Module 15: Th Adventures of Captain Underpants An Epic Novel By Dav Pilkey

Summary: Captain Underpants is a superhero created from the imagination of two young boys named George and Harold. George and Harold are silly tricksters who sell their Captain Underpants and other various comics on the playground for 50 cents. One day they had gone overboard with their pranks during a school football game and got caught. Their principal. Mr. Krupp, videotaped all of the entire time they were setting up pranks. He got them filling the game ball with helium to putting bubbles in the bands instruments. Mr. Krupp was willing to make a deal with them if they behave for the rest of their time in school as well as be his servant whenever he pleased and he wouldn’t show the tape to anyone. This punishment went on for a few weeks until their 3-D Hypno-Ring came in the mail. They used it on Mr. Krupp to get the video back from him and also had a little fun. They made the mistake of turning him into Captain Underpants, the superhero. Mr. Krupp ran out of the office and the two boys had to find him before it was too late. They found him fighting bank robbers and then the evil Dr. diaper. After they escaped they returned him to himself and he no longer had the tape to hold against them. Even now and then when people snap their fingers he turns back into Captain Underpants.   

Citation: Pilkey, D. (1997). The adventures of Captain Underpants. New York, NY: The Blue Sky Press.

Impressions:  My sister was an avid fan of the Captain Underpants series so I thought that it was appropriate to read this for my last blog post. I was kind of shocked to see that it was on the censored/challenged book list. I don’t really understand what is so controversial about it. Sure, the two main characters play pranks and are a little snotty but they don’t hurt anyone or use foul language. I think that young students should have enough sense to not reenact some of their trick or pranks. The Captain Underpants character is a crime fighter. He strop the bad guys from doing harm or wrong. My sister tells me she liked the book because of its creativity. It has these pages called Flip-O-Rama that are fun flip books but only feature one animated picture. I hadn’t seen this in anything that I’ve read all semester so I thought that it really set this book apart. I enjoyed the story and the illustrations were creative and fun. Overall, I would go against a challenge to keep this book on the shelf.   

Reviews:

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4 Pilkey plays with words and pictures, providing great entertainment. The story is immediately engaging. two fourth-grade boys who write comic books and who love to pull pranks find themselves in big trouble. Mean Mr. Krupp, their principal, videotapes George and Harold setting up their stunts and threatens to expose them. The boys' luck changes when they send for a 3-D Hypno-Ring and hypnotize Krupp, turning him into Captain Underpants, their own superhero creation. Later, Pilkey includes several pages of flip-o-ramas that animate the action. The simple black-and-white illustrations on every page furnish comic-strip appeal. The cover features Captain Underpants, resplendent in white briefs, on top of a tall building. This book will fly off the shelves.

Hopf, M.M. (1997). Review of The adventures of Captain Underpants. Los Angeles, CA: Reed Business Information, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Captain-Underpants-Collectors-Included/dp/product-description/0439756685/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

From Kirkus Reviews

    In the fine old tradition of James Marshall's Cut-Ups, Pilkey (God Bless the Gargoyles, 1996, etc.) introduces George Beard and Harold Hutchins, two usually responsible fourth-graders, as in ``whenever anything bad happened, George and Harold were usually responsible.'' Pranksters of the first order, George and Harold are finally nabbed by Mr. Krupp, the principal, whom they then hypnotize into believing he's Captain Underpants, a superhero of their own creation. Before they can stop him, he's out the window in cape and briefs, off to fight crime with Wedgie Power, taking on bank robbers, robot thieves--`` `You know,' said George, `up until now this story was almost believable!' ''--and ultimately the evil Dr. Diaper. Distracting Dr. Diaper with some ``fake doggy doo- doo,'' the boys save the planet, then hustle Krupp back into his clothes, just in time for--their next adventure, The Attack of the Talking Toilets, coming soon. Pilkey's stubby black-and-white cartoon figures appear on every page but can be animated in one chapter, thanks to ``Flip-O-Rama,'' where readers flip pages back and forth for the ``latest in cheesy animation technology.'' There'll be no silence in the library once readers get hold of this somewhat classier alternative to Barf-o-Rama books and their crude ilk. (Fiction. 9-11)

Associates of Kirkus Reviews. (June 1, 1997). Review. Kirkus Reviews online. Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/dav-pilkey/the-adventures-of-captain-underpants/#review

Suggestions: This book could be used in super hero projects. Students could read the novel and then draw their own superhero. They could display them around the library for others to see. I think this series would do well with creative projects.

Module 14: A Curious Collection Of Cats by Betsy Franco Illustrations by Michael Wertz

Summary: A Curious Collection of Cats by Betsey Franco contains 34 poems about the friendly world of cats. Each of the poems is visually appealing and the poems are all shape poems. The illustrations have just as much to do about the poem as much as the words. The poems focus on cats agility and fear of other animals. It features poems about cat fights and snacks. There are cats of all shapes and sizes with many different personalities.   

Citation:  Franco, B. (2009). A curious collection of cats. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle Press.

Impressions: I enjoy this type of poetry. There is a lot of thought that goes into each shape poem because everything about the pictures and words means something. I like how the words round the photos in different angels. I think that this book will be an inspiration to students who love poetry. I have read many cat books in this class for my love of these adorable creatures so I think that they poems are relatable and touching to cat lovers.

Reviews:

From Kirkus Reviews
                                               

Franco’s witty but uneven collection of concrete poems celebrating feline antics is accompanied by striking illustrations done in pencil and finished in monoprint and Photoshop. Atop rich, textured backgrounds, cats—each one bursting with personality—stretch, fight, perch, leap, rest and pounce. Each image is saturated in bright, often fluorescent colors, incorporating the text within them. One poem, for example, called “Prickles vs. the Golden Retriever,” is printed on the spiked-up fur of a cat’s back. It reads: “Prickle’s [sic] fur / is sticking out / His back is arched. / His teeth are bared. / The dog he caught / in our backyard / is whimpering / and very scared.” An orange cat, with angry, puffed-up tail, arched back and bared teeth, occupies a quarter of the page, towering over the dog, who has flattened himself to the ground; readers see only his head, with a single tear coming from his eye, and a stretched-out paw. Capturing the spirit of each verse, Wertz turns a collection of otherwise unremarkable visual poems into a true treat for the eyes.

Kirkus associates. Review of A Curious Collection of Cats. (2009). Kirkus Reviews online. Retrieved from  http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/betsy-franco/a-curious-collection-of-cats/#review.

