Thursday, October 30, 2014
Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An expedition to the cloud forest of New Guinea.
Montgomery, Sy.
2006. Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An expedition to the cloud forest of New
Guinea. Ill. by Nic Bishop. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 054724892X
The book is a spectacular account of an expedition in
New Guinea to preserve the Tree Kangaroo population. The author along with scientists, biologists,
conservationist, photographer, and indigenous people, trek tirelessly through
the rain forest of New Guinea.
Montgomery used beautiful color photographs to give readers an insight
to a remote region , only inhabited by local people. The layout is similar to a diary or journal,
as it, gives specific details of the journey.
The author's dedication in writing about the Tree Kangaroo is remarkably
admirable because the journey required physical strength in order to reach the
desired location. Interestingly, the author exposes readers to
the native language of the region, along with web resources to located
information on the Tree Kangaroo. Each
page is filled with factual information and introduces a diverse species of
animals and plants along the journey. Photographs of indigenous people are
showcased throughout the book to show a representation of the community.
Excerpts
From Horn Book
Magazine
Ford, Danielle J. 2007. "Quest for the Tree
Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea." Horn Book
Magazine 83(1): 85.
"The brilliant colors and
sharp focus capture a host of rainforest plants and animals up close, including
the adorably fuzzy tree kangaroos.”
From Booklist
Engberg, Gillian. 2006. "Quest for the Tree
Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea." Booklist
103(7): 58.
"Still, Montgomery gives an
unusually strong, visceral sense of the work and cooperation fieldwork entails
and the scope and uniqueness of this particular mission."
From School
Library Journal
Piehl, Kathy1. 2006. "Quest for the Tree Kangaroo:
An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea." School Library
Journal 52(12): 166.
"Stunning close-ups of plants, insects, and
birds vie for attention with panoramas of moss-draped trees in the eerie,
ancient forest."
From Kirkus
Reviews
2006. "QUEST FOR THE TREE KANGAROO: An Expedition
to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea." Kirkus Reviews 74(19): 1020.
"The writer and photographer of this exemplary
description of science field work accompanied researcher Lisa Dabek on an
expedition high in New Guinea's mountains to study tree kangaroos
and promote the conservation of this elusive and endangered species."
Awards
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award
Booklist Editor's Choice 2006
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
Connections
other Sy Montgomery books
Chasing Cheetahs: The race to save Africa's fastest
cat ISBN 0547815492
The Tarantula Scientist ISBN 061891577X
The Tapir Scientist: Saving South America's largest
mammal ISBN 0547815484
Activities
for children
Children can research the tree kangaroo and find
interesting facts.
Children can look at the book and identify other
animals.
Children can draw their favorite animal.
Personal
Response
I believe the book is an educational experience that
teaches children about science. It
exposes children to different cultures
and places. Along with the scientific
aspect of the book, children can learn about scientific exploration and
conservation issues. I would recommend
the book because it is a real account of research science.
Our Eleanor: A scrapbook look at Eleanor Roosevelt's remarkable life.
Fleming,
Candace. 2005. Our
Eleanor: A scrapbook look at Eleanor Roosevelt's remarkable life. New York: Atheneum Books for Young
Readers. ISBN 0689865449
Fleming created a wonderful biography of First Lady,
Eleanor Roosevelt. Through extensive
research using resources from the Franklin D.
Roosevelt Library to accounts from friends and family, Fleming has drawn
the reader into Eleanor's personal life.
On the outside, Eleanor is an accomplished woman but Fleming's depiction,
gives a humanizing quality of the First
Lady. The book is a compiled record of a
woman who was extremely driven and focused on the civil rights of woman,
children and minorities. The reader can
sympathize with Eleanor because she seems like everyone else. The author uses various quotations from
Eleanor and other individuals, to personalize the story. It is, as if, the reader is looking through a
diary of Eleanor's life. Using photographs, newspaper clips, columns, and
personal letter written by Eleanor, Fleming made the book cohesive because it
intertwines with the text. The overall
layout of the book, is in a chronological order, using dates and years to show
the progression of Eleanor's age. Quite
a page turner, the author gives pieces of information using headings to
persuade the reader to continue to the next page. The source notes in the back pages, gives the
reader, further resource information about how the book was created. The added
bonus is the genealogical chart of Roosevelt family lineage located in front
and the timeline that shows important years.
Excerpts
2006.
"Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable
Life." School Library Journal 52(3):
90.
"Using a scrapbook approach, Fleming surrounds
her brief narrative with arrays of diary entries, contemporary new clippings,
cartoons, letters, period photographs, and other documentary evidence- all of
which combine brilliantly to bring out the rich, complex character of the First
among all First Ladies."
2006.
"Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable
Life." Library Media Connection 24(5):
73-74.
"This scrapbook biography
employs oral history transcripts, books, and photographs. Eleanor’s vital role in American history is chronicled
in this biography that captures her vulnerability and her humanity."
Bush,
Margaret A. 2005. "Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's
Remarkable Life." Horn Book Magazine 81(6): 734.
"This richly rendered
account of the life and accomplishments of Eleanor
Roosevelt is both unabashed tribute and absorbing
history."
Medlar,
Andrew. 2005. "Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's
Remarkable Life." School Library Journal 51(11): 158-159.
"The title suggests an intimacy between reader
and subject, which is strengthened by a design suggesting a family album."
Awards
ALA Notable Book
Notable Children's Book
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Medal Winner
Connections
other Candace Fleming books
The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall
of Imperial Russia ISBN 0375867821
Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia
Earhart ISBN 0375841989
The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary
ISBN 0375836187
Activities
for Children
Children can be asked to write a book report on
Eleanor.
Children can be asked to write about one page of the
book.
Personal
Response
The book was marvelously written and I wanted to
continue turning the page. The
photographs helped me to coordinate the story with the events. Eleanor Roosevelt was so accomplished because
she fought for civil rights. One has to wonder, if she, was the reason
there are laws against the discrimination of minorities. It is apparently clear why so many individuals
were drawn to her. She was sophisticated,
yet, she wasn't afraid to go beyond the norm.
She was an ordinary person who did extraordinary things through her own
political views. I would recommend the
book to everyone. It is a true depiction
of the life of Eleanor Roosevelt.
Living Color
Jenkins,
Steve. 2007. Living
Color. New York: Houghton Mifflin
Company. ISBN 054757682X
The book is an exploration of animals, using vibrantly
rich colors, to encourage children to read.
Each page is divided into colors: red, blue, yellow, green, orange,
purple and pink. The illustrations are done beautifully to showcase each
animal. The author complements the
illustration by writing small facts about each animal. There is a cohesive layout because pictures,
colors and text are intertwined. A small
index of each animal can be located in the back of the book, along with
additional facts. The headings are bolded, with the corresponding colors, to
assist the reader into a different color palette. Each page has factual information without
cluttering the book. A great example of
learning about diversity, the author has created an educational book that is
fun to read.
Excerpts
From School
Library Journal
Bock, Lee. 2007. "Living Color." School
Library Journal 53(10): 135.
"Cleverly organized around seven colors,
including purple and pink, this book is jam-packed with visual and written
information about scores of animals, Jenkins's signature vivid paper collages,
startling in their detail and realism, have a sense of depth that was created
by layering materials. "
From Horn Book
Magazine
Auger, Tanya D. 2007. "Living Color." Horn
Book Magazine 83( 5): 597-598.
"The book’s real highlight,
though, is Jenkins’s cut-paper collage: his animals are dazzling—vibrantly
colored and detailed."
2007. "Living Color." Publishers Weekly
254( 28): 164-165.
"The combination of
easy-to-understand language and gorgeous illustrations makes this a prime
choice for any young animal enthusiast's collection."
From Booklist
Mattson, Jennifer. 2007. "Living Color." Booklist
103(22): 70.
"From the pink fairy
armadillo to the purple deep-sea dragonfish, readers will be fascinated by the
panoply of critters that often seem the stuff of fairy lore, and educators will
applaud the cleaver concept of presenting survival adaptations as a biological
fashion show. "
From Kirkus
Reviews
2007. "Living Color." Kirkus Reviews 75(10): 20.
"Collage artist Steve
Jenkins continues his seemingly limitless exploration of the natural world with
Living Color, an examination of the many uses of color in the animal
kingdom."
Awards
2008 Orbis Pictus Recommended
Books
Best Books of 2007 by Publishers
Weekly
Booklist Editor's Choice
Connections
other Steve Jenkins books
Eye to Eye: How animals see the
world ISBN 0547959079
The Animal Book: A collection of
the fastest, fiercest, toughest, cleverest, shyest- and most surprising-
Animals on Earth ISBN 054755799X
Sisters and Brothers: Sibling
relationship in the animal world ISBN
0547727380
Activities
for children
Ask children to research an
animal from the book.
