Final Reflection Statement

I decided to write this reflection statement after class today because I am still very excited about the activity we did in class today. It seems like a very simple idea to have students interpret a poem, adding motions, phrasing, and expression, but it gives kids unlimited directions to go. As a college students, I found my group exciting to rework and tweak different parts of the poem. Even if students all interpreted the same poem, I highly doubt any of the interpretations would be exactly the same. Many of the poems in Love That Dog I had read before in high school, but by creating our own interpretations, they became more relateable and accessible to students. In addition to the activity today, I have really enjoyed all the activities we have done in class throughout the semester that can transfer directly to the classroom. Even the simple concept of "buzzing" with the person next to you to check in helps a lot. It gets ideas flowing before starting a group discussion. Buzzing also ensures that every student's voice is heard. Some students may not be comfortable talking in front of the whole class, but talking to just one person provides a certain comfort level. I have also enjoyed the actvity two statements and a question. If the discussion gets stuck, this activity is something to refer to in order to continue conversation.

Also, I agree with your assessment that somehow children's literature needs to incorporate some type of "pizazz" these days, especially when there are so many other forms of entertainment besides books taking children's time. Technology can help with that. I feel that you should definitely include Glogster again next semester when doing the Author/Poet/Illustrator study because I found it to have enormous potential in the classroom. Also, I noted that there is an Edu Glogster so that could directly apply to the classroom. I can envision social studies project, literature studies, all about me projects, etc. incorporating Glogster. I am now on the lookout for other fun, free sites like this that I can bring into the classroom.

I can also see the benefit in using a paired text set. Reading The Year of Impossible Goodbyes and So Far From the Bamboo Grove showed me how there are so many different historical perspectives. More than one view of history exists. A textbook is one type of information, but a textbook is hard for students to relate to. These novels allow students to connect emotionally to a text and really understand the time period. Novel studies can serve as crosscurricular activities for historical time periods. I feel a text set for any major period in history can be beneficial so students gain a well-rounded view of history.

I feel because of this class I have more of a sense of both the types of activities to complete with students and the types of books that I can include in the curriculum. I also think read-alouds can add to the classroom schedule because so many different books can be covered even if not every student has a copy of the book. I have especially enjoyed all of the novels we have read in this class. Of course, this blogging experience has really added to my knowledge of children's literature too. I never thought I would be a blogger, but 60+ posts later, I can say I am now among the blogging population. Will I contiunue blogging after this class? Just maybe...

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

It's hard to know how to classify this book- Is it a novel? A journal? A writer's notebook? A narrative? Whatever it is, it's a great read, and for those kids who don't like to read, this is a quick read for them. Sharon Creech's novel Love That Dog is not the typical formulaic novel. The setup of this novel is so unique that we develop alongside Jack as he comes to understand and love poetry. With few words per page, Jack slowly discovers the magic of poetry. At first, Jack is the stereotypical model of a student who is inexperienced with poetry. He has preconceived notions about its purpose and place in his life. He thinks poetry is girly and not for him. He thinks poetry has to fit a certain formula and prescription, but soon Jack realizes the versatility of poetry and the impact it can have on his life. Poetry allows an individual to express their emotions in a healthy way. It gives you a voice and chance to be heard.

The whole book is in poetry, which I found unique. As that silly little poem goes, Jack is a poet and doesn't even know it. When Jack mentioned different poems he read in class, I found myself looking at the back of the novel where the poems used in Miss Stretchberry's class are kept. It helped me better understand Jack's perspective. Many of the poems I read and analyzed in high school myself so it was interesting to view the poems from a child's perspective and what young students can get from a poem. I also found it interesting how Jack was hesitant to have people read his work. He desired to keep his poems anonymous, but as he progressed through poetry, Jack grows as a poet and likes have his working on display. He wants his work on that special yellow paper. As Jack learns different techniques in poetry, he applies it to his own writing. By seeing examples, Jack is inspired to write.

