Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems by Joyce Sidman Illustrated by Beckie Prange

Having learned about the essential illustrative elements of picture books and their vital tie to the picture book text I was enthralled with this book of poems. Most of the pages are illustrated with large framed pictures that apply the use of perspective to position the reader to most effectively experience the action within each poem written on the page. Each page requires a double-facing page spread, and a factual caption is included in the margin beside each double-faced illustration to supplement each poem's meaning with the facts that may be result from the curiousity illuminating the poems. The book includes poems about several pond creatures and living pond features including the water boatman and backswimmer, the wood duck, and a descriptive food chain among other living things. My favorite was about the water boatman (which was also mentioned in a poem from Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman) and the backswimmer. In the poem, "Song of the Water Boatman and Backswimmer's Refrain" both water bugs are coexisting and describing their survival habits and unique ways in a back-and-forth fashion. The waterboatman uses his legs as oars, and the backswimmer spends most of his time belly-up towards the surface of the water. The woodblock illustrations enhanced with watercolor bring out the quiet, yet vivid life in the habitat of a pond. "In the Depths of the Summer Pond" is a poem that mimics the "This is the House that Jack Built" style of chain story. Starting with the algae the poet relates the food chain of creatures who feed on the smaller creatures "in the depths of the summer pond." When reading the poem about the Wood Ducks I learned about the innate bravery of the baby ducks freely jumping out of their nests to their mother in the pond below. The factual caption describes that some ducklings survive and some don't. The illustration for this poem makes the reader sense the height of the ducklings getting ready to jump far down to the pond below. Some of the poems in this book rhyme, but most employ free verse. The figurative language effectively creates the images intended for the reader in these poems.

Don't Know Much About American History by Kenneth C. Davis

An unusual format enticed me to pick up this book in the bookstore to check my knowledge of basic historical facts. Since I collaborate with a history teacher in grade 6 I'm always interested in finding catchy ways to provide outside reading for my students. This informational book published in 2003 includes updated information on George Bush's terms as President as well as the recent disaster of the falling of the twin towers in 2001. This book of ten chapters is formatted in question-answer format: Frequently-Asked-Questions about history are categorized into ten periods of history over 217 pages. I was surprised to find answers that were unknown to me. For example: In chapter 3 about the Growth of a Nation I realized that this country went eleven years without a president during the time when the Articles of Confederation were in effect. Living in the South for so many years, I never really wondered about the relationship between the Native Americans and the Pilgrims. I was surprised to learn that the response is "True" to the statement, "An Indian walked into Plymouth and said, 'Welcome, Englishment.'" The Algonquian chief Samoset initiated friendly relationships with the Pilgrims from the start. Later in the book I learned the interesting response to the question, "Were the 1990s an age of rage?" Surprisingly, that period of time was full of violent events: the Oklahoma City bombing, race-related violence in 1991 and 1992, and violence in schools with the Columbine shootings. How do you think the first decade of the 21st century compares with that period of time? The book seemed to be reliable and authentic in its design and its factual details. Thorough source notes are included in the bibliography, and an index and an appendix of Presidents and Vice Presidents is included in the back. At the front of the book is a table of contents and an introduction providing background for the author in stating the purpose of his writing this book. He intended to break the "boring" tone of history books and to make history come alive. Bravo! This is a must-read for history buffs who want to brush up on important times in history.

Something BIG Has Been Here by Jack Prelutsky - Drawings by James Stevenson

This collection of poems provides several humorous poems that combine rhyming and free verse within one hundred fifty three pages. Prelutsky truly plays with language in the creative topics and antics portrayed in the poems. There is a humorous play on the types of meals served in school cafeterias that employs alliteration with catchy titles of entrees: "Fried Flying Fish Fins," "Pickled Pelican Parts," and "Cracked Crocodile Crunch" are some tasty examples. The name of the poem is "Grasshopper Gumbo." Another poem makes fun of people who thrive on complaining and disputing others' opinions: "The Disputatious Deeble." This poem quotes several retaliatory remarks from a grouchy person who is unable to see the good in a cheery adversary. "Lovely gravy!" may bring out the retort, "An awful sauce." If you say, "Sweet butter!" the Disputatious Deeble may say, "Salty Cheese." Another poem plays with phrases with multiple meanings, "I Wave Good-bye When Butter Flies." This poem is funny as it plays with common phrases in different contexts: "...It makes me sad when lettuce leaves, I laugh when dinner rolls, I wonder if the kitchen sinks and if a salad bowls..." Prelutsky entertains with his poems as the reader delilghts in the many possibilities for playing with language and conveying humor through carefree poetry topics.

