Focus Question (9/28)

Focus Question: How does knowing about literary elements impact understanding a story?

Literary elements consist of characters, point of view, time, place, plot, mood, theme and the list goes on. Literary Elements can greatly alter a story. They can make or break the emotional connection, engage or disengage a reader. The reader is usually unaware of the impact that literary elements but think of any good book that you have read. Why did you like it so much? I'm sure most of you responded with you had a real connection with one of the characters, the action in the book or the amount of symbols and metaphors in the book. When we build these sort of emotional connections we understand the story more because we are  engaged and interested in what the book can offer for us.

When I think about literary elements I think about the story that professor Caszatt-Allen told in class about the little boy who wrote to the author of Higher Power of Lucky, Susan Patron. The little boy was a reluctant reader but some how made an emotional connection to the Higher Power of Lucky wrote to the author about how much enjoyed the book and proposed a new idea for a second book. The fact that the boy made a connection to the book and enjoyed it made him understand the book. If the little boy had not liked the book he may not have understood what was happening. Think about any book that you didn't understand fully, it was most likely because you did not make an emotional connection to the characters, plot, or time. Making a connection to literary elements strengthens a person's ability to understand the story.

Visting Langston (9/28/2010)

Title: Visiting Langston
Author: Willie Perdomo
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Type: Picture Book
Rating: 4 out of 5
Ages: 5-9

Summary: A poetic tale about a little girl who is going to visit the house of Langston Hughes with her daddy.

I really enjoyed this book because it brought me back to when I was a little girl and my favorite person in the world was Michael Jordan. I wanted to be a famous basketball player just like him. I would spend hours upon hours reading books about Michael Jordan and also practicing so I would have a jump shot just as good as his. This little girl loves Langston Hughes and poetry and even tells the story in poetic rhymes. You can feel her excitement in every page. It makes me wonder how excited I would have been as a child if I ever met Michael Jordan. To me this book is more about the emotions I feel about my childhood rather then the content of the book. Also, the illustrations in the book are absolutely phenomenal. Every page is filled with collage artwork that has so much detail!

A review by Kathleen Karr states,
 "Coretta Scott King Awardee Bryan Collier's watercolor and collage illustrations match the feeling of Perdomo's words. His images are riff with emotion rather than realism. The little girl's pink-striped shirt and her daddy's faux alligator jacket add to the color of the place-and to each of them as individuals. This is a book filled with pride; a book meant to give pride. A prefatory Author's Note gives a brief biographical sketch of Hughes, which emphasizes his motivations as a writer."

I couldn't agree more with this review. The book would be totally different if it wasn't for the water color and collage illustrations that Bryan Collier provides. Also, the author's note in the beginning that gives a background on Langston Hughes, helps add character to the story. I don't think you would get as much emotional impact if you didn't have a background and realize how much poetry impacted Langston live. Also, the author's note seems to be written in simple words so that children can understand it too.

The Good-Night Book (9/28/2010)

Title: The Good-night Book
Author: Peter Curry
Age: pre-school
Rating: 4 out of 5
Type: Picture Book

Summary: This picture book says good-night to all different people in the world.

I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book. It was fun to see all the different types of beds and items the characters had in their bed. It does a very good job at showing diversity in the world. The first time I read this book I thought it was saying good night to different people in the world. The second time I read it, I realized all the people that we are saying good night to actually are fictional fantasy characters that one would encounter in other books. For example "Good-night princess, with such long golden hair." This reminds me of Rapunzel.

Another thing about this book is that you do not  need the words in order to know who you are saying good-night to. You can just look at the picture of the moon and know that the words are going to say "good-night moon." I think this book could also be a wordless book because the illustrations do such a great job at describing what is being read. Another part I enjoyed was looking for the witch. Twice in the book, we try to say good-night to the witch but she isn't in her bed, so it keeps you wondering where she is. Then at the very end it says, "Good-night to you, dream well, sleep tight-and to you know, up there-Good-night!"When you look at the illustration you see the witch on her broomstick. This is an example of how you would not know what the author is referring to without the illustration. The illustration tells the story for you.

