All about the Books

Bibliography: Engle, Margarita. 2010. THE FIREFLY LETTERS. New York: Henry Holt and Company, LLC. ISBN 978085090826 Plot Summary: The Firefly Letters is the story of freedom, compassion for humankind, and longing for home.  Ms. Engle writes a story about Fredrika, a Swedish lady who visits Cuba to see what life is like in a country that is beautiful and full of life.  In Cuba, there are two girls who live completely different lives: Elena is the daughter of a wealthy Cuban and Cecilia, the slave girl who will serve as translator for the Swedish guest. When Fredrika arrives in Cuba, she expects to stay in a small hut but is placed at a compound; something that Fredrika did not want.  However, as she is a guest and doesn't want to cause trouble for herself nor her country, Fredrika is the gracious visitor.  Elena was warned by her father to, "ignore any outlandish ideas..."; Elena however wishes that she could move as free as Fredrika and even Cecilia.  Cecilia, a...

Bibliography: Florian, Douglas. 2022. ZOOBILATIONS! New York: Beach Lane Books.  ISBN 9781534465909 Plot Summary: Douglas Florian writes a playful, colorful collection of poems about animals that you may see in the zoo. Each poem talks about what the animal can do or maybe not. The words Mr. Florian uses to describe the animals give the reader an idea of what the animal looks like but also what they can do physically. Kids will find a poem about centipedes and millipedes:"The centipede and millipede for legs, could win a medal." This is talking about how the two insects would win a race because of their speed having so many legs. Critical Analysis: I enjoyed reading this book not just for the poems and how silly they read but for the artwork that Mr. Florian has included on the pages. On the cover, just above the author's name, there is the byline, "Animal Poems and Paintings"; but I couldn't believe that those illustrations were created using paint. The ill...

Bibliography: Sidman, Joyce. 2014. WINTER BEES & OTHER POEMS OF THE COLD. Ill. by Allen, Rick. New York: Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt. ISBN 9780547906508 Plot Summary: Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold is a book of poems that talk about animals, insects, and nature during the Winter season. Each poem talks about the habits of wolves, swans, birds, and springtails. Giving details about what they do to prepare for the cold as well as how they survive during the cold season. There is also a brief summary that provides scientific information about the creature or nature effect on the page. Critical Analysis: Ms. Sidman writes with great detail to describes how animals prepare for the cold of winter. Her poems flow with what I would call a "lullaby" effect: slow and easy. The words inviting the reader to grab a blanket and settle in themselves. She also provides interesting facts and information about what these creatures do to get ready for winter and how they survive ...

  Bibliography: Meyers, Walter Dean. 201. WE ARE AMERICA: A TRIBUTE FROM THE HEART. Ill. by Meyers, Christopher. New York: Collins. ISBN 9780060523084 Plot Summary: We Are America is a book of poetry about the people and history of the United States.  There are poems that talk about the American experience before it was a country. These words written by Walter Dean Myers are a tribute; specifically his tribute to what America means to him. Mr. Meyers also includes quotes from Americans who were impactful during their lifetime in America. Critical Analysis: Mr. Meyers has written a beautiful and profound book of poetry.  The words that he uses to describe the establishment of America are strong, rich, and moving. Each poem tells a different story about some time and event in American history. Mr. Meyers then juxtaposes quotes from prominent Americans such as, Abraham Lincoln, Barbra Jordan, Emma Lazarus, to name a few. He also includes excerpts from the Declarat...

 Bibliography: Bruchac, James and Bruchac, Joseph. 2004. RACCOON'S LAST RACE. Ill. by Aruego, Jose and Dewey, Araine. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers Group. ISBN 0803729774. Plot Summary: In this Native American folktale about a raccoon, Azban who prides himself on being the fastest, so he would challenge the other animals to race him. Often Azban would taunt the animals after beating them. The were annoyed by his behavior and so they didn't race against him no more. The raccoon would then play tricks on the animals: hiding and jumping out scaring them. Since Azban was quite fast, the animals could never catch him. One day, Azban sees someone sitting at the top of a hill. He goes to the hilltop and finds that its a big rock perched on the hill. Azban introduces himself as being a fast runner. The rock tells Azban that he is fine right where he sits. But Azban doesn't accept the rocks response and he decides to help the rock move. What ensues is a catastrophic event ...

Bibliography:   Tabck, Simms. 1999. JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT. New York: Viking. ISBN: 9780670878550 Plot Summary: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is a cute story based on a yiddish folk song. It talks about Joseph who has overcoat that he has owned and worn for a long time.  As time goes on, the overcoat becomes worn and tatty; so Joseph makes a jacket. However, the jacket becomes worn and Joseph then makes a vest. This is a tale about enjoying what you have and making the most of it. It is also about how one can recycle and repurpose things. Critical Analysis: Upon first opening the book, the reader discovers all kinds of stuff on the title page. Mr. Taback illustrates the book himself and uses watercolor, Gouache, pencil, ink, and collage.  With such a variety of art methods used in illustrating, Mr. Taback provides a colorful perspective of how Joseph lived. The mix of already created images and the drawings created by hand, invite the reader to think about these ever...

