WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE? HOW ALICE ROOSEVELT BROKE THE RULES, CHARMED THE WORLD, AND DROVE HER FATHER TEDDY CRAZY! by Barbara Kerley

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kerley, Barbara.What To Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! . Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York, Scholastic. ISBN 0545123259

PLOT SUMMARY
“Theodore Roosevelt had a small problem….Her name was Alice.” So begins a simplified yet personal picture book biography of Alice Lee Roosevelt – Teddy Roosevelt’s oldest daughter. This book presents a spirited young woman, determined not to conform to the expectations of the society. While she loved reading the books in her father’s library, she also loved to run through the parks in Washington pretending to be a horse. She roamed over the capital city at all hours of the day and night. She welcomed visitors to the White House draped by her pet snake, Emily Spinach, “named for its color and its resemblance to a very thin aunt.” She played cards, bet on the horses, and danced the hula on a visit to Hawaii. After Alice married, she participated in political advising and continued to eat “up the world” in her own way.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

What to do About Alice? portrays true events in the First Daughter's life. Kerley describes Alice’s impetuous childhood, the frustrations her father felt trying to get her to behave, and how she scandalized many in the society at the time who felt she was too forward, doing things no young lady should be doing. While primarily focusing on her childhood and teen years, an Author's Note at the end describes elements of her mature years and her lifelong interest in politics.

This biography is presented with a simple plot, creating an easy to read story. Barbara Kerley trimmes her book with excellent word choices and perfectly selected dialogue. Quotation marks used throughout the book imply that the writer researched well the facts and bring a sense of authenticity. The text is informative, yet fast-paced and keeps the tone light and playful.

The eye-catching design of the book compliments the content.Beautiful classic looking pictures are as colorful as Alice herself and add gaily to the engaging spirit of the text. The illustrator, Edwin Fotheringham, in his debut picture book, creates artwork that conveys the energy and spunk of Theodore Roosevelt’s first daughter. His dynamic, animated style and his whimsical illustrations with lots of Alice blues and vibrant reds popping on every page resemble Alice’s personality.

Kerley’s accessible, expressive style engages young readers while exposing them to some of the lesser known aspects of history. With both humorous and touching moments, What to do About Alice? is a great choice for read alouds.


REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist, starred review: "Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was.... Kerley's text has the same rambunctious spirit as its subject, grabbing readers from the first line.... The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art."
School Library Review, starred review: "Kerley's text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject's antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp her style, dives fully clothed into a ship's swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father's trusted advisers.... Fascinating."
Publishers Weekly, starred review: “It's hard to imagine a picture book biography that could better suit its subject than this high-energy volume serves young Alice Roosevelt."


AWARDS
Sibert Honor Book
Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book
Irma Black Award Honor Book
Parents Choice Award
Washington State Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award
California Collections
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
ALA Notable Book
Capitol Choices
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Nominated for Young Reader awards in Texas, Illinois, Utah and Tennessee

CONNECTIONS
- The author’s website offers a wonderful teacher’s guide for the book. Creative suggestions range from asking children to imagine what living in the White House would be like, to having them chart Alice’s Asian journey on a map while learning about the various points of interest.
http://www.barbarakerley.com/TRAlice.html
- Use the book as an introduction to history lessons about presidents. Pair with titles about Teddy Roosevelt such as:
Brown, Don.Teedie: The story of young Teddy Roosevelt. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 9780618179992.
Keating, Frank.Theodore. Ill. by Mike Wimmer. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. ISBN: 9780689865329.
St. George, Judith.You’re on your way, Teddy Roosevelt. Ill. by Matt Faulkner. Penguin Group. ISBN: 9780399238888.

BODIES FROM THE ICE: MELTING GLACIERS AND THE RECOVERY OF THE PAST by James Deem

Bibliography
Deem, James M. 2008. Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN-13: 978-0-618-80045-2


Plot Summary

In 1991 a couple climbing the Alps came across what they thought was trash left behind by other hikers. Upon further investigation, scientists revealed that it was the body of a man who lived 5300 years ago.
The Andes, 1995. In the lands of the ancient Incan settlements, an anthropologist found children religious sacrifices preserved in caves.
These stories are followed by others: in 1999 a special expedition in the Himalayas discovered the frozen body of George Mallory, who disappeared while climbing Mount Everest in 1924; the body of a Native American was uncovered in a glacier in British Columbia.

