Module 9- Journal

Using both mystery and fantasy/scifi from last module, look at the roles of the characters. Were these roles stereotypical? Why or why not? What problems--if any--do you see with today's children being exposed to stereotypical gender roles? Choose at least 1 book from each genre to cite and give examples from these books.

Bella (Twilight)- Bella is a countertypical teen girl. While she may be interested in boys, she certainly does not fulfill the feminine stereotyped gender role. Bella would be considered a tom-boy, preferring to dress and act in a more gender neutral manner. She is not fussy about hair, makeup, or clothes, preferring instead to roll out of bed in clothes that keep her from being noticed. She readily admits that she doesn't relate to her peers (pg. 10), which leaves her open to the very non-stereotypical Edward.

Luke (Among the Hidden)- Luke's hidden child circumstances lead him to be far from the stereotypical male that his brothers or father represent. This most likely has a great deal to do with spending most of his childhood in the company of his mother only. Although his father and brothers tease him for things like baking bread or cleaning, without options for sports and school, Luke finds these to be the activities he enjoys. His favorite activity is reading, and his new found friend in Jen further highlights his feminine qualities. He prefers the safety of home to the bravery of Jen. (Jen appears more masculine than Luke. Wanting to fix and build things rather than shop. Standing up bravely to anyone.)

Torey (The Body of Christopher Creed)- Torey has the outer characteristics of the stereotypical male character. He plays football, prefers the company of his close male friends, spends his time with his band, and dates the popular cheerleader. However, Torey also displays some more feiminine like sensitivities in feeling for the Chris, Bo, and even Ali. In this way, he overcomes the stereotype that males must only be macho jocks. (Bo is much the same way, although he may appear tough and even violent, he is sensitive to those with rough home lives like he has experienced.)

Cam Jansen (The Chocolate Fudge Mystery)- Cam represents the stereotypical modern female. While she is friendly, cheerful, and enjoys a variety of things, she is also empowered to make decisions and think logically using her own abilities. Young girls often relate to Cam because she feels like one of them. She uses Cam and Jennifer interchangeably based on her situation. She feels equally comfortable with her male friend Eric or her female friends. I suppose you could say she meets the stereotype of a post-feminism female.

The fact that all of the characters are non-stereotypical (or modern stereotypical) I believe has a great deal to do with the genres in which they are found. The Mystery and Speculative Fiction genres often bring strong characters to the the table. These characters often exhibit the same non-typical (non-realstic) characteristics of the genres in which they reside. Realistic fiction provides the reader with stories that meat the norms, and therefore characters that do the same.

Generally, I think exposure to stereotypical gender roles is no more or less harmful than exposure to those who break from the norm. While many novels provide the reader with the stereotypes of feminine or masculine characters, there are still others that provide readers with examples of characters in a counter culture. Stereotypical roles are just that, typical. Most readers will easily identify with their characteristics. For those that don't, numerous examples can be found for their enjoyment. When we eliminate the stereotypical or the countertype from literature we give our children, that is when we will have problems. The goal should be to present a healthy balance, just like they might find in the outside world.

Module 9: The Body of Christopher Creed

Summary:
Torey Adams is a popular kid. He has popular friends, a beautiful girlfriend, and succeeds in school. Unlike many that he hangs out with, however, Torey also has a conscience. When the school weirdo, Christopher Creed, disappears, the mystery of where he has gone doesn't sit well with Torey. After getting his hand on Chris' possible suicide note, Torey finds his own name mentioned, and becomes more involved than others think he should. Torey and his childhood friend Ali begin to dig deeper into the life of the classmate that often found himself the butt of jokes and the target of punches. After some surveillance of Chris' house, the two determine a diary was kept by Chris, and must be hidden in the room. When Mrs. Creed can't seem to find it, Ali's undercover boyfriend from the wrong side of the tracks is sent to retrieve it. The plan goes wrong when the police become involved, but luckily the diary is found before the police understand what is happening. As the town police chief is attempting to charge Bo Richardson with murder, Ali and Torey continue their search for clues. When an old obsession of Chris' reveals the truth of their relationship and leads Torey and Ali to a psychic, some scary news is revealed- Torey will find a body in the woods. When Torey works up the nerve to venture into the woods alone, he gets the feeling that Chris is alive, just like Digger Haines, a boy who disappeared in Torey's Mom's high school days. A tragic fall in those woods leads to an even more tragic ending- the discovery of a rapidly decomposing body in an Indian tomb. The smell, the circumstances, the sight, all leave Torey with mental scars that can't be undone. Even after discovering that the body did not belong to Chris, Torey finds himself unable to cope. Eventually Torey attends a school with other young boys dealing with difficult issues and is able to write down what he remembers of the story. He sends this to anyone he can find on the internet with possible aliases Chris may have used. One response particularly intrigues Torey, a response with a great amount of detail, and a hint that Chris may be alive after all.


