Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Rapunzel


Title: Rapunzel
By: Paul Zelinsky

Summary: This classic fairytale redone, depicts the story of a beautiful girl who is locked away in a tower by an evil witch. She is forced to remain there until a young prince comes by and vows to free her.

Opinion: Upon a thorough read and deep reflection on the story, I cannot believe how ridiculous fairy tales can be. First off, the parents of Rupenzel make a deal with the witch to just give her away on her birth, just to satisfy Rupunzel's mom's pregnant cravings. I hear that those cravings can be outrageous, but I doubt any good parent would just give away their kid for some good food. (I know my mom wouldn't... or at least I hope so :-).) Second, the idea for a man's perfect woman to be some girl who is locked away at all times appears to fit the old saying, "keep your women barefoot and pregnant". Sad to say that this story seems to reaffirm that model.
With that being said, the illustrations are marvelous. They have such a realistic feel it appears that you are looking at photographs. The prose is also phenomenal making it an easy read for children. It is clear that Zelinsky took one of Grimm's classic tales and adapted it to make it his own.

and Tango Makes Three


And Tango Makes Three 
Authors: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
 Illustrator: Henry Cole

Summary: Roy and Silo are to male penguins that do everything in their power to hatch a rock into their very own egg. Once they discover that this is impossible, Mr. Gramzay (the keeper penguin) gives them a very egg of their own to look after.

Opinion: I am immediately going to throw out a disclaimer stating that I am very supportive of gay marriage. It has always seemed silly to me that two people in love cannot be together because of some societal norm. With that being said, I absolutely loved this story! It was very cute and innocent and touched the issue of homosexuality in a non-threatening manner. Using penguins instead of people, I feel children may be more supportive (how many parents have advocated against gay penguins) on the issue.  Richardson and Parnell did a wonderful job creating a family dynamic that was full of warm, loving-emotion. 
The illustrations were adorable. Cole was able to master the use of emotion through the animals expressions, a skill that is so often overlooked. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone that is open minded on the issue and willing to give children an exposure to the idea of alternative lifestyles.

The Stupids Die


Title: The Stupids Die
Written by: Harry Allard
Illustrations by: James Marshall

Summary: The story depicts the Stupid family, which you may guess, is not the typical family. In this volume of the series, the Stupids face tackle the issue of death. Once the lights are turned off in the home, the Stupids face emptiness. The only logical explanation for the Stupids is that they are all dead. However, once the lights return the Stupids believe that they are in heaven.

Opinion: While the book can be considered controversial due to the name of the family and to what appears to be the overall pointlessness to the story, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The zaniness is comparable to the Amelia Bedelia  series and seems to be all in good fun. The story is outrageous enough to keep students turning pages (eating dinner with your feet is considered "good" manners) and the pictures are filled with enough humor to encourage children to really explore the illustrations in depth.
The literary elements of the story were used in line to help create the humor. The seemingly normal nuclear family, in the normal suburban home were perfectly played to create such mayhem. (The story wouldn't have been as funny if it was some irregular setting or irregular characters). While most of my classmates disliked The Stupids, I am all for them. Never dull or didactic, they will have you rolling on the floor with laughter! DUH!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

The Higher Power of Lucky

Title: The Higher Power of Lucky
Author: Susan Patron
Illustrator: Matt Phelan


Summary: The Higher Power of Lucky is about a 10 year-old girl named Lucky's search for meaning of the higher power. Lucky's search is fueled by the death of her mother and her seemingly unstable relationship with her stepmother Brigitte.

My Opinion: Great use of literary elements in novels come seemingly so few and far between. Who would have thought that a novel written for children would posses marvelous use of all the elements. Lucky took me on a tear-jerking (Boys don't cry... or so I thought) journey that made myself wonder, why? Upon further review, it is the reality that was caused by the literary elements. For example, Lucky's character was one of the most dynamic I have seen in a long time. The reader followed the path of a grieving child's acceptance of her mother's death and her new life. (It is incredible that such a touch difficult process could be so tastefully done in such a short amount of writing). Lucky was believable from her mannerisms, her physical description, and the various relationships she possessed throughout the story.
The setting was also fantastic. The desert sand and the small town gave an eerie feeling of isolation. A feeling of an impossible escape, which ironically was one of Lucky's ultimate goals. It was strange to see the contrast however between Lucky's relationship with the desert and what we would expect. Lucky felt comfortable with the desert because it was her home. Her sandy skin blended right in and felt that she could live there forever. Which made me just realize maybe that is why she wanted to escape into the desert. So no one could find her. So she could share her feelings of harshness and isolation with her surroundings.
I loved this story right down to the core. I would recommend it to people of all ages. It was the best book that I have had the pleasure to read in a long time.

