Module 5: Book 2: I, Too, Am America

I, Too, Am America

by Langston Hughes 

Illustrated by Bryan Collier

Hughes, L. (2012). I, too, am America. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for young Readers.

What makes us American?

Summary:

I, Too, Am America, is a brief poem with a powerful message about equality.  Bryan Collier  illustrated one of Langston Hughes' poems and created an eminently readable picture book that is accessible to readers of all ages.  The story is of a porter who delivers more than mail.  He delivers hope to future generations and a clarity in the fact that America is a reflection of its citizens.

Impressions:

The illustrations in this book truly enhance the words. Hughes's poetry is moving in itself.  Collier's illustrations add a new dimension and edge to Hughes's words.  The reader gets swept away to another place an time, all the while connecting to the current status of our great nation.  Children will note Collier's detail and connect it with the simplicity of Hughes's language.  

Reviews:

From School Library Journal:

K-Gr 5--Hughes's poem of burgeoning pride in one's African American identity, written at the height of the Harlem Renaissance in 1925, is interpreted anew in this striking picture book. Collier has visualized the message of the sparely written poem, barely 60 words in length, through the lens of a Pullman porter. "I, too, sing America" proclaims the opening spread that depicts a passenger rail car whizzing by; then, "I am the darker brother" shows an African American young man in the porter's uniform gazing squarely at readers through a faint, translucent overlay of the American flag, a recurring motif. As the porter cleans up the club car and examines the detritus--newspapers, magazines, blues, and jazz albums left by the train's well-heeled passengers--he impulsively flings it all from the caboose, scattering this knowledge to those who will willingly learn from it. Wafting through time and space, these items fall into the hands of a young female field worker in the long-ago South as well as residents in a contemporary northern urban landscape. The poem's powerful conclusion--"I, too, am America"--depicts a young boy on the subway with his mother, peering out the window through a readily visible flag toward his unknown but hopeful future. Collier's signature mixed-media collages create bold, textured images that give tangible expression to the poet's potent words. A memorable and multilayered volume for all libraries.

Citation: Finn, K. (2012). I, too, am, America. School Library Journal, 58(6), 103. 

From Booklist:

Grades K-4. A celebration of Pullman porters is the focus of this new picture-book edition of Langston Hughes’ classic poem. The collage spreads, blending oil paintings and cut paper, begin with an image of a speeding train before moving on to large portraits of African American porters serving white passengers aboard a luxury train. When the passengers leave, the porters gather left-behind items—newspapers, blues and jazz albums—and toss them from the train. Carried by the wind, the words and music fall into the hands of African Americans across the country. The final, contemporary pages show young black people celebrating their place in America and dreaming of a bright future. Collier’s long final note explains his interpretation of the poem, and with adult help, kids can look closely at what the pictures show about the porters then and now as well as Collier’s visual themes, including the recurring use of stars and stripes, which culminate in a beautiful, final close-up of a boy with his mother staring through a train window today at the starry city sky.

Citation: Rochman, H. (2012). I too, am, America. Booklist, 108(15), 42. 

Library Activity:

"Date a Poetry Book":  Build students appreciation for poetry books by holding a date a book session.  Because poems tend to be a shorter form of writing, students are able to get through quite a bit in a short amount of time.  Collect a stack of poetry books (one for each child).  Invite a class to the library to "date" them.  Distribute the books.  Ask each student to read a poem or two (or entire book as the case may be) and then pass it on.  Continue this until each child has read from a majority of the books. 

Module 5, Book 1: Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman

Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman

by Nikki Grimes

Grimes, N. (2002). Talkin' about Bessie: The story of aviator Elizabeth Coleman. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.

Inspired. Determined. Accomplished.

Summary:

Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman is a fictionalized retelling of Bessie Coleman's very real story.  Told in a unique way, Grimes touchingly introduces the reader to the story, accomplishments, and sheer determination of Bessie through the eyes of others.  The book is a compilation of memories of people who loved her, admired her, and saw first hand how her will to achieve and defy the naysayers inspired this fascinating woman to lead the way for young women from all walks of life.

