Insectlopedia: Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Florian, Douglas. 1998. Insectlopedia. Ill. by Douglas Florian. San Diego: Harcourt Brace and Company. ISBN 0152013067

ORGANIZATION OF COLLECTION
Published poet, Douglas Florian, captures the essence of an encyclopedia with twenty one poems about well known children’s insects. From fighting army ants to evil weevils he writes about insects, their names and occupations. Each insect is listed in the helpful table of contents and given its own two page spread in this thin, over-sized book. The poet's background information is provided on the back cover of the book jacket along with a fun watercolor likeness of the author/illustrator as an insect complete with antennae and proboscis (insect mouth tube).

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is a collection of poetry and paintings done by Douglas Florian himself. The poems are universal, short, one page and easy to read. Anthropomorphism is apparent in the poetry and illustrations which adds to the appeal to young children. Font and format add to the appeal of the poetry. In the poem titled, “The Inchworm”, the three lines of the poem bend to form the likeness of an inchworm moving forward. And in the poem about whirligig beetles the poem is printed and read clockwise. Line breaks are apparent in his poems to signal meaning, rhythm, sound and as a substitute for punctuation. Puns are also highlighted in his poems as bold text as in the poem titled, “The Praying Mantis”, Upon a twig / I sit and pray / For something big / To wend my way: / A caterpillar, / Moth, / Or bee – / I swallow them / Religously. Florian's watercolor and collage paintings add extra interest and make this collection a visually appealing picture book for all ages. The walking stick on page 27 is so masterfully camouflaged that a red arrow is used as an aid in finding him on the page.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Starred Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “"The silly, imaginative verses about whirligig beetles and waterbugs (almost) match the exquisite pictures in playfulness and wit. The result is downright stunning."

Review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “… Florian offers 21 short, inventive poems and paintings that create playful images of animals. Here, the subjects are arthropods such as the mayfly, praying mantis, hornet, black widow spider, and weevils. The verse form is as varied as the creatures presented.”

AWARDS

American Library Association Notable Books for Children 1999
ABC Children’s Booksellers Choices Awards 1999
Beehive Children’s Poetry Book Award 2002

CONNECTIONS

Other books by Douglas Florian
Florian, Douglas. 1998. Beast Feast. ISBN 0152017372
Florian, Douglas. 2000. On the Wing. ISBN 0152023666
Florian, Douglas. 2001. In the swim. ISBN 0613348389

Activities
*Use this book to discuss a unit on insects or poetry.
*Encourage students to create a poem about their favorite animal.
*Have students read/share their favorite poem from the Douglas Florian collection during a poetry reading.
*Poll classes on their favorite poet or poem and have the class favorites read aloud during morning announcements during National Poetry Week (August 31 to September 09).

¡Pío Peep!: Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes - - - Selected by Alma Ada & F. Isabel Campoy, English Adaptations by Alice Schertle

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ada, Alma F. et. al. 2003. ¡Pío peep!: Traditional spanish nursery rhymes. Ill by Viví Escrivá. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0688160190

PLOT SUMMARY
Twenty-nine nursery rhymes and songs are translated from Spanish to English. Both Spanish and English versions are together side by side. Happy, joyous primary grades literature for oral enjoyment, finger plays, singing and chanting (rhymes).

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This collection of rhymes and songs are meant to be read aloud and enjoyed. While not literally translated, the English version retains the message of the nursery rhymes and songs that would otherwise have been lost. An introduction is provided to detail the emigrated, rich Hispanic heritage from Spain. A table of contents in Spanish and English is also provided. Illustrations help to define characters and reinforce the text. Expressionism is evident with a hint of naïve, folk art.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Review from BOOKLIST: "As the preface to this delightful book states, nursery rhymes and songs are an important part of Spanish oral folklore."

Review from CRITICAS: " Twenty-nine nursery rhymes from the Latin American tradition appear in their original Spanish and in informed and stylish English translations. Perfect for beginning the year with the very youngest; the rhymes sing off the page and are excellent for filling those transitional moments with language-rich activity. In either tongue, love of language and poetic expression find an outlet here."

