BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Bruchac, Joseph. c1998. THE ARROW OVER THE DOOR. pictures by James Watling. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0803720785
PLOT SUMMARY:
This historical fiction book is based on events that took place during the Revolutionary War. Samuel Russell, a 14 year old Quaker boy, meets a young Abernaki Indian boy named Stands Straight. The two boys tell the story of conflict between the two cultures based on revenge of the Indians against the white man because Stands Straight's mother and brother were murdered by whitemen. Samuel's family is in a Quaker meeting when an Indian scouting group led by Stands Straight's uncle surrounds the cabin. After the Indians find out there are no weapons, they leave their bows and arrows outside and join the Quakers. At the end of the meeting, the two groups share a handshake of peace and Stands Straight's uncle places an arrow over the door of the cabin as a sign that the Quakers are peaceful.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
This story is a gripping account of a historical period in our country's formation. It is moving and powerful as a reminder of how peace can be achieved between two totally different nations or cultures. One of the especially appealing aspects of the story is that it is told from the teenage boys' points of view rather than from an adults. It brings out many different dilemnas that the boys must face as well as what their cultures face. Students will find ways that people with cultural differences can come together for the good of all. The story would be a good piece of literature to illustrate overcoming differences and how these have been evident throughout history.
The illustrations are simple in black and white, pen and ink type, which reflect the mood of the story. Reading and understanding the plot is simple, too. A 5th grader studying American history could easily read and understand the content and relate it to American History events.
REVIEW EXCERPTS:
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Full-page drawings in shades of gray fit the mood of the story without breaking the narrative flow. With a surprising amount of drama and even suspense, this tale of pacifism triumphant makes a good choice for historical fiction collections."
KIRKUS: "A delicate tale, very well told."
BOOKLIST: "A truly excellent example of historical fiction for the middle-grade/junior-high audience."
CONNECTIONS:
Have students keep a journal of their thoughts chapter by chapter as Samuel and Stands Straight alternately tell this tale.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
SWAMP ANGEL by Anne Isaacs
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Isaacs, Anne. 1994. SWAMP ANGEL. Ill. by Paul O. Zelinsky. New York: Dutton Children's Boooks. ISBN 0525452710
PLOT SUMMARY:
SWAMP ANGEL is a tall tale about a Tennessee born girl baby who is giant sized. The tale follows her from the time of her birth through growing up and wrestling a bear named Thundering Tarnation. Swamp Angel does unbelievable tasks like building a log cabin when she was only 2 years old. Thundering Tarnation was causing problems all over Tennessee for the settlers. Swamp Angel decided to help the settlers hunt down the ferocious bear. All of the settlers who had hunted the bear had been wiped out. Swamp Angel was determined to bring him down. She wrestled him down and created the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee while persuing him. Eventually, she slayed him and brought back his enormous pelt which was too large to fit in Tennessee so she moved to Montana where the spread out pelt made what is now the Shortgrass Prairie. With the slaying of the bear, the settlers were able to feast on all kinds of bear delacasies, like bear cakes, steaks, muffins and wine.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
This tall tale is a bigger than life exageration written in true tall tale style much like those of Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill. Part of the greatness of this tale is that it uses a woman as the central tall tale character. If you are looking for a heroine in a story, this would be an excellent choice. It introduces frontier life with humor that will keep children interested in the story until the very end. The illustrator, Paul O. Zelinsky, is highly acclaimed and shows his artistic talent through primitive style illlustrations painted on wood like pages. The use of wood like pages adds to the feeling of frontier life.
This would be a wonderful tale for ages 5-9. The larger than life adventure will keep children in amazement of the extraordinary challenges and feats that Swamp Angel tackles. It will amaze them and encourage their imaginations.
REVIEW EXCERPTS:
HORN BOOK, starred review: "Move over, Paul Bunyun, you are about to meet Swamp Angel, an original creation in the tall-tale tradition whose exploits are guaranteed to amaze and amuse a wide swath of readers... Visually exciting, wonderful to read aloud, this is a picture book to remember."
