Module 14: Comets, Stars, the Moon and Mars

Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: 
Space Poems and Paintings 

by Doug Florian

Citation:

Florian, D. (2007). Comets, stars, the moon, and Mars: Space poems and 
          paintings. Orlando: Harcourt.

Summary

This book of poetry explores space through poetry. It begins with poems about the universe, galaxy, and solar system, and the sun, then goes in to poems about each planet. Those are followed by poems about comets, constellations, the black hole, and the great beyond. The poems give facts in a fun way.

Impressions

This book of poetry is an excellent bridge between science and poetry. Both boys and girls would enjoy this book. Readers learn about Space through fun rhyming poems.

Professional Reviews

Gr 1-5 --Nothing gladdens the heart of believers in good poetry for children more than a new collection by Florian, whose verses and paintings consistently capture the essence of his featured themes. This one literally sings the music of the spheres. Twenty playfully lyrical poems treat topics such as the universe, the individual planets, constellations, and black holes. Each selection is presented on its own spread and adorned with a magical painting done in gouache, collage, and rubber stamps on brown paper. Circles abound in the artwork, and many pages have round cut-outs that lead into the next picture. For example, "the earth" ("Two-thirds water./One-third land./Valleys deep./Mountains grand") is illustrated with a colorful globe decorated with circled collage prints of animals and plants. A smaller orb appears nearby, made from a cut-out circle that reveals part of the illustration for the next selection, "the moon." Some of the paintings incorporate mythological names and images. The pleasing blend of faded shades and brilliant colors, of old-fashioned prints and fanciful sketches, makes the illustrations seem both antique and high-tech. An appended "Galactic Glossary" provides additional information. In both language and artwork, Florian strikes the perfect balance between grandeur and whimsy. Like Myra Cohn Livingston and Leonard Everett Fisher's Space Songs (Holiday House, 1988; o.p.), this book is a work of art worthy of the vastness of its subject.

School Library Journal

Whalin, K. (2007). Comets, stars, the moon, and Mars: Space poems and
           paintings [Review of Book]. School Library Journal, 53(7), 90.

***********************

This large-format book looks at astronomy through the magnifying, clarifying lens of poetry. Each broad double-page spread features a short, accessible poem about a subject such as the sun, each of its planets, a comet, a constellation, or the universe, set within an impressive painting. A concrete poem entitled "a galaxy" is a curling spiral of words set against the midnight-blue sky and surrounded by other galaxies. Stamped type, cutout pages, collage elements with printed papers, and sweeping brushstrokes all figure prominently in the expressive collage artwork, which ably illustrates the verse. The last pages carry "A Galactic Glossary" with a paragraph on the topic of each poem, followed by a list of books and Websites. Florian's ode to Pluto matter-of-factly notes its demoted status, but even better is his pithy poem on Jupiter: "Jupiter's jumbo, / Gigantic, / Immense, / So wide / Side to side, / But gaseous, not dense. / With some sixteen moons / It's plainly prolific- / So super-dupiter / Jupiterrific!" Read this aloud.-Carolyn Phelan

The Booklist

Phelan, C. (2007). Comets, stars, the moon and Mars [Review of Book]. The 

            Booklist, 103(15), 50.

Library Lessons

This book would be great to use to introduce the Poetry Genre. It could be used to show that poetry comes in a variety of different forms and could be used in a poetry display. Students could write their own poetry. The librarian could choose a specific form of poetry, show examples, and give a guide on how to write it if necessary. Students can see from this book (and other examples) that there are a variety of types of poetry available to read.

References

Amazon. (2016). [Image of Cover]. Retrived from http://www.amazon.com/

       Comets-Stars-Moon-Mars-Paintings/dp/0152053727/ref=sr_1_1?

       ie=UTF8&qid=1461604914&sr=8-1&keywords=COMETS%2C+STARS%2C

       +THE+MOON+AND+MARS

Florian, D. (2007). Comets, stars, the moon, and Mars: Space poems and 
          paintings. Orlando: Harcourt.

