SLIS 5420 Module 15 Censorship Issues DRAW ME A STAR

Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle

Book Cover

Image retrieved from http://childrenslithogg.blogspot.com/

Book Summary
An artist is asked to draw a star. He draws a star then he is asked to draw a sun. After the artist draws the sun, he is asked to draw a tree, then a couple, then a house, and so on. It comes back to the artist being asked to draw a star again. At the end of the story, the artist goes on a journey with the star.

Reference

Carle, Eric. (1992). Draw me a star, Puffin.

Librarian's Corner
Eric Carle's books are loved by adults and children so I was surprised to see Eric Carle's Draw Me A Star on the challenge list. The story started out just like a typical Eric Carle's story. I began to understand where parents might have trouble when I was looking at the page where the artist is drawing the couple and the couple have no clothing. Some of the readers may have the connection to Adam and Eve. I don't have a problem with this book, but this Eric Carle book won't be on my purchase list either.

Reviews
From Booklist
In this large, brightly illustrated picture book, an artist draws a star, which asks him to draw a sun, which asks him to draw a tree, which asks him to draw a man and a woman . . . and so on. There are biblical overtones, with the man and woman next to the tree looking like Adam and Eve before the Fall, but within a few pages the house is built, the tulips are up, and the scene becomes modern, from houseplants to clothes. Soon, the night asks the artist to draw a moon, and the moon requests a star, bringing the text full circle. Then there's a switch. A drawing lesson demonstrates how to make an eight-pointed star. Next, the artist's star carries him, floating Chagall-like, across the dark, star-spangled sky. On the last page, Carle addresses a letter to his "Friends" describing how his grandmother showed him how to draw a star while reciting a nonsense rhyme, and how his trip on a shooting star inspired this book. The illustrations, in Carle's signature style, are collages of painted, torn, and cut papers. A free-spirited, original offering. Category: For the Young. 1992, Putnam/Philomel, $15.95. Ages 4-7.

Phelam, Carolyn. (September 1992). [Review of the book Draw Me A Star, by Eric Carle]. Booklist, 89(2).

From Kirkus Reviews
A remarkable, quintessentially simple book encompassing Creation, creativity, and the cycle of life within the eternal. Introduced on the title page as a toddler drawing the first of five lines to make a star, an artist ages until, at the end, he's an old man who takes hold of a star to travel the night sky. Meanwhile, the first star says, "Draw me the sun"; the sun says, "Draw me a tree," and so on: woman and man; house, dog, cat, bird, butterfly, flowers, cloud; a rainbow arching over the middle-aged artist's whole creation; and back to the night and the stars. Carle's trademark style--vibrant tissue collage on dramatic white--is wonderfully effective in expressing the joy of creation, while the economy with which he conveys these universal ideas gives them extraordinary power. Yet the story is disarmingly childlike, concluding with an ingenuous letter from the author with instructions for drawing an eight-point star. Thanks be to the book for asking Carle to "draw" it! 1992, Philomel/Putnam, $15.95. Starred Review. © 1992 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Kirkus. (19925). [Review of the book Draw Me A Star, by Eric Carle]. Kirkus Reviews.

Value to the Library
Elementary School Library
The school librarian can have Draw Me A Star displayed with other Eric Carle books for a featured author display. The school librarian can also use this book to have a discussion with the students on their special memory and illustrate it.

SLIS 5420 Module 14 Poetry and Story Collecitons INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Book Cover

Image retrieved from https://steepstairs.wordpress.com/tag/inside-out-and-back-again/

Book Summary
The book starts with the Lunar New Year's Day in 1975. Tet, a 10-year-old girl, shares her view on the world around her and what struggles she goes through. The book is divided into four parts: Saigon, At Sea, Alabama, and From Now On. Saigon is about Tet and her family's daily life before it falls: the markets, her friends, and her own papaya tree. At Sea documents what Tet and her family's life is like on the ship. Alabama is the longest part in the story. Even though Tet's family are now safe from war, there are still many uncertainties ahead of them. They have to get used to a different life style, different schooling, and a different language. The last part, From Now On, is short but signifies acceptance and closure to Tet's dad's not returning, and the whole family is ready to move on with their new life in a new land.

Reference

Lai, Thanhha. (2011). Inside Out & Back Again, Harper Collins Children's Books,  Harper Collins.