But I’ll Be Back Again by Cynthia Rylant

Cynthia Rylant’s autobiography reveals a lot of feelings portrayed by some of the characters in her books. She grew up in a broken home, because her mother and Cynthia Rylant left her father when she was four years of age due to his alcoholism. Although he communicated with her with letters, she did not see him much at all after leaving him. He died of sickness four years later without saying goodbye to her. Rylant’s mother left her in the care of Cynthia Rylant’s grandparents for four years when she was off going to school for nursing. Rylant was cared for by grandparents, aunts, and uncles during this time. Her autobiography revealed the devastating emotional trauma of the loss of her father and temporarily her mother. Her experiences with loss fueled her writing, and she found writing to be a vehicle for coping with her sad childhood experiences of loss. Her grandparents, aunts, and uncles must have been loving caretakers for Rylant to emanate such a positive outlook on her life as she recalls memories of her childhood. She seems to cheerfully recall giggles with her aunts and fond memories of relationships with peers when she was growing up. She relates “crushes” she had had with some boys and her hero, Robert Kennedy. Her memories seemed to have spoken to her clearly to encourage her to want to become a writer. She notices that writing has given her the power to change things I could not change as a child.
Several of the books by Cynthia Rylant illustrate themes of loss and finding oneself: Missing May, A Fine White Dust, The Islander, I Had Seen Castles, and Waiting to Waltz. In all of these books Rylant develops the characters experiences with peers and families in a positive light. She often shows her protagonists as experiencing a significant loss and dealing with it in a steadfast way. This is evident in Missing May and in The Islander. Summer, the protagonist relates her inner struggle with caring for her uncle Ob and missing her Aunt May. Rylant also struggled with wondering as a child if her father had ever tried to communicate with her after his death. Her book Missing May describes such an experience as Summer relates missing May. The Islander related a story about a young boy who had lost his mother and father at an early age and had to learn to fit in to a community on an island while living with his grandfather. Rylant also relates in her autobiography her salvation experience in church when she was a young adolescent. Her struggles with her relationship with God become clear through the protagonist, Pete in A Fine White Dust as he pours out his emotions and soul describing his newfound commitment to God through his salvation experience from an encounter with an evangelist at his local church. I started to read Rylant’s A Heavenly Village, but I did not finish reading it. In that book I remember several implications that may relate to Rylant’s faith in God. Rylant stated in her autobiography that she chose to remember friends and places that communicated to her peacefulness and love. Most of her books seem to be illuminated with peaceful plots and caring characters. These traits are clear in many of her picture books: Thimbleberry, The Blue Hill Meadows, Little Whistle, The Relatives Came, Waiting to Waltz, and The Van Gogh Cafe.
Rylant seems to have found herself through writing, and she has shared her gift of storytelling in bringing to life her own stories to which so many of us can relate.

A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck

A Long Way From Chicago teases only a glimmer of a glimpse of the setting of this historical fiction novel set in the Depression era in a small town located a train ride away from Chicago. The story is narrated by Joe, an older man as he recalls memories of his childhood when he and his sister spent seven summers with their "tough as an old boot" Grandma. Without the rural, small-town setting and the main character, Grandma there surely would not have been a story. Grandma presents as a large, rough woman who has no fear and is not afraid to stand up to anybody and to "tell it like she sees it." This characterization lends the humor in the story as the reader contrasts Grandma against the stereotype grandmother one would expect two young children to visit every summer. The reader is able to sense the span of time not only over the course of seven summers between 1929 and 1935 but further ahead to 1942 when Joe recalls attending boot camp prior to his military duty in World War II. Who else could portray the necessary resourcefulness that must have been employed during the Depression era than Grandma herself? The novel is formatted into short stories, each connected to the other as in chapters; but each story is another year's summer recalled in detail by Joe. The reader is quickly engaged into the book and introduced to Grandma when she calmly and resolutely insists that a dead gangster's coffin reside in her parlor the night before his funeral. Traditionally the family stays watch over a dead family member's coffin the night prior to the funeral, but Shotgun Cheatham had no family. Grandma went one step further and guarded the house with her double-barrel shotgun. Joe and his sister, Mary Alice seem to be "putty in the hand" of Grandma this summer and the next following summers as they are directed to join Grandma in her many escapades and trickeries with the townfolk. Picture Grandma foiling two mischievious boys from the dairy delivery truck trying to trick her with a mouse in a bottle of milk. The fun never ends as the reader is brought into the story beside Joe and Mary Alice witnessing Grandma fishing in forbidden waters only to discover some of the town's men of authority drunk in their underwear on a porch of an old shack. Later in the story a blackmail opportunity surfaces. Other adventures ensue with Grandma, each more delightful to the reader than the last. Towards the end of the book Peck gently implies Grandma's softer side. There are a few chapters where Grandma sends Joe and Mary Alice to the attic to find things for a yard sale and later for a town centenniel celebration. The reader may figure out that this is Grandma's way to reveal for her grandchildren the nostalgia from her past without her surrendering her facade of "tough as nails." Grandma is really a deeply compassionate soul who winds up helping several people in her community and impacting her own grandchildren with her "hidden" goodness. This character trait surfaces more clearly at the end of the book as Joe passes by Grandma's house in a train bound for boot camp, and Grandma waves to the train knowing Joe is on it somewhere. Joe is touched by her wave and waves back. Throughout the book Joe and Mary Alice are outstaged by Grandma. They appear only as observant onlookers to the actions until the end of the book when Mary Alice "shows her colors" dancing with Ray Veech in the centenniel celebration. Mary Alice's boldness shows clearly, a trait she must have learned from Grandma. Joe may have turned out to be a more conservative character in the way that he told his tale, but his tenacity and toughness showed his readiness to fight in the war. I'm anxious to read A Year Down Yonder to again enjoy Grandma's antics. I've been acquainted with a couple of "Grandmas" in my life, and it continues to amaze me how the facets of human nature and compassion come in so many shapes, sizes, and personnas.