From Booklist

Words and pictures blend in these concrete poems about cats, written in forms that include haiku, limerick, and free verse. Once kids get the feel of how to follow the lines up and down or in curving jumps or around the page borders--they will have fun with the playful images. One poem is in the shape of a feline tail. Another describes Kabob the cat's fall upside down, and not only do the pictures show his movement, but the words do, too. When felines fight, the position of the words mirrors their furious screeches, howls, pouncing, and biting. Cat lovers will recognize the standoffs with arching backs, the cozy touch of the purrfect scarf on their shoulders, and the tech-savvy cat who walks across the keyboard to add her own note to an e-mail to a friend.-- Rochman, H. (2009). A curious collection of cats. Booklist. Retrieved from Bowker Books in Print.

Suggestions: Students can use this poetry book as an example of poems that they can write. They can even participate in writing this own shape poems. They don’t even have to write about cats but any subject or object that they would life. I think that incorporating fun activities with this book will really draw students attention. There could even be a book hour where the poems are read aloud and then students have time to make their own poetry.

Module 13: The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg

Summary: Jane is forced to move from Metro city after an explosion almost kills her and others around her. Her parents want her to be safe and so they move to a small town called Kent Waters. Jane wants to change her entire image since she’s got a different outlook on life. She cuts off all of blonde hair and dyes it black. She doesn’t want to sit with the popular kids anymore. She decided to befriend 3 girls who look like misfits. Their names are Jane, Jayne, and Polly Jane. The girls do not care for Jane in the beginning but she devises a plan to get their attention. She comes up with this idea of organizing an art movement called P.L.A.I.N which stands for people loving art in neighborhoods. They would run around the city and create art projects from everyday objects each time leaving a note. Some were describing acts of kindness and others were simply art like wrapping trees in paper or putting bows on mail boxes. The police started calling it vandalism and wanted to catch the culprits. One night the Jane’s are almost caught but a boy from school named Damon but instead he warns them. Jane develops a crush on Damon but is too afraid to pursue anything. After Jane finds out that the John Doe that was in a coma after the explosion in Metro city was released she gets Damon to drive her there to get information on John Doe, he pen pal since the terrible day. Damon takes her but John Doe isn’t there anymore, he has been sent back to Poland. Jane is upset and they drive home but Damon and her make out briefly in the car. The last art project was planned to take place on New Year’s but it fails. Damon ends up taking the blame and Jane feels bad but is also happy that she has close friends and family to support her.   

Citation: Castellucci, C. & Rugg, J. (2007). The plain Janes. New York, NY: DC Comics.

Impressions: I think that this story was very interesting and entertaining. I think that it will attract the misfit students who are looking to do things outside the box. It’s also nice to see strong female characters. I like the idea of this graphic novel. I know that the main character was going through some issues and was just trying to find a way to cope. It sends a great message because she transfers her energy into helping others. She creates this movement within the dull town that actually brings them all together. She rejects anything normal or boring, making her own rules. On the other hand though she is still a child and scared for her being. The almost fatal explosion really did mess with her mind as well as her always worried mother. The illustrations were in black and white with bold boxes outlining each scene. It’s a classic graphic novel and keeps readers engaged.   

Reviews:

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 7–10—Young adult author Castellucci makes her graphic-novel debut with this quirky comic. Jane's parents relocate to the suburbs when she's caught in a bomb attack in Metro City. Bored and lonely in her new town and school, the teen is thrilled when she meets three other girls named Jane, all of them as out of place as she is. They form a secret club, the Plain Janes, and decide to liven up the town with art. Some people like their work, but most are frightened, and the local police call the Plain Janes' work "art attacks." Castellucci gives each girl a distinct personality, and spirited, compassionate Main Jane is especially captivating. Rugg's drawings aren't in superhero or manga style, but resemble the more spare, clean style of alternative comics creators such as Dan Clowes and Craig Thompson. A thoughtful look at the pressures to conform and the importance of self-expression, this is also a highly accessible read. Regular comics readers will enjoy it, but fans of soul-searching, realistic young adult fiction should know about it as well.

Goldstein,L. The Plain Janes. Brooklyn Public Library, NY: Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Plain-Janes-Minx-Graphic-Novels/dp/1401211151.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* For the first book in a new series aimed at teenage girls, DC comics recruited novelist Castellucci (Boy Proof, 2004, and The Queen of Cool, 2005) to write this story about outsiders who come together, calling up themes from the author's popular YA novels. Relocated to suburbia after a brush with disaster in the big city (and fueled by an urge not to be terrified of the world as a result), Jane rallies a small group of outcasts into a team of "art terrorists," shaking the town from its conservative complacency by putting bubbles in the city fountain and wrapping objects on the street as Christmas packages. Their activities end up rallying the local teenagers to their cause and working the adults into a dither. The book has its share of stereotypes--the science geek, the psychotically overprotective mother, the irrepressible gay teen--but this is thought-provoking stuff. The art, inspired by Dan Clowes' work, is absolutely engaging. Packaged like manga this is a fresh, exciting use of the graphic-novel format.

Jesse Karp, J. (March 15, 2007). The plain Janes. Book List. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/The-Plain-Janes-Cecil-Castellucci/pid=1911749.

Suggestions: I think this book could be a good book for a book club. It would also do well with a book trailer because of all the action and mystery of it.

Module 12: The Road to OZ by Kathleen Krull Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

Summary: This short biography about the man who wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Lyman Frank Baums. It begins with his childhood and what interests he had as a young writer. His brother and him actually began a small newspaper on their own where they would write stories about their family. As he grew older he was involved in many different jobs. He wanted to be a performer originally but was never good enough to be casted in a part. He gave up that dream and went on to found his own company where he wrote his own plays and played his own parts as the lead. He wrote a book about hens which wasn’t successful when he started breeding chickens. He even dabbled in salesmanship and sold oil and kerosene lamps. Along his journey he met his wife at the age of 26, named Maud Gage, with whom he had four sons with. He worked hard each day trying to care for him family never accepting a dime from his rich family. He ran a small store that sold novelties and crafts for children. He wrote part time but every book turned out unsuccessful. One day, his mother pointed out to him that he should write down his fantasy stories that he told his children. He published his first book of fairytales called Adventures in Phunnyland which was also a failure. He kept a log of all of his book failures. Soon after he came up with the plot for his best seller, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which finally was published in 1900. He even built a house based on his novel for children to visit. He lived off of plays and a series adapted from the story until his death at 62.  

Citation: Krull, K. (2008). The road to Oz: Twists, turns, bumps, and triumphs in the life of L. Frank Baum. New York, NY: Random House Children’s Books.   

Impressions: In the module one of the questions about biographies was how appropriate or credible one should be according to age group. I believe that this book is perfect for the age group it was aimed at. It talks about the life of Baums but not too much into the more personal stories in his life. It’s main focus was how he came to write the bestselling novel of the century which was equivalent to Harry Potter books today. I think children who love novel or want to know more about the author will enjoy this book because although it is information it is entertaining. The illustrations do a great job depicting events and give it more of a personal feel. I also enjoyed how the book explains all the odd jobs Baums was employed at because each one seemed to become a piece of his novel. The ideas were taken from his real life and even though he was unsuccessful all of that time, in the end he accomplished what he dreamed of. It sends a great message to students to keep dreaming and pursuing what they want in life.  