Impressions:

This version of Bessie's story is beautifully crafted.  Though it's unclear how much of the story is fictionalized, it leaves a tender impression of the young woman who made history and became a hero for all.  Young readers will enjoy this book as a read aloud.  Older readers will appreciate Grimes's fluid, easy to read style that portrays Bessie as accessible as an old friend.  

Reviews:

From School Library Journal:

Gr 3-8-This fresh contribution to the spate of relatively recent titles about Coleman has a decidedly unique tone. Talkin' is a well-conceived, well-executed, handsomely illustrated, fictionalized account of the life of the first black female licensed pilot in the world (CIP places the book in the 600s). An introductory note puts the aviatrix in historical context, but neglects to explain some references (e.g., Jim Crow laws). The text consists of 21 poetic vignettes of Coleman delivered by "speakers" at a funeral parlor, all of whom have come to mourn the pilot who died at age 34 in a plane accident. Their reminiscences on stark white pages are illustrated with miniature portraits bordered in sepia, each one facing a full-page watercolor capturing a moment in the woman's life. Skillfully drawn and occasionally photographic in their realism, the pictures perfectly match each speaker's recollections. A concluding note states rather definitively in regard to her death: "The cause of the crash remains a mystery" despite some evidence to the contrary. No sources are listed. While fictional, this is a fine piece to use to set a tone or inspire more research into Coleman's life. It could also serve as an exceptional writing model for students. The concept, much like Marilyn Nelson's Carver: A Life in Poems (Front Street, 2001), is noteworthy.

Citation: Fargnoli, H., Jones, T.E., Toth, Chanizon, M., Grabarek, D., & Larkins, J. (2002).  School Library Journal, 48(10), 183. 

From Horn Book:

Grimes skillfully employs first-person testimonial verse to give young readers a fully realized portrait of African-Americanaviator Bessie Coleman. At Coleman's death, Grimes invites twenty individuals to a fictionalized wake and, in valedictory monologues, has each remember Bessie and the forces that shaped her life. Bessie's father tells about leaving the family when his daughter was "jus' a chile." Her mother recalls how she wanted Bessie to "first learn the wisdom of the Lawd, / and then, the wisdom of the world"; an older brother comments on her drive, how she "kept her focus fixed...to find a lifelong work of substance"; her flight instructor remembers how bravely Bessie flew a Nieuport 82 the day after witnessing one crash to the ground in flames; and a young fan reveres her idol: "I haven't made up my mind about being a pilot, / but Bessie made me believe I could be anything." E. B. Lewis personalizes the tributes (and a concluding testimonial fromBessie) with small photo-like, sepia-toned portraits of the speakers. Impressionistic watercolors on facing pages evoke each incident and often soften the harshness in Coleman's life. Taken as a whole, these illustrations portray a young woman yearning for and taking pride in that "lifelong work of substance." Although the assemblage of mourners is slightly contrived (would a field hand Coleman once worked alongside and a woman who once hired her to do laundry really be present at her wake?), their parts in Bessie's story are integral to her early life. Grimes separates fact from fiction through introductory comments on the historical period and the setting, concluding observations about Coleman, and source notes. Like Bessie, this tribute to her life soars.

Citation: Carter, B. (2003). Talkin' about Bessie. Horn Book Magazine, 79(1), 96-97. 

Library Activity:

Because Bessie Coleman live much of her life in Waxahachie, Texas, where my library is located, this would be a wonderful book to read aloud to spur discussion about local history.   Local history is an important part of a library's collection.  Introducing students to a book like Grimes's, will inspire patrons to research their town's history and entice them to seek out other offerings in the library's collection about local heroes and famous people who began in their hometown.

Module 4: Book 2, Lincoln: A Photobiography

Lincoln:

A Photobiography

by Russell Freedman

Freedman, R. (1987). Lincoln: A photobiography. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

How well do you know President Lincoln?

Summary:

Lincoln: A Photobiography is a biography of Lincoln's life told from beginning to end through photographs, primary sources, and Russell's convincing words.  