Sharon Creech did an amazing job combining how Jack learned to write poetry along with his story about his dog. Through poetry, Jack is able to slowly process his feelings about his dog and remember specific memories. Writing poetry gives Jack comfort. As future teachers, we can be like Miss Stretchberry by encouraging students to write and let everything out on paper. Writing can be a type of therapy, and while we might not explicitly tell students this, they may begin to realize this for themselves. Students can develop a list together about what purposes poetry (and writing in general) can serve in daily life. Only as Jack is given the opportunity to process his feelings does he begin to heal emotionally. Eventually, Jack mentions his dog's name, Sky. One of my favorite entries Jack wrote was April 26, which wasn't even about Sky. It was about an experience that commonly happen to anyone and everyone. "Sometimes when you are trying not to think about something it keeps coming back...you think about it and think about it and think about it until your brain feels like a squashed pea."Jack also uses poetry in letter form and shape form. Poetry does not have to rhyme. It does not have to have a rhythm. It doesn't even have to tell a story. Of course it can have any or all of these things, but really, poetry can be everything and anything. This is a great book for kids to find their inner poet. It's in all of us.

My Man Blue, Poems by Nikki Grimes, Illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue

A great collection of poetry and artwork, this poetry picture book is especially powerful and moving. Connected through poems that tell a story, My Man Blue shares the story of the special bond between man and boy. Damon, an African American boy, develops a relationship with Blue, a friend of Damon's mom. Blue provides Damon a solid foundational base and develops the Damon's deep inner strength through their interactions. Blue becomes the father figure in Damon's life who will watch over him. In a rough neighborhood, Blue is well aware how some boys get lost to the streets. He has already lost his son Zeke to the streets, which makes Blue even more determined to prevent Damon from a similar fate. Blue tells Damon, "Your missing daddy also left a hole in you...If friendship fills it, there's less chance the streets will eat at you." Blue is an outlet for Damon by providing him with opportunities. Whether shooting hoops, climbing a tree, or eating hot dogs together, Blue provides Damon with chances to be a kid. Most of all, Blue takes it upon himself to keep Damon out of the trouble that threatens on the streets.

My Man Blue shows how we should not judge by looks alone. By just looking at Blue, one would see his gold and cracked teeth, his dark shades, his muscular build, and his black leather jacket and clothes, but beneath this tough guy exterior is Blue's "harmless gentle-giant side." He serves as the protector and watchdog over Damon. As an advocate for Damon, Blue also shows Damon how to rise above his situation by standing firm in his beliefs and teaching him high moral values. Damon resists fights on the playground knowing "It's guys who don't hit girls who're strong." After school while his mom is working, Damon is self-efficient cooking dinner and reading. He resists and ignores the comments made about him. Without Blue as positive male role model in his life, I do not think Damon would have developed as strong of a realization about the future opportunities he can have. He does not have to succumb to the street.

I also liked how Blue did not ignore the realities of Damon's life situation either. He realizes the world is tough, especially in their neighborhood. While teaching Damon how he can rise above his situation, he also teaches Damon self-defense skills. As Damon puts it, "He's just trying to keep me fit for this world." In Damon's school, Damon experiences death too. A boy gets shot at school. Damon is only beginning to understand the consequences of hate and fear and dangers that exist in today's society. As Nikki Grimes explores these topics, Jerome Lagarrrigue's illustrations are flawless. The acrylic paintings show the mutual relationship between boy and man. Their bond is emphasized even more through the illustrations.

Blue serves as a truly dedicated teacher and role model in Damon's life. If as a teacher I can provide the kind of support system Blue provided for Damon for even a few students, I would feel successful. This book made me think about the impact of programs such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Sometimes kids just need that positive influence in their life who they can talk to, knowing that they have someone who will listen and offer needed support and love. Besides being a tool to teach students about looking past physical appearances and the importance of having positive influences in one's life, My Man Blue is also a valuable tool for teachers to understand the funds of knowledge that students come with into the classroom. Students come from different backgrounds into the classroom. A student like Damon is part of a single-parent family who has never known his dad. I feel that getting to know both my future students and the community will only help guide me in being a better teacher and mentor to students.

Come to My Party and Other Shape Poems by Heidi B. Roemer, Illustrated by Hideko Takahashi

Some books just put you in a bright, happy mood, and this is one of those books. With very colorful pictures and very imaginative poems, Come to My Party and Other Shape Poems can take the reader to their "happy place." There are a lot of poems out there about the seasons, and yes, this book is one of them. Divided into the four seasons, each season has approximately 8-10 poems associated with it. What makes these poems unique though is that these poems have extra pizazz because they're shape poems. Also known as concrete poems, these poems incorporate a shape and mold the words of the poem into or around that particular shape. Here's a quick list of some of the seasonal shapes incorproated into the poems in this book:
Spring: a jumprope, a ladybug, birds' beaks, a kite, a birthday hat
Summer: ocean waves, a watermelon, the American flag, a tent
Fall: a spider's web, pumpkins, a wishbone, a piece of pumpkin pie
Winter: a sledding hill, mittens, a Christmas tree, an igloo, icicles

