Module 9: The Great Pig Search by Eileen Christelow

BOOK COVER IMAGE:

BOOK SUMMARY: 

The Great Pig Search begins with Bert and Ethel perplexed over their runaway pigs.  While Ethel understands the pigs' desire to escape the possibility of becoming bacon, Bert is unable to accept their absence.  One day, Bert and Ethel receive a postcard from Florida that says, "OINK!" which sets them on their path to solve the mystery of their missing pigs.  Ethel is adamant that their trip is a vacation, however, Bert does not enjoy his time as much as Ethel does, spending every second convinced he sees pigs instead of Floridians.  One evening, while enjoying dinner and dancing, Bert makes the mistake of grabbing a woman, whom he mistook for a pig.  Bert is escorted to the police station, where he has a lot of explaining to do.  The next morning, Bert and Ethel go fishing, where Bert almost drowns, trying to capture a fish.  A brave individual saves Bert, and together they have their photo taken for the daily news.  Before heading home, Ethel reads the paper and discovers that the Bert's hero is a pig.  She waits to show the paper to Bert until they arrive back home.    

APA REFERENCE OF BOOK: 

Christelow, E. (2001).  The great pig search. New York: Clarion Books.

IMPRESSIONS: 

The illustrations by Cristelow contribute to the mystery of identifying disguised pigs from the humans in the story because the watercolored images blend certain features together, requiring the eye to closely examine the pages.  This is a great introduction to solving a puzzle and children will be delighted to distinguish the pigs from among the people.  The story provides a guideline for the process in which to solve a mystery such as Bert and Ethel's posing questions and and being constantly on the lookout for clues.  Overall, a great introduction to mystery's.             

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW: 

"PreS-Gr 3 --This story continues the adventures of Bert, Ethel, and their pigs, which began in The Great Pig Escape (Clarion, 1994), but it can be enjoyed independently. Ethel understands why the animals ran away--"Beats being bacon any day"--but Bert, a farmer, just can't let their disappearance go, especially after a postcard arrives with the message, "Oink!" He and Ethel take a trip to Florida, she to vacation, he to look for his missing animals. Readers see pigs everywhere, but he does not, no matter how hard he looks. Bert searching for and missing what is right under his nose will have readers rolling with laughter. Christelow's watercolor and pen-and-India-ink cartoonlike illustrations do a fabulous job of reinforcing the mood and action of the text. They begin "telling" the story on the cover, move to the front endpapers and title-page spread, then blend with and extend the text throughout the book. Some spreads are fully illustrated. In others, the text is on white with the illustrations above, below, or next to it. Some drawings are framed and placed over others or on the white background. Because the illustrations play such an integral role in this comical adventure, it is best suited to independent reading as well as small-group sharing. A sure hit." - Kathleen Simonetta
Reference:
Simonetta, K. (2001). The great pig search [Review of the book The great pig search]. School Library Journal, 47(9), 185.  

LIBRARY USES: 

The Great Pig Search can be used to create a mystery in the library or introduce a mystery to solve.  Photos of pigs can be placed around the library, mingled with pictures of people and students can be guided by foot prints to a location where the mystery will be revealed.               

Module 8: Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones

BOOK COVER IMAGE:

BOOK SUMMARY: 

