Hiroshima
Yep, Laurence
Scholastic Inc. NY,NY (1995)
Realistic fiction, Multicultural
2-4
Sachi is a twelve year old girl that lived in Hiroshima Japan in 1945. Sachi and her older sister Riko are effected greatly by the war. They both had to work at such young ages to support the war. Sachi worked with a crew of children that that tried to clean up the wreckage from American bombings. and Riko answered phones at an army headquarter. Only very young children were allowed to simply play. While the two girls are at work a B-29 bomber plane named the Enola Gay flown by Colonel Tibbets is heading toward Hiroshima. The Enola Gay is carrying a 8900 pound nuclear bomb. The bomb is dropped on Hiroshima and life there changed forever. There was massive destruction. Riko is killed instantly and Sachi suffered terrible burns that scarred her and immobilized her arm. Sachi's mother found her lying among a pile of dead and alive children outside a hospital. Sachi did not come out of her house for three years because she was ashamed of her scars and she did not want to be made fun of. Sachi is chosen to become one of the Hiroshima Maidens which were a group of girls that were sent to the U.S. to receive free operations and re constructive surgeries. Sachi undergoes many painful surgeries but she regains the use of her arm and her scars are greatly reduced. Sachi was among the only group of girls sent to the U.S. because many Japaneses people believed that the us should give money to be split by all of the people in Hiroshima. Hospitals are built in Japan to help people injured from the bomb. The author tells us that people are continuing to suffer and die from the effects of radiation from the bomb. He also tells us that sachi is a composite of several children who traveled to theU.S. for treatment.
This book emphasizes terrible thing our country did to the people of Hiroshima. This book is so sad. I felt sick when I thought about the pain Sachi must have gone through along with so many others. I am glad that Yep continually emphasized the lasting effects of our decision to drop the bomb. He said many times that people are still dying from the bomb. I think that everyone, not only children, should read this book so they can understand why we should never ever set off another nuclear tiomes. It seems that we are constantly in political unrest. For this reason, I want to share this book to my students and have them reflect through poetry how this book made them feel. I think that poetry speaks strait from the heart.
Showing posts with label multicultural. Show all posts
Showing posts with label multicultural. Show all posts
Monday, April 28, 2008
The Keeping Quilt
The Keeping Quilt
Polacco, Patricia
Simon and Shuster Books For Young Readers
Nonfiction, multicultural
k-3
In the Keeping Quilt, Polacco tels of the quilt her family has passed down from generation to generation. Patricia's Great Grandmother and Grandmother were Jewish immigrants from Russia to the United States. Her grandmother Anna was a child when she moved to a new country with a new language. She treasured her dress and babushka because they were the only things she had left form her old home. When She began to out grow the dress, her mother began to make a quilt out of it. She invited all of the neighbors to help her make the quilt. Anna's Babushka became the border of the great quilt. Anna treasured this quilt. Anna used the quilt as a huppa in her wedding. A huppa is placed over the couple's head as they are being married. She wraped her children in the quilt and eventually passed the quilt on to Patricia. Patricia slept with the quilt and used it as a make-believe tent when she was a child. When she grew older she two used as a Huppa in her wedding. she also wrapped her daughter in the quilt that would someday be hers.
I wish that my family had a family tradition the way Patricia's did. That quilt represented so many memories and emotions for the family. Patricia's Great Grandmother was able to preserve their heritage in part by this quilt. I think the women who had this quilt were empowered by it. The quilt represented the hard work they have put into their family. When I have my own classroom, I would have my students make their own Keeping quilt or a class quilt out of construction paper. They would come up with ways to represent their families heritage and what is important to them through their quilt. This book is a great way to introduce students to a culture that they may know little or nothing about. The double page illustrations in this book were sketches. The only color in the illustrations were the quilt. The quilt was brightly colored to show the the life and love that was in that quilt.