My Thoughts:
I found this book to be quite interesting. The plot had enough twists and turns to keep me turning the pages until the end. I found the main character Torey to be very likable, and essential quality for protagonists in mystery novels. I also found the story believable enough to suit my taste for more realistic fiction. The author did a great job of addressing the "caste" system found in high schools and the effect ones placement in the system can have on their well being. The only part I didn't enjoy was the graphic nature of the ending. The over the top description of the rotting flesh of the dead was pretty scaring, even as an adult. I suppose it might appeal more to boys in this way.

Their Thoughts:
Excerpt from Kathleen Karr's Children Literature Review-
"Sixteen-year-old Torey Adams's normal, rational life in small town South Jersey is turned upside down by the disappearance of Chris Creed, his high school's prime outsider. Looking back in a narrative written a year later from the boarding school he's escaped to, Torey relentlessly draws the reader into the teenage world of haves and have-nots, the blessed and the clueless. As a portrait of the missing Creed evolves, insider Torey finds himself inexplicably drawn deeper into the lives of other outsiders, like the misunderstood thief and "boonie" Bo, and the "turbo slut" Ali. This is a journey of understanding in the tradition of Cormier and the early Zindel, as well as a taut mystery-thriller. Journalist and first-time novelist Plum-Ucci writes hard and well."

Awards and Accolades-
Edgar Allen Pow Award Nominee
Michael L. Printz Award
Heartland Award for Excellence in young Adult Literature Finalist
15 State List Accolades
ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2001

My Ideas:
I would love to focus on a genre each month in the library through displays and programming. March would be designated as the mystery month (Mystery March). Around the library I would have small set-ups: mysteries for the old, mysteries for the young, mysteries for boys, mysteries for girls, etc. The Body of Christopher Creed would be a great addition to the older reader or boy reader displays. Possible programming for the month could include "Muffins and Mysteries" as mentioned in our course work.

Module 8: Among the Hidden

Image from Google Images
Summary:
Luke doesn't exist, well not as far as the government is concerned anyway. He is a third child (brothers- Matthew and Mark) in a world where the Population Police strictly enforce the two child rule. He lives in the attic of his house, and once new housing is developed near the family farm, is never allowed to venture outside. For his safety they say, he is forced to do everything separate from his family, who are able to walk around in the house without fear, including eating dinner in a window free area. He grows increasingly lonely as his mother, brothers, and father all leave the house on a daily basis. One day, while looking through his vent (his only connection to the world) he spots another child in the Baron subdivision behind his farm. He knows that the rest of the family has already left for the day, and hopes that, just maybe, this maybe be another hidden child like him. While feeling particularly brave he sneaks over to the house and breaks in, where he finds Jen, a shadow child just like him. Jen introduces him to a whole new world- chat rooms, junk food, even shopping. She shows Luke the argument for and against the complete government control, and begins to encourage him into advocacy for the hidden children. Although she tries, Jen is unable to convince Luke to attend the rally she has out together. Jen goes anyway, marching to the president's house in protest. When Luke does not hear from Jen for sometime, he again sneaks to her house only to be caught by her father. He explains that Jen and the rest of the children were viciously murdered in broad daylight. Gunned down by uncaring Population Police. By visiting the house and attempting to enter the chat room to find Jen, Luke unknowingly puts himself in danger. Jen's father offers a fake ID and a chance out, knowing the police will be hunting for Luke soon. Luke decides to take the offer, and leaves for boarding school as Lee Grant.

My Thoughts:
A page turner! Among the Hidden was an Orwellian type story for the younger set. While it may fall into the Fantasy/Sci-Fi genre, the setting of the story is realistic enough that even a less experienced reader can visualize the actions that take place. From start to finish the chapters end with a tantalizing abruptness, leaving the reader wanting just one more page before heading to bed. I must admit I was surprised that the description of the death of Jen was as frank and abrupt as it was, especially for a children's book, it certainly made the story that much more believable. It wasn't wrapped up with a pretty bow, Luke's life really was dangerous and difficult. I am looking forward to booktalking this with the middle schoolers as soon as I get back to school!

