A. Provide all APA bibliographic information
B. Review:
Please write an engaging book review. Evaluate it in terms of multicultural issues and criteria and address the credibility of the author. Consider your personal response to the book. Make text to text, text to life connections. Discuss its literary and visual qualities and give an example of a golden line or visual/formatting element that contributes to its quality. Bring in reviews of it where applicable. Consider for whom is the book intended and how might it fit into teaching that audience. Provide examples to support what you say.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Book Review by Chris Mormile
ReplyDeleteBook Title: Family, Familia
Author: Diane Gonzales Bertrand
Illustrator: Pauline Rodrigues Howard
Copyright Date: 2005
Publisher: Pinata Books, University of Houston
Genre: Family reunions, fiction, Mexican American literature
The author of Family, Familia is a Mexican-American author who resides in San Antonio, Texas, and the yongest of seven children. Having a very vivid imagination, Diane actually wrote her first novel when she was ten years old. Then Diane's love of writing led her to write skits for her Girl Scout troop, school plays, religious skits, and she also translated Shakespear's iambic pentameter and prose writing into easier, more understandable vocabulary for younger children, so that they wouldn't be intimidated by the master bard's extensive vocabulary. Diane has publsihed nine young adult books and six picture books and has received a number of awards from the Literary Latino Hall of Fame for both picture books and young adult novels. During high school, she began writing her own poetry and won The Battle of Flowers Oratorical Contest with a speech she read about Jose Antonio Navarro. Gonzales is quoted: "We were supposed to talk about an individual who personified the spirit of Texas. Navarro was only one of two Mexican men to sign the independence document, and I wanted everyone to know his story. That speech is one of my most prized pieces of writing." After earning her Bachelor's degree in English at the University of San Antonio, Diane went back to the old neighborhoods where she grew up and started teaching other Mexican-American children, where her passion for writing really took off. She enrolled in the Graduate English program at Our Lady of the Lake University in 1989, and during one of her first classes, she was told that in order for one to be a good writer, that person must enjoy writing herself. This piece of wisdom lit a fire under Gonzales, but she struggled financially with tuition at this school, so she wrote a series of scholarship essays in order to bridge the gap and to help pay for her degree. During graduate school, Diane wrote and published two novels with Avalon Books. The main characters were Mexican-Americans, something new in popular romantic fiction. Gonzales states: "When I couldn't find any romances with Mexican-American characters, I decided to write my own. Mexican-American people, the young women especially, need to see us reflected in a positive way in books. My lead characters are always educated, they are creative in solving their problems, and they always have a sense of humor." Gonzales is the author of two bilingual picture books for children "Sip, Slurp, Soup, Soup"/ (1997), and Family, Familia (1999); two novels for middle and high school audiences, Sweet Fifteen (1995) and Lessons of the Game (1999); a critically-acclaimed novel for middle school students, Trino's Choice (1999), which was named Best Book of the Year in the young adult category by ForeWord Magazine; and an intermediate novel, Alicia's Treasure (1996).
This story, Family, Familia, is told in both English and Spanish, a nice tactic to emply for English Language Learners and for Reading Specialists. The story chronicles the adventures of Daniel, who, being bored already with summer vacation, is informed that he would be attending a family reunion during that same summer in San Antonio (they live in Kingsville, Texas). At first Daneil is reluctant to share in his father's enthusiasm, as he thinks that this "reunion" will only involve a bunch of old people sitting around, complaining about their various ailments and telling stories about stuff that Daniel could care less to listen to.
Upon his arrival, however, Daniel was greeted by his aunt, who arranged the whole thing and then, even better than that, he was introduced to the food, like brisket, sausage, fried chicken and cabrito. There was also a mariachi band, a family picture, and a piñata, that was smashed to smithereens by "the boy in the green shirt who was singing with the mariachi band." The boy alluded to was named Brian, a boy that Daniel quickly soon discovered was a boy his age, but who was also his cousin, as it turns out. Once that was discovered, the bonding began: they had a catch together, they ate watermelon and they had swordfights with the remaining pieces of the pinata that were scattered all over the grounds. At the conclusion, there was a raffle that was held, and Daniel, surprisingly, won the raffle, which was a beautifully framed portrait of his great-great grandparents.