Polacco, Patricia
Simon and Shuster Books For Young Readers
Nonfiction, multicultural
k-3
In the Keeping Quilt, Polacco tels of the quilt her family has passed down from generation to generation. Patricia's Great Grandmother and Grandmother were Jewish immigrants from Russia to the United States. Her grandmother Anna was a child when she moved to a new country with a new language. She treasured her dress and babushka because they were the only things she had left form her old home. When She began to out grow the dress, her mother began to make a quilt out of it. She invited all of the neighbors to help her make the quilt. Anna's Babushka became the border of the great quilt. Anna treasured this quilt. Anna used the quilt as a huppa in her wedding. A huppa is placed over the couple's head as they are being married. She wraped her children in the quilt and eventually passed the quilt on to Patricia. Patricia slept with the quilt and used it as a make-believe tent when she was a child. When she grew older she two used as a Huppa in her wedding. she also wrapped her daughter in the quilt that would someday be hers.
I wish that my family had a family tradition the way Patricia's did. That quilt represented so many memories and emotions for the family. Patricia's Great Grandmother was able to preserve their heritage in part by this quilt. I think the women who had this quilt were empowered by it. The quilt represented the hard work they have put into their family. When I have my own classroom, I would have my students make their own Keeping quilt or a class quilt out of construction paper. They would come up with ways to represent their families heritage and what is important to them through their quilt. This book is a great way to introduce students to a culture that they may know little or nothing about. The double page illustrations in this book were sketches. The only color in the illustrations were the quilt. The quilt was brightly colored to show the the life and love that was in that quilt.
Becoming Naomi Leon
Becoming Naomi Leon
Ryan, Pam Munoz
Realistic fiction, multicultural
Scholastic, Inc. 2004
4-5
Naomi Outlaw was a young girl who lived with her great grandmother and little brother Owen who is physically disabled. Naomi and Owen had spent most of their lives with gram ever since their mother abandoned them. Naomi's last name was not really Outlaw it was Leon. Gram wanted her use Outlaw so they would have the same name. Naomi did not fit in well at school.The kids at her school made fun of her name, and she never had new clothes. Naomi's mother was American and fer father was Mexican. Naomi took after her father's side. She had dark hair, skin, and eyes. This meant that she did not look at all like her brother and gram. Naomi often felt out of place.
One day Naomi and Owen's mother showed up at grams trailer. Her mother had changed her name to Skyla. Gram was very upset about her arrival because she was an alcoholic who had spent time in rehab and in a half way house. Gram was worried that Skyla would try to take her kids away from the only family they knew. Gram, Naomi, and Owen were very close to their neighbors Fabiola and Bernardo who were originally from Mexico. Skyla gave Naomi lots of presents but she ignored her crippled son Owen. Owen was often made fun of for his deformities and unusual voice. Other kids called him a retard even though he was very smart. Owen was very insecure and always had to have tape on his shirt or he would panic. Skyla seemed to be embarrassed of her son and was only interested in Naomi. It turned out that Skyla only wanted Naomi so her and her new Boyfriend would get government welfare. Naomi did not want to live with her mother because she was unkind to her brother and had even hit her. She did not show up to her parent teacher conference which really hurt her feelings. Gram took Owen and Naomi on a trip to Mexico in their trailer. There, Naomi finally reconnects with her father. She discovers that he truly loved her and regretted the time they had lost. Her father agreed that his children should stay with Gram. Gram had to go to court but the judge also agreed that they should live with Gram. Naomi found herself at peace. She was no longer Naomi Out law. She is now Naomi Leon.
This is a very heart warming book. I admire Gram for taking in her grat grandchildren in when their mother left them. I fell that many children would identify with Naomi's life. She is from a mixed family which caused her great confusion. I think that children in similar situations would be comforted with how her problems worked out. I would like to use this story in the classroom to start a discussion on tolerance. Many made fun of Naomi and Owen because they were different. Children need to understand that we are who we are no one should be made to feel bad about how they look, act, or live. I would also like to incorporate an art lesson. I would have the students try to make their own soap carvings!
Ryan, Pam Munoz
Realistic fiction, multicultural
Scholastic, Inc. 2004
4-5
Naomi Outlaw was a young girl who lived with her great grandmother and little brother Owen who is physically disabled. Naomi and Owen had spent most of their lives with gram ever since their mother abandoned them. Naomi's last name was not really Outlaw it was Leon. Gram wanted her use Outlaw so they would have the same name. Naomi did not fit in well at school.The kids at her school made fun of her name, and she never had new clothes. Naomi's mother was American and fer father was Mexican. Naomi took after her father's side. She had dark hair, skin, and eyes. This meant that she did not look at all like her brother and gram. Naomi often felt out of place.