Their Thoughts:
Excerpt from Kirkus Reviews-
"In a chilling and intelligent novel, Haddix (Leaving Fishers, 1997, etc.) envisions a near future where a totalitarian US limits families to only two children. Luke, 12, the third boy in his farming family, has been hidden since birth, mostly in the attic, safe for the time being from the Population Police, who eradicate such "shadow children." Although he is protected, Luke is unhappy in his radical isolation, rereading a few books for entertainment and eating in a stairwell so he won't be seen through the windows....Haddix offers much for discussion here, by presenting a world not too different from America right now. The seizing of farmlands, untenable food regulations, and other scenarios that have come to fruition in these pages will give readers a new appreciation for their own world after a visit to Luke's."

Awards and Accolades-
Chosen for 25+ state reading lists
YALSA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (1999)
Recommended Literature by the California Board of Education

My Ideas:
This book is a wonderful read-aloud. Whether the librarian reads the first chapter alone to get the children interested, or is able to read a chapter daily to a class- the students will enjoy hearing this story read. After reading (or introducing) the librarian could also have a display of the other 6 books in the Shadow Children series.

Module 8: Twilight

Summary:
When Bella's mom decides to hit the road with her new husband for his baseball career, Bella decides to move to Forks, Washington with her Dad. At first she misses everything about Phoenix- the sun, her friends, her mom. Being the typical emo teen, even the fact that she makes several new friends and attracts the attention of male classmates can't seem to cheer Bella up in the slightest. While most of the kids seem normal, one family in particular attracts Bella's attention- The Cullens. There overly beautiful selves, their flashy cars, and their mysterious camping trips consume Bella's thoughts. Particularly when one of the most beautiful, Edward, seems disgusted by her in Biology class. Her interest becomes frustratingly consuming after Edward mysteriously appears to save the notoriously clumsy Bella from being hit by a sliding car in the parking lot. In the hospital she makes Edward promise to tell her the reasoning behind his seemingly miraculous powers. While doing her own research into who the Cullens are (based on a legend told by her friend Jacob), Bella is again miraculously saved by Edward appearing from no where to fight off the men trailing her in a dark alley. As Bella and Edward spend more time together, she reveals her beliefs that he is a vampire, suspicions which Edward confirms. To Edward, Bella is equally consuming, the most attractive human he has ever met. Their relationship intensifies as Edward reveals more and more of himself and his family to Bella. One day, during a baseball game with the Cullens, Bella is discovered by a group of vampires who do not live as the Cullens (feasting only on animals), but rather as traditional nomdic vampires (hunting humans). Bella is forced to go on the run, hiding from James, the vampire who is bent on having her. She escapes to Phoenix where James tricks her into believing her mother is in danger. When Bella arrives at the location where she believes her Mother is being held, she is attacked by James. Luckily, the Cullens have used their gifts to track Bella, and are able to rescue her before it is too late. Eventually, with a story of a clumsy accident given to parents, Bella returns to Forks and is tricked once again- this time into going to prom. During a dance, Bella (although warned by Jacob to do otherwise) tells Edward what she wants most is to become one of them. Edward refuses. Or does he?

My Thoughts:
While not my typical genre of choice, I highly enjoyed this story. I found myself wrapped up in the characters, and couldn't wait to read more. I also appreciated that the story was able to keep my attention without the language, sex, and alcohol/drug combination of many YA novels. Although I typically enjoy historical fiction the most, the escapism provided by Bella and Edward was very entertaining. Some say Bella is too whiney and self involved, but I find her to be like pretty much every other emo narcissistic teen girl- the world revolves around her. Meyer kept the story moving, while keeping the tension high throughout the novel. The ending left something to be desired, which of course means another book. I look forward to reading the series this winter break.