This is a story about an orphan named Erica Wigg, whom everyone calls Eagwig.  She has just been adopted by a very unusual couple, but as Earwig said herself, the people who adopt her would have to be strange in some way.  As it turns out, Earwig has been adopted by Bella, a Witch and her husband, The Mandrake, who is never to be disturbed.  Earwig is somewhat excited by this new arrangement as it means she could learn magic.  However, she soon discovers that Bella only intends to use Earwig as her personal slave and to help the witch create potions and concoctions to be sold to paying customers.  Afraid of retaliation from Bella, Earwig complies with her orders even though the witch refuses to teach her magic.  One night, while drawing on her bed, Thomas the cat begins to speak and warns Earwig that she  needs to stop drawing ugly pictures of the Mandrake because it is upsetting him.  Earwig is surprised and delighted that Thomas can speak and she forms a new friend, albeit strange.  It is through Thomas that she learns how to make a special potion which will ward off any magic that Bella might pose on her or Thomas.  Thomas is especially tired of being given worms by Bella, so he is all to eager to help.  The spend an entire night creating a the special mixture and rub it all over their bodies as instructed by the recipe.  Unsure if it has worked, the two are still cautious around Bella.  However, Earwig becomes irritated due to lack of sleep and becomes disobedient.  Bella sends her and Thomas to the bedroom and "gives them worms," but to Earwig's delight, the worms are not in their bodies and they are certain the magic has worked.  In an attempt to hide the worms, Earwig fits them through a small hole in the bathroom but forgets that the hole leads to the Mandrake's den.  Soon, the Mandrake is running through but not towards Earwig; instead, he reprimands Bella and commands that she teach Earwig properly.  The Mandrake, it seems, is actually a very nice man and begins to treat Earwig like a real child.  Earwig's wish has come true and she begins to learn magic and begins to feel wanted.        

APA REFERENCE OF BOOK: 

Jones, D.W. (2012).  Earwig and the Witch. New York: Harper Collins.

IMPRESSIONS: 

This is a science-fiction story that has a deeper theme, involving orphans and adoptions and the issues involved when a family selects a child for the wrong reason.  However, the light-heartedness of Earwig and the witches involved make for a fun read.  Earwig is not a highly sensitive child and therefore, she is able to deal with witches for parents very easily, even accepting it the first time she learns of their peculiarities.  A pleasant surprise is that the Mandrake turns out to be a good parent to Earwig, understanding that she must be taught  things and even punishing Bella for not being more patient and sensitive to Earwig's needs.  It's nice to know that Earwig's adoption ends pleasantly and that she learns magic in the process.         

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW: 

"From the start, readers of this early chapter book fantasy will know that Earwig is not your average orphan in distress. With her “very strong personality,” she is perfectly happy at St. Morwald’s, mostly because “everyone, from Mrs. Briggs the Matron to the newest and smallest children, did exactly what Earwig wanted.” So when she is adopted by an unpleasant witch named Bella Yaga (whose only interest in Earwig, it turns out, is as slave labor) and her horned, nine-foot-tall, fire-demon companion, we’re not as worried as we might be. And indeed in very short order Earwig has made a friend in the witch’s familiar, a talking cat, and has teamed up with him to get her own back. This little fillip of a novel is over almost before it begins, but while it lasts readers are treated to a nonstop plot, memorable characters, and signature DWJ touches: a bungalow that is much bigger on the inside than it is on the outside; demons who enjoy prosaic pub food. An accessible page design incorporates Zelinsky’s plentiful line illustrations, the best of which (Bella Yaga pinching herself with the two extra hands Earwig has magicked her with, the fire-demon walking through a wall) are showstoppers. For younger readers, a worthy introduction to the delights of the late, lamented master fantasist - Martha V. Parravano 


Reference:

Parravano, M.V. (2012). Earwig and the witch [Review of the book Earwig and the Witch]. Horn Book Magazine, 88(2), 110-111.  

    

LIBRARY USES: 

This children's novel can be used in a book display on the topic of witches.  It is not as known as the Harry Potter series and could be a good book to recommend for children seeking additional books on the topic.             

Module 7: Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

BOOK COVER IMAGE:

BOOK SUMMARY: 