One day Naomi and Owen's mother showed up at grams trailer. Her mother had changed her name to Skyla. Gram was very upset about her arrival because she was an alcoholic who had spent time in rehab and in a half way house. Gram was worried that Skyla would try to take her kids away from the only family they knew. Gram, Naomi, and Owen were very close to their neighbors Fabiola and Bernardo who were originally from Mexico. Skyla gave Naomi lots of presents but she ignored her crippled son Owen. Owen was often made fun of for his deformities and unusual voice. Other kids called him a retard even though he was very smart. Owen was very insecure and always had to have tape on his shirt or he would panic. Skyla seemed to be embarrassed of her son and was only interested in Naomi. It turned out that Skyla only wanted Naomi so her and her new Boyfriend would get government welfare. Naomi did not want to live with her mother because she was unkind to her brother and had even hit her. She did not show up to her parent teacher conference which really hurt her feelings. Gram took Owen and Naomi on a trip to Mexico in their trailer. There, Naomi finally reconnects with her father. She discovers that he truly loved her and regretted the time they had lost. Her father agreed that his children should stay with Gram. Gram had to go to court but the judge also agreed that they should live with Gram. Naomi found herself at peace. She was no longer Naomi Out law. She is now Naomi Leon.
This is a very heart warming book. I admire Gram for taking in her grat grandchildren in when their mother left them. I fell that many children would identify with Naomi's life. She is from a mixed family which caused her great confusion. I think that children in similar situations would be comforted with how her problems worked out. I would like to use this story in the classroom to start a discussion on tolerance. Many made fun of Naomi and Owen because they were different. Children need to understand that we are who we are no one should be made to feel bad about how they look, act, or live. I would also like to incorporate an art lesson. I would have the students try to make their own soap carvings!
My Name is Maria Isabella
My Name is Maria Isabella
Ada, Alma Flor
Thompson, K. Dyble
Realistic fiction novel, Multicultural
Atheneum Macmillan Publishing Company NY, NY, (1993)
4-6
Maria Isabella Sanchez Lopez is a girl who was born in Puerto Rico and began school there. Her family move to the united states and she attended a new school where her and her teachers spoke Spanish. Maria Isabella liked that school and had dear friends there but she and her family had to move because her dad got a new job as a superintendent ant the apartment complex where they would be living. She was very nervous about starting in her new school. Her new school was taught only in English and her teacher did not understand her culture. Maria Isabella is named after her grandmothers, grandfather, and her father. It was her family's custom to be named after family members whom were very important to the child. Maria Isabella was very proud to be named after her family members. Her teacher called Maria Isabella Mary out of convenience because their were all ready other Maria's in the class. She did not know how to tell the teacher how she felt. The teacher became very annoyed with her when she did not answer questions when the teacher referred to her as Mary. Maria Isabella was not used to answering to her new name. Because of the two's miscommunication, Maria Isabella was left out of the class performance. The teacher thought that because she did not immediately answer she did not want to participate. Nothing could have been farther from the truth. Maria became very sad that she was not in the Hanukkah performance. Maria Isabella was having a very difficult time at school and at home. Her family was full of love but they were struggling financially. Her mother had to find a job outside the home which was a hard adjustment for her. She became lonely when she was home alone. Maria Isabella finally found the courage to tell her teacher through a writing assignment how much she wanted to be called by her name and sing in the performance. The next day her teacher addressed her by her full name and asked her to lead their song. Maria Isabella was very happy that her teacher now understood her and that her parents could see her sing.
I found this book very touching. The author did a wonderful job making understand the characters in this book. For this reason I don't think that the sketched illustrations were necessary.I felt so bad for Maria Isabella when her teacher decided to ignore her name and gave her a new one. I don't think her teacher meant to hurt her feelings I think she was probably just trying to organize her class. When I was tutoring in after school I tutored a girl who was in a similar situation. Her name was Elizabeth but she wanted to be called Beth because that is what her family called her. Her teacher and all of the after school staff continued to call her beth. Every day she marked through the Eliza in her name that her teacher wrote on her papers. I don't think that Beth was as upset by being called something other that what she wanted, But it did have a clear impact on her.
