Title: Crispinthe Cross of Lead
Title: CrispinThe Cross of Lead
Author: Avi
Hyperion Books for Children, New York 2002
Award: Newberry Award
Question 10: How might you include this book in the social studies, science, or mathematics curriculum? Write about a specific activity you might do that relates to the content of this book.
This book is a perfect match with the 6th grade social studies curriculum. A significant portion of the curriculum is devoted to Europe. I taught 6th grade for many years. I did a huge unit on the mid-evil period. We studied the concept of the manor in depth, starting with the lord as owner and proprietor, and worked our way through all of the groups living on the manor including clergy, knights, serfs, peasants, etc. Students learned about the jobs of each group, the rights of each group, and the general quality of life of each group. Students designed their own crest to represent themselves as well as creating a map of “their” manor. This book would a perfect curriculum connection to this unit of study. While studying about life on a manor in social studies, students could be reading this novel for their language arts class. Students would be able to relate the characters from the novel to specific groups living on a manor. The book would provide an excellent example of manor life for the students. This book provides a very accurate depiction of what it was like to live during the medieval period. Unfortunately for me, I left 6th grade after the 2000-2001 school year, a year before this book was published!
Title: Kitten’s First Full Moon
Author/Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
Greenwillow Books, USA, 2004
Award: Caldecott Award
Question 7: Respond to the design and layout of the book. What do you think of the cover design, size of the book, font, spacing, and visual elements?
This book is black and white. Usually, I think most students are likely to pass over a book that is completely black and white; however, I think this book is different. The cover of the book draws you in. The kitten looks so friendly that it makes you just want to reach out and pet him. The book is intended for young children and the size of the book is appropriate for young ones. The book is large making it easy for young children to handle and maneuver. Once you open the book, you are not disappointed. The illustrations of the kitten show him running and playing and exploring and are sequenced to follow the events in the story. The facial expressions of the kitten match the antics he is caught up in ranging from happiness to frustration to sadness. Even the font used it this book is inviting. It is a large print that has a playful nature to it. Since the print is large, it would not be intimidating to a beginning reader. Only one sentence with a few words is on each page. I was surprised to see that this book was an award winner because at first glance the black and white color scheme makes you think the book is boring. Once you take a closer look, you are rewarded with a happy little story.
Title: Flotsam
Author: David Wiesner
Clarion Books, New York, 2006
Award: Caldecott Award
Question 3: Describe the artwork in terms of style and media. What elements of the illustrations appealed to you?
I selected this book specifically because of the illustrations. I looked at the book online and thought the pictures were beautiful. The pictures are done in peaceful pastels. On the title page, I learned that the illustrations were originally done in watercolor. The book is set at the beach so the watercolors along with the scenery are very relaxing. Each illustration has great detail using fine lines and a style that gives the illusion of texture. Several of the illustrations are fantasy scenes such as the imaginary village located on a turtle’s back and the octopi family sitting on their living room furniture listening to father read a book.
Once I started “reading” this book, I got a pleasant surprise. I quickly learned this book has no words. I showed it to my son and he got very excited. He sat down with me and started telling me a story based on the pictures. Right away, I realized that this would be a great book to use with students for writing. Each student could write their own story based on the illustrations in the book.
Title: Juan Bobo Goes to Work
Author: Marisa Montes
Illustrator: Joe Cepeda
South Chine Printing Co, Hong Kong, 2000
Award: Pura Belpre’ Award
Question 4: Describe the setting. Was the setting essential to the plot of the book? Why or why not.
The setting of this book is a village. I feel like this setting is very essential for the plot of the book. The story is about a Puerto Rican boy that is not very smart. He does things that would only take place in a rural setting like a village. Little Juan goes between a farm and a grocer looking for work. He constantly loses his “payment” because he doesn’t make good choices. Juan has to walk from place to place which is what gives him the opportunity to lose things like his money. A large number of cats and dogs follow him home and nibble away the ham he has tied a string around in order to make it easier to carry. The grocer paid him for his work with the ham. The story has a happy ending when he walks past a little girl that is dying of sadness. He makes her laugh which saves her life. Juan would not have the chance to work odd jobs in a city or town. Nor would he have been walking past a sad little girl. A rural setting is the only setting that made sense for this Puerto Rican folktale.
Title: A Faraway Island
Author: Annika Thor
Original Publication Information: Bonnier Carlsen, Stockholm, 1996
United State Publication Information: Delacorte Press, New York, 2009
Award: Mildred Batchelder Award
Question 10: How might you include this book in the social studies, science, or mathematics curriculum? Write about a specific activity you might do that relates to the content of this book.
I would use this book in conjunction with teaching European history in 6th grade Social Studies. Specifically, I would have my students read this book at the same time we are studying Europe, WWII, and the Nazi invasion of various European countries. Sometimes it is hard for students to understand situations like how Jewish children were sent away from their home countries in order to hide them from the Nazis. This novel would be agood example to help students better understand what life was like for Jewish children during WWII. Students are usually better able to understand something when it is written as a story as opposedto it being explained in a history book. Using this novel as companion to the Social Studies book would significantly improve comprehension.
Not only would this book be good for European history, it could also be used to illustrate many contemporary issues kids are facing today. The two sisters are living in two different foster homes. Sadly, many of our students could relate to that situation. The older sister is being bullied by some of the Swedish villagers, another situation too many kids can relate to in today’s society. This book could be used to foster discussion with middle schoolers about bullying and compassion for others.
Title: Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves Deputy U.S. Marshall
Author: VaundaMicheaux Nelson
Illustrator: R. Gregory Christie
Carolrhoda, Minneapolis & New York, 2009
Award: Coretta Scott King Award
Question 1: What elements of the author’s style and language drew you into the book? Explain and give examples.
This book is a biography. Usually biographies are written in a very straight forward style. This biography is very different. The author uses colorful language with dialect sprinkled in. At times the story read almost like a talltale with humor. This one sentence from page 6 shows the author’s unique writing style, “Bass was so strong he single-handedly pulled a steer out of mud up to its neck while a bunch of slack-jawed cowpokes stood speechless.” This sentence also shows the way the author uses dialect with phrases like “slack-jawed,” and “cowpokes.” I’m not sure I believe one man can pull a steer out of the mud by himself. This seems like it might be an exaggeration like you would find in a talltale. I really enjoyed reading this book. It would be fun to use this book as a springboard to have students write humorous biographies as opposed to the usual biographical style.
Title: The Escape of Oney Judge: Martha Washington’s Slave Finds Freedom
Author/Illustrator: Emily Arnold McCully
Farrar Straus Giroux, New York, 2007
Award: Jane Adams Award
Question 12: What values were conveyed through this book? How were these values or social views conveyed to the reader?
This books show the values of self reliance, self respect, and determination. Oney shows self reliance in that she depends on herself. She took advantage of a situation that allowed her to run away. She did seek help from some freed slaves, but for the most part she relied on herself. She also showed self respect. Clearly, Oney was smart. She had respect for herself when she referred to herself as one of God’s children as opposed to Mrs. Washington’s servant. This is an example of self respect. She realized she had value in spite of her being a slave. Finally, this book is an excellent example of determination. She would not give up even when people recognized her and tried to persuade her to return to the Washingtons because they were “good to her.” She stood strong and would not give in to the pressure. This would be an excellent book to use with children in order to teach character traits. Oney displayed so many of the traits we try to instill in students today. Oney’s life story would be an excellent example to use with students.