The Misfits by Jame Howe: Chapters 1-13

Middle school lingers in the majority of people's minds as a time of awkwardness, uncertainty, and exploration. All of us just wanted to get past those middle school years. For many early adolescents, the goal is simply to fit in and be accepted. When you do not fit the stereotypical norm, however, you become labeled. Name-calling, slurs, and practical jokes bombard the misfits. In The Misfits, James Howe explores themes revolving around both diversity and tolerance. He also investigates what can be done in order to have misfits develop a united voice and be proud of themselves as individuals and develop positive identities. All can be accepted. This book also serves as a caution to the "popular kids" because The Misfits provides the perspective of the minority group, the students who suffer humiliation and ridicule during school. Putting labels on students as "the smart one" or "the fat one" can take its toll on an adolescent's psyche.

From the perspective of Bobby, an an overweight adolescent, he tells the story of himself, Addie, an outspoken, intelligent, tall girl, Skeezie, a leather-wearing boy labeled a hooligan who dresses like he's stuck in the 1950s, and Joe, a flamboyant and personality-filled boy who is certain he is gay. With Bobby's witty sense of humor and this story of developing identity, Bobby proves to be a worthwhile narrator. All of this accumulates into a story that is quickly turning into a memorable one for me. Despite the controversy surrounding The Misfits, I believe this book's subject material ignites awareness in order that students and adults alike can develop a more comprehensive understanding of difference and its effect.

Bobby tells the story with such openness and directness that it's nearly impossible not to get wrapped into the story. His active imagination, his developing feelings about love, and his pursuit for understanding and knowledge all make the story unique and enjoyable to read. Slowly he is discovering his own identity. According to Bobby, "This business of really knowing pepole, deep down, including yourself, it is not something you can learn in school or from a book. It takes your whole being to do it-your eyes and your ears, your brain and your heart. Maybe your heart most of all" (p. 124). Such insight shows Bobby's higher-order thinking skills taking place. By entering the formal operations stage of reasoning, Bobby and his friends can question issues and conflicts in the world. Is it fair? Is there justice? Can we enact change?

By being part of the election and having a third-party, Bobby, Addie, Skeezie, and Joe all have a chance to have their voice heard. Too often as human beings we become complacent, thinking things can never change. With Addie's strong will though, she is determined to enact chance in the school and in the larger community. Having been labeled all of their lives, the Gang of Five is ready to challenge the norm and no longer accept the status quo. I'm excited to read about the progression of the election and also of Bobby's developing awareness of identity in himself and others.

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

Unless you have been living under a rock, everyone grew up hearing and reading Dr. Seuss books or at least has heard Dr. Seuss's name. Even Dr. Seuss's writing cannot be without controversy. The Lorax, in particular, stirs controversy. The story relays the cautionary tale of a young boy who seeks out the Once-ler to hear about the mysterious Lorax that used to live in the area. Way back when Truffula Trees grew and the fresh air blew. Creatures roamed in nature happily enjoying the scenery. Then one day, the Once-ler decides he can make a profit from the Truffula Trees by making Thneeds. So the business begins... The Lorax, the speaker of the trees, rises out of the stump of the first cut-down Truffula Tree to warn the Once-ler of his actions. The Once-ler ignores the Lorax and continues to chop down more and more Truffula Trees until slowly the pollution spreads, natural habitats are ruined, and finally the last Truffula tree is torn down. Despite the disheartening past, the Once-ler gives the young boy the last Truffula seed.

Critics of The Lorax rouse controversy about the pessimistic nature of this story and its perceived attack on the logging industry. Although Dr. Seuss's example focused on cutting down trees, I feel as though Dr. Seuss's message spreads to the overall impact humans have on the environment. In my opinion, Dr. Seuss was ahead of his time. This simple children's story poses relevant dangers and cautionary information that still exist in society. Even today many people don't want to listen about humans' negative impacts on the environment. They don't hear, or at least want to ignore, warnings about global warming, animals' natural habitats, pollution, etc. As responsible citizens, Dr. Seuss opens our eyes to the worse-case scenario as all the Truffula trees are chopped down. The simple word "Unless" that the Lorax leaves suggests how things could have gone differently had somebody taken note of the devastating effects of cutting down the Truffula trees.

Yet, even though Dr. Seuss is critiquing society about our relationship with nature, he still offers us a small dose of opitmism at the end of the story. By the young boy receiveing the last Truffula seed, he can begin growing new Truffula Trees. It is as though Dr. Seuss is saying that there needs to be a balance between man, business, and nature. If someone cuts down a tree, grow a new tree. However, in this case, this last seed and action taken may be too little too late. Also interesting to note is that a few white pages later after the last page with words is a picture of the Lorax standing by a bare tree with only its branches. The Lorax's expression is distressed. Again, this reminder about not taking action sooner lingers with the reader.

By using bright colors when the Truffula Trees thrived and darker colors in his illustrations when the Truffula Trees are being harmed, Dr. Seuss emphasizes the disastrous results that can take place if there is not a balance between man and nature. Consistent with other Dr. Seuss books, Dr. Seuss uses a sing-songy rhyme to his writing that leaves the reader with even more of a picture in his/her mind after reading this story. Lines such as "Onceler!" he cried with a cruffuous croak. "Onceler! You're making such smogulous smoke!" My poor Swomee-Swanns...why they can't sing a note." Both the written descriptions and the illustrations add to the cautionary message permeating from this story. Dr. Seuss makes up words like the Lorax, Thneeds, smogulous that while entertaining to kids, also contribute to the story's meaning.

Although I can see why this book is marked as controversial due to its anti-logging attitude, I still view this book as a valuable tool in the classroom so that kids can explore some of the problems our society faces. By addressing relevant issues, students develop a more comprehensive understanding of challenges our society faces and can begin to reflect on their own actions and impact on the environment. Appropriate units or times to use this story range from a nature unit, Earth Day, a lesson on symbolism, to even a unit on how we as individuals can begin to change the world. Knowledge is power.