Phelan, C. (2007). Comets, stars, the moon and Mars [Review of Book]. The 

            Booklist, 103(15), 50.

Whalin, K. (2007). Comets, stars, the moon, and Mars: Space poems and
           paintings [Review of Book]. School Library Journal, 53(7), 90.

Module 13: Giants Beware!

Giants Beware! 

The Chronicles of Claudette

by Jorge Aguirre

Citation:

Aguirre, J. (2012). Giants beware! New York: First Second. 

Summary

Giants Beware! is a graphic novel about a girl named Claudette that lives in a town surrounded by a wall because they fear the giant. No one is allowed outside the wall. Her father had been injured fighting a dragon, and she has the same urge to fight. She convinces (tricks) her friends to sneak out, find the dragon, and kill him. They experience many adventures along the way, but eventually find the giant only to find out that he is a baby giant and only wants to play. Claudette wants to be thought of as being brave, so she and her friends trick their fathers and many other townspeople into thinking that the giant has been killed.

Impressions

This is a great graphic novel. The story line is different from what you would expect. The lead character is a girl that wants to slay a giant. It is quite funny and the illustrations do a great job of telling and adding to the story. The ending is not predictable even if it is sort of silly. This is a graphic novel that would be enjoyed by both girls and boys.

Professional Reviews

Gr 3-6--A blacksmith's daughter is unsatisfied with her peaceful life within the fortress of Mont Petit Pierre. Rambunctious and loudmouthed, Claudette yearns for action, like killing the giant that lives on the mountain outside of town. With her timid brother, Gaston, and her ladylike friend, Marie, she blusters her way through the fortress gate and into the Forest of Death, beyond which lies the Mad River, and then Giant's Peak. Can these three kids, armed with a wooden sword, Marie's intelligence, Gaston's fortitude, Claudette's stinky feet, and a pug named Valiant, survive in the wilderness and defeat the giant? Of course they can, but not in the ways they might have expected. The adults in the story are distinguished by exaggerated characteristics, but their actions are driven by realistic, largely generous motives. The story strikes a fine balance between being action-and friendship-driven. The art is similarly well-balanced: Rosado's ink drawings are strong and lively, with expressive characters and well-drawn landscapes. Digitally applied color is natural, bright, and nonintrusive. Fans of Jimmy Gownley's "Amelia Rules" (S&S) and Jeff Smith's "Bone" series (Scholastic) will snap this title up.

School Library Journal

Willey, P. (2012). Giants Beware![Review of Book]. School Library 

            Journal, 58(5), 133.

*****************

You've heard it all before. A reckless and adventurous child runs off with a dog companion and friends, and together they brave dangerous terrain and confront the monster that has been terrorizing their town, only to learn that things are not always as they appear and that nothing is more valuable than friendship. But when your reckless adventurer is a tomboy, and her little brother yearns to be both a sword maker and a pastry chef, and when the standard for becoming a good princess is intelligence and cunning, and when the success of the quest ultimately hinges on saving the giant, it's clear that with strategic tweaks to just the right expectations, a familiar story can be invested with all the charm and fun a young reader could want. In a format running rampant with animation- and manga inspired art, Rosado distinguishes his work with the rounded figures and distinctive characteristics of Charles Schulz and action that engages but doesn't become chaotic. A zingy little story told with fine flair. - Jesse Karp

The Booklist

Karp, J. (2012). Giants beware! [Review of book]. The Booklist, 108(14), 46.

Library Lesson ideas

Giants Beware! would be a great book to use as an introduction to the genre of “Graphic Novel.” After listening to/reading the story, students could create their own graphic novel or comic strip using speech bubbles.

References

Aguirre, J. (2012). Giants beware! New York: First Second. 

Amazon.(2016). [Image of cover]. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Giants-

         Beware-Chronicles-Claudette-Aguirre/dp/1596435828/ref=sr_1_1?

         ie=UTF8&qid=1460815810&sr=8-1&keywords=beware+of+giants

Karp, J. (2012). Giants beware! The Booklist, 108(14), 46.