Librarian's Corner
I have never read a verse novel before and didn't know what to expect. I turned out to like this book, Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai a lot, and added other verse novel titles to my reading list. The major event in the verse novel is the start of the Vietnam War. I think this verse novel works well for students who are not ready for historical fiction since there are not a lot of descriptions of the war, but the descriptions of the protagonist's feelings of the whole ordeal are just as powerful. Even though the number of words in this verse novel can't compete with the number of words in other fiction books, this verse novel is able to reach the readers just as well. I particularly like the parts Tet shares her thinking on learning English. She is confused because the rules that she's learning don't always apply. I wonder if children who grow up in an English environment ever wonders about these grammar rules? I would recommend this book to grades 3 and up.

Reviews
From Booklist
Starred Review* After her father has been missing in action for nine years during the Vietnam War, 10-year-old Ha flees with her mother and three older brothers. Traveling first by boat, the family reaches a tent city in Guam, moves on to Florida, and is finally connected with sponsors in Alabama, where Ha finds refuge but also cruel rejection, especially from mean classmates. Based on Lai's personal experience, this first novel captures a child-refugee's struggle with rare honesty. Written in accessible, short free-verse poems, Ha's immediate narrative describes her mistakes both humorous and heartbreaking with grammar, customs, and dress (she wears a flannel nightgown to school, for example); and readers will be moved by Ha's sorrow as they recognize the anguish of being the outcast who spends lunchtime hiding in the bathroom. Eventually, Ha does get back at the sneering kids who bully her at school, and she finds help adjusting to her new life from a kind teacher who lost a son in Vietnam. The elemental details of Ha's struggle dramatize a foreigner's experience of alienation. And even as she begins to shape a new life, there is no easy comfort: her father is still gone. Grades 4-8

Rochmand, Hazel. (January 201). [Review of the book Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai]. Booklist, 107(9).

From Kirkus Reviews
An enlightening, poignant and unexpectedly funny novel in verse is rooted in the author's childhood experiences. In Saigon in 1975, 10-year-old Kim Ha celebrates Tet (New Year) with her mother and three older brothers; none of them guesses at the changes the Year of the Cat will bring. (Ha's father's been MIA from the South Vietnamese Navy for nine years.) On the eve of the fall of Saigon, they finally decide they must escape. Free verse poems of, usually, just two to three pages tell the story. With the help of a friend, the family leaves, and they find themselves trapped at sea awaiting rescue. Only one of her brothers speaks English, but they pick America as their destination and eventually find a sponsor in Alabama. Even amid the heartbreak, the narrative is shot through with humor. Ha misunderstands much about her new home: Surely their sponsor, who always wears his cowboy hat, must have a horse somewhere. In a school full of strangers and bullies, she struggles to learn a language full of snake's hissing and must accept that she can no longer be at the head of her class...for now. In her not-to-be-missed debut, Lai evokes a distinct time and place and presents a complex, realistic heroine whom readers will recognize, even if they haven't found themselves in a strange new country. 2011, Harper/HarperCollins, 272 pp., $15.99. Category: Historical fiction/verse. Ages 9 to 12. Starred Review. © 2011 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Kirkus. (January 2011). [Review of the book Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai]. Kirkus Reviews, 79(2).

Value to the Library
Elementary School Library
When the school librarian does a book talk on verse novels and poems, Inside Out and Back Again can be one of the choices that he or she reads aloud. Or it can be introduced during Multicultural Month for food, customs, and beliefs. The three verse entries on English grammar can also be used start discussions on grammar rules to help students think about their use of English. Parts of this book can also be used to talk about newcomers and bullying.

SLIS 5420 Module 13 Graphic Novels and Series Books SMILE

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Book Cover

Image retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Smile-Raina-Telgemeier/dp/0545132061

Book Summary

Just when a 6th grade girl, Raina, gets used to the idea of wearing braces hoping to be normal and have a ordinary junior high school experience, she falls and damages her two front teeth after a girl scout meeting. For the next 4 years, Raina goes through surgery, embarrassing headgear, braces, and retainers. During the same period of time, Raina also goes through a major earthquake, crushes on boys, and discovery true friendship. At the end of the book, Raina comes out of her metamorphosis into a confident girl with the right friends.