  Bibliography: Artell, Mike. 2006. THREE LITTLE CAJUN PIGS. Ill. by Jim Harris  New York: Dial Books For Young Readers. ISBN 0803728158. Plot Summary: In Mike Artell's, Three Cajun Little Pigs, this a humorous retelling of the classic tale about the three pigs. The story begins with the mama pig telling her boys that it is time for them to leave home. The pigs, Troosclair, Thibodeaux, and Ulysse, pack their things and set off to find a house. As you read the story, you read how each pig builds their house.  Now the twist to this tale is that if you are familiar with Louisiana and its swamps, alligators are sure to be seen. So Mr. Artell has written our somewhat beloved antagonist as an alligator.  "An' speaking' of gators, not too far away, somebody was watching' dem little pigs play. Ol' Claude, dat big gator, was in de bayou." Mr. Artell follows the story as it has been told in the past but he does make it funny and interesting with the dialec...

 BIBLIOGRAPHY: Bruchac, James and Bruchac, Joseph. 2003. TURTLE'S RACE WITH BEAVER. Ill. by Aruego, Jose and Dewey, Ariane. New York: Dial Books For Young Readers. ISBN 0803728522. PLOT SUMMARY: Turtle's Race with Beaver is a North American Indian (Native American) folktale about a turtle who discovers the pond that he calls home has been taken over by a beaver. This folktale is a retelling of The Tortoise and The Hare except the animals are a turtle and beaver.  The turtle goes into hibernation because of the season changing. While the turtle hibernates, a beaver moves on to the pond: builds a dam and a lodge for him to live in.  When spring arrives, the turtle notices that he has to swim a long stretch to reach shore. Once turtle reaches the shore, he discovers that his rocks are underwater and there is a dam that has stopped the water from flowing. Beaver spots turtle and asks what is doing in his pond and the turtle explains its his home. The beaver doesn't like this ...

 Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems. 2007. New York, Hyperion Books. ISBN: 979142302991 Plot Summary: What happens when you discover that your favorite stuffed friend is not the only one in the classroom? In Mo Willems, Knuffle Bunny Too, Trixie is excited to share her best bunny with her classmates except when Trixie gets dropped off at school, she discovers that knuffle bunny isn't exclusively hers. Trixie and Sonja engage in a cute mini-battle about their bunnies. At one point, during the school day, the teacher has to take the bunnies from the girls so they (Trixie and Sonja) can have a nice, normal day without arguing about whose bunny is better.  At the end of the day, the teacher returns the girls  bunnies and they head home.  Later,  really when it's in the wee hours of the morning, Trixie discovers she doesn't have "her" knuffle bunny. A phone call and a run across the neighborhood(community); we ultimately see two girls become friends. Critical Analysis: ...

 The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. New York, The Viking Press. 1962 ISBN: 0670654000 Plot Summary: This is a tale of a boy who awakens to find it had snowed overnight.  Mr. Keats writes a beautiful story about a boy named, Peter who enjoys a fun day outside in the city. The setting is in what I presume to be New York and it all about a boy playing in the snow. Dressed in his snowsuit and armed with his imagination, Peter goes outside and explores all the ways to enjoy the snow.  After a fun-filled snowy day, Peter reflects on all the fun he had while in the tub. That night he dreams that the sun has come and there is no more snow. Critical Analysis: I don't where to begin when describing a true children's classic story. (I know there are others but...) Mr. Keats does a great with describing the character and his movements.  His word choice is simple and easy for not just young readers to read but also to listen as the story is read aloud. I like that Mr. Keats doesn'...

  Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN: 9780399233159 Plot Summary: In this simple story about a man showing love for his wife by going out and getting her a cat, Wanda Gag chooses to write this in a folklore format. She tells a story about an elderly couple and how the husband goes to get a cat but has trouble choosing the prettiest one for his wife. The husband begins with finding a cat but soon comes across another that is equally pretty. As the story goes on, we see that the husband just can’t choose one and well, you will need to read the story to find out what happens next. Critical Analysis: Ms. Gag’s writing is simple and goes with the time in which she wrote it. She was an artist who believed in simplicity. She disliked the ink used in printing and so she enlists her brother to handwrite the text. Thus it has a neat, simplistic, and a cuteness in the lettering. This also lead Ms. Gag to write her story in a folksy manner; it has a slight r...