Not only are the words of the poem in the shape of the object, but the words are often in the color of the object. One of my favorite examples of this was Watermelon. In the shape of a watermelon, a majority of the letters are red, but a few letters are black, showing the watermelon seeds. The green rind of the watermelon is also shown. The final line of this poem reads, "And when I'm done, I pucker my lips; I'm ready! I aim and I... spit. The word spit is written in black as though it's a watermelon seed, and it's separated from the rest of the poem (because it has been spit out). In another poem, Marshmallow Treat, the poem uses three marshmallow roasters over a fire to to shape the poem. One line of the poem is written followed by the repetition of a word three times. For example, "Spear a 'mallow, spongy sweet; fun, fun, fun." The first part of that sentence is written in black to show the marshmallow roaster. Fun, fun, fun is written in white to show the actual marshmallow. I could go on and on with examples because the possibilities are endless. For this book in particular, I feel as though the illustrator has the harder job because the essence of shape poems comes from the picture while the words support the picture.

There are so many fun things to do with shape poems. I feel like kids would get a kick out of making their own shape poem because they can use their imagination and create a poem centered around an object they love or enjoy. Any ordinary object works, and the more creative students are the better. Also, this activity amay make poetry seem less intimidating for students when they are using a drawing as the basis of their poem. This book contains plenty of examples for students to see the possibilities for a shape poem. If a student gets inspired, perhaps they can come up with their own theme (sports or holidays for example) and make a whole collection of shape poems. Metaphors and similes could also be introduced while teaching shape poems. As another idea, shape poems could be used early in the school year as an introductory activity. After reading this book or showing students example of shape poems, students can write, illustrate, and decorate their own shape poem that represents something about them-an interest, a hobby, a fun fact, etc. Shape poems are ideal so kids can learn to have fun with words! Enjoy!

Dirt on My Shirt by Jeff Foxworthy, Illustrated by Steve Bjorkman

Who knew that Jeff Foxworthy writes books, let alone poetry? I was surprised to find his name on the shelves as I was browsing at the library, but sure enough, it was him. As the largest-selling comedy-recording artist in history, I had high expectations for this book with the main expectation being that I would laugh and find it funny. Dirt on My Shirt didn't disappoint. I found the title, Dirt on My Shirt, to be very appropriate for this book. Ths book gets into the nit and grit of what it means to be a kid. What do kids think? What do kids like to do? Who do these kids like to spend time with? Poems in this book address each of these questions with poems ranging from playing pretend, experiencing nature, making friends, to spending time with loved ones.

The pictures add even more humor of the story. Steve Bjorkman's illustrations support Foxworthy's poems. With a cartoon-like feel in all of his pictures, this book made me consider some of those common childhood experiences every kid goes through. For example, Lost Hat describes the experience of a boy looking all over and destroying his house in the process of finding his hat. Of course, it turns out to be on his head. I think kids can relate to this by thinking about a time when they too thought they had lost something only to find that it was exactly where they had left it (maybe even on their head). Foxworthy's poems and Bjorkman's pictures also transported me back in time to recalling some of my favorite summer memories. Playing hide-and-seek, going on a family vacation my sister and me chanting, "Are we there yet?" every few minutes, and finding that harmless roly-poly on a hot, summer day. Kids can easily releate to many of these experiences.

I also enjoyed how Foxworthy wrote several poems about different family members. I think every kid and adult has a bit of an eccentric family. No family is 100% 'normal' (whatever normal is in the first place). All families have their quirks and their family stories. Often relatives are known for one distinguishing feature perhaps a physical characteristic as in the poem Uncle Moe where Uncle Moe has a long mustache, or perhaps a talent that family member has such as eating corn really fast as told in Uncle Keith. Whatever the case, Foxworthy captures the admiration and affection kids have towards their relatives and how they often think in different terms than adults. It's interesting to note what kids recognize.

This book offers kids a variety of ideas for topics to write about. Perhaps students can write about a favorite activity, perhaps they can write what they like about being a kid, or perhaps what they like doing with their grandpa or grandma when go visit them. When kids are stuck and at a loss for words on the page, especially during a poetry unit, I would suggest this book to them. It can provide a solid jumping off point for students. Before I close this post, I can't help but mention two of my favorite poems in this children's poetry book, Dirt on My Shirt, because again, it's something every child faces. Remember when you lost hold of a balloon, and it floated away-then read the poem Escape? Remember when you were up wandering around at a time of night you should have been asleep? Just take a moment now and think about yourself as a kid...Oh, the good ol' days!

