Current Reads & Reviews: Graphic Novel EL DEAFO

Bell, Cece, and David Lasky. El Deafo. New York, NY: Amulet Books, 2014. ISBN: 1419710206

Summary: Jump into these colorful cute little illustrations that go along beautifully with the story of a courageous little girl who has lost her hearing and feels out of place pretty much everywhere, sometimes even in her own home.

Analysis: Finding a good friend is hard to do and being different is a challenge a lot of young kids have to face. Cece Bell's personal experience is a perfect example of this. Everyone can relate to Cece and her struggle to fit in. This story takes you on Cece's journey from the beginning when she loses her hearing to her triumphs along the way, by dealing with not really knowing what is going on around you and the alienation that comes with that. Every child goes through the insecurities of fitting in somewhere with someone at school. This memoir is a great example of how to overcome these insecurities and be brave.
                Bell's inner thoughts are played out in the vibrant bold colors of this graphic novel. The reader sees how Cece had do learn to use visual clues to understand context, feels her struggle with self-confidence and how she feels like she is on her own planet. All she wants is a commonality with those around her. She feels at odds especially in PE, where a lot of students feels at odd whether they have a disability or not.
                Cece does not seem to accept herself as she is until the time when her microphone is broken ands she truly sees the importance of it and how not having it is even worse. After this obstacle, the reader sees a transformation within Cece. With her mic in working order again, she has more confidence, so much so that she starts letting her classmates in on her little secret... that "El Deafo" can hear things others cannot. This gives her "superhero" status in the eyes of her peers. She even hears their exclamations about wanting and wishing for their very own hearing aid devices.
               A great story about acceptance, acceptance of your self and of others, and how being different can and should be embraced. Cece Bell sharing her experience will help young students in similar situations learn to cope with their own. "I was a deaf kid surrounded by kids who could hear. I felt different, and in my mind, being different was not a good thing." A Note from the Author is worth reading as Bell shares her thoughts about writing and sharing this memoir as well as gives the reader more insight to the Deaf Community. "And being different? That turned out to be the best part of all. I found that with a little creativity, and a lot of dedication, any difference can be turned into something amazing. Our differences are our superpowers."

Accolades/Scholarly Reviews: Newbery Honor (2015); Pennsylvania Young Readers' Chopice Award for Grades 3-6 (2016); Dorthoy Confield Fisher Children's Book Award (2016); Will Eisner Comic Indusrty Awards for Best Publication for Kids (ages 8-12) and nominated for Best Reality-Based Work (2015); Bluestem Book Award Nominee (2017); Kirkus Prize Nominee for Young Readers' Literature (2014 Finalist); Charlotte Huch Honor Book (2015) and many more.

From Publisher's Weekly 07/07/2014: "Bell’s earnest rabbit/human characters, her ability to capture her own sonic universe (“eh sounz lah yur unnah wawah!”), and her invention of an alter ego—the cape-wearing El Deafo, who gets her through stressful encounters (“How can El Deafo free herself from the shackles of this weekly humiliation?” she asks as her mother drags her to another excruciating sign language class)—all combine to make this a standout autobiography. Cece’s predilection for bursting into tears at the wrong time belies a gift for resilience that makes her someone readers will enjoy getting to know."

Connections: When teaching about autobiographies, this is an excellent book to use for the younger grades. Pair it with Raina Telgemeier's Smile and Liz Prince's Tomboy. After students read these, have them write their own illustrated memoir about a time in their life they felt out of place or not accepted.

Current Reads & Reviews: Michael L. Printz Award Winner I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN

Nelson, Jandy. I'll Give You the Sun. Bergenfield, NJ: Penguin Group USA, 2014. ISBN: 0803734964

Summary: Told from two different perspectives, siblings, twins, brother and sister, seeking and failing to find themselves within each other, and then on their own. Noah and Jude are always competing for the love and acceptance they seek from others and their parents, but the secrets they carry bury their true selves down deep where they are struggling to survive and find their way to who they really are. Tragic yet hopeful, ugly yet beautiful, this story is a piece art. Colorfully written, you see two young adults portrayed in a different light with every page you turn.

Analysis: This story of transformation will have young adults relating to the two complex and flawed protagonists, Noah and Jude, and their struggles to find who they are while dealing with the obstacles that life throws at them along the way. Noah and Jude are so relatable the reader feels like they know them and wants them to finds themselves so they can feel whole yet once again. "In every set of twins, there is one angel, one devil." Noah is a young man trying to come to terms with being gay in a world that is not ready to embrace this. "I can unzip the air and disappear inside it, and that's what I do until I'm far away from them and what happened." "It was so much easier just to blend in than to be me." Jude is a young lady trying to live up to her mother's standards yet struggling to find and be who she is. She hears the ghost of her grandmother and cherishes her grandmother's "Bible" that has all sorts of tidbits to deal with the hard-balls life throws at you.
                Nelson does a beautiful job interweaving two perspectives, Noah telling his story from the age of thirteen, Jude telling hers at the age of sixteen. The plot keeps you turning the pages hoping these two will soon find each other again. It is awesome the way it weaves through their lives unraveling here and there then coming together to make a beautiful story as one. Nelson writes like she is painting her characters lives. Noah and Jude are at the age when each decision can change the course of their lives transforming from adolescents to adulthood, freedoms to responsibilities. These two learn there are consequences to their actions, but they also learn from their mistakes and work to redeem those.
                Nelson has her very own unique style. She incorporates color throughout the story along with tons of imagery, similes, and metaphors that "paint the picture" for the reader. "... his eyes have turned cloudy and dim. And it's like he's melting into a puddle of himself." Nelson's words are lyrical at times... "Reality is crushing. The world is a wrong-sized shoe. How can anyone stand it?" The colors change with the emotions the characters feel affecting the mood of the story as it progresses. The reader learns a lot about art and the different techniques and how one can express themselves through it. Noah's character is always painting in his mind and throughout the novel he gives titles to these paintings... "This time because I am sad. And scared. And because my skin has never fit this badly before. (SELF-PORTRAIT: Boy in a Blender)." Nelson is an expert in incorporating the arts, even poetry..."The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom. -William Blake" and "Winston Churchill: 'If you're going through hell, keep going."
                This is a story about connecting... the twins connection, connecting with other people when they feel so different, so unconnected. A story of finding one's own self and place in this harsh world. "Or maybe a person is just made up of a lot of people. Maybe we're accumulating these new selves all the time." So true!