Starred Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Deeply rhythmic verses, compelling rhyme schemes, and words that "play trippingly on the tongue" characterize every verse. Schertle's excellent English adaptations are not literal translations but poetic re-creations. They retain the rhythm, meter, and general meaning of the originals, making the rhymes as memorable and memorizable in English as they are in Spanish."

CONNECTIONS

Related books

Ada, Alma F. 2004. Mamá Goose : a Latino nursery treasury. ISBN 0786819537
Campoy, F. Isabel. 2006. Tales our abuelitas told : a Hispanic folktale collection. ISBN 0689825838

Activities
*Use to promote cultural awareness and read aloud during Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15).
*Use as oral introduction to literature and reading for primary grades.
*Incorporate kinesthetic play with A la vibora de la mar/Sea Serpent (“Played like London Bridge..." [falling down] page 42-43).

The Legend of White Buffalo Woman By Paul Goble

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Goble, Paul. 1998. The legend of white buffalo woman. Washington, D. C. : National Geographic Society. ISBN 0792270746

PLOT SUMMARY
Times are tough for the Lakota Plains Indians with war and disappearing buffalo herds. White Buffalo Woman appears and brings a gift of a peace pipe to the Plains Indians. The pipe is to be used by the Indians to pray to the Great Spirit. When her errand is complete she turns into a white buffalo calf. Herds of brown buffalo appear and she joins in the herd. The Plains Indians now have plenty to eat and a peace pipe to use in prayer.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This picture book contains many colorful illustrations. Bright cheerful colors represent sunlight and the Plains Indian’s clothing. Dark colors are used to create the emotions of the tough times encountered by the Indians. Paul Goble’s illustrations capture the mysteriousness of the Plains Indians with attention and detail. Line, shape and color were used in every double page spread to help convey the story through illustration. An author’s note is provided at the beginning of the book as an introduction to the oral legend and significance of the Indians peace pipe. Lakota Indian pipe illustrations, details and meaning are explained in greater detail in the back of the book.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Review from KIRKUS: “Drawn just above ground level and clad in spectacular ceremonial costume, Goble's stylized figures seem appropriately larger than life, and the Lakota prayers and comments he quotes further enhance the reverent tone.”

Review from BOOKLIST: “In this picture book for older readers, Goble uses his characteristic decorative paintings to help retell an important sacred legend of the Lakota people.”

CONNECTIONS

Other folktale books
Curry, Jane L. 2003. Hold up the sky: and other Indian tales from Texas and the Southern Plains.ISBN 0689852878
de Paola, Tomie. 1988. The legend of the Indian Paintbrush. ISBN 0399215344
Goble, Paul. 1997. Love flute: Story and illustrations. ISBN 0689816839

Activities

*This book may be used to provide insight into different Indian cultures and during history lessons of American Indians.
* Read aloud and discuss storytelling and folk tales.

Bubba, The Cowboy Prince: A Fractured Texas Tale by Helen Ketteman

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ketteman, Helen. 1997. Bubba, the cowboy prince: A fractured Texas tale. Ill. By James Warhola. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0590255061

PLOT SUMMARY
Bubba is a young cowboy from with two mean stepbrothers and an equally mean stepfather. When invitations arrive to the dance of the richest lady rancher in the area, Bubba, who has worked hard all day helping his two brothers get ready, is not able to attend. As in the Cinderella fairy tale, a fairy godmother appears and uses her magic to help Bubba. At the dance, Bubba makes an impression on the rich lady rancher. When the clock strikes midnight, the magic of his appearance wears off and he quickly rides away. Miz Lurleen, the lady rancher, uses the boot he left behind to find him and they end up riding off to start a new life together.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is reminiscent of storytelling around a campfire. As a fractured tale, it is another rendition of the Cinderella fairy tale plot. The protagonists gender and location has changed, but the ending remains the same. The characters portray good versus evil (or just plain mean spirited by Texas standards). Set in Texas, the story conveys a cultural peek into western lingo and civilization. Warhola uses space and texture to bring life to a dry Texas landscape in his oil on canvas illustrations.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Review from BOOKLIST: “Ketteman wisely leaves the plot unchanged, but the story has a distinct western flair and a humorous tall-tale feel that is greatly enhanced by the exaggerated actions and facial expressions of the characters in Warhola's double-page-spread oil paintings.”