Willey, P. (2012). Giants Beware![Review of Book]. School Library 

           Journal, 58(5), 133.

Module 12: Just Being Audrey

Just Being Audrey

by Margaret Cardillo

Citation:

Cardillo, M., & Denos, J. (2011). Just being Audrey. New York: Balzer Bray.

Summary

Just Being Audrey is a biography about the life of Audrey Hepburn.  It begins with a description of her childhood. She grew up in Nazi-occupied Europe. She and her family even had to leave their home during World War II. She lived in a house with forty other people with very few supplies. After the war ended volunteers from the United Nations brought supplies and one even brought her a chocolate bar! This act of kindness meant a lot to Audrey. She always remembered that. It goes on to explain why she quite often wore a scarf and how her life wasn’t easy. She had to work hard for everything she had. After she was “discovered” and became an actress in America, she used her fame for good. In 1998 she became a Goodwill Ambassador for underprivileged children through UNICEF.

Impressions

I learned so much about Audrey Hepburn in this book. I only knew of her as an actress. There is so much more to learn about her. I was not aware of the philanthropy she was involved in. The illustrations were beautiful and really added to the story. The timeline and bibliography at the end let the reader know that they writer did some research for the book. I also liked that at the end the author and illustrator shared their feelings about Audrey and how they came to write and illustrate the book.

Professional Reviews

K-Gr 3--In this delightful introduction to Audrey Hepburn, readers learn that as a child, she was gangly and imaginative, in a world of her own. When she announced that she wanted to be the prima ballerina of all of Europe, her mother told her that the world was bigger than she was, and to always be kind, a tenet that seems to have stuck with her for life. She was born into a family of some privilege (her mother was a baroness), but their small wealth was no match for the advancing Nazi troops in World War II. Along with her family and 40 others, she hid in a country house with no heat and little to eat. Through the ordeal, she kept dancing and taught the other children. As the war in Europe ended, a volunteer gave her a chocolate bar, an act of kindness that seemed to inspire her. After the young woman realized that she would be more suited to acting, her Cinderella career took her from London to Broadway to Hollywood, but the power in this book lies beyond her fame in the spotlight. Her generous humanitarian spirit is seen through her actions and deeds as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF as she used her celebrity as a vehicle to assist others. With a light, sweet narrative style, readers can almost picture Hepburn dancing as they turn the pages. Evocative of the period, Denos's almost impressionistic pen-and-ink and watercolor artwork is lively and colorful. This picture-book biography is a great addition to any collection.

School Library Journal

Donnelly, A. (2011). Just Being Audrey [Review of Book]. School Library 

                Journal, 57(4), 158.

**********************

It's hard to believe life for Audrey Hepburn was ever anything but smart clothes, quirky expressions, and wistful gazes into the eyes of Cary Grant, but Cardillo makes a strong case to the contrary. Growing up in WWII- era Europe, Audrey wanted only to be a dancer, but the other girls made fun of her physical hurdles: "She was too tall, her feet were too big, and her neck was too long," and "her eyes seemed too big for her head." Young readers will get the message: these were precisely the traits that made Audrey an iconic beauty as an adult. In short order, she was spotted by entertainment heavyweights for her je ne sais quoi and quickly catapulted to fame. Denos' soft pastel illustrations cut just the right Audrey outline (complete with flapping neck scarf), and fans will especially enjoy picking out the movie roles depicted in a two-page spread of costumes. Her later humanitarian deeds are given their due, but it isAudrey's simple kindness that is emphasized throughout. - Daniel Kraus

The Booklist

Kraus, D. (2010). Just being Audrey [Review of Book]. The Booklist, 107(7), 43.

Library Lesson ideas

This would be a great book to introduce the Biography Genre. This could be used to explain what a Biography is including that it is written by someone else to inform the reader about the person. It would be a great way to show students that biographies are not always "boring." Students could make a bubble map about Audrey using facts from the book, then make a bubble map about themselves. It could also be compared to an autobiography. It could be added to a display of various Biographies and Autobiographies. 