KIRKUS, starred review: "It is impossible to convey the sheer pleasure, the exaggerated loopiness of new comer Isaacs's wonderful story. Matching the superb text stride for stride are Zelinsky's altered-state, American primitive paintings -- gems that provide new pleasures, reading after reading."
CONNECTIONS:
Connect the story to American history and geopgraphy. Use maps toshow patterns of settlement in Tennessee. Discuss frontier life.
Compare and contrast with older elementary studetns by reading other tall tales, Paul Bunyun or Pecos Bill. Compare and Contrast characters.
Isaacs, Anne. 1994. SWAMP ANGEL. Ill. by Paul O. Zelinsky. New York: Dutton Children's Boooks. ISBN 0525452710
PLOT SUMMARY:
SWAMP ANGEL is a tall tale about a Tennessee born girl baby who is giant sized. The tale follows her from the time of her birth through growing up and wrestling a bear named Thundering Tarnation. Swamp Angel does unbelievable tasks like building a log cabin when she was only 2 years old. Thundering Tarnation was causing problems all over Tennessee for the settlers. Swamp Angel decided to help the settlers hunt down the ferocious bear. All of the settlers who had hunted the bear had been wiped out. Swamp Angel was determined to bring him down. She wrestled him down and created the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee while persuing him. Eventually, she slayed him and brought back his enormous pelt which was too large to fit in Tennessee so she moved to Montana where the spread out pelt made what is now the Shortgrass Prairie. With the slaying of the bear, the settlers were able to feast on all kinds of bear delacasies, like bear cakes, steaks, muffins and wine.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
This tall tale is a bigger than life exageration written in true tall tale style much like those of Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill. Part of the greatness of this tale is that it uses a woman as the central tall tale character. If you are looking for a heroine in a story, this would be an excellent choice. It introduces frontier life with humor that will keep children interested in the story until the very end. The illustrator, Paul O. Zelinsky, is highly acclaimed and shows his artistic talent through primitive style illlustrations painted on wood like pages. The use of wood like pages adds to the feeling of frontier life.
This would be a wonderful tale for ages 5-9. The larger than life adventure will keep children in amazement of the extraordinary challenges and feats that Swamp Angel tackles. It will amaze them and encourage their imaginations.
REVIEW EXCERPTS:
HORN BOOK, starred review: "Move over, Paul Bunyun, you are about to meet Swamp Angel, an original creation in the tall-tale tradition whose exploits are guaranteed to amaze and amuse a wide swath of readers... Visually exciting, wonderful to read aloud, this is a picture book to remember."
KIRKUS, starred review: "It is impossible to convey the sheer pleasure, the exaggerated loopiness of new comer Isaacs's wonderful story. Matching the superb text stride for stride are Zelinsky's altered-state, American primitive paintings -- gems that provide new pleasures, reading after reading."
CONNECTIONS:
Connect the story to American history and geopgraphy. Use maps toshow patterns of settlement in Tennessee. Discuss frontier life.
Compare and contrast with older elementary studetns by reading other tall tales, Paul Bunyun or Pecos Bill. Compare and Contrast characters.
THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS by Jon Scieszka
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Scieszka, Jon. 1989. THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS. Ill. by Lane Smith. New York: Viking Penguin. ISBN 060827592
PLOT SUMMARY:
This traditional tale turns out not to be so traditional. THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS begins with the wolf, Alexander T. Wolf, telling his side of the story. He says that the whole "Big Bad Wolf" thing is wrong and that the real story is about a cup of sugar and a sneeze. The wolf was trying to bake a cake for his granny when he ran out of sugar and had to go to the pig's house to borrow some. He went to 2 pigs' houses and sneezed as he was trying to borrow the sugar. This caused both houses to fall to the ground. At both houses, he ate the pigs because he didn't want the food to be wasted. At the last house, the pig told the wolf to go away and not to bother him. The wolf thought this was rude and suddenly began to sneeze again. Well, the cops show up as the wolf really was trying to break the door down because he was upset at the pig's rudeness. Alexander T. Wolf contends that he was a sick guy who only wanted to borrow sugar, and the pigs jazzed up the story and made him out to be a bad wolf. Acording to the wolf, he was framed and that landed him in jail.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
This little traditional tale has two themes. It is about how people thought the wolf was bad, but he really is not. He was a good guy just trying to make a cake for his granny. The author makes the reader stop and think about two ideas. First, people will judge you because of your past and personality. Second, don't believe everything you hear. Kids will also figure out that there are 2 sides to every story. The way the wolf tells the story is interesting because he actually makes you believe that he is telling the truth. The reader might also figure out that the pigs are not with out fault when the last pig said impolite things to the wolf.
