Module 15: Perks of Being a Wallflower - Censorship Issues

Book Summary:

Charlie is a freshman student whose best friend committed suicide.  He is learning how to cope with this change in his life, so he begins to write letters to an unknown person.  The letters let the reader into the mind, heart and soul of Charlie as he makes new friends, who are seniors,  and begins the journey into adulthood.  Charlie also becomes friends with his English teacher who sees the potential that Charlie has and he gives him extra books to read and writing assignments. Charlie has to learn how to deal with and overcome many issues in his life and he learns how to progress and be successful even though he has had some traumatic things happen to him in his young life.

APA Reference:

Chbosky, S. (1999). The perks of being a wallflower. New York. NY: Gallery.



Impressions:

This was an interesting read, but I enjoyed the book.  I began to feel sorry for Charlie and I did not want anything else to happen to him. He had so many experiences good and bad and most people would have cracked emotionally before Charlie did at the end of the book.  I kind of thought that he was repressing an experience from the little glimpse into his life when he was younger and in the hospital.  This book covers almost every controversial teen and adult issues and was a little overwhelming.   I felt that Chbosky was trying to include many obstacles for Charlie to be able to overcome and triumph over his struggles. Although this book contains physical and sexual abuse, mental illness, drug abuse, rape, teen pregnancy, racism, sexual experimentation including oral sex, homosexuality and masturbation just to name a few, I think that this book is a valuable resource if it can help give guidance and maybe prevent some of these situations or help an individual look for professional help and begin to heal.

Professional Review:

An epistolary narrative cleverly places readers in the role of recipients of Charlie's unfolding story of his freshman year in high school. From the beginning, Charlie's identity as an outsider that his class has gone through a summer of change, the boy finds that he has drifted away from old friends. He finds a new and satisfying social set, however, made up of several high school seniors, bright bohemians with ego-bruising insights and, really, hearts of gold. These new friends make more sense to Charlie than his star football-playing older brother ever did and they are able to teach him about the realities of life that his older sister doesn't have the time to share with him. Grounded in a specific time (the 1991/92 academic year) and place (western Pennsylvania), Charlie, his friends, and family are palpably real. His grandfather is an embarrassing bigot; his new best friend is gay; his sister must resolve her pregnancy without her boyfriend's support. Charlie develops from an observant wallflower into his own man of action, and, with the help of a therapist, he begins to face the sexual abuse he had experienced as a child. This report on his life will engage teen readers for years to come.

Goldsmith, F. (1999). Grades 5 & up: Fiction. School Library Journal, 45(6), 126.

Library Uses:

This book could be used to discuss the issues involved with banned books and censorship of books.  The topics in the book could be compiled and used by the students to create a display for "Banned Books Week".

Module 14: Mirror Mirror - Poetry and Story Collections

Book Summary:

This book is a poetry book that includes poems that read from the first word to the last word and then the poem is read in the reverse order, starting with the last line.  The poems are about classic familiar fairy tale characters and the author is able to demonstrate to the reader that there are always two sides to every story and that there might not always be a happily ever after.

APA Reference:

Singer, M. (2010). Mirror mirror: A book of reversible verse. New York, NY: Dutton Children's Books.

Impressions:

My first impression was WOW, how did the author write these amazing poems.  I was amazed at how the poems made sense when read both direction.  This is an awesome talent to be able to show the point of view of two characters by using the same words, just in reverse order. There are some punctuation changes but the poems were a joy to read and a great way to add new life to classic fairy tales.

Professional Review:

Through a poetic invention she dubs the reverso, Singer meditates on twelve familiar folktales, and, via the magic of shifting line breaks and punctuation, their shadows. Each free-verse poem has two stanzas, set on facing columns, where the second is the fi rst reversed. Red Riding Hood, contemplating berries, thinks, “What a treat! But a girl / mustn’t dawdle. / After all, Grandma’s waiting” while across the page the wolf lurks: “After all, Grandma’s waiting, / mustn’t dawdle… / But a girl! / What a treat…” In the main, the poems are both cleverly constructed and insightful about their source stories, giving us the points of view of characters rarely considered. Similarly bifurcated illustrations, Shrek-bright, face the poems: Nonfi ction Goldilocks (“ASLEEP IN CUB’S BED, / BLONDE / STARTLED BY / BEARS”) awoken; the bears surprised (“BEARS STARTLED / BY BLONDE / ASLEEP IN CUB’S BED”).

Sutton, R. (2010). Mirror mirror: A book of reversible verse. Horn Book Magazine, 86(2), 79-80.

Library Uses:

This book could be used to introduce a poetry lesson in the library.  The students could learn about different styles of poems and them write a poem in their favorite style.

Module 13: Smile - Graphic Novels and Series

Book Summary:

The book is an autobiographical tale of the author's life growing up and the trials that she had to endure with her teeth issues.  The book chronicles the life of Raina through sixth grade to high school.  A large portion of the book deals with the character's ordeal of having to have her teeth adjusted and moved after she knocks them out running to her front door.  She also has to deal with siblings and life changes with her physical body and well as finding a new group of friends to be with because her friends did not respect her individuality and talents.  Raina does not smile very often because she is still discovering her own self worth and talents.  As the book progresses she becomes more confident in her talents and abilities and feels welcomed and accepted for who she is by her new circle of friends and she finds her smile.

APA Reference:

Telgemeier, R. (2010). Smile. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Impressions:

I wanted to pass out when Raina knocks out her front teeth.  The graphics add to the story and the facial expressions are easy to read and show how the characters are feeling.  This is such a great graphic novel that can be enjoyed by all students who are growing up and experiencing physical and emotional changes in their lives. I had many painful experiences with my own braces that I could relate to her pain and suffering.  I was laughing when they had to make impressions of her teeth with the pink putty and the teeth trays, this always made me gag when I had to have this procedure done.  I loved how she had the courage to choose a new group of friends who accepted her with all of her individual personality traits.  I was glad that she was able to begin the process of finding her own self-worth and becoming a confident young teenager who is able to feel joy and SMILE.


