Module 4/SLIS 5420: Newbery and Printz Award Winners

A Year down Yonder

Written by Richard Peck

2001 Newbery Award
2001 ALA Best Books for Young Adults







Bibliography

Peck, Richard. A Year Down Yonder. Penguin Group, 2000. ISBN: 0803725183

Summary

Mary Alice has grown up in Chicago, and is not thrilled that she must spend an entire year in Grandma Dowdel's hick town while her parents weather out the Depression. Grandma Dowel's big-heartedness and crazy antics are enough entertainment to get her through the year, however, and in the end, the country girls decide that Mary Alice isn't a rich city girl after all. Mary Alice learns how to play pranks on Halloweeners, trap foxes, and find true love. She grows closer to her grandma, and finds that in many ways, they are very much alike.

My impressions

A Year Down Yonder is the sequal toPeck's Newbery Honor book, A Long Way from Chicago. The books are collections of stories about two kids’ adventures with their Grandma during the Depression. The writing is very clever and some of the stories are hilarious. Peck does a great job fleshing out his characters; especially in A Year down Yonder, which offers a more cohesive story line. A Year Down Yonder is poignant, funny, and manifests darn good storytelling.

Reviews

Grandma Dowdel's back! She's just as feisty and terrifying and goodhearted as she was in Richard Peck's A Long Way from Chicago, and every bit as funny...Peck is at his best with these hilarious stories that rest solidly within the American literary tradition of Mark Twain and Bret Harte. Teachers will cherish them as great read-alouds, and older teens will gain historical perspective from this lively picture of the depression years in small-town America. (Patty Campbell, Amazon.com Review)

A small masterpiece of storytelling... the novel reveals a strong sense of place, a depth of characterization, and a rich sense of humor. (The Horn Book)

Activities

Here is a great site with activities for A Year Down Yonder:
http://eduscapes.com/newbery/01a.htm



Monster

Written by Walter Dean Myers
Illustrated by Christopher Myers

2000 Michael Printz Award
2000 Coretta Scott King Award





Bibliography

Myers, Walter Dean. Monster. HarperCollins Publishers, 1999. ISBN: 0060280778

Summary

Monster is a gritty and realistic tale of sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon, who is going to trial for murder. Most of the book is told as though the protagonist was filming his life story, with occasional memories or conversations interrupting the trial proceedings. As the trial runs its course, it is clear that Steve may not get off, and will probably serve up to 25 years of jail time. His own lawyer doubts his innocence, and the book leads up to a harrowing climax as the jury decides the verdict.

My Impressions

The plot of Monster is very open-ended—is he really innocent? Steve has convinced himself that he is, but Myers leaves the truth out of the picture. Monster is also very unique in its journal/film script format. A likely comparison to this book would be to a gripping, prime time TV drama. It holds interest the same way a sensationalized, morbid news story would. Many of the “images” are graphic and disturbing. The characters’ conversations include a lot of street slang, which adds an edgy, realistic element. It is brilliantly presented, and displays how quickly one teen's life falls to shambles as he winds up with the wrong kind of friends.

Reviews

Filled with ambiguity, this fast-paced nail-biter will have you at the edge of your seat unable to put it down. Perfect for teens and adults alike, Monster raises interesting questions about the path to crime and our judicial and prison systems. (Tammy L. Currier, Teenreads.com)

Steve Harmon, 16, is accused of serving as a lookout for a robbery of a Harlem drugstore. The owner was shot and killed, and now Steve is in prison awaiting trial for murder. From there, he tells about his case and his incarceration. Many elements of this story are familiar, but Myers keeps it fresh and alive by telling it from an unusual perspective... Monster will challenge readers with difficult questions, to which there are no definitive answers... It's an emotionally charged story that readers will find compelling and disturbing. (Edward Sullivan, New York Public Library, for School Library Journal)

Activities

If reading this aloud in a classroom, have the students keep daily journals that record the court proceedings. Each day, have the students record whether they think Steve is guilty or innocent, and why.

Use the story as a vehicle to teach the students about the judicial system. Explain how long the process takes, and discuss jury selection, plea-bargaining, prosecuting and defending attorneys, conviction, and sentencing. Have the students hold a mock court trial.