Impressions:

Lincoln: A Photobiography was my favorite read of the week.  I generally do not gravitate toward biographies.  However, Freedman changed my view on them, and now I want to check out his other biographies.  His biography of Lincoln flowed easily and was full of interesting facts and fascinating, relevant photos.  There was no lull or jargon bogging down Lincoln's story, yet there was surprising depth for a children's book.  It's a well-deserved Newbery recipient, one of the few nonfiction winners.  Though it is a "photobiography," which implies that it's told in pictures, the writing is what makes this book an appealing one; the photographs almost feel like a bonus.    

Reviews:

From School Library Journal:

Gr 5 Up Few, if any, of the many books written for children about Lincoln can compare with Freedman's contribution. More than 80 photographs and prints illustrate the crisp and informative text. The pictures have been well-placed to coordinate with the text; captions have been written with care as well. While many of the photographs are well-known, many less familiar pictures are also included. Freedman begins by contrasting the Lincoln of legend to the Lincoln of fact. His childhood, self-education, early business ventures, and entry into politics comprise the first half of the book, with the rest of the text covering his presidency and assassination. Freedman's extensive research is apparent in the liberal use he makes of quotations from original sources (letters, contemporary newspaper articles, etc.). Freedman makes clear the controversy and vilification that Lincoln engendered and endured during his presidency. A listing of historic sites open to the public and a sampler of wise and witty excerpts from Lincoln's writings complete the book. Well-organized and well-written, this is an outstanding example of what (juvenile) biography can be. Like Lincoln himself, it stands head and shoulders above its competition. Elaine Fort Weischedel, Turner Free Library, Randolph, Mass.

Citation: Weischedel, E. (1987). Lincoln (Book Review). School Library Journal, 34(4), 93-94.


From Kirkus Reviews:

Relying on the recent scholarly biographies that have argued that many famous Abraham Lincoln stories are myths, Freedman carefully introduces a more realistic portrait than is usually found in juvenile biographies. The well-loved tales of Abe (a nickname he hated) courting Anne Rutledge, splitting rails in New Salem, or walking miles to obtain books are put into perspective with a few sentences. Lincoln comes alive as a conscientious lawyer who put clients at ease with stories but was a hopeless slob with files and papers. Freedman also offers a concise but excellent picture of Lincoln's struggle with the ethics and the politics of slavery, as well as his frustrating search for the right general to lead the Union troops. The 90 black-and-white photographs are highlighted by fine book design and by Freedman's comments about the nature of photography in the mid-1800's. While the photographs contribute much, it is Freedman's talent for putting the right details in uncomplicated prose that provides a very sharp focus for this Lincoln portrait. Appendixes include Lincoln quotes from 1832-1865, a description of Lincoln sites, notes on materials consulted, and an index. This is a necessary purchase for all collections--and an opportunity for librarians to scrutinize earlier biographies on Lincoln that have long occupied their shelves.

Citation: Kirkus Reviews. (2010, October 26). Lincoln: A photobiography [book review]. Retrieved September 30, 2013, from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/russell-freedman/lincoln-photobiography/ 

Library Activity:

Use this book to pique interest in nonfiction.  Many students gravitate toward fiction.  Promoting quality, well-received nonfiction will encourage more readers to give informational text a try.  In addition to displaying other nonfiction works, begin a school "photobiography," scrapbook style.  Display it in a prominent location in the library and invite students to add their photos and captions of school activities throughout the year.  

Module 4: Book 1, The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, N. (2008). The graveyard book. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

What's in a name?

Summary:

Living among the dead, Nobody Owens narrowly escaped his own death as a young child after his parents were murdered by a man named Jack.   A childless couple, who happen to be ghosts and live in a graveyard, adopt and raise young Nobody, giving him a new identity and a new home.  "Bod" learns important lessons about life, death, and what it means to be a part of a family, all within the tenuous setting of a graveyard and the dangers that linger within its realm, including the constant threat of discovery by the man named Jack.    