Reviews:

From Kirkus Reviews

With customary vivacity and a fine sense of irony, Krull portrays her subject as a genial family man who suffered reverse after reverse thanks to a bad combination of deep-seated optimism and zero business sense—but pulled through when his love of storytelling and sense of audience at last led to a novel that instantly became (she notes) the Harry Potter of its day. She does mention Baum’s anti-American Indian screeds, but in general tells a brisk, admiring tale that mirrors the tone of his talespinning—aptly illustrated by Hawkes’s scenes of a frail, dapper looking gent, generally sporting a smile beneath a bushy mustache and gazing abstractedly into the distance. An admirable companion to Krull’s Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up To Become Dr. Seuss (2004), this profile not only provides a similarly illuminating peek beneath the authorial curtain, but leaves readers understanding just how groundbreaking The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was, as an adventure story with both a female protagonist and no overwhelming Moral Lesson. (afterword, booklists) (Picture book/biography. 9-11)

Kirkus associates. Review. (2008). Kirkus Reviews Online. Retrieved from  http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kathleen-krull/the-road-to-oz/#review.

From Booklist

Despite the enduring popularity of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, there are few titles about L. Frank Baum published for youth. Krull’s new picture-book biography, then, is particularly welcome, and it displays Krull’s usual stylistic strengths: a conversational tone, well-integrated facts, vivid anecdotes, and sly asides that encourage children to find the human qualities in a historical figure. Beginning with Baum’s pampered youth, Krull moves forward through his early adult years, when he flailed in a variety of jobs before finally writing his famous first book about Oz, which he based on bedtime stories he created for his children. Krull gives a balanced account, emphasizing Baum’s creative gifts and his talents for nurturing his family while frankly referencing his less-admirable traits, such as his prejudice against Native Americans. Hawkes’ ink-and-acrylic illustrations are uneven, with some figures appearing blurred and hurriedly rendered, but the brightly colored compositions do support the sense of Baum as a multifaceted, fascinating individual. An author’s note, sources, and a list of Baum’s works conclude this entertaining, lively portrait. Grades 2-5. --

Engberg, G. (2008). Review of The Road to Oz: Twists, Turns, Bumps, and Triumphs in the Life of L. Frank Baum. Booklist. retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/The-Road-to-Oz-Twists-Turns-Bumps-and-Triumphs-in-the-Life-of-L-Frank-Baum-Kathleen-Krull/pid=273815

Suggestions: I think this story is inspirational and could be grouped with other inspirational famous figures. Students can read these stories and use them to define their own dreams. A small shelf could be rotated throughout the year displaying each of the inspirational figures.

Module 11: What If You Met A Pirate written and illustrated by Jan Adkins

Summary: What If you met a Pirate by Jan Adkins is about the real life pirates of our times. A lot of pirates that are portrayed in books or movies have an inaccurate portrayal of real pirates. The book explores what a pirate would actually be like and how a person would know it’s a pirate. It explores what clothing and ships look like as well as what pirates really did all day. It goes into detail about how to sail and what duties a pirate had on the ship. It also projects how pirates attacked other ships and who were the real captains. The conclusion lets readers know where all the pirates have vanished to.

Citation: Adkins, J. (2004). What if you met a pirate. Brookfield, CT: Roaring Brook Press.  

Impressions: I think that this book is fun and informational. I even learned a few things about pirates that I didn’t even know. I learned why pirates dressed the way they did and their actual duties on a ship. I don’t know much about ships so it was interesting to learn about captains and what pirates had to do to keep a ship afloat. The pictures were detailed and each was practically labeled as to why it was drawn or how it related. It was a little wordy which might turn off students who might get discouraged from all the information but I think the illustrations will save it for being dull.  

Reviews:

From Kirkus Reviews

WHAT IF YOU MET A PIRATE? (reviewed on September 1, 2004)

Adkins rejects the conventional glamorous image of the pirate to construct a scruffier, though only slightly less romanticized, one in this sweeping history of privateers, buccaneers, freebooters, and similar nautical nogoodnicks. Though he may characterize them as “violent, wicked criminals,” he downplays the more lurid tales of their bad behavior, focusing instead on generalities about their habits, hygiene (“Most pirates had bad teeth, and not very many of them”), and seamanship. He also introduces Sir Francis Drake, William Kidd, Henry Morgan, and other piratical luminaries—often so that he can go on about their bad ends. Scattering loosely drawn but practiced vignettes of men and ships around snippets of historical fact, Adkins offers nothing new beyond a distinctly personal tone, but the topic is hot just now, and there’s enough about ships and sailing here to draw more than narrowly focused pirate fans. (Picture book/nonfiction. 8-10)

Kirkus Review associates. Review. Kirkus Reviews Online. Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jan-adkins/what-if-you-met-a-pirate/#review

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Gr. 3-5. Can it be that walking the plank was a fictional punishment invented by illustrator Howard Pyle? In this appealing book, Adkins gives readers the lowdown on what life under the pirate flag was really like. After setting up the conventional portrait of swaggering, singing sailors in colorful duds, he replaces it with a more realistic picture of hard-working sailors who "might swashbuckle just a few hours each month" and bathed considerably less. Yet this realistic portrayal of pirates and their activities is even more intriguing than the romanticized version he debunks. Adkins strikes just the right note in the text, always informative and frequently entertaining as well. Bright with color washes, the excellent, energetic drawings show pirates engaged in a variety of activities, from pumping out the bilge to braiding each other's hair to using the open-air bathroom at the front of the ship. In a send-up of current book marketing, the back cover carries appreciative comments by the likes of Queen Elizabeth I and Leonardo da Vinci. Where pirate fever runs high this spirited presentation will find an enthusiastic audience. For more titles, see the Read-alikes, "Ship Ahoy!" [BKL S 1 04].

Phelan, C. (2004) Booklist Review. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/What-If-You-Met-a-Pirate-Jan-Adkins/pid=664172.

Suggestions: I like pirates themes in the library so I think that this book would be great to use to compare and contrast with other pirate related books. Students can pick out the differences in other books and maybe discuss why they think the information could be a misconception.

Module 10: Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora Illustrated by Raul Colon

Summary: Tomas and his family have to leave Texas for work in Iowa. His family are migrant workers and move from place to place in the summer and winter. Tomas spends his time with his brother Enrique playing and brining water to his parents. He also likes listening to his grandfather stories. One day his grandfather tells him that he should go to the library to learn more stories to tell. Tomas goes by himself and meets the kind librarian who invites him in for a cup of water. She asks Tomas what he likes to read about and gather books about dinosaurs and tigers for him. Tomas returns each day getting lost in the story books and then share them with his family. He also begins to teach the librarian how to speak Spanish. The last word that Tomas teaches the librarian is good bye because it is time for him to return home in Texas. Tomas leaves some sweet bread with her and in turn the librarian gives him a new book to take on the road.