Joyful Noise - Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman - Illustrated by Eric Beddows

Once again Paul Fleischman's artful genius surfaces to the top! The orchestration of words and phrases creates a harmony of meaning and description that transcends the printed word. This collection of poems about insects makes the reader empathize with the life of each insect in a celebratory way. The first poem in the collection, "Grasshoppers" gives the sensation of movement and energetic leaping with the concurrent chorus of words read by two voices. The emphasis on action verbs is evident and creates the imagery so evident in this poem. The next poem, "Water Striders" emanates the feeling of plodding along in a slow, but steady manner. There is rhythm in the phrasing that seems to emulate the sense of striding as befits the insect's name, water striders. I was particularly affected by the poem, "Fireflies" which imbues the metaphoric description comparing fireflies to writing: 'Light is the ink we use...' and 'six-legged scribblers....signing the June nights.' How long have those fireflies waited for that poem to celebrate their unique design? I always wondered how and why moths are so attracted to lights. The poem, "The Moth's Serenade" entwines the words as if two lovers are singing a duet and courting with passionate exchange - a moth and it's light, Ahhh! Again the harmony of the two voices speaking in unison to embrace the words and the solo emphasis on the meaningful words sparkles within the phrases . The poem, "The Digger Wasp" seemed to be a self-written epitaph from a martyr. She seemed so devoted to the life of her young, and she was committed to be part of the circle of life she so articulately described. The last poem in the book seemed most masterful, "Chrysalis Diary." I had never thought to try to think about life around the chrysalis as it goes through the metamorphasis of becoming a butterfly. Again, the use of two voices to share the oberservation from the chrysalis's point of view is figurative language to its utmost. Imagine the chrysalis viewing falling snowflakes from its window! What a vision! Indeed, Fleischman has set a precedent with his orchestrating words to blend and flow to create these unique images. For students who are not involved with music in any way this collection of poems enables those students to experience the sense of harmony that can be created by blending the beautiful sounds and meanings of words in these poems.

Waiting to Waltz – A Childhood (Poems by Cynthia Rylant) Drawings by Stephen Gammell.

This book is a series of short poems about significant people, events, or places in the town of Beaver. The poems are written in free-verse and seem to describe meaningful memories in Cynthia Rylant’s life. I connected with the poem about “Wax Lips,” because I remember those from my own childhood and the fun we had with them around Halloween. I remember sending letters to my uncle in Quincy, Indiana where everyone knew him just with the General Delivery address. I always thought he must be very important to have mail delivered that way. I was grateful for Rylant’s poem about “Sam the Shoe Shop Man,” and I wanted to cheer in celebrating with her the heroic qualities of the simple man who must have been an optimistic light to those who knew him. The poem about “Band Practice” showed Rylant’s persistence in working on fitting in and finding her own place. That must be one of her telling qualities even as a writer. She evidently learned a lot about playing in more ways than one. The illustrator inspired mood and hints about the town’s simple qualities. Especially revealing was the illustration showing looking out from inside Sam’s Shoe Shop. The double page spread of the thunder storm following the poem, “The Rescue” shows the stark desolate backdrop of the lone house amid the thunderstorm. The pencil sketch sets the mood appropriately.