ReplyDeleteThere was no way that you couldn't tell that the book alluded to multicultural themes throughout its pages. I have many Latino friends, and I know that a great emphasis is placed on family and extended family. I grew up with a group of three brothers who all attended the same school I did, the Santiago's, who lived right down the street from me. I didn't really know that they were even Hispanic when I met them, and it didn't really much bother me what they were, especially with me being Italian but looking anything but. I remember that they would celebrate "Carnivale", I think is what it was called, and that was where they would congregate and party with their family members, who mostly lived in either New York or New Jersey. I still keep in touch with them to this day, actually. But that example leads me to the references and images made in this picture book. The author does a good job at capturing the spirit of belonging in a large family whose insistence that family be a priority rang true throughout. There was a sense of comradery and love here, especially with the aunt who got the people together. There were many Latino foods, customs, mores and language that was shared in the story. But underneath all of that was the basic story of a reluctant kid who didn't want to be bored with his old family members at some stupid party. Daniel learns that he is not the center of his own universe, that there were people who shaped who he is today. The illustrations are much better than the ones from my last picture book, Crazy Horse's Vision, by Joseph Bruchak. Here the illustrations are vividly detailed, you can actually read the expressions on each one of Daniel's family members who attended the reunion, as opposed to Crazy Horse, which looked like a 3-year old traced each character onto the page. I thought that the book tended to get a bit syrupy for my taste in certain parts, but overall it was a good read.
What I see as an overarching theme in many of the books that we've read so far is the fear of the unknown and family bonds being the strongest ones that are forged. In The Arrival, Feathers, and Part-Time Indian, there was always trepidation present in the protagonists, from the lonely immmigrant who seeks out employment in The Arrival, to the main character in Feathers, who was afraid at first to befriend Jesus Boy, then to Junior in Part-Time Indian who had his own reservations about going to an predominantly white school, with the excpetion of the mascot, and now Daniel in this story, who was afraid of being surprised at what he would eventually see at his family reunion. As far as the familial bonds, the protagonist in The Arrival couldn't wait for his family to arrive in America, the lead in Feathers had a pretty strong bond with her parents, mainly her mother, of whom she sympathized with when she became pregnant again, after the loss of a child from a previous pregnancy, and then Junior, whose sometimes tumultuous relationship with his father was pretty well documented, as his father suffered from alcoholism and only provided his own form of love that had to be enough for Junior, and now Daniel, who eventually learned that family ties are the ties that bind, they define who he is, where he came from, and what he can aspire to be. As Daniel says near the end of the story, "We lived in different places, and some had different names, but we were all connected." That golden line
ReplyDeletepretty much summed up the story in one sentence.
The book is geared for students from 2nd to 6th grade, probably, which is a bit of a wide gap, but younger kids will enjoy the illustrations and the fun that goes on in the book. Might be a good way to introduce the cultural aspects of Latino Americans, especially with foods; perhaps a teacher could bring in some Latino specialties, or have parents bring in some Mexican American dishes for some kind of extension to the lesson when the students start to study Latino American culture. There are also issues already discussed that students in younger grades can comprehend, like not wanting to do something at first, but then when you see what is actually going on, you don't want to be left out of the fun, like the fun in meeting a new friend, like Daniel did in the story. It's a book about acceptance and trying not to pre-judge situations and people that might stem from those situations, which is what the core of what multiculturalism is all about in the first place. Sixth graders could probably use this book as a companion piece to studying Latino American history, perhaps. I don't know if they would as readily accept some of the more saccharine aspects of the mainly younger-based depictions of family life and the fun that could be had at a park on a sunny day. They might find it a bit too beneath them.
Websites used for review:
http://www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/mai_bertrand_diane.html
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/149105.Diane_Gonzales_Bertrand
http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2005/09/author-update-diane-gonzales-bertrand.html
The above comment should have been posted by "Chris", but my wife's google account was logged in, which is why it says "Child Development Program" instead. Sorry about the confusion.
