All the World follows a set of young children as they start their day at the beach, visit a farmer's market, endure a storm, interact with family, and end up back at home ready for bed. In between start and finish, the reader sees how people interact with their surroundings and that we are all a part of a whole.
What I liked about this book is that it not only emphasizes human relationships, but also our relationship with our natural surroundings. The day starts out sunny and fun at the beach, but later a rain storm starts showing that there are fun times and there are hard times. "Better luck another day/All the world goes round this way," states the author. The illustrations are whimsical and detailed, which helps make the rhyming verses flow from page to page. Scanlon points out that interaction with people and nature are important. The books shows children that it is sometimes easy to live our lives in our own little bubble and forget that we are a part of the whole world that is here and now.
My reaction to this book was mostly influenced by thoughts of my own children. We stay so busy that from day to day, that we forget that there is so much going on around us than just what we're doing at the moment. The vacations we've taken, the ballgames we rush to, going to school and to work--it makes us a part of the bigger picture. We usually see our lives as our own, but we are a part of a whole. This book shows relationships we have with each other and with our natural surroundings and points out that we are all part of one big world.
The new thing I learned about children's literature is that concepts can be captured with beautiful, rhyming verses. All the World encompasses words that bring about feelings of cold and hot, happiness and love, and words that capture smells and the feeling of hunger. The exciting day that these children have include so many feelings and all are explained with rhyme and exceptionally drawn illustrations done by Marla Frazee.
Like her other children's books, Scanlon uses poetry to tell her story. The same goes for her book Noodle and Lou which tells the story of Noodle the worm who wakes up feeling blue and Lou the blue jay, who tries to pep him up. Noodle and Lou emphasizes the importance of supporting one another. Similarly, All the World emphasizes how relationships to those around us are important. Included in this giant world are the feelings we have. The end of the book says it all, "Hope and peace and love and trust/All the world is all of us."
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
"When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry" by Molly Bang (Caldecott Honor Book)
Sophie is a little girl who gets angry when her little sister grabs the gorilla that Sophie is playing with. After their mother tells Sophie to let her sister have the gorilla, she erupts in anger. Colorful and bright illustrations bring to life the emotions that Sophie feels as she deals with her anger.
What I liked about this book is that the author not only depicts how anger builds, but she also offers a healthy solution to get rid of the anger. Sophie runs until the anger is gone, then she cries. She climbs a tree and observes her natural surroundings. When she feels better she goes back home to her loving family. I also love the illustrations. They are bold and help bring to life what anger and contentment feel like. For instance, when Sophie "roars" with anger, the word ROAR shoots out of Sophie's mouth in a bright red and orange flame. When she runs into nature and is feeling more peaceful, the color blue is used to show the tranquility she is now feeling.
While I believe that anyone can relate to being angry, I think that being the oldest of four children most influenced the reaction I had when reading this book. I was the one who always had to give up a toy so that one of the younger ones could play with it. I remember the anger I felt, and I remember going to my room and feeling so much hatred toward my siblings for always getting what they wanted. I believe books like this one help children and parents both realize how anger can hurt, and how it can be dealt with in a positive way.
Molly Bang has co-written another book that deals with childhood emotions called The Day Leo said I Hate You. Just like Sophie, Leo has some negative emotions that make him burst into a not so favorable demeanor. This book also offers brilliant illustrations and a healthy solution. Bang has written many other touching children's books such as Ten, Nine, Eight which is a bedtime countdown done by a father and daughter every night.
The new thing that I learned about children's literature is that a simple emotion such as anger can be explained, understood, and resolved in simple enough terms that a small child can understand. I also noticed that illustrations can have a powerful impact in portraying emotions.
What I liked about this book is that the author not only depicts how anger builds, but she also offers a healthy solution to get rid of the anger. Sophie runs until the anger is gone, then she cries. She climbs a tree and observes her natural surroundings. When she feels better she goes back home to her loving family. I also love the illustrations. They are bold and help bring to life what anger and contentment feel like. For instance, when Sophie "roars" with anger, the word ROAR shoots out of Sophie's mouth in a bright red and orange flame. When she runs into nature and is feeling more peaceful, the color blue is used to show the tranquility she is now feeling.