Citation: Mora, P. (1997).Tomas and the library lady. New York, NY: Random House.

Impressions: This story was a nice little insight to a little boy’s life. This book was based off of a real life person named Tomas Rivera who was motivated by the librarian and grew a love of reading because of her. It is very inspirational and shows a desire for learning and reading. I liked that it featured som words in Spanish because it really gave the story some character.  

Reviews:

From Kirkus Reviews

A charming, true story about the encounter between the boy who would become chancellor at the University of California at Riverside and a librarian in Iowa. Tom†s Rivera, child of migrant laborers, picks crops in Iowa in the summer and Texas in the winter, traveling from place to place in a worn old car. When he is not helping in the fields, Tom†s likes to hear Papa Grande's stories, which he knows by heart. Papa Grande sends him to the library downtown for new stories, but Tom†s finds the building intimidating. The librarian welcomes him, inviting him in for a cool drink of water and a book. Tom†s reads until the library closes, and leaves with books checked out on the librarian's own card. For the rest of the summer, he shares books and stories with his family, and teaches the librarian some Spanish. At the end of the season, there are big hugs and a gift exchange: sweet bread from Tom†s's mother and a shiny new book from the librarianto keep. Col¢n's dreamy illustrations capture the brief friendship and its life-altering effects in soft earth tones, using round sculptured shapes that often depict the boy right in the middle of whatever story realm he's entered. (Picture book. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews Associates. (August 1, 1997). Tomas and the library lady. Kirkus Reviews Online. Retrieved from  http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/pat-mora/tomas-and-the-library-lady/#review.

From Booklist

Ages 4^-8. From the immigrant slums of New York City to the fields of California, it's an elemental American experience: the uprooted child who finds a home in the library. Mora's story is based on a true incident in the life of the famous writer Tomas Rivera, the son of migrant workers who became an education leader and university president. Far from his home in Texas, the small boy is working with his family picking corn in Iowa. Inspired by the Spanish stories his grandfather (Papa Grande) tells, Tomas goes to the library to find more stories. The librarian welcomes him into the cool, quiet reading room and gives him books in English that he reads to himself and to his family. He teaches her some Spanish words. Then, as in so many migrant stories, the boy must leave the home he has found. He has a new, sad word for her, "adios. It means goodbye." Colon's beautiful scratchboard illustrations, in his textured, glowingly colored, rhythmic style, capture the warmth and the dreams that the boy finds in the world of books. The pictures are upbeat; little stress is shown; even in the fields, the kids could be playing kick ball or listening to stories. Perhaps the most moving picture is that of the child outside the library door, his face pressed against the pane. In contrast is the peaceful space he finds inside, where he is free to imagine dinosaurs and wild adventure.

Rochman, H. (1997). Booklist Review. Retrieved from  http://www.booklistonline.com/Tomas-and-the-Library-Lady-Raul-Colon/pid=570525.

Suggestions:  This can be used in inspirational storytelling as well as for students who are bilingual. I think that they will enjoy the story. They can even write about what inspires them as a fun activity. The can discuss their favorite books and what they like to read about. This can help with book selections and suggestions for the library’s collection.  

Module 9: The Great Pig Search by Eileen Christelow

Summary: Bert and Ethel’s pigs have escaped from their truck. Soon the town noticed that their clothes were missing shortly after. Bert was upset but decided to move on until he received a post card. It was from his pigs in a town in Florida. Ethel feels like the two of them need a vacation. They decide on Florida if Bert promises to forget about the pigs. Everywhere they go Bert asks for the missing pigs but no one has seen them. He even mistakenly attacks a woman who he thinks is a pig. The police let him go and assure him that there are no pigs in town. The next day, Bert and Ethel go on a fishing trip and catch the biggest fish ever. He is thrown overboard and is rescued by a fisherman. The story is featured in the newspaper along with photographs. The fisherman is actually the pig her was searching for.

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

Impressions: I really liked this story. The best part was the illustrations. It was like a mini where’s waldo because the pigs that Bert and Ethel were looking for were all over the place. I like that they were dresses in human clothing and worked in places that served Bert and Ethel.

Reviews:

From Booklist

Ages 5-8. This little pig went to market, this little pig stayed home, but THESE little pigs have escaped from the back of Bert and Ethel's truck and hightailed it out of town, along with a lot of clothes belonging to the locals. A clue to the peripatetic porkers' whereabouts soon arrives in the form of a postcard from Florida containing a one-word message: "Oink." Before you can say "Wee wee wee all the way home," the hapless hog farmers have headed to the Sunshine State in pursuit of their porcine property. Readers of Christelow's The Great Pig Escape (1994), also about these feckless farmers, will know the pigs don't have to worry. And once again, kids will delight in spotting the cleverly disguised swine, who romp about unnoticed under Bert and Ethel's very noses. Fans of Walter R. Brooks' immortal Freddy books may smell an homage in this sprightly story, but others will simply enjoy the farcical search and the cheerful cartoon illustrations that depict it.

Cart, M. (September 1, 2001).  Booklist Review. Retrieved from  http://www.booklistonline.com/The-Great-Pig-Search-Eileen-Christelow/pid=1101525

From Publishers Weekly

In this rib-tickling sequel to The Great Pig Escape, two farmers seek hogs that are hidden in plain sight. As Bert and Ethel shrug and scratch their heads over their lost pigs, other townspeople go about their business some of them wearing floppy hats and carrying newspapers to shield their faces. How strange. After a postcard reading "Oink!" arrives from Florida, Bert books a beach vacation and spends it asking, "Seen any runaway pigs?" Neither the squealing hotel clerk, the restaurant's pink maitre-d' nor the policewoman with the funny snout can help him. Christelow places sympathy firmly with the swine by suggesting the farmers' intentions. Bert complains, "I raised those pork chops from baby piglets!" and Ethel reminds him that freedom "beats being bacon any day." In her casually drawn ink-and-watercolor images, pigs in wigs, scarves and swimsuits grin conspiratorially; when Bert falls off a fishing boat, he doesn't notice he's been rescued by an amiable porcine sailor. The author gets a few more giggles out of a classic comedy plot, pitting brazen outlaws against thickheaded authorities. Ages 5-8.
Publishers Weekly associates. (September 3, 2001). Children's review. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved from

http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-618-04910-3.

Suggestions: I like that this books contained a map that led to alligators. I think that students can make map of their own of buried treasure of some sort. It’s a summer and vacation story so it could be grouped together with other stories of the same theme. Students could write about their summer vacations or where they would like to go.    