Reference

Telgemeier, Raina. (2010). Smile, Scholastic Inc. 

Librarian's Corner

I was very happy that I finally got a hold of this book. I've had several 5th grade girls asking for this book and was wondering about this book. I have never had strong feelings toward graphic novels, but Smile by Raina Telgemeier is one of the books that I could not put down and have to finish reading it at once. There are so many parts of the story that I can make connections with and this book truly took me back to my high school years. During those awkward years where everyone is trying to find his or her own place, I always thought that nobody would understand my feelings. But this book made me feel that I'm just like everybody else, even though that was a while ago.

Reviews

From Booklist

The dental case that Telgemeier documents in this graphic memoir was extreme: a random accident led to front tooth loss when she was 12, and over the next several years, she suffered through surgery, implants, headgear, false teeth, and a rearrangement of her remaining incisors. Accompanying the physical treatment came social rough spots with friends, while puberty delivered another set of curveballs with crushes, maturing bodies, and changing family expectations and judgments. Both adults and kids including various dental professionals and younger siblings are vividly and rapidly portrayed, giving quick access to the memoirist's world. Telgemeier's storytelling and full-color cartoony images form a story that will cheer and inspire any middle-schooler dealing with orthodontia. At the same time, she shows how her early career choice as an animator took root during this difficult period offering yet another gentle reminder that things have turned out fine for the author and can for her reader as well. Grades 5-8

Goldsmith, Francisca. (December 2009). [Review of the book Smile, by Raina Telgemeier]. Booklist, 106(8).

From Kirkus Reviews

Telgemeier has created an utterly charming graphic memoir of tooth trauma, first crushes and fickle friends, sweetly reminiscent of Judy Blume's work. One night, Raina trips and falls after a Girl Scout meeting, knocking out her two front teeth. This leads to years of painful surgeries, braces, agonizing root canals and other oral atrocities. Her friends offer little solace through this trying ordeal, spending more of their time teasing than comforting her. After years of these girls' constant belittling, Raina branches out and finds her own voice and a new group of friends. Young girls will relate to her story, and her friend-angst is palpable. Readers should not overlook this seemingly simply drawn work; the strong writing and emotionally expressive characters add an unexpected layer of depth. As an afterword, the author includes a photo of her smiling, showing off the results of all of the years of pain she endured. Irresistible, funny and touching—a must read for all teenage girls, whether en-braced or not. 2010, Graphix/Scholastic, 224p, $21.99. Category: Graphic memoir. Ages 12 up. © 2010 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Kirkus. (January 2010). [Review of the book Smile, by Raina Telgemeier]. Kirkus Reviews, 78(1).

Value to the Library

Elementary, Middle, and High School Library

The librarian can feature this book or another by Raina Telgemeier along with other graphic novels in a book display to promote graphic novels. The librarian can also create an anonymous wall where students share their most embarrassing moments and allow students to give feedback. The students might be surprised to find out that others also experience embarrassing moments and it's part of growing up.

SLIS 5420 Module 12 Biography and Autobiography ME... JANE

Me... Jane by Patrick McDonnell

Book Cover

Image retrieved from http://www.jennysbookreview.com/2011/12/18/me-jane-by-patrick-mcdonnell/

Book Summary
Jubilee, the stuffed toy chimpanzee that Jane got when she was little, accompanied Jane to observe and study the outdoors. Jane grew to love nature. Jane's curiosity about the nature encouraged her to read and learn all about it. She watched, felt, touched, studied, smelled, listened and every other thing she could do in nature and she felt the most alive when she was outside. One of her favorite book is Tarzan of the Apes, especially when there is a girl named Jane who lives in Africa to be with the animals. She wanted to be just like Jane. And one day... Jane's dream came true!

Reference
McDonnell, Patrick. (2011). Me... Jane, New York: Little, Brown and Company, Hachette Book
          Group.

Librarian's Corner
Me... Jane by Patrick McDonnell is a simple biography with a powerful message to inspire little minds with a dream. I was amazed at how a biography written in so few words can turn into a beautiful book. Biographies usually is the least liked section of the library by the primary students, but simple text and layered illustrations with Jane Goodall's childhood drawings and sketches really holds the attention of little kids, even the 4-year-olds!