Accolades/Scholarly Reviews: Michael L. Printz Award (2015); Georgia Peach Book Award Nominee for Honor Book (2015); Josette Frank Award for Younger Readers (2015); Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee for Young Adults (2016) and many more accolades.

From School Library Journal 09/01/2014: "Vibrant imagery and lyrical prose propel readers forward as the twins experience first love, loss, betrayal, acceptance, and forgiveness. Art and wonder fill each page, and threads of magical realism lend whimsy to the narrative. Readers will forgive convenient coincidences because of the characters' in-depth development and the swoon-worthy romances. The novel's evocative exploration of sexuality, grief, and sibling relationships will ring true with teens."

From Booklist 11/01/2014: "Nelson structures her sophomore novel brilliantly, alternating between Noah’s first-person narrative in the years before the accident and Jude’s in the years following, slowly revealing the secrets the siblings hide from each other and the ways they each throw their hearts into their artwork. In an electric style evoking the highly visual imaginations of the young narrators, Nelson captures the fraught, antagonistic, yet deeply loving relationship Jude and Noah share."

Connections: This would be a great opportunity for students to learn about different artists and their different techniques. The students could view and research Jackson Pollock, Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso, Gustav Klimt, Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, Freda Kahlo, and Diego Riveria. They could also pull the poems that were mentioned from William Blake, Winston Churchill to Elizabeth B. Browning.

Current Reads & Reviews: Fantasy FLORA & ULYSSES: THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURES

DiCamillo, Kate, and K. G. Campbell. Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2013. ISBN: 076366040X

Summary: Ten-year-old Flora's cynical life takes an adventurous turn when she meets a squirrel who has just endured being sucked up into a vacuum cleaner, changing him into a "superhero." Flora struggles to keep him safe from the arch-nemesis while she struggles with her own TERRIBLE THINGS CAN HAPPEN TO YOU. Flora's motto "Do not hope; instead, observe" keeps her from dealing with her family going through a divorce and a mother that seems to be in her own world, but the little squirrel, Ulysses, comes in and teaches them all about hope.

Analysis: Humorous! I found myself laughing out loud here and there throughout this quirky story with its peculiar little characters. It seems each character has some sort of flaw they are dealing with and it's a "superhero" squirrel that brings them all together to deal with them. Campbell provides black and white comic strip illustrations done in pencil that bring the story alive for the reader, and they will have you laughing with the action they provide.
                DiCamillo provides great teaching moments for younger readers with advanced vocabulary, such as, malfeasance; bestirred; jest; treacle; redolent. I think the younger students will have difficulty at times with the big words DiCamillo uses quite often though, but could be a great learning experience. Great examples of hyperbole and euphemisms are provided through her spunky cynical protagonist, Flora, and a great introduction to poetry as well bringing the reader into the thoughts of a special squirrel.
               Told in 3rd person point of view, this story shows us all that the impossible happens all the time. The chapter titles lead the reader to infer what is about to happen next. The short chapters make this a quick easy read. Excellent life lessons are taught during this adventurous fantasy, touching on life issues young children face daily... single parent working household, new family members, divorce, and just not being understood. This is a story of a hero's journey vanquishing villains on the quest to be loved and accepted. This is a fantasy within a realistic setting, one that we can all connect to.

Accolades/Scholarly Review: John Newbery Medal; National Ambassador for Young People's Literature; Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee for Grades 3-6 (2015), Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee (2015),  Alabama Library Association Children's Book of Year  Nominee for 4-5 (2014) and many more.

From Booklist 06/01/2013: "Newbery winner DiCamillo is a master storyteller, and not just because she creates characters who dance off the pages and plots, whether epic or small, that never fail to engage and delight readers. Her biggest strength is exposing the truths that open and heal the human heart. She believes in possibilities and forgiveness and teaches her audience that the salt of life can be cut with the right measure of love."

From Publisher's Weekly 06/24/2013: "Newbery Medalist DiCamillo and illustrator Campbell meld prose with comics sequences in a broad comedy tinged with sadness."

Connections: After reading this novel,  like the Epilogue, students could write their own poems regarding what they have learned from the story. The students could make a figurative language flipbook with examples of hyperbole, metaphors, and euphemisms, or a Words Learned book that they add words they don't recognize or find interesting, then define and come up with an illustration.

Current Reads & Reviews: Historical Fiction LILY'S CROSSING

Giff, Patricia Reilly. Lily's Crossing. New York, NY: Yearling, 1997. ISBN: 0440414539

Summary: With her promise to not tell lies, and make new friends, Lily embarks on a summer vacation away from school to the family's getaway by the beach in Rockaway, New York. World World II has impacted the lives of everyone around them. Lily worries about her father while avoiding her grandmother when she meets Albert, an Hungarian war refugee and struggles to come to terms with things.

Analysis: This is a sweet little story of a young girl living during World War II coming to terms with the hardships life hands out... loss, loneliness, separation, love, forgiveness, friendship, and honesty with one's own self. Like the title implies, the reader witnesses young Lily transform from a little girl to a young lady during one summer by the Atlantic Ocean in Rockaway.
                Dealing with the anger of "people going away" this is a story of Lily's transformation from a scared little girl that lies and embellishes to hide her anger and uncertainty to being completely honest for the first time to a newfound friend who is dealing with similar loses. The reader sees a friendship form, the two find a commonality within a stranger, one who has lost so much as well. A story of facing the hard truth and reality. Lily learns that lies can only get you so far.
                Authentic to the ages of Lily and Albert, this story could truly be during anytime or at any place seeing as there is constantly war going on somewhere and people deal with lose and separation. An excellent read for elementary through intermediate grades. A little young for secondary, but would be great for ESL students. It is historically accurate but not very informative as to why there was a war going on or who was fighting who, but the effects of the war being felt by young children. Not a lot learned here as far as the historical information goes except for the loss and uncertainty that comes along with it.

Accolades/Scholarly Reviews: Newbery Honor (1998); Audie Award Children's Titles (1999); Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award Nominee (2000); Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee (1999) and much more.

From Publisher's Weekly 01/21/1997: "Exceptional characterizations and a robust story line turn this WWII homefront novel into far more than a period piece."

From School Library Journal 02/01/1997: "The developing friendship between Lily and Albert, and Albert's plan to swim to Europe to find Ruth, will grab readers' attention and sustain it to book's end. Despite convenient plot twists to reach a happy ending, Giff's well-drawn, believable characters and vivid prose style make this an excellent choice."

Connections: Another story of friendship with an unlikely person and coming to terms with what is truly happening around you would be The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne. As an extension, students could research and read the books Lily reads and has checks out at the library, such as, Madeline a book written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans.