In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak

Nudity...that's the image that remained in my head after reading this children's book. Is it necessary for the story? I honestly don't think it is. In the Night Kitchen would be a perfectly functional story without the nudity included. I understand that it is part of the creativity and imagination of this story, but the nudity does little to drive or support the story in any way. Mickey, a young boy, hears a racket being made at night and falls into the night kitchen. Filled with Mickey's adventures of being baked into a cake, him flying through the night, and his help of pouring milk into the batter, all of this takes place in the span of one night. To serve as an explanation we're told, "And that's why, thanks to Mickey we have cake every morning." Why is slipping out of his clothes necessary as part of the story? I have no idea.

I know the boy showed nude is very young, but still one particular page stands out as a clear example of why nudity is not necessary in this children's book. Especially questionable, this page reads, "Now Mickey in the night kitchen cried, Cock a doodle doo!" Right on this page is a picture of Mickey standing forward with his penis visibly shown in this picture. Although a child may not catch on to this suggestive statement and alternative name for a penis, it provides the story with little if any additional edge.

Besides the nudity that makes this controversial, the story itself did not hold my interest. I found the story to be random and insignificant in comparison to many of the other children's books I have read recently. However, the setup of the text is noteworthy. The words appear in comic-book like format with a white rectangular box over the words, and few words appear on each page. Written in 1970, this books is still in print. For me though overall, with or without nudity, this book does little for me in terms of plot or characters. Only the pictures and layout of this book was unique.

The Un-Wedding by Babette Cole

With a new spin on divorce, Babette Cole shares an interesting sense of humor that I just didn't really get. Personally, I found this story rather appalling because the Ogglebutt parents took divorce to a new extreme by having an "Un-Wedding." I can see that some children may find this story funny and entertaining and in a weird way, comforting. They can realize that they are not the only children who have parents who do not get along. However, I consider divorce a private matter within a family, but the Ogglebutts exploit their divorce with their un-wedding.

The book begins right away with the different conflicts expressed by Demetrius and Paula Ogglebutt, the children of Mr. and Mrs. Ogglebutt. By pointing to different areas of the house, Mr. and Mrs. Ogglebutt "butt heads" constantly, making the reader realize that it is better for this couple to get a divorce. A two-page spread shows their different ideals of a holiday, a dog, and art. What I did not like about this book was that it did not suggest any strategies for helping Mr. and Mrs. Ogglebutt to improve their relationship. Instead, the couple started playing manipulative tricks on one another.

When Demetrius and Paula go to their minister to ask him to give their parents an un-marriage, this book really was taken to the extreme for me. From a religious standpoint, I feel this book is degrading to the sanctity of marriage. Although I do not believe divorce itself is morally wrong, I do believe the way this book presents divorce is morally wrong. Therefore, I see the controversy inherent within this story and agree with the people questioning this book. I am now one of them. The un-wedding ceremony, the un-wedding cake, and un-honeymoon present divorce in a non-traditional, unrealistic, controversial way. The part of the book that I do agree with is that the two parents "could live happily ever after-apart," but the process to which they got there is very morally questionable.

The Rabbits' Wedding by Garth Williams

The Rabbits' Wedding is a lovely story about two rabbits who fall in love. However, originally this book stirred great controversy because of the color of the rabbits: one is black, the other is white. Alabama public libraries even went so far as to place this book in the restricted section due to the perceived theme of interracial marriage and suggesting this book was "integrationist propaganda." Published in 1958, this book arrived on the scene at a time when the Civil Rights Movement was brewing, and states like Alabama wanted to resist integration at all costs.

Although I am not sure that children would interpret this story as being about interracial marriage, I easily interpreted this book as such. Children may just assume it is a simple animal love story. Two common phrases arise again and again throughout this story. The rabbits happily play different games together, but the black rabbit often becomes sad. The white rabbit asks, "What's the matter?" The black rabbit always responds the same way, "Oh, I'm just thinking." After this goes on a while, we learn that the black rabbit is continuiously thinking about his wish. "I just wish that I could be with you forever and always." By the black rabbit being the sad rabbit and longing to marry the white rabbit, this could be interpreted as being symbolic of the social and political climate of the time.

I especially liked the ending because the rabbits end up together and live happily ever after. The brightest colors used in the book are the yellow dandelions when the rabbits celebrate their wedding. Transcending the times, the rabbits' union symbolizes interracial marriage. The bright color of the dandelions shows hope for the future. An alternative interpretation of the book does not consider this book to be about interracial marriage since perhaps Williams used a black and white rabbit to easily distinguish between the two rabbits. No matter the interpretation, young and old alike can enjoy this story for its delightful story, the use of repetition, the simple sketched pictures, and the final line. Set alone on its own white page without an illustration, the final line reads "And the little black rabbit never looked sad again."

Now a modern classic, The Rabbits' Wedding no longer stirs the controversy it did in the 1950s. Having progressed from the segregated society we were in the past, it is easier to see now the romantic, true love of the black and white rabbit. Despite the changes that happen in society, one common thread remains: love.

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, Illustrated by Henry Cole

And Tango Makes Three emerges as one of the most controversial and banned books in recent years. Yet, amidst this controversy comes a delightful children's story about a non-stereotypical family who love each other full-heartedly. Based on a true story at Central Park Zoo, Roy and Silo are two male, chinstrap penguins who find each other as companions. They do everything together, from swimming, to singing, to bowing, to winding their necks around one another. Ray and Silo, noticing the male and female penguin couples, build their own nest of rocks. One day, the zookeeper, Mr. Gramzay, places an extra egg on Roy and Silo's nest, and Roy and Silo begin to meticulously care for their small egg until it hatches. Mr. Gramzay names the new baby Tango "becauseit takes two to make a Tango." Tango is the first penguin in the zoo to have two daddies. As a family, they interacted with each other by day and snuggled together by night.

While I personally enjoyed this true story, widespread banning of And Tango Makes Three has occurred. Due to the homosexual undertones of this story, parents worry about their children being exposed to such a books, thinking that their children are not mature enough to handle the "adult content." In Shiloh, IL, for example, parents wanted the book moved to a restricted section that requires parent's permission to check out this book. Focus on the Family, religious organization, has also intervened saying that this book promotes a homosexual lifestyle. In addition, concerns about homosexual animals and adoption by same-sex parents have been raised.