Reviews
From Booklist
Starred Review* Little Jane loves her stuffed animal, a chimpanzee named Jubilee, and carries him everywhere she goes. Mainly, they go outdoors, where they watch birds building their nests and squirrels chasing each other. Jane reads about animals in books and keeps a notebook of sketches, information, and puzzles. Feeling her kinship with all of nature, she often climbs her favorite tree and reads about another Jane, Tarzan's Jane. She dreams that one day she, too, will live in the African jungle and help the animals. And one day, she does. With the story's last page turn, the illustrations change from ink-and-watercolor scenes of Jane as a child, toting Jubilee, to a color photo of Jane Goodall as a young woman in Africa, extending her hand to a chimpanzee. Quietly told and expressively illustrated, the story of the child as a budding naturalist is charming on its own, but the photo on the last page opens it up through a well-chosen image that illuminates the connections between childhood dreams and adult reality. On two appended pages, "About Jane Goodall" describes her work, while "A Message from Jane" invites others to get involved. This remarkable picture book is one of the few that speaks, in a meaningful way, to all ages. Preschool-Grade 3

Phelan, Carolyn. (March 2011). [Review of the book Me... Jane, by Patrick McDonnell]. Booklist, 107(14).

From Kirkus
Little Jane Goodall and Jubilee (her toy chimpanzee) ramble outside their English country home observing everyday animal miracles and dreaming of a life in Africa, "living with, / and helping, / all animals." Readers familiar with the groundbreaking primatologist will love seeing her as a conventional, buttoned-up child, wearing a plaid skirt, classic bob and hair clip as she squats in a coop to watch a chicken drop an egg. McDonnell's simple ink-and-watercolor illustrations appear as sunny, amorphous panels in ample white space. Purposeful black lines provide specificity with small suggestive strokes—a tiny apostrophic smile relays Jane's complete contentment sprawled in grass. Opposite pages offer groupings of faint, intricate stamps that correspond with young Jane's early outdoor experiences and engage readers with their fine details. The playful interplay among stamps, cartoonish drawings and real photographs of Jane reminds readers of a child's hodgepodge journal—one like Jane's, which appears as a double-page spread showing her animal studies, charts, games and doodles. Children will appreciate McDonnell's original format and take heart that interests logged in their own diaries might turn into lifelong passions. Backmatter includes a pithy biography, additional photographs and a letter and drawing from Jane herself—children will thrill at the connection. 2011, Little, Brown, 40 pp., $15.99. Category: Picture book/biography. Ages 2 to 10. Starred Review. © 2011 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Kirkus. (March 2011). [Review of the book Me... Jane, by Patrick McDonnell]. Kirkus Review, 79(5).

Value to the Library
Elementary School Library
Me... Jane would make a great choice for storytime for pre-k, kindergarten, and 1st graders. After storytime, the students can share their love and passion about certain things. The librarian can even help the 1st graders research on their interest to help them discover more about their likes and what they are good at.

SLIS 5420 Module 11 Informational Book A BLACK HOLE IS NOT A HOLE

A Black Hole is Not a Hole by Carolyn DeCristofano

Book Cover

Image retrieved from Images retrieved from http://www.carolyndecristofano.com/about/

Book Summary

This book clears up the misconception of a black hole being the kind of hole that we can dig in the ground or poke our finger through. The author thoroughly covers all aspects of a black hole to satisfy readers curiosity. She starts with a compare and contrast to something we might know about: whirlpools. Ms. DeCristofano then talks about the pull a black hole has. The next part is about how a black hole forms which goes into the relationship of light and space. After than, the author explains how scientists see black holes in space and she goes into the history of black hole discoveries. A timeline is included at the end of the book along with a glossary, author's notes, author's references, and an index.

Reference

DeCristofano, Carolyn. (2012). A black hole is not a hole, Charlesbridge.

Library's Corner

I had fun reading this book! I read more nonfiction books than fiction books every year and I'm impressed with A Black Hole is Not A Hole by Carolyn DeCristofano. Black holes are sort of a hard-to-grasp concept and yet the author is able to explain the best she can with things more down to earth. The author is very knowledgeable on the topic and has a great sense of humor that can keep readers' attention. It is a great introductory book for students who are interested in space.