Long Night Moon by Cynthia Rylant Illustrated by Mark Siegel

This book seemed to be a similar book to Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s Back by Joseph Bruchac and Jonathan London. The book describes the names and legends of the Native American Moons that describe seasons or periods during the year. The January Moon must have been very bright to be able to show your way home. The March Sap Moon must be the dawn of spring, since small green trees and melting ponds are mentioned with it. The May Flower Moon is described as bright and cheerful. The illustration effectively shows it to light up the night. I like the description of the August Harvest Moon compared to a “big ripe melon” and “blessing the calm fields of hay.” The creatures must look up to the September Coon Moon for guidance as Rylant aptly describes thee moon showing creatures a “better path.” The title of the book seems to be named after the December moon, the Long Night Moon that must guard us through the night until morning in its faithfulness to light up the sky. I appreciated the illustrator’s note about how he chose his medium for illustrating Rylant’s poems about Long Night Moon. She brought out the unique night magic that the moons highlight over nature.

Bull Run by Paul Fleischman

This historical fiction novel is formatted similarly to Fleischman's Seedfolks but with fewer connections evident among characters. I started reading the book by simply opening the front cover and beginning reading, so when I realized that different characters begin to narrate again on subsequent pages I found myself turning back to the character's previous story to try to make connections. Having an interest in music I chose to follow Toby Boyce's depictions of the war. It seemed that by his fifth narration he had matured and had seen enough of war to make one's toes curl. I also discovered a stark truth about myself. In reading and comparing the narrations of southern Flora Wheelworth and northern Lily Malloy I found myself identifying more closely with Flora. This realization surprised me, because I've always identified myself as a "transplanted Yankee," having grown up in my first 12 years in Massachusetts and New York. Flora's straightforward religious faith and resolve to stay strong seemed to show values that I try to live. Lily seemed to live a lonely life mentally distanced from her father and family. She so suffered the loss of Patrick, but she seemed not allowed nor able to share her emotions openly with her family. What a travesty! Yet in all my recent years visiting back in Massachusetts and New York I've noticed the same "aloofness" or "distance," if you will among members of some families. The close-knit bond is not as evident as that with families in the South. This is probably just my perception and opinion. I would hope it is really not so.

I Had Seen Castles by Cynthia Rylant

The horrors of the World War II period became immediately real and vivid with the backdrop of our country's stance in the war with Iraq. Cynthia Rylant showed a different side of herself in her writing of this book. Others of her books that I have read show her writing style as simple yet reflective with children as her main characters in situations requiring reflection and/or deep soul-searching. In her typical style of narrating a story simply and without needless rhetoric she effectively crafted the story of a young man's experience becoming involved in the war with a series of flashbacks and flashforwards strategically placed throughout the story. The character of Ginny brought out the passionate, caring side of John as they grew to be close friends and lovers. John's family members were clearly experiencing stations in life common through the World War II times. Rylant's portrayal of John through his war experiences showed the ugliness of war but John's steadfastness in dealing with each new challenge of it. The reader knew from the beginning of the book that John survived the war, but the terrors and tragedies of the war were no less gruesome as the reader was felt to be standing beside John witnessing those horrible deaths and tragic wounds. The castle appeared to be an icon of hope for John, and he seemed to associate the castle with hopes and dreams that he allowed himself to realize in his adult years living in Europe. He must have seen a need to be needed there. That is one common feature that is becoming evident to me in Rylant's books: the perceptive ability for the main character to endure tough times yet to feel needed by one or more characters around him/her. This book is a to-the-point "must-read" in the genre of historical fiction to enable the reader to connect present stresses of war with stresses of times past in war.