India Opal Buloni is a 10 year old girl who has just moved to Naomi, Florida with her father, the preacher.  Opal has a difficult time making friends but all that changes when she meets and adopts Winn-Dixie, a stray dog she found inside the store of his namesake.  After she convinces her father to allow Winn-Dixie to stay, Opal begins her summer adventures, meeting new friends, forming a relationship with her father and most of all, learning about her absent mother.  The Preacher tells Opal 10 things about her mother, two of them revealing reasons she may have left: she drank a lot and hated being a preacher's wife.  Opal writes the 10 descriptors and reads them to Winn-Dixie in hopes of never forgetting and as a way of remembering her mother should she return.  Despite her sadness, Opal meets new friends such as Miss Franny Block, the librarian of the Herman W. Block Memorial Library and Gloria Dump, the "town witch" who turns out to be a wonderful old lady.  If Winn-Dixie hadn't run into Gloria's garden, then Opal would never have met the woman that listened to all that Opal had to say about their recent move and her mother's abandonment.  Even Otis who works at Gertrude's Pet store, shows Opal that people are not always what they seem.  All of her newly-found family makes Opal want to throw a party, just like in the book she is reading to Gloria Dump, Gone with the Wind.  The party, held in Gloria's backyard, gets rained out, which causes Winn-Dixie to go missing.  Opal and her father search everywhere and it is during this moment when emotions are high, that Opal accuses the preacher of quitting, just like when the mom left.  This is the first time Opal sees her father cry and they both realize that they have each other.  Opal learns that she is not alone and her pain is slowly healing through the many friendships she has made.       

APA REFERENCE OF BOOK: 

DiCamillo, K. (2000).  Because of Winn-Dixie. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick      
     Press.

IMPRESSIONS: 

It is difficult to read this book and not cry; so much of what Opal experiences tugs at the heart.  The idea of a young child mourning the loss of her mother who is still very much alive, is a difficult concept to grasp, yet very much realistic.  Kate DiCamillo accomplishes the task of writing about abandonment and isolation, which is never easy to discuss and balances it well with friendship and hope.  Opal learns a valuable lesson about family coming all shapes and forms.  She realizes that she is not alone and begins to love her father again because she understands that he is still around, unlike her mother.  All that happens to Opal seems possible because of her new companion, Winn-Dixie.  Winn-Dixie forces conversations between Opal and the Preacher and he even causes Opal to venture into place she would never have before, such as Gloria Dump's back yard.  This is a wonderful story about loss and hope that every child should read.              

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW: 

"According to Miss Franny Block, the town librarian in Naomi, Florida, her great-grandfather made his fortune after the Civil War by manufacturing a candy "that tasted sweet and sad at the same time." Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni (called Opal) thinks this description of the candy sounds a lot like life, where "the sweet and the sad were all mixed up together," too. It's also a pretty apt description of this engaging Southern-style first-person novel, featuring a girl and dog with a lot to offer each other. Children's literature is full of animal-to-the-rescue stories, but rarely does salvation come in the form of a creature with as much personality as Winn-Dixie. When Opal, who has just moved to town with her preacher father, discovers him cheerfully knocking over produce in the Winn-Dixie supermarket one day, it's obvious he's a stray. "Mostly, he looked like a big piece of old brown carpet that had been left out in the rain." His friendly manner, which involves pulling back his lips into what appears to be a smile, wins her over and, luckily, wins her father over as well. As if in gratitude for giving him a good home, Winn-Dixie immediately begins easing Opal's troubles, helping her make friends, who in turn help her come to terms with the fact that her mother abandoned her and probably won't be back. The story teeters on the edge of sentimentality and sometimes topples right in, but the characters are so likable, so genuine, it's an easy flaw to forgive. All in all, this is a gentle book about good people coming together to combat loneliness and heartache--with a little canine assistance.'" - Christine M. Hepperman   


Reference:

Hepperman, C.M. (2000). Because of Winn-Dixie [Review of the book Because of Winn-Dixie]. Horn Book Magazine, 76(4), 455-456.  

    

LIBRARY USES: 

Since there is a movie version of this book, a great activity would be to compare/contrast some of the text with scenes from the film and have students discuss adaptation and whether directors are true to the text and whether or not that matters.             

Module 6: Time to Pray by Maha Addasi

BOOK COVER IMAGE:

BOOK SUMMARY: 

Time to Pray follows Yasmin on a journey to visit her grandmother in the middle east.  Yasmin is curious about her grandma's prayer habits and is so intrigued that she attempts to mimic the same behavior but has difficulty adapting.  Grandma is patient with the child and helps her by making Yasmin special clothes needed for prayer, through the purchase of a mat for the kneeling and even setting a clock that reminds Yasmin when to pray.  Since the Muslim religion requires prayer 4 times throughout the day, Yasmin depends on this support as she adjusts to the regularity of prayer.  She is successful and as she returns to the Untied States, tries to hold in all the wonderful things she will miss such as the food, the smells, the call to prayer and most of all, her grandmother.          