Reviews

From Booklist
Starred Review* Writing with rare verve (A black hole is nothing to look at. Literally.), DeCristofano condenses recent astronomical discoveries into a high-energy account of what we know or guess about one of the universe's deepest and most unobservable secrets. Covering the life cycles of stars; the formation of black holes and weird optical and physical effects associated with them; more recent revelations of super-sized black holes at the centers of galaxies; and the general effects of mass on space, light, and matter, she presents a clear, well-rounded picture of the strange structure and stranger physics of black holes. After leading a wild ride over a black hole's event horizon (Right away, you would need a new nickname something like Stretch . . . .) and explaining theories about gravity from Newton's notions to Einstein's Spacey Ideas, DeCristofano leaves readers to ponder the truth of her claim that a black hole isn't a hole but NOT exactly NOT a hole either. Enhanced by a time line and a generous set of further resources and illustrated with plenty of cogent diagrams, space photographs, and Carroll's dramatic images of stellar whirlpools and mammoth jets of gas around cores of impenetrable blackness this book will snatch readers from their orbits and fling them into a lasting fascination with nature's most attractive phenomena. Literally. Grades 4-6
Peters, John. (February 2012). [Review of the book A black hole is not a hole, by Carolyn DeCristofano]. Booklist, 108(11).

From Kirkus
Oh, my stars! As the cover proclaims, a black hole may not be an actual hole, but readers will be glad they fell into this book. The volume guides readers on a (literally) out-of-this-world tour, dealing with topics and concepts that, in the hands of a less-gifted writer, might have remained obscure and unclear. DeCristofano handles the material with wit, style and singularly admirable clarity, frequently employing easy-to-understand and, yes, down-to-earth ideas and scenarios to help make complex principles comprehensible to readers of all ages. Carroll's illustrations, diagrams and charts, along with superb telescopic photographs (many courtesy of NASA) are splendid and filled with the drama and excitement of the limitless vastness of space. The handsome design and visuals greatly enhance the text and add much to readers' grasp of the subject. Stargazers will be entranced, and even those not especially attuned to matters celestial will come away feeling smarter, awestruck and with a sense of finally understanding this fascinating, other-worldly phenomenon. An excellent resource. Hole-y astronomy! (timeline, glossary, author's note, bibliography, image credits, index) 2012, Charlesbridge, 80 pp., $18.95. Category: Nonfiction. Ages 10 to 14. Starred Review. © 2012 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
Kirkus. (January 2012). [Review of the book A black hole is not a hole, by Carolyn DeCristofano]. Kirkus Reviews, 80(1).

Value to the Library
Elementary School Library
The school librarian can demonstrate a KWL chart strategy using A Black Hole is Not a Hole since black holes are not commonly studied in school. The school librarian can examine children's prior knowledge on the topic and demonstrate how misconceptions can be corrected by reading nonfiction books. The school librarian can also help classroom teachers enhance the learning on nonfiction features such as: captions, vocabulary words, tables, charts, etc.

SLIS 5420 Module 10 Historical Fiction BROTHERS AT BAT

Brothers at Bat by Audrey Vernick

Book Cover

Image retrieved from https://bibliolinks.wordpress.com/2012/04/03/brothers-at-bat-by-audrey-vernick-illustrated-by-steven-salerno/

Book Summary

The setting of the book is in the 1930s where it was a norm for families to have a lot of children. The Acerra family had 16 children and 12 of them played baseball. The Acerras became the all-brother baseball team that played the longest in history. Not only did the Acerras love to play baseball, they also loved being on a team with each other. They supported each other and cared for each other. One of the Acerras lost an eye playing baseball and he continued playing baseball after his recovery. T.he Acerra team had to stop playing because 6 brothers decided to fight for their country in WWII. After the war, the Acerra team continued playing in leagues. The Acerras were recognized by the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.

Reference

Vernick, Audrey. (2012). Brothers at bat: The true story of an amazing all-brother baseball team,
          Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Librarian's Corner

Since I'm a baseball kind of gal, I was very excited when I saw this title on the reading list. I was amazed at the story. Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team by Audrey Vernick shows brotherly love during a difficult time in history. It also shows the dedication and perseverance from the Acerra brothers toward something they all loved. The vintage-style illustrations and the heart-touching story are a perfect fit. I also enjoyed the author's notes at the end of the book on the background of the story. Since my school is an IB (International Baccalaureate) school, having books that cover the IB learner profile in the library is important. Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brothers Baseball Team by Audrey Vernick is an asset to any library. The book goes along with a couple attributes emphasized in the IB program.