Impressions:

The Graveyard Book is well-written with a surprising amount of depth and care.  The story itself has strong themes of identity, community, and the timeless concept of good verses evil.  I can see why it was awarded the Newbery medal; it's very intellectual, and other than the presence of ghosts, ghouls, and a graveyard, which may attract young readers, this book and its insightful references and complex plot will appeal to older readers too.

Reviews:

From Booklist:

*Starred Review* While a highly motivated killer murders his family, a baby, ignorant of the horrific goings-on but bent on independence, pulls himself out of his crib and toddles out of the house and into the night. This is most unfortunate for the killer, since the baby was his prime target. Finding his way through the barred fence of an ancient graveyard, the baby is discovered by Mr. and Mrs. Owens, a stable and caring couple with no children of their own—and who just happen to be dead. After much debate with the graveyard’s rather opinionated denizens, it is decided that the Owenses will take in the child. Under their care and the sponsorship of the mysterious Silas, the baby is named “Nobody” and raised among the dead to protect him from the killer, who relentlessly pursues him. This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming. Although marketed to the younger YA set, this is a rich story with broad appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages. Grades 6-10. --Holly Koelling

Citation: Koelling, H. (2008). The graveyard book. Booklist, 105(2), 54. 

From Kirkus Reviews:
Wistful, witty, wise--and creepy. Gaiman's riff on Kipling's Mowgli stories never falters, from the truly spine-tingling opening, in which a toddler accidentally escapes his family's murderer, to the melancholy, life-affirming ending. Bod (short for Nobody) finds solace and safety with the inhabitants of the local graveyard, who grant him some of the privileges and powers of the dead--he can Fade and Dreamwalk, for instance, but still needs to eat and breathe. Episodic chapters tell miniature gems of stories (one has been nominated for a Locus Award) tracing Bod's growth from a spoiled boy who runs away with the ghouls to a young man for whom the metaphor of setting out into the world becomes achingly real. Childhood fears take solid shape in the nursery-rhyme-inspired villains, while heroism is its own, often bitter, reward. Closer in tone to American Gods than to Coraline, but permeated with Bod's innocence, this needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child. (Illustrations not seen.) (Fantasy. 10 & up)

Citation: Kirkus Reviews. (2008). The Graveyard Book. Kirkus Reviews, 76(16), 123. 

Library Activity:

One of the central themes in The Graveyard Book is identity.  Host a genealogy class after school or a special library seminar during the day.  Invite parents and grandparents.  Highlight Web sources and library resources that help develop family trees.  Students are fascinated about their own family histories, and with today's technology, tracing our roots is easier than ever. 

Module 3, Book 2: Flotsam

Flotsam

by David Wiesner

Wiesner, D. (2006). Flotsam. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

Is a picture worth a thousand words?

Summary:

This wordless picture book tells a multilayered story of a boy who happens upon a camera on the beach.  Out of curiosity, he develops the film contained within.  The rest of the story is a visual masterpiece of impressive art that depicts the rich history of the roll of film, which eventually includes the young boy.   

Impressions:

This book gets better and better with each reading and is best enjoyed with a friend.  The artwork is impressive, unique, odd, fantastical, and realistic all at once.  The detail embedded in each panel pulls you in.  The perspectives and various points of view challenges the reader visually.  Readers of all ages can appreciate the painstaking work that must have been invested in this work and the level of participation the author expects from the audience.  

Reviews:

From School Library Journal:

K-Gr 4-- A wave deposits an old-fashioned contraption at the feet of an inquisitive young beachcomber. It's a "Melville underwater camera," and the excited boy quickly develops the film he finds inside. The photos are amazing: a windup fish, with intricate gears and screwed-on panels, appears in a school with its living counterparts; a fully inflated puffer, outfitted as a hot-air balloon, sails above the water; miniature green aliens kowtow to dour-faced sea horses; and more. The last print depicts a girl, holding a photo of a boy, and so on. As the images become smaller, the protagonist views them through his magnifying glass and then his microscope. The chain of children continues back through time, ending with a sepia image of a turn-of-the-20th-century boy waving from a beach. After photographing himself holding the print, the youngster tosses the camera back into the ocean, where it makes its way to its next recipient. This wordless book's vivid watercolor paintings have a crisp realism that anchors the elements of fantasy. Shifting perspectives, from close-ups to landscape views, and a layout incorporating broad spreads and boxed sequences, add drama and motion to the storytelling and echo the photographic theme. Filled with inventive details and delightful twists, each snapshot is a tale waiting to be told. Pair this visual adventure with Wiesner's other works, Chris Van Allsburg's titles, or Barbara Lehman's The Red Book (Houghton, 2004) for a mind-bending journey of imagination.

