson include:

          Jordan, Deloris. Salt in his Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream. ISBN
          0689833717
          Nelson, Kadir. We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. ISBN
          9780786808328
          Shange, Ntozake. Ellington was not a Street. ISBN 0689828845

FEATHERS by Jacqueline Woodson

Bibliography
Woodson, Jacqueline. 2007. Feathers. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN 9780399239892

Plot Summary
Frannie lives with her family on the side of the highway where all the African Americans live with their own school, library, and grocery stores. Her brother, Sean, is deaf; she admires her teacher, Ms. Johnson; she has a best friend, Samantha, that is religious; and she has a close relationship with her family. Life is the normal routine until a new boy, called Jesus, joins her sixth grade class and neighborhood. Jesus brings hope to some and draws envy from others. Most importantly, he causes Frannie to view life from a different perspective.

Critical Analysis
Feathers is told from the point of view of sixth grader Frannie. It covers her thoughts and actions during a period of Frannie’s life where she learns an important life lesson about people and what makes life so meaningful. We learn about Frannie’s thoughts, everyday life, relationships, and personality. Through Frannie’s eyes, readers become attached to a family living in 1971.

Anyone with a loving, close-knit family can relate to Frannie’s experiences. Like all families, Frannie’s family is unique. The family in this story is unique because they are African American and one child is deaf. One may think these two facts may prevent some readers from understanding such a story, but this is not true. The ideals, hopes, and struggles in Frannie’s world are real to many. For example, Frannie’s mother has experienced a few miscarriages and is afraid of having another. Jesus looks different from the other children, and so they shy away from him. Trevor is the school bully, and the kids avoid him whenever possible. Because of these everyday occurrences that can happen to anyone, it is easy to get lost into the story of a family instead of focusing on the fact that the family represents a minority group.

However, Feathers is not so universal that it overlooks the African American culture. The cultural markers are dead on accurate. In fact, being an African American myself, the story leaves me nostalgic. I too grew up in an all African American neighborhood in the 1970s. Such elements like the playground chants, races sticking to their respective sides of town, the importance of going to church, and the songs the family listen to are all familiar to me. I love the Jackson 5, missing church was a scandal, and I loved to play “Down, Down Baby.” I wore my hair mostly in braids, and unbraided hair was too mature looking for a child. Best of all, the story describes the different shades of brown an African American can be. Trevor, the bully, has white skin and blue eyes. Frannie is brown-skinned.

Woodson also gives us a peak into the world of being deaf. Sean, Frannie’s brother, is deaf. Frannie and her whole family are bilingual because of it; they speak sign language. Others treat Sean unfairly because he is deaf. Therefore, the story explores the different ways in which discrimination can occur. Woodson’s message is that any perceived difference could cause discrimination. This may be a good discussion to have with children who read this book. Adults who have read this book may also have to explain to children the reason why the book is titled Feathers. The message may escape younger middle schoolers and deserves extra reflection.

Woodson presents a lovely story told from a child’s point of view. It describes the hardships and prejudices a family can face as well as the imaginings of a sixth grade child. It explores hope and the beauty of life.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• John Newbery Medal, 2008 - Honor Book
•  Booklist: "Woodson tells her story with immediacy and realism through the stirring first-person narrative of a young girl, Frannie, growing up in 1971."
• Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices: "In a seamless, stirring narrative, Jacqueline Woodson explores how assumptions and labels are barriers to genuine understanding and meaningful relationships." 
• The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books: "Those who read for plot will be left wanting more, but readers of a more philosophical turn of mind may appreciate the way the novel probes ordinary circumstances for their potential for luminous insight."
• VOYA: " . . . this book is dynamic as it speaks to real issues that teens face. It is a wonderful and necessary purchase for public and school libraries alike."

  Connections

• Other award winning books by Jacqueline Woodson for middle schoolers:
  After Tupac & D Foster. ISBN 9780399246548
  Hush. ISBN 0399231145
  Locomotion. ISBN 0399231153
  Miracle's Boys. ISBN 0399231137
  Peace, Locomotion. ISBN 9780399246555
• Feathers explores heavy topics such as discrimination, differences, hope, racism, and relationships. After reading this book, take time to discuss some of the issues that the story addresses.
• Jacqueline Woodson is a prolific writer with many award-winning books. Check out her website at http://www.jacquelinewoodson.com/.