This truly fascinating book describes unique archeological discoveries. As glaciers melt throughout the world, more frozen bodies are appearing, adding to our knowledge of culture and history. James M. Deem takes us on a breathtaking adventure to learn some gripping secrets of our past and reminds us to appreciate,respect and conserve our natural resources.

Critical Analysis

The importance of science is underlined in this attractive book that explores glaciers, melting ice and mysteries from the human history. Bodies from the Ice offers a combination of topics in several disciplines: anthropology, archaeology, geography, glaciology, history and environmental studies. Due to the global warming, the mountain’s ice caps all around the world are melting, and unexpected objects are coming to the surface. Discoveries of mummies, body fragments and artifacts are described, as are the scientific methods of investigating them. Deem's carefully researched photo-essay examines the information on these remarkable finds and pieces it with other known facts to present a factual book that is everything else but boring.

Bodies from the Ice emphasizes the science over the melting glaciers but also gives details as to how the bodies were uncovered and what scientists and archaeologists have learned about people and cultures of the past. Lots of maps, sidebars that break up the pages with factual tidbits, an extensive bibliography and illustration credits, and an index are included as well. There is even a section on how young people can help to slow down the process of global warming and suggested glaciers to visit.

In addition to the informational text, starkly dramatic graphics are given dignity by the spacious and understated page design. Their variety impresses – from full-color or black and white archival photos, through lithographs and paintings, or just old newspapers facsimiles - they are all identified and captioned and illuminate the fascinating descriptions.

Deem’s engaging style and accessible writing creates a book that will capture young readers' attentions and will present them with useful resources at the same time. Bodies from the Ice is a very intriguing nonfiction read, and will be appealing even to those who just want an entertaining book to read.


Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: “Deem's lucid account explores mummified remains recovered from several glacial locations and time periods…. With its extensive bibliography, suggested Web sites, and a listing of glaciers to visit, Bodies is a fantastic resource. Deem superbly weaves diverse geographical settings, time periods, and climate issues into a readable work that reveals the increasing interdisciplinary dimensions of the science”

Kirkus Reviews: “With global warming, the glaciers that crown our highest mountains have retreated, revealing humans who died there long ago. This respectful photo-essay opens with the story of Ötzi, found in the Alps in 1991 more than 5,000 years after his death. Deem goes on to explain how glaciers work to preserve and destroy human remains and to provide some historical background.”

Library Media Connection: “This highly intriguing work takes readers on a fascinating venture into some of the most remote regions of the world, to glaciers that are revealing their hidden treasures as they melt at ever increasing speeds. Individual chapters discuss different glacier types with discussion of how they can preserve and destroy human remains, and they feature simple maps so readers can get their bearings. The author discusses what archaeologists learn about history and culture through study of the preserved bodies".


Awards
2009 Robert F. Sibert Informational Award Honor Book
Finalist for the 2010 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science BooksKirkus Reviews' Best Children's Books of 2008
Notable Book for Children 2009
2009 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12
2008 New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and SharingCapitol Choices Noteworthy Book 2009 (10-14)
Nominated for:
Young Hoosier Book Award, Middle Grades, 2010-2011
South Dakota Library Association Prairie Pasque Awards for Grades 3-5, 2010-2011 Garden State Teen Book Award for Nonfiction Grades 6-12, 2011


Connections
- Explore additional books about “bodies from ice”:
Patent, Dorothy Hinshaw. Secrets of the ice man. ISBN 0761407820
Fowler, Brenda. Iceman : uncovering the life and times of a prehistoric man found in an alpine glacier. ISBN 0226258238


- Other books by James M. Deem:
Deem, James M. Bodies from the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompei. ISBN-10: 0618473084;ISBN-13: 978-0618473083
Deem, James M. Bodies from the Bog. ISBN-10: 0618354026;ISBN-13: 978-0618354023
Deem, James M. How to Hunt Buried Treasure. ISBN-10: 0380721767;ISBN-13: 978-0380721764

ALMOST GONE: THE WORLD'S RAREST ANIMALS by Steve Jenkins

Bibliography
Jenkins, Steve. 2006. Almost Gone: The World's Rarest Animals. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780060535988.

