The Misfits

I think there are many valuable lessons in this book to teach to children. The overall theme of the book "Sticks and Stones may break our bones but names will break our spirits" is so empowering and important for children to learn. I think a lot children throw around names and rude remarks to their peers without realizing what it truly means. I think this is a very valuable lesson for children to learn especially with recent suicides of teenagers because of bullying.

Another important topic that is addressed in this book, is the idea of being yourself. For example; Joe is homosexual. He never expresses any fears or anxiety about it. He just wants to be loved and have a boyfriend. I think this is important for children to learn because a lot of times I think children think they need to fit into "normal society" but really what is normal? How do you classify "fitting in?" I think it is important to express individuality and being yourself. It is important for children to learn this or at least explore this topic at a young age otherwise they will grow up scared to be something different than society expects them to be.

One of my favorite parts of the book was on page 123 and Skeeze says,

"I mean, how come little kids are cute to everybody, doesn't matter they do, but you do the same things a little older you aren't cute anymore. Y'know?  I mean, what kinda stinkin' deal is that? If you and I were walkin' down the street now and we were, y'know, holdin' hands like back when we were buddies in first grade, nobody'd say we were cute. They'd call us fags. Or something' even worse. What's up with that?"

I like this part because I think is one hundred percent true. At what age do we stop thinking interactions are "cute" or friendly and start labeling them as gay and homosexual? I think is it important for children to realize how much society views may corrupt their own views and that sometimes we just have to stick to our own opinions and not let others influence us. I think a lot of children can relate to this book because they are living and breathing it everyday. They are either getting called names or calling other people's name. I think it would be hard for anyone to not be able to relate to this book, which is what I think makes it such a good book.

Corduroy (11/9)

Title: Corduroy
Author: Don Freeman
Ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book
Rating: 5

Summary: A story of an unwanted teddy bear who finally finds a home.

I think everyone can relate to this story. We have always had that one bear or doll that we could not live without. This is the story told from that bear's point of view. I also think it is important to note the themes that are presented in this book.

Don Freedman says it best himself,

“Just possibly you would like to hear something of the background of Corduroy as I first came upon it… Of course I can’t remember exactly how it started, but I do recall wanting to do a story about a department store in which a character wanders around at night after the doors close. Then I also wanted the story to show the vast difference between the luxury of a department store [and] the simple life [most people live]. The idea of simple basic values was another theme that was running around in the back of my head. I don’t remember how or when a toy bear came into my life, but he must have come from way out of my past. You know, I could just see a bear wearing corduroy overalls with one button missing … the minute I settled on Corduroy and Lisa, everything came together.” - http://donfreeman.info/childrens-books/published/the-story-behind-corduroy/


In the book Corduroy compares the luxuriousness of the department store and the home he finally resides in. He says his home is a lot smaller but stresses that it is home. I think it is important to recognize this because we all live in different size, shapes, and types of homes. But it is home, a place of security and comfort.


My favorite part of the book is the very last page. It says, 


"You must be a friend," said Corduroy. "I've always wanted a friend." "Me too!" said Lisa, and gave him a big hug. I really liked this line because again it reminds me of my first stuffed animal, which happened to be a dog. Children often have stuffed animals as their first friend that is why I think this is such a classic and well known book. There isn't anyone who can't relate to having a friend in inanimate object!

Anansi Goes Fishing (11/9)

Title: Anansi Goes Fishing

Retold by: Eric A. Kimmel

Illustrated by Janet Stevens

Type: Picture Book

Ages: 4-8 years old

Rating: 4

Summary: Anansi the spider, is tricked by his friend the turtle to do all the work to catch a fish but does not get to eat the fish with the turtle. 

I really enjoyed this story because Anansi's plan was to trick the turtle into catching fish for him but it backfires. Also the entire book I kept thinking that if Anansi is a spider why is he wasting his time weaving a net when he could easily build a web, being a spider? Than at the end I learn why. It states, 

"But some good came out of out. Anansi learned how to weave nets and how to use them to catch food. He taught his friends how to do it, and they taught their friends. Soon spiders all over the world were weaving. To this day, wherever you find spiders, you will find their nets. They are called spider webs."

I thought this was interesting twist to the story. This story seems to be a story about fairness and injustice but than you also learn "where spider webs come from" I think this would be a fun story for younger children in preschool. Preschoolers often ask why? This would be a good book to teach them about spider webs and give them definitive answer of why spiders make webs to catch food. 

Three Stalks of Corn (11/9)

Title: Three Stalks of Corn
Author: Leo Politi
Type: Picture book
Ages: 6-10 years old- Advanced readers
Rating: 3

Summary: A little girl, Angela learns the importance of her Mexican background. Her grandmother teachers her all about the three types of corn that are incorporated into almost all Mexican meals.