Their Thoughts:
Excerpt from Geoff Fox's Books for Keeps Review-
"For far too many chapters, little happens except slight shifts in a relationship which, it must be admitted, has more than its share of obstacles. These shifts sometimes repeat themselves in later chapters, as does Ms Meyer’s vocabulary. Edward is forever ‘smirking’, ‘smiling his crooked smile’, ‘grinning’, ‘chuckling’ (often ‘darkly’) and, most irritating and unappealing of all, ‘snickering’. Bella sometimes snickers too. Edward regularly ‘takes [Bella’s] face between his long hands’; and that skin, those eyes, that voice are repeatedly described in detail. Inevitably, despite Edward’s protestations of Bella’s stunning uniqueness, the power in this partnership is very much on his side, given his overwhelming talents and experiences. The longeurs and repetitions could surely have been edited; especially as, when excitement does break out in the last quarter of the book, the writing is taut with danger and menace. And there’s always the intriguing question of how this particular Romeo and Juliet impasse will be resolved. Does Bella have a future with her passionate vampire lover? Will it end in a melancholy parting? A bloody tragedy? Mouth to neck resuscitation leading to a vampiric future together? We don’t know until the final sentence."

Awards and Accolades-
New York Times Editor's Choice
SLJ's Best Books of 2005
ALA's Top Ten Books for Young Adults
Publisher's Weekly's Best Book of the Year

My Ideas:
Twilight would be a great display piece in a movie adaptation display. While many teens will see movies, not as many know those movies are based on novels (which are usually even better than the movie!). The display would feature movie posters with copies of the novels underneath. Other books that could be included in the display: Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen, Eragon by Christopher Paolini, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, Whip It by Shauna Cross, My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult, Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares, and The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman.

Module 7: The Truth About Forever

Image from SarahDessen.com
Summary:
Macy's perfect boyfriend leaves for brain camp for the summer, and before long she realizes he has taken the veil of her own perfect life with him. After a particularly harsh email, Macy decides she is ready for a change, and takes on a job at Wish catering in addition to her library duties. Delia (the mother figure), Wes (the sa-woon worthy love interest, an artist and former bad boy), Bert (the younger brother, worried more about the end of the earth than today), Kristy (the colorful friend who's scars are covered by her flamboyant personality), and Monica (AKA monotone, the one word answer queen) open up a new world to Macy. A world where she is not the girlfriend of the perfect boy, not the girl who's Dad died, not the book worm, she is simply Macy. Through a game of truth with Wes, Macy realizes truths about herself she had never known, and begins to come to terms with her father's death. As her sister fixes up the beach house, Macy begins to fix her own life, and realizes the truth about forever- it changes. Macy grows as her relationship with Wes begins, and her relationship with her mother has the chance to start over.

My Thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found myself constantly comparing characters and story lines from the novel to times and people I remember from my teen years. Dessen does a wonderful job with realistic teen literature, she speaks with a voice that teen girls everywhere can relate with. Although 400 pages, I found the book to be a quick and easy read that kept my attention from beginning to end.

Their Thoughts:
Excerpt from Ilene Cooper's Booklist Review:
"As is often the case with Dessen, the novel is a mixed bag. Much of it is wonderful. At its purest, the writing reaches directly into the hearts of teenage girls: Macy's games of "truth" with Wes are unerringly conceived, sharply focused on both characters and issues. Yet a subplot about Macy's job at the library features cardboard characters and unbelievable situations. This seesawing between spot-on observations and superfluous scenes slows the pace and makes readers wait too long for the book's best moments."

Excerpt from Fuchsia Yamashiro's (a teen) Amazon.com review:
"When reading this book I really got hooked onto it and wanted to read on and on to see what shall happen next. I enjoy these kinds of books about teenage girls and their lives and how they deal with problems. This book was no exception because I liked the way each character's lives were pieced together in the story."

(I found it interesting that this book was a teen top choice, state award winner many times over, and a highly rated Amazon book, yet adult reviewers continuously found it trite and predictable. The thing is, are the teenage years not that way? We have all been there, we know what happens and will happen, and yet as adults we often discount teen lit for being the same old thing. Seems to me Dessen has the right idea, give the teens what they want. The adults aren't her audience anyway.)

My Ideas:
In my opinion, this would be a great book to booktalk with teens. Dessen hits all the points a teen girl looks for in a book- relationships, parental troubles, inner struggles, and that one crazy friend who uses colorful language. This could be booktalked along with a selection appealing to boys such as Sharp Teeth.