Plot Summary

Ever seen a Bactrian camel? What about Abington Island tortoise? A coelacanth? These are but a few of the rarest yet surviving animals you’ll find in Almost Gone.In this visually appealing nonfiction picture book, profiles of 28 different endangered animal species from around the world, drawn from almost every type of habitat, including mammals, insects, reptiles, birds and amphibians, are described and grouped in categories. Each animal entry is a paragraph long, giving basic facts and background on the animal, how human activity has contributed to their numbers, how many remain, and ways in which conservationists attempt to protect them.
A world map at the back of the book identifies the geographical locations where each animal was found and provides additional facts about them.


Critical Analysis

Almost Gone is part of the popular Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. These books are hard to miss, and for good reason. They are widely regarded as excellent choices for curious readers seeking information about science. An important note in the beginning of the book states that the text and illustrations are checked for accuracy by an expert in the relevant field. Almost Gone features an excellent introduction that clearly explains what effect the loss of even one small creature can have on the Earth’s ecosystem.

The book is cleverly organized and simplified into three categories: "almost gone," "gone forever," and "coming back." Starting with the Amur Leopard from the book cover, the informative text and corresponding illustrations take us through observing diverse array of declining and threatened animals. Although some of the species in this book are unheard of by most children, Jenkins keeps the reader interested with his simple, yet detailed descriptions. This book looks at the many animals that have become endangered through hunting, poaching, pollution, habitat loss, and climate change and provokes poignant thoughts about our environmental responsibilities. However, the author chooses to finish the book with positive examples, listing three animals whose numbers are stepping back from the brink of extinction.

Jenkins designs the book with his intended audience in mind. The brief text is attractive and invites the reader to turn the pages, but it’s the illustrations that are truly impressing. True to his own style, he uses colorful and various textured handmade papers to create each animal. The cut-paper artwork on completely white background makes each rare animal stand out majestic and beautiful. All collage images are scrupulously detailed. The papers’ color and optical appearance as well as the physical texture are carefully selected to create almost realistic look.

Almost Gone is an engaging choice that will provide readers with a thoughtful overview to the subject of endangered species. Using his signature approach, Jenkins presents another esthetic and stylish informational book for children.


Review Excerpts

Booklist:“Caldecott Honor Book illustrator Jenkins applies his considerable talents to the cause of conservation in this book in the long-running Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Using his signature cut-and torn-paper collages, he shows 21 endangered species, accompanying each image with a few sentences about the animal's habitat, a particular characteristic, and, sometimes, the reason for its endangered status.”
School Library Journal:“This engaging title is informative as well as visually stunning. Jenkins captures the essence of his subjects with appropriately colored, cut-paper collage illustrations on stark white backgrounds.”
Horn Book:“Jenkins first discusses the interdependence of living things, then portrays twenty-eight endangered and extinct animals. Each profile includes a striking cut-paper rendering of an animal along with a paragraph about the animal's habits and habitat and why its population has dwindled.”



Connections

-Present other nonfiction books about endangered animals such as:
Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet by David McLimans. ISBN 9780802795632.
Will We Miss Them? Endangered Species by Alexandra Wright. ISBN 9780881064889.
Endangered Animals by Rhonda Lucas Donald. ISBN 9780516259994.


-Offer other books by Steve Jenkins such as:
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? Illustrated by Robin Page. ISBN 9780618256280.
Actual Size. ISBN 9780618375943.
Biggest, Strongest, Fastest. ISBN 9780395861363.

DIAMOND WILLOW By Helen Frost

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Frost, Helen. 2008. DIAMOND WILLOW. New York, NY: Farrar, Strauss and Girouox. ISBN 978-0-374-31776-8.