APA REFERENCE OF BOOK: 

Addasi, M., (2010).  Time to pray. Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Boyds Mills Press.

IMPRESSIONS: 

This is a well-written book that presents the aspects of the Muslim community in a simple and delicate matter.  Looking at the Muslim faith through the young girl's perspective allows the reader to understand the same way a child would understand.  I think it is clever to have the Grandmother simply teaching her granddaughter about the ways of her faith by slowly introducing the clothing, the mat and the clock.  It is similar to the way a parent would prepare a child for learning a new custom, making the story all the more believable.  Written in both English and Arabic, let's readers truly delve into the entire culture.  Addasi even includes a glossary and additional information that answers questions a child or even adult may ask regarding the religion or culture, which is extremely helpful to the learner.  The images add to the atmosphere of the story with it's shades of pink and orange hues, mimicking the scenery of a dessert, which is the location of the Middle East.  A wonderful book all around.                        

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW: 

"Maha Addasi's Time to Pray is a beautifully illustrated, contemporary fiction picture book that tells the story of Yasmin, a young girl who is visiting her grandmother somehwere in the Middle East...Translated into arabic beneath and beside the English text, Time to Pray give children an insightful glimpse into an intergenerational relationship between a Muslim child and her grandmother.  Child will identify with Yasmin in many respects; many of the things Yasmin does with her grandmother are ordinary--making cinnamon rolls, shopping, eating rice for lunch, etc. Yasmin's introduction to the Muslim prayer traditions is gradual we learn about the custom with the character.  The book ends with more detailed explanation of the prayer times and rituals.  The specific content of the prayers is not addressed.  The more children know and understand cultures and faiths different from their own, the better they can understand and work well with people of all types of faiths and customs.  Recommended for children in grades 1-4.  Ages 7-10." - Kristine Wildner

Reference

Widner, K., (2011).  Time to Pray [Review of the 
       book Time to Pray, by Maha Addasi]. Catholic Library World, 82(1), 73-74.  

LIBRARY USES: 

This book can be used to demonstrate the differences among religions or cultures across the glove.  While it is probably better suited for older students such as middle school, it can definitely be used as lesson with elementary students as a way to highlight differences and similarities among groups of people.         

Module 5: Chato's Kitchen by Gary Soto

BOOK COVER IMAGE:

BOOK SUMMARY: 

"Chato's Kitchen" by Gary Soto involves a sly cat named Chato, living in the barrio, who formulates a plan to invite a new family of rats over for dinner.  Unbeknownst to the rodents, Chato intends to eat the family for his dinner.  Despite his concoction, he and his friend, Novio Boy, cook up a feast made of tortillas, guacamole and frijoles.  The family asks if they can bring their friend Chorizo as well, to which, Chato is all to eager as it means an additional piece of meal.  When the mice arrive on Chorizo, Chato and Novio Boy are terrified because Chorizo is a dog.  A change of plans, ends the story with all sitting down for a wonderful dinner.    

APA REFERENCE OF BOOK: 

Soto, G., (1995).  Chato's kitchen. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

IMPRESSIONS: 

A former barrio resident, I am familiar with Gary Soto's text because it is the language of my childhood.  Chato's Kitchen reminds me of many residents of my neighborhood, with their Spanglish accents and need to be "cool."  This book is true to the kind of conversations one would hear should they venture into any barrio across the United States.  Soto's use of vivid details like the tortillas and guacamole both paint a beautiful image of the kitchen as well as brings rumbles to the belly.  Accompanied by Susan Guevara's illustrations, which depict the colorful scenes of a culturally diverse neighborhood. While I do not find the memories of my childhood home particularly pleasant, Soto captures a typical day in the barrio even through his fictional plot of cats and mice at dinner; for it is customary to cook large meals, invite guests over and enjoy the work accomplished in the kitchen.            