The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo

The Tiger Rising is epitomized as a metaphor in response to the protagonist, Rob's deep-seated turmoil over the death of his mother in this realistic fiction novel. DiCamillo reveals Rob's character as reserved, serious young boy who continually tries to stifle his deep thoughts as he grapples with coping with his mother's recent death. Throughout the book DiCamillo metaphorically shows Rob keeping his not-thoughts in his suitcase which he endeavors not to open. He tries not to succumb to his emotions. Rob carves things from wood in his spare time, and it seems to reflect his thinking at least at a surface level. Living in a motel where his father works to scrape a meager living for the two of them turns out to be the least of Rob's obstacles. He is plagued by a severe rash on his legs that causes him to be teased by bullies at school and eventually dimissed from school to allow the rash to heal. The itching annoyance of the rash is exacerbated with every stressor that surfaces for Rob in the plot of the story. Rob meets an improbable friend in Sistine, a newcomer in his school; and he carves an image of her soon after meeting her. Sistine is a young girl who has been displaced by her family, and her demeanor emanates the anger and frustration she tries to hide by her resistant attitude towards people in her new home. Her interactions with Rob reflect this most clearly. At the beginning of the book Rob discovers a tiger in a cage by the woods near his motel home. He keeps this a secret while he is dealing with other issues relating to life in a motel, bullying by classmates, and getting acquainted with the strange new character of Sistine. He learns unsolicited advice from Willie May, the motel maid to whom he shares the secret of the caged tiger. He carved Willie May a bird in memory of the bird she lost when it was released from its cage. She perceptively nailed the idea that Rob and Sistine were quite a pair with both of them dealing with deep-down anger and stress issues. As Rob sees things in common with Sistine he seeks to befriend her by showing her the tiger. She immediately is fixated on freeing the tiger. The reader is surprised with how simply the plot unfolds to Rob the opportunity to gain access to the keys to the tiger's cage when the motel owner, Beauchamp gives Rob the job of feeding the tiger. As the reader wonders how the tiger will fit into the entwined drama of the deep, disturbing emotions in Rob and Sistine Rob continues his quest to get to know Sistine and to show her that he cares for her situation. Together Rob and Sistine finally agree that the tiger should be freed. The despicable character Beauchamp and the prophetess Willie May seem to have a compounding effect on both Rob and Sisine to decide to free the tiger. The reader wonders why the children to not realize the ultimate consequences of a tiger on the loose in the community, but considering the depths of their deep-seated emotions and their need for satisfying their stresses, freeing the tiger seems to lead to releasing the weight of the anger and unrest within them. The freeing of the tiger was the tiger rising with the anger rising up and out of both main characters in the story. Rob's father is the victim of Rob's unleashed emotions as Rob hits him and irrationally blames him for his unhappiness after Rob's father shoots the tiger found released and running. The killing of the tiger is instrumental in bringing Rob and his father to terms with their situation, and at last Rob is able to carve a likeness of the tiger. Life is brighter for Rob at the end of the story, and he anticipates the return to school and to furthering his friendship with Sistine who has called Rob her best friend.
This book is unlike DiCamillo's other books in its serious tone and theme of finding oneself amid tragedy. It was not one of my favorite of DiCamillo's books, but its metaphoric elements were intriguing and food for thought.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

This rich fantasy masterpiece is surely distinctive among other animal fantasies that have preceded it. The story begins with a vivid description of Edward that within the first two pages gives the reader the image of a distinguished and intellectual gentleman of a rabbit. He is dressed in fine clothes with a pocket watch. As the story continues to unfold the reader eventually ascertains that the love bestowed upon the rabbit by his owner, the young girl, Abilene Tulane is strangely unrequited by Edward.
He waits placidly in the chair where the girl places him never far from her side. Edward presents as an observant yet haughty toy rabbit who resents the intimidating remarks from those of the household who show by their words and actions that they do not appreciate his finer qualities. Soon after Abilene's grandmother Pellegrina tells her a story about an unloving princess turned into a warthog by a witch the grandmother drops the reader a hint of foreshadowing by whispering to Edward that she is disappointed in him.
Edward's thoughts are descriptively revealed by the author as she narrates the story. He thinks matter-of-fact thoughts about his observations about people and situations around him, but the reader infers that he lacks emotion and is incapable of feeling deeply. At this point in the story I became personally involved in the intricacies of the unfolding story. The nostalgia of my children's beloved favorite animal toys that seemed melded to their every adventure and excursion awashed my connections to the book.
The plot began to tumble quickly into a mass of twists and turns like a sudden dip in a roller coaster. Edward's fate was so undeserved and tragic the reader wants to just shout at the characters who seem to recklessly disengage from Edward's deep unknowing needs. I gasped when I read that Edward was tossed overboard by an uncaring young boy who was taunting Abilene on board a ship taking her family to England. I felt Abilene's pain and loss vividly as I knew my daughter's tragic loss of a stuffed animal on a trip. Meanwhile Edward shares his thoughts about his unseemly condition and plight in his usual mundane fashion. I kept wanting Edward to be found by his owner and showered with love and affection to draw out the hidden passion that must be within that fine china self. But alas, his unfortunate adventures had only begun. Subsequently dark and narrow escapes await Edward as he tosses and tumbles through his life's maze. Edward was rescued from the sea by a fisherman, later unearthed by a hobo's dog and endeared by the hobo, and thrown off a train by another hobo. He was rescued from a scarecrow pole by a young boy, Bryce to be given to his dear, dying sister. Later, Edward is victim to an angry man smashing him to the floor and breaking him. Through all this Edward is beginning to realize sentiments of loss and love, and it begins to pain him. Edward survives and is patched back to doll life by a toy mender. DiCamillo had magically entwined me in Edward's near-death experience in doll heaven when the scene changed. At the end of the story I was sitting right beside Edward on a shelf in a doll shop as Edward finally poured his heart out to an old antique doll who tries to contend with him about his decrepit worth. He now knows why grandmother Pellegrina had been disappointed in him. At last Edward has soul. He knows love, because he has been loved by a young girl, a fisherman, a hobo, a dying girl, and a young boy. I felt devasted by the many tragedies of Edward's life at this point, and I could only expect a glimmer of a hopeful ending of the story. DiCamillo crafted her magic at the close of the story with a symphony of mended pieces: A woman and a small girl wearing a locket came into the doll shop. Edward has been found and reclaimed by Abilene who was wearning Edward's long lost pocket watch around her neck, and Edward rejoiced at the reunion.
This book will surely be cherished as a classic piece of literature as it reveals the transpiring soul of a china rabbit seeking recognition and honor in bridging his own need for love with that of his grateful owner.