PLOT SUMMARY

Twelve year old Willow lives with her family in a small town in the middle of Alaska. Cold, snow, and wild animals are their everyday companions. Often, the only way to get around is by dog sled. Willow’s great passions are dogs and dogsledding. When not in school, she helps her father with his dog sled team.
The girl wants to prove to her parents that she is growing up so she urges them to let her drive the sled dogs. Willow’s first solo journey to her grandparents ends up having serious consequences: she has an accident and the lead dog Roxy is blinded. However, as both she and Roxy heal, Willow discovers magical family secrets; she learns about herself, courage, and the real meaning of friendship.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Diamond Willow is a wonderfully serious book for pre-teens who love character-driven novels with just a bit of mystical intervention and wilderness adventure. The novel begins with an author's note stating that the majority of the story is written in diamond-shaped poems with hidden messages printed in darker ink inside each one. She explains how the willow tree creates beautiful diamond shapes out of the places where a branch had been injured and fell away.Frost uses the image of the diamond willow to tell the story of her young heroine. Willow is a girl who struggles with all the normal contemporary problems of a pre-teen girl: self esteem, popularity, awkwardness, feeling out of place, independence, community, responsibility. When the secrets are stripped away and she is sanded by the trials she faces, she becomes a beautiful diamond despite the scar of her loss.

This captivating story is filled with fantastic language and descriptions. Helen Frost loads the metaphor of the diamond willow with many layers of meaning. The result is an implied comparison that suggests a likeness through the creation of images. She perfects the use of verse novel format to enhance the powerful, heart-warming story. There is no rhyming scheme; no particular rhythm catches the ear, just a really great description, presented in a creative way.The story is told in different voices. When Willow is speaking, the text is written in concrete free verse. Other sections are narrated by the various animals who witness the events, and who are actually the spirits of Willow's Athabascan reincarnated ancestors watching over her.

Helen Frost captures the life drama and girl’s anxiety in very few words. The plot of this story is intriguing and the ideas about family, heritage, nature and self-discovery are so attractively constructed. Diamond Willow touches deeply in a way that is not overly emotional or graphic, but with beautiful simplicity.


AWARDS
Texas LoneStar Award 2009


REVIEW EXCERPTS

Voice of Youth Advocates: “Under its bark, the diamond willow is beautiful, with reddish-brown diamond shapes on a cream-colored shank. Likewise this lyrical gem of a story reveals the inner beauty of a seemingly ordinary Athabascan girl.”

Booklist: " Set in a remote part of Alaska, this story in easy-to-read verse blends exciting survival adventure with a contemporary girl's discovery of family roots and secrets"

School Library Journal: " As she unravels the truth, Willow comes to understand the diamonds and scars that bind her family together. She also gains awareness of her own strength and place in her community. Willow relates her story in one-page poems, each of which contains a hidden message printed in darker type."


CONNECTIONS

- This is a quick-read, but don't underestimate the power of a complex story. A good candidate for book discussion, poetry-related units, and multi-cultural reading. A companion read to:
Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet. ISBN 9781416936473
George, Jean Craighead . Julie of the Wolves. ISBN 9780060219437

- Introduce to children other books by Helen Frost:
Frost, Helen. “Keesha’s House.” ISBN-10: 0374400121
Frost, Helen. “The Braid.” ISBN-10: 0374309620

MIRROR, MIRROR by Marilyn Siger

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Singer, Marilyn. 2010. MIRROR MIRROR. Ill. By Josee Masse. NewYork: Dutton Children’s Book. ISBN 0525479015



PLOT SUMMARY

Marilyn Singer takes the sights and images of popular fairy tales and tells the traditional stories of various characters through their own poetic voice. This is a collection of short poems which, when flipped to read bottom to top, offer new points of view. Beginning with Cinderella, Singer brings to the reader her double life; next is the Sleeping Beauty, introduced through her own story but also through the “wide-awake” prince’s perspective. As the book progresses, the reader meets the Ugly Duckling and his doubtful self, Rumplestiltskin and the Nameless girl and many other children’s favorites.



CRITICAL ANALYSIS

All poems in this original and unique collection are created in reversible verse. The concept is simple, yet provoking: on one side of the page the poem is written down and on the other side the exact words are arranged backwards going up. In the endnotes of the book, Marilyn Singer shares that she experimented with reading poems down a page and then up the page. The outcome impressed her and led to the invention of “reverso” style. Amazingly, even though no other changes are made, except some in capitalization, punctuation and line breaks, the reverse of the poems completely alters the perspective of the story, depicting two opposing sides.