Current Reads & Reviews: Historical Fiction BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY

Sepetys, Ruta. Between Shades of Gray. New York: Philomel Books, 2011. ISBN: 0399254129

Summary: Between Shades of Gray takes you along on a journey of survival full of people holding on to their lives by remembering their past, grasping on to what is still good, hoping to one day return to their homes and their loved ones. These unfortunate folks were dealt a horrible hand by Josef Stalin during early 1940s, enduring hardships no human being should be subject to. 

Analysis: This is a painful read at every turn of the page, but that being said, it is true to the time, place, and situation. The characters you meet along the way are everyday people. Ones you would meet in your everyday life. Some you hate, others you love. Sepetys does a fantastic job bringing the reader into the lives of the Lithuanian people during the 1940s and their tragic encounter with Stalin's reign. You fight along side them, wanting them to survive this horrid time. You find yourself hating the Soviet soldiers, aching for the main character, Lina, her family, and all the others that surround them to persevere.
                The story opens up in the summer of 1941, with a lovely family going about their daily routines when suddenly there is banging on the door. From that moment forward Sepetys take you on the long miserable trek for over 440 days from Lithuania through the prison labor camps of Russia to Siberia. At the front of the book is a map depicting "The Journey" and another one that shows the "Timeline" for each new stop along the way. Septeys did her research thoroughly basing much of what was written on survivors accounts. It is brutal as she does not gloss over anything. You will cringe, feel disgusted, appalled. You will hope and you will cry for you know millions of people endured this hardship, this inhuman act. You feel it build inside Lina... "I hated them, the NKVD and the Soviets. I planted a seed of hatred in my heart. I swore it would grow to be a massive tree whose roots would strangle them all."
                Sepetys story is told from fifteen year old Lina's perspective. You see everything through her eyes and you visualize it all vividly with the imagery provided for each new encounter at every setting along their treacherous travels. "We made our way through the crowd, like a small boat cutting through a storm, unsure if we'd be sucked in or stay afloat." The use of figurative language by way of similes and metaphors paint the picture in the mind of the reader. The font change from normal to italics throughout the novel clue the reader into Lina's memories of her family that help us get to know the people they once were while also giving insight of how things led up to where they are now in the story. You "see" Lina making connections along the way with conversations she overheard in the past to the nightmare she is currently living.
                Through Lina's voice and her drawings the reader is drawn into her world and what they endure. You feel the thread of hope that all the characters have. You wonder how they held onto it with all that they went through. "Mother quickly wiped off the slime, as if it didn't bother her at all. It bothered me. I wanted to roll the hate up into my mouth and spit it back in his face." Between all the shades of gray that consumes them they always could find something to hold on to, something dear to their hearts that kept them going through each horrific day. "They didn't ask for anything. They were happy to help someone, to succeed at something, even if they weren't to benefit. We'd been trying to touch the sky from the bottom of the ocean. I realized that if we boosted one another, maybe we'd get a little closer." I, personally, never knew about this time in Russian history. I  have been educated quite a bit about Hitler during this same time, but not a lot about the Baltic states and the transition of power to communist Soviet Union. Found in the "Author's Note" located in the back Sepetys explains her journey and research for this book leaving us with... "They chose hope over hate and showed the world that even through the darkest night, there is light. Please research it. Tell someone. These three tiny nations have taught us that love is the most powerful army. Whether love of friend, love of country, love of God, or even love of enemy - love reveals to us the truly miraculous nature of the human spirit."
               While there are not many happy times in this novel, you truly come away learning a great deal. Those happy times are too few and far between, but those are the times that keep the victims of this horrific time fighting to live another day, fighting to get back to their home and the people they once were. This book will spark emotions in you that you haven't felt while reading in a long time.

Accolades/Scholarly Reviews: Georgia Peach Book Award Nominee for Honor book; Golden Kite Award for Fiction; William C. Morris Debut Award Nominee; Milwaukee County Teen Book Award Nominee; Indies Choice Award Nominee; Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Nominee; Cybils Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction; Carnegie Medal Nominee; Missouri Gateway Readers Award Nominee and many more.

From Publisher's Weekly 01/03/2011: Through the pained yet resilient narration of 15-year-old Lina, a gifted artist, this taut first novel tells the story of Lithuanians deported and sent to Siberian work camps by Stalin during WWII.

From School Library Journal 03/01/2011: "This novel is based on extensive research and inspired by the author's family background. Told by 15-year-old Lina, a Lithuanian teen with penetrating insight and vast artistic ability, it is a gruesome tale of the deportation of Lithuanians to Siberia starting in 1939. Unrelenting sadness permeates this novel, but there are uplifting moments when the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for compassion take over. This is a gripping story that gives young people a window into a shameful, but likely unfamiliar history."

Connections: After reading or even before, the students could research  the artist Edvard Munch and his works, seeing as they were very dear to Lina. The students could research and read the synopsis of the books that Lina would read and cherish, such as Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens. Compare stories with Eli Wiesel's memoir Night, a memoir based on a personal experience of survival in Nazi Germany where one "never forgets man's capacity for inhumanity to man" or read a companion historical-fiction novel Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin.

Current Reads & Reviews: Historical Fiction Scott O'Dell Award Winner THE HIRED GIRL

Schlitz, Laura Amy. The Hired Girl. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2015. ISBN: 076367818X

Summary: A story of a courageous fourteen year-old young lady struggling to become an educated free woman in search of a better life, independence, and love around the turn of the century, a time when the women were supposed to stay at home, work the farm along with the men, and not seek an education. The reader gets the insight of women living in a "man's world."