While I can see where these arguments are coming from, I personally feel that this book details a moving animal story that shows that animals do have caring and emotional instincts. Diversity needs to be considered as a topic in the classroom. Besides race, this also includes gender, social class, and sexual orientation. This book can serve as a way to introduce the idea of sexual orientation into the classroom, or more simply, teacher and students can discuss the different types of families there are whether same-sex, divorced, single parents, or grandparents. Students come from all types of homes, and it is not fair to acknowledge and honor "the norm" over another.

The question really centers around when are children ready for information about homosexual relationships? Protecting children does little to form well-rounded citizens. As discussed in Human Relations for the elementary teacher, children are often open-minded at a young age to ideals of equality, liberty, and justice as it relates to treating everyone fairly. Discrimination and prejudice result without proper education. As a future teacher, I believe that I have a responsibility not only to provide students with academic knowledge but also social and emotional knowledge that will benefit them in the future. By offering this type of education, children can decide for themselves about their personal views and beliefs in regards to topics such as homosexuality. Breaking stereotypes and exploring relationships can result by reading this book. Love comes in all shapes and sizes and in all forms.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The power of The Giver does not fade with successive readings. Not having read this book since 7th grade, I sat down to read it, and the whole story consumed me once more. Jonas lives in a community that doesn't experience true pain or plesure. Driven by efficiency and order, their community also lacks choice. When children turn twelve, they receiver their job assignments. In addition, families apply to receive a child since one of the professions is birthmother. Once children leave the house, parents live with other Childless Adults and eventually transfer to the House of the Old before they are 'released.' When Jonas becomes the next Receiver of Memory, it is Jonas who learns the collective history of the world. All other community members epxerience 'Sameness' that dominates their every day lives. Faced with the disappointment in his society, Jonas makes his escape and hopes to make it to the land where people feel true emotion and people enjoy both the pain and pleasure of society.

This futuristic tale shows how important individuality is. In Jonas's society governed by multiple rules and laws, politeness, and accurate language, citizens do not fully understand emotions or what it means to act like an individual. They are told what to do and have a morning and nightly routine such as sharing dreams in the morning and "your feelings" at night. In reality, the citizens do not experience a full range of emotions though because they do not understand strong feelings or emotions such as love, pain, sorrow, bliss, etc. This world without color fails to value the unique characters of each individual and lumps the community into 'Sameness.' When Jonas decides to escape, he is escapting from "The life where nothing was ever unexpected. Or inconvenient. Or unusual. The life without color, pain, or past" (p. 165). Living only in the present and neglecting the past takes away the normality of the human experience. Without memories of the past, life is incomplete.

Lowry uses rich descriptions to show the vibrancy of the world that this futuristic community fails to experience. The images from the warmth of a fireplace, the love of a family, the sound of music playing, the rich colors, animals, and the beauty of nature provide a glimpse of what we as individuals take for granted. Although there may also be war, hatred, and cruelty mixed in with our experience, it is part of the package that makes human beings well-rounded and complete.

The ending of this story always captures my attention as well. As Jonas reaches the top of the hill at the end of the story, it is a transition between two worlds. The sled and snow, the Giver's first memory transferred to Jonas, reappears. As a symbolic act, Jonas mounts the sled preparing for the unknown. By ending at this spot, Lowry holds the reader in a state of flux. We assume Jonas enters a new community, but will he be accepted? How will Jonas adjust? What will happen to the community Jonas left behind? All of these questions remain unanswered, but we do know that Jonas's decision to leave took great courage and strength. By him leaving, maybe there is hope for the future of humanity in both the community he enters and the community that he leaves behind that citizens of the world can regain knowledge of love, hopes, emotions, individuality, and choice.

In teaching The Giver, I would focus on the idea of a utopian society. Before reading, I would have students brainstorm what they feel would be the perfect society. As students read The Giver, I would have them consider the following questions: Can a society such as this really exist and be successful? Is there really such thing as a utopian society? What things would you be willing to give up in order to have a utopian society? These are dicussions I would have with my students throughout the process of reading this novel.

I would also have students reflect on their own lives and evalutate the themes and motifs in this novel regarding true emotion, memories, family, choice, individuality, etc. In order to incorporate cross-curricular activities, I would have students analyze whether in history, if there have been any attempts to create utopian societies. This would likely lead to a discussion about World War II and Hitler's idea of creating an Arayan race. We can also discuss the flaws of a utopian society.

Another idea I have for teaching this novel would be to have students role play. Students would be assigned different positions in society, whether it is Caretaker of the Old, a Nine, a birthmother, a childless adult, a member of the Community of Elders, etc. They would consider their role in a utopian society. How did this efficent and uniform lifestyle affect them? I feel as though this novel study could go in many different directions because of the many themes and issues present in The Giver.

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka, Illustrated by Lane Smith

Every fairytale that you thought you knew is turned upside down in The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. Inside this book are multiple stories. With titles such as The Princess and the Bowling Ball, The Really Ugly Duckling, and Cinderumpelstiltskin, new twisted versions of classic fairy tales emerge that lean to the side of ridiculousness. Yet, for kids, this has the right amount of humor to have them laughing up a storm. Even before the story begins, the words TITLE PAGE shows up on the title page, and the dedication page is upside down because as Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk says, "Who ever looks at that dedication stuff anyhow? If you really want to read it-you can always stand on your head." This "special" type of humor is consistent through The Stinky Cheese Man. In the story of The Stinky Cheese Man (a twist on the Gingerbread Man), no one chases the stinky cheese man because he is too smelly. Even the fox lets him go. In The Really Ugly Duckling, the ugly duckling does turn out to be an ugly duck and does not turn into a beautiful swan.

These fractured fairy tales keep coming and coming. Each fairy tale is twisted. This book might inspire children to write their own fractured fairy tale or fractured story by taking a familiar, traditional story and changing it until the storyline distinctly changes. Besides the humorous words, the pictures are entertaining as well. There are also "twisted" pictures of fairy tale characters. As mentioned previously, the ugly duckling remains an ugly duck, and Cinderella doesn't meet her Prince Charming. Besides the interesting pictures, the use of text is also very unique. Sometimes the text appears in normal size font, but at other times, caps lock is used or different font styles are used.