The poems do not follow consistent fixed metrical pattern. Using short lines, Marilyn Singer offers imaginative and nontraditional elements of poetic language that emphasize her capacity to achieve an emotional impact beyond literal words. Her clever selection of words is genuinely skillful and brings out visions of the character’s feelings and actions depicted in the verses.

Each poem is accompanied by illustrations, helping the readers to recognize images and characters, already familiar to them from the fairy tales. Vibrant, bold drawings by Josse Masse are felicitously complementary to the imaginative poems. They decorate the pages, hinting at content but never interfering with interpretation. It is easy to notice the vast range of intense colors and shades throughout the book. The artist plays with the contrast of colors, reinforcing the “reverso” style.

This beautiful book of poems will please not only poetry lovers, but also all fairy tales devotees.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

BookPage: “Clever and delightful—those are the best words to describe Mirror Mirror, a new collection by noted poet Marilyn Singer.”

School Library Journal: “This is a remarkably clever and versatile book that would work in any poetry or fairy-tale unit. A must-have for any library.”

Kirkus Reviews: “A collection of masterful fairy-tale–inspired reversos—a poetic form invented by the author, in which each poem is presented forward and backward.”

CONNECTIONS

- Encourage children to try creating a short reverso poem
- Introduce other Poetry Books by Marilyn Singer:
Creature Carnival. ISBN 0-786-81877-8
Eggs. ISBN 0-823-41727-1
Tough Beginnings: How Baby Animals Survive. ISBN 0-805-06164-9

Button Up! Wrinkled Ryhmes by Alice Schertle

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schertle, Alice. 2009. Button Up! Wrinkled Rhymes Ill. by Petra Mathers. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing. ISBN 9780152050504


PLOT SUMMARY

This kid-friendly book contains a collection of 15 poems, and all of them focus on the theme of clothing, in particular children’s clothing. The amusing verse is told in first person (or first piece of clothing, as it is).The quirky cast of unusual characters including shoelaces, a hiking hat, and a bicycle helmet speak out in this unique collection of engaging and humorous poems. The young readers can see immediately just how cool Bertie is by his sunglasses, or how much Harvey enjoys playing in the mud in his galoshes, or how sleepy Joshua looks in his jammies.
The poems focus not only on aspects of clothing’s view of self, but also reveal their relationship with their owners. These relationships are comparable to those some children somewhere in today’s world could experience, and would be understood by and would be of their interest.



CRITICAL ANALYSIS

There has rarely been a more charming collection of poetry than you will find in this widely admired book. The verse focuses on the lives of pieces of clothing, told from their perspective. The use of personification, a metaphor in which nonhuman things are described as if they were human or animal is a strategy that wins children’s attention. Schertle’s mastery of rhyme and meter makes it clear that she is in command of the tools of poetry. The imaginative language is simple yet rich in image and expression. Skillfully, the poetess switches up her rhyme scheme from page to page:

“Bob’s on his bike/ and I ‘m on Bob/ I’m Bob’s helmet./ I’m on the job.”

from “Bob’s bicycle helmet” , and then in “Tanya’s old T-shirt the beat goes:

“I live in a bucket shoved under the stair./ They call me a dust rag!/ I don’t think it’s fair.”

Engaging readers in the secret dissatisfactions and fears of an old T-shirt, for example, can be a risky proposition, by Alice Schertle carries it off with a perfect tone and astounding grace. Petra Mather’s art does not disappoint either. The illustrations depict the wide variety of animals wearing the clothing with personalities that are both playful and stylish. Some are full-page, some are smaller size; and all are appealing to kids. Colors are bright and airy at the same time. The cover artwork shows the most adorable ostrich you have ever seen! Children will find easily recognizable images of objects and animals that are at a glance familiar to them. Each illustration helps the reader to guess whatever piece of apparel is commented upon in the accompanying poem in a fresh and engaging perspective.

The watercolor paintings are a perfect match for the text because they are as whimsical and as charming as the poems. The cheerful visual presentation of Wanda’s Swimsuit and Harvey’s Galoshes share center stage with the content of Schertle’s clever verse, combining into a sensory extravaganza. Check out the double page illustrations of Jack’s Soccer Jersey, which invites readers to follow the text as though they were watching the soccer game.

This wonderful book of poetry is great for a read alouds. Children will be drawn to the silly and enchanting poems, complemented by the action packed illustrations.