Analysis: Laura Amy Schlitz does an excellent job bringing the reader back to 1911 through the strong voice of Joan. She brings Joan's voice to life in diary form where we hear her daily thoughts and struggles. Written so as to give the reader insight into Joan's conscience mind, giving the reader a window into her thinking processes, hearing her voice of reason as well as her voice of doubt. Enter into the life of women in the early 1900s, their struggles, their loses, and their triumphs. The setting opens up to a hot summer in rural Pennsylvania on a farm where Joan works her fingers raw to appease her angry, ungrateful, and unforgiving father along with her three brothers. Women were to work the homestead seeking only a limited education. You see a division between the rich and the poor through through the eyes of a servant. "I sometimes wonder if every living thing doesn't need kind words as much as sunshine and water."
              The plot is captivating as Joan struggles to make her place after losing her mother, the only one that understood what was to come for her daughter. She wanted something better for Joan and instilled a passion for learning in her at an early age. "She must have known that one day I would need to escape from him. Even after her death, she provided for me." The characterization is so well done you wish you had this novel at fourteen so you could see how courage truly can get you far. This is a story of hope and brevity. "I'm going to fight my way forward, though I don't know how and I don't know where I'll end up." This quote shows Joan's optimism, that she is a fighter, one who strives for better things in a time when women were put in their place by the men.
               Schlitz shows us how women were treated, how divided people were due to their social status and/or religious views and what it meant to be devout and virtuous. The readers get a taste of the clash between Catholic views/laws and Jewish views/laws.The times are terrifically portrayed by the descriptions of their clothing, their values and morals, their language, and the setting around them. The theme of transformation within Joan is apparent as the setting changes to a more metropolitan society in Baltimore. We first experience this when Joan's views the art sculpture of The Spirit of Transportation at the train station, a metaphor for her transformation. The change from horses to automobiles, the clothing changing from rugged to stylish, the rights of women even seem different in the city. the novel is divided into parts, each depicting a piece of art. The art seems to introduce the stages in Joan's life representing a new transformation based on her life experiences throughout the story.
               Schlitz's voice brought me to the 1900s. The language has such a flow that the words and phrases wrap around you. You feel Joan's courage to reach her goals while also feeling the apprehensiveness of a fourteen year old young lady struggling to find her place in the world. The reader experiences Joan feeling as if she was not fitting in with society due to not having the right clothing. Girls today will relate with this... "I felt very plain when I got to church and saw all the well-dressed people getting out of their carriages and automobiles I had to remind myself that the church was God's house and He would want me to come to Mass; He wouldn't mind that Ma's old hat is a disgrace."
              I love the mosaic of characters we meet throughout the novel. All seem true to the time and place from the servant to the artist, the scholar to the housewife, the entrepreneur to the priest... all so well developed. At the back of the book, Schlitz provides Art Acknowledgements giving the reader information about each art piece. Then you find the Author's Note explaining her use of language and how it was true to the time.
              All young ladies should read this novel! "When I behold the ocean, I know that the world isn't just the grind of small tasks and small thoughts. The world is wide and wild and grand. Someday I will sail my little bark into the great ocean of life, braving the winds and the tide. And while the waves may dwarf me, they will not belittle me, because I will be the master of my fate and the captain of my soul."

Accolades/Scholarly Reviews: National Jewish Book Awards Winner; Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction; Association of Jewish Libraries; Sydney Taylor Book Award for Teen Readers; Keystone to Reading Book Award Nominee for High School; ALA Notable Books; CATS Awards; Bulletin Of The Center For Children's Books-Recommended Titles; Horn Book/Boston Globe Book Awards, and much more.

From Publisher's Weekly 07/15/2015: "Schlitz (Splendors & Glooms) has crafted another exquisite literary gem, one told entirely via Joan’s vivid, humorous, and emotionally resonant diary entries over a year and a half. Through Joan’s naïve perspective, Schlitz frankly discusses class, religion, women’s education, art, literature, and romance."

From Booklist 07/01/2015: "The distinctive household setting and the many secondary characters are well developed, while Joan comes alive on the page as a vulnerable, good-hearted, and sometimes painfully self-aware character struggling to find her place in the world. A memorable novel from a captivating storyteller."

Connections: Have the students do a character study of Joan, then read the children's picture book Joan of Arc by Josephine Poole and then compare the two heroines. Also, if students like this read and want to learn about the early 1900s, they will love Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson, about another courageous young girl. Students could also read the books that Joan cherishes or they could research them and read the synopsis'. These could become books they add to their to-read list.

Current Reads & Reviews: Biography THE LINCOLNS: A SCRAPBOOK LOOK AT ABRAHAM AND MARY

Fleming, Candace. The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2008. ISBN: 0375836187

Summary: A museum in a book! Walk your eyes through the lives of Abraham and Mary, how they came to be, met, and survived the ups and downs of life together, culminating in their deaths. Chalked full of illustrations of items that visually guide you. The reader is taken on an in-depth journey into two intellectual lives who were both very strong willed, bold people, who shared political interests as well as a love for one another resulting in a true partnership.

Analysis: This biography is an in-depth look into the life of Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary laid out in scrapbook form leaving the reader feeling as if they have visited a museum dedicated to these two interesting lives. This biography gives the reader a look into Lincolns' 19th century America and its people. This is an excellent resource to be used in Social Studies! It is quite lengthy but the timeline near the front itself will lend as a great research tool for middle school to college level students.
                As you read this awesome informative book you "hear" the accent of the folks back then as there is inflection within the text. You find yourself a bit disappointed when you have to turn the page because once you begin reading one thing you're hooked, then you turn the page and it is all new information, you lose the disappointment quickly though because the new story is just as enthralling. The illustrations are photos, newspaper clippings, personal letters, personal items/trinkets, invitations, drawings, maps, poems, and much more. Visually stimulating as almost each entry comes with an illustration that complements the text well. This book reads like a well done documentary.
               One feature that was pretty cool is the use of the font type called "Old Times American" which was the very typeface that was used in the 1800s. There is A Note on the Type at the very beginning that teaches the reader how "typing" was done back then with metal or wood and ink. Then there is a Table of Contents that is divided by key themes so the reader does not necessarily need to read this book in any particular order. After that, there is a lengthy Introduction written to the reader by Candice Fleming herself notifying us that this book is written by her, and she grew up in the "land of Lincoln" even knowing a distant cousin of his. Here the reader learns that Abraham detested the being called "Abe." Following the informative Introduction one will find a detailed timeline called The Lincoln Years listing the main points in Abraham and Mary's life. The timeline is written in different fonts Abraham's being Roman Text and Mary's being italicized.
               In the back, the reader will find resources for extended reading or research, other young adult books and web links with little blurbs on what one will find at each site.

Accolades/Scholarly Reviews: Norman A Sugarman Award (2010); Flora Stieglitz Straus Award (2009); Society of Midland Authors Award for Children’s Nonfiction (2009), and a plethora of scholarly reviews.

From Booklist 09/15/2008: "Fleming’s writing, filled with quotes and personal details, is just as lively as the assortment of images, and an extensive time line, suggested resources, and source notes round out the text. Starting with her personal introduction, this exemplary resource will prompt readers to consider how an individual’s life story, and a country’s history, are constructed."

From Kirkus Review 09/01/2008: "Fleming's five-year immersion in letters, diaries, newspapers, speeches and other primary documents yields a monumental visual chronicle of Abraham and Mary Lincoln and their times. The visuals range from the essential to the mundane—portraits, maps, battlefield scenes, political cartoons, dress patterns, a stovepipe hat and measurements for a pair of boots—and, along with clear writing and thematic organization, leave readers 'feeling as if you have just visited old friends.'"