ReplyDeletePaula Bordonaro
ReplyDeleteBook Review: My Name is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz
Author: Monica Brown Illustrator: Rafael Lopez
The vibrant story My Name is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz by Monica Brown is a biography of the Cuban born Salsa singer. This book takes you back to Celia’s childhood in Cuba. Brown’s words bring Celia’s childhood memories in Cuba to the forefront. Through her words you can actually feel the warm loving environment that Celia was born into despite of her poverty. Her life was filled with rich family times, rich food, culture and of course music. “Our family had a warm kitchen filled with the voices of women and men, grandparents, brothers, sisters, cousins and friends. We ate rice, beans, and bananas and filled our bellies with love and warm coffee with milk and lots and lots of sugar.” Brown portrays these childhood memories with such craft. She has a sense of rhythmic beat and her words are filled with similes. These literary devices are used in such a way that the reader feels a sense of energy. It is an energy filled with fun and movement just like the salsa music. “Close your eyes and listen. My voice feels like feet skipping on cool wet sand, like running under a waterfall, like rolling down a hill. My voice climbs and rocks and dips and flips with the sounds of congas beating and trumpets blaring.” Brown continues to tell the story of Celia in this fun and whimsical way even though her life was often filled with hardship. She later describes how her family was very poor and how her father had dreams of Celia becoming a schoolteacher. It briefly depicts, how Celia was often discriminated against due to the color of her skin, the Cuban revolutionary war and how Celia had to leave her home and move to the United States with her husband Pedro Knight. However, Brown still managed to capture Celia’s challenges and hardships with a sense of optimism. We may have been poor, but music cost nothing and brought joy to us all.” “Even though some people would not let me sing in their contests because of the color of my skin, I did not let this stop me from making my voice heard.” It is truly and upbeat and inspiring story for children to be immersed in. It is filled with the Cuban culture and feeling.
The illustrations truly matched this on the move rhythmic story. Rafael Lopez ‘s pictures were filled with vibrant color, culture, fashion, folklore, music, and the settings were depicted with such detail. The reader traveled back to Cuba and through all of its culture and then entered the magic of New York and Miami. Through Lopez’s vibrant illustrations, he captured the same optimism that Brown was searching for. Actually, he truly was able to enhance the feeling of energy.
The words that really spoke to me in this story were the following: “Go out into the world and sing my child- you will be known across the land! Your voice is a gift from above and must ring sweet in the ears of our people!” These were the words of Celia’s favorite teacher and maybe the words that encouraged her to stay positive and never give up. Celia truly lived up to these words. She became well known all over the world and stayed true her people. She never forgot her roots and I believe she had a strong sense of pride. I truly loved that she started every singing event with the word Azucar. For a moment this word brought her back into her childhood memories and she felt a common connection with her people. It almost sounded that this word was a staple in the Cuban culture.
Book Review by Paula White
ReplyDeleteThe Storyteller’s Candle by Lucia Gonzalez
Topic: Latino Americans
Gonzalez, L. (2008). The storyteller’s candle. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press. ISBN: 978089239222
The Storyteller’s Candle is an award winning picture book based on the true story of Pura Belpre, New York City’s first Latino librarian. This touching story begins with two young cousins, Hildamar and Santiago, who have recently emigrated from Puerto Rico to New York and are having a difficult time adjusting to the cold winter of 1929. The children reminisce with their families about the food, friends, and celebrations in their home town so many miles away. A special favorite of Hidamar’s is Three Kings’ Day, but she wonders if it will be forgotten in this strange new land. These cousins are further disappointed when they ask their families to visit the public library but are told, “The people inside do not know how to speak Spanish and we don’t know English”. Just when things seem hopeless, a gifted storyteller and librarian by the name of Pura Belpre visits the children’s classroom one day and puts on a puppet show, both in English and Spanish. Before leaving she tells the class, “The library is for everyone.” From that day on, Hildamar, Santiago, and their families and friends visit the New York City Library to hear storyteller Pura Belpre. The storyteller’s candle is lit prior to each story and is blown out at the end of the tale as members of the audience make wishes. To Hildamar’s surprise, her wish comes true as the library hosts its own fiesta in honor of Three Kings’ Day/El Dia de los Reyes and the entire community comes together to bring the warmth and beauty of Puerto Rico into New York City.
The oil based illustrations by Lula Delacre are exquisite, detailed, and absolutely stunning! The “sepia toned” paints used in the beginning of the book clearly set the story in the past. Even the endpapers are created with a stenciled design and nameplate similar to traditional books written during the early 1900s. In addition, the soft blue, green, yellow, and pink hues provide children with a sense of calmness and ease. However, the most extraordinary part of this book is the use of newsprint which is subtly present on many pages for the purpose of adding a historic feeling to the story. Delecre actually used an original copy of the New York Times from January 6, 1930 (Three Kings Day) and placed bits and pieces of the paper into the book in a collage format. Easy to miss upon the initial reading, newsprint appears on sidewalks, church pews, walls, and floors. Often the information relates to the scene in which it appears. For example, on page 4 of the book the artwork contains pieces of a timetable of immigrants into Manhattan by steamship which is paired with the arrival of Hildamar from Puerto Rico to New York. Similarly, marriage announcements are part of a church pew and a weather report appears in the newsprint near a fireplace as a storm is approaching outside. It would be fascinating to have students work in groups to discover and perhaps research the information contained in the newsprint of this book. A fascinating discussion might ensue as to the connections discovered between the newspaper collage and the story. Children could also have fun learning about the format of a newspaper and taking an inventory to see which sections were and were not included in The Storyteller’s Candle, as well as making hypotheses as to why some segments may have been omitted.