References

Amazon. (2016). [Image of book cover]. Retrieved from
         http://www.amazon.com/Just-Being-Audrey-Margaret-Cardillo/dp/
         006185283X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460815237&sr=8-1&
         keywords=just+being+audrey
     

Cardillo, M., & Denos, J. (2011). Just being Audrey. New York: Balzer Bray.

Donnelly, A. (2011). Just Being Audrey [Review of Book]. School Library 

                Journal, 57(4), 158.

Kraus, D. (2010). Just being Audrey [Review of Book]. The Booklist, 107(7), 43.

Module 11: What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?

What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? 

by Steve Jenkins

2004 Caldecott Honor Book

Citation:

Jenkins, S., Jenkins, S., Page, R., & Houghton Mifflin Company. (2003). What do 
         you do with a tail like this?. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Summary

This book is an informational book about animals. It explains how “animals use their noses, ears, tails, eyes, mouths and feet in different ways.” The illustrations show close ups of the body part, allowing the reader to guess what animal they belong to. Turn the page to see full pictures of the animals. On this page, it explains how each animal uses that body part. At the end of the book, there is more information about the animals.

Impressions
This is a wonderful informational book. It is a great example of how not all “non-fiction” books have “real pictures.” I think readers would enjoy guessing what animal each part belongs to, then turning the page to see if they are right. This book should be recommended to elementary science teachers that teach about what animal’s body parts do. The collage illustrations are very well done.

Professional Reviews

K-Gr 4: Jenkins, this time in collaboration with his wife, has created yet another eye-opening book. Children will learn that lizards can completely break off their tailas a defense and that it will grow back. And, they'll find out that crickets' ears are on their knees. Most fish have two eyes, but some have four, the better to see above and below the water at the same time. These are just a few of the fascinating facts of nature dangled out front to draw readers into this beautifully illustrated book. On each spread, five different animals' tails, ears, eyes, or other body parts, done in vibrant cut-paper collage, appear with a simple question ("What do you do with a--like this?"). The next spread shows the five creatures in their entirety and offers a brief explanation. For example, "If you're an elephant, you use your nose to give yourself a bath." The back pages offer more information for older or more curious readers. This is a great book for sharing one-on-one or with a group.

School Library Journal

Jones, T. E., Toth, L., Charnizon, M., Grabarek, D., Larkins, J., & Meyers-Hines, W. 

          (2003). What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? [Review of Book]. School
           Library Journal, 49(3), 220.

T

****************

Preschool-Gr. 2. As with Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution (Houghton, 2002), Jenkins once again employs graphic, textured, cut-paper art and a generous use of white space to convey the natural world to younger readers, this time with a coauthor. Pairs of double-page spreads begin with a question ("What do you do with a nose like this?") and illustrations of a particular body part from a variety of "mystery" animals. Upon turning the page, readers find a complete illustration of each animal with information on how each uses its nose, eyes, ears, tail, and more. Perfect for group sharing, this title also features additional information on each animal's physical adaptations at the back of the book.

Book Links

Tillotson, L. (2004, 01). What do you do with a tail like this? [Review of
       Book]. Book Links, 13(3), 13. 

Library Uses

This book could be used to make a chart comparing how different animals use the same body parts. It could also be used to compare different types of informational books including some that have “real pictures,” and some that have illustrations. 

References

Amazon. (2016). [Image of cover]. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/What-You- 

          Tail-Like-This/dp/061899713X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=

          1462320340&sr=1-1&keywords=what+do+you+do+with+a+tail+like+this

Jenkins, S., Jenkins, S., Page, R., & Houghton Mifflin Company. (2003). What do 

         you do with a tail like this?. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Jones, T. E., Toth, L., Charnizon, M., Grabarek, D., Larkins, J., & Meyers-Hines, W. 

          (2003). What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? [Review of Book]. School
           Library Journal, 49(3), 220.

Tillotson, L. (2004, 01). What do you do with a tail like this? [Review of Book]. 
          Book Links, 13(3), 13.