Penny From Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm

I was drawn to this book for the opportunity to experience recollections of the 1950s and to seek understanding of life for Italian Americans during that time. My uncle (my mother's sister's husband) was Italian, and I always wondered what made him "tick." I remember him as a very strong yet tender-hearted man who loved baseball. He used to make homemade ravioli for many family gatherings with his brothers, mother and family when they joined our side of the family for long Sunday aftertoon reunions. Penny From Heaven brought back a lot of those memories for me. Nonny's macaroni and homemade Italian foods and the many-course meals that seem to last all day were reminiscent of my earlier years. Penny, the protagonist presented as a regular young girl who grabbed life's gusto as much as she could along with her cousin and best friend, Frankie. Penny did not seem to be vain and proper, but she spoke her mind and built rapport with her extended family with ease. She seemed to be well-known by all in her community. Throughout the book she reflected on who her late father really was and how he died. Her family consisted of her mother who was portrayed as a rather minor character in contrast to her uncles, grandparents, Aunt Gina, Nonny, and Frankie. Holm characterized Penny's maternal grandparents as very down-to-earth people with typical yet annoying mannerisms: Pop-pop burped too much, and Me-Me couldn't cook well. Penny's extended family from her father's side lived near by, and Penny often visited them on Sundays. Penny seemed to feel more akin to her Italian uncles, aunt, Frankie, and Nonny, her paternal grandfather. Although the Italian side of the family showed a quarreling Aunt Gina and Nonny, they all tolerated and supported each other in love. Most of them treated Penny like a princess. The first two thirds of the book was mostly descriptive of Penny's day-to day life helping Frankie with deliveries from her uncle's meat store to playing baseball to hanging out and talking about family times with different family members. The plot took a drastic turn when Penny accidentally got her arm caught in the wringer of the washing machine when she and Frankie were under the guise of volunteering to do the laundry in the basement. Frankie wanted time in the basement to search for hidden treasure from his grandfather, and Penny was helping him do the laundry in the basement while he searched the walls. Penny's arm was seriously injured, and she spent a long stay in the hospital waiting and hoping for it to heal. The doctors were skeptical about Penny regaining use of her arm. One day in the hospital Penny overheard bits and pieces of a story about how her Italian father was a spy and how he died. This aroused a barrage of questions in her mind, and she was able to inquire again of a trusted aunt about what really had happened to her father. At long last Penny heard the true story about how her father was unfairly discriminated against as an Italian and an enemy alien . It seemed that now knowing the true story, Penny had new hope that enabled her arm to heal. One day she tried to reach for her lucky bean on the table beside her bed. To her surprise her fingers could curl around the bean. From that momement on the story took several upbeat turns. Her mother married the milkman who moved into her grandparents' house with them, she became a very popular girl at school, the boy with whom she had a crush asked her out to a movie, and her favorite Uncle Dominic returned after having abandoned her with the wringer accident. Uncle Dominic who had always slept in an old abandoned car out back finally moved into the basement of the house. Penny now had her family together: near and dear to her heart in more ways than one.

Avi - The Library of Author Biographies by Michael A. Sommers

Two of my favorite novels to plan to use in the classroom are written by Avi: Nothing But the Truth and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. I chose to read Avi's biography in hopes to learn more about the background behind these books, but I did not learn much new from reading the biography. I had known that Avi had a learning disability, and I found this interesting relating to the population of learning disabled students that I have taught. I did learn from the biography that Avi was always an avid reader, and the literary background of his mother and father and extended family must have paved his way for pursuing authoring books. I am grateful for Avi's persistence in writing in spite of all the negative feedback he had received as a young writer. He has proved his talent at weaving a complex plot with rich characterization and gripping action. I appreciate the implied rebelliousness in some of his characters. Middle school students have lots with which to relate in Avi's books in dealing with issues of growing up and making choices. The biography emphasizes Avi's interest in historical fiction for middle schoolers. He thoroughly researches his characters and setting before finalizing his books, and he finds a lot of pleasure in the research phase of his writing process. There was limited background in the biography for the books I would like to read by Avi, but I know I can research reviews on his books before reading them. The source notes and bibliography at the end of the biography were helpful, and I appreciated the note about the website for the publisher for undated biographical information on Avi.