The Storyteller's Candle (cont.)
ReplyDeleteSome critics do not feel the illustrations of the characters add to the quality of this picture book. I have read reviews which state that the individuals look “clunky” rather than delicate, and their faces express little emotion. I do admit that the illustrations have a distinct look to them and the people could be perceived as looking statue-like on some of the pages, but I believe the appearance has a lot to do with the style Lulu Delacre used with her layers of oil washes and paper collage on Bristol paper that she primed with clear gesso. Bristol paper is drawing paper that is pasted together to form multi-ply sheets and is often used for two dimensional illustrations while clear gesso makes the surface textured prior to painting. Not being familiar with the art world, this information which I researched was all new to me and I wonder if critics took the time to consider the illustrator’s technique prior to voicing their opinions. Even if one does consider some of the paintings to be “stiff”, they certainly do portray a sense of individualism and emotion in my opinion. The wide-opened eyes, clapping hands, and expressions of awe are evident as the children listen to Pura Belpre. The body language of the adults as they throw their heads back in laughter, embrace loved ones, and stare upward toward the amazing New York City Library presents a dramatic feeling to readers. Delacre has been considerate when illustrating each character of the story to include distinct differences between the physical characteristics of the Latino culture. For example, the story contains children and adults with varying shades to their skin; some are very light while others are brown. Hair is depicted as brown, red, and dirty blond, while the texture appears to be thin, thick, wavy, straight, curly, etc. Some characters are thin while others are plump. Some are tall and some are short. The people have similar styles of clothing but not identical (females wear dresses while males wear long pants or knickers). I especially like the way the illustrator positions her drawings around and behind the text for the purpose of making the scenes enlightening for readers without the sense of over empowerment. The drawings are rich in detail and there are so many things to discover on each page.
I think the message of the library being a place for all languages and people is strengthened by the format of The Storyteller’s Candle. Each page contains the text in Spanish and in English with illustrations carefully placed around and behind the words so that reading is easy and visually appealing. Whereas some bilingual books are awkward and often difficult to follow, this text is masterfully created so that young children can understand its meaning. The author even includes some Spanish words within the English portions of the text with adjacent translations. I shared this book with the Spanish teacher in my school and we are planning to include it in our Multicultural Celebrations Unit during the month of December. In addition to learning more about Three Kings Day, we plan to have students do a choral reading of the story with older students reading the Spanish sections and younger children reading the English verses.
In order to build background knowledge prior to reading this book I would encourage my students to research Pura Belpre, a woman who actually helped establish the library as a welcoming place for immigrants to come together in their own languages and cultures. As the first Latino librarian in New York City, Pura Belpre encouraged people from all backgrounds to seek the gift of knowledge which libraries offered during the terrible years of the Great Depression. It was during her story hours, cultural celebrations, and peaceful moments reading, that this remarkable women inspired others to be thankful and take advantage of their community. Even today, some librarians in New York continue to blow out a candle at the end of story time to honor Pura and her legacy.
The Storyteller's Candle (cont)
ReplyDeleteWhile reading this story I was reminded of the days I spent as a child in my hometown library. I came from a large community in which there were a number of Spanish speaking individuals. Although most of the story times were in English, I do remember parents and volunteers reading stories from other cultures which sometimes contained words in different languages. I was fortunate to grow up in an area where I interacted with others from different cultures and everyone felt accepted in the public library.
Author, Lucia Gonzalez can relate to Latino children’s feelings of loneliness in a new land for she is a native of Cuba who immigrated to the United States. In her writing she portrays the facts concerning the difficulties of immigration based on her own life and research, but at the same time writes in a positive manner which appeals to children. As a current librarian, Gonzalez is dedicated to sharing the traditional folktales of her youth, as well as teaching students the importance of accepting others’ cultural traditions and learning about their history and personal lives. Gonzalez creates bilingual books out of love for the children and adults who move from their homeland and venture to a strange new world with a foreign language. She measures her successes in the proud smiles she has seen on the faces of many Latino children as their classmates find enjoyment in the Spanish language and begin to understand, appreciate, and accept a culture different from their own. This author has also developed bilingual story times for libraries, public schools, and daycares throughout the country. Gonzalez has received several prestigious awards such as the Pura Belpre Honor Award, the ALA Notable Book Award, and the International Latino Book Award. Gonzalez is donating her royalties from the Storyteller’s Candle to the Pura Belpre Award Endowment. This prestigious award was established in 1996 in memory of Pura Belpre to honor Latino writers and illustrators whose children’s books celebrate the Latino cultural experience.