Module 7: Stargirl

Summary: Stargirl Carraway shows up at Mica High School one day, and she couldn't been any more different if she tried. She plays the ukulele, she wears clothes straight out of the prairie, and she even carries her pet, a rat, on her shoulder. At a high school that is all about conformity, Stargirl is just plain weird. Leo, however, thinks there is something just a little intriguing about how different she is. She is new, different, and well, refreshing. Eventually the rest of the school, despite Hillari's attempts to stop it, jumps on the Stargirl train. They are fascinated, wondering exactly what she might do next. Boy does she keep them guessing! From running onto the football field during a game to cheering for the opposing basketball team- Stargirl never follows the rules. One day, however, she pushes things to far. In the clutch game of the basketball team's winning season, Stargirl rushes to attend to an injured player from the opposing team. She cheers as the other team almost crushes her own Mica Electrons. From that day on, it is said that the team lost its steam, and the school lost their love for the girl who was different. Leo didn't feel the same way. Although embarrassed by the shunning they received, he couldn't help but love her. Trying to help, Leo begs Stargirl to be like everyone else. After all, why wouldn't she want to! Stargirl, well, Susan now, tries it out. She dresses and acts the part, even competing in a speech contest as Susan. But eventually she realizes being someone else is not the way to happiness, nor is it the way to the popularity she thought she would have. Stargirl realizes the best thing to be is exactly what she had always been, herself. Leo learns this lesson too, although he learns it too late, losing the best thing he had ever had in the process.

My Thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoyed Stargirl. I thought that Jerry Spinelli's characters were developed in a way that left the reader hanging on every word. Each person embodied personality traits that middle schoolers experience on a daily basis. The desire for acceptance, the desire to be oneself, the desire to lead, the desire to follow. It's all there, expressed in an engaging storyline of the timeless debate- Should I be myself, or the person they want me to be? However, while did enjoy the book, I found myself caught up in the title of "realistic fiction." With every page I found myself saying, "There is no way this would ever happen. Ever." I think the only thing realistic about this story is that the children are in school and struggling with their identity. The rest, in my opinion, is just too far fetched to be considered realistic, even to a middle schooler. I probably would have enjoyed this book even more without feeling the need to analyze the probability of this reality.

Their Thoughts:
Excerpt from Ilene Cooper's Booklist Review-
"Spinelli firmly captures the high-school milieu, here heightened by the physical and spiritual barrenness of an Arizona location, a new town where people come to work for technology companies and the school team is called the Electrons. Dialogue, plot, and supporting cast are strong: the problem here is Stargirl herself. She may have been homeschooled, may not have seen much TV, but despite her name, she has lived on planet earth for 15 years, and her naivete is overplayed and annoying. When Leo tells her that not everyone likes having somebody with a ukulele sing "Happy Birthday" to them, she is shocked. That she has not noticed she is being shunned is unbelievable, and, at times, readers may feel more sympathy for the bourgeois teens than the earnest, kind, magical Stargirl. That's too bad, because Spinelli's point about the lure and trap of normalcy is a good one. But to make it real, Stargirl needed to have at least one foot on the ground."

Awards and Accolades-
A Parents Choice Gold Award Winner
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
An ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults
An ABBY Book of the Year Finalist
An Oprah Kids' Reading List Selection

My Ideas:
I was able to use this book in a book talk with the middle school students at my school. As a military school we have an influx of new students every August and January, and sometimes in between. The students enjoyed the preview of this book about a girl who has been in the same position they have been- the new kid. They related easily to Stargirl's desire to be herself wherever she was. This is great book middle school book talks and book clubs!

Module 6- Journal

Choose one of the books that you read this week as an outstanding example of realistic fiction. How did you respond personally to that book? Why? If possible, compare that books to a realistic fiction book that you think is NOT an outstanding example. What are the differences in the books (not just plot, but literary elements).

While I do not feel that any of my choices this week (Piper Reed, A School Story, There's A Boy in the Girl's Bathroom, and Ivy and Bean) were particularly outstanding, the one I enjoyed most was Piper Reed, Navy Brat. (What I gather from reading the discussion posts of others is that my choices were not the favorites of the group. I look forward to trying Clementine and a few others that were mentioned as outstanding examples by others.)

I believe I enjoyed Piper Reed most because my personal response was so strong. While I may not have moved as a child myself, as a current military spouse I move at least every three years. In addition, I also am currently teaching students who are growing up much like Piper, they have a list of homes longer than most adults. All military dependents struggle with the PCS (permanent change of station, or moving for the civilians). We worry that the new place will have less to offer, we dread saying goodbye to our friends, and we struggle to have a positive outlook. However, as Piper shows, when the rubber meets the road, our new place ends up being just as enjoyable (well, most of the time). I also enjoyed that she used the language of the military child throughout the book. Piper goes to a commissary, she lives on a base, and her enlisted housing is lacking compared with the same for officers. The military child reader relates with that. Ask my students what a grocery store is and they wouldn't be able to tell you. A commissary on the other hand, they have the schema for that. To the military child, this is the most realistic of the realistic fiction genre.