Mole Music written and illustrated by David McPhail

The picture book, Mole Music is a story about a mole who learns to play beautiful music on his violin while above ground marvelous effects are shown from the music emanating from the roots of the oak tree above Mole's house. The story embodies the theme showing how music enriches, comforts, and enlivens our lives with its beauty and harmony. Mole realized that his life was satisfying but humdrum. He was inspired one night when he was relaxing in front of the TV listening to a man playing a violin. He decided he wanted to play beautiful music, too. Mole ordered a violin in the mail, and upon receiving it he persevered in practicing steadily. After a month he began to play a simple song, and as years went by he played more beautiful music. While he was imagining and wishing he could play for large audiences of people and wishing he could change the world and “melt hearts” with his music extraordinary events were occurring above ground: The oak tree above its roots sticking through Mole’s ceiling was growing and thriving. The tree was providing a peaceful perch for many birds, opposing armies were making peace with each other, and presidents and common people were finding peaceful solitude or shelter under and around the oak tree above Mole’s home where he played his beautiful music. The inviting aura around the tree above ground seemed to attract people and birds, and at the end the soldiers were contentedly sleeping in and around the tree while Mole played one last song below before going to sleep and pleasantly dreaming. The book is an inspiration to aspiring young musicians, and it invites them to work with the same tenacity and verve as Mole as he seeks to develop his musical skill for the pleasure of others.

In Flight with David McPhail - A Creative Autobiography

David McPhail has loved drawing since he was a child, and he has been doing it as long as he can remember. His drawings seem to show rough edged sketching with pencil or ink, and he creates shadowing in his figures with just a few pencilstrokes. The result of his drawings appear mostly lifelike, but I notice that his drawings of people are slightly disproportionate, in that the heads are somewhat larger in proportion to the bodies. McPhail relates with a very clear image to the reader on page 5 of his autobiography that pictures just "dance" through his head and are "fuzzy and out of focus" until he draws them. He can then see them. The illustration on page 5 shows fuzzy colored drawings superimposed on a sloppy draft of a page of writing. It seems to show as he describes in his biography that the pictures come into his head when the writing becomes clear. He relates that the stories he writes find him, "not the other way around." Because of this he likes to always have his writing tools handy, so he can quickly get a story down when it comes his way. The autobiography describes his early books mostly about bears and pigs. He shares with the reader the communication he has with his editor in a form of argument back and forth until both are satisfied with his stories. He reads his story over and over many times before beginning his illustrations, so he can quickly sketch with the story clearly in his head. He draws a picture from many angles and perspective before he decides which one best fits his story, so he draws numerous illustrations before deciding on the final ones to go on the pages of the dummy book. He illustrates mostly with watercolors and ink. He has written and illustrated about fifty books, and he has illustrated fifteen more. His goal is to write one book every year or two. He loves getting paid to do what he loves best.

A Fine White Dust by Cynthia Rylant

Cynthia Rylant reveals the depths of the protagonist's soul in this book more than other books I have read by this author. I was drawn to read this book to see how a seventh grader may perceive the rich experience of making a commitment to become a Christian. Rylant portrays Pete as a vulnerable sponge ready and willing to soak up everything the Preacher Man has to say to him. Pete highly respects this Preacher who is in town for a series of evangelistic meetings. After being saved by the things preached by the Preacher Man Pete experiences new feelings and a new and different outlook on life. He comes to realize a chasm of differences with his best friend, Rufus who is an atheist. As the book progresses the reader begins to think that Pete will give up everything and follow the Preacher Man in his travels, but the story ends with Pete being "stood up" by the Preacher Man in favor of a young girl who the Preacher Man prefers to take with him. Pete felt let down and discouraged, but Rylant has a way of making the reader hold out hope that Pete is still a changed young man in spite of the deception of the Preacher Man. Rufus remains steadfast and loyal to Pete throughout the book, and he even stays up all night waiting for Pete to return from his wait to escape town with the Preacher Man. At the end of the book Pete questions Rufus about his belief in God, and his response to Pete gives the reader hope that perhaps Pete's influence on Rufus may eventually bring about a good turn for Rufus. This realistic fiction work is a deep perceptive view into the life of a seventh grader at the age where he is questioning his own purpose and station in life.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Curtis