Professional Review:

A charming addition to the body of young adult literature that focuses on the trials and tribulations of the slightly nerdy girl. Telgemeier's autobiographical tale follows her from sixth grade, when her two front teeth are knocked out during a fluke accident, through high school, when, her teeth repaired, she bids goodbye to her childhood dentist. Like heroines stretching from Madeleine L'Engle's Vicky. Austin through Judy Blume's Margaret to Mariko and Jillian Tamaki's Skim, Raina must navigate the confusing world of adolescence while keeping her sense of self intact. Many of her experiences are familiar, from unrequited crushes to betrayals by friends to embarrassing fashion choices. The dramatic story of her teeth, however, adds a fresh twist, as does her family's experience during the San Francisco earthquake in 1989. Although the ending is slightly pedantic, Telgemeier thoughtfully depicts her simultaneous feelings of exasperation and love toward her parents, as well as her joy at developing her artistic talent--she's deft at illustrating her characters' emotions in a dynamic, playful style. This book should appeal to tweens looking for a story that reflects their fears and experiences and gives them hope that things get easier.

Smile. (2009). Publisher's Weekly, 256(49), 51.

Library Uses:


This book could be used to teach about graphic novels and how they are designed with panels and gutters.  The students could also be taught the proper techniques to read a graphic novel.

Module 12: Nelson Mandela - Biography and Autobiography

Book Summary:

This book is a beautiful picture biography of Nelson Mandela.  The Kadir Nelson, who is both author and illustrator uses simple text and full page illustrations to tell the about the life of Nelson Mandela. He was sent to a live with a powerful chief when he was nine years old.  Mandela was educated and became a lawyer and he used his skills to defend those in need without a voice. Apartheid policy was created and South Africa became a divided country where individuals were not treated with equality. Mandela began to fight against this policy and began to look for a way to change the government and this harmful way of thinking.  He was imprisoned  for over twenty- seven years for his beliefs and stance that change needed to occur for peace to reign in South Africa.  When he was released he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and he was elected the President of South Africa.

APA Reference:

Nelson, K. (2013). Nelson Mandela. New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books.

Impressions:

Kadir Nelson's painting of Nelson Mandela on the front cover is awe-inspiring and the eyes are brilliant as they reflect  wisdom, love and humanity. I don't know if it was Kadir Nelson's idea or his editor to just have the face on Mandela without the title or other text, but it is a powerful and moving cover.  The title and author are on the back of the book and I wish they would have put the award medal on the back so that it did not distract from the painting.  Nelson Mandela wanted human equality and he was not afraid to stand up for his beliefs. He fought against the unfairness of apartheid.  He was an educated man who spoke out against the injustices towards blacks in South Africa.  He was imprisoned but he never gave up the hope that all people would have equal rights. Winnie, his wife was amazing.  She raised their children alone while he was in prison for twenty-seven and a half years.  He became the president of South Africa about four years later.


Professional Review:

An inspirational ode to the life of the great South African leader by an award-winning author and illustrator. Mandela's has been a monumental life, a fact made clear on the front cover, which features an imposing, full-page portrait. The title is on the rear cover. His family gave him the Xhosa name Rolihlahla, but his schoolteacher called him Nelson. Later, he was sent to study with village elders who told him stories about his beautiful and fertile land, which was conquered by European settlers with more powerful weapons. Then came apartheid, and his protests, rallies and legal work for the cause of racial equality led to nearly 30 years of imprisonment followed at last by freedom for Mandela and for all South Africans. "The ancestors, / The people, / The world, / Celebrated." Nelson's writing is spare, poetic, and grounded in empathy and admiration. His oil paintings on birch plywood are muscular and powerful. Dramatic moments are captured in shifting perspectives; a whites-only beach is seen through a wide-angle lens, while faces behind bars and faces beaming in final victory are masterfully portrayed in close-up. A beautifully designed book that will resonate with children and the adults who wisely share it with them.

Nelson Mandela (2012).  Kirkus Reviews, 80(23), 59.

Library Uses:

This would be a great title to introduce biographies to students.  A chapter biography book can be daunting for some students to read.  There are some wonderful picture book biographies that could be used to introduce students to this classification.

Module 11: Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic

Book Summary: 

Robert Burleigh has captured Amelia Earhart's first solo flight across the Atlantic in 1932. She was only the second person to do this – and the first woman. The book is very detailed, and the feelings and emotions that are brought to life through text and illustrations are profound. The vivid and detailed illustrations help the reader be connected with Earhart as she battles the elements and her own physical needs as she makes this dramatic journey alone. 

APA Reference:

Burleigh, R. (2011). Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

Impressions:

The illustrations and the text make this book action packed and full of adventure.  My heart was racing as she was flying through the storm and getting so close to the Atlantic's surface. I can't imagine flying solo and not having any means of communication.  That would scare the me to death. There is an illustration that I loved and you can see her profile  in the plane and there is a look of fatigue, fear and doubt, but she continued on to meet her goal. It was amazing to read and to know that she was such a pioneer in the world of flight and for women.  She did amazing things and never gave up because someone told her she could not accomplish a task.

Professional Review:

A worthy new addition to the recent spate of books about the famous aviatrix, Burleigh’s story concentrates on Earhart’s 1932 solo flight from Newfoundland to Ireland, placing compelling poetic emphasis on her single-hearted struggle. “Why? Because ‘women must try to do things as men have tried,’” writes Burleigh, quoting Earhart. Terse two-sentence stanzas tell a story focused upon the flight’s trials: a sudden storm (“the sky unlocks”), ice buildup on the plane’s wings, a precipitous plunge toward the Atlantic’s frothing surface, and a cracked exhaust pipe (“The friendly night becomes a graph of fear”). The loneliness of the effort is finally relieved over a farmer’s field, where Amelia lands and says, “Hi, I’ve come from America.” Minor’s illustrations maintain tension by alternating between cockpit close-ups and wide views of the plane crossing the foreboding ocean. Predominant reds and blues convey the pure excitement of the nail-biting journey. An afterword, along with Internet resources, a bibliography, and a column of Earhart quotes, increases the book’s value for curious children who might want more. Finally, Minor’s endpapers, with a well-drawn map and mechanical illustration of the plane Earhart called the “little red bus,” also work to inspire further learning.

Cruze, K. (2011). Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic. Booklist, 107(11), 69.

Library Uses:

This book could be used to teach how to use an atlas and chart her flight path.  It could also be used for a display of famous and heroic females in history.

Module 10: Pink and Say - Historical Fiction

Book Summary:

Pink and Say are two young boys fighting for freedom during the Civil War. Sheldon "Say" Russell Curtis is a frightened and wounded white Union Soldier. He is rescued by Pinkus "Pink" Aylee an African American Union Soldier. Pink takes Say to recover at his home, where his mother Moe Moe Bay nurse both boys to health and get them ready to return to fight. Pink had the opportunity to shake the hand of President Abraham Lincoln, so when Pink and Say shake hands, Say tells Pink that he has touched the hand that touched Abraham Lincoln. The boys are captured by the Confederate Army and are separated from each other. This story is based on real people.