The Hispanic population in our country is rapidly growing. For this reason teachers need to find ways to expose students to Hispanic cultures as well as being sensitive to Hispanic students who may feel out of place. Many people in our country bare a prejudice against Hispanic Americans. I feel that most prejudice is a result of a lack of understanding of the cultures around them. For this reason, teachers should try to incorporate as many different cultures within their curriculum as possible. I think this multicultural book would be an excellent way to introduce students to The Hispanic culture and to help them see that Maria Isabella's Hispanic family were good, hard working, and loving people. All students should be able to identify with Maria Isabella's struggle to fit in. I would like to read this book to my class within the first week of school and have a discussion about how people are different and how we are all the same. I would then have the class write a narrative about how their heritage and culture is important to them. I feel that this activity would make students more aware of the world around them as well as them selves.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Yeh- Shen
Yeh-Shen
Louie, Ai-ling
Young, Ed
Putnam and Grosset Group NY, NY (1982)
Fairy Tale, Traditional Literature, Multicultural
k-3
Yeh-Shen is the orphaned daughter of a chief. Her father and her mother's death meant that she must live with her mean and spiteful stepmother and stepsister. They did what ever they could to make Yeh-Shen's life miserable. She only had one friend in the whole world. This friend was a fish that swam in the pond near her home. The fish was very wise and comforted Yeh-Shen. She hid the fish from her stepmother out of fear of what she might do. Her stepmother found out about the fish and killed it out of spite. Yeh-Shen was devastated and kept the remains of the fish. The fish bones still held the fish's magical spirit and he was able to help Yeh-Shen with her wish to go to the festival where her stepsisters hoped to find a husband. Her stepmother forbid her to go to the festival because she did not want her to over shadow her daughters. The fish bones transformed her old ragged clothes into beautiful silk robes and golden slippers. The fish warned her not to lose the slippers and off she wen to the festival. All of the people were in awe of Yeh-Shens beauty but she was forced to flee when her stepsister became suspicious about her identity. Yeh-Shen ran so fast that she lost one of the Gold slippers. Yeh-Shen's beautiful clothing vanished and so did the fish's soul. She was once again devastated by the loss of her friend. The lost golden slipper was found and made it's way to the king. He was enchanted by the tiny shoe and he wanted to find the woman that the shoe belonged to. Many women came to try on the slipper including the stepsisters, but no one has feet tiny enough to fit into the slipper. Yeh-Shen snick out to get the shoe after the crowd of women left. The king discovered that the Yeh-Shen was the woman he had been searching for. She married the king and lived a very happy life but her step family were crushed by a rock slide.
This is a Chinese version of the Cinderella story. This version serves as a good tool to expose students to the Chinese culture but it is far from my favorite version. The author did not do a great job of tugging at my emotions. I did not feel the sympathy for Yeh-Shen as I did for Vasilisa and the Rough Faced Girl. To me, this tale was just a tale not a story of someone that could have really lived. She did not show the selflessness that the others showed. Despite this concern I thing I would use tis version as a part of a Cinderella unit. I think that this book, along with the others, would be a good way to get students to research the history of monarchs in each of the Cinderella tales. Each of the tales speak of the leader of that culture's nation. The students could research not only the monarchs themselves, but also those county's systems of government and how they might have changed trough time. This book could also be used to inform students of the Chinese culture, such as the importance of women having small feet. The kink was first stuck by how tiny Yeh-Shen's feet were.
The illustrations were painted in watercolor within a block design which was quite fitting for this Asian tale. I like block illustrations because they make the illustrations seem as though they are snapshots in time like a slide show. I liked the color combination that Young chose. He used a lot of pastels that were calming and gave the reader assurance that the story would end well. The Illustrations were very beautiful but I do feel that the story could have stood alone without them because they failed to capture the emotion in the story.