While I believe that anyone can relate to being angry, I think that being the oldest of four children most influenced the reaction I had when reading this book. I was the one who always had to give up a toy so that one of the younger ones could play with it. I remember the anger I felt, and I remember going to my room and feeling so much hatred toward my siblings for always getting what they wanted. I believe books like this one help children and parents both realize how anger can hurt, and how it can be dealt with in a positive way.
Molly Bang has co-written another book that deals with childhood emotions called The Day Leo said I Hate You. Just like Sophie, Leo has some negative emotions that make him burst into a not so favorable demeanor. This book also offers brilliant illustrations and a healthy solution. Bang has written many other touching children's books such as Ten, Nine, Eight which is a bedtime countdown done by a father and daughter every night.
The new thing that I learned about children's literature is that a simple emotion such as anger can be explained, understood, and resolved in simple enough terms that a small child can understand. I also noticed that illustrations can have a powerful impact in portraying emotions.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
"Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool (2011 Newbery Award Winner)
The setting of Moon Over Manifest takes place in a small town called Manifest, Kansas in the year 1936. Twelve year old Abilene Tucker is sent by her father to stay in this town that he grew up in while he works the summer for the railroad. Just as the train is nearing the station, she jumps off so that she can get a clear picture of the town that she's about to live in for the next few months. She comes across an iron gate with the words "Road to Perdition" welded to the gate. She's intrigued by this place, but runs into her caretaker, Shady who had set off looking for her when she didn't arrive at the station. He takes her to her new home which is an old saloon turned church. Shady is an ex-drinker turned preacher. The longer Abilene stays in Manifest, the more of the town's deepest secrets come to life as her and her new friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, go on a mission to discover the source of of some hidden letters that they have found. The letters help lead Abilene not only to a rich history of the town, but back to her own father as well.
What I like about this book is that it weaves two stories into one. Through the visions of the town diviner, Miss Sadie, the author flashes back to the story of Ned and Jynx--the writers of the letters that Abilene finds on her first night in town. Ned and Jynx's story is the backbone of the plot. Their story flows between the story of Abilene and her quest to find her Daddy again. As Abilene yearns to find her father's history in this town, she uncovers secret after secret of the town's people. She also obtains a new kind of family in the town she comes to love.
The fact that I, myself, grew up in a small town influenced my reaction to this book. I understand that small towns have many secrets and lots of interesting characters.
The new thing that I learned about children's literature by reading this book is that one character can bring to life so much more than her own story. This book contains so much more than the story of a twelve-year-old child. Moon Over Manifest takes place during the Great Depression. The author depicts the harsh effects that this era had on different types of people. Some of the social issues the author brings to life in the book are: the unfair treatment of early immigrants, the unfair treatment of mine workers, and the practices of the KKK. Characters in the story are affected by murder, war, and plagues. Also, Vanderpool brings to life the trials of a young soldier sent to war.
This is the first novel for Clare Vanderpool so I cannot compare it to any of her other works. However, I am anxious to read her future novels.
What I like about this book is that it weaves two stories into one. Through the visions of the town diviner, Miss Sadie, the author flashes back to the story of Ned and Jynx--the writers of the letters that Abilene finds on her first night in town. Ned and Jynx's story is the backbone of the plot. Their story flows between the story of Abilene and her quest to find her Daddy again. As Abilene yearns to find her father's history in this town, she uncovers secret after secret of the town's people. She also obtains a new kind of family in the town she comes to love.
The fact that I, myself, grew up in a small town influenced my reaction to this book. I understand that small towns have many secrets and lots of interesting characters.
The new thing that I learned about children's literature by reading this book is that one character can bring to life so much more than her own story. This book contains so much more than the story of a twelve-year-old child. Moon Over Manifest takes place during the Great Depression. The author depicts the harsh effects that this era had on different types of people. Some of the social issues the author brings to life in the book are: the unfair treatment of early immigrants, the unfair treatment of mine workers, and the practices of the KKK. Characters in the story are affected by murder, war, and plagues. Also, Vanderpool brings to life the trials of a young soldier sent to war.
This is the first novel for Clare Vanderpool so I cannot compare it to any of her other works. However, I am anxious to read her future novels.
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