Reviews

From Booklist
Starred Review* In a 1930s New Jersey town, one family liked baseball so much that they made their own team. It wasn't that difficult. The Acerras had 16 children 12 of them boys. For 22 years straight, an Acerra played baseball in the local high school. In 1938, the oldest nine formed their own semipro team. With an age range of more than 20 years among the boys, there was always another Acerra coming up. Vernick, who interviewed the surviving members of the family, incorporates their remembrances into this very special exhibition of family loyalty and love of sports. The narrative takes them through their time on the field, the dissolution of the team when six of the guys went off to WWII (and all came home safely), and a team resurgence after the war. With plenty of highs (winning seasons) and a couple of lows (one brother lost an eye when a bunt went bad), the story rolls along easily. Best of all, though, is Salerno's fantastic art. Using a retro style that combines the look of 1950s TV advertising (think Speedy Alka Seltzer) and the exuberance of comic-book art, Salerno's pictures brim with vitality. The author's and illustrator's endnotes provide interesting context for this story of brotherly and baseball love. Grades 1-3.

Cooper, Ilene. (April 2012). [Review of the book Brothers at Bat, by Audrey Vernick]. Booklist, 108(16).

From Kirkus

At a time when local baseball was part of the American landscape, one family fielded its own team. The Acerra family numbered 16 children, 12 of whom were brothers who all loved to play baseball. The boys played in high school and later formed their own semi-pro team. They played wherever they could get a good game and were known as highly skilled players and crowd pleasers. They shared a special closeness and loyalty, joking and teasing, but always looking out for one another. That loyalty extended to a love of country as six of them fought in World War II, which was the first time they had been separated. After the war they continued to play in local leagues, with younger brothers taking over when big brothers aged out. In 1997 they were recognized by the Baseball Hall of Fame as the all-time longest playing all-brother team. Employing descriptive, conversational language in a matter-of-fact tone that doesn't sentimentalize, Vernick tells of a remarkable family, part of what has come to be known as "the greatest generation." Salerno's lively drawings, rendered in black crayon, gouache, watercolor and pastel with digital color added, complement the action, striking a balance between detail and expansiveness. A family's love and devotion to each other and to the game of baseball, depicted lovingly. (author's note; artist's note) 2012, Clarion, 40 pp., $16.99. Category: Picture book/biography. Ages 5 to 10. © 2012 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Kirkus. (February 2012). [Review of the book Brothers at Bat, by Audrey Vernick]. Kirkus Reviews, 80(3).

Value to the Library
Elementary School Library
The school librarian can have this book to be a part of a display of books that teach character education. The librarian can also read aloud this book during the time of the world series to celebrate baseball. The librarian can have a discussion with the students about their favorite sport and the students can share their experience if they play on a team.

SLIS 5420 Module 9 Mystery WHERE IS THE BIG BAD WOLF?

Where is the Big Bad Wolf? by Eileen Christelow
Book Cover

Image retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Wheres-Big-Wolf-Eileen-Christelow/dp/0618181946

Book Summary

Detective Phineas T. Doggedly, or just Doggedly, catches low-down, no-good, chicken-chasing, pig-poaching rascals. The only rascal in town is the Big Bad Wolf (BBW). After being caught, the wolf promises Doggedly to be good forever but betrays Doggedly's trust every single time. Doggedly hopes that the Big Bad Wolf's promise becomes true every time.

One day, three little pigs in a straw house gets in trouble. Doggedly rushes to catch the Big Bad Wolf but can't find him anywhere in sight. A strange-looking sheep is nearby to help the three little pigs. Doggedly goes to the BBW's house and he's got the flu! A few days later the three little pigs get in trouble in a sticks house. The BBW still is nowhere to be found and luckily the strange-looking sheep is there to assist the three little pigs. Doggedly is sure that it is the BBW this time but finds him  very sickly in the hospital. Some elderly cows take the three little pigs in and read the original tale to them. The next day the three little pigs decide to build a house out of brick and the strange-looking sheep gets nervous. Even with two elderly cows accompanying Doggedly to keep him awake at his night watch, Doggedly still doesn't catch the culprit in action. Doggedly races to the hospital and finds half of BBW still in a sheep costume. The BBW spends a few days in the jail and Doggedly hopes that the BBW means what he promises this time. Now the three little pigs are getting advice from a strange-looking horse...