The Rough Faced Girl
The Rough Faced Girl
Martin, Rafe
Shannon, David
Putnam and Grosset Group, NY, NY (1992)
Fairy Tate, Traditional Literature, multicultural
k-3
The Rough Faced Girl lived in Lake Ontario Canada in an Algonquin village long ago. She had two sisters who treated her terribly. They made her set so close to the fire that she became burnt and scared only so that she could constantly feed the fire and keep them warm. The laughed at her and felt no pity or guilt for the way the rough faced girl was forced to live. Their father gave his oldest daughters whatever they wanted and allowed his youngest daughter to live such a miserable life. The oldest daughters were very beautiful and wore the best of clothes but there poor little sister bore terrible scars. The oldest sisters believed that because of their beauty they would be able to marry the rich and powerful invisible being who hid himself. In order to marry the invisible being the girls had to have seen him. They lied to the Invisible Being's brother telling them that they had seen him. He knew the girls were liars when they were unable to tell him what the Invisible Being's bow and sled was made of. He turned the girls away despite their beauty. The Rough Faced Girl became convinced that she was supposed to marry the Invisible Being. She made herself the best outfit she could out of the scraps her father had given fer and set off to see the Invisible Being. The Invisible Being saw her inner beauty and allowed her to see him. She wen to the Invisible being's wise sister and told her she had seen him. She was able two answer the wise woman's questions about her brother. The Rough Faced girl bathed in the lake and all of her scars disappeared. The two were married and and live a happy life together.
This adaptation of the Cinderella story is much different from Perrault's version. The Rough Faced girl did not have and evil stepmother. Instead, she had a weak father who did nothing to protect his daughter. I think that this is even worse than the evil stepmother because his daughter was his flesh and blood whom he was supposed to protest. I wish the story gave more insight on why her father behaved this way. Why were the two older sisters so evil when the youngest sister was so kind? I think that this book is an excellent book to use to get students thinking about the characters beyond what the author writes. I would like to have the students rewrite the story and have them fill in the blanks and answer all of the questions the class comes up with during class discussion. One third grade class in Terryville wrote and illustrated their own endings for the story. I think kids would like this discussion because they have endless creativity. I would also use this book to help students understand the traits of traditional fiction and their similarities to one another. This is an excellent book to make a creative vinn-diagram with that compares this version to another.
The single page illustration's by Shannon are very moving. His illustration of The Rough faced girl being burned by the sparks made by hart sink. Her pain and helplessness was so evident. It is not until the very end of the story when she washes away her burns that he allows us to see her whole face. This leads the reader to believe that he is not showing us her face in order to protect us from the horrible agony that is shown on her face. With out his illustrations I dont think I could have never fully understood her pain. The author and illustrator do a wonderful job showing us her soul. She is beautiful, kind and pure even when her body is scared and burned. My favorite part about this book is that it gives the message that beauty is truly more than skin deep.
Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave
Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave
Mayer, Marianna
Craft, K.Y.
William Morrow and Company, NY, NY (1994)
k-3
Fairy Tale, Traditional Literature, Multicultural
Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave is about a girl named Vasilisa. She was orphaned after the death of her father and was left in the care of her step mother. Vasilisa's step mother was an evil witch who treated Vasilisa horribly and forced her to cater to her and her two daughters every need. Vasilisa's stepsisters were equally repulsive and cared nothing about Vasilisa. Her only friend was a magic doll that her deceased mother had made her shortly before she had died. The doll could talk and move like a person and gave Vasilisa hope and encouragement. As her and her stepsisters grew older, Vasilisa's stepmother became worried that because of Vailisa's great kindness and beauty, her unattractive daughters would not beable to fid husbands. For this reason she decided to get rid of Vasilisa. She sent her into the forest to borrow a light from the evil cannibal Baba Yaga. Everone was afraid of Baba Yaga and Vasilisa feared theat she would never return but she did as she was told and went into the forest. Vasilisa saw a magical pale horseman at dawn and a red horseman at sun rise. Vasilis finaly arived at her horrid destination. Baba Yagas house was surrounded by skulls and Baba Yaga herself was quite terrifying. Baba Yaga gave Vasilisa near impossible cooking and cleaning tasks to complete the next day before she returned home. The magic doll helped Baba Yaga complete the tasks on time. The next day baba Yaga gave her even more tasks and Vasilisa and the doll managed to finish them all. After completing her tasks Vasilisa was allowed to return home with a skull lantern. When Vasilisa reterned home the lantern incinerated the evil stepmother and step sisters. Vasilisa then went to live with a kind old woman. She was very happy there and began to wave beautiful cloth. The Tzar saw her beautiful fabric and married her for her inner and outer beauty. Vasilisa lived a happy life from then on.