Citation: Fleishhacker, J. (2006). Flotsam. School Library Journal, 52(9), 186-187. 

From Kirkus Reviews:

From arguably the most inventive and cerebral visual storyteller in children's literature, comes a wordless invitation to drift with the tide, with the story, with your eyes, with your imagination. A boy at the beach picks up a barnacle-encrusted underwater camera. He develops the film, which produces, first, pictures of a surreal undersea world filled with extraordinary details (i.e., giant starfish bestride the sea carrying mountainous islands on their backs), and then a portrait of a girl holding a picture of a boy holding a picture of another boy … and so on … and on. Finally, the boy needs a microscope to reveal portraits of children going back in time to a sepia portrait of a turn-of-the-century lad in knickers. The boy adds his own self-portrait to the others, casts the camera back into the waves, and it is carried by a sea creature back to its fantastic depths to be returned as flotsam for another child to find. In Wiesner's much-honored style, the paintings are cinematic, coolly restrained and deliberate, beguiling in their sibylline images and limned with symbolic allusions. An invitation not to be resisted. (Picture book. 6-11)

Citation: Kirkus Reviews. (2006). Flotsam. Kirkus Reviews, 74(15), 798-799. 

Library Activity:

This book may be used to instill the value of rereading and an appreciation for detail.  After a once over, ask students to share their first impressions of Flotsam.  Then, challenge them to slowly reread the book with a partner two more times, noting new discoveries with each examination.  Meet as a group again a share thoughts, insights, and aha moments.  Connect this experience with reading in general and how one absorbs beautiful art and language.

Module 3, Book1: Kitten's First Full Moon

Kitten's First Full Moon

by Kevin Henkes

Henkes, K. (2004). Kitten's first full moon. Greenwillow Books.

Will Kitten get milk?

Summary:

Henkes's adorable story is about a little kitten who mistakes the moon for a bowl of milk.  She tries to reach the elusive bowl throughout the story with a satisfying resolution.   

Impressions:

The cover of this book is eye-catchingly adorable.  My first thought before even opening this book was that children would gravitate to it because kids love puppies and kittens.  upon closer inspection, the simple, fluid language, charming black and white illustrations, and cute kitten antics make this book a winner.  It brings to mind books about the moon, sky, and stars and their fanciful feel.  

Reviews:

From Booklist (starred review):

PreS. Henkes creates another winner in this simple, charming story about a naive little kitten who mistakes a round, shining moon for a bowl of milk. Kitten laps at the sky's creamy circle, but she is surprised when she tastes bugs instead of milk. Then she chases the milk-bowl moon through the garden and field to the pond, where she climbs a tree, discovers another milk bowl shining in the water, and dives in after it. Finally, "wet and sad and tired and hungry,"she returns home to find, at last, a true bowl of milk, out of the sky and on the porch, waiting for her. Henkes'text, reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown's work in the elemental words, rhythms, and appealing sounds, tells a warm, humorous story that's beautifully extended in his shimmering, gray-toned artwork. Working in bold black lines and the silvery palette of moonlight, he creates a lovable, expressive character in the determined kitten, and his dramatic contrasts of light and dark capture the excitement of a nighttime adventure. Wise preschoolers may chuckle at the kitten's folly, but they'll also recognize the mysterious power of moonlight to transform the familiar world of daytime into something altogether new.

Citation: Engberg, G. (2004). Kitten's first full moon. Booklist, 100(12), 1056. 