On the contrary, I also read Ivy and Bean. I did not have a strong personal response to this story, nor did I find it at all probable. The realism in the sister relationship faded quickly. The friendship became more and more unrealistic as the story went on. The conflict of Man vs. Self in Piper Reed seemed much more believable than the Man vs. Man conflict of Ivy and Bean. It seemed to me that rising action and resolution of Ivy and Bean's conflict with Ivy's sister were realistic, the climax itself was not. Would young girls really throw worms in the face of an older sister who has already told her mother about the mischief? Would a sister really fall in a mud pit? I think not. I understand the author's desire to add action and adventure into the story, but the silliness of the events really turned me off as a reader. Perhaps this would be different for a young girl who would love nothing more than to cast a spell on her own sister. Perhaps. While I know that according to the lecture notes realistic fiction "must be believable, although it may not be probable," the type of realistic fiction I find to be outstanding are those that allow the reader to get so lost in the story the line between fiction and life is blurred. For me, Ivy and Bean did not have this effect. (And I am feeling the same way about Stargirl, my current read. Although enjoyable, realistic might be a stretch.)

Module 6: Piper Reed, Navy Brat

Image from Amazon
Summary:
Piper Reed is a typical military brat. She moves from place to place every few years, and each time she just knows she will hate the new place she is moving (or PCSing to be specific). This time, she and her family are on the road to Pensacola, Florida where her Dad, who she call Chief, has been assigned. The family has only two weeks to say goodbye before they pack up the care and leave San Diego. Piper is dreading saying goodbye to her friends, her Gypsy Club, the dog next door, and even her tree house. She just knows that Pensacola will not be as fun. Her older sister, Tori, feels the same, but her younger sister, Sam the genius, is on board. The drive itself took days, with the only thing to look forward to being her turn in the back seat, Piper would have it all to herself. After the drive and a stop to visit family, the Reeds finally arrive in Florida. Piper is sad to discover their new house is much smaller, and she will be sharing a room. Yet another reason to hate Pensacola. Things start looking up when the family decides to get a dog. While it's not a German Shepherd as Piper had hoped, picking the name of the new poodle makes her feel a bit better. The dog is just the start, however. Soon, Piper finds new friends to invite to her Pensacola Gypsy Club, and even manages to convince them to come over for fortune telling. With a little help from her sisters, Piper pulls it off. Her new friends are impressed! When Piper hears news of Chief having to leave, she knows her new friends will understand and help her through.

My Thoughts:
I thought this book was great! Of course, I may be a little bias as a military dependent teaching military brats, but nevertheless. Piper's adventurous spirit is contagious. This fast read shows the reader, particularly the military brat reader, that while we all have the same fears about new things, in the end- it usually works out. I know the students I serve will also enjoy that Piper speaks their language. She doesn't go to a grocery store, she goes to a commissary- just like them! While this is an especially realistic example of fiction for the military child, I think it could also be realistic for anyone who has been the new kid in school. Most people can relate to Piper's struggles to figure it all out.

Their Thoughts:
Excerpt from Marsha Broadway's review in Childrens Book and Play Review (Jan./Feb. 2008)-
"Spunky nine-year-old Piper is the adventurous middle sister in the Reed family that is transferred from California to Pensacola, Florida. The storyline focuses on the move, a visit with extended family along the way, and adjusting to a new school, and is sprinkled with sibling rivalry and affection. Tori, a budding teenager, is by turns annoyed at and protective of her sisters. Five-year old Sam reads Laura Ingalls Wilder books at the breakfast table and poses as a fortune teller to help Piper form a new social club. Piper copes with dyslexia and the fear of reading aloud in class as she finds new friends and delights in watching the Blue Angles and dreaming about becoming a Blue Angel herself. Both mom and dad are involved and loving parents who help their children cope with the changes that the transfer brings. This easy chapter book no doubt draws on Holt's own experience as a child in a Navy family and appears to be the first in a series of Piper adventures."

