The Wild Book

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Engle, Margarita. (2012). The Wild Book. New York: Houghlin Milcourt. ISBN 978-0-547-58131-6
B. PLOT SUMMARY
A novel in verse about a young girl growing up in turn of the century Cuba who struggles to overcome her dyslexia or word blindness.
 C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
Margarita Engle paints a picture of turn of the century Cuba and her granmothers life as a girl in this dangerous time in beautiful verse.  Fefa who struggles with dyslexia uses a blank book given to her by her mother and time and patience to slowly overcome her learning disability.  Scattered throughout the story of Fefa's frustrations with words is a history of violence and fear suffered by the people of Cuba.  Engle enbodies the love of verse from this time period with poems such as "Fly to the Truth of Dreams". 

......

I don't understand

the whole thrilling verse,

but I love the way poetry

turns ordinary words

into winged things

that rise up

and soar (lines 11-17)

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS

"A beautiful tale of perseverance."—Kirkus, starred review
"Readers will be enchanted."—VOYA

"[A] lyrical glimpse of early twentieth-century Cuba."--Booklist

"Engle’s writing is customarily lovely."--Publishers Weekly

"The idea of a wild book on which to let her words sprout is one that should speak to those with reading difficulties and to aspiring poets as well."--School Library Journal

"[A] remarkable, intimate depiction of Fefa's struggle with dyslexia; Engle is masterful at using words to evoke this difficulty, and even those readers unfamiliar with the condition will understand its meaning through her rich use of imagery and detail."--Bulletin

E. CONNECTIONS

Children can investigate the work Margarita Engle at her website:
http://margaritaengle.com/index.html
Read other wonderful books by M. Engle including The Poet Slave of Cuba and The Surrender Tree.
Listen to the author read a sample of the book at http://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=7874&a=1

History connection:
Explore Cuban history, especially Race War of 1912 at http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/race/RaceWar1.htm

English connection:
Students can write a story in verse

Geography connection:
Make a map of Cuba.  Have students label elements from the book.

Yum!

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mora, Pat. (2007). Yum! MmMm! Que'Rico! New York: Lee & Low Books. Ills. by Rafael Lopez. ISBN 978-1-58430-271-1
B. PLOT SUMMARY
A collection of 14 haiku on native foods of the Americas.
 C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
Pat Mora manages to combine many elements in this book of 14 haiku.  Each two page layout is comprised of one haiku about a specific food native to the Americas as well as a brief history of the food.  Further, she combines Spanish and English within the 17 syllables of several of the poems in a way that brings the native origin to the forefront.

Adding to the whimsical feel of each poem is a brilliantly colored two page spread created by Rafael Lopez which perfectly accompanies both the selected food item.  The bright colors and pictures created in the style of traditional Mexican murals enchant readers of all ages.

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS

"This inventive stew of food haiku celebrates the indigenous foods of the Americas." --Booklist

"Mora's descriptive poetry features wonderful word choices and gets it right to the essence of each food...Perfect for sharing as part of the curriculum or just for fun." --Book Links

"Teachers will find this a welcome addition to their social-studies units, but it should also win a broad general audience for its inventive, fun-filled approach to an ever-popular topic: food." --School Library Journal

"In this cross-curricular treat, imaginative...acrylic illustrations...are paired with playful haiku's and a paragraph of information to introduce 14 foods indigenous to the Americas..." --SLJ Curriculum Connections

 

Amérias Award for Children’s Literature, 2008, Consortium of Latin American Programs

Texas Bluebonnet Award (TBA) Master List, 2008-2009

ALA Notable, 2008

Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books, 2008

Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year, 2008

Lasting Connections, Book Links, 2007

Great Lakes Great Books Award master list, 2008/2009

E. CONNECTIONS

Children can investigate the work of Pat Mora and Rafael Lopez at their websites:
http://www.patmora.com/book_pages/yum.htm
http://www.rafaellopez.com/#/editorial/

Health Connections:
Serve foods created from the native foods highlighted within the poetry of the book.

Math Connections:
Schedule a trip to the grocery store.  How much would it cost to buy one of each of the 14 foods in the book?

Art Connection:
Have students create a collage of their favorite foods.

English Connection:
Have students write their own haiku.

Mirror Mirror

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Singer, Marilyn. 2010. Mirror Mirror. Ill. Jose'e Masse. New York: Penguin. ISBN 9780525479017

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer is an illustrated picture book of reversable verse.  Each two page layout presents a classic fairy tale told from two points of view with the second poem a mirror image of the first starting at the last word and ending at the first or the original poem. The unique format of reverse verse is entertaining and surprising.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The unique format of this work makes the poems both exciting and highly entertaining.  The familiar fairy tales told from two different perspectives give the reader an excellent from of reference to draw upon while reading.  Singer uses short poems full of imagery in order to paint a picture of a story and help to convey meaning. The language selection helps to tell the tales from both sides.  Careful consideration is paid to punctuation in each version of the poem to enhance clarity and meaning.