Instead of having the traditional book jacket with the author's pictures in the back, there are pictures of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. As the 10th anniversary edition, the author's note states, "Jon Scieszka has written a lot more books and chopped down a lot more cherry trees in the last 10 years." Lane Smith's biography says, "Lane Smith has illustrated four score and seven projects." This story transforms every aspect of a traditional story from the front cover to the back cover and everything in-between. Everything about this story is fractured.

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Even from the cover page and the first endpages, the reader knows that Lilly wants to make herself visibly known. Both the cover page and endpages are covered with stars. Lilly is the star of this book, but she has to come to realize that the attention can't always be about her. She's can't alway be the girl shining in the spotlight. This is hard for any child to understand right away, especially in the setting of school. A teacher is responsible for addressing the needs of all of his students, not just the one who considers herself the star. Lilly's loud presence, overflowing energy, and excitement for school were good, but when she brings her purple purse to class, she takes it too far and must face the consequences for her actions. Her purple purse is taken away. When Lilly acts rashly because Mr. Slinger took her purse away, Lilly soon regrets her actions because at the end of the day, she discovers a handwritten note from Mr. Slinger and bag of "tasty snacks." Lilly learns the importance of apologizing and evaluates her own behavior. Intermixed within this fun, lively story are moral messages of forgiveness, the control of emotions, guilt, and the importance of apologizing.

Besides the words from the story, Lilly's own voice comes through as blurbs that emerge from the pictures of her. She announces her thoughts such as, "I love school" or "Straws make everything taste better." These side comments add life to the story and show the random thoughts and expressions of young children, or in this case, young mice. I also liked how Henkes showed Lilly's handmade drawings that contributed to the development of the story. Her angry picture has a drawing of Mr. Slinger with the words, "Big fat mean Mr. Stealing teacher! Wanted by F.B.I." These elements create humor and further entertainment for young readers, but the picture also reveals the wrongdoing of Lilly's actions in visual form.

As an adult reading this children's book, I personally found it entertaining how kids' emotions can switch so quickly. One second Lilly hates everything about Mr. Slinger, and the next moment she loves Mr. Slinger and wants to be a teacher herself. As a future teacher, it brings into perspective the fluidity of kids' emotions. Kids sometimes speak before they think through what they're saying because of the variability of their emotions. Teachers should not take these comments to heart because students often talk and act rashly. As Lilly does in this story, she moves on to the next bigger and better thing knowing that tomorrow will be a better day.

Night in the Country by Cynthia Rylant, Illustrated by Mary Szilagyi

Two words can summarize this book: describes setting. Cynthia Rylant is quickly becoming one of my favorite children's book authors because the words she chooses are so rich and accurate as they evoke the senses. Her books would be good teaching points in the classroom such as in a writer's workshop. Night Country transports the reader into the heart of the country where owls swoop, frogs sing, and apples fall. Humans don't realize all of the interactions that are taking place as they sleep.

Rylant uses the five senses, but she especially attunes the reader to the auditory sense. The frogs sing their songs, "Reek reek reek reek," a dog's chain clinks, a screen door creaks, and an apple "Pumps" to the ground. All of these sounds portray the country as alive even in the depths of the night. My favorite description was of the old country house. "All around you on a night in the country are the groans and thumps and squeaks that houses make when they are trying, like you, to sleep." This image made me think of my own house. Even though I don't live in the country, sounds inaudible during the day become apparent at night. Usually it's the cracking of the floor or the whirrs of the refrigerators that I don't pay attention to during the day that I only hear at night.

It is easy to visualize the countryside because of the elaborate country scene illustrations. The expansiveness of the country stretches outwards. The copyright page does not say how the illustrations were made, but it looks like colored pencils were used because of the brushed lines of color. Each page focuses in on one aspect of the country. By doing this, Rylant shows the reader the simultaneous occurrences in nature, and in this case, the countryside. This story took me back to my grandma and grandpa's farm house because it was there that I first saw the blackness of the night contrasted with the bright stars shining. A continuation of this book could continue for all of the events that happen in the daytime when all of nature's country creatures "will spend a day in the country listening to you."

Because by Mikhail Baryshnikov, Illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky

Imagine, life without restraint, life without boundaries, life with freedom. Because highlights the importance of doing what you want, even if others think you are a bit eccentric in the process. Without feeling the pressure to conform from society, you can be free to shine and show of your personality. This is exactly what the narrator's grandma, Mrs. Duncan, does. Sectioned off by days, Monday through Sunday, the narrator goes through all the wacky things his grandma does to embarrass him "every minute, every hour, every day of the week!"

Each day begins with a description of the unusual event Mrs. Duncan performs. On Monday, Mrs. Duncan leapfrogs over Mr. Q, on Tuesda, she rolls over like a dog, on Wednesdays, she breakdances and slides around, etc. On each day, a person ask the question to Mrs. Duncan of why she is doing this or that. Mrs. Duncan's answer is always the same. "Because..." However, the narrator realizes that there is an underlying purpose as to why his grandma acts so free and loose. The last page reveals that she leaps she rolls, she taps, she spins, she runs, she flaps, and she swings because...she's a dancer. This twist made sense because all of the things Mrs. Duncan did fit under the category of being a dancer.

The backcover page features a male dancer surrounded by a spiral summary of all the things Mrs. Duncan did in the book. Perhaps the male dancer is the author, Mikhail Baryshnikov, although it does not say. Both a grandma and men are not the "stereotypical dancers," but the author suggests that anyone can dance. Mikhail Barysnikov himself is a dancer who has travled all over the world. He has covered a range of the arts from directing, writing, creating choreography, designing, and performing. I feel as though Baryshnikov and the illustrator Radunksy summed it up well on the author note what the message is that emanates from this book:
"It makes no difference whether you are old or young, tall or short, skinny or plump, beautiful or not so beautiful...If you feel deep down that you are an artists-dancer, singner, painter-do no be afraid of ridicule or of being misunderstood. Reveal your special talent to the world, and the world, without a doubt, will become a better place, and life will be more fun."