From Horn Book:

Henkes takes a break from his signature mice — and from illustrating in color — to tell this sweet story about a kitten who thinks the full moon is a bowl of milk. The black-and-white forms, with subtle gradations of gray, are larger and more solid-looking than Henkes's usual work, with less interior line. Nevertheless, the kitten, whose white fur glows against the charcoal-gray sky like the moon she desires, is sprightly and expressive as she fails repeatedly ("Poor Kitten!") to get at that milk. Small children, for whom the rhythmic, action-oriented text is just right, will appreciate the gentle slapstick of thekitten getting a firefly on her tongue when she tries to lick the moon and getting drenched in the pond when she tries to drink the moon's reflection. Anyone who has ever watched a cat spasmodically pounce and chase for no apparent reason will enjoy the imaginative, unpretentiously poetic method Henkes reads into this madness.

Citation: Heppermann, C. (2004). Kitten's first full moon. Horn Book, 80(3), 1056. 314-315. 

Library Activity:

There are several avenues to take to connect young children to this story.  Beginning a temporary collection of realia for display in the library of cat/kitten statues, toys, and stuffed animals on loan from students is one way to connect them to the power of a likable character.  

Writers often use the moon to create a certain mood in a story, whether it be playful, mysterious, or somber.  Sharing other books with an moon theme, such as Owl Moon, will expose young children to universal ideas and themes that all people share.  

Module 2, Book 2: And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street

And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street

by Dr. Seuss

Geisel, T. (1937). And to think I saw it on Mulberry Street. New York, NY: Vanguard Press, Inc.

How big is your imagination?

Summary:

Dr. Seuss's book And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street is a clever book about a boy who is not satisfied with the ordinary.  Every day is an adventure to him.  His father tells him to "stop turning minnows into whales" (p. 1), but he can't help himself.  One day, while walking to and from school, he spies a horse and wagon.  Boring.  His mind begins to morph the ordinary into extraordinary; the wagon is transformed on a grand scale on Mulberry street and Marco is marveled by what he found there.  Will he share his adventure with his dad, or will he relay exactly what he spied?

Impressions:

This book embodies classic Dr. Seuss to me.  It was his first children's book, and in my opinion, it sets the tone for all of his other books.  Impressions of this book's illustrations can be found throughout his body of work, as it is the big idea concept of imagination and the fantastical.  Being a huge Dr. Seuss fan as a child, this book left me warm and fuzzy because of its nostalgic feel.  Adults will be able to identify with Marco and his father's perspectives, having experienced both.  Kids will feel a sense of validation for all the times a box became a spaceship and a blanket a new universe.  Its whimsical feel and rhythmic language lasts long after the book closes.

Reviews:

From Horn Book:
And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss, 1937. On a dull afternoon Marco uses his imagination to turn a 'plain horse and wagon' he sees on Mulberry Street into many, much-more-exciting sights. Surely there will still be bored children in 2101, and they will still make up stories to entertain themselves and everybody else. What's more, Seuss always drew more from the future than from life.

Citation: Kuskin, K. (2000). Future classics. Horn Book Magazine, 76(6), 778-779. 

From School Library Journal on the new "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street" app:
In Theodor Geisel’s 1937 debut title, little Marco strolled down Mulberry Street in a marvelous blend of whimsical artwork and sophisticated text. Seventy-five years later, Oceanhouse Media takes a new generation of readers on a slightly altered path, complete with street noise, shuffling feet, and softly falling confetti.

Citation:
Darylgrabarek. (2012, February 13). And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street: the app. School Library Journal. Retrieved September 13, 2013, from http://blogs.slj.com/touchandgo/2012/02/13/and-to-think-that-i-saw-it-on-mulberry-street-the-app/

Library Activity:

Because And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street is Dr. Seuss's first children's book, it is a perfect choice for a read aloud on Dr. Seuss's birthday, March 2.  It can serve as an introduction to his work for older children who may not be familiar with this title, or the fact that it was rejected dozens of times by publishers before it finally was picked up.  It will serve as an example and inspiration for the value of perseverance and following your dreams.  Follow-up with a digital timeline presentation of Dr. Suess books and a discuss of characteristics that make Seuss books unique.