Enhancing Singer's poems are the wonderful painted illustrations by Jose'e Masse.  The use of light and dark to convey the two sides to the accompanying poems are lovely.  The bright colors enhance the pictures fairy tale appeal.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(s)
Starred review- School Library Journal
Starred review- Booklist
Starred review- Kirkus
2011 Bluebonnet book club selection
An ALA Notable
Cybil Award in Poetry
nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award

5.  CONNECTIONS
*Have children discuss point of view and two sides to each story
*Try your hand at writing a reverse verse poem
*visit the author's website http://www.marilynsinger.net/
*explore point of view in fairy tales (lesson plan @ http://www.readwritethink.org/parent-afterschool-resources/activities-projects/explore-point-view-fairy-30148.html)
Read more books by Marilyn Singer
Rewrite a fairy tale from a different point of view either in verse or short story form.

 

The Llama Who Had no Pajama

1. BILIOGRAPHY
Hoberman, Mary Ann. 1998. The Llama Who Had no Pajama: 100 Favorite Poems. Ill. by Betty Fraser. San Diego, CA: Little Brown & Co. ISBN 0152001115

2. PLOT SUMMARY
The Llama Who Had no Pajama: 100 Favorite Poems by Mary Ann Hoberman is a collection of previously published works by the author on a variety of subjects.  The poems are rhythmic and rhyming in nature and are written specifically for younger children.  Topics range from birthdays to ducks to going to school.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Each poem in this collection varies in length and content.  However, all of the selected works have an establised rhythm and rhyming pattern that is easily discernable.  The language of the entire collection is appropriate for the intended audience and was selected for the connection to childhood.  Each poem paints a vivid image of a time, place, animal or event that helps to convey meaning and emotion.

The layout of the poems is simple and combined with the illustrations serves to gently guide readers from one work to another without overwhelming or cluttering.

The illustrations by Betty Fraser are minimal and were created using a process of gouache and watercolor on bristol paper.  The cartoonlike illustrations are reminiscent of older childrens books and cartoons and help to bring forth the emotions of childhood.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(s)

"Good for beginning or experienced readers of poetry, this should indeed become a favorite."--School Library Journal
"a charmer."--The Horn Book
Gold Award Winner - 1998 National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA)
Best Books of the Year - Child Magazine

5. CONNECTIONS
*Have children select one of the poems to read aloud
*Children can select an activity or animal of their choosing and write a poem and illustrate it
*Read other poems by Mary Ann Hoberman
*Check out the author's website http://www.maryannhoberman.com/

What my mother doesn't know

1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sones, Sonya. 2001. What My Mother Doesn't Know. New York: Simon Pulse. ISBN 9780689855535

2. PLOT SUMMARY
What My Mother Doesn't Know is a novel in verse told from the perspective of 15 year old Sophie.  Sophie is a typical boy crazy teenage girl.  Sones writes as if Sophie is having a conversation with the reader and presents the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence in a way that is easily read and comprehended.  Sophie struggles with dating, friends, and her parents constant fighting until she finally finds herself drawn to the school social outcast.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Sones writing is simple and easy to understand.  Her honest and direct assessment of the confusion of adolescence is an emotional journey from start to finish.  Sophie is a likable and well developed character that struggles with understanding the difference between love and lust.  The plot of this free verse novel progresses through a series of short poems which show how a teenage girls mind works. 

Sones tackles topics of friendship and family with the same ease as those of young love.  The presented group dynamic between Sophie and her two best friends shows the struggle for acceptance that peer pressure puts on young people. 

The language selection of the novel helps to support the narrative in that it sounds and feels like the words are being spoken by a 15 year old girl.  Further, Sones uses emotion to connect the reader to the work.  Throughout, the verse the reader is presented with anger, shame, heartache, love, lust, happiness, surprise and confusion.

This book is a wonderful choice when discussing any number of topics including love, lust, peer pressure, family dynamics, friendship, and perspective. 

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(s)
Winner of the Iowa Teen Book Award (2005–2006)
Michigan Thumbs Up Award Honor Book (2002)
Chosen an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults (2002)
Chosen an American Library Association Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2002)
Named a Booklist Editor's Choice (2001)
Named a Texas Lone Star State Reading List Choice (2003–2004)

5. CONNECTIONS
*Have students write from their perspective about a week in their life.
*Have students write in free verse
*Research Sonya Sones
*Have the class each create a free verse poem on the same topic to explore perspective. 
*Other books in free verse:
Sones, Sonya. What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know. ISBN  978-0689876028
Chaltas, Thalia. Becuase I am Furniture. ISBN 0670062987