Connections: Students could skim/read this extensive biography then follow up by watching the documentary Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided which "weaves together the lives of the two Lincolns, drawing us into their long-vanished world." Read other highly acclaimed biographies written by Fleming such as Ben Franklin's Almanac: Being a True Account of the Good Gentleman's Life (2003); Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable Life (2005).

Current Reads & Reviews: Nonfiction Biography CHUCK CLOSE UP CLOSE

Greenberg, Jan. Chuck Close, Up Close. Ill by Sandra Jordan. New York, NY: DK Ink, 1998. 

                  ISBN: 078942486X

Summary: This biography picture book is a story of a boy struggling with learning disabilities in a time when they were not recognized. Then later a physical disability and how he worked around that and continue to do what he loves. Chuck Close became a very successful innovative artist, one who could not see in the third-dimension but only things that were 2D. To combat this disability he began drawing "heads" by taking a photograph similar to a mugshot then letting that be his map. His style was a "concept of self-imposed rules that would form the basis of future work" and his "painting becomes a topographical map of a face" a window into the true self.

Analysis: This is a great biography picture book about Chuck Close and his struggles through life, and how he dealt with them through his creation of art. This would be an excellent read to all classes as there are students struggling with learning disabilities at every turn. What a great way to show them they too can be successful, they might just have to work at it a bit differently. "When every kid on the block wanted to become a policeman or fireman, I wanted to be an artist. It was the first thing that I was good at, the first thing that really made me feel special. I had skills the other kids didn't have. Art saved my life."
               The text is chalk full of Close's own words and reads like he is telling the story of his own life. His interesting life and the struggles he faced along the way keep the reader interested. "I don't tend to recognize people on the street. But I do have a photographic memory for things that are flat. So by painting these large portraits and making them flat, I commit to my memory people who are important to me."
             While the text sequences Close's life and his struggles, each page provides photographs of his portraits in the different styles and techniques he applies throughout. Starting with his studio, progressing through his styles of portraits, using different tools from an airbrush to his own fingers. Starting with a Table of Contents in the beginning and then ending with reference aids such as a glossary of art terms, a bibliography that will lead the reader/researcher to additional resources, and a list of the museums that hold some of his art pieces, this is an extensive look into the subject's life.
             This read has shown me that picture books are a visually stimulating way to read a biography while not loading the reader down with too much information on the subject, leaving the reader learning just the important highlights and turning points in the subject's life.

Accolades/Scholarly Reviews: Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee 2000; Best Books For Children 6th Ed (1998); Best Books For Children 7th Ed (2002); Best Books For Young Teen Readers, Grades 7-10; and much more.

From Kirkus Review 02/09/1998: "Close's feelings for his friends are conveyed through his gargantuan portraits of them and his multiple interpretations of their photographs. Full-color illustrations show both finished works, and the processes through which they are made, including scenes of Close on the forklift he uses to move around the canvas."

From School Library Journal 03/01/1998: "This is an inspiring look at the contemporary artist who struggled with learning disabilities as a youngster, became a celebrated painter in the late 1960s, and later overcame paralysis to continue creating huge portraits in which the image is created by a multitude of small abstract units. Sometimes Close makes the abstract units by inking his finger and pressing it on the canvas over and over. His way of working, as it developed from photorealism to his current unique style, with its relationship to computer art and photomechanical reproduction, is inherently interesting, while the way his portraits almost magically seem to emerge as one gets far enough away from the canvas is clearly shown in the excellent-quality full-color reproductions. "

Connections: A great visual book for art history research or an English class research/writing project. The students could view this video found on Youtube before reading the biography picture book (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbcP8zNrqsk&feature=related). After reading, there is another video of a letter that Chuck Close wrote to younger self on what he has learned through his struggles (https://vimeo.com/41638000). The students could then write letters to either their younger self or their older self.

Current Reads & Reviews: Award Winning Nonfiction Biography Picture Book

Bryant, Jennifer. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus. Ill by Melissa Sweet. MI: Eerdmans,                     2004. ISBN: 0802853854

Summary: This little biography picture book is about the life of Peter Mark Roget, the creator of the first list of words and their synonyms... the Thesaurus, inspired by losing his father, then having to move. Life was difficult for Peter but he found solace in books, so he began writing his own. Instead of stories he wrote lists. Lists of all sorts of things he learned along the way. Peter loved words! Lists made his life seem orderly. Roget was quite an amazing man, creating lots of very cools things (the slide rule, the pocket size chess set). I have always loved words and now I have a newfound respect for the reference tool the Thesaurus, a "treasure house" it is!

Analysis: Where to begin... there is so much going on in this little biography picture book. Great for all ages! The illustrations are awesome and grab your attention. You fall into each page and stay awhile because there is so much detail in each illustration to take in. This picture book is a great learning tool for teaching synonyms, classification, and categorizing as each item/part is explained by showing its purpose textually and visually. Starting with the front cover illustration of an open book with pictures of all the cool stuff one can find within. The inside cover is awesomely decorated with educational information with the science of words. On the back inside cover one will find a "Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases, Classified and Arranged so as to Facilitate the Expression of Ideas and Assist in Literary Composition" along with images to help visualize the word list's subjects.
              Additional resources such as Roget's life events along with notable world events from 1779 through 1869 can be found in the back as well as the Author's Note that will clue the reader in on Bryant's inspiration behind creating the book. The Illustrator's Note gives insight to the Roget's original 1805 word book and how it inspired Sweet's lists and pictures all from Roget's 1st edition. Also found near the back, one can find a bibliography "for further reading." I love how there is a photo of a page from Roget's original word book. Peter Mark Roget was always trying to come up with a better word for the one he originally thought of by creating lists of synonyms for each. Roget creates the first Thesaurus, a Greek word that means "treasure home." Cover to cover the illustrations are a feast for the eyes. There is so much to see. It could be quite overwhelming for a young scholar but that being said the illustrations as well as the text is very engaging. A nonfiction book all educators should have on hand.

Accolades/Scholarly Reviews: Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award Winners and Honors 2001; Caldecott Medal/Honor Books; Fanfare 1998; Horn Book Honor List; Georgia Picture Book Award Nominees 1997; Horn Book Magazine Starred Review Titles and many more.

From Booklist 08/01/2014: "Echoing Roget’s obsession with words, Sweet’s intricate and elaborate collage illustrations—made out of textbooks, graph paper, maps, fabric, typewriter keys, and other found objects—put words on center stage. Lists in wildly expressive handwritten fonts along with cut-paper assemblages stuff the dynamic pages, even the appended time line and endpapers, with arresting detail."

