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

           
          

KOALA LOU by Mem Fox, Ill. by Pamela Lofts

Bibliography
Fox, Mem. 1988. Koala Lou. Ill. by Pamela Lofts. New York: Gulliver Books. ISBN 0152005021

Plot Summary
Koala Lou is so cute that everyone loves her, especially her mother. Many times a day her mother tells her, “Koala Lou, I DO love you!” Koala Lou gains other siblings throughout the years that makes her mother too busy to tell her she loves her. As a result, Koala Lou devises a plan to gain her mother’s attention again.

Critical Analysis
This book describes a situation that any child, especially the oldest, can relate to, the need for attention. When Koala Lou is the only child, she has her mother all to herself. Siblings come along, and she does not like sharing. In fact, she feels sad, lonely, and misses her mother. Like any child, Koala Lou does something grand to gain her mother’s attention again. She joins the gum tree climbing event for the Bush Olympics. The resolution is very satisfying because she learns that her mother loves her no matter what she does.

The illustrations complement the story. They show how cute Koala Lou is, her animal friends, how much her mother loves her, her mother’s busyness with the other children, and Koala Lou’s efforts to win the Olympics. Lofts, the illustrator, is wonderful with showing the emotions of the characters as well as the beautiful color that can be found in the Australian outback.

The setting, the Australian outback, is crucial for a story about a little koala. The illustrations and the characters depict the setting. There are animals such as koalas, emus, platypuses, parrots, bandicoots, kangaroos, owls, and much more. Although the setting is Australian, the story is universal, a child trying to win back her mother’s attention.

Although the story is universal, the illustrations and text are full of cultural markers. The general environment, the Australian outback with all its animals and vegetation, is a major cultural marker in this book. For example, Koala Lou enters a gum tree climbing contest, which many Americans know as an eucalyptus tree. All the animals throughout the book are Australian, as well. Another cultural marker is the hats worn by the animals attending the Bush Olympics. Australians are known for their hats. How appropriate to have them come to the Olympics with hats and throw them up in the air due to the excitement. Finally, just the name of the Bush Olympics itself is Australian. I cannot define “bush” as an outsider, but it has much to do with Australian beliefs, land, and identity (Wells, et al., 2011).

My daughter read this book to me, and we both enjoyed it. She is my oldest child and was able to relate to Koala Lou wanting her mother’s attention. Her favorite part is Koala Lou learning that her mother will always love her. My favorite part of the book is the fact that Koala Lou does not win the tree-climbing contest, and her mother recognizes that her daughter needs the confirmation of being loved. The mother is supportive of Koala Lou all throughout her training and checks up on her. This book’s strength is how it deals with a subject that most children can relate to. It also sparks discussion for children and adults who are not familiar with Australia. It is enjoyable trying to identify the animals and seeing the vegetation common to Australia. Its weakness is in one of its strengths. There are some Australian cultural elements that I would like to know more about. For example, are hats usually worn to special events or are they considered practical wear due to the heat?

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• Texas Reading Club, 2005
• Publishers Weekly: “ … Fox's books send out positive messages to children about the wonders of being human: Koala Lou celebrates the eternal love of a mother for her child … “

Connections

• Australia is loved and visited by many. Try checking out a few websites about it. I like this one: http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/.
• Koala Lou is full of animals native to Australia. It is fun learning about the different animals. Try this website to help identify what some of the animals in the book are: http://australian-animals.net/.
• Koala Lou enters a gum tree climbing contest. This website has more information about gum or eucalyptus trees: http://www.gondwananet.com/australian-gum-tree.html.

Reference
Wells, Kathryn, et al. 2011. “The Australian Bush.” Australian Government. Accessed September 9, 2012. http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/austn-bush

THE PULL OF THE OCEAN by Jean-Claude Mourlevat

Bibliography
Mourlevat, Jean-Claude. 2006. The Pull of the Ocean. Translated by Y. Maudet. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 0385903642

Plot Summary
Yann is the youngest of seven children. They are all boys and poor. His older siblings are three sets of twins, which makes Yann unique. Yann is also unique in that he is as small as a two-year-old, a miniature person. In reality, he is ten. In this modern retelling of the classic French version of Tom Thumb, Yann and his brothers go on a quest to find the ocean. However, as with any fairy tale, danger awaits them.

Critical Analysis
The plot is simple; the children are escaping their parents and trying to find their way to the ocean. The story is structured in that each chapter is told from the point of view of different characters in the story, Yann’s brothers, a truck driver with whom the children hitch a ride from, a social worker who is concerned about the children’s safety, etc. They all contribute to the story and highlight major struggles within the story.

The Pull of the Ocean is the modern version of the French author Charles Perrault’s “Little Thumb” or “Le petit Pouçet.” This version of Tom Thumb is well known to the French and told to their children in the same way as our own version of the tale is known in America. Mourlevat modernizes the tale to present day and identifies the French culture by the towns in which Yann and his brothers travel through to get to the Atlantic Ocean, such as Périgueux and Bordeaux. A quick look at a map helps readers not familiar with the area to relate to Fabien when he says, “Turns out Bordeaux isn’t by the ocean. Not one bit … You think it is if you don’t look at the map closely, but it’s not” (Mourlevat 2006, 137). These kids are tired at this point and have a long way to go. In addition to the location, the names of the characters are all French. The Doutreleau brothers are named Yann, Rémy, Fabien, Pierre, Paul, Max, and Victor. The other characters in the story have French names as well.

Like all fairy tales, there is the ultimate evil villain. However, good triumphs over evil, which gives readers a satisfying ending. On the other hand, the story has depth in that the reader questions the intentions of others. Unlike the average fairy tale, good is not perfectly good. Two of Yann’s brothers are bullies. Evil is not perfectly evil. One does not know if the children’s parents are truly bad people. They could just be poor and struggling with a bitter attitude towards life due to the hardness of it. More complicated characters make the fairy tale more appealing to older readers because they are closer to reality.

I find this book extremely interesting. I was so worried about the Doutreleaus, that I read it all in one sitting. This is because the siblings are so interesting. They are all not perfectly innocent or good, but they are children who ran away for their lives. I wanted them safe. The strength of this book is that although I am not French or familiar with the French culture, it is an interesting story without having to know anything about the culture. The only weakness for me was my need to get some background on the original French Tom Thumb story. I was curious enough to look for it on the Internet as I was reading because I kept thinking that this is not the Tom Thumb story I know. His parents love him! However, once I understood that the French have their own version of this classic children’s tale, I was able to sit back and enjoy a good read as well as appreciate the author’s ability to follow his cultural fairy tale exactly but with a more mature and modern day twist. Maybe an inclusion of the original story in its entirety will cure international readers’ curiosity.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

•  Mildred L. Batchelder Award, 2007
• Prix Sorciéres (French award for the best in children's and YA literature)
• Booklist: “The ending leaves readers a bit at sea, but the story is intriguing, and the relationship among the brothers is heartwarming.”
• Kirkus Reviews: “The prose is nightmarish but occasionally lovely, and older readers will appreciate its dark magic.”

Connections

• Readers who are unfamiliar with France may have trouble visualizing the Doutreleaus’ long journey. Try to chart their course on a map. How far is the Atlantic Ocean from their home?
• Read the French version of Tom Thumb and compare to how it differs from the versions of other cultures such as in America or England.
• This is an interesting website about Charles Perrault, the author of the version of Tom Thumb that Mourlevat uses for his story. It contains the story of Tom Thumb and some other fairy tales he put in writing. http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/perrault.html