Module 3/SLIS 5420: Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, and Pura Belpre Winners

Bud, Not Buddy

Written by Christopher Paul Curtis

2000 Newbery Award
2000 Coretta Scott King Award
1999 Golden Kite Honor
2000 ALA Best Books for Young Adults







Bibliography

Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy. Random House Children's Books, 1999. ISBN: 0385323069

Summary

Ten-year-old Bud Caldwell is an orphan growing up during the Great Depression who embarks on a rags-to-riches journey to find his family. His only clue is a collection of flyers advertising Herman E. Calloway and his band The Dusky Devastators of the Depression!!!!!! With the aid of Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself, Bud overcomes monsters, vampires, and a grumpy old man to achieve his goal. During his adventures, Bud crosses paths with a few unsavory personalities, but is also helped along by a quirky sense of humor and several kind-hearted adults.

My Impressions

Bud, Not Buddy is an excellent example of award winning literature. The language and dialog are engaging, the story is gripping, and the characters are well fleshed-out. The story revolves around a lovable character who cannot be defeated by the cruelty and negligence of the people around him, but who is also assisted by kind and unselfish strangers. Bud, Not Buddy reveals characters who behave at their best and worst during one of the most difficult time periods in American history.

Reviews

Bud, 10, is on the run from the orphanage and from yet another mean foster family. His mother died when he was 6, and he wants to find his father... Told in the boy's naive, desperate voice, with lots of examples of his survival tactics ("Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar out of Yourself"), this will make a great read-aloud. Curtis says in an afterword that some of the characters are based on real people, including his own grandfathers, so it's not surprising that the rich blend of tall tale, slapstick, sorrow, and sweetness has the wry, teasing warmth of family folklore. Hazel Rochman (Booklist, 1999)

When 10-year-old Bud Caldwell runs away from his new foster home, he realizes he has nowhere to go but to search for the father he has never known: a legendary jazz musician advertised on some old posters his deceased mother had kept... Bud is a plucky, engaging protagonist. Other characters are exaggerations: the good ones (the librarian and Pullman car porter who help him on his journey and the band members who embrace him) are totally open and supportive, while the villainous foster family finds particularly imaginative ways to torture their charge. However, readers will be so caught up in the adventure that they won't mind. Curtis has given a fresh, new look to a traditional orphan-finds-a-home story that would be a crackerjack read-aloud. Kathleen Isaacs (School Library Journal, 1999)

Activities

Discuss Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself with the group. Take a large sheet of paper (or use the black/whiteboard if in a classroom) and have the kids make their own list of Rules and Things. Let them be creative and encourage humorous (but appropriate) entries.

Have a presentation on Depression-era jazz. Listen to examples of the instruments, discuss the role of black musicians, how they wrote music, and the evolution of "scat." Play some music from that era by Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, etc. Have the kids come up with their own lyrics for "the blues."

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Written and Illustrated by Brian Selznik

2007 Caldecott Award
2007 Quill Award
2007 NY Times Best Children's Illustrated Book
2007 ALA Best Books for Young Adults
2007 Horn Book Fanfare Best Book
2007 National Book Award Finalist

Bibliography

Selznik, Brian. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Scholastic, 2007. ISBN: 0439813786

Summary

Described as a "Novel in Words and Pictures," the Invention of Hugo Cabret is unique as a 533-page picture book, including hand-drawn and photograph illustrations. The story is about Hugo Cabret, whose father was obsessed with repairing an animatron that he discovered in a museum which consequently burned down and took his life. Now the orphaned Hugo must finish his father's work, and complete the mysterious mechanical man. He must survive on his own in the hidden passageways of a Parisian train station while trying to piece the puzzle of his father's obsession together. He makes friends with the helpful Isabelle and her godfather, the toymaker Papa Georges. When he finally completes the project, the mystery that is revealed by the animatronic man is more than Hugo or Isabelle could ever imagine, and Papa George's true identity is revealed at last.

My Impressions

The Invention of Hugo Cabret takes a look at the whimsical, magical artwork and cinematography of the Parisian movie maker Georges Méliès. Selznik's book is a masterful combination of illustrations, pictures, and well-written text that presents Méliès' story through the eyes of a desperate orphan boy. Hugo and Isabelle discover much about themselves as they search for the answers of Papa Georges' past, and the reader is treated to an eyeful of wonderful illustrations that propel the story forward to the dramatic climax.

