Picture Books
What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page (Non-fiction)
Summary: The artist/writer zooms in for equally lifelike close-ups of ears, eyes, noses, mouths, feet, and tails. Five examples of each organ thrusting in from beyond the pages’ edges for each “What do you do” question precede spreads in which the point of view pulls back to show the whole animal, with a short accompanying caption. Visual surprises abound: a field cricket’s ears are actually on its legs; a horned lizard can (and does, here) squirt blood from its eyes as a defense mechanism; in an ingenious use of page design, a five-lined skink’s breakable tail enters and leaves the center gutter at different points. Capped by a systematic appendix furnishing more, and often arresting, details—“A humpback whale can be 50 feet long and weigh a ton per foot”—this array of wide eyes and open mouths will definitely have viewers responding with wide eyes and open mouths of their own. Theme is to learn about the many differences in the world and how they might be helpful. I liked this book because it shows the different uses for the different parts on animals and humans.
Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine (Non-Fiction/Biography/Graphic Novel)
Summary: Henry was a slave and didn’t know how old he was because he wasn’t allowed to know his birthday. Henry and his mother had a really nice master, but they knew that could change. One day the master asked them to his room and he told Henry that he will be given to the master’s son and he doesn’t like lies. He said goodbye to his family and left to work for his new master in a factory. He was good at his job but if he made a mistake, the boss would beat him. Henry was lonely and found a girl named Nancy. Years later, Henry and Nancy’s masters agreed for them to get married and they had many children. Nancy was afraid that her master was going to sell her children because they lost a lot of money. At the factory, Henry’s friend James came up to him and told him that his children were just sold at the slave market. At the slave market, Henry found his children as well as Nancy being taken away. Henry was so sad, he couldn’t sing or hum and all he could think about with his family being taken away. Dr. Smith was a white man that though slavery was wrong and helped Henry escape. He helped Henry be put in a box and mailed to Philadelphia where Dr. Smith had friends who didn’t participate in slavery. They purposely hurt Henry’s hand to he would have to stay home for an easier escape. On the steamboat to Washington D.C. the people were wondering what was in the box, thinking it was mail. Finally Henry’s box was opened and he finally had a birthday, March 30th 1842, his first one. He also was given a middle name: Henry Box Brown. Theme is survival and history of the slaves. I liked this book because it was a true story of a brave man in history.
We the Kids: The Preamble... by David Catrow (Non-fiction/Biography/Graphic Novel)
Summary: Catrow, who doubles as a political cartoonist, writes in his amiable introduction, "When I paint my paintings and draw my cartoons, I can do them any way I want. Being able to do that makes me very happy and very free. And I think that's exactly what all those old guys with their big words and big ideas wanted," he says, referring to the authors of the Constitution and the liberty he enjoys as a result of their efforts. Following a casual glossary ("insure domestic tranquility" means "To make sure that we can all have a nice life and get along with one another"), he takes fresh liberties. He uses the Preamble as text for crazy cartoons about three eccentric-looking kids and a spirited pooch on a backyard camping caper. The characters review a poster outlining rules for the evening ("establish Justice"); wearing a helmet and looking bored, the dog stands guard as the kids frolic in the tent ("provide for the common defense"). And everyone snuggles under a blanket ("and secure the Blessings of Liberty") while two parents survey the placid scene from a window ("to ourselves and our Posterity"). With his customary satiric flair, Catrow inserts plentiful tongue-in-cheek visuals: a saucepan bouncing off one child's head while she sits entangled in another child's rope hardly suggests "domestic Tranquility." This zany, patriotic paean offers kids lighthearted but meaningful incentive to reflect further on the relevance of those "big words" and "big ideas." Theme is learning about the Preamble and history of it with a spin. I liked this book because I think it is great for all ages and an easy way to learn the Preamble.
Killer Whales by Seymour Simon (Non-Fiction/Biography/Graphic Novel)
Summary: The nonfiction narrative, Killer Whales, is an irresistible invitation to beginning readers to question, explore, and discover new information about the exciting world of these beautiful creatures. The narrative contains dozens of interesting facts and photographs of Killer whales, from their graceful leaps to their cunning hunting skills. The clear text and delightful photographs prove yet another classic for Seymour Simon. Theme is killer whales and how they live. I liked this book because it taught me about Killer Whales in an interesting and fun way.