For Sale: One Sister-Cheap! (9/28/2010)

Title: For Sale: One Sister-Cheap!
Authors: Katie Alder and Rachel McBride
Illustrations: Mike Venezia
Age: Preschool and early grade school
Type: Picture book
Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary: Sarah, a pesky little sister is always annoying her big brother. Her big brother sets out on a mission to sell his sister. When he finally does he discovers how life is going to be very different without his sister by his side.

I absolutely loved this book. It is such a humorous story that every little kid and adult can relate to. I can just picture my older brother doing the same thing to me and my sister. One of my favorite parts is that the whole book he is pulling his sister in a red wagon trying to sell her to everyone he encounters. When he finally does sell her, he heads back home with the wagon and says; "On the way home the wagon was easy to pull. But there was no one to talk to. At the lemonade stand there was a little girl that sort of looked like Sarah. I offered her a ride in my wagon. But she said she didn't like boys. Sarah likes boys." He is starting to realize how life would be without Sarah. He continues to recall all the things that were going to be different because Sarah wouldn't be there.

From reading this book, I learned a valuable lesson in appreciating siblings. When annoyed with my brother and sister as a child I never stopped to think about what life would be life without them. I just wanted them to get out of my life! After reading this, I wish I would have tried to sell my brother and sister and then learned how much I really needed them in life. Overall, I think this is a very warm and heart felt book that teaches the importance of siblings and family.

My Sister's Rusty Bike (9/28/2010)

Title: My Sister's Rusty Bike
Author: Jim Aylesworth
Illustrator: Richard Hull
Ages: 5-8
Type: Picture Book
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:  A boy travels around the country on his sister's rusty bike finding unqiue and interesting people and places he thinks, "you'll really like." Through alliteration he describes his encounters of people and their talents.

I enjoyed this book because of all the fun alliterations and rhythmic flow. I especially liked all the odd things that are going in the book. For example when he rides to Pennsylvania and meets a guy named Gilly Gibbs, "His hens lay colored eggs. In fact, they lay so many, Gill gathers them in kegs." Then you look at the picture and see all the different colors eggs the chickens are laying. This is something you would never see in real life so I found it quite enjoyable. Another one of my favorite parts is when he goes to Indiana and he says, "A guy lives there named Buddy Biggs. His cow has spots of blue. I did not count her right but her left has twenty-two." As soon as I read that line I counted the spots on the cow.

Overall, this book is just extremely fun. You never know what to expect on the next page! A review by Kirkus Reviews states; 

"Each state's attractions are more wacky than the next (and more nonsensical, with more comedic impact than links to specific states or regions), and all are perfectly complemented by Hull's highly detailed gouache paintings of landscapes and faces (not to mention chickens) that show what happens when Grant Wood meets Technicolor. A quirky and wonderful journey. "

I couldn't agree more with this review. There is no better way to describe this book other then "a quirky wonderful journey"

Maisy Big, Maisy Small (9/28/2010)

Title: Maisy Big, Maisy Small
Author: Lucy Cousins
Age: Preschool
Rating: 5
Type: Picture Book


Summary: This picture book about a mouse named Maisy who describes opposites by relating it to herself.

I loved this picture book because you didn't even need to read the words to know what opposites were being described. For example; there is a picture of Maisy by herself  and there is a picture of Maisy with a lot of people. You do not  need to read the page to know that in one picture "Maisy alone" and in the other picture "Maisy together." This is something we learned in class. That good picture books will tell a story through the pictures and not just through the text. The illustrations are so good that I think this could be a wordless book and even preschoolers and non readers would be able to tell what is going on in the book.

The illustrations in this book are fun, bright and engaging. I also found a Maisy Website. Which provides children will a ton of fun games and coloring books about their favorite Mouse, Maisy. I think this is really important because it gets children excited to read more. They can explore the website and even buy more Maisy books. It continues the learning outside of the book. Plus it is fun!

While, I was looking for reviews about this book I came across a interesting story a mother had to tell about how the book taught her concept of size.
The mother said; "We were playing with her play dough salon toy set the other day. The play dough hair was too short for Ana to give the doll a haircut. So, I said, "let's make the hair long, Ana, it is too short now to give a proper haircut". To which she promptly replied, "No, Amma, let's make it tall, let's make the hair tall... it is too short now"! I had not introduced long vs. short to her before, and looks like she just decided Maisy was right about it and promptly corrected me" - Saffron Tree
I thought this was so interesting! In the book Maisy describes "short and tall." This little girl took what she learned about opposites and applied it to the real world. She may have been wrong about it but still she was learning something from the book. I am interested to read other Maisy books just to see the fun and interesting ways to incorporate interactive learning into books. 