Timothy Tunny Swallowed a Bunny by Bill Grossman, Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

Caught in ridicuclous and quirky situations, Timothy Tunny Swallowed a Bunny is a very enjoyable read. I found myself laughing at the absurdity of the situations. The situations are so unlikely that they are funny. With a collection of 18 poems, each poem tells a new story. A sing-songy, quick rhythm accompanies each poem. Each poem is as witty as the next. The This book again shows students how an idea can expand to create a variety of poems with a common thread holding them together. In this case, a reader must stretch a bit to see the connection that people are caught in unusual circumstances. The characters described have unique traits distinguishing each one from the enxt. Timothy Tunny is only the first among several memorable characters mentioned. These characters range from Walter Lackwards whose head is on backwards to Kevin T. Moses, a man with seventeen noses.

One poem that I found particularly entertaining was Joe Tate who always "became what he ate." On the day he ate nothing, "poof! he was no longer there." Another was The Barber who accidentally cuts off her clients' ears. When she tells him what happened, he says "What?" because obviously without his ears he can't hear. Based on these examples, it becomes apparent that this book contains very silly humor with unrealistic scenarios. Still, the sense of the impossible is always fun to read about in books.

I enjoyed the poems, but more than the poems, I enjoyed the pictures accompanying the poems because they added another dimension to many of the poems. In The Woman in Town, the woman is afraid she'll drown if her nose gets wet so she wears a small scuba suit on her nose, which is believed to work because she still hasn't drowned. Ironically, the woman lives in a desert. She's surrounded by cactus and sand and sitting in an empty boat without any sign of water. Without the picture, I don't feel that this book would have had the same intended effect. The setting of the poem highlights the absurdity of the situation. Similarly, in Kevin T. Moses, he's a man with seventeen noses who grows a new nose each birthday. Seeing Kevin with seventeen noses was entertaining, but it was even more so because in the picture he stands amongst a whole field of red and yellow tulips. Imagine the potent smell of the flowers if you had seventeen noses. Yikes! No wonder he carries around tissues with him, and his noses are red at their tips.

Grossman often uses double meanings in his poems that makes this book adult-friendly as well as kids-friendly. I don't think kids would pick up all these subtle language clues in their first reading. In Bill Hackbar, Bill works at a snack shack all four years of college. Although he gained little knowledge he did end up "very well rounded." In the picture, Bill Hackbar is a very round, plump man in undersized clothes. With similar rhyming patterns in each poem, each character's name corresponds to the first set of rhymes in the poem. This is one of those books that students might keep coming back to because I read through it 3 times just so I would catch all the subtleties in both the language and the pictures. It's humorous; it's fun; it's absurd- a perfect combination for that student with a wild imagination and a sense of the extraordinary!

Hamsters, Shells, and Spelling Bees School Poems, Edited by Lee Benneet Hopkins, Pictures by Sachiko Yoshikawa

When I was in elementary school, I don't remember reading poetry too often so this week opened my eyes to a world of poetry picture books. This book in particular is a collection of poems written by a variety of authors. A few of the poets I recognized such as Jane Yolen. This poetry book would be a good introductory book for young readers to poetry because they can relate to a lot of the poems. There are a bunch of common (and a few not so common) school experiences. Although each poem is its own unique piece, the way this book is organized goes by the order of the school day. It begins with before school activities like getting ready or catching the bus and then goes into during school activities. This includes things like show and tell, drawing maps, and looking through microscopes. Finally, the poems bring up after school activities and extracurriculars extracurriculars such as simply going home after school or being part of the school play.

This book can open students' eyes, showing them that poetry can be about anything. It also shows how individual poems can be put together in an anthology revolving around a common theme. A minilesson on organization would be useful as well as a minilesson about a technique for publishing work from a student's writer's notebook. Poems don't have any length requirement. Students can also learn how to focus in one event in a poem. Rather than talking about the entire school day in one poem, this book broke up the poems into manageable chunks, focusing in on one aspect of school at a time.