This book shows kids that they can go after something they are passionate about in life. Do what you love and embrace it because it's never too late. After all, we only have one life to live.

The Paperboy by Dav Pilkey

Illustrated with rich acrylics and india ink, The Paperboy by Dav Pilkey creates a scene of peace, happiness, and tranquility as the paperboy and his dog embark on their paper route. As the story progresses from the early morning when it is still dark, to daybreak, to the end of the paper route, the paperboy and his dog remain constant companions, accompanying each other along the way. The actions of the dog parallel the actions of the boy. From waking up and getting out of bed, to eating breakfast from their bowls, to the boy and dog instinctively knowing what route to take, this book provides opportunities for children to look at perspectives in writing. Both the dog and boy enjoy doing the same activity, but they each have their unique routines whether it is the boy thinking about everything or nothing, or the dog sniffing or chasing squirrels. Routine can be comforting and necessary.

The rich illustrations portray the depths of the day. The colors used for the sky amazed me the most as I was reading. When daybreak strikes, the blend of pinks and oranges mix into both the sky and the clouds. Soon the orange tones combine with yellow hues as the sun comes out. The rolling hills and the overall landscape focus in on the changing sky. Besides the rich setting, I also liked how the illustrations began on the title page of the book. The title page showed the early morning delivery truck going to the paperboy's home. Although it did not have words, a young reader can better understand the sequence of events it takes to deliver newspapers.

Too often stories fail to show diversity. However, in The Paperboy the main character is an African American boy. I feel like realistic fiction books need to capture diversity more often in their stories like this picture book does. As a Caldecott honor book, The Paperboy deserves recognition for its great illustrations and use of parallelism between man and man's best friend.

Dragon Ball Z Vol. 1 by Akira Toriyama

Before this week, I had never heard of the term Manga, but when I typed it into Iowa City Public Library's catalog, over 400 entries appeared. When I went to the section in the library, I was surprised how popular Mangas must be. I found row upon row of Mangas. This type of graphic novel reads from right to left. Having heard of the Dragon Ball series but not knowing what it is about, I thought it would be a good choice as my first Manga novel to read. I soon realized that Dragon Ball Z is the extension series of Dragon Ball. Full of action, Dragon Ball Z Volume 1 is a story of exciting twists and turns full of adventures and fighting scenes. It takes a while to get used to the Japanese names, but the character index in the front of the book with names, pictures, and a description of the character helped me better understand the histories of each character.

After five years, Son Goku, the greatest martial artist on earth, faces a new challenge. Now married and a father, Son Goku finds out that he has an alien brother, Raditz. They soon discover that Raditz is not a "nice brother" but a merciless warrior killer who goes from planet to planet destroying everything in his path, including people. In order to save his son from Raditz's grasp and to save all the people on Earth, Son Goku must join forces with his former archrival, Piccolo. Even though Raditz is eventually defeated, two others of his kind are bound to arrive in future volumes of Dragon Ball Z. No one is safe.

My first graphic novel experience was interesting. This genre definitely takes some getting used to based on the way you read the story from right to left. Besides the daily newspaper comics, I don't read comics. Although personally this genre didn'tinterest me, I can see the possibilities for this genre for reluctant readers. With the mix of words and pictures, these books read quickly and leave the reader hanging at the end of the book, making him want to read the next volume. During the action scenes, few words are used, and instead, the pictures display the action with sound effects such as "Zhoom!" and "Hwoo!" Alliances, enemies, and action-packed scenes are all part of the Dragon Ball Z package. Now when I see Dragon Ball on TV, I'll know some of the characters. This particular Manga is for any age, but other Mangas I found were geared towards teen girl audiences. I feel as though I've finally entered the 21st century since now I know about Japanese Manga.

Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O'Malley, Illustrated by Kevin O'Malley, Carol Heyer, and Scott Goto

Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude features a story within a story. A boy and a girl decide to make up their own fairy tale for their library project. As they make up the story, the boy and the girl have conflicting ideas about how the story should develop. The girl begins the story with a romantic, fantasized version of Princess Tenderheart who has eight ponies that a terrible giant begins to steal one by one. At this point, the boy interrupts and introduces the really cool muscle dude who rides in on his motorcycle and is hired to protect the last pony. The back-and-forth bickering between the girl and the boy continues until a very unique and "special" fairytale develops complete with the wedding of the motorcycle dude and the princess.

In a humorous way, Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude relays the differences between boy and girls' interests at this age. While girls are absorbed into the fantasy world of princesses, ideas of love, and happiness, boys focus on ideals of adventure, action, battle, and thrills. This creates problematic circumstances. By having a story within a story, this picture book shows the writing process. Although students may not know where their story is leading, eventually it will come together and tie back to itself.

In addition, different illustrators created the pictures based on whether the girl's story, the boy's story, or the two students' story was being relayed. While the girl's illustrations are filled with feminine characteristics of soft pinks and purples, flowers, and elaborate princess outfits, the boy story pictures use darker colors, scarier images, and other more masculine characteristics. Meanwhile, the boy and girl telling the story appear cartoon-like as they argue. Their conversation back-and-forth is told in word bubbles while their created fairy tale is the main text of this story. Even the ending of the story shows apparent differences as the motorcycle dude turned prince and princess have a baby. The girl wants the baby to be a girl; the boy wants the baby to be a boy...and so the story goes. The author and illustrators' biographies share their own stories of run-ins with girl and boys' differences.Recommended for ages 6-10, I feel that this is one of those books that both girls and boys can relate to because sometimes no matter what we do, girls don't always understand boys, and boys don't always understand girls.

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, Illustrated by Lane Smtih

Everyone knows the traditional story of the three little pigs and the big, bad wolf. In this story, the reader looks at the story from a new perspective-Alexander T. Wolf, better known to us as the big, bad wolf. He relates his own version of what really happened as he encountered the three little pigs. This fractured fairy tale creates ridiculous and hilarious moments as Al Wolf tries to explain that this is really all a big misunderstanding concerning him needing a cup of sugar to bake his granny a birthday cake and a terrible cold that he happened to have.