Byrd Baylor

Byrd Baylor is the author of children's picture books. She was on born on March 28, 1924 in San Antonio, Texas. She currently lives near Tucson, Arizona. The environment she grew up plays a significant roll in her writings. She bases most of her books off of the Southwestern geography and climate. Many of her books are centered around the culture of the Tohono O'odham people, which have been her neighbors for years. She has publish 25 children's picture books, four of which are award winning Caldecott Honor books. Caldecott honor is runner up to the Caldecott Medal, which is the best children's book illustrations. Those books are "When Clay Sings", "The Desert is Theirs", "Hawk, I am Your Brother" and "The Way To Start A Day."

Bird Baylor lives in an adobe house in Arizona. This means that there is no electricity and she uses a typewriter in order to compose her work. In many of her books she stresses that too many people are focused on materialistic items and not with their natural environment. I think it is inspiring that she practices what she preaches by living in a house that has no electricity. It shows that she is truly passionate about the environment and the culture that she grew up in.

Her books are very descriptive, providing details about nature someone would have never thought of. I think her books are a good educational tool in a science, or geology section. For example in the "Everybody Needs A Rock" Baylor describes ten rules to picking out a "perfect rock." The rules include things like checking the color, size, shape and smell of the rock. In a classroom this might be a fun activity to have the children follow the steps in her book for picking out a rock and have them pick out their own rock. Also, in another book, "If You Are A Hunter Of Fossils", she describes historic times when their wasn't land but only an ocean where she currently lives. This is a good opportunity to teach children that earth had not always been the way it is now.

Overall, most all of Baylor's books can be used as educational tools in a classroom. They can also be used as moral lessons at home. Parents can read to their children or vice verse and learn together  the importance of appreciating nature and to not get too consumed with materialistic objects. The books also encourage children to go out in the wilderness and experience things. Baylor has a power with words and providing both educational and moral lessons in all of her writings.

Amber Brown Is Not A Crayon

Title: "Amber Brown Is Not A Crayon"
Author: Paula Danziger
Type: Novel
Ages: 2nd-4th grade
Rating: 4 out of 5


Summary: Amber Brown is a quirky and messy third grader. She has a best friend named Justin Daniels. The two do absolutely everything together...that is until they find out that Justin's family is moving away. They get into their first fight. Amber and Justin struggle to talk and cope with the fact that their dynamic duo will be split. 


I really enjoyed this novel. Danziger brings humor into everything she writes but yet provides a valued lesson in growing up. I love how the sentences are short and sweet. It makes it more enjoyable to read and also keeps you on your toes. When reading this book I am brought back to elementary school when me and my best friend were inseparable. We were a lot like Amber and Justin. I do not know what I would have done if one of us would have had to move. This novel really makes me think how my life would have changed if my best friend was taken away from me. 


I find it funny that this book represents the gender roles that usually are present later in life. For example, Amber really wants to just talk about the move and how Justin feels about moving away. Justin is reluctant to talk about it and just wants to pretend like he isn't moving. I feel like when you grow up, you learn that males are not very good at expressing how they feel and they would much rather not talk about it. It's interesting and insightful that Danziger introduces this gender separation at such a young age. 


I was extremely surprised at how much I could relate to Amber Brown, considering she is a fictional third grader. She is upset when Justin doesn't want to talk about the move and when they get in their first fight. She sits and cries in her room in order to get her emotions out. I think sometimes life can be so frustrating and when you can't control it, you just want to cry. Sometimes most adults cannot express their feelings the way she does. Danziger does a nice job at expressing adulthood and maturity in this third grader. At the same though, Danziger still keeps that child-like attitude in Amber. Before Amber cries she starts to make a list of potential "new best friends." Crossing out ones that already have a best friend, are repulsive, or that she just simply cannot get a long with.  Danziger provides a good balance of childhood and adulthood when describing Amber's experiences and actions. 