Many of the poems take on a children's perspective. The poem, Not Fair, by David L. Harrison captures the feelings of basically every elementary school student when the weather becomes nice in the spring. Who wants to be cooped up inside all day doing math and reading when you could be outside enjoying the fresh air and flying a kite? And let me tell you a little secret...this feeling doesn't go away even in college. Of course I'd rather be outside enjoying myself than in class. The poems are often humorous too. Library by J. Patrick Lewis show a student's excitement about going to the library, but then in a week or two, the book is overdue. I remember those library reminders about an overdue book. It's not a fun feeling to get one of those. Another poem that I particularly connected to was Buzz by Ann Rousseau Smith. There were a few times in elementary school when a bumblebee would get into the classroom, and let me be the first to tell you, students go wild. Sometimes the teacher does too.

With all kinds of poems come all kinds of fun pictures. The illustrator, Sachiko Yoshikawa, uses bright colors across the width of the 2-page span. There isn't any white space on the page. Students can learn from this about how to make the most out of their pictures and create an illustration to support the poem. The erase on the page in The Eraser Poem by Louis Phillips shows the erasing flakes and a smiling eraser. The poem itself is also a simple concept. Take one letter away on each line until the last line is just the T from The. This book is a fun, lighthearted read that would be great to read as a class or to include in the classroom library. As part of the I Can Read! books, students can be introduced to more than just fictional stories but also to poetry.

So Far From the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins

So Far From the Bamboo Grove immerses the reader into a unique historical perspective. Rarely do we hear from people on the losing side of the war. We consider the other side our enemies and tend to ignore their feelings about war and struggle. Yet, Yoko's story shows the courage amid disaster and danger of an 11-year-old Japanese girl living in Korea. Faced with many life-threatening situations, this story is filled with triumphs as well as heartbreak. Only by having the right timing of events and meeting the right people along the way could things have happened as they did for Yoko's family. A bit of luck was needed. A survival tale, So Far From the Bamboo Grove, shows the strength and resiliency of the human spirit even when one doesn't even know she/he has this inner power.

I enjoyed that the story line alternated between Yoko's story and her brother, Hideyo. Told with a simplicity and grace, Yoko passionately shares her story. It's a story that needs to be told. Of course, a war story can not come without its share of dangerous situations. They travel at night,, often without food and drink for days on end. Once Korean Communist soldiers approach them, but at the same time, bombs fly down, killing the three Korean soldiers and leaving Yoko wounded. Along his journey, Hideyo suffers in the cold and comes close to freezing ot death. At times, Yoko describes other graphic images and graphic situations. Early on during the story, a dead young baby is tossed from the train as well as other dead hospital patients on the train. Description of rape emerge as women scream. The utter reality of the situation is overwhelming, and danger is imminent.

Figuring out how to talk to students about such topics as war and rape can prove difficult. However, I liked many of the suggestions we talked about in class last week. Students need the chance to discuss consequences and results of war. Prefacing with students about this book may be necessary so students know they will encounter difficult material while reading. Having students journal about their feelings as they read this book is another option, or perhaps a teacher can include a question box regarding their thoughts and feelings.

Besides being a war story, this is also a coming of age story- the story of personal growth and development of Yoko Kawashima. Yoko begins as a scared, hesitant child with frequent tears. She complains early during the journey, but after her mother dies, she becomes increasingly self-sufficient, doing her part to help Ko make a little extra money. All the while, even after their mother dies, education remains a priority for both Ko and Yoko. Hideyo's journey and his ability to reunite with Yoko and Ko appropriately concluded this autobiographical novel in a promising and uplifting way. Hideyo's arrival showed the importance of family and ended the story with a reignited hope for the future of the Kawashima family.

The Secret Shortcut by Mark Teague

Kids are full of excuses. Their answers to these questions contain several different explanations...Where is your homework? Why didn't you do your homework? Why were you late to school? The Secret Shortcut by Mark Teague explores this last question. Wendell and Floyd are perpetually late to school. They tend to come across unexpected obstacles on their way to school, from space creatures, to pirates, to a plague of frogs and unsuccessfully attempt to explain the situation to their teacher. One day Wendell says they'll take his shortcut to school. It starts off as an ordinary trek, but then they encounter all kinds of jungle animals including crocodiles as they jump, climb trees and swing vine to vine. Amazingly, they eventually hear their school bell and make it to class on time. Wendell and Floyd do end up getting to school on time for a long time, but they never find the perfect shortcut.