APA Reference:

Polacco, P. (1994). Pink and Say. New York, NY: Philomel Books.

Impressions:

This is a tender story of friendship and acceptance. Pink and Say are Union soldiers.  Pink finds Say wounded and dying on the battlefield.  He takes him to his mother so that she can help him to heal.  Moe Moe Bay is Pink's mother and she nurses both boys back to health.  There is a touching page when Say is comforted and consoled by Moe because he is afraid to go back and join the war.  Moe embraces him and rocks him like her own child.  Pink also knows how to read because he was taught by his former master how to read.  Say does not know how to read, but Pink promises to teach him.  The whole story of touching the hand of President Lincoln is amazing and it was a profound thought that Patrica Polacco is a descendant of Sheldon (Say) Russell Curtis.  Her father passed on the story to her as it was told to him by his mother, who was told the story by her mother who heard it from her father, Say.  What a legacy to have in a family history file.

Professional Review:

This book, the story of Polacco's great-great-grandfather, has been passed down from generation to generation in the author-artist's family. Fifteen-year-old soldier Sheldon Russell Curtis - Say to his family - has been left for dead on a Civil War battlefield somewhere in Georgia. A fellow Union soldier, Pinkus Aylee, who is African American - "I had never seen a man like him so close before. His skin was the color of polished mahogany" - discovers him and, with much effort, drags the feverish Say home, where his mother, a slave named Moe Moe Bay, nurses Say back to health. As the boys regain their strength, they become as close as real family and discuss things close to their hearts. Pink shares his special talent: Master Aylee, his owner, had taught him how to read. "'To be born a slave is a heap o' trouble, Say. But after Aylee taught me to read, even though he owned my person, I knew that nobody, ever, could really own me.'" Say receives special comfort from Moe Moe when he admits that he deserted his troop and is afraid to return to the war. On the morning the two boys plan to leave and search for their respective troops, marauding Confederate soldiers arrive and kill Moe Moe. Pink and Say are later captured and become prisoners of the Confederate Army, in Andersonville. Although Say lived to tell this story of friendship and brotherhood, Pink was hanged within hours of arriving at the dreaded prison. Told in Say's colorful, country-fresh voice, the text incorporates authentic-sounding dialect and expressions - such as darky - that would have been used at the time. Polacco's characteristic acrylic, ink, and pencil illustrations are suitably dramatic and focus on the intense physical and emotional joy and pain of the story's three main characters. The remarkable story, made even more extraordinary in its basis in actual events, raises questions about courage, war, family, and slavery. A not-to-be-missed tour de force.

Fader, E. & Silvey, A. (1994). Pink and Say. Horn Book Magazine, 70(6), 724-725.

Library Uses:

This story could be used as a starting point for studying and locating research information on the civil war.  It could also be used in a report to locate the student's family history or genealogy searches.

Module 9: Humming Room -

Book Summary:

Roo Franshaw has to go live with her Uncle after her parents are murdered and she is hiding under their trailer house. Her uncle, who is her father's brother, lives on Cough Rock Island  in a semi-remodeled old tuberculosis children's sanitarium. Roo likes to be by herself and find places to hide away from the world and think.  The house has many old ghost stories and tales that Roo wants to learn more about.  She hears humming but she is unable to locate the source.  She begins to make friends and learns more about the house as she explores the grounds.  She discovers a hidden and abandoned garden and begins the task of restoring the garden.  Roo has a connection to the earth and growing things and she likes to listen for the sounds that the earth makes when you listen carefully.  She discovers that she has a cousin, Phillip, who is suffering from grief and depression after the loss of his mother.  Roo continues to tend the garden and even helps her Uncle overcome his own grief and self-blame of losing his beloved wife in the garden.

APA Reference:

Potter, H. (2012). The humming room. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Imoressions:

This was a fun read and it was fun to compare the plot line to The Secret Garden.  The parents are not murdered, but die of fever, which is the reason Mary had to go and live with her uncle.  The twist of living in an old children's hospital was a fun twist to the story and I like how the author wove in mystery and mythical themes to add new flavor to a classic tale.  I think that Francis Burnett would be flattered that her story was used as a foundation for The Humming Room.  I hope that this book will bring readers back to the classic story of The Secret Garden. There are many students who have not read or even heard this story so it would be great if both books could be read together, maybe sitting in a beautiful garden.

Professional Review:

Roo, 12, witnesses her parents' murder and survives by hiding beneath the family's trailer home. A rather unlikable child, she's a thief and she bites. She is put in foster care, where she is teased mercilessly by the other children, until a relative can be found. Then a previously unknown uncle turns up. He is wealthy and reclusive and lives on an island. He travels a great deal, so he sends his assistant to fetch Roo. On the train ride to Maine, Ms. Valentine lays down the rules about Roo's new house, and the child immediately sets about breaking every one of them. She discovers a secret box underneath some floorboards. She hears a mysterious humming noise. She notices that a good portion of the home, which used to be a sanatorium for children, is boarded up. And, she wonders about a mysterious, homeless boy she notices on a nearby island. Soon, she's noticing other mysteries and inconsistencies and makes a big discovery, which she keeps a secret. Sound vaguely familiar? The cover states that the book was inspired by The Secret Garden. It so parallels its predecessor that it's really a modernized retelling that works on many levels--but not on others. It's shorter and more streamlined and quite suspenseful. Yet, could a child be so easily hidden away nowadays? Fans of the classic will delight in the similarities and differences. Readers who might be intimidated by the original will find Potter's telling more accessible.

Kahn, B. (20112). The humming room. School Library Journal, 58(5), 116.


Library Uses: 

This book could be used to compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the Humming Room and the Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Students could also design and create their own gardens or green spaces.

Module 8: Doll Bones - Fantasy and Science Fiction

Book Summary:

Zach, Poppy and Alice have been friends forever and they create scenes and used their toys to act perform their creations.  They are twelve and they are still using their imaginations to think up new plots for the pirates, mermaids and the  great queen (a china doll who is locked up in Poppy's moms display cabinet.  Zach's father, who had just moved back home, thinks that Zach is too old to play with toys and needs to start to "grow up".  His father throws away his toys without Zach's knowledge.  Zach is crushed since many of his action figures have lead parts in their role playing skits.  He had even written a new part that in his backpack.  He does not want to tell Poppy and Alice that he no longer has his toys, so instead he tells them that he is too old to play anymore. Poppy starts to have dreams about the great queen and how the crushed bones of a murdered girl are hidden inside the doll.  The three friends decide to have one last adventure and try and solve the murder as they are led to clues by the doll or is it a ghost.