If You Are A Hunter Of Fossils

Title: "If You Are A Hunter Of Fossils"
Author: Byrd Baylor
Illustrator: Peter Parnall
Ages: 3-6th grade
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
Fossils tell us a story about our history. In this children’s book a little girl describes what she thinks life was like in the mountain that  she discovers fossils by. The little girl escapes from reality and fantasizes about how life used to be when seas and dinosaurs ruled the land. Byrd Baylor uses words to paint a picture of previous times in history. 


I think this book is extremely well written. Byrd Baylor does a fantastic job at describing things in this book instead of just telling. For example in the line, "Here, when I find a brachiopod or mollusk or a round sea urchin, I don't just see it as it is...on a mountain locked in rock. I see it in that ancient lapping water." To me this excerpt is describing how the little girl in the book escapes from what is really there and is imagining when these animals were more then just fossils. Baylor brings to life the fossils that are in the book. 


Another example of using words to paint a picture is when Baylor writes, 
"Sometimes you even feel the long slow terror in that world when water turned to mud. It took millions of years for ocean slime and sun to fight it out but finally sunshine won. Now that sea is a mountain of rock that I climb with a shell in my hand."It is not just about finding fossils, it is about the story, and history that brought us to these fossils. I think that is the most important message in this book. We had to get here somehow and fossils provide a story of how we got here. 

Everybody Needs a Rock

Title: Everybody Needs A Rock 
Author: Byrd Baylor
Illustrator: Peter Parnall
Age: Upper school aged Children
Type: Picture Book
Rating: 3.5 out of 5




In this picture book Byrd Baylor, describes how she thinks it is important for everybody to have a rock. She also describes ten rules for picking out the perfect rock for yourself. She also explains how and why the ten rules are so important to picking your rock.


I'm still sitting here trying to think of how I really feel about this book. I find it confusing. I'm trying to decide if the rock in this book is a symbolism for something else or if it is actually about a rock.Even though I did not enjoy this book, I can see how people who have an appreciation for rocks and nature would love this book. For example a book review by Bruce Crocker. He describes his absolute love for this book. He states that someone finally understand his appreciation for rocks. Maybe if I were a rock person I could relate to this book, or maybe if I went out and found a special rock. Maybe that is what Byrd Baylor is trying to get people to do? Get people to go out and find their own rock?


I may have not particularly enjoyed this book but I can definitely  push the criticism aside and see how deeply passionate Baylor is for nature. She does a very good job at describing how to find the perfect rock. Describing the smells, colors, and sizes of a rock. Who knew a rock could have a smell! That was probably the most interesting part of the book for me. It actually tempted me to go out and start smelling rocks. I also found it especially interesting that she said rocks can have many different colors depending on lighting. She also states the best way to see the color of a rock is to dip it in "a clear mountain steam." It paints a picture about the uniqueness of rocks and also the caring for a rock. I also am very eager to dip a rock in a mountain stream now! I do have to say my favorite part is when Baylor writes,


"Evberybody needs a rock. 
I'm sorry for kids who don't have a rock for a friend. 
I'm sorry for kids who only have TRICYCLES BICYCLES HORSES ELEPHANTS GOLDFISH THREE-ROOM PLAYHOUSES FIRE ENGINES WIND-UP DRAGONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT-- if they don't have a rock for a friend."  

I especially like this line because so many children and adults are obsessed with having the best toys and they do not have an any appreciate for the little things in life. The girl little in this book does not need anyone else expect for her rock. I think that sends a very powerful message. 

Clifford the Small Red Puppy

Title: Clifford The Small Red Puppy
Author: Norman Bridwell
Ages: Young school aged children
Type: Picture book
Rating: 3 out of 5

This picture book is about how Emily Elizabeth came about getting her dog Clifford. At first Clifford was the rent of the litter and every one told Emily he wouldn't survive being that small. There is a change in events when Emily wishes that Clifford would grow and be healthy...he grows all right..REALLY big!