From Kirkus Review 08/01/2014: "Bryant's prose is bright and well-tuned for young readers. She goes gently, omitting Roget's darkest traumas, such as witnessing his uncle's suicide. Sweet tops herself—again!—visually reflecting Roget's wide range as a thinker and product of the Enlightenment. Injecting her watercolor palette with shots of teal, scarlet and fuchsia, Sweet embeds vintage bits (ledger paper, type drawers, botanical illustrations and more), creating a teeming, contemplative, playfully celebratory opus."

Connections: Under the "For Further Reading" there are five other books that would go along great with this one. One in particular would be a great extension called Noah Webster and His Words. As an ELA teacher, I think this along with The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus would be great starter reads when introducing how to use the Thesaurus and the Dictionary in the classroom.

Current Reads & Reviews: Poetry Picture Book MIRROR MIRROR

Singer, Marilyn, and Josée Masse. Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems. New York, NY: Dutton Children's Books, 2010. ISBN: 0525479015

Summary: Singer's innovative poetry picture book takes popular childhood fairy-tales and mixes them up a bit. She writes a poem then takes it and reverses the poem so it is read from the bottom up coining this "reverso." The reverse reading of the poems convey two different points of view. Each poem comes with bold brightly colored illustrations that create a dark versus light effect representing good versus evil in some. While some of the poems were really good, making you laugh out loud, others were lacking in flow, although very clever!

Analysis: This picture book of poetry is quite different from the norm... The clever concept of writing the poems one way then again backwards setting them right next to each other gives the reader a different perspective, showing that there are always two sides to every story. Singer creates the poems in reverse only changing the punctuation and capitalization here and there. Some poems had rhythm and rhyme while others did not. The poems that had rhyme created a nice flow for the reader while the ones that didn't lacked flow. She writes descriptively but not figuratively. Short clippy sentences made it hard to imagine but the illustrations are bold and bright. She splits the page in half one side dark and the other light representing good versus evil. At the end of the book Singer provides the reader with an end note about reversing poems that will help students write their own "reverso" poem. Below was one of my favorite poems  and illustrations. Click image to enlarge.

Accolades/Scholarly Reviews: ALA Notable Books 1944-97 (And Ongoing); Texas Bluebonnet Book Award Nominees 2004-05 (And Ongoing); Kirkus Reviews 2010 Best Children's Books and many more.

From Booklist 01/01/2010: "This ingenious book of reversos, or poems which have one meaning when read down the page and perhaps an altogether different meaning when read up the page, toys with and reinvents oh-so-familiar stories and characters, from Cinderella to the Ugly Duckling."

From School Library Journal 01/01/2010: "The vibrant artwork is painterly yet unfussy and offers hints to the characters who are narrating the poems. This is a remarkably clever and versatile book that would work in any poetry or fairy-tale unit. A must-have for any library."

Connections: Once the students read this reversible poetry book, they will be asking to create their own. Have the students select a poem from a different poet and apply the "reverso" then share with each other. Also a great way to teach the concept of dichotomy. There is a lesson in punctuation and capitalization as well. Seeing how one little change can create a totally different effect.

Current Reads & Reviews: Beehive Children's Poetry Book Award Nominee I AM THE BOOK

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. I Am the Book. Ill by Yayo New York: Holiday House, 2011.
         ISBN: 0823421198

Summary:  A collection of thirteen poems all about the pleasure reading can bring to a person. Poems that show the reader there is a book for every reason, and stories that change with the seasons. A great picture book that will instill a love for books and reading at an early age.

Analysis: This thematic picture book is a collection of poems by various poets that focus on losing yourself in a book. I love the illustrations for each poem as they depict the imagination that books bring to the reader. The artwork throughout give the illusion of "living" inside a book showing the reader you can lose yourself in the imagination a good book can create, entering worlds yet unseen. The illustrations transform you into a story showing different aspects of reading. The reader can feel the magic!

 A few poems seem to focus on poetry alone, showing different forms from quatrains to sonnets, while others have an ABAB rhyme scheme creating that sing-song feel. All but one of the poems have a lovely flow to them. Most with rhyme through the use of assonance and consonance, and others with onomatopoeia. The lyrical flow of each poem reads like a song and will have students wanting to hear them again and take part in.  I Am the Book not only will teach students about poetry but also how reading can be fun, encouraging them to read more. Each page is a new adventure. Below is one of my favorite poems from the book...

 Wonder Through the Pages 

by Karla Kuskin

 "So I picked out a book

on my own

from the shelf

and I started to read

on my own

to myself.

And nonsense and knowledge

came tumbling out, 

whispering mysteries, 

history's shout,

the wisdom of wizards,

the songs of the ages,

all wonders of wandering

wonderful pages."

In the back, are blurbs about each poet we meet in this collection, telling us who they are, what they are known for, and where the reside. If you love books and reading, you will absolutely fall in love with this book too!

Accolades/Scholarly Reviews: Beehive Children's Poetry Book Award nominee 

From School Library Journal 04/01/2011: "The attractive and fanciful acrylic paintings feature exaggerated shapes and perspectives that go nicely with the flights of imagination depicted in the poems. Literature-loving adults will want to share this book with the young people in their lives."

From Booklist 03/01/2011: "The whimsical, light-toned acrylic artwork extends the metaphors with witty, fantastical transformations of books: in one scene, a dark-blue book cover becomes an ocean, where you can dive in the sea of words and swim."

Connections: Before reading this picture book to students, ask them to think about a time when they were reading for fun. Where were they? What was the weather like? When do they most like to read? Then read the poems and observe the connections the students make. Have the students draw a page for the book that represents their favorite spot to read. A wonderful companion book for this one would be BookSpeak! Poems About Books by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Josee Bisaillon.

Current Reads & Reviews: Poetry - Novel in Verse

Sones, Sonya. What My Mother Doesn't Know. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young                  Readers, 2001. ISBN: 0689871147

Summary: A novel written in prose, this is a story of a young girl, a freshman in high school, who sees love interests at every turn. A story of lust, love, loss, and friendship. Every girl seems to go through the roller coaster of emotions that Sophie experiences here all the while learning the difference between lust and love. A book every girl can relate to!