Module 8: Savvy by Ingrid Law

Summary: Mibs is in middle school about to be homeschooled when she turns 13. Her family isn’t exactly ordinary. They each have inherited what they call a “savvy.” Her brother fish can control the weather and Rocket can control electricity. One day, their poppa gets in a terrible accident on the highway. He has to be hospitalized because he falls into a deep coma. Mibs has decided that she needs to get to her father as soon as possible in order to save him. She is planning on using her power, mind reading, to help her father wake up. The 3 siblings and friends journey on a bus headed in the wrong direction. They encounter obstacles but eventually make it to the hospital. Mibs hears her fathers’ thoughts with help from Miss Mermaid, a tattoo, and he wakes up extraordinarily. He is a little confused on some days but on others he is the same poppa that they’ve always known. Her mother is even pregnant but Mibs decides to keep quiet about that. Some days she wonders if people could hear her thought and feel what she feels. The book leaves with Samson, her cousin, turning 13 and awaiting his savvy.    

Citation: Law, I. (2008). Savvy. New York, NY: Dial Books For Young Readers.

Impressions: This book wasn’t one of my favorites. I didn’t think that the stowed away bus trip with Lester was very exciting. Lester was whining about losing his job the entire way. I think that they could have just asked their grandfather to take them to see their dad. I didn’t think it was necessary for them to run away without telling anyone in order to get to their dad. Their missing report was all over the news as well. They had everyone worried about their whereabouts. Plus, I didn’t like that Mibs could read minds starting with the tattoo angel on Bobbi’s back. I think that that was really strange. I don’t think that the other siblings powers were very extraordinary either and really didn’t serve a purpose. I wanted their special powers to help people or have some relevancy. The powers just created havoc, all except Mibs.  

Reviews:

From Kirkus Reviews

Mibs can’t wait for her 13th birthday, when her special gift, or “savvy,” will awaken. Everyone in her family—except beloved Papa, who married in—has one, from Grandpa Bomba’s ability to move mountains (literally) to Great Aunt Jules’s time-traveling sneezes. What will hers be? Not what she wants, it turns out, but definitely what she needs when the news that a highway accident has sent her father to the ICU impels her to head for the hospital aboard a Bible salesman’s old bus. Sending her young cast on a zigzag odyssey through the “Kansaska-Nebransas” heartland, Law displays both a fertile imagination (Mibs’s savvy is telepathy, but it comes with a truly oddball caveat) and a dab hand for likable, colorful characters. There are no serious villains here, only challenges to be met, friendships to be made and some growing up to do on the road to a two-hanky climax. A film is already in development, and if it lives up to this marvel-laden debut, it’ll be well worth seeing. (Fantasy. 10-13)

Kirkus Reviews Associates. (May 1, 2008). Review. Kirkus Review. Retrieved fromhttp://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ingrid-law-2/savvy/#review.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Upon turning 13, each member of the Beaumont family develops a supernatural ability, or “savvy, ” which must then be tamed. Well aware of the problems savvys can bring (the family had to relocate when one child had difficulty controlling his storm-producing savvy), 12-year-old Mississippi (Mibs) awaits her birthday eagerly but with a bit of trepidation. Then Poppa is seriously injured in an accident far away, and Momma goes to his side, leaving Mibs and the rest of the family to cope with Mibs’ 13th birthday on their own. Initially believing that her savvy is the ability to restore life, Mibs sets her course for Poppa. Joined by her brothers and the local preacher’s kids, she sweet talks her way onto a traveling Bible salesman’s bus. On the journey, however, Mibs realizes her savvy isn’t what she thought, which opens the way for a number of lively adventures both geographic and emotional. Law’s storytelling is rollicking, her language imaginative, and her entire cast of whacky, yet believable characters delightful. Readers will want more from Law; her first book is both wholly engaging and lots of fun. Grades 5-7. --

Goldsmith, F.  (May 15, 2008). Booklist review. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Savvy-Ingrid-Law/pid=2605237.

Suggestions: Even though I did not enjoy this book, I think that it could be used in a fantasy themed project. Students could conduct their own character charts of themselves and what special powers or Savvy they would like to have.

Module 7: A Dog Called Kitty by Bill Wallace & Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin

 Summary: Ricky and his family have just moved to a farm in Oklahoma. They come to find that they have an array of stray cats and a small pup that come for scraps of food every day. Ricky must overcome his fear of dogs in order for the pup to live because the cats eat all of his food. One day he decides to let go of his fear and starts to take care of his new pup named Kitty. His family and he name the pup Kitty because the pup would always come when they called all the cats for feeding. One day Ricky and Kitty have to go searching for their missing cow that Kitty had scared off. Kitty confronts these 4 stray dogs in an attempt to save the young cow and gets beat up badly. Ricky is so worried that he kicks the stray dogs off of Kitty but it is too late. Kitty had not recovered and dies at the vet. Ricky is so upset that he vowed never to have another dog again. When he returns home, he finds another little pup that startles his mother. He quickly becomes joyful and remembers his little pup and what he used to tell him.     

Citation: Wallace, B. (1980). A dog called Kitty. New York, NY: Holiday House.  

Impressions: I enjoyed the country voice that they story was told in. When I was reading out loud I could really get into character with the book and appreciated the unique dialect. It is a brave story about a boy overcoming his fears. I think that students can relate to this book in many ways such as dealing with different fears they might have. There is some violence in the book such as all the fights between the boys but I think they are handled well enough for students who read it to make their own judgments about it.

Reviews:

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5. Bill Wallace's story (Holiday, 1980) of the bonding between a boy and a dog is not to be missed. This presentation, read by L.J. Ganser, is so softly dramatic that it not only captures the essence of gentle emotion but essentially transports readers to the Oklahoma farm where Ricky exhibits courage beyond belief. Ricky is terrified by dogs because as a toddler he was mercilessly mauled by a rabid dog and left to die. Sixty-three stitches later with no anesthesia, Ricky is scarred with the emotional and physical memories that constantly recall his tragedy. The softness of Ganser's voice reflects the softness of Ricky's heart when a puppy is left to starve because he responds with a littler of kittens for food but is rejected. Hence, the name Kitty. Ricky musters all his courage and feeds the puppy, building a closeness that only friends realize and conquering his all-consuming fear. With Ricky, readers suffer the loss and feel the anguish when Kitty is accidentally killed at an oil rig. Hope, however, still prevails and happiness does come through sorrow. Ganser brings life and emotion to a powerful story with his dramatic rendition. This touching and encouraging story add a further dimension to the significance of boy and dog relationships, and should be high on public and school library priority lists.