My Friend Rabbit

 Title: My Friend Rabbit
Author: Eric Rohmann

Summary: When Mouse lets his best friend Rabiit borrow his brand-new toy airplane, hilarity ensues. Rabbit throws the plane into a tree and needs the help of the rest of the animal kingdom in order to help get the plane down.
Rabbit probably needs to be a bit more careful!

My Opinion: This great story of friendship uses the power of illustration to help teach most of the the story. The paintings in the story are both fun and lively and help tell a story beyond the story. While text may say one thing, character expressions are showing another. With text being written on less then half of the pages, it is clear that this story is written for a younger audience. With that determined, the book spreads a wonderful message about the importance of sticking beside your friends, even if it might be easier not to. It also discusses the idea that results may not always mirror intentions. Both are deep lessons that if kids can grasp at an early age, they will be much better off.

The Man Who Walked Between The Towers

Title: The Man Who Walked Between The Towers
Author: Mordicai Gerstein

Summary: The Man Who Walked Between The Towers is a retelling of an actual event that took place in 1974. Phillipe Pettite, tightrope walker extraordinaire, looked up into the skyline of New York and decided it would be his ultimate dream to perform on a wire suspended between the roofs of the World Trade Center. Pettite with the help of his friends accomplished the dream with the help of some friends and was arrested immediately after the performance. He was sentenced to perform for children in New York's Central Park.

My Opinion: When the towers first appeared in the book, I got that feeling. You know that gut wrenching feeling you get when you are reminded of 9/11. I immediately flipped to the inside cover of the book and was astonished that it had been written after the attack. But I quickly dove back in because of how beautiful the illustrations were. I felt a sense of pride seeing the building sky over the rest of the skyline once again. The story was so outrageously great, that I thought it was fictional until after I read the inside cover once I completed the book. It carried out the normal life of a childrens' book until the last two pages when it snapped from the story of Phillipe Pettite, to showing that the towers were no more. It did not explain why they were gone, just simply that they were. But it also stated how there memory will live on. I feel that this book is an incredibly great resource. Social Studies teachers from grades K-12 could use this book to stir up a civil conversation of what happened that day. The paintings and writing were really tasteful and I urge people of all ages to give this book a read. If not to learn something, to remember.

Focus Question: How does knowing about literary elements impact understanding of a story?

When a story really seems to jump off the page and come alive, one might ask themselves, "Why?". Upon a more through examination, it is clear that good use of the literary elements is the key to sucking any reader into a story. Characters that are dynamic, take the readers on a journey as they change and grow by encountering various pitfalls, trifles, and tribulations. They help bring the opportunity to see raw human potential and shed light to wide array of human emotions. Other literary elements, such as point of view, also help set the mood of a piece. For example, first person narratives give the reader an opportunity to witness the inner-monologue of the leading protagonist. Where-as a third person story gives the opportunity to take the perspective of multiple individuals. Time is another great literary element that is used to spice up stories. It often helps set theme or mood (a slower moving story can often focus in on core human emotions, where as a fast moving story keeps the reader on the edge of their seat). A sense of time can also contribute to the overall realism to the work. (I hate it when books skip around in time, its way too confusing and just seems sloppy and unbelievable). The last literary element that I will discuss (certainly not all of them) is the setting. A great setting can truly transport the reader to the destination. Giving readers an eerie dream-like awareness of the place where the events are happening provides for a sense of realness that cannot be matched by television. The setting, if strong enough, can also become a character in and of itself (see earlier blog on Gary Paulsen's Hatchet).
Consider these elements as a set of tools. When reading for deeper understanding, it is important to analyze each element. Truly dive in and ponder things such as character motivations, the sense of time in the story, how the perspective is impacting what you are reading, and if the setting has successfully transported you. Only then will you be able to see the layer behind the surface, deeper understanding.