AWARDS
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, 2010
Best Childrens Book of the Year, 2010


REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist Starred Review: "With varied rhymes and rhythms occasionally disrupted for emphasis, Schertle's poetry is reminiscent of A. A. Milne and begs to be read aloud."

Kirkus Reviews: “There are otters and pigs, alligators and rabbits, emus and moles. And these creatures have personality, exuberance and high style that perfectly match the verses. Loads of fun.”

School Library Journal: “Playful spreads and spot art suit the small, snappy verses beautifully. This whimsical little volume will make a delightful addition to poetry collections.


CONNECTIONS

- Spark a discussion on favorite clothing or on hand-me-downs. Children could even draw their own favorites.
- Introduce other mask poetry books:
Janeczko, Paul B. Dirty laundry pile: poems in different voices. ISBN 0688162517
- Invite children to compose their own poems. Button up shows them that you can write poems about your world and anything in it.

RAPUNZEL by Paul O. Zelinsky

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Zelinsky, Paul O. 1997. RAPUNZEL. New York: Scholastic, Inc. ISBN 978-0-590-38602-9.

PLOT SUMMARY

After a longing for a baby, a childless family discovers that the wife is pregnant. She craves the rapunzel from their neighbor’s garden and to ease her pregnancy, her husband sneaks into the garden to pick some of the herb. The neighbor, a sorceress, catches him stealing and demands in return for their unborn child. The sorceress takes the newborn baby girl and names her Rapunzel, raising her with care and satisfying all her needs. When Rapunzel turns twelve, the sorceress isolates her to live in a high tower in the woods with no doors and only one window at the very top.

For years Rapunzel lives alone in her tower with the sorceress her only visitor, until one day a prince riding through the woods hears Rapunzel's beautiful singing. Enchanted by her voice, he watches the strange tower to learn how to enter. After the sorceress has come and gone, the prince mimics her by calling "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" Rapunzel's golden hair cascades down to the prince, who climbs up as he has seen the sorceress do. He falls in love with Rapunzel and marries her in secret in the tower. When the sorceress discovers the result of their forbidden love, she cuts Rapunzel's hair in a fury and uses it to lure the prince to tragedy. Blind and wandering through the wilderness for a year, he is saved by the sound of Rapunzel's sweet voice. The two are reunited and are welcomed back into his kingdom, where they live happily ever after.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The author takes this age old fairy tale and creates a beautifully illustrated picture book. The artwork in this version of Rapunzel is emphasized, and gives the story more meaning than the plot line itself. Exquisite, highly decorative and over-sized pictures establish, with an emanation of realism and drama, a specific sense to the era, action and personalities that make up this story. A peacock's shimmering plumes on one page, a marble wall background on another, an inlaid scissors on the next page, a convex mirror on the table, reinforcing the pregnancy theme achieve the Renaissance ideals of beauty through details. The artistic style depicts people, places and things as they are seen in the real life; this allows the reader to connect visually with illustrations that represent the world as the eyes see it.

Zelinsky perfects the oil painting, one of the artistic mediums mostly used by the Old Italian masters. This technique entails priming an absorbent surface after initial detailed sketching and then applying one or more layers of paint. The use of layers builds depth into the paintings. A closer look at the faces in the illustrations reveals “underpainting” in grays and browns under the skin of the characters. This effect exalts their expressions. The artwork is so rich, so lush; the reader could almost expect to feel the texture of oil paint.

Zelinsky’s writing is careful and gripping, and his stylized interpretation of the emotional themes in this timeless story is complex. Worthy of notice is that his sorceress is not depicted as a scary old witch, but yet as a motherly figure who wants to protect Rapunzel from the harsh reality of the real world. This idea is also provided through the tower where the sorceress locks Rapunzel in. The tower is beautifully painted with an ornate design and is described as having “many elegant rooms”. In each picture, Rapunzel also wears a beautiful dress and lovely necklaces. If the sorceress wanted to imprison Rapunzel as a punishment, she would have locked her in an ugly, barren tower.