Ask children to draw and color a
specific animal.
Personal
Response
The book is a wonderful
representation of an information book.
Children can learn about colors, animals and facts. I think the book helps
children comprehend small facts about the animals without inundating them with
information. The book is easy to read
and color coordinating pages allow children to understand diversity. I would
highly recommend the book.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Remember the bridge: Poems of a people
Weatherford, Carole Boston.
2002. Remember the bridge: Poems of a people. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN 0399237267
Plot:
The book is a historical timeline of the life of an African
American. It showcases many inhuman
circumstances that have plagued the African American community. The timeline is based on several centuries of
historical injustices of African Americans.
Towards the latter part of the book, triumph and success can be seen.
Critical Analysis:
It is disheartening to see how people treat one
another. Each poem is eloquently told through the eyes of the individual who
experienced such cruelty. The
illustrations further place an emotional hold on the reader because they
connect the words to the story. Each
image is careful chosen to show visual imagery to reinforce the message. Certain poems have line structures while others are formed into
paragraphs, either way, there is some kind of rhythm to each one. The significance of the book is a looking
glass to understanding African American
ancestry. The author captured the essence
of African American history by giving those individuals a platform to tell
their story through imagery. Their
stories are significant because they are an important group of individuals who
paved the way to freedom.
From School Library Journal
"Nevertheless, this celebratory, visually striking book
will be appreciated in most collections."
Lindsay, Nina, Trevelyn E. Jones, Luann Toth, Marlene
Charnizon, Daryl Grabarek, and Jeanne Larkins. 2002. Review of Remember the
Bridge: Poems of a people by Carole Boston Weatherford. School Library Journal 48(1): 169.
From Book Links
"Weatherford uses a bridge metaphor to inspire readers
to learn more about African Americans' long journey toward freedom."
Carger, Chris Liska, and Mayra Carillo-Daniel. 2006. Review
of Remember the Bridge: Poems of a people by Carole Boston Weatherford. Book Links 15(3): 49.
From Publishers
Weekly
"The presentation is consistently handsome, with photos
and engravings done up in sober sepia shades keyed to brown fabric borders, but
the solemnity and weight it lends the proceedings are ultimately undermined by
the less rigorously conceived text."
Roback, Dianne, Jennifer M. Brown, Jason Britton, and Jeff
Zaleski. 2001. Review of Remember the Bridge
by Carole Boston Weatherford. Publishers
Weekly 248(52): 62.
Connections:
Other books published by Carole Boston Weatherford
Birmingham, 1963 ISBN 1590784405
The Beatitudes: from slavery to civil rights. ISBN 9780802853523
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led her people to freedom ISBN
0786851759
Activities for
children:
Children can be asked to create a family tree.
Children can use the library to trace ancestry.
Ask children to find their family story.
Personal Response:
I believe this book is tailored for a child in middle
school. It was a saddening experience
reading the poems because cruelty still exist.
The significant impact on my life was that I became aware of the
historical struggles of the African American community. The individuals depicted in the story will
live on because their account has made it possible for freedom. I recommend the book for any individual to
read because it shows true courage, strength and triumph.
A Pocketful of Poems
Grimes, Nikki.
2001. A Pocketful of Poems. Ill. by Javaka Steptoe. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395938686
Plot:
The poetic writing of Nikki Grimes takes us to a
vibrant location filled with life. The
author has created a wonderful example of merging poetic lyrics with city life
in Harlem. There are a series of poems
with complementary haiku to illustrate commentaries. It takes you through a timeline of year round
events from the viewpoint of a child named Tiana.
Critical
Analysis:
The main character is Tiana, who describes Harlem by introducing us to life, in the city. She speaks about holidays, nature and seasons
to which she describes in detail. Tania
uses a specific words to describe certain aspects of Harlem. The description of
each word does not have rhyme but does have a smooth rhythm about themselves.
The capitalization of words can emphasize importance to gather the attention of
the reader. The poem "Spring"
shows the reader how the seasons have changed because blooms signify a new year. The colorful
illustrations give an visual image of life in Harlem. The use of cutout fabrics, vibrant colors,
and papers illustrate beautifully the city and culture of Harlem. The city seems to be busy and full of
activities.