My Great Aunt Arizona by Gloria Houston (Non-Fiction/Biography/Graphic Novel)
Summary: Little girl narrates about her great-aunt Arizona. Her great-aunt was born in a log cabin in the meadow on Henson Creek in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The day she was born her brother sent a letter saying she should be named Arizona because she will be beautiful like the land. Arizona was very tall and loved to grow flowers, read sing, and square dance. She played with her little brother, Jim, on the farm in the summer and the climbed the mountains in the fall. In the winter they made snow cream from Mama’s cows. In the spring they helped Papa tap the maple trees and catch the sap to make maple syrup. At school they played games at recess and read lessons. One day Arizona crossed the mountains to visit another school in a village called Wing to read all of their books. She loved to read and always wanted to visit faraway places. Arizona went to school to be a teacher and helped her Aunt Suzie, who made her work very hard. Finally, Arizona returned to Henson Creek and became a teacher. She taught in her old one-room classroom and told the children about all the faraway places she wanted to go to. She married a carpenter who helped build the new Riverside School. She then because Mrs. Arizona Hughes, but the fourth-graders called her “Miz Shoes”. When her first daughter was born, she brought the baby to school. Every year Arizona had a Christmas tree growing in a pot and then the school kids helped her decorate it and plant it at school. After teaching for 57 years, she died on her 93rd birthday. She never got to go the faraway places, but she goes with them in their minds. Theme is about the grandmother and how teaching was for her. I did not enjoy this book very much because some parts were pointless and boring with a bad and depressing ending.
Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill (Historical Non Fiction)
Summary: Starts off with talking about dirt and pots that store flowers, meat and memories. Clay was used to form things for nearly 200 years. starts as dust, spun in mills, then mixed with water to be wet and stiff and heavy. Dave threw the clay so it was stick and worked it to make things. He pulled out a shape of a jar and as the wheel spun, the jar rose until it almost fell. Then he rolled clay and put them on the top of the jar, changing the shape. He made glaze from sand and wood-ash. Before the jar harden, he wrote in the jar with a stick. He wrote the date and a quote about his family. Dave’s poems and art became famous. August 16, 1857. The theme is poetry and slavery. I love this book because even as a slave he became famous with his art and poetry.
Graphic Novel
Around the World by Matt Phelan
Summary: In this graphic novel, Phelan tells the story of three adventurers at the end of the 19th century who attempt to travel around the world. There is Thomas Stevens in 1884 who had been working in the mines but then started bicycling. He first bicycled across the United States, and then attempted to cycle around the world on the difficult-to-ride old-fashioned bicycle with one larger wheel. The next adventurer is Nellie Bly in 1889, who set herself the task of beating Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days. The men running the New York World newspaper did not like her idea, but eventually came around to having her attempt it. Her race became a national obsession and sold many newspapers for them. Finally, there is the story of Joshua Slocum in 1895. He restored an old sailing vessel in a time when sailing was becoming outdated. Then all on his own, he set off to sail around the world, becoming the first person to sail around the world alone. These three adventurers all have their own reasons for circumnavigating the globe, but they are united in their attempts. These are all stories of determination, courage and bold ideas. United under the umbrella of Jules Verne’s novel, these three stories are beautifully connected and yet stand entirely on their own merits as well. The three intrepid souls are also equally connected and yet uniquely themselves. Their journeys are made for different reasons and received differently by the public, but they are all powerful stories of independence and resourcefulness. All three stories show the power of taking charge of one’s life and following your dreams. Phelan’s art suits each of the stories individually and also has a cohesive whole. There are subtle changes from one story to the next, the colors shift from blues and greens to oranges and creams and then to deeper blues and grays. The art style stays much the same but beyond the colors there are changes in mood that are amazingly deep yet subtly done. Stevens’ story of bicycling has a merry joei de vive to it. Bly’s adventure is filled with energy and zip. Then there is the lonely sailing tale that has a deep grief embedded in it that almost aches.
Thomas Stevens - Wheelman
Nellie Bly - Girl Reporter
Joshua Slocum - Mariner
Theme is traveling. I did not like this book that much because it was boring and did not interest me because I am more into the fantasy and funny books.
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