APA Reference:

Black, H. (2013). Doll bones. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

Impressions:

This was a fun adventure ghost story, if at times it was a little unbelievable.  The plot was a roller coaster as the three friends have to figure out ways to find the graveyard without much money or means or transportation.  The doll was a little creepy but the story behind the murder and the events that led to the dreadful fate. I liked the library scene, but an alarm would have sounded when they broke in through the basement window.  They needed to find the information and clues that was in the exhibit in the library. I think that no one is ever too old for toys and imagination.


Professional Review:

A middle-grade fantasy dons the cloak of a creepy ghost tale to deliver bittersweet meditations on the nature of friendship, the price of growing up and the power of storytelling. The lifelong friendship of Zach, Poppy and Alice revolves around their joint creation, an epic role-playing saga of pirates and perils, queens and quests. But now they are 12, and their interests are changing along with their bodies; when Zach's father trashes his action figures and commands him to "grow up," Zach abruptly quits the game. Poppy begs him to join her and Alice on one last adventure: a road trip to bring peace to the ghost possessing her antique porcelain doll. As they travel by bus and boat (with a fateful stop at the public library), the ghost seems to take charge of their journey--and the distinctions between fantasy and reality, between play and obligation, begin to dissolve. Veteran Black packs both heft and depth into a deceptively simple (and convincingly uncanny) narrative. From Zach's bitter relationship with his father to Anna's chafing at her overprotective grandmother to Poppy's resignation with her ramshackle relations, Black skillfully sketches their varied backgrounds and unique contributions to their relationship. A few rich metaphors--rivers, pottery, breath--are woven throughout the story, as every encounter redraws the blurry lines between childishness and maturity, truth and lies, secrecy and honesty, magic and madness. Spooky, melancholy, elegiac and ultimately hopeful; a small gem.

Doll bones (2013). Kirkus Reviews, 81(6), 158.

Library Uses:

Ths book could be used as starting point to research unsolved mysteries.  The students could infer and make assumptions about what might have happened and how it could be solved.

Module 7: Stargirl - Realistic Fiction

Book Summary:

Leo Borlock follows the crowd at Mica Area High School where students don't stand out or do anything to be different. Then Stargirl, whose real name is Susan, arrives at Mica High and everything changes. After 15 years of being home schooled, Stargirl blazes into the tenth grade in an explosion of color and ukulele music and birthday songs. Stargirl begins to make friends and gain popularity even though she does not conform to the norm of the student body. Leo Borlock begins to fall in love with her, but wants her to change especially when his own popularity and normalcy is being compromised.  Stargirl does alter her “normal” personality traits and behaviors, but she is mature enough to realize that it is important to be true to one self and continue in the life pursuits that have meaning and value for that individual.

APA Reference:

Spinelli, J. (2000). Stargirl. New York, NY: Scholastic

Impressions:

This is a good book about teaching students about their own individuality and becoming comfortable with their own unique traits and personalities.  I enjoyed reading this book about Stargirl and how she was observant and kind to all those around her.  She was a self-less individual who was always looking for ways to help and lift the spirits of those around her without  worrying about consequences or being popular.  The world would be a better place if more people would believe in themselves and not always follow the crowd or what is popular.

Professional Review:

Cynics might want to steer clear of this novel of a contemporary Pollyanna, whose glad-game benevolences include singing Happy Birthday to her classmates, dropping change in the street for children to find, and--to her downfall--joining the cheerleading squad and rooting for both teams. High school junior Leo is at first nonplussed by Stargirl's not-so-random acts of kindness, but he really loves her from the start. After Stargirl is shunned for her disloyal cheerleading, Leo persuades her to go along with the crowd, and she even reclaims her birth name, Susan. Predictably, this doesn't work for Stargirl; on the author's part, it occasions much heavy-handed moralizing about conformity. While it is true that we are meant to see Stargirl as larger-than-life ("She seems to be in touch with something that the rest of us are missing"), there are no shadows to contour her character, and thus her gestures seem empty. While Spinelli's Maniac Magee was on the run for a reason and Pollyanna needed something to be glad for, Stargirl has nothing to lose. But as a story of high school outsiders and light romance, this will find an audience, and the book does bear many strong similarities to Maniac Magee, offering a charismatic female counterpart.

Sutton, R. (2000). Stargirl. Horn Book Magazine, 76(4), 465-466.

Library Uses:

The librarian will begin a discussion with "Why would you give someone a greeting card?" The students will find and observe a person and create, write and send a greeting card to that individual.

Module 7: Because of Winn Dixie - Realistic Fiction

Book Summary: 
Opal and her father, who is a preacher, move to a new town in Florida.  Opal does not have any friends when she gets to the town.  She finds a dog at the local Winn Dixie grocery store and decides to take the dog home.  She names the dog Winn Dixie in honor of where she and the dog were brought together.  Opal takes the Winn Dixie with her on all of her adventures that she has in summer.  She meets many people in her small town and begins to make friends, with a little assistance and guidance from Winn Dixie.  She learns to be accepting and non-judgmental of people and the choices that they make in life.  She also learns how to cope and understand why her mother abandoned her and her father.

APA Reference:

DiCamillo, K. (2000). Because of Winn-Dixie. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Impressions:

 Opal has to find new friends, get a job to buy the red collar and red leash for Winn-Dixie, learn how to accept others without judgment and coping with not having a mother in her life.  She finds surrogate mothers, Miss Franny Block the librarian and Gloria Dump, an older woman in her community to help her and teach her basic life skills and just be her friend.  She also has to learn how to make friends in her new town of Naomi, Florida. Opal has to overcome her fear that they might not like her because she is the preacher’s daughter and that they will overlook their differences. This is a darling story that all ages can enjoy.  It is about friendship, dealing with loss and looking for the best in others.  Opal makes friends with animals younger kids, boys, older men and women. The conversations that she has with all of the characters who taste the Littmus Lozenges, a candy that was made by Franny Block’s great -grandfather,  reach out to the heart of anyone who has experienced sorrow in their lives.  The lozenges bring out the sweetness and the sorrow in life.  This is a concept that the reader can relate to because in life there are times when life is sweet and times when life is sorrowful and it is how people learn to overcome the sorrow and begin to find the sweetness in life that people can understand and connect with each other. The lessons of love, loss, friendship and acceptance that are taught in this sweet, simple story are timeless and a good reminder of how to live a joyful life.