From School Library
Journal
"Graceful,
rhythmic, accessible, the poems depict sensory impressions and precisely
observed moments."
Persson, Lauralyn.
Review of A Pocketful of Poems by Nikki Grimes. School
Library Journal 47(5):141.
From Publishers
Weekly
"His glorious mixed-media collages make the transition
from intimate interior scenes to electric urban landscapes."
2001. Review of A
Pocketful of Poems by Nikki Grimes. Publishers Weekly 248(3):76.
From Library Talk
"This book will become a favorite as children enjoy the
artwork and learn to appreciate haiku poetry as well."
2001. Review of A
Pocketful of Poems by Nikki Grimes. Library Talk 14(3):46.
Connections
other Nikki Grimes books
Words with Wings ISBN 1590789857
Jazmin's Notebook ISBN 0141307021
When Daddy Prays ISBN 0802852661
Activities for
Children:
Ask children to find a object they see in daily life and
create a poem to describe it.
Children can create a haiku using the same word.
Children can draw, construct, and describe their favorite
place using one word, poem and haiku.
Personal Response:
The book is inviting, appealing and colorful for children to
read. What a wonderful insight to life
in Harlem. The description of the city
makes for a great addition to learning about other regions of the United
States. The importance of the book
creates a foundation to learning about culture and diversity. The book educates children on various
literary styles such as poems and haiku.
The Braid
Frost, Helen.
2006. The Braid. New York: Frances
Foster Books. ISBN 0374309620
Plot:
The story chronicles the life of a family who is
forced to leave their home for an unknown place. Two sisters named Sarah and Jeannie
intertwine their experience through a braid that was made before the family
departure. Sarah stays in Barra with her grandmother
while the rest of the family and Jeannie sail to a new land, far from
home. Sarah and Jeannie create a bond so
strong that neither time or distance can break.
They gather strength from each other even though they are separated.
There are hardships and devastation
through the journey but also love and kindness are apparent.
Critical
Analysis:
The main characters of the book are Sarah and
Jeannie whose description of life is told through commentaries and poetry. The poems, themselves, have significant
meaning because it makes an indirect reference to the sisters' age. The intertwining style of writing in the book
are further indications to signify the bond of the braid. An example is the theme on the last line of a
poem is the first line of the next. The
author paid close attention to making the symbolic nature of the braid to be
interpreted. Sarah and Jeannie are taking turns speaking to motion a weaving
effect similar to the construction of a braid. The sisters gives a firsthand
account of the emotional story of family
hardships. The sisters' individual
journey takes them to places they cannot imagine. Each one has different experiences, but in a
way, the same because of their bond.
From
Library Media Connection
"The book has
both prose and poetry, with a poem illustrating character feelings between each
prose chapter."
Glantz, Shelley.
Review of The Braid by Helen Frost.
Library Media Connection 25(6):77.
From Horn Book Magazine
"Frost
braids her verse novel together with such
delicacy that few readers will note its formal structure: a subtle system of
echoed words shapes the sisters’ alternating verse narratives, while syllables
per line are matched to each narrator’s age; praise poems, alternating with the
sisters’ accounts, also feature systematic repetition."
J. R., L. 2006.
Review of The Braid by Helen Frost. Horn Book Magazine 82(6): 709-711.
From Publishers Weekly
"This brief, memorable book
spans two years, several deaths, first love and the stigma attached to unwed mothers,
while also conveying the resolve of one family to survive and to preserve
hope."
2006. Review of The Braid by Helen Frost. Publishers
Weekly 253(41):55.
From School Library Journal
"While the
inventive form is accomplished and impressive, it's the easy flow of the verse
and its emotional impact that will carry even reluctant readers into the
windswept landscape and the hardships and dreams of these two girls."
Maza, Jill
Heritage. Review of The Braid by Helen
Frost. School Library Journal 52(10):154.
Connections
Other Helen
Frost books
Crossing Stones
ISBN 0374316538
Diamond Willow
ISBN 0312603835
Hidden ISBN
0374382212
Activities for Children:
Children can be
asked to imagine sailing across the ocean.
What would they do?
Ask children to
write about what "The Braid" means to them.
Personal Response:
I believe the
book teaches children about sacrifice, strength and family bond. It is a learning experience which shows how
one family overcame their circumstances. It shows children that no matter the
situation, they can be successful with hard work. The book reminds the reader of the importance
of family and cherishing those moments together. I would highly recommend the book for family
reading time.
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