Brown, P.M.(1997). Review. School Library Journal. Retrieved from amazon.com

From the Publisher

The puppy was small and fuzzy, with a friendly, wagging tail -- and Ricky was afraid of him! No wonder, since he was attacked by a dog when he was just a baby. So when a stray puppy comes sniffling around the farm, Ricky tells it to get lost. But the puppy keeps trying to play with Ricky. And every time Ricky's Mom feeds the cats, the little dog comes running. The cats aren't sharing their food, however, and the poor pup is slowly starving. If Ricky doesn't overcome his fear, the little puppy may die -- butif he lets himself get close enough to feed it, he may find the best friend he's ever had! Winner of the Texas Bluebonnet, the Oklahoma Sequoyah and the Nebraska Golden Sower Awards.
Retrieved from amazon.com

Suggestions: I think that this book might be a hard one to sell. This could be one that definitely would benefit from a book talk or a book trailer to make it more enticing. It ends sadly and I think would help students who might be recovering from losing their pets. The theme could be about pets and students could share their stories about their pets that are living or have died.

Summary: Jason Blake is an extraordinary writer. He loves writing stories for his storyboard website and reading his comments. One comment in particular that he awaits every time is from Phoenixbird, a fellow storyboard writer. Soon he figures out that Phoenixbird is a girl named Rebecca. He starts to develop feelings for Rebecca and wants so desperately for her to be his girlfriend. He is afraid though that Rebecca won’t accept him. Jason is autistic. As a surprise, Jason’s parents have agreed to take him to the storyboard convention in Dallas. Jason is terrified of meeting Rebecca and tells her he is not going. Rebecca finds him since there aren’t many kids their age and is polite to Jason and his mom. Jason does not say a word and feels like he blew his chances. He is contemplates never writing another story again. The rest of a convention is a blur until the last day when Rebecca shows up to the convention party. She tells Jason that she would love to stay friends and continue to read each other’s stories. Jason is fulfilled by this requests and finishes his story on storyboard with a happy ending.   

Citation: Baskin, N.R. (2009). Anything but typical. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Impressions: The title of this book does not give it justice. I went into the book thinking that this was going to be a sad story about a boy who struggles with school and girls. I had the impression that it was a typical high school bad romance book. It was so much more than that. Jason’s character was beautifully written. He did make a reference to The Catcher in the Rye by Salinger and that was one of the first thoughts that came into my head when I started reading this book. This book is a true coming of age story with a sweet ending. I enjoyed all of the story elements that Jason explained and his complete outlines of emotions and thoughts.

Reviews:

From Kirkus Reviews

People say 12-year-old Jason Blake is weird. He blinks his eyes oddly and flaps his hands, his fingers jerking “like insects stuck on a string.” Jason is autistic. He hates art class and PE, where there’s too much space and unorganized time, but he feels at home on his computer, writing stories on the Storyboard website. When he meets a fellow writer named Rebecca online and has the chance to meet her in person at a Storyboard conference, he panics. What will happen to their comfortable online relationship when she meets him? Baskin’s delineation of an autistic boy’s world is brilliant, putting readers into Jason’s mind, showing how he sees the world, understands how his parents feel about him, frets about fitting in and yearns to find at least one friend in the world. Readers even get some tips about writing short stories as they observe Jason composing his way to self-acceptance. “This is who I am. This is me,” as one of his characters says. (Fiction. 10-14)

Associates of Kirkus Reviews. (March 24, 2009). Review. Kirkus Reviews Online. http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/nora-raleigh-baskin/anything-but-typical/

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Baskin tells this luminous story entirely from the point of view of Jason, an autistic boy who is a creative-writing whiz and deft explainer of literary devices, but markedly at a loss in social interactions with “neurotypicals” both at school and at home. He is most comfortable in an online writing forum called Storyboard, where his stories kindle an e-mail-based friendship with a girl. His excitement over having a real friend (and maybe even girlfriend) turns to terror when he learns that his parents want to take him on a trip to the Storyboard conference, where he’ll no doubt have to meet her in person. With stunning economy, Baskin describes Jason’s attempts to interpret body language and social expectations, revealing the extreme disconnect created by his internalization of the world around him. Despite his handicap, Jason moves through his failures and triumphs with the same depth of courage and confusion of any boy his age. His story, while neither particularly heartbreaking nor heartwarming, shows that the distinction between “normal” and “not normal” is whisper-thin but easily amplified to create the chasm between “different” and “defective.” This is an enormously difficult subject, but Baskin, without dramatics or sentimentality, makes it universal. As Jason explains, there’s really only one kind of plot: “Stuff happens. That’s it.” Grades 4-7. --

Ian Chipman,I. (February 1, 2009). Booklist review. Booklist. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Anything-But-Typical-Nora-Raleigh-Baskin/pid=3172507

Suggestions: This book could coincide with developing a special school blog for students to write their stories on. They could share their thoughts and feelings on a forum to create a community of readers. They could even give tips to each other as well as praise and appreciation. 

Module 6: The Ghost-Eye Tree by Bill Martin, Jr and John Archambault Illustrated by Ted Rand

Summary: One cold autumn night, a mother asks her two children to run to the edge of town to retrieve a bucket of milk for her. The young boy and older sister set out on their journey. The older sister makes fun of her brother for wearing a silly hat. They pass the old ghost-eye tree without any hesitation. They retrieve the milk from Mr. Cowlander, the milkmen and make their way back to their home. As they are passing the ghost-eye tree they see a ghost and take off running. The older sister spills some milk and the younger brother loses his hat. His sister is brave enough to retrieve his hat for him telling him that his hat was beautiful. She tells her brother that they will have to keep it a secret from their mother and refill the milk with water. They make it home and from that day on the younger brother hides when his mother needs milk late at night.

Citation: Martin, B.J. & Archambault, J. (1985). The Ghost-eye tree. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.   

Impressions: I like this this book was written in poetry form. The words rhymed even when the brother and sister were talking. The illustrations were dark and detailed. I thought that maybe the characters should be given a name but other than that it was a great story about an older sister taking care of her brother. I liked how she told him his hat was stupid in the beginning but then felt bad when he lost it. She told him it was beautiful and was brave enough to get it for him even if she was just as scared of the tree. I was just wondering though, why would a mother send her kids in the dead of night across town on foot to get milk? How about waiting till the morning? Just a thought.

Reviews:

"A top-notch hair-raiser that will do for any old night of the year, but will really spike a Halloween story hour." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Deep, dark pictures of a windy, cloudy, spooky night provide the appropriate atmosphere for this tantalizingly told story-poem about a brother and sister who are sent out at night to fetch a pail of milk." --Booklist

"A delightfully alarming story poem about a dark and windy night when a boy and his sister are sent on an errand and must pass a certain tree that moans and reaches out its arms, freezing their hearts with fear. Strong, exciting illustrations make it all real. The poem would be especially good read aloud." --The New Yorker

Retrieved from Amazon.com

Suggestions: This would fit in a Halloween or scary story theme. The library could hold readings of scary stories, such as ghost stories, personal or from a book. The event could feature students sharing their stories with one another or the librarian reading different ghost story books.