Professional Review:

According to Miss Franny Block, the town librarian in Naomi, Florida, her great-grandfather made his fortune after the Civil War by manufacturing a candy "that tasted sweet and sad at the same time." Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni (called Opal) thinks this description of the candy sounds a lot like life, where "the sweet and the sad were all mixed up together," too. It's also a pretty apt description of this engaging Southern-style first-person novel, featuring a girl and dog with a lot to offer each other. Children's literature is full of animal-to-the-rescue stories, but rarely does salvation come in the form of a creature with as much personality as Winn-Dixie. When Opal, who has just moved to town with her preacher father, discovers him cheerfully knocking over produce in the Winn-Dixie supermarket one day, it's obvious he's a stray. "Mostly, he looked like a big piece of old brown carpet that had been left out in the rain." His friendly manner, which involves pulling back his lips into what appears to be a smile, wins her over and, luckily, wins her father over as well. As if in gratitude for giving him a good home, Winn-Dixie immediately begins easing Opal's troubles, helping her make friends, who in turn help her come to terms with the fact that her mother abandoned her and probably won't be back. The story teeters on the edge of sentimentality and sometimes topples right in, but the characters are so likable, so genuine, it's an easy flaw to forgive. All in all, this is a gentle book about good people coming together to combat loneliness and heartache--with a little canine assistance

Hepperman, C.M. (2000). Because of Winn-Dixie. Horn Book Magazine, 76(4), 455-456.

Library Uses:

This book could be used to introduce realistic fiction to students.  A venn diagram could be used to compare and contrast the life of Opal and the lives of the students.

Module 6: Pete and Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons -Picture Books

Book Summary: 

Pete the Cat has four groovy buttons on his shirt.  One by one the buttons fall off.  The beauty of the story is that Pete remains calm and continues on with his song.  He continues until all of the buttons have popped off of his favorite shirt.  He does not panic or cry he remembers that he still has a button left, his belly button.

APA Reference:

Litwin, E. (2012). Pete the Cat and his four groovy buttons. New York, NY: Harper.

Impressions:

This is such a fun book to read to pre-kindergaren up to second grade.  It is always fun to be able to sing parts of books and then listen in the halls as students sing the songs after library time.  The illustrations are so much fun and Pete, is one cool cat.  I love that he does not worry about the small stuff and looks for the positive outcomes in a negative situation. It is awesome to have access to the music online and be able to share and teach this to the students.

Professional Review:

In his third outing Pete the Cat follows the pattern of his previous appearances: Despite repeated wardrobe malfunctions, he maintains his upbeat attitude and bouncy charm. This time around the focus is on the buttons on Pete's favorite shirt, instead of his shoes, and there's even a bit of math involved. Still, for readers who have met Pete previously there's not much here that's new. Pete moves from his cozy chair to a skateboard to the street outside to a surfboard on top of an old-style Volkswagen Beetle. In each spot, for no apparent reason, one button pops off. The repeated refrain asks "Did Pete cry?" and answers "Goodness, no! Buttons come and buttons go." As a song it's likely perky, but read aloud, the text can seem tedious and overlong. Still, the brightly colored, childlike paintings and playful typography should keep kids' attention, and some will also enjoy identifying the large numerals as they count backwards from four to zero. A final twist finds Pete admiring his bellybutton, which will always be with him unlike the "stuff" that "will come and…go," offering the option of a mildly anti-consumerist message for parents who choose to emphasize it.

Pete the Cat and his four groovy buttons. (2012). Kirkus Reviews, 80(7) 743.

Library Uses:

This book could be used to show how authors can use nominal (2) and cardinal (two) to help tell the story. The lesson could even extend to ordinal and ask what color button popped off first, second, third and fourth.

Module 5: Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom - Other Award Winners

Book Summary:

This is the story of Harriet Tubman and how she escaped from slavery and her journey to freedom.  She was a very spiritual woman who prayed and listened for guidance from God.  She knew that He protected her and provided the way for her and her family members to be free.  The first journey was the most difficult because she was alone, but she knew that she would be protected until she reached safety.  She made nineteen trips to help other slaves find freedom away from slavery.  She was modern day Moses as she led people to their freedom.

APA Reference:

Weatherford, C.B. (2006). Moses: When Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom. NewYork, NY: Hyperion.

Impression:

It was refreshing to read a book where the main character is a spiritual person and had a personal relationship with God.  She listened to his promptings and knew the moment when the timing was right to escape to freedom.  The illustrations enhance the lyrical text and bring a feeling of peace and hope into the story.  There is one painting where she is sleeping in a field and she is being watched over by the animals.  This was a beautiful illustration of her faith that God would not leave her alone.  When she obtained her freedom, she knew that it would not be compete freedom without her family, so she once again prays for guidance and is given strength and courage to return for her family and friends.

Professional Review:

Weatherford’s poetic telling of Harriet Tubman’s role as a conductor on the Underground Railroad combines with Nelson’s larger-than-life illustrations to portray the spiritual life of the African American visionary. The story takes readers from Tubman’s early days as a slave, through her decision to escape, and into her life as a free person who detested the institution of slavery so vehemently that she returned to the South nineteen times to free some three hundred slaves, including her family members. Weatherford uses three different narrative voices to explore Tubman’s relationship with God: a third-person narrator, telling of her life and trials; the voice of Harriet herself, who (in an italicized font) speaks her doubts and pleas directly to God; and God’s words to Harriet—“HARRIET, I WILL MAKE A WAY FOR YOU”—set in large, translucent type. The interaction between these narrative voices makes clear that it was Tubman’s strong faith that sustained her on the freedom journeys so dramatically evoked in Nelson’s richly atmospheric nightscapes. Several key scenes bring Harriet in close visual proximity to the reader to emphasize both her emotional turmoil and her strength. Moses offers a visual and literary experience of Tubman’s life on a par with Alan Schroeder and Jerry Pinkney’s Minty.

Martin, M. H. (2006). Moses: When Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom. Horn Book Magazine, 82(6), 737-738.

Library Uses:

This book could be used in a library book display or could be paired with other books to be used during Black History Month in February. During the month books and other library materials could be used and found to help celebrate the contributions that African Americans have made to American history in their struggles for freedom and equality and deepens our understanding of our Nation's history.