The illustrations by Lane Smith are somewhat dark and grainy, but the illustrate the story effectively. These great pictures help the reader understand the action in the story. The wolf does not look like a bad guy which perfectly matches what the wolf wants us to believe.
This book would be understood best by older elementary students. Young primary grade students might not understand the underlying themes. Older students will understand it because they have most likely heard the original version. They will like the fact that the wolf gets to tell his version of the story.
REVIEW EXCERPTS:
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "It's the type of book that older kids (and adults) will find very funny."
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: " Designed with uncommon flair, gaily newfangled version of the classic tale takes sides with the villian. Imaginative watercolors eschew realism, further updating the tale."
CONNECTIONS:
Lessons for teachers using THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS can be foundat these sites:
www.teachingheart.net/truepigs.html
www.teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mff/fractured_fairy_true.htm
Scieszka, Jon. 1989. THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS. Ill. by Lane Smith. New York: Viking Penguin. ISBN 060827592
PLOT SUMMARY:
This traditional tale turns out not to be so traditional. THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS begins with the wolf, Alexander T. Wolf, telling his side of the story. He says that the whole "Big Bad Wolf" thing is wrong and that the real story is about a cup of sugar and a sneeze. The wolf was trying to bake a cake for his granny when he ran out of sugar and had to go to the pig's house to borrow some. He went to 2 pigs' houses and sneezed as he was trying to borrow the sugar. This caused both houses to fall to the ground. At both houses, he ate the pigs because he didn't want the food to be wasted. At the last house, the pig told the wolf to go away and not to bother him. The wolf thought this was rude and suddenly began to sneeze again. Well, the cops show up as the wolf really was trying to break the door down because he was upset at the pig's rudeness. Alexander T. Wolf contends that he was a sick guy who only wanted to borrow sugar, and the pigs jazzed up the story and made him out to be a bad wolf. Acording to the wolf, he was framed and that landed him in jail.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
This little traditional tale has two themes. It is about how people thought the wolf was bad, but he really is not. He was a good guy just trying to make a cake for his granny. The author makes the reader stop and think about two ideas. First, people will judge you because of your past and personality. Second, don't believe everything you hear. Kids will also figure out that there are 2 sides to every story. The way the wolf tells the story is interesting because he actually makes you believe that he is telling the truth. The reader might also figure out that the pigs are not with out fault when the last pig said impolite things to the wolf.
The illustrations by Lane Smith are somewhat dark and grainy, but the illustrate the story effectively. These great pictures help the reader understand the action in the story. The wolf does not look like a bad guy which perfectly matches what the wolf wants us to believe.
This book would be understood best by older elementary students. Young primary grade students might not understand the underlying themes. Older students will understand it because they have most likely heard the original version. They will like the fact that the wolf gets to tell his version of the story.
REVIEW EXCERPTS:
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "It's the type of book that older kids (and adults) will find very funny."
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: " Designed with uncommon flair, gaily newfangled version of the classic tale takes sides with the villian. Imaginative watercolors eschew realism, further updating the tale."
CONNECTIONS:
Lessons for teachers using THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS can be foundat these sites:
www.teachingheart.net/truepigs.html
www.teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mff/fractured_fairy_true.htm
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