Society of School Librarians International Honor Book, 2007
Texas Bluebonnet Award 2009-2010

My Ideas:
As April is designated as the Month of the Military Child, I would use Piper Reed (3 books in the series) as part of a display promoting literature relevant to the military child. Other books might include: Night Catch, Mommy You're My Hero, My Air Force Mom, Alpha Bravo Charlie, H is for Honor, Love Lizzie, Operation Yes, and Soldier Mom.

Module 5- Journal

In a successful picture book the illustrations and the text should reinforce each other and create a sense of unity between the visual elements and the story. In the books you have chosen to discuss, evaluate how well the visual elements (line, color, shape, style, details) reinforce or extend the characterization, setting and theme of the book. Do the two elements work to create a unified whole? You may refer to your textbook or the lecture notes for background information on illustrations. You may choose any 5 books.


1. Diary of a Worm- The comic book like illustrations of this book work to enhance, not replace, the humor within the text of the story. While lines such as the one referring to the worm hokey pokey are funny on their own, the illustration of worms at a dance, disco ball included, can send the reader over the top into fits of giggles. The reader feels texture in the worm and his earthly home. The use of primary colors allows for a focus on the story, rather than the emotion a picture may convey. The added dialogue included in the illustrations of Worm and his family further enhances the story- bringing in a more personable side of the creatures. Also, as an added bonus, the reader is treated to a fun collection of items and the beginning and end of the novel that provide further insight into the lives of earthworms. Who knew what they thought of gum?!



2. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom- Every year my sudents are delighted with this book and it's use of bold exciting colors. The border around the pages suggests fun and excitement. The curvy line of the palm tree tells the reader that action is occurring. Seeing a T with a loose tooth rather than reading the words only brings an entirely new dimension to the fun rhyme. And that pile of letters, oh my! You can feel the calamity in the harsh diagonal lines and bold colors. Small text and huge illustrations make it easy for the reader to see that the pictures tell the story. We see the tears of the letters, the worry of the parents- all in a jumbled mess of diagonal lines, coming together only at the end of the book when they are shown lined up in rows.



3. Skippyjon Jones- The texture of these illustrations is incredible! The readers sees Skippyjon Jones so clearly it's almost as if we could reach out and pet his soft chihuahua, er I mean- cat, fur. While the colors may be mostly soft, the striking contrast of his black bandito mask conveys danger and mystery. The jagged lines of the bumble bee show the reader trouble is ahead. Even Skippyjon's pointy triangle shaped ears let the reader know this is not a book about a cat nap! Skippyjon's mother, on the other hand, is as soft and round as the lines and patterns on her apron suggest. Only her hand on her hip, and the triangle it creates, serve to suggest her anger. Contrasting this with the overall softness surrounding her, the reader knows she loves her little boy even when he has an over active imagination. These illustrations are a wonderful example of (the first in this list) illustrations necessary to the comprehension of the story.



4. No David!- This book was one of the first I ever analyzed as far as illustrations. While I had always liked the simple story, I had never realized exactly how precisely David Shannon used color and line to convey emotion and feeling. Obviously, with just a simple words in the text, the pictures are essential to telling the story of this naughty young boy. However, looking deeper the reader notices that not a single straight line is used as David continues to make mischief. The curves and tilts give the reader a feeling of constant motion and chaos. Even his pointed teeth are out of control! The colors are bold and strong- warm reds, oranges, and yellows. They convey the fire of activity that is within David. However, when David's mom holds him tight we see a change in the illustrations- cool and calming blue, soft green, round soft lines on the mother, straight a simple lines on David. While the reader may not notice, he/she is instantly soothed with thoughts of calm and peace. David Shannon is a master illustrator, and though simple, this book is no exception.



5. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus- As a Caldecott honored book, clearly the illustrations in this book show a great deal of artistry, although one may not realize this at first glance. Upon further analysis, the reader sees that although simple, the illustrator has been able to convey the emotions of this wound up pigeon through the use of a single eyelid. Up, down, or slanted, the reader needs only to see the direction of the eyelid to know exactly what the pigeon thinks of your refusal to his argument. And when he really gets going? Whoa! The shadowing, the use of red, bold text, action lines, excessive exclamation points- we know that pigeon is MAD! Once calmed, we again see a return to the serene colors of the pastel backgrounds and dull pigeon feathers. My students always enjoy this book, mostly due to the illustrations. The feelings are portrayed so vividly, there is no need for them to conduct in depth analysis. They just get it!