This book is a version of a Cinderella story that is set in Russia. Previous to reading this book I had never heard of the Russian Cinderella but after a little research I found other versions of this tale which differ a bit. I found this version of Cinderella fairly similar to Perrault's version of Cinderella that was adapted by Walt Disney which is most common in our country. In this story Vasilisa has an evil stepmother and two evil step sisters as did Cinderella. Yet, Vasilisa the Brave is a much darker story. The character of Baba Yaga is quite terrifying and the step mother and step sisters die a gruesome death. This story almost seems fit for Halloween! I like that this book has a darker side because I think boys would get more interested in this version that that of the Disney version. Most fairy tails are more geared to girls which leaves boy out in the cold to get bored and restless. I think this book would be welcomed by boys because of the skulls and bones and all of the other features that boys think are the coolest thing in the world. I f I were doing a unit on Cinderella story's, I would want to defiantly incorporate this book for the guys in the class and also because it is a great way to start a discussion on the Russian culture.
The illustrations in this book were rendered in oil, gouache, and watercolor. The left side of the page has a mini scene that features the first letter of the first word of the page. Below the text is boarder like scene. The right page has a boarder that surrounds an illustration that depicts the text on the opposite page. Craft's illustrations are quite detailed. The illustrations of Baba Yaga are so scary and eerie that I almost cringe when I see he horridness. For the most part I think that the story can stand on its own without the illustrations, But you have to see Baba Yaga to believe how terrifying she must have been.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Lon Po Po
Lon Po Po
Ed Young
Fiction, Folklore
K-3
Philomel Books New York 1989
Lon Po Po is an ancient Chinese folktale about three sisters who are home alone while their Mother is visiting their grandmother or their Po Po. That night there was a knock at the door. on the other side of the door their is a wolf who was pretending to be their grandmother. At first the girls were confused but soon the oldest sister Shang noticed that Po Po has claws and a tail she then realizes that it is a wolf not their Grandmother. The Shang devise a very clever plan to trick the wolf. they tell it that it should eat some of the gingko nuts that were growing on the tree outside. The girls tell the wolf that the nuts will make it live forever. The girls agree to climb up the tree to pick some nuts. Then they tell the wolf that it must climb the tree and pick the nut itself to reap their benefits. The girls devise a contraption to pull the wolf up the tree. the girls pulled the wolf partially up the tree and pretended to accidentally lose their grip and sent the wolf tumbling down to the ground. The girls did this three times the third being fatal. The girls were then able to go to sleep and their mother returned home safely the next day.
I was previously unaware that this version of Little Red Riding Hood existed. This book put a new spin on the version of the story I grew up with. I think I like this book better than the American version because of how clever the sisters were. The sisters led by Shang were smart and clever and able to take care of themselves. They were not out smarted by the wolf the way Little Red Riding Hood was. Nor were they weak and defenseless. This book could be used to start a discussion on the differences between the two versions so the become more aware of details. Also children can be taught about folklore through this book.
The Illustrations in this book were double page spreads with a boarder. They were done with watercolor by Young. The illustrations were done is dark hues to emphasized the danger and suspense that was in the story.The Illustrations were outstanding but like mot folklore this tale could have been effectively told without illustrations.
Ed Young
Fiction, Folklore
K-3
Philomel Books New York 1989
Lon Po Po is an ancient Chinese folktale about three sisters who are home alone while their Mother is visiting their grandmother or their Po Po. That night there was a knock at the door. on the other side of the door their is a wolf who was pretending to be their grandmother. At first the girls were confused but soon the oldest sister Shang noticed that Po Po has claws and a tail she then realizes that it is a wolf not their Grandmother. The Shang devise a very clever plan to trick the wolf. they tell it that it should eat some of the gingko nuts that were growing on the tree outside. The girls tell the wolf that the nuts will make it live forever. The girls agree to climb up the tree to pick some nuts. Then they tell the wolf that it must climb the tree and pick the nut itself to reap their benefits. The girls devise a contraption to pull the wolf up the tree. the girls pulled the wolf partially up the tree and pretended to accidentally lose their grip and sent the wolf tumbling down to the ground. The girls did this three times the third being fatal. The girls were then able to go to sleep and their mother returned home safely the next day.
I was previously unaware that this version of Little Red Riding Hood existed. This book put a new spin on the version of the story I grew up with. I think I like this book better than the American version because of how clever the sisters were. The sisters led by Shang were smart and clever and able to take care of themselves. They were not out smarted by the wolf the way Little Red Riding Hood was. Nor were they weak and defenseless. This book could be used to start a discussion on the differences between the two versions so the become more aware of details. Also children can be taught about folklore through this book.