Analysis: Sonya Sones has a way with words! Alliteration sprinkled here and there..."deceitful despicable" and "giggling gabfest." Metaphors and imagery that lyrically paint the picture for the reader... "I step into the steam and let water rinse my body clean while rivers flow in ribbons down my arms." Similes..."their shrieking whips around inside me like a tornado." I found myself gasping at times then laughing out loud at others. Each pages flows with figurative language entices our senses... "His little finger finds mine, hooking us together, and all the clatter of the corridor fades away till the only sound I can hear is the whispering of our fingers." A few are concrete poems taking shape with the words like in I Wish while others have a rhyming scheme like in Long Weekend...

"Forty-eight hours

of silence go by.

Forty-eight hours

alone.

Forty-eight hours

is such a long time

to sit

and stare

at the phone."

Sones write with boldness, sometimes to create shock value when touching on tough topics like ethnicity or sex. My absolute favorite page is the one called More or Less...

"If Dylan and I had met

by chatting on the Net

in a room in cyberspace

instead of face to face

and I hadn't seen his lips

or the way he moves his hips

when he does that sexy dance

and I hadn't had a chance

to look into his eyes

or be dazzled by their size

and all that I had seen

were his letters on my screen, 

then I might as well confess:

I think I would have like him

less."

I truly enjoyed this quick read and moved right on into the sequel What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know.

Accolades/Scholarly Reviews: South Carolina Book Award Nominee for Young Adult Book Award (2004); Michigan Library Association Thumbs Up! Award Nominee (2002); Iowa Teen Award (2006); Missouri Gateway Readers Award Nominee (2004) and many more.

From Publisher's Weekly: "Drawing on the recognizable cadence of teenage speech, the author poignantly captures the tingle and heartache of being young and boy-crazy. She weaves separate free verse poems into a fluid and coherent narrative with a satisfying ending."

Connections: Read the companion novel told by the boyfriend's perspective. Have the students write about a relationship gone wrong or about one gone right, then ask them to write it again but from the other person's perspective.

Current Reads & Reviews: Traditional Literature A Caldecott Honor Book RUMPELSTILTSKIN

Zelinsky, Paul O. Rumpelstiltskin. New York.: E.P. Dutton., 1986. ISBN: 0140058640

Summary: A retelling of Grimm's fairy-tale, this is a story of survival due to deception led on by greedy men. A woman's struggle to stay alive by gaining the help of a little man with his own mischievous plan. There is a lesson to be learned here.

Analysis: Rumpelstiltskin derives from the medieval times when being rich and royal was worth sacrificing things and those held dear.  A story of good versus evil where both seem to be rewarded here. Beautiful oil paintings throughout make this medieval retelling of Grimm's story visually appealing. The shimmer and glimmer of the gold colors convey the richness of this little tale with each turn of the page. The facial expressions on the characters faces project the emotions creating the mood in the story.

The clothing, landscapes, and architecture correctly depict the medieval times. After reading this to my seventh graders. they all agreed that "the pictures had a medieval feel to it." One student stated, "I liked how the miller's daughter found his [Rumpelstiltskin] name out by being sneaky and how she played it out by saying the wrong name before the correct one!" My students were curious as to why Rumpelstiltskin wanted the child for himself. Another student said, "this story has a good moral... don't be something that you are not."

Accolades/Scholarly Reviews: Best Books For Children; Best Of The Best For Children; Books For Growing Minds; Best Books For Children: Preschool-Grade 6 - Eighth Edition; Newbery & Caldecott Medal & Honor Books; School Library Journal Best Books Of The Year

From Kirkus Review 09/15/1986: "Zelinaky's illustrations are opulently painted, full of classical architectural detail, fantastic distant landscapes, and that early use of perspective which gives a raked stage effect."

From School Library Journal 10/01/1986: "Zelinsky's painterly style and rich colors provide an evocative backdrop to this story. The medieval setting and costumes and the spools of gold thread which shine on the page like real gold are suggestive of an illuminated manuscript. Without overpowering the text, the illustrations give depth and background, providing exquisite texture and detail."

Connections: Read Grimm's version of Rumpelstiltskin and do a comparison on the illustrations as well as the text. Have students write a sequel to the story or have them create the background story for the character Rumpelstiltskin as there is a lot left unsaid like why he volunteers to help the miller's daughter and why he wanted her first born child.

Current Reads & Reviews: Traditional Literature Variant of The Three Pigs

Wiesner, David. The Three Pigs. New York: Clarion Books, 2001. ISBN: 06180087016

Summary: This beautifully illustrated version of The Three Pigs is hilarious and will have you and the little ones laughing out loud. As the pigs build their homes out of straw, sticks, and bricks. when suddenly "the wolf huffed and he puffed, and he blew" the pigs right out of their own story venturing them into other traditional tales meeting new characters along the way. Take flight with the three pigs to see where they might end up.

Analysis: This Caldecott award winning version of the original Three Little Pigs is quite different and very creative. The illustrations Wiesner has created are eye-catching and beautiful. He applies a variety of styles throughout this storybook. One page will look like the traditional tale, the next switching to comic book line drawings with little dialogue bubbles that show the pig's perspectives providing humor that will have you and the young ones giggling. I love how the pigs manipulate the pages of the story, for instance, taking the wolf's page and folding it into an airplane to transport them out of their story into new ones. I love how that very page ends up wrinkled and wrecked once they land. My favorite illustration is where the pigs are half in the story and half out. I like how Wiesner depicts this by applying different textures to the pigs. Each page is visually fun keeping the reader wondering where will the pigs end up next. It is really cool how the setting is the book itself! This plot will have students' imaginations running wild while making connections to other familiar tales they have heard, weaving in the old with the new.

Accolades/Scholarly Reviews: Bulletin Of The Center For Children's Books-Recommended Titles 1996; Books And More For Growing Minds April 2001; School Selection Guide: E Classification Titles To Order K-8; Best Books For Children: Preschool-Grade 6 

From School Library Journal 04/01/2001: "Witty dialogue and physical comedy abound in this inspired retelling of a familiar favorite."

From Booklist 05/15/2001: "Wiesner's latest is a post-modern fantasy for young readers that takes Scieszka's fragmentation a step further: it not only breaks apart and deliciously reinvents the pigs' tale, it invites readers to step beyond the boundaries of story and picture book altogether."

Connections: Read other versions and variants of this story as there are many and have students make comparisons between them ending with them working together to create their own version of the story to share. Start with the Disney classic The Three Little Pigs, follow that with David Wiesner's version, then ending with the one from the Wolf's perspective called The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, Lane Smith.

Current Reads & Reviews: Traditional Literature - Folktale

Morales, Yuyi. Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2003.  ISBN: 0811837580

Summary: Grandma Beetle is working away cleaning, cooking, and stuffing piñatas while Señor Calavera waits patiently to take her away, but not before Grandma sits down to celebrate another year in her life with her grandchildren and all the yummy food.