Reviews

Here is a true masterpiece - an artful blending of narrative, illustration and cinematic technique, for a story as tantalizing as it is touching... Selznick hints at the toymaker’s hidden identity (inspired by an actual historical figure in the film industry, Georges Méliès) through impressive use of meticulous charcoal drawings that grow or shrink against black backdrops, in pages-long sequences. They display the same item in increasingly tight focus or pan across scenes the way a camera might. The plot ultimately has much to do with the history of the movies, and Selznick’s genius lies in his expert use of such a visual style to spotlight the role of this highly visual media. A standout achievement. (Publisher's Weekly)

With characteristic intelligence, exquisite images, and a breathtaking design, Selznick shatters conventions related to the art of bookmaking in this magical mystery set in 1930s Paris. He employs wordless sequential pictures and distinct pages of text to let the cinematic story unfold, and the artwork, rendered in pencil and bordered in black, contains elements of a flip book, a graphic novel, and film... This is a masterful narrative that readers can literally manipulate. (Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library for School Library Journal)

Activites

Have the students compose a story made entirely of pictures. Allow them to use fifty words or less, but the pictures must clearly show the action of the story.

Present a lesson on early cinematography, focusing on the artwork of Méliès and his contemporaries. Show prints of his work (if possible) or find clips from some of the original films, especially The Arrival of the Train at the Station. Explain how magical and even frightening the early movies were to the public since they had never experienced anything like it before.

Selznik has a wonderful website that offers resources and ideas: http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com

Module 2/SLIS 5420: Classic Children's and Young Adult Literature

Misty of Chincoteague

Written by Marguerite Henry, Illustrated by Wesley Dennis

1948 Newbery Honor
1961 Lewis Carrol Shelf Award
1948 Horn Book Fanfare Best Book


Bibliography

Henry, Marguerite. Misty of Chincoteague. Aladdin Paperbacks, 2006. ISBN: 1416927832

Summary

Two siblings share the desire to own and tame the elusive Phantom, one of the wild ponies living on Assateague Island. The brother-sister team must work non-stop and save enough money to purchase her, if she is captured in the annual Pony Penning roundup. However, things are complicated when the Phantom appears with a new colt; will the children find a way to keep the mother and her baby? If so, will they truly be able to tame the wild and free Phantom? This classic tale is a coming-of-age story that reveals the best of human nature while capturing the local flavor of coastal Maryland. The children prove that they can win "a piece of wind and sky" through their determination.

My Impressions

Misty of Chincoteague captures the reader with an abundance of local language, exciting scenes, and deep characterization. Paul and Maureen Beebe are portrayed as normal children who are willing to work and sacrifice to achieve their goals. They are not described as being extraordinary in any way, but the reader will not be surprised when the children perform heroic feats (like leaping into a whirlpool to save a pony). It is expected that the children will do anything to have the Phantom as their own. The grandfather's simple lessons and gentle encouragement greatly add to the story, as well as the patience and wisdom of the townspeople.

Reviews

Originally written in 1947, the dialogue in Misty of Chincoteague may be a little dated. But don't let that deter you from a delightful story of a brother and sister who yearn for a horse of their own... Readers feel like they are part of the island round up. They see the wild horses struggling against the tide to get from island to the next. they feel Maureen's pain when she learns that someone had already purchased Misty. Misty of Chincoteague is a great read-aloud book as well as a great story book. Animal lovers will not be able to put the book down. Ed Goldberg (Librarything.com, aug 19, 2009)

Marguerite Henry's Newbery Honor book has captivated generations of boys and girls both with its thrilling descriptions of true incidents from the tiny island of Chincoteague, and its realistic yet wonderfully magical atmosphere. This story of an animal brought into captivity poignantly reveals the powerful opposing forces of humans and nature. Wesley Dennis's pen-and-ink ponies are masterfully depicted with rippling muscles, shaggy coats, and free spirits. Emilie Coulter (Amazon.com, accessed Sept. 12, 2009)

Suggested Activities

Supplement the reading with discussions about the Assateague Ponies. Include the the history of the island and the Park Service's current endeavors. Utilize discussions with maps, videos, books, and/or pamphlets provided by the Park Service.

Play a game that simulates the Pony Penning process (adjust according to room size, access to outdoors, etc.). Instead of playing "Red Rover," the children could play "Wild Ponies" and be split into ponies and cowboys. "Duck, Duck, Goose" could be changed to "Horse, Horse, Pony."

Younger children could do a craft where they make horse ears out of construction paper, or horse tails out of yarn.