Module 5: Goin Someplace Special by Patricia C. McKissack Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney & Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes & illustrated by Yuyi Morales

Summary: ‘Tricia Ann wants to venture off to her special place alone. Her grandmother, Mama Frances, lets her journey to her special place hoping that ‘Tricia keeps her promise to stay confident. ‘Tricia takes the bus and heads to the back where the colored people are supposed to sit according to the Jim Crow law. She has lived with those laws all of her life. She reaches downtown and a fellow friend of her grandmother tells her before she gets off to stay confident. ’Tricia walks through the park to the fountain and sees a bench that only white people can sit on. She carries on and gets a free pretzel from a vendor friend. He starts complaining about the restaurant being for whites only. She continues on her journey passing by the Southland Hotel. She gets caught in a mob and is swept inside. Someone sees her in the lobby and protests her presence in the hotel. ‘Tricia almost starts to cry while apologizing and runs off to the church. She almost decides to go home after the incident but continues on after she hears kind words from a woman at the church. She regains confidence and finally reaches her special place. It is the public library where all people of color are welcome.   

Citation: Mckissack, P.C & Pinkney, J. (2001). Goin’ someplace special. New York, NY: An Anne Schwartz Book

Impressions: I think that the Coretta Scott King books are beautiful. The book displayed a vivid depiction of what it was like in the 1950s. What was interesting was that it was from a little girls’ perspective. Even though she had grown up with the laws, she still got hurt by them. I don’t think that people realize what a dark time that was and it’s not until a book like Goin’ Someplace Special is written to really get a small insight into what life must have been like. I became very emotional with this books and other Coretta Scott King books. The story was very touching to find out that the young girls special place was the public library. The illustrations were amazing and very detailed. I enjoyed it very much.  

Reviews:

From Publishers Weekly

McKissack draws from her childhood in Nashville for this instructive picture book. "I don't know if I'm ready to turn you loose in the world," Mama Frances tells her granddaughter when she asks if she can go by herself to "Someplace Special" (the destination remains unidentified until the end of the story). 'Tricia Ann does obtain permission, and begins a bittersweet journey downtown, her pride battered by the indignities of Jim Crow laws. She's ejected from a hotel lobby and snubbed as she walks by a movie theater ("Colored people can't come in the front door," she hears a girl explaining to her brother. "They got to go 'round back and sit up in the Buzzard's Roost"). She almost gives up, but, buoyed by the encouragement of adult acquaintances ("Carry yo'self proud," one of her grandmother's friends tells her from the Colored section on the bus), she finally arrives at Someplace Special a place Mama Frances calls "a doorway to freedom" the public library. An afterword explains McKissack's connection to the tale, and by putting such a personal face on segregation she makes its injustices painfully real for her audience. Pinkney's (previously paired with McKissack for Mirandy and Brother Wind) luminescent watercolors evoke the '50s, from fashions to finned cars, and he captures every ounce of 'Tricia Ann's eagerness, humiliation and quiet triumph at the end. Ages 4-8.

Associates of Publishers Weekly. (August 6, 2001). Children's Review. Publishers Weekly Online. retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-689-81885-1

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Ages 5-8. Tricia Ann excitedly gets her grandmother's permission to go out by herself to "Someplace Special" --a place far enough away to take the bus and to have to walk a bit. But this isn't just any trip. Tricia's trip takes place in the segregated South of the 1950s. That means Tricia faces sitting at the back of the bus, not being allowed to sit on a whites-only park bench, and being escorted out of a hotel lobby. She almost gives up, but a local woman who some say is "addled," but whom Tricia Ann knows to be gentle and wise, shows her how to listen to the voice inside herself that allows her to go on. She arrives at her special destination--the public library, whose sign reads "All Are Welcome." Pinkney's watercolor paintings are lush and sprawling as they evoke southern city streets and sidewalks as well as Tricia Ann's inner glow. In an author's note, McKissack lays out the autobiographical roots of the story and what she faced as a child growing up in Nashville. This book carries a strong message of pride and self-confidence as well as a pointed history lesson. It is also a beautiful tribute to the libraries that were ahead of their time.

Wilms, D. (August, 2001). Booklist review. Booklist Online. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Goin-Someplace-Special-Patricia-C-McKissack/pid=561355

Suggestions: This book could be used among many other for black history month. I think it is a perfect example of bravery and independence. Each time ‘Tricia felt a little discouragement she quickly regained confidence in herself after a little reassurance from fellow friends and neighbors. This story could teach students how important it is to stand up for oneself and even give them some insight to history.

Summary: The story is about a monsters ball being held on Halloween. From all over creepy crawly creatures made their way to the haunted house to celebrate. There are cats, pumpkins, witches, skeletons, and ghosts. The full moon attracts mummies, wolves, and zombies. They party all night long dancing and singing when they suddenly hear a knock on the door. Everyone grows quiet as they await the door opening. Its trick or treaters at the door! All of the monsters are frightened and run and hide.     

Citation: Montes, M. (2006). Los gatos black on Halloween. New York, NY: Henry Hold and Company

Impressions: The story is actually a poem and some of the words are expressed in Spanish and translated. I think that the story was surprising since I didn’t expect for scary monsters to be scared of humans. The illustrations are drawn different from any of the books that I’ve blogged about. The colors are dark giving it an eerie sensation. I enjoyed the story and I think that students will benefit from it educationally because of the Spanish words and translations.

Reviews:

From Booklist

K-Gr. 2. A cat's green eyes stare out from the book's cover. Inside, there are more of los gatos--as well as las brujas (witches), los fantasmas (ghosts), and los esqueletos (skeletons looking like they have come from a Dia de los Muertos celebration. The pithy, rhyming text tells a frightening, if familiar, story. The ghosts and ghoulies are off to a Monsters' Ball at Haunted Hall, and though there's plenty of scary stuff around, the guests are most frightened by the children who come knocking at the door for trick-or-treat. Montes' evocative poem deserves exceptional artwork, and Morales obliges. Her soft-edged paintings glow with the luminosity of jewels, and her witches, werewolves, and corpses are frighteningly executed. Therein lies what may be a problem for preschoolers. These fiends aren't particularly kid-friendly; they are dead-eyed, Day of the Dead folk who scare. For slightly older children, however, this spookiness is what Halloween is all about. The Spanish is neatly integrated into the text, but for those who need clarification, a glossary is appended.

Cooper, I. (August 2006).  Booklist Review. Bookline Online. Retrieved from  http://www.booklistonline.com/Los-Gatos-Black-on-Halloween-Marisa-Montes/pid=1710332.