Beginning with the analogy of a cheeseburger to "wolf food," which includes bunnies, sheep, and pigs, Al attempts to gain the reader's sympathy that if cheeseburgers were cute and we still ate them, we would be considered big and bad too. The wolf's rationale becomes more twisted as he travels to each pig's house. After his accidental sneeze leaves the straw house in shambles, Al knows it wouldn't be right "to leave a perfectly good ham dinner lying there in the straw" and compares that to us leaving a good cheeseburger on the ground. The story continues suggesting that the second and third sneezes were due to Al's cold. Al mentions that it was the news reporter that made him out to be the Big Bad Wolf.

Having read this story before, I still found it very enjoyable and entertaining because it is not every day that a children's book is written from the villain's perspective. Every story has multiple dimensions to it. Al suggests that the third pig was especially cruel and rude to him. The creativity of Jon Scieszka brings out all of the main features of the traditional Three Little Pigs story and creates a new tale-a fractured fairy tale. Some of the illustrations by Lane Smith were also unique such as the picture rationale that A. Sneeze + B. Sugar = the real story and the newspaper clipping that announces the wolf's status as the Big Bad Wolf! By looking at the picture and reading the Author's biographies on the book cover, readers see that it stays with the alternative perspective of the wolf. Both author and illustrator have a wolf caricature done of themselves rather than having a traditional photo. Scieszka's captions states, "He has been known to howl at the full moon," while Smith's says, "He lives in New York City and sometimes howls back at Brooklyn."

I feel like this genre of fractured fairy tales can be easily transported into the classroom. Reading this book could serve as a mini-lesson in writer's workshop where students can see that they can take a traditional story and twist it to make it their own. Topics such as these fill students with more ammunition that they can translate to their own papers.

Look-Alikes by Joan Steiner

Do you like I Spy books? If so, this is the next generation of I Spy books for kids. Scanning through the children's section of the library, this book caught my eye. Children and adults alike can read and look through this book multiple times and still learn and find something new every time. This book really makes children expand their imaginations and use their creativity to discover this "Look-Alike" world. As notes on the copyright page, "the illustrations in this book are photographs of three-dimensional collages created from found objects."

Accompanied with the pictures are short descriptions of the places at which we stop. A young boy narrator takes us through the book and points out some of the more exciting look-alikes. By looking closely, the reader observes that each item is made up of atypical materials. In this Look-Alike Land, "peanuts look like teddy bears, a balloon is a dress, etc." Stops along the way in Look-Alike Land include the train station, the city, the general store, the city park and zoo, and the circus. Each stop brings out unique features. One of my favorite pictures was of "Stanley's Sweet Shop." In this picture, the ceiling looks like money, the chairs are made from pretzels and Ritz crackers, and the booth's benches are made with Fig Newtons. I also enjoyed the picture of the Look-Alike Fair which included a Ferris wheel made with multiple pairs of scissors and a jumpy house filled with jelly beans rather than the traditional balls.

This would be an interesting and exciting book for students to look through if they finish early. This could also be used as a classroom language arts activity that includes creative writing and drawing in the classroom if children create, draw, and write about their own "Look-Alike" place.

Extra challenges exist at the end of the book such as finding a pencil and penny on every page. The back of the book also goes page by page listing the answers of what each Look-Alike picture contains whether it is a paintbrush, Scrabble tiles, M&Ms, etc. Not only are these books fun to read in print, but these fun Look-Alike pictures have shown up in the New York Times, Nickelodeon, and Sesame Street Magazine. Delving into Joan Steiner's Look-Alike world shows previously uncharted territory. This example of a unique perspective does not appear every day.

The Mitten by Jan Brett

Jan Brett adapts this Ukranian folktale into a visually striking story full of humor, life, and spirit. After Nicki's grandmother Baba makes him new white mittens, she warns him not to lose them in the snow. As Nicki plays outside, he soon loses a mitten. Unbeknownst to Nicki, different forest animals find the mitten and sneak inside it to keep warm, until the brown bear sneezes everyone out. The mitten shoots into the air just in time for Nicki to spot it before he returns to Baba's house.

This delightful story emphasizes childhood innocence and obliviousness. Right away, Nicki loses his mitten-the one thing his Baba told him not to do. Without taking notice, Nicki continues on with his own adventures in the snow. Meanwhile, the woodland animals gather into the mitten one by one. I enjoyed Brett's use of the animals' features to describe why the animals alaready in the mitten kept letting more animals enter. Whether it was the rabbit's "big kickers," the owl's "glinty talons," or the fox's "shiny teeth," they make room for each individual animal because of its distinct characteristics.

Jan Brett makes the most out her rectangular space in which to work. The outlined border highlights different features of the story. For example, the left side shows the majority of the "human action" showing where Nicki has been and what he has been doing. On the right border, children can predict what animal will fit into the mitten next based on the picture given on the previous page. For example, I saw the picture of the mole but couldn't identify the picture as a mole until I read the story. The different animals can serve as both counting features for young children, or it can provide an early example of foreshadowing in stories.

The main pictures inside the border span the width of two pages. This helps to show the wide expanse of the forest and also the consuming snow that covers the Ukranian land. Serving as a reminder of Ukranian culture, this book can be an example of an adapted folktale or part of a multicultural unit in schools. Students can examine the dress patterns of people in different cultures, the types of houses, or the types of art people do. In addition to the extra story pictures in the border, traditional Ukranian flowers appear on the pages as well. While offering a delightful and humorous story, Jan Brett also reminds us of the importance of embracing other cultures and lifestyles.

Karate Hour by Carol Nevius, Illustrated by Bill Thomson

Soccer, dance lessons, and baseball are common sports for young children to try. Not so common is karate. However, in this book, Karate Hour, Carol Nevius shares highlights of karate through some of the moves students perform and the values karate upholds. Karate teaches a child to be well-rounded, gaining respect for others, self-defense skills, and other lifelong messages. Nevius presents her text with a rhythmic pattern every two lines. For example, "Karate hour is starting now. Dressed and belted, we all bow." Common words used during karate such as "Ki-ai!" and "Hai-ya! are used to show the distinct language used in this sport.