Mouse Soup

Written and Illustrated by Arnold Lobel

Bibliography

Lobel, Arnold. Mouse Soup. HarperCollins Publishers, 2008. ISBN: 006179435X

Summary

A hungry weasel captures a mouse and throws him into a pot for dinner. The clever mouse convinces the weasel to "put stories in his soup." The mouse tells four tales: "The Bees and the Mud," "Two Large Stones," "The Crickets," and "The Thorn Bush." The mouse escapes while the weasel is preoccupied with finding "ingredients" from each of the stories to flavor his soup.

My Impressions

Mouse Soup is a classic children's book that presents four tales seamlessly within a larger story. The clever mouse tricks the weasel by entertaining him with four tales, then convincing him to go out into the woods to find physical elements that were present in the story to put into his soup. The language and dialog are very entertaining and keep the reader engaged. The illustrations are well-done and do much to add to the appeal of the stories. Mouse Soup is an excellent book to read out loud, and offers many opportunities for creative character voicing.

Reviews

Four amusing brief tales. Genial, artless nonsense, all contained in the snug, imaginary world of a Lobel I Can Read book. (The Horn Book)

Arnold Lobel weaves four tales-within-a-tale that demonstrate a classic theme of great children's stories-- the triumph of a small creature over a larger one by not just physical quickness but verbal wits. (Newsweek)

Suggested Activities

Give each of the students paper and crayons, and encourage them to draw an "ingredient" from their favorite story. For example, if Cinderella is their favorite story, have them draw a glass slipper or a pumpkin. After they are done drawing, have them each bring up their picture and put it into a pot. Mix the papers in the pot, and bring out three or four ingredients. Have the children make up their own story based on the chosen ingredients.

Module 1/SLIS 5420: Introduction to Children's Literature

Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude

Written and Illustrated by Kevin O’Malley; also illustrated by Carol Heyer and Scott Goto




Bibliography

O'Malley, Kevin. Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude. Walker & Company, 2005. ISBN: 0802789471

Summary

The story of Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude is told from two viewpoints; a girl and a boy must cooperatively write a story for a library assignment at school. The girl writes about a princess who loves to play with her eight horses, while the boy wants to write about a motorcycle ‘dude’ who fights the evil giant who has stolen the princess’s horses. The story takes humorous turns as the two children argue over elements of the plot, and the story is resolved as the princess and the dude fight so much that they scare the giant away.

My Impressions

Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude is a very enjoyable book that highlights gender differences and shows children how different a story can become within different points of view. It is cleverly illustrated by more than one artist. The author illustrated the two children while a female artist illustrated the girl’s story and a male artist illustrated the boy’s additions. The artists each present the same material (such as the giant and his lair) in different artistic mediums so it is clear to the reader that the two children have unique viewpoints of the same story.

Reviews

A girl and a boy create a fairy tale in this lively picture book…. The fun in this picture book comes in the contrasting styles of the illustrations, which include contributions from Carol Heyer and Scott Goto. The girl's story features bright colors, flowers, and long golden locks, while the boy's story is done in the dark, taut-muscled style of comic books. Throughout, O'Malley depicts the girl and the boy reacting to the twists of the plot. A funny take on the age-old battle of the sexes, with an ending suited for the new millennium Todd Morning (Booklist, Mar. 15, 2005).

Young readers who have ever been forcibly yoked to a rival for some class project will glory in this contentious oral report. Unable to agree on a folktale to tell their classmates, a lad and lass decide to make it up as they go…. The unusual collaboration among illustrators works seamlessly, with O'Malley supplying the storytellers, and Heyer and Goto the characters on separate pages or spreads. This disarming, funny and not agenda-driven dig at the hot-button issue of gender differences is likely to excite plenty of giggles-and perhaps some discussion, too (Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2005).

Suggested Activities

The variety of styles of the illustrations found in Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude make it an excellent starting point for a discussion on artistic interpretation. The different styles and mediums can be explored and discussed. The children can illustrate their favorite scene from the story, and the activity can conclude with an art show.

After reading the book out loud, the children can play The Story Game, in which each person gets to tell a story for 15-20 seconds, then the next child gets to add another 15-20 seconds, and so on. The story is passed on to every member of the group until it reaches the last person, who gets to conclude the story and finish the tale. It will be interesting for the children as they watch the evolution of the tale as each child’s ideas are added to the story.