The Illustrations in this book were double page spreads with a boarder. They were done with watercolor by Young. The illustrations were done is dark hues to emphasized the danger and suspense that was in the story.The Illustrations were outstanding but like mot folklore this tale could have been effectively told without illustrations.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Shaman's Apprentice
The Shaman's Apprentice
Cherry, Lynne
Plotkin, Mark
Realistic Fiction, multicultural
Hardcourt Children's Books (2001)
k-3
The Shaman's Apprentice is about a young boy named Kamanya who lived in the Trio Native Village of Kwamala in the Amazon rain forest. When Kamanya was a boy his life was saved by Natahlah tha medicine man also known as the shaman. Shaman were highly regarded in their society because of there vast knowledge of herbs and medicines that were used to heal people. One day a man with a mysterious illness came to the village from another village and told them that white men had come to their village in search of gold and had given them all the dreadful illness. The man soon died but not before spreading the illness to others in the village. the Shaman could not figure out hoe to cure the disease. One day white missionaries came to the village and gave them pills that cured their illness which they called malaria. The village did not respect the shaman as much any more because he could not cure the malaria. One day a woman named Gabriela came to the village and told them that the pills that the missionaries gave them were derived from a plant in the amazon. this information caused the tribe to respect the Shaman again. Gabriela wrote a book about Natahlahs healing medicines and skills. The village elders chose Kamanya to be the shamans apprentice.
I found this book a little cheesy. It had too many predictable out comes for my tastes. I also did not like how the author referred to the tribe as Indians. I think she should have referred to them as Natives to the Amazon because they were not Indians from India. I think the name Indian is a derogatory term for Natives of the Americas and should not be used in literature meant to inform children. Despite this, the book does shed light on how instrumental medicines in the rain forest have been on modern medicine. This fact could help break down stereotypes that suggest that natives are privative and inferior. I am glad that she made the ethnobotanist character a woman because I agree with Cherry in that children should know that women to can be scientific role models.
In my opinion the illustrations were the best part of the whole book. The double page illustrations had bursts of color that filled the whole page. The Illustrations painted with watercolor using great detail. the illustrations saved the book because they were the only thing that really held my interest throughout the whole book. This book would be much less interesting without the illustrations.
Cherry, Lynne
Plotkin, Mark
Realistic Fiction, multicultural
Hardcourt Children's Books (2001)
k-3
The Shaman's Apprentice is about a young boy named Kamanya who lived in the Trio Native Village of Kwamala in the Amazon rain forest. When Kamanya was a boy his life was saved by Natahlah tha medicine man also known as the shaman. Shaman were highly regarded in their society because of there vast knowledge of herbs and medicines that were used to heal people. One day a man with a mysterious illness came to the village from another village and told them that white men had come to their village in search of gold and had given them all the dreadful illness. The man soon died but not before spreading the illness to others in the village. the Shaman could not figure out hoe to cure the disease. One day white missionaries came to the village and gave them pills that cured their illness which they called malaria. The village did not respect the shaman as much any more because he could not cure the malaria. One day a woman named Gabriela came to the village and told them that the pills that the missionaries gave them were derived from a plant in the amazon. this information caused the tribe to respect the Shaman again. Gabriela wrote a book about Natahlahs healing medicines and skills. The village elders chose Kamanya to be the shamans apprentice.
I found this book a little cheesy. It had too many predictable out comes for my tastes. I also did not like how the author referred to the tribe as Indians. I think she should have referred to them as Natives to the Amazon because they were not Indians from India. I think the name Indian is a derogatory term for Natives of the Americas and should not be used in literature meant to inform children. Despite this, the book does shed light on how instrumental medicines in the rain forest have been on modern medicine. This fact could help break down stereotypes that suggest that natives are privative and inferior. I am glad that she made the ethnobotanist character a woman because I agree with Cherry in that children should know that women to can be scientific role models.
In my opinion the illustrations were the best part of the whole book. The double page illustrations had bursts of color that filled the whole page. The Illustrations painted with watercolor using great detail. the illustrations saved the book because they were the only thing that really held my interest throughout the whole book. This book would be much less interesting without the illustrations.