  

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4–Montes smoothly incorporates Spanish terms into a rhythmic poem describing a moonlit Halloween night. Los esqueletos rattle bones and clatter in a dance, los fantasmas drag their chains and shriek their pains, and los muertos emerge from their graves to join other creatures at a haunted casa for music and dancing. However, the party stops dead with the arrival of trick-or-treaters, which causes the frightened spooks to hide, for The thing that monsters most abhor/Are human niños at the door! The full-bleed paintings create a creepy mood with curving lines, fluid textures, and dusky hues. Rounded figures dance across the atmospheric spreads, which depict blank-faced skeletons, a toothy werewolf, and a child zombie with glowing eyes. The pictures are eerie enough to tingle spines, but the effect is leavened with bits of humor (witches perform skateboard tricks on their brooms, a vampire admires himself in a mirror that reflects only his clothing). The poems cadenced rhymes and descriptive language build suspense until the satisfying ending. Spanish words are easy to understand in context, but are also defined in a glossary with pronunciation guides. This book is just right for children who are beginning to find typical Halloween fare a bit too tame.

Fleishhacker, J. School Library Journal. Retrieved from amazon.com

Suggestions: This could be used in many Halloween and Spanish projects. It could even be fun to read for students who don’t speak English well and or those who don’t speak Spanish. I think that the story is interesting and easy to understand and is appropriate for the holidays. I would love to see a theme where books are displayed for each holiday and then students can do holiday activities together.  

Module 4: The Cat who went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth & The Dark Frigate by Charles Boardman Hawes

Summary: One day, in Japan, an artist felt very hungry awaiting his housekeeper to return home from the market. When she does not bring food, but a cat, he is furious. The housekeeper explains that she is kept awake by rats and has brought the cat to fix the problem. The artist is upset but thinks that the cat will bring good luck since the cat is 3 colored and decides to keep him. One morning, a Priest requests a painting of their Lord Buddha to be put in the temple for all to see. The artist was so excited to finally gain some recognition and good fortune. The artist wanted to include animals and so he considered an elephant, horse, buffalo, dog, Banyan deer, monkey, and tiger all which exhibited the spirit of Buddha. There were many animals in the painting except the cat, good fortune, who longed to be included in the picture. The artist refused to draw good fortune in the picture in fear that the Priest would not accept it. Good fortune was not an animal that was blessed by the Buddha. After careful consideration, the artist decides to draw a cat in the portrait regardless of what people thought. He risked his entire salary and fame for a cat he had come to love. Just as the Priest had told the artist that the painting would be destroyed on the account of the cat, a miracle had happened. The painting had changed. Instead of the Buddha reclining with his arms folded, he was not reaching for the cat gesturing his blessing.     

Citation: Coatsworth, E. (1958). The cat who went to heaven. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company.

Impressions: The one thing that I enjoyed about this book was the small songs that were featured after each chapter. The songs of the housekeeper were very wise and added some insight into the situations. I enjoyed the moral of the story as well. Even though the artist was poor, he risked everything for his cat that he came to love. The cat really did end up giving him good fortune and the name was rightfully appropriate. I liked that the drawings looked like old prints. They resembled stamps and were very detailed. I see a lot of cat symbols in Buddha art so this was a fun story as to how those images and the relation came to be.    

Reviews:

A charming legend of a Japanese artist, his cat, and a Buddhist miracle. Newbery Medal winner, 1931.
Published: April 1999 Updated:

A charming legend of a Japanese artist, his cat, and a Buddhist miracle. Newbery Award, 1930.
Published: July 1998 Updated:

When a poor Japanese artist paints his little white cat into a picture of the dying Buddha, he lets his pet into heaven. John Newbery Medal, 1931. Recommended.
Published: July 1998 Updated:

A little cat comes to the home of a poor Japanese artist and, by humility and devotion, brings him good fortune.
Published: January 2011 Updated: January 2011

A cat looks on as her master, a poor Japanese artist, works on a painting commissioned by a high priest. The artist must paint all the animals blessed by Buddha except cats, which have been excluded from paradise. Despite the risk, the compassionate artist decides to include a cat in his painting and is rewarded. Text copyright 2004 Lectorum Publications, Inc.
Published: July 2008 Updated: July 2008

All reviews retrieved from Bowker Book in Print.

Suggestions: This story takes place in Japan so I was thinking that it could go with an around the world theme. It could be used in ancient stories or legends and grouped with others of that same theme.

Summary: Philip Marsham has set foot on his journey to leave England. Along the way he picks up fellow companion Martin and meets a man called the Old One. They are informed that the Old One has requested their skills on a ship called the Rose of Devon. The Rose of Devon gets seized by pirates who are surprisingly led by the Old One. The two boys are trapped on the Rose of Devon with pirates. The pirates are not your everyday pirates. They are filled with evil and murderous intentions. The captain, Old One, promises Philip wealth and riches if he stays with the crew, Philip accepts only reluctantly. The pirate crew invades many ships but don’t retrieve much from their conquests. After the death of his friend Will, Philip escapes the pirate ship and finds himself seeking help from a nearby British warship. The warship seizes the pirate ship and all are sent to trial, including Philip. Even though Philip pleads that he was against being on the pirate ship he doesn’t testify against them. The Old One sees this as a sign of courage and honor and tells the jury that Philip was held against his will. Philip is the only way let go. Philip continues his life and after years of battle with Sir John Bristol decides to return to Bideford after his death. It is there that he sees The Rose of Devon on the harbor. Philip asks Captain Hosmer if he can accompany him when it sets sail to the colonies. Suspicious of his motives, Captian Hosmer agrees to take him except they were headed to Barbados. Philip provides him with gold and takes his second journey on the Rose of Devon in a time when he needed it the most.   

Citation: Hawes, C.B. (1971). The dark Frigate. Boston: An Atlantic Monthly Press Book.

Impressions: I think that this story was extraordinary. I did a little research and found out that this was the second book by Hawes and it would be his last. I felt like Philip has experienced so much in his young life that there was still another chapter. It ended with me feeling like I needed more. I wanted to find out how his second voyage turned out and where he would go the rest of his life. Sailing was all he knew. It was very emotional for me also when the Old One, Tom Jordan, confirmed that Philip was merely a prisoner and not a part of their pirate crew. He even sold out Joe Kirk to the jury which added a little comedic relief when Joe denied it. I also enjoyed the small drawings at the beginning of each chapter. They were simple and in black and white but it helped when imagining scenes and characters.  

Reviews:

From School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-In 17th century England, an accident forces orphaned Philip Marsham to flee London in fear for his life. He signs on with the Rose of Devon, a dark frigate. When the ship is seized in by a devious group of men, Philip is forced to accompany these "gentleman of fortune" on their murderous expeditions.  Haives, C.B. (2010). Review. School Library Journal. Library Journals LLC. Retrieved from Bowker Books in Print.

Suggestions: This book could be worked into a pirate lesson plan. I don’t think that this book is a part of any curriculum but it could be a part of the library’s lesson plan. Lists of books could be sent out in fun print out each week with a theme. Students could find these fun reads and refer to others that revolve around this same theme.