Reference

Christelow, Eileen. (2002). Where is the big bad wolf? New York: Clarion Books, a Houghton        
            Mifflin Company.

Librarian's Corner

Where is the Big Bad Wolf? is written by the same author of Five Little Monkeys series. I was more familiar with the Five Little Monkeys series and have enjoyed all the Five Little Monkeys books. Where is the Big Bad Wolf kept me wondering the relationship between the helpful but strange-looking sheep and the Big Bad Wolf. The students will know the answer before the detective and not-so-smart conclusions from the detective will entertain the readers to the end of the story. This is a great book to introduce primary students to mysteries and children will naturally pay very close attention to the story to search for clues.

Reviews
From Booklist

Variations on the story of the "Three Little Pigs" are hardly in short supply, but this comic version has its his own pleasures, including a dumb dog detective and a wily wolf, who is literally in sheep's clothing. It's not that Detective Doggedly hasn't previously caught Big Bad Wolf, the town's only criminal. However, every time he intercepts Wolf committing a crime, Doggedly lets him go, relying on Wolf's promise that he'll never do it again. Of course, when the homes of the three little pigs keep getting blown down, the Wolf is the chief suspect. But Wolf is at home sick in bed, and the only animal at the scene of the crime is a kindly sheep who seems to be offering the pigs aid and advice ("Build a stick house. It's so easy!"). What's a detective to believe? Kids will know the answer; even little ones will be able to spot the wolf's visage under the woolly curls. As usual, Christelow provides cartoon-style artwork of the highest quality, complete with balloon dialogue. There's fun in both text and pictures, and here familiarity breeds hilarity. Category: Books for the Young--Fiction. 2002, Clarion, $15. PreS-Gr. 1.

Cooper, Ilene. (October 2002). [Review for Where is the Big Bad Wolf? by Eileen Christelow.] Booklist, 99(4).

From Kirkus Reviews

Three little pigs get some real bad advice from a wolf in a real goofy sheep disguise in this comical whodunit. The three little pigs are having their homes blown down-and escaping by the hair of their chinny-chin-chins-and Detective Doggedly believes it might be the work of the shiftless, no-account neighborhood wolf, the infamous BBW. But the only character found at the crime scenes is a newcomer to town: Esmeralda the sheep. Sure, kids will note, Esmeralda their foot, for her disguise is pretty transparent. She has also been giving the pigs construction ideas: straw is good, twigs are good, and cardboard's not bad. Two cows suggest a brick house, which foils the wolf and ends in his unveiling and incarceration. Short-term incarceration, that is, as he's soon back, this time tricked out as a horse, with more self-serving recommendations: "Pick peas after midnight, when everybody is asleep. They'll taste sweeter." So what if there are a few inexplicables here-How did the wolf con his way into that hospital bed?-this is good clownish fun, and the rough-and-tumble art keeps the farce bubbling. 2002, Clarion, $15.00. Category: Picture book. Ages 4 to 7. © 2002 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Kirkus Review. (July 2002). [ Review on Where is the Big Bad Wolf? by Eileen Christelow.] Kirkus Reviews, 70(14).

Value to the Library
Elementary School Library
The school librarian can read aloud this book to help enhance the fairy tale unit in language arts, especially when the classroom teachers have the students to add a twist in an original fairy tale. After reading aloud Where is the Big Bad Wolf?, the librarian can ask the students to brainstorm other animals that the Big Bad Wolf can dress up as to fool the detective. The librarian and also team up with the art teacher to have the students create pictures of the dressed-up Big Bad Wolf using different mediums of art: paint, crayons, color pencils, markers, cotton balls, etc.