I found this story very entertaining and humorous as Wendell and Floyd encounter one ridiculous situation after another on their way to school. Mark Teauge has a wild imagination that works successfully for this story as he has created all kinds of obstacles. Wendell and Floyd are typical boys-adventurous and ready to explore. Although most kids wouldn't pick up on this, it also shows how boys (and men) are unwilling to ask for directions. They say they know where they're going even they don't. The acrylic illustrations really brighten the story too. Mark Teague is the illustrator of many children's books, and his use of color adds life to the story. All of his pictures span the width of two pages, allowing him to extend his imagination.

Students can use their creativity to imagine their own unique journeys on the way to school. They can write it out, envisioning new obstacles. Students can come up with a theme such as farms, oceans, food, etc. and think of what could happen such as jumping over haystacks or climbing over a volcano. Besides writing a story, students can make their own map including a key and a legend of this adventure. Let the kids' imaginations run wild, just like Wendell and Floyd's.

Wangari's Trees of Peace by Jeanette Winter

This story brings hope and promise to the classroom by promoting positive change. Just one person can make a world of difference. In Wangari's Trees of Peace, Wangari lives near Mount Kenya in Africa where she gathers firewood for cooking and plants vegetables for food. Her academic success leads her to America to study, but when she returns six years later, she finds her country devastated. No longer do crops or trees grow. Worried for Kenya, Wangari begins by planting nine seedlings, which emerges into a project designed to start a tree nursery. The news spreads and more village women agree to plant trees, and slowly other villages, towns, and cities join. Soon budding life returns to Wangari's village and other communities. When the cutting continues, Wangari remains committed to her cause even when jailed. Still, her cause spreads-30 million trees are planted. Crops once again grow and the land of Africa is restored.

This book is a great example of what we as individuals can do to go green! It would be very appropriate for a unit on the environment or on Earth Day in particular. Since going green is such a major topic of discussion these days, Wangari's Trees of Peace shows just how much influence once person can have when devoted to a cause. As the booksleeve reads, "this true story of Wangari Maathai...is a shining example of how one woman's passion, vision,and determination can inspire great change." Rooted in such a simple idea, planting trees in place of the ones cut down restores life and vitality to a previously barren land. Without Wangari's idea, the land may have eroded to an unfertile desert. Students can realize that they too can make a difference by doing the little things such as recycling, taking shorter showers, not using disposable water bottles, turning off the lights when not in use, etc. Each of these small actions builds to create a better environmental situation for the future.

Having never heard the story of Wangari Maathai before, I was impressed when I read the author's note at the end of the story. Wangari started Green Belt Movement Kenya in 1977. As an environmentalist, Maathai was worried by the deforestation of her homeland. In this way, this book could also connect students with the conflicts between economic interests and environmental interests that often clash. The topic of conservation can arise. Whether it is deforestation, pollution, or a discussion on fossil fuels, the tension between the economy and the environment arises again and again. Wangari, a well-educated woman, was also the first woman from East Africa to earn a Ph.D. In 2004, she won the Nobel Peace Prize for her "contribution to world peace through the Green Belt Movement."

With an impressive life story, Wangari shows us how the chain reaction can work effectively. If you tell a few people, and those people tell a few people, eventually word spreads successfully, promoting worthy change into a community, a country, or even a continent. Start by planting one tiny seed, and eventually you'll have a thriving garden. Perhaps after reading this book teachers can connect with their principal or a local park and plant their own tree or garden to follow in Wangari's footsteps. With bright acrylic illustrations to accompany this story and pictures of the changing landscape, this book is a story full of excitement and promise for the future.

Flotsam by David Wiesner

So, I'm not sure when the last time I read a wordless picture book, but this made me wonder what I've been missing by not looking at this genre. Flotsam is the winner of both the Caldecott Medal and the Best Illustrated Children's Book Awards given by New York Times. An ordinary day at the beach turns extraordinary when a young boy gets caught in a wave. Both the boy and a camera wash to shore. This underwater camera contains a history that the boy discovers. When he develops the film, he discovers unexpected pictures amidst the sea. The last picture shows a photo within a photo, showing how this camera has traveled. The young boy continues on the tradition taking a picture of himself holding his developed picture before sending on the camera to the next lucky discoverer.