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW: 

"K-Gr 3-Chato, the coolest low-riding cat in East L.A., invites his new neighbors, a family of 'tasty' mice, to dinner, but his intentions aren't at all neighborly.  His friend Novio Boy, 'a cat with soft green eyes, sleek fur, and the loveliest growl in the barrio,' drops by and stays to share in the feast.  The mice family arrives with their friend, Chorizo, and that's when the fun begins!  Soto adeptly captures the flavor of life in el barrio in this amusing tale.  The animal characters have distinct personalities, and their language, sprinkled with Spanish phrases and expressions, credibly brings them to life.  Best of all, though, are Guevara's striking illustrations that enrich the text with delightful, witty details.  Each page exudes 'East L.A. culture,' creating vivid scenes in which bold colors and shapes combine ot increase the humor and tension in the narrative.  The characters' expressions exhibit intense emotions, drawing readers into the plot beyond the reach of the written word.  A really cool book." - Graciela Italiano

Reference

Italiano, G., and Jones, T.E., (11995).  Soto, Gary. Chato's Kitchen [Review of the 
       book Chato's Kitchen, by Gary Soto]. School Library Journal, 41(7), 69.  

LIBRARY USES: 

This is a book that I would have on display because of it's catchy title and colorful images.  Children would be drawn to the animal characters immediately.        

Module 4: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

BOOK COVER IMAGE:

BOOK SUMMARY: 

Madeleine L'Engle's novel A Wrinkle in Time is a science fiction novel whose main character, Meg Murry constantly questions her place in the world.  Meg, who is one of four children from the brilliant Murry family, feels like the black sheep.  Her mother is beautiful and brilliant, her twin brothers are popular and only her younger brother Charles Wallace, a five year old, is one of few who understands Meg.  The most difficult problem in Meg's life is the absence of her father; he is a scientist who was working for the government and has not been heard from in several years.  Perhaps if rumors circulating around town that the father has left out of his own free will, would cease, then Meg would find it an easier topic to discuss.  It is the very absence of Dr. Murry that takes Meg, Charles Wallace and a new friend Calvin on an adventure with 3 creatures: Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which.  Disguised as elderly women while on earth, the 3 utilize the tesseract, a science term that describes the ability to move throughout the universe in shorter distances.  As explained by Mrs. Whatsit to Meg, the creatures use this fifth dimension.  Once in the universe, the Mrs. W's change into their true form and take the children to Uriel to explain the circumstances and what must be done, which is to save her father from IT, a darkness that has taken over the planet of Camzotz.  The Mrs. W's leave the children on this planet to fight the evil that has imprisoned Dr. Murry.  With only a pair of glasses and a few words of wisdom, the children must figure out a way to save their father and in turn, the universe.  It is in the center of the city, where they discover IT, an evil brain along with Dr. Murry.  Before they can escape, IT has taken over Charles Wallace's mind, forcing Dr. Murry to abandon his youngest child.  Despite his best efforts, Dr. Murry is inexperienced with tessering and Meg suffers physically and emotionally.  She resents her fathers inability to fix everything and after some time and discussions with the Mrs. W's, she realizes it is up to her to rescue Charles Wallace.  It is through love that Meg is able to remove Charles from the grips of IT, because as it inferred, love conquers all.  The novel ends with the missing Murry's back on earth, along with Calvin, who all greet the twins and Mrs. Murry.          

APA REFERENCE OF BOOK: 

L'Engle, M. (1962).  A Wrinkle in Time. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

IMPRESSIONS: 

This is the best children's book I have ever read.  It is truly wonderful to have a science fiction novel where the awkward girl is the heroine.  Meg encompasses the difficult years that most adolescent girls experience, even if for a moment.  The Murry's are a wonderful role-model family that love learning and love each other, which makes this novel highly suitable for all.  Additionally refreshing is the idea that love is the driving force against all evil; that we are better as a human race if we all remain unique.  IT represents the darkness that often times takes over our lives and quite possibly, forces us to be like one another rather than embrace our individuality, which can have a greater impact on the world.  This novel covers many topics from science fiction to love to evil and even identity issues.  It is an uplifting story of facing our fears and conquering the worst task that could possibly be set in front of anyone; evil, which can come in many forms.  This is a novel that should be read by all children.         