Overall, I was not impressed with this book. It is VERY wordy. I found myself stopping and rereading sentences in order to understand. Also it states emotions like "she was happy" instead of describing emotions. Everything was based off word description, there was little support from illustrations.

What I did find interesting about this book was the legend that her grandmother told about the three stalks of corn. She describes a flood and how two children ran up to a mountain with hard corn, soft corn and yellow cord in order to survive the flood.  They than planted those corn seeds and those are the type of corn stalks that grew all over the land. This legend is why we only have hard, soft and yellow corn. I found this interesting because it was something I could relate to. I know we only have those three types of corn so it was fun to associate it with a legend. Overall, I was not impressed with this book because of the blandness and lack of description.

Everybody Cooks Rice (11/7

Title: Everybody Cooks Rice
Author: Norah Dooley
Illustrations: Peter J. Thornton
Type: Picture book
Ages: 4-8 year olds
Rating: 4

Summary: A little girl learns that all different cultures cook rice when she is sent out to find her little brother.

What first attracted me to this book was the title. As a child my favorite food was rice, so of course I wanted to read a book all about rice. This book explores people form all different countries such as Barbados, Mexico, Vietnam, India, China, and Haiti. We learn all about the different kinds of rice that are made in these countries. I really liked this book because it takes a common dish in America and explores all the different ways it can be cooked in different countries.

My favorite part about this book was when the author writes, "Everyone at the Huas' house using chopsticks. Mei-Li, who is only three and a half years old, can even pick up a single grain of rice with her chopsticks!" I used to babysit a two year old who was half Chinese and half American. I remember the day she learned how to use chopsticks, as soon as I walked in the door she had to show me what she could do. This book provides me with a lot of emotional connections which is why I love it so much.

Also, in the back of the book is the recipe to all the meals mention in the book. I think it would be really interesting if a classroom were to make one or all of the dishes in the back of book. This would be a fun way to incorporate the book into the classroom.

Experience with Jacqueline Woodson Novel (11/9)

I read Miracle Boys by Jacqueline Woods, it was very easy to connect to the characters in this book. I found myself relating to all the boys. I also found myself crying or on the verge of crying through out the book. The situation that the boys are in is a real life situation that could happen to anyone, so it makes it that much easier to make an emotional connection.  After talking with classmates, it became evident that Woodson follows the theme of real life situations that usually involve dysfunctional families. Also, usually Woodson books involve multi-cultural situations.

In the article " JACQUELINE WOODSON: REAL CHARACTERS, REAL VOICES  by Rosa Casement, Rosa asks Woodson how she thinks people respond to her writing about different cultural being in social power in her books. Woodson responded with

 “Sometimes people are surprised that the relationships and situations aren’t stereotypical. I wanted to write my side of the story. I grew up reading the white side, which, surprisingly to some people, isn’t the only side.” 

I think this is extremely powerful because many people would expect her to deal with the struggle of African Americans and other races but she doesn't. In her books African Americans represent dynamic powerful characters. This is extremely evident in Miracle Boys, in which the oldest boy Ty, doesn't go to college so that he can provide for his younger brothers. Both Ty and the youngest Laf are dedicated to each other and their family. They are not into gangs or violence or any stereotypical African American activities. In fact Ty is extremely dedicated to museum and art and graduated from high school with honors. I think it is important for authors to cross the stereotypical boarders that society sets up for us otherwise people are going to continue to think that most African Americans are associated with guns, violence and gangs. 

My People (11/9)

Title: My People
Author: Langston Hughes
Photographs by: Charles R. Smith Jr.
Rating: 5
Type: Picture Book

Summary: A poem describing all the different shades of African Americans.

The first thing to notice in this book are the real life pictures. The pictures are so moving and inspiring and capture real life expressions of people. I feel like I am right there with the people in this book. Also it is important to notice how Langston describes "his people." He compares African American complexion to the night but also compares it to the sun. He ties it all together by saying "Beautiful also, are the souls of my people." To me Langston is first describing an eclectic mix of appearances of his people but than connects it to importance of the souls of his people. I think this is important because there was a time when African Americans were judged by their appearance and not accepted in society. Langston is addressing the appearance of his people but also stressing the importance of inner beauty in the soul


In the article "Multi cultural Children's Literature as Instrument of Power by Stuart H.D Cong, he states 


"The authenticity debate in children’s literature particularly addresses this intersection within racial and cultural contexts: the power to narrate, the power to tell one’s own story, the power to self-determine, the power to self-realize, the power to self-represent, the power to change inequity into equity, the power to articulate reparation for historical injustice."


In my opinion, in My People, Langston Hughes displays the power to tell one's own story, the power to self realize and the power to self-represent. He is embracing himself and his people, which to me is extremely powerful.