SLIS 5420 Module 8 Fantasy and Science Fiction THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Book Cover

Image retrieved from http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/05/24/top-100-childrens-novels-59-the-miraculous-journey-of-edward-tulane-by-kate-dicamillo/#_

Book Summary

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo is a story about Edward Tulane, who is a rabbit made of china. He is a gift to a 10-year-old girl, Abilene Tulane, by her grandmother. Abilene loves Edward and treats him with an excessive amount of respect. Edward only loves himself because he does not know how to love others. But Edward's life soon takes a dramatic turn. He falls off the ship the Tulanes travel on. He spends about 9 months on the ocean floor until a storm brings him to a fisherman. The fisherman takes Edward home to his wife and his wife renames Edward and gives him a dress to wear. Then Edwards is on a journey with several different owners: a homeless guy with a dog, a brother and a sister who eventually dies from being sick, and finally he is broken into thousands of pieces by accident. Edward ends up being repaired and on a shelf in a doll store. One day a lady comes into the store and recognizes that Edward is the rabbit made of china that she once owned and she buys Edward for her own little girl.

Reference

DiCamillo, Kate. (2006). The miraculous journey of Edward Tulane, Candlewick Press.

Librarian's Corner

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is a wonderful fiction that will gain interest from readers in the intermediate grades. Even though the setting is unfamiliar to the readers, it adds depth in this fictional story. This story contains many great examples of character traits. The plot also satisfies and teaches intermediate students about self-worth, self images, and loving self and others. Even though this book can be mistaken as a thick chapter book, the chapters are actually short and can be finished in a couple days. The illustrations found in the book are beautifully done and the story definitely will touch the readers deeply. I would be cautious with sensitive students though since the plot contains abandonment, neglect and home violence, and death.

Reviews

From Booklist
As she did in her Newbery Medal Book, The Tale of Despereaux (2004), DiCamillo tucks important messages into this story and once more plumbs the mystery of the heart--or, in this case, the heartless. Edward Tulane is a china rabbit with an extensive wardrobe. He belongs to 10-year-old Abilene, who thinks almost as highly of Edward as Edward does of himself. Even young children will soon realize that Edward is riding for a fall. And fall he does, into the sea, after mean boys rip him from Abilene's hands during an ocean voyage. Thus begins Edward's journey from watery grave to the gentle embrace of a fisherman's wife, to the care of a hobo and his dog, and into the hands of a dying girl. Then, pure meanness breaks Edward apart, and love and sacrifice put him back together--until just the right child finds him. With every person who taouches him, Edward's heart grows a little bit softer and a little bit bigger. Bruised and battered, Edward is at his most beautiful, and beautiful is a fine word to describe the artwork. Ibatoulline outdoes himself; his precisely rendered sepia-tone drawings and color plates of high artistic merit are an integral part of this handsomely designed package. Yet even standing alone, the story soars because of DiCamillo's lyrical use of language and her understanding of universal yearnings. This will be a pleasure to read aloud. Category: Books for the Young--Fiction. 2006, Candlewick, $18.99. Gr. 2-4. Starred Review.

Cooper, Ilene. (January, 2006). [Review of the book The miraculous journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo]. Booklist, 102(9)

.From Kirkus Review

Once again, DiCamillo harkens back to an older storytelling style, filled with magic and the transformational power of love. Edward Tulane is a china rabbit-dapper and serious and more than a little superior. His mistress, Abilene Tulane, loved him and "thought almost as highly of Edward as Edward thought of himself." Edward is interested in little beyond his own comfort and beauty. Indeed, everyone except for Abilene's grandmother, Pellegrina, condescends to him. She commissioned his making, ordered his dapper clothing and smart pocket watch and, in the end, demanded a good deal more of Edward than he thought he wanted to give. Her warning, "You disappoint me," thrusts Edward into the adventure that becomes his life. He learns about love, loss and consequences. Somewhere between fairy tale and fable, DiCamillo spins the tale of Edward, transformed by the lives he touches. The reader will be transformed too. Sumptuous gouache illustrations complement the old-fashioned, dramatic narrative. Keep the tissues handy for this one. 2006, Candlewick, 228p, $18.99. Category: Fiction. Ages 7 up. Starred Review. © 2006 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Kirkus. (January 2006). [Review of the book The miraculous journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo]. Kirkus Reviews, 74(2)/.

Value to the Library
Elementary School Library
The elementary school librarian can do a book talk on books that contain themes of journeys, survival, and dolls and toys such as: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll, Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, The Doll People and The Meaniest Doll in the World by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin, and  The Sacrecrow and His Servant by Philip Pullman.