TEN BIRDS by Cybèle Young

Bibliography
Young, Cybèle. 2011. Ten Birds. Tonawanda, New York: Kids Can Press. ISBN 9781554535682

Plot Summary
On a cold, snowy day, ten birds try to cross a river. Each bird devises a contraption to cross the river in imaginative ways until all birds make it to the other side. The book counts down from ten to zero, with the last bird crossing the river in the simplest of ways.

Critical Analysis
The characters are simple, ten birds. These birds are interesting in that they have the remarkable ability to use basic contraptions to get across a river, such as stilts, a fan boat, and balloons. It is a counting book, and animals that can do fantastical things are appealing to children in this age group.

The plot is simple as well. The birds are devising various ways to cross a river. The illustrations are beautiful and tell most of the story. Readers can see that there is a bridge that goes across the river. Wherever the birds are, it is cold and snowy with a river that has not frozen over yet. This setting fits in with the plot. Even my four-year-old son commented about the bridge and wondered why the birds just do not walk across it, which is the theme of the story. The last bird, which is known to be not as brilliant as the others, does just that. I found this amusing because they are birds, and all of them can fly across! However, the theme is true throughout life. The simplest solutions are usually the best ones. This is told in an amusing manner. It is funny to see the various ways each bird devises to cross the river. Young children may not recognize what some of the contraptions are and may miss the humor of it all. This happened with my son, and he kept asking for explanations about some of the devices the birds use.

The author’s style is beautiful. Few words are used. Words are used to convey each bird’s name, describe briefly the method used in crossing the river, and display a number in text. The illustrations do all the rest of the storytelling. The pictures have an old and classic looking print. This goes along with the simple contraptions the birds use. The numbers are displayed using some feature of the contraption. For example, when the countdown gets to seven, the bird leaving seven behind swooshes over the bridge on a kite. The number seven is displayed using the kite’s rope and frame.

The author is from Canada, and I do not see any cultural markers in this book. The story is universal, the language is Standard English, and the birds, which look like pigeons, can be found anywhere, at least in North America and Europe. Even the snowy landscape can be anywhere that is cold. The author’s intentions here are not to write about a culture or to depict one. It is to create an unusual and witty counting book for little ones to enjoy.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• 2012 USBBY Outstanding International Books
• Booklist: “Young children will enjoy seeing the numbers revealed and will look for them in the original configurations of hardware and tackle. But the artist’s explorations of identity, expectation, and possibility will captivate an audience of older children ready to engage with the creative interplay between imagery and meaning.”
• Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices: “The intricate black pen-and-ink illustrations manage to be both serious and playful in this oversize picture book that not only affirms there are many different ways to arrive at a single destination but also illuminates the shortcomings of labels when it comes to identifying ability or potential.”
• Library Media Connection: “Illustrations are intricate pen and ink drawings that portray the story in a way that will appeal to readers of all ages. The story works on many levels ranging from the obvious counting book to the more complex parable about the use of labels in education, teacher expectations, and good old-fashioned common sense. This book has much potential as a teaching tool as students determine what strategies they would use to cross the river.”

Connections

• Have children discuss or draw other unusual ways in which the birds could cross the river.
• Other counting books:

           Burnette, Margarette. Counting in the Crazy Garden. ISBN: 9780965379137
           Formento, Alison. This Tree Counts! ISBN: 9780807578902
           Newhouse, Maxwell. Counting on Snow. ISBN: 9780887769856
           Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. One Boy. ISBN: 9781596432741
           Wormell, Christopher. Teeth, Tails & Tentacles: An Animal Counting Book. ISBN:               0762421002

• Other Picture Books from Canada:

           Côté, Geneviève. Me and You. ISBN: 9781554534463
           Gay, Marie-Louise. Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth. ISBN:                           9780888999948
           Jocelyn, Marthe. Over Under. ISBN: 0887767087
           Larsen, Andrew and Irene Luxbacher. The Imaginary Garden. ISBN: 9781554532797
           Maclear, Kyo. Spork. ISBN: 9781553377368