Module 5: Chato's Kitchen - Other Award Winners

Book Summary:

Chato the cat invites his new mice neighbors to dinner, where they will be the main course.  The mouse family thinks that the cat is being a friendly neighbor welcoming them to the Barrio. They remember that their friend, Chorizo, is coming for a visit that same night, so they ask if he can come also come to dinner.  Chato is planning a wonderful meal with many traditional Mexican foods on the menu. His cat friend, Novio Boy, comes to help Chato prepare for their feast. When the mice family arrives with Chorizo, the cats are in for a surprise.

APA Reference:

Soto, G. (1995). Chatos's kitchen. New York, NY: G. P. Putnam's Sons.

Impressions:

This was a fun book that had the color and beauty of Mexican culture, language and foods.  The illustrations were an array of bright colors and the pictures of the fruits, vegetables and the prepared food dishes were brilliant and added to the story.  The mice children were dressed in more modern westernized clothing but the mice parents were dressed in more traditional clothing.  The blending of the two languages is a great way to help unite and bring together individuals from different cultures.

Professional Review:

Chato, a "low-riding cat with six stripes," spends an afternoon in the kitchen along with his best friend, Novio Boy, a cat with "the loveliest growl in the barrio." They prepare a mouthwatering array of dishes, including fajitas, enchiladas, and chiles rellenos, but the heartlest dish is yet to come, for Chato has thoughtfully invited his new neighbors - a "tasty" family of mice. When the rodents arrive and announce that they've brought Chorizo, the cats think that the guests have come with even more treats: "Sausage! Chato and Novio Boy . . . gave each other a 'low four.'" However, the cats are in for a surprise. Chorizo, it turns out, is an old family friend from the old neighborhood, and he's neither sausage nor mouse. He's a dog -"a low, road-scraping dog." Chato resigns himself to a mouseless meal, comforted that dinner will still be pretty good because, "after all, it came from Chato's kitchen." Humorous details abound in Guevara's richly colored artwork, which portrays the characters with affection and authenticity. The illustrations convey the cats' cool and confident attitude - Chato has a gold hoop in one ear and wears his baseball cap backward, while Novio Boy, bandanna round his head, has a flashy cross dangling from his cat collar; both cats sport pencil-thin mustaches. Soto's fresh and satisfying fare is distinctively seasoned with the sights and sounds of East Los Angeles; the sprinkling of Spanish words and phrases adds the perfect flavor. A glossary - including the items on Chato's menu - precedes the story.

Brabander, J. (1995). Chato's kitchen. Horn Book Magazine, 71(5), 591-592.

Library Uses:

This book could be used to teach about different cultures, traditions and languages.  My school is a Spanish immersion school, so this could be used to introduce new vocabulary and create a project by using the new Spanish words.

Module 4: Dead End in Norvelt - Newbery Winners

Book Summary:

This story takes place in Norvelt, Pennsylvania during the summer months after Jack fires his father's Japanese sniper rifle at the Drive Inn movie screen.  As punishment he is grounded for life but he is sent by his mother to help their elderly neighbor Miss Volker write obituaries for the town newspaper. Jack uncovers and solves the murder mysteries of many elderly citizens in his town. Jack, a history lover, learns about American history that he has never been taught in school by Miss Volker's chats. Jack helps his father re-build a plane, which they have an adventure with paint balloons at the end of the story.  Eleanor Roosevelt was also an important part of the history and background of their town because she helped Norvelt survive by helping the people get into homes.  Miss Volker made a promise to Eleanor that she would keep the medical and death records of the original town members, which meant that she would have to outlive the originals that were introduced to the town.

APA Reference: 

Gantos, J. (2011). Dead end in Norvelt. New York, NY: Farrar Straus Giroux.

Impressions:

This a wonderful example of a young boy who serves and assists an elderly neighbor and helps her perform her daily tasks.  He learns the value and importance of history and keeping accurate records. The value of knowing what happened in the past so that precious memories and experiences will not be lost or forgotten. Jack learns the value of making and keeping deadlines and the importance of being a dependable worker. The lesson of hard work provides the means to earn money to purchase and fix up a car.  There are many lessons of compassion, friendship and history that might not be interesting for younger readers and the humor might go over their heads.


Professional Review:

In 1962, Jack accidentally discharges his father's war relic, a Japanese rifle, and is grounded for the summer. When a neighbor's arthritic hands get the best of her, his mother lifts the restriction and volunteers the 12-year-old to be the woman's scribe, writing obituaries for the local newspaper. Business is brisk for Miss Volker, who doubles as town coroner, and Norvelt's elderly females seem to be dropping like flies. Prone to nosebleeds at the least bit of excitement (until Miss Volker cauterizes his nose with old veterinarian equipment), Jack is a hapless and endearing narrator. It is a madcap romp, with the boy at the wheel of Miss Volker's car as they try to figure out if a Hell's Angel motorcyclist has put a curse on the town, or who might have laced Mertie-Jo's Girl Scout cookies with rat poison. The gutsy Miss Volker and her relentless but rebuffed suitor, Mr. Spizz, are comedic characters central to the zany, episodic plot, which contains unsubtle descriptions of mortuary science. Each quirky obituary is infused with a bit of Norvelt's history, providing insightful postwar facts focusing on Eleanor Roosevelt's role in founding the town on principles of sustainable farming and land ownership for the poor. Jack's absorption with history of any kind makes for refreshing asides about John F. Kennedy's rescue of PT-109 during World War II, King Richard II, Francisco Pizarro's conquest of Peru, and more. A fast-paced and witty read.

Reutter, V. (2011). Dead end in Norvelt. School Library Journal, 57(9), 154.

Library Uses: 

This book could be used when discussing Newbery award winners and the criteria and selection process when choosing a winner each year.

Module 4: Missing May - Newbery Winners

Book Summary:

Summer goes to live with her Aunt May and Uncle Ob when she is six years old.  She finally has found a home where she feels loved and accepted.  Aunt May dies when Summer is twelve years old and it is difficult for Summer and Ob to overcome their grief.  Ob has a more difficult time because he does not believe that he has the capabilities to raise Summer properly on his own without the help of May.  Ob feels May's spirit and they go in a journey to meet with the Reverend Miriam Young, with Cletus, a strange boy from school, who has been spending time at their house. They get some shocking news when they get to the Reverend's house, but they continue their journey to the West Virginia State Capitol. Ob and Summer learn to overcome their grief and know that May will always be with them in their hearts.
 