This is a remakable, well-written retelling of the Rapunzel story, exploring ideas and themes that most versions of the fairy tale either gloss over or completely ignore. Borrowing from both the Grimms and previous versions of the tale from France and Italy, Zelinsky, with his masterful paintings of the Italian landscaping and architecture, captures the essence of the Renaissance and at the same time, offers the old story in fresh and new aspect. This is a book that, while appropriate for younger children, will probably be better understood and appreciated by older readers, including adults.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Horn Book Magazine: “…it takes a scholar's mind and an artist's insight to endow the familiar with unexpected nuances-which Zelinsky does with passion and dazzling technique. Given the story's Italian origins, his choice of a Renaissance setting is inspired, allowing for many allusions to the art and architecture of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries…. Simply put, this is a gorgeous book; it demonstrates respect for the traditions of painting and the fairy tale while at the same time adhering to a singular, wholly original, artistic vision.”

Publishers Weekly: “Zelinsky does a star turn with this breathtaking interpretation of a favorite fairy tale. Daringly and effectively mimicking the masters of Italian Renaissance painting, he creates a primarily Tuscan setting. His Rapunzel, for example, seems a relative of Botticelli's immortal red-haired beauties, while her tower appears an only partially fantastic exaggeration of a Florentine bell tower. For the most part, his bold experiment brilliantly succeeds: the almost otherworldly golden light with which he bathes his paintings has the effect of consecrating them, elevating them to a grandeur befitting their adoptive art-historical roots".

Booklist Reviews: “Zelinsky turns to the formal beauty of Italian Renaissance art as the setting for his glowingly illustrated version of an age-old story. ...this story is as much about the fierce love of mother for child as it is about the romantic passion between the imprisoned Rapunzel and the prince…. Rapunzel is both gorgeous and maidenly.”

AWARDS

Caldecott Medal Book, 1998
Carl Sandburg Award


CONNECTIONS

• Organize a field trip to a nearby museum or a virtual trip to the National Gallery of Art (www.nga.gov) to view old and new master works using oil painting to develop a rich appreciation of this medium.

• Arrange guest demonstrations of oil paintings by local artists or picture book illustrators.

THE THREE LITTLE PIGS by James Marshall

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Marshall, James. 1989. THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0-7587-3804-8

PLOT SUMMARY

In this humorous retelling of the traditional tale The Three Little Pigs, mother pig sends her three young pigs out to live on their own. Each one of them decides to build a house. Two pigs settle respectively into houses made of straw and sticks. The hungry wolf blows down their houses and gobbles them up. The third pig builds his home out of bricks, and the wolf cannot blow down the sturdy house. The wolf then asks the pig to get turnips, pick apples, and meet at the fair. Each time the pig goes an hour earlier, tricking the wolf. At the fair, the pig sees the wolf and escapes from him by rolling home in a butter churn. The wolf comes to the pig's house, climbs onto the roof, and jumps into a pot of boiling water. The third little pig outsmarts the wolf and eats him up for dinner.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This charming book is a modern retelling of the classic folk tale and recounts the fatal episodes in the lives of the two foolish pigs and how the third pig managed to avoid the same fate. The wolf, as a traditional archetype of the villain is menacing and dodgy, but still zany and laughable, while his round, pink pig opponent is surprisingly roguish and alert. Though many versions of the story stop with the success of the brick house, in this simple tale of wisdom Marshall continues with the extension of turnips, apples, and a trip to the fair to show just how clever the last little pig is and how foolish the wolf. Additionally, the personality of each little pig is illustrated not only in their choice of materials with which to build their homes but also in their clothing.

In this amusing alternatives to the traditional story, along with the familiar refrains of "let me come in," "chinney chin chin," and "huff" and "puff," Marshall embraces examples of more present-day language as in “mind your own business” and “Oh, pooh”. The illustrations in the book embellish the text with dynamic and set the story in contemporary times without losing its fabulist elements. Action-filed, cartoon-style sketches in full color offer a sophisticated modern twist. Pictures are silly and goofy, and the artist makes no attempt to make the art appear realistic. Bright color washes added to expressive line drawings directly convey the plot.

Known for his ability to add depth and substance to seemingly simple story, Marshall creates a version of The Three Little Pigs that is witty, engaging, and easy for younger listeners to follow.