Review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Rustler lingo and illustrations chockablock with Texas kitsch make this ranch-spun Cinder-fella a knee-slappin' tale.”

AWARDS
Golden Sower Award 2001

CONNECTIONS

Related books
Lowell, Susan. 2000. Cindy Ellen: A Wild West Cinderella. ISBN 060274476
Sierra, Judy. 2000. The Gift of the Crocodile: A Cinderella Story. ISBN 0689821883

Boyd, Liz. 1987. The Not So Wicked Stepmother. ISBN 670815896
Johnson, Julie. 1998. My Stepfamily. ISBN 0761308683

Activities

*Use this book to discuss a family unit theme or culture unit.
*Use as read aloud, skit or Readers Theatre for part of Texas Public School Week in March.
*Encourage creative writing, have students create similar “Texas” fairy/folk tales from classics.

Flotsam by David Wiesner

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Wiesner, David. 2006. Flotsam. Ill. by Doug Cushman. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618194576

PLOT SUMMARY

A boy explores and observes found beach items washed ashore, called flotsam, with the help of a magnifying glass. While out scouring for more flotsam, another found item washes ashore. It is an underwater camera. Inside he finds and develops a roll of film. Pictures of underwater creatures and aliens in a fantasy life become part of his newly found items. Other pictures of children holding pictures of still other children unfold under his magnifying glass then microscope. Discovering that this is a magical camera, the boy takes his picture holding the most recent of the children photos and returns it to the sea to continue its voyage.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The title page helps to define flotsam by providing the reader with a wide array of samples. Line, shape, color and texture are all visible in this surreal picture book. Full and double page spreads bring the story to life. The size and scale of objects, such as the crab in the first and third pages, show how detailed seemingly insignificant objects can really be. The colors are bright and vibrant and attention to detail is evident in many pictures. The sequencing of many events is detailed in small bordered images. Watercolor is the painterly technique used, appropriate for the setting. The use of black and white to indicate age in some photos also guides the reader back in time.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Starred Review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “This wordless book's vivid watercolor paintings have a crisp realism that anchors the elements of fantasy.”

Reivew in BOOKLIST: “As in his Caldecott Medal Book Tuesday 0 (1991), Wiesner offers another exceptional, wordless picture book that finds wild magic in quiet, everyday settings.”

Starred Review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Masterfully altering the pace with panel sequences and full-bleed spreads, he fills every inch of the pages with intricate, imaginative watercolor details. New details swim into focus with every rereading of this immensely satisfying excursion.”

AWARDS

Caldecott Medal 2007
American Library Association Notable Books for Children 2007

CONNECTIONS

Related Books
Other wordless and nearly wordless picture books
Wiesner,David. Tuesday. ISBN 0758700806
Lehman, Barbara. The Red Book. ISBN 0618428585

More books on Flotsam
Burns, Loree Griffin. Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion. ISBN 0618581316
Petaja. 1986. Stardrift and other Fantastic Flotsam. ISBN 087505258

Activitites

*Invite students to share their own experiences with flotsam or other found items.
*Use this book as an introduction to a science unit. Work with the science teachers to create an interactive display of small every day items and magnifying devices.
*Pair this book with an introduction to the school's recycling or creative writing program.

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom -- by Carole B. Weatherford

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Weatherford, Carole Boston. 2006. Moses: When Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786851759

PLOT SUMMARY
Moses is a story about a woman named Harriet Tubman. Born into slavery in the early 19th century, she decides to run away and be free. She takes courage in her faith and relies on her wit and the kindness of strangers to get her to freedom. Once free, she dreams of bringing freedom to her loved ones. Harriet risks her life many times to courageously bring other slaves out of her home state of Maryland. Acting as a guide to free others, she is dubbed the “Moses” of her people.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Courage, perseverance and faith are the themes in this book. The full page and double page spread illustrations reflect these themes. Dark colors, shadow and light help to set the mood as somber and spiritual. Differing sizes of type and typeface are used to portray the words of Harriet’s guiding force, her God, those of her own thoughts and the story line. This is a book to share and discuss with others. While listed under juvenile literature, I would consider this book well suited for older children and young adults.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Review from THE HORN BOOK: “Weatherford's poetic telling of Harriet Tubman's role as a conductor on the Underground Railroad combines with Nelson's larger-than-life illustrations to portray the spiritual life of the African American visionary.”

Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The words and pictures create a potent sense of the harsh life of slavery, the fearsome escape, and one woman's unwavering belief in God.”

AWARDS
Coretta Scott King Award 2007
American Library Association Notable Books for Children 2007

CONNECTIONS

Children's response:
“This was a good story. I liked that the pictures were large and full of color. Harriet Tubman knew in her heart that slavery was wrong." - E. Garza, 10 years old.

Related Books
Adler, David A. A picture book of Harriet Tubman. ISBN 082341065X
Meyer, Linda D. Harriet Tubman: they called me Moses. ISBN 0943990327

Activities
*Discuss character themes: Courage and perseverance. Have students share experiences where they endured and overcame hardships.
*Encourage students to journal their responses to the illustrations and/or text.
*Read-Aloud during Black History Month. Discuss leadership and helping others.

SIDE BY SIDE: Five Favorite Picture-Book Teams Go to Work by Leonard Marcus

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Marcus, Leonard S. 2001. SIDE BY SIDE: Five favorite picture-book teams go to work. New York: Walker & Company. ISBN 0802787789

PLOT SUMMARY
This picture book about picture books details the partnership of writers and illustrators. Leonard Marcus focuses on five titles of picture books, such as Louis the Fish and The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses.. He describes how each of the five writer and illustrator teams met and how they worked together on each book. Each artist has a distinct technique and art medium that naturally brings each book alive in the illustrations. A list of other works by the same writer and artist team are provided at the end of each story.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Marcus shares the biography and collaborative history of five groups of children’s artist and writer teams. He focuses on one picture book from each team and provides the reader with a variety of very different works. He details how the collaboration began, the process of working as a team and provides little snippets into the picture book making process. Marcus provides full color images of each book cover, drafts of the story lines and sketches of the artwork in progress. Personal touches are included with handwritten notes of the author and illustrator.

Much research and work, along with a great deal of editing, goes into creating the visual story to place along side the written text. This book provides a look at representational, surrealism, cartoon art, and expressionism in painterly techniques. The many illustrations are done in watercolor, acrylic paints, pen and ink, oil on paper, pencil and watercolor and are each described as the perfect complement to each individual writer’s story. Type and typeface, as well as, size and scale are discussed in one team effort involving a writer, an illustrator and a book designer.

This is a nicely written book sure to delight older children, young adults and adults alike. Younger children may need to have the individual stories read to them, while pointing out the illustration process and art details. This was an enjoyable read.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Starred review in BOOKLIST: "Inviting . . . well-written and beautifully designed.”
Review from THE HORN BOOK: "Fascinating."
Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "Insights into the inner workings of bookmaking."

CONNECTIONS

Related books
Marcus, Leonard S. PASS IT DOWN: Five Picture Book Families Make their Mark. ISBN 9780802796004
Marcus, Leonard S. Ways of Telling: Conversations on the Art of the Picture Book. ISBN 0-7567-9704-7

Activities
*Discuss collaboration and teamwork as a unit theme.
*Compare and contrast the five illustrator’s artistic style.
*Locate other books in the library collaborated on by these five teams (see list at end of each story) and discuss similarities or differences found in those pictures books.
*Discuss “children’s book illustrator” as a career choice.
*Have students identify representational, surrealism, cartoon art, and expressionism, line, shape, color, etc. in the illustrations.
*Have students collaborate to illustrate a scene from a popular non-picture book.

L is for Library Blog Introduction

This blog was created for my TWU Children's and Young Adult Literature class. Book Reviews will be posted as part of my class assignment. Enjoy!

This is my third semester with Texas Woman's University (Denton, Texas) and I have loved every minute of it. I am a novice in the Library Science field and this is my first Children's and Young Adult Literature class and my first blog. I love to read and especially enjoy reading for pleasure. My goal is to become a secondary school librarian, in a middle school or high school. I look forward to learning how best to use literature in the library and classroom, to make learning enjoyable, memorable and exciting. Future book reviews for this blog and class include: Picture Books, Traditional Literature, Poetry, NonFiction, Historical Fiction and Fiction, Fantasy and Young Adult Literature.