At the end of this picture book, I found it interesting that Nevius includes an author's note with nonfiction information about karate. This includes the origins of karate, what students begin to learn, the uniform or gi, and the different rankings and their order. Through this book, I gained a new understanding of the art of karate and how it is more than just breaking a board but rather is a process on self-control and self-discipline in mind and body. The last page, giving the Dojo Kun, or training rules, summarizes the purpose of karate well: "Seek perfection of character, be faithful, endeavor, respect others, and refrain from violent behavior."

This story though would not be complete without the pictures. Bill Thomson takes a photographer's point-of-view in making his illustrations. The unique perspectives capture different angles and stances of the children practicing karate. The first page depicts an aerial view looking down upon the students. One of the children is shown with a walker, showing that having a disability does not stop a person from pursuing their goals and interests. Another picture is at ground level with a girl stretching. It is her foot that has the most detail since it is in the frame of focus. In addition, the illustrations are in black and white except for the color of the children's belts. The limited amounts of color helped me more accurately see the children's range of expressions and adds drama to the story. This book may inspire students to pursue new interests and realize previously unknown things about themselves.

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

This Newbery Award-winning book, Out of the Dust, tells the trying story of Billy Jo as she encounters numerous obstacles during the Dust Bowl years. Set in 1934 and 1935, not only was the Dust Bowl occurring in places like Oklahoma but also the Great Depression continued, leaving families destitute and forlorn. Told in poetic verse from the perspective of fourteen-year-old Billy Jo, Billy Jo writes a heartwrenching, honest story that captures the painstaking, grim realities of this time and her situation. In a freak accident, Billy Jo's mother dies, which causes both Billy Jo and her father to place blame on themselves. Over the course of the novel, Billy Jo must learn to forgive both her father and herself while also finding her roots.

The free-verse poetic writing of this novel is what sets this novel apart for me. Billy Jo writes so honestly and openly that I lose myself in her words. Billy Jo uses vivid imagery to describe her multiple ordeals and hardships through her expression of her emotions and descriptions of the land. The reader visualizes and tastes the biting, swirling, intoxicating dust settling everywhere and making its presence known. In one of Billy's Jo's entries entitled 'The Dream' the verse spreads itself as though Billy Jo is in a dream-like state as she writes this. Just when Billy Jo gets a glimmer of hope that rain might be coming, a new dust storm often arises, and hope dissipates for the time being.

Despite all that goes on, I found myself admiring Billy Jo and her strong character. After her mother's death, Billy Jo attempts to go on with everyday life while her dad gradually decays into shambles. Billy Jo manages to maintain dignity and faith amidst grief, sadness, and grim realities. Her love for piano-playing reminds me of the importance of finding one's special talent when all other things in life are not going in the right direction. Although Billy Jo's situation is rather miserable, she perseveres and becomes the heroine of the novel. Intended for upper elementary students, this novel would nicely correspond with social studies lessons about the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.

Out of the Dust also reminds readers that we long to know our roots. Billy Jo in particular hopes to get "out of the dust," and she rides a boxcar all the way to Flagstaff, Arizona where she realizes that all she wants to do is go back home. Reconnecting with her father, Billy Jo finds solace in Oklahoma and leaves the reader with a glimmer of hope for Billy Jo and her father's future. This themes of self-discovery and emerging identity capture the feelings of many early adolescent girls. Out of the Dust is a memorable account of the raw emotions associated with the 1930s during the Great Depression.

The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco

War. Children know the word, but do not necessarily know the consequences of it. In the story The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco, Polacco tells the story of Monique, a young French girl who realizes the challenges and prejudice faced by Jews in France. One night, Monique mistakes a Jewish girl named Severine as a "little ghost," but then realizes Severine and her family live in her house hidden in the basement. The two girls become friends and confidantes until one night a neighbor catches the sight of the two girls, causing an unplanned flight for Severine's Jewish family. Monique must watch her go.

Most striking to me was that this is a true story of the French Resistance. Polacco's aunt is Monique, whose mother Marcel was "part of the underground and resistance even before the Nazis occupied France." Accounts such as these always amaze me because I think of the risk involved with hiding Jewish families and being part of the resistance. Even from Monique's child perspective, she soon realized the unfair danger and threats Jewish families faced during World War II. Polacco's drawings depict dissipating childhood innocence and the reality of the times.

The title itself, The Butterfly, adds additional heartwrenching and heartfelt moments to the story. Nazis seize a butterfly Monique was looking at and crushes it in their fists. It is also a butterfly that causes Sevrine and her family to escape after Monique and Severine let the butterfly free. Finally, a gathering of butterflies arrives at the end of the story. The butterflies show the strive for freedom that the Jewish people long for despite obstacles such as violence and discrimination along the way. Yet, both the butterfly and Jewish family's long, difficult struggles will not last forever. According to young Monique, "It's a sign, Maman, a miracle! Severine sent them, I know it! She and her parents are safe!"

After the story, the author's note itself stirred raw emotions in me. A true story, two years after the liberation of France, Monique and Marcel received a letter that read, "Je vive! (I live) Sevrine." Stories such as The Butterfly reveal people's humanity even in the darkest times. Patricia Polacco is also the author of Pink and Say, which is an equally moving story about two unlikely friends during the Civil War who rely on each other during tough times. Polacco writes with her heart and soul in all of her stories. These two particular stories, The Butterfly and Pink and Say, which have been passed down from generation to generation, are striking and beautifully written in Polacco's prose.

Abe's Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln by Doreen Rappaport, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

At first glance at the front cover of this book, the subject of the book is obvious due to the picture of the historical figure, but the title is not so obvious. A solid, illustrated headshot of Abraham Lincoln spans the length of the front cover. Only by flipping to the back cover does the author reveal the title of this biography: Abe's Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln. Rappaport describes Abe Lincoln's life in an easy prose style. The realistic illustrations support the text and present the triumphs and hardships Abraham Lincoln faced during his life.