Analysis: Señor Calavera seems to represent death knocking on Grandma Beetle's door, but Grandma has other important things on her mind... Family. This beautiful picture book is a great representation of the Mexican culture. Grandma does all she can to thwart the skeleton always asking for "Just a minute..." as she cleans and cooks for her upcoming birthday celebration. Done in acrylic and media paper, the vibrant colors lure the eyes in to all the little details on each page and give the feel of motion almost as if they were dancing through the day. The little kitten follows Grandma throughout the story always by her side. This is a story about the celebration of life and family all the while teaching children how to count in both English and Spanish. Each new number is broadcast in big black bold letters. Those and the repeated phrases will have children reading them out loud along with you. 

Accolades/Scholarly Reviews: Pura Belpre Awards and Honors 1996; School Selection Guide: Nonfiction Titles To Order K-8; Best Books For Children: Preschool-Grade 6; Tomas Rivera Mexican-American Book Award Winners 2004 and many more.

From Publisher's Weekly 12/01/2003: "Like the best folktales, the darker motivation for the skeleton's visit remains elusive for youngest readers, and the sly interplay between hostess and visitor makes light of his role. Morales whips up a visually striking book, and funny to boot. Her deep, glowing pastels and stylized human characterizations beautifully conjure the traditions of Latin American muralists, while Señor Calavera's ghoulish, goofy gallantry would make him the comic lead of any Day of the Dead festivity."

From Booklist 12/01/2003: "Like the text, the rich, lively artwork draws strongly upon Mexican culture, with hints of Diego Rivera in Grandma's robust form, and the skeleton resembling the whimsical figurines often seen in Day of the Dead folk art. The splendid paintings and spirited storytelling--along with useful math and multicultural elements--augur a long, full life for this original folktale."

Connections: This counting book would be a good companion when teaching children to count in English and in Spanish. Pair up with other picture books that teach English and Spanish: My Colors, My World/Mis Colores, Mi Mundo by Maya Christina Gonzalez and/or The Moon is La Luna: Silly Rhymes in English and Spanish by Jay M. Harris, Matthew Cordell.

Current Reads & Reviews: A Classic Picture Book

Brown, Margaret Wise. Goodnight Moon. New York: HarperFestival, 2007.
Hurd, Clement. 2007. Goodnight Moon. by Margaret Wise Brown. New York: HarperFestival.
            ISBN 0694003611

Summary: This is a sweet little storybook about a little bunny needing to get to sleep, but not before he says goodnight to all that he loves in his colorful room.

Analysis: Goodnight Moon is a classic storybook board-book that is an excellent read for the little ones, though the story will comfort anyone. We enter into the little bunny's room, surrounded by all his little knickknacks and friends keeping him company, everything in bold bright colors. The little things spread out will have children actively participating in this read. Each character is having their own adventure... the little mouse and kittens will pop up in different places as you turn the pages, keeping the eyes of the children exploring the illustrations throughout. Children will see reflections of themselves in these characters. Brown's wordplay with assonance, rhyme, and repeated phrases will entice the little reader to join along.

It is Hurd's illustrations that has the reader feeling like they are transforming from an awake state to a dreamlike state. He conveys this by the vibrant colors changing to black and white projecting a sleepiness as the room slowly darkens throughout the story. The shift from lightness to darkness has the effect of closing one's eyes as sleep is taking over. With the room immersed in darkness and the accent lighting from the the warmth of the fire and the moon lurking outside the window with the bright stars leaves one feeling restful, peaceful.

Accolades/Scholarly Reviews: Alaska's Association Of School Librarians Battle Of The Books Nominees 2003-04; Publisher's Weekly Children's Books Fall 1997; Horn Book Guide Reviews 2002 Spring; CLS Basic Juvenile - Board Books 2001

From Publisher's Weekly 08/20/2001: "An oversize board book edition of Goodnight Moon makes the great green room larger than ever, allowing readers to trace with ease the tiny mouse that appears in each spread."

Connections: Read the companion storybooks beginning with The Runaway Bunny and ending with My World. Both written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd.

Current Reads & Reviews: Award Winning Illustrator Betsy Lewin

Lewin, Betsy. Where Is Tippy Toes? New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010.
             ISBN: 1416938087

Summary: Where is Tippy Toes? is about the adventures of a cat and the places he hides throughout the day, however, no one seems to know where he sneaks off to at night. Travel through a day in the life of the mischievous Tippy, exploring all that he does and just maybe you will find out where it is he hides out during the night.

Analysis: What a fun little read! Enter into a day in the life of a curious, daring, stealthy cat with a playful personality. This is the cutest little story with beautiful illustrations that are big and bold. The die-cut pages really pop, grabbing your attention. The changing vibrant colors, making this storybook visually appealing, show progression throughout the day. Lewin's use of bold and bright colors truly create the mood from the beginning to the end of Tippy's day. The cutouts on some of the pages give the reader the feeling of being sneaky, hiding right along with Tippy Toes. My favorite page was where his tail is camouflaged with the cattails and, of course, the pulling back the blanket part...

Lewin's play with words gives a fluid flow with rhythm and rhyme. The alliterations and repeated phrases project a nice cadence. My 8th graders said they "loved how each page led to the next" and they thought it was "a good way to make a small child feel comfort before bedtime." When I had finished the last page and closed the book, one student stated, "It made me happy." I think anyone and everyone will leave feeling cheerful after experiencing this story and its painterly colored pages. Great for the little ones!

Accolades/Scholarly Reviews: The Bulletin of the Center for Children Books - Recommended Titles 1996; September 2010 and Horn Book Guide Reviews 2011 Spring.

From School Library Journal 09/01/2010: "Oversize watercolors outlined in a thick black line add humor to the text and the bright hues seen in the flowers, sun, and cat's fur enhance the changing backgrounds. Rhyming sentences come together with the turn of a page and continue to the satisfying page turn at the end. This cat's sun up to sun down routine makes an excellent choice for a new bedtime story."

From Publisher's Weekly 07/05/2010 "Tippy Toes is an orange cat with expressive lime-green eyes and a penchant for exploration. Gentle rhymes speculate on Tippy's self-assured movements."

Connections: Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd (Illustrator) and Tuck Me In! by Dean Hacohen, Sherry Scharschmidt (Illustrator) and I Spy With My Little Eye by Edward Gibbs would be great companion books. Students can compare the illustrations and the hidden elements within them.