This historical fiction book set in the 1960s takes the reader from a hilarious narrative of nonstop mischief with Byron, Kenny's older brother to their close call with tragedy in the horror of the church bombing in Alabama. Kenny, the bookworm narrates the story throughout the book. His older brother Byron gets in so much trouble his parents resort to sending him off to spend a summer with Grandma in Alabama. At first the reader laughs at the one-of-a-kind pranks that keep Byron ticking and his little brother packing away the memories. Byron inceasantly teases his younger brother, but Kenny copes and watches his brother challenge the rules of society. Byron makes burning toilet paper parachutes in the bathroom . Kenny and his little sister Joetta cringe as their mother gets ready to burn Byron's finger to teach him a lesson. Byron deals with the bully who painted his brother's lost gloves with black shoe polish. He appears in front of his mother with an Afro resulting in a shaved head as punishment. Kenny portrays Byron as a fool, and between the lines the reader can almost witness him gloating as Kenny's parents finally resort to planning to drive Byron to Alabama to endure some Grandma remedy. The book takes a sudden turn in mood when the family arrives in Alabama. Kenny ventures into a forbidden water hole and almost drowns after he has a vision that will later push him to become a hero for his little sister. Byron's character changes as he becomes a helpful older brother to Kenny. The climax occurs when the family is startled with a huge blast that turns out to be the bombing of a church where Joetta was attending church school. When Kenny fears Joetta missing and finds a black shoe like the one she left the house in we see a new heroic side of Kenny appear. He shows a big brotherly side at the end of the book when he invites Joetta into his room with a new compassionate side to him. The family pulls together in the wake of the tragedy, and they vicariously suffer with the families who lost loved ones in the bombing.

The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton

This captivating mystery about a significant historical time of the Underground Railroad was a book that was very hard to put down: Truly an all-nighter, because so many deep issues were intertwined with the plot. Set in the 1960's this book centers around a young black protagonist named Thomas Smalls. Thomas Smalls and his family moved to Ohio to rent an old house dating back to the time of the Underground Railroad. Thomas never felt accepted in the new town, and even the folks at church did not seem to welcome the Smalls. At the beginning of the book the reader wonders if someone was breaking into the house to rearrange furniture for some strange reason. Being a curious young boy Thomas must investigate. Finding strange tin triangles stuck in the door jams who would think that these must be part of a puzzle for Thomas to try to solve? Strange things are happening to the Smalls throughout the book. The strange Darrows family seem to try to scare the Smalls out of the house. The reader wonders if the Darrows are in cahoots with Pluto, the eccentric caretaker of the old house. The high point of the book seemed to be the practical joke played on the Darrows to scare them off, yet later in the book after Thomas had discovered a secret tunnel and passageway under the house the reader discovers two Plutos. A rich and valuable treasure awaits Thomas beneath the house that connect him to his past and to learn gems of knowledge about the Underground Railroad. This book is a must-read, and the true twists and turns of the novel must be saved for those who have not yet picked up this book.

Missing May by Cynthia Rylant

This book was a puzzling yet celebratory experience for me. The first half of it just did not reach me, because it forced me to face again my father's death about a year ago. I just did not want to read on at that point. But Cynthia Rylant is true to her down-to-earth way of touching readers in that part of the soul that says, "Yeah, I've experience that, too." The last half of the book came around to giving me a huge hug to affirm that my circle of grief had been completed much in the same way as Summer's had. There was a tremendous healing effect of that good long cry and allowing a living loved one to feel needed and to be healed by feeling needed. A couple of full circles of grief interlocking and becoming strengthened by them.
I could only wonder if May and Ob were the aunt and uncle that Rylant grew up with after losing her mother and father. Summer was always cautiously looking on and worrying about Ob, yet she always shared thoughts that let me believe she was ready to be the caretaker of him and their trailer home. Cletus was the nonconformist who turned out to be the character who enabled Summer and Ob to process through losing May. He was have been a comfort to Ob as an optomistic conversationalist who knew how to draw out a person's thoughts in conversation. Though Summer found Cletus annoying in his propensity for being overly observant and collecting things he must have earned her respect by the end of the novel. Perhaps when she became acquainted with Cletus's parents she was able to see him in a different light. The climax was clearly when Ob decided to turn the car around to follow through with the original plan to visit the capitol building. That must have been the point when Ob realized that his sole purpose in life was to be needed by Cletus and Summer. At the end of the book Summer must have finally realized how much Ob had wanted to "fill May's shoes" in caring for Summer. The italicized narrative of May speaking to Summer's conscience was touching and seemed to mirror the feelings Ob must have conveyed to Summer through his embrace to comfort her and to wipe away her tears. I wonder if the book were to continue if Cletus would eventually become an adopted member of Ob's home.