APA Reference:

Rylant, C. (1992). Missing May.  New York, NY: Yearing.

Impression:

This is a beautiful book about overcoming grief and loss.  The love that Summer's aunt and uncle give her is more valuable then the material possessions that they could have given her if they had the money.  The tenderness that Ob displays to Summer when he begins to learn to cope with the loss of his beloved wife.  The owl that May and Summer see when she was little and the owl that Summer, Ob and Cletus see when they come home from the Capitol was a sweet part in the story to remind those left behind that their loved ones are still with them in their hearts and memories.

Professional Review:

In this haunting first-person narrative, Cynthia Rylant gives substance to the abstract concept of love which philosophers have so often attempted to define. Orphaned at six, raised by an elderly West Virginia aunt and uncle with more devotion than money, Summer is twelve years old when Aunt May dies. Although Summer's grief is profound, it is Uncle Ob who seems unable to go on living without his beloved companion; that is, until he decides that her presence still lingers nearby and that somehow he can contact her. With the help of another loner, Cletus Underwood, one of Summer's schoolmates, the two leave the dilapidated trailer which is their home and journey to another county in search of healing at the Spiritualist Church of Glen Meadows. But their quest seems doomed when they learn that the preacher they hoped to meet had died several months earlier. Then, as if in answer to Summer's silent prayers, on the return journey Ob chooses life over mourning, freeing both of them from months of longing for the impossible. The final scene is a triumphant catharsis as they find consolation in their memories and in each other. Although the focus is the time following May's death, Rylant skillfully interweaves scenes from the past to re-create her personality so that the grief of the survivors is both comprehensible and compelling. The book explores internal rather than external changes — a focus which is exactly right for its theme.

M. M. B., (1992). Missing May. Horn Book Magazine, 68(2), 206.

Library Uses: 

This book could be used along with a dictionary lesson, either in book or online format.  The student could look up meanings of words that are unfamiliar to the students like a whirligig. The book has a very strong theme of grief and how to overcome a time of grieving, It could be used to help students understand and find the dominant theme of a book.

Module 3: Locomotive - Caldecott Winners

Book Summary:

The book chronicles the journey of a mother and her two children as they leave Omaha, Nebraska heading west to meet their father in California where they will make their new home. The book talks about the workers and passengers who are on the train.  The book train journey describes the way that the train functions and the  job responsibilities of the train workers so that the journey is safe.  The illustrations are used along with the text to tell the story and educate the reader about the history of the Locomotive and its place in this countries history and growth.

APA Reference:

Flocam B (2013). Locomotive. New York, NY: Antheneum.

Impressions:

This is a beautiful book and what a great way to teach children about the history of trains in the United States.  The illustrations are beautiful and they add so much texture to the story.  I learned  a lot about trains while reading this book.  I knew the story about Promontory Point and the joining of the two railroads, but I did not know very much about the workings of the steam engines. For example, I did not realize that some ran on coal and some on wood.  I was also impressed and grossed out by the restroom situations but I guess it would have been better just to have the hole empty out onto the tracks as they traveled along.  The endpapers which are a reproductions of a newspaper advertisement were another added bonus and it was awesome to see the routes and read about the cities.  The back has a drawing of a steam engine with the part labeled and a description given of their importance and the role that they play in the workings of engine.

Professional Review:

Talk about a youth librarian’s dream come true: a big new book about those ever-popular trains from a bona fide picture-book-nonfiction all-star. Striking cinematic endpapers lay the groundwork, describing the creation of the Transcontinental Railroad in the 1860s. Then, in a sort of historical fiction-meets-travelogue narrative, Floca zeroes in on one family’s journey from Omaha to San Francisco. Floca excels at juxtaposing sweeping panoramas with intimate, slice-of-life moments: here a widescreen shot of the train chugging across the Great Plains; later a vignette at a “dollar for dinner” hash house (“If the chicken tastes like prairie dog, don’t ask why,” cautions the narrator). Varied font sizes and styles on the large pages beautifully capture the onomatopoeia (“Hisssssssss”; “huff huff huff ”; “chugchug chug-chug chug-chug”) of the train and the feel of the Old West. One spread finds the train precariously crossing a trestle (“The train is so heavy, the bridge is so narrow, and rickety rickety rickety!”); the concluding ricketys are displayed in an appropriately jarring shadowed font alongside a picture of passengers shaking—and praying—in their seats. Luckily, our family makes it safely to its destination: “the country’s far corners have been pulled together… thanks to the locomotive.” An author’s note and thorough discussion of the sources used are included, and don’t miss the back endpapers—the steam power diagram would make David Macaulay proud.

Bloom, S. (2013). Locomotive. Horn Book Magazine, 89(5), 121.

Library Uses:

This book could be used to teach basic research skills about how to extract information from informational text.  This book could also be used to demonstrate what onomatopoeia with all of the sounds that are used to for the train.

Module 3: This is not my hat - Caldecott Winners

Book Summary:

A little fish has stolen a hat from a big fish.  He has a conversation with the reader as tells the reader why he should have the hat and that he will be able to avoid detection if he can only make it to the tall, dense plants.  The big fish is very aware of who has stolen his hat and he sets out to retrieve his stolen property.

APA Reference: 

Klassen, J. (2012). This is not my hat. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

Impressions:

This is such a dark book. The little fish tries to rationalize and explain that he should have the hat because it fits him better.  This is human nature to try and make excuses for our wrong doings instead of facing the consequences of our actions.  The book never comes out and says that the big fish ate the little fish, but revenge is not a pretty picture and sometimes consequences are painful.

Professional Review:

The eyes have it in Klassen's latest hat book. Klassen manages to tell almost the whole story through subtle eye movements and the tilt of seaweed and air bubbles. The wide-eyed little fish on the cover looks guilty. He is. He has taken the tiny bowler from the head of a large sleeping fish and pleads his case to the reader. He explains why he will never be caught—the fish is asleep; he won't wake up or notice the missing hat; and he won't know who took it or where the thief has gone. The culprit continues to flee the scene of the crime, moving to "where the plants are big and tall and close together." Once he reaches his destination, the reader sees the little guy for the last time, disappearing amidst the "safety" of the seaweed. The final spread is laugh-out-loud funny: the large fish now sports the teeny hat, eyes closed and relaxed in slumber. The seaweed wafts innocently, and the air bubbles calm. Since every claim the little fish makes is belied by the pictures, the reader is in on the joke, by turns rooting for him to get away and nervously hoping he is caught. Klassen continues to be the master of black and brown, and the viewer will not tire of the palette. Little eyes will pore over the end pages, looking for evidence of foul play, but all the interaction between the two characters takes place where the plants grow tall and close together, obscuring the view. Darkly hilarious.