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW: 

"One need only look at lists of Newbery Medal winners in the decades prior to Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time to recognize the novelty of the 1963 committee's choice.  Even today, the relative scarcity of youth science fiction is reflected in more recent crops of medalists; how much more surprising, then, that the historical and realistic stories dominating the pre-1963 Newbery Medalists came to be joined by a book involving tesseracts, theoretical physics, and, perhaps most startling of all, a heroine at a time when male characters like Tom Swift were most strongly associated with children's sf...Not surprising, given the book's central message about preserving intellectual and creative freedom over 'totalitarian, absolutist, and fundamentalist thinking on a level' (Voiklis' words.)  Indeed, in an era of No Child Left Behind controversy, L'Engle's comments in her Newbery acceptance speech have the same timeless resonance as her fiction: 'There are forces working in the world as never before in the history of mankind for standardization, for the regimentation of us all, or what I like to call making muffins of us, muffins all like very other muffin in the muffin tin.'" - Jennifer Mattson   

Reference:

Mattson, J., (2007). Another look at: A wrinkle in time [Review of the book A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle]. Booklist, 103(18), 58-59.  

    

LIBRARY USES: 

L'Engle's book is lends itself to the making of a book trailer because of the many science fiction and physics concepts that could be displayed on a video.  The descriptions from the text are visually stimulating such as when describing the transformations of the Mrs. W's. The trailer could be played as part of morning announcements or in the background in the library or linked from the library homepage.           

Module 3: A Tree is Nice by Janice May Udry

BOOK COVER IMAGE:

BOOK SUMMARY: 

"A Tree is Nice" by Janice May Udry presents all of the ways a tree serves its purpose.  The narrator takes us on a journey to discover trees of all sorts from forests to orchards and even trees that are beginning to grow in someone's yard.  Udry demonstrates that trees are more than scenery, they can provide shade and a place to play.  As you learn how a tree can be nice, she ends with a reminder that you too will want to plant a tree of your own.  

APA REFERENCE OF BOOK: 

Udry, J.M. (1956).  A tree is nice. USA: Harper & Row Publishers.

IMPRESSIONS: 

The watercolor illustrations by Marc Simont provide readers a natural visual that is not overly stimulating to the eye.  The pages switch from color to black and white, which essentially allows the pages to stand out from one another because the eye must re-focus between the two types.  Udry's story is more than a narrative; it borders between fiction and non-fiction in that information on the purpose of trees is provided.  For instance, she writes that "A tree is nice because it has a trunk and limbs" (Udry, 1956), which is a fact but then she explains that those trunks and limbs can be climbed, making trees a fun place to play.  While the story lacks plot and character development, the narrative is "nice," with its basic vocabulary and calming tone.          

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW: 

"The illustrations in A Tree is Nice, done by Marc Simont, text by Janice May Udry and published by Harper, have won the Caldecott Award...A Tree is Nice is a picture book which can be used in many ways, including the classroom; but, most important of all, it is a delight to the small child.  Despite its simplicity, it is thought-provoking and provides the child with new avenues down which his imagination can run.  A tree is nice for shade, beauty, and usefulness, for combing and playing; and it fills up the sky." - Charlemae Rollins

Reference

Rollins, C., (1956). Newbery and Caldecott awards [Review of the book A Tree is Nice, by Janice Udry]. Top of the News, 13, 14.  

LIBRARY USES: 

A Tree is Nice can be used to introduce environmental topics to students, specifically dealing with trees.  This book will activate prior knowledge on trees and set the stage for creating a unit on botany.  Students can then end a unit of study by planting trees on the school grounds, where they can learn how to grow and care for a tree.