REVIEW EXCERPTS

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Marshall brings his own brand of humor to both text and pictures in this retelling of the popular nursery tale….Good stories can be retold endlessly, and Marshall's inventive version of The Three Little Pigs is an excellent addition for all library picture-book collections.”

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE: “The Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator retells the story of the "Three Little Pigs" in the same silly manner of his previously released Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. His retelling minimizes the gruesome aspects of traditional versions but still portrays the three pigs building their respective houses out of straw, wood and bricks and then tricking the Big Bad Wolf.”

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "There are fairy tales, and there are Marshall's tales. Readers can be forgiven for preferring his over all the rest."


CONNECTIONS

• Children may explore a literary archetype, such as the wolf, by locating a variety of fiction and nonfiction books about wolves, and charting how many times wolves are portrayed positively and how many times they are portrayed negatively.

• Companion Rhyme: Read the nursery rhymes 'To Market, To Market' (accentuating the rhyming words 'pig and jig' or 'hog and jog') and “This Little Piggy”.

• Lead a discussion about the ways the third little pig outsmarted the wolf. Encourage children to try to think of other things the pig might have done to fend off the wolf. Have children consider what the three pigs might have done together to keep the wolf at bay.

RACCOON'S LAST RACE by Joseph and James Bruchac

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bruchac, Joseph and James Bruchac. 2004. Raccoon’s Last Race. Ill. by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0803729774.



PLOT SUMMARY

In this story from the oral traditions of the Native Americans, father and son Bruchac explain why the raccoons have short legs. The book tells that long time ago, Raccoon looks different then the way he does now. He has long legs and he is the fastest of all the animals. Azban always challenges other animals to run races and always wins, however, he taunts and tricks them. Soon no one likes to race him and Azban decides to push a boulder down a hill and race Big Rock. When the rock flattens the raccoon, only the ants offer to help the misshapen Azban. He makes a deal with the ants but is he going to keep his promise?


CRITICAL ANALYSIS

As a typical pourquoi tale, Raccoon’s Last Race explains the phenomena of nature – why things are the way they are – although the explanations are not scientifically true. This Abenaki story, retold by Joseph and James Bruchak, carries significant elements of traditional Native American tales. The story of Azban the Raccoon is also a cautionary tale; while it illustrates the results of bad behavior, it teaches a lesson and shares moral values with the readers. In the Authors’s Notes, Bruchac explains that the Abenaki have a strong tradition of using stories rather than physical punishment as a means of disciplining children. The humanization of animals and elements are another definite marker of the Native American culture.

The story of Azban is simple and relatively short and illustrations fill in for the untold words. The lively, bright pictures, done in pen-and-ink, gouache, and pastel, add animation and action to this book. Colorful illustrations bring life, character, and personality to all of the animals. The art of Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey help tell the story in a humorous way and blend well with the witty writing. The animal characters faces are shown with expression and even the big boulder has personality.
This traditional tale underscores the importance of both humility and being sensitive to others' feelings, encourages friendship and loyalty, and warns against conceitedness.



REVIEW EXCERPTS

KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Azban the Raccoon is a favorite Abenaki trickster and this father-and-son storytelling pair creates a lively, clever, and authentic version of his story…”

HORN BOOK: "This pourquoi tale is alive with sound, and the illustrations humorously convey the animals' irritation and Azban's arrogance."

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: "Father and son writing team Joseph and James Bruchac return with their third folktale, Raccoon's Last Race, illus. by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. Here, long-limbed, speedy raccoon taunts his rivals as he easily outruns them. But when he has an accident, he gets his just deserts because of his ungracious nature.”, starred review, August 2006 review, August 2006



CONNECTIONS

• After being introduced to pourquoi tales, students may try to find an imaginative explanation for phenomenon in nature (e.g. why oceans have waves). Or, they may read more pourquoi tales and brainstorm other imaginative explanations for the natural occurrence:
Dayrell, Elphinstone. Why the sun and the moon live in the sky: an African folktale. ISBN 9780395296097
Aardema, Verna. Why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears: a West African tale. ISBN 0758700814

• Introduce other books by the same author:
Bruchac, Joseph. How Chipmunk got his stripes: a tale of bragging and teasing. ISBN 0803724047
Bruchac, Joseph. The great ball game: a Muskogee story. ISBN: 0803715404