Smith, R.L. (2012). This is not my hat. Horn Book Magazine, 10(12),  66-67.

Library Uses:

This book can used to teach inference and to speculate what the big fish did to the little fish.

Module 2: Madeline - Classic Children's and Young Adult Literature

Book Summary:

The book depicts the daily life of Madeline, her classmates and Miss Clavel.  The girls have a certain routine that is followed everyday, rain or shine.  Madeline is the smallest girl but she is not afraid of anything and is a typical young curious girl.  She gets sick one night and has to go to the hospital for an operation.  Her classmates visit her in the hospital and after they see her presents they all want to have an operation.

APA Reference: 

Bemelmans, L. (1939). Madeline. New York, NY: Puffin.

Impressions:

The simple rhymes and muted illustrations make this book a classic that is sill loved by children, especially little girls. I loved this book as a child and I love it as an adult. I always wanted a yellow rain coat and hat to wear outside. I was sick as a child and I remember asking my parents why I did not get candy and toys like Madeline when she was in the hospital. I actually did get stuffed animals and blankets. Reading this book as an adult I enjoyed looking at the famous Paris buildings and landmarks.

Professional Review:

Kirkus, June 15, 1939

 Yes, it will sell:- (1) because it is Ludwig Bemelmans and a beautiful book; (2) because Bemelmans' sense of humor tickles the risibilities of adults and they buy books. Children may like the absurdities, but actually, the appeal is not juvenile. The charm of the pictures (other than the coloring itself) lies in the identification with familiar and recognizable objects. And the text is not keyed to the interests or understanding of the average child.

Madeline, (1939). Bulletin from Virginia Kirkus' Bookshop Service.

Library Uses: 

The students can seek information and learn from the illustrations in the book.  The can locate and name the different building in France that the illustrator uses in the book.  The students can use books or the internet to to research.

Module 2: Harold and the Purple Crayon - Classic Children's and Young Adult Literature

Book Summary:

 

One night Harold decides to go for a walk in the moonlight.  He discovers that there is not a moon to light his way, so he draws one with his purple crayon.  Harold creates many adventures for himself which also lead to him having to draw the solution to his problems that his drawings have created.  After his encounter with a dragon, his boat ride and mountain climb, he wants to go home.  He has to remember how to locate is own window.  He is finally able to recall his own window with the help of the moon.

APA Reference:

Johnson, C. (1955). Harold and the purple crayon. New York: NY, Harper Collins.

Impressions:

The illustrations are simple and childlike.  There are only three colors used in the book, purple, grey and black against a white page backdrop.  This is still a favorite book with adults and children.  How great would it be if we could just drawn the next thing that we wanted to happen in our lives.  Harold uses his imagination as he begins his journey on a straight path, but then he decides he wants to go another route.  He drew what he thought he needed for his walk: A forest, with an apple tree with a dragon to protect the apples until they are red.  He ends of in the ocean, but he is able to think fast and solve his problem by drawing a boat.  He has other adventures of climbing and falling and being lost, but Harold always uses his purple crayon and his quick mind to come up with a solution to the problem.  This is a wonderful tale about being able to overcome difficult situations and find a safe place to rest in the end.

Professional Review:

Kirkus  Review - August 1, 1955

A clever little volume and pint sized- like Harold- contains the story of how he drew himself all over the place one evening with his purple crayon. Deciding to go for a walk in the moonlight, Harold draws a moon, then a path, and starts off. Then by mistake there's an ocean, a city, and more, until Harold wants his own window again and finally hits on drawing it around the moon. Johnson's picture are purple. You'll laugh at this. Good stitches.

Harold and the purple crayon. (1955). Bulletin from Virginia Kirkus' Service.

Library Uses:

This book could be used  for teaching Utah Library skills. Kindergarten students should engage and extract information from a book. They could recall concepts and details of the story by listening, viewing and reading the story. What were some of the things Harold drew with his crayon?

Module 1: We are in a Book - Intro to Youth Literature

Book Summary:
 

Piggie and Gerald are back and have just found out that they are in a book.  They are super excited about being in a book especially when they realize that a “reader” is watching them and reading the book.  Piggie has a brilliant plan to get the reader to say a word.  He had the reader say “Banana”.  This is repeated with much laughter.  Then when the book ends, they want to do it again, which is what all kids want to do.  Read it again.

APA Reference:

Willems, M. (2010). We are in a Book. New York, NY: Hyperion.

Impressions:

Mo Willems has done it a again.  He has brought back Piggie and Gerald to delight and entertain children and adults.  He has used his humor, simple illustrations and text to engage the reader in the story line.  Students prek - 2  grades will laugh and be involved in the story as they repeat the word banana displayed by Piggie.  Students will want to read and reread this story, even when they know the outcome of the plot.  This is a wonderful story to being laughter and humor into the library. ELL and non readers can still enjoy the story through the simple use of conversation dialog boxes and simply vocabulary.

Professional Review:

Stalwart friends Piggie and Gerald the elephant push the metafictive envelope in a big way when they realize that "someone is looking at us." Is it a monster? worries Gerald. "No," replies the squinting Piggie. "It is... / a reader! / A reader is reading us!" How? wonders Gerald. Piggie drapes herself on a word bubble to demonstrate: "We are in a book!" "THAT IS SO COOL!" Joy leads to a little bit of clever practical joking—Piggie figures out how to make the readers say "banana" out loud, and hilarity ensues—which gives way to existential angst: "The book ends?!" exclaims an appalled Gerald. Emergent readers just beginning to grapple one-on-one with the rules of the printed codex will find the friends' antics both funny and provocative: Just who is in control here, anyway? As always, Willems displays his customary control of both body language and pacing even as he challenges his readers to engage with his characters and the physicality of their book. The friends' solution to the book's imminent end? "Hello. Will you please read us again?" You bet.(Early reader. 4-8)

We are in a book. (2010). Kirkus Reviews, 78(17), 870.

Library Uses:

This book can be used to teach conversation or dialog writing.  This is a simple way to demonstrate who is talking with the use of colored speech or conversation bubbles.  When Gerald is talking they are gray and when Piggie is talking they are pink.