Without the book flap, I wouldn't have known what flotsam means-something that floats. The endpages get the reader in beach mode right away by having the endpages look like sand. This is such an appropriate book that explores the depths of the imagination (and the ocean). An interesting title is only the beginning of this book. I didn't realize how much an author/illustrator can do without any words. Yet, a wordless book can tell a story only through its pictures while capturing a story, showing emotions, and exploring a theme just like any other book. I read this book a few times through because there's so much to discover on each page. The richness of the watercolor pictures intertwine, wrapping together.

The pictures taken in the ocean show an "undiscovered life," mixing fantasy with reality. Octopuses lounge on couches and chairs, a puffer fish acts as a hot-air balloon for a few fish, and space aliens engage with sea horses. The picture within the picture though captures the most unique characteristic of this book. The camera gets passed on, and a rich history builds. When the boy looks at the developed picture through the microscope, he sees pictures that date back to early times. As the saying goes, sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. This book is the perfect example of that.

There's a history, a traveling log contained in the camera. This book was like message in a bottle, but with a twist. Students could "read" this book, talking about the illustrations and the story's plot. As a writing activity, students could write their own text to this book or write a summary. Although this book isn't specifically geared for multicultural literature, it could be included to show how people are linked even when we're far away from each other. Lining up international pen pals would be a great way for students to connect with students abroad and learn about their cultural similarities and differences. This book proved to me just how much value can lie in a wordless book...A LOT!

The Napping House by Audrey and Don Wood

Such a simple concept that makes a wonderful story, The Napping House is a delight to read. Like any other ordinary night, the granny is sleeping, but one by one, a range of both people and creatures combine and sleep onto the bed. However, the flea begins a series of commotion, and a tumbling effect results until everyone is up, and the bed breaks. With the sun out, a new day begins.

The humor in this story doesn't come from the words on the page as much as it stems from the pictures. As oil paintings, the pictures are full of the building chaos, as one by one, the creatures gather atop the bed. The bed is shown as a giant heap with arms and legs draped all over the bed and on the others in the bed. With just the movement of a flea, the domino effect takes hold. Rather than being upset about being roused, instead everyone laughs it off. The last picture with the rainbow completes the story on an even happier note as the granny and child smile, and the animals play gleefully. The story reminds me of a rainy night when children get scared of the storm outside complete with thunder and lightning. The kids crawl into bed with their parents to snuggle to escape the storm. Slowly, the bed becomes crowded, and it's impossible to move even an inch without bumping someone else. If The Napping House hadn't included the rain in its setting, the story would have changed and not

felt as complete.

Written in 1984, this story is still as relevant and humorous as always. Don and Audrey Wood know their child audience and know the slapstick humor that will strike a chord with young readers. I do see this story as more of a bedtime story than one to read aloud in the classroom, but just the same, it's a good-natured story with a memorable story line. I would consider keeping it in my classroom library. Due to the repetitious words as the creatures gather on the bed, students can develop their reading skills and make predictions about what will happen next.

Hey, Al by Arthur Yorinks, Illustrated by Richard Egielski

When I don't know what books to get from the library, I go to the Caldecott Medal section. I think this in itself is a good strategy for young readers to to use to look for good books. In this way, I found the book Hey, Al, one of my favorite children's story to date. It is the story of Al, a janitor, and his dog, Eddie. who are dissatisfied with their lives in their small apartment. When a large bird arrives offering Al and Eddie a place with no worries and no cares, Eddie, the dog, wants to accept and eventually Al gives in. They begin to enjoy this paradise until they begin turning into birds. They flapped away and eventually returned to their apartment, happy as ever and ready to spruce up the apartment.

With a great message about being happy with what you do have, Hey Al highlights the importance of the little things that we take for granted on a daily basis. Sometimes what one imagines as ideal doesn't turn out like they expected. Al and Eddie were thrilled with the paradise island at first until they realized all the changes they encountered. Getting back to one's roots is important.

Having students read this book would also be a great opportunity to discuss the difference between real life and fantasy. Hel Al combines these elements in a unique fashion. A talking dog, a large talking bird, and an island in the sky are just some fantastical features of this story. Yet, Al is a janitor, a man who leads a fairly simple life with Eddie as his companion. Students can begin to distinguish the real parts of the story and the fantastical parts. As a writing assignment, students could imagine they are transported to a paradise island. What would the island have? What would they do on the island? Would they bring anything with them to the island?

The text is easy to read on each of these pages as it is set apart from the pictures. Against the white background, the text stands out for young readers. The pictures themselves are brightly colored and supplement the story nicely. With a bit of love and moment of realization, students can examine their own lives and realize how good they have it.