In my opinion the words in this story provide very little. There is no descriptive terminology, it just states things. The illustrations on the other hand, provide a very humorous story, which is what makes this book better! The lack of words seem to be on purpose so that the reader focuses on the pictures. For example the author writes, "He was so little that he was always getting lost even in our small apartment." Then you look at the picture and you see Emily's father putting on his shoe and there is a little "ARF" coming from the shoe. The words never say where he was getting lost but when you look at the picture you know exactly what the author is taking about! These kind of illustrations bring the book to life.

Another example of the how the author tells a story through illustration is when Emily says, "In the morning the lady upstairs called us. It was about Clifford." This tells us very little about why the lady up stairs would be calling about Clifford. Then you look at the picture and you see that Clifford has grown so big that he now can see into the window of the lady that lives above Emily. The illustrations in this book let me see to scale just how small Clifford was and just how big Clifford grew to be! I also love that Clifford always says to be an imperfect puppy. First he was the runt and no one liked him then he was too big and had to shipped away! Despite Clifford's imperfections Emily stilled loved her dog, which shows the dedication and love children have towards their pets.

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Title: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Author and Illustrator: Mo Willems
Type: Picture Book
Age level: Preschool and early readers
Rating: 5 out of 5

In this interactive Caldecott Honor winning picture book,  a pigeon is trying to persuade the reader to let him drive a bus, after the bus driver specifically told the reader to not let the pigeon drive the bus. The humorous pigeon tries every way of persuading and wining to try and get the reader to just let him drive the bus!

I absolutely love this picture book! I love that the pigeon is talking to me and I am responsible for deciding his fate on driving the bus. I found myself screaming out "No!" every time he would ask me in a different way. It also reminded me a lot of what little children do when they want something. Especially all the deceptive ways he tries to trick you. For example, "I'll be your best friend," "how 'bout I give you five bucks" and "oh man, I never get to do anything." I definitely used these excuses as a child when I was trying to get my brother or sister to let me do something. When he throws a fit at the end of the book screaming "LET ME DRIVE THE BUS!!!" I just cracked up, not only have I done this as a child but I have seen countless children do this themselves. I also love that at the end you are left with a picture of a truck and the pigeon saying, "Hey..." It let's you imagination run wild about what the pigeon will do next!

The first thing I notice about this book is that it starts the story starts through illustrations before the book actually starts. The beginning page shows a picture of the pigeons thinking about the bus and shows him driving it in many different styles. The illustrations on the end page, after the actual story, also provide another story. You see the pigeon imagining himself driving a truck just as you did in the beginning. This pigeon just won't take no for an answer!

The Table Where Rich People Sit

Title: The Table Where Rich People Sit 
Author: Byrd Baylor
Illustrator: Peter Parnall
Type: Picture book
Age: Any age
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

This picture book is about a little girl, "Mountain Girl" who believes that her family is poor. Her parents are reluctant to her theory and insist "We are rich."  Her parents teach her the importance of valuing the things you do have and not things you do not have.  Mountain Girl learns a valuable lesson in appreciating mother nature, family and life.

In my opinion this is a great book for anyone, I actually think that adults would get more out of this book then children. So many of us are too consumed with fashion, fame, and fortune that we never take the time to "smell the flowers." The way Byrd Baylor describes nature is incredible. There is a line in the book when mountain girl's father says, "When a cactus blooms you should be there to watch it because it might be a color you won't see again any other day of your life." This line makes me want to jump on a plan to Arizona or New Mexico and sit around for hours watching different cacti bloom. The illustrations in the book are minimal and lack color but at the same time when you pay close attention are incredible. The people in the book lack detail and often are just silhouettes in the background but when you look at the scenery and animals there is so much more detail. To me this is painting a picture of what she is expressing in words. The illustrations make me appreciate the world around  me.

At first it really surprised me how much this book lacked color in the illustrations. I thought this type of book which stresses the importance of nature would be a great opportunity to use bright colors and drawings to express the things about nature that cannot be articulated. Then when I went back through the book and looked at just the illustrations I saw how nature came to life in inanimate objects and other aspects of the book. For example, in one of the illustrations there is a picture of a table but when you look closely the table has rings circling out of it, which to me gives the appearance that it is a tree stump. In another picture, the sunset is just on the horizon and it has all these lines streaming up to the sky. The lines streaming up to the sky, to me, looks like it is a camp fire burning up into the sky. There are many hidden images and messages in this book, and it's up to the reader to find them!