Both the author and illustrator did background work on Abraham Lincoln's life before starting on their work. The illustrator visited the places Abraham Lincoln had lived so that he could better understand Lincoln as an individual. Rappaport focused on Lincoln's written speeches interviews, and letters. Both the author and illustrator depict the distinctive man Lincoln was. From humble beginnings, he changed the construct of the world for the better.

Every page spans Lincoln's life, but also on each several pages are direct quotes taken from Lincoln himself. Whether it is from a letter or a speech, the quotes show the compassion, morals, and values Abraham Lincoln had. In reference to education, Lincoln states, "Upon the subject of education, I view it as the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in." His strong work ethic and perseverance to gain respect and political power uphold the image of Abraham Lincoln as honest Abe.

In addition, the supplementary materials at the end of the book allow for a more in depth look at Lincoln's life. This includes a timeline with important dates, more books to read, and websites to visit. Most significantly, the Gettsyburg Address appears on the last page, which serves to reiterate the lasting influence Abraham Lincoln has had on America.

Almost to Freedom by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Illustrated by Colin Bootman

Heartfelt and endearing, Almost to Freedom tells a story of the Underground Railroad. Narrated by the young girl's rag doll, Sally, Sally encapsulates the meanings of loyalty, faith, hope, and love. Lindy, the young girl, and her mother, Miz Rachel, work on a plantation as slaves. One night Miz Rachel wakes Lindy announcing to escape to freedom, and Sally is along for the journey. At one of their pit stops along the railroad, however, slave catchers arrive, causing Lindy and her family to leave in a hurry. Sally is left behind. Soon another slave family arrives, and Sally receives a new owner. Sally says about Lindy "I sure do miss her, but I's mighty glad to be Willa's doll baby.

What fascinated me most about this story was not only having it told from the doll's perspective but also the use of southern dialect. With improper grammar usage, Nelson takes the reader back to the 1850s. The dialect helps capture the mood of the story. The heavy thematic elements to this story make me recommend this story to mature elementary students who have a concept of what slavery is. Situations such as slaves being sold and slaves being whipped arise, showing the brutality and severity of slavery.

In addition to the dialect, this book alluded to a few slaves songs sung in the field such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Steal Away Home." I felt like this added to feelings of courage, strength, and hope that translates throughout the story. I found the story compelling because of all the different dimensions of slavery Nelson refers to. The list of historical words and phrases at the end of the book also gives students vocabulary practice.

The illustrations served to supplement the story. Since the majority of the story took place at night, Bootman makes the sky light up with stars. I also found it interesting that light yellow was the chosen color for the inside sheets rather than a dark color of the night. This again signifies the hope of freedom because of the Underground Railroad.

Dandelions by Eve Bunting, Illustrated by Greg Shed

A story of moving west, Dandelions portrays the widespread emotions that come from life adjustment and a new situation. Having left her grandparents' house, Zoe and her family, Papa, Mama, Rebecca, and a baby on the way, travel across the great unknown and mysterious west where grass stretches as far as the eye can see. Papa expresses great joy and excitment while Mama remains hesitant and sad. With land of their own, Zoe's family must make it their own. They attempt to make their new location a place to be called home.

As the summary above describes, this story "was about more than the dandelions. I could feel it." Papa plants dandelions on top of the house that will hopefully one day cover the roof. However, just as the family's adjustment takes time so do the dandelion's roots. "Their roots have to take hold first. It isn't easy being transplanted." The dandelion metaphor captures the essense of this story.

I noticed that the picture on the cover along with the first few pictures creates indistinguishable faces. It seems as though this family traveling west could be anyone. Their story is not unique until they arrive at the location of their new home. Although the story is mainly in the words, the illustrations display an extra dimension that shows the vastness of the west. Greg Shed, the illustrator, varies the pictures by having some span the width of two pages while others cover one full page. The richness of the painted illustrations completed the story for me. I liked how the story ended with a picture set off by itself with no words included. The final picture shows the family's soddie house blooming rich with dandelions. Just as the dandelions have made their roots on the roof, the family has set roots in the west. This compelling story defines the meaning of moving. The pain...the hardship...the unknown...but also the hope.

Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki, Illustrated by Dom Lee

Certain pieces of history sometimes pass us by. In this historical fiction piece, Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki, Mochizuki makes us relive history from the perspective of a young Japanese American boy. Forced into Japanese American internment camps during World War II, "Shorty," the narrator, and other Japanese Americans encounter difficult internment camp conditions. To combat the isolation and monotony of the day, Shorty's dad comes up with the idea to construct a baseball diamond. Baseball serves as an outlet from the war. Shorty's baseball skills are limited at first, but he soon proves both to his fellow Japanese Americans and later to the outside world that he can succeed.

This inspiring story provides a unique look into the thoughts and feelings of Japanese Americans during World War II. It also makes the reader question what it means to be American. As Shorty's dad states, "...the government thinks we can't be trusted. But it's wrong that we're in here. We're Americans too." Stereotypes permeate and affect the lives of American citizens, especially in times of stress and conflict.

I found it interesting that Mochizuki puts an author's note at the beginning of this book explaining what internment camps were. This book can educate both young and old students because I know that I was not aware of the Japanese internment camps until high school history. In addition, the illustrations captured the internment camp environment accurately. On the copywrite page, it is noted that "Some of the illustrations were inspired by photographs taken by Ansel Adams of the Manzanar internment camp in 1943." One oil paint illustration in particular shows the humiliation suffered by Japanese Americans as they wait in line outside the barracks to eat or to use the bathroom. They lose their sense of dignity in the internment camps.

Baseball, then, becomes the catchall American sport that brings back the Japanese Americans' self-respect. It is the one highlight amidst the internment camps. I found it interesting that Mochizuki continues his story past the internment camps when Shorty returns to school. At school, he still suffers discrimination from his classmates for "looking different." Shorty's affiliation with baseball and his homerun, however, allow Shorty to reconnect and reunite with his classmates. The last image of Shorty's teammates congratulating and hugging him shows hope for a better day where race no longer matters, and we are all truly Americans.