Baseball Saved Us
Baseball Saved Us
Mochizuki, Ken
Lee Dom
Lee & Low Books, Inc. (1995)
Realistic fiction, Multicultural
K-3
Baseball Saved Us began with the author's note which gave the reader background information on how Japanese Americans were unfairly forced into internment camps During world war two because their fellow citizens did not trust them. the story begins with a young Japanese American boy who is living in an internment camp. his father tells him that it is wrong that they are forced to live there. The boy thinks back to when Pearl Harbor was attacked and how he was called names and how sad his mother was when they had to leave there home and trow away many of their belongings. then he tells the reader about their cramped and unpleasant living conditions and how he had trouble sleeping. One day his brother Teddy talked back to his father in a very disrespectful way and this made his father decide that the camp needed to play baseball. the men dug out a baseball field while the women made uniforms out of mattress covers. Their friends from back home sent bats, balls, and gloves for them to use. Once the field was complete they formed teams and began playing. He remarked that playing baseball in the camps was easier that at home because most of the boys in the camp were his size. None the less, he still struggled until one day he decided that he was not going to let the guard who was always watching him see him defeated and he made a home run. After the war, he and his family were finally able to go home. But they still were not accepted and he was called names and had to eat lunch by himself. He played baseball when he returned home but it was once again harder because he was still smaller and he faced pregidous because he was Japanese. he was finally able to succeed at baseball when he imagined that the pitcher was that same guard.
Sadly, many children do not know the great injustice that was done to Japanese Americans during world war two by our country. I believe that children should be taught about the past so the same mistakes will not be made twice. Reading this book to students or having them read it themselves would be a wonderful way to inform them about this stain on our country's history. I think that children could easily identify with this boy's struggles because some of his struggles such as his difficulty playing a sport is not uncommon at all. This book also teaches students about tolerance and that you cannot judge someone simply by how they look or what descent they are.
The illustrations are absolutely amazing. they are made by firs etching the images into beeswax then by adding oil paint. the copy right page tells that some of the images were inspired by real photos from an internment camp. the time and detail Lee put into these single an double page illustrations show how important it must have been to him to illustrate this story in a way that would capture the readers attention. Lee defiantly succeeded in capturing my attention and they make the book much better.
Mochizuki, Ken
Lee Dom
Lee & Low Books, Inc. (1995)
Realistic fiction, Multicultural
K-3
Baseball Saved Us began with the author's note which gave the reader background information on how Japanese Americans were unfairly forced into internment camps During world war two because their fellow citizens did not trust them. the story begins with a young Japanese American boy who is living in an internment camp. his father tells him that it is wrong that they are forced to live there. The boy thinks back to when Pearl Harbor was attacked and how he was called names and how sad his mother was when they had to leave there home and trow away many of their belongings. then he tells the reader about their cramped and unpleasant living conditions and how he had trouble sleeping. One day his brother Teddy talked back to his father in a very disrespectful way and this made his father decide that the camp needed to play baseball. the men dug out a baseball field while the women made uniforms out of mattress covers. Their friends from back home sent bats, balls, and gloves for them to use. Once the field was complete they formed teams and began playing. He remarked that playing baseball in the camps was easier that at home because most of the boys in the camp were his size. None the less, he still struggled until one day he decided that he was not going to let the guard who was always watching him see him defeated and he made a home run. After the war, he and his family were finally able to go home. But they still were not accepted and he was called names and had to eat lunch by himself. He played baseball when he returned home but it was once again harder because he was still smaller and he faced pregidous because he was Japanese. he was finally able to succeed at baseball when he imagined that the pitcher was that same guard.
Sadly, many children do not know the great injustice that was done to Japanese Americans during world war two by our country. I believe that children should be taught about the past so the same mistakes will not be made twice. Reading this book to students or having them read it themselves would be a wonderful way to inform them about this stain on our country's history. I think that children could easily identify with this boy's struggles because some of his struggles such as his difficulty playing a sport is not uncommon at all. This book also teaches students about tolerance and that you cannot judge someone simply by how they look or what descent they are.
The illustrations are absolutely amazing. they are made by firs etching the images into beeswax then by adding oil paint. the copy right page tells that some of the images were inspired by real photos from an internment camp. the time and detail Lee put into these single an double page illustrations show how important it must have been to him to illustrate this story in a way that would capture the readers attention. Lee defiantly succeeded in capturing my attention and they make the book much better.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