Lulu Delacre, illustrator of The Storyteller’s Candle, has been an author and illustrator for almost thirty years. She is a native of Puerto Rico and has always strived to create quality in multicultural literature. Her Latino heritage and life experiences inform her books. Delacre is the recipient of The Pura Belpre Honor Medal, The National Book Award, and The Woman in Arts Honor.
After reading about Pura Belpre on the Internet I can confidently state that the information portrayed in this story about her life is true. The characters and conversations are fictionalized but the events are authentic. Although the book was both informational and entertaining, I do wish the author had included a timeline of Belpre’s life so students would gain a greater perspective of this magnificent woman. Perhaps students could research and create their own timelines as an extension activity in the classroom. It would also be worthwhile to invite a storyteller into schools to share personal tales, as well as to provide students with some techniques involved in the art of storytelling so they could try their own. When reading The Storyteller’s Candle I thought of the time Patricia Polacco visited my district and enlightened us with her stories. Adults and children were captivated by the tales she told. Oral speaking is a skill which I think we need to focus on to a greater extent in today’s classrooms because developing oral language typically leads to stronger reading and writing skills.
The Storyteller's Candle (c0nt.)
ReplyDeleteLike so many multicultural books, this story has a theme of both struggle and hope. Gonzalez describes the difficulties of Hildamar’s family and friends as they try to adjust to a strange land, a new language, a different climate, and the absence of familiar customs. Similarly, The Arrival by Shaun Tan and The Memory Coat by Elvira Woodruff magnify the significance of the language barrier for immigrants. Pura Belpre brings hope and a sense of belonging to the Latino families in The Storyteller’s Candle. Likewise, Feathers (Woodson, 2008), Climbing the Stairs, (Venkatramon, 2008) and Buffalo Song (Bruchac,2008) all address the issue of hope in a stereotypical world.
I feel that the author and illustrator of this story authentically depicted the Latino culture as one of strength, kindness, and intelligence. The true story of Pura Belpre, along with the hard work, leadership, and creativity of the Latino families as they united to share their heritage with the entire community, demonstrates the significance of immigrants in today’s society. I believe that this story stresses the importance of living peacefully and learning from one another’s differences. A quote which sticks in my mind is one which Pura shares with the children: “Today with everyone’s help we brought the warmth of Puerto Rico to New York. Remember the library belongs to everyone. We’ll blow out the Storyteller’s Candle and your wish will come true!”
I strongly recommend this book for students in the elementary grades. It would be a wonderful read-aloud to use around the holidays. It’s informative, entertaining, and inspiring! As is mentioned at the end of the book, “Pura Belpre wished to be like Johnny Appleseed, planting her story seeds across the land!”
References
Bruchac, J. (2008). Buffalo song. New York: Lee and Low Books. ISBN: 9781584302803.
Gonzalez, L. (2008). The storyteller’s candle. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press. ISBN: 978089239222.
Tan, S. (2007). The arrival. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 9780734406941.
Venkatraman, P. (2008). Climbing the stairs. New York: G.P. Putnam Sons. ISBN: 978- 0399247460.
Woodruff, E. (1999). The memory coat. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 978-0590677172.
Woodson, J. (2007). Feathers. New York: Puffin. ISBN: 9780142411988.
Websites:
www.luludelacre.com
www.luciagonzalezbooks.com
www.reforma.org/PuraBelpre.htm
www.children’sbooksabout.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBook Review by Ryan Roberts-Walstrom
ReplyDeleteTitle: Little Mama Forgets
Author: Robin Cruise
Illustrator: Stacey Dressen-McQueen
Topic: Latino Americans
Little Mama Forgets is a picture book about a little girl, Lucy, and her relationship with her grandmother, Little Mama. Lucy and her grandmother spend a great deal of time together each day dancing, making tortillas and going shopping in the town center. In the story, Lucy has noticed that her Grandmother forgets names, places, people and words-things she once knew. Throughout the story, Lucy helps her grandmother navigate her daily activities and their relationship grows stronger each day. The characters actions, words and thoughts convey themes of friendship, love, and kindness.
Robin Cruise’s observation of the interaction between her young son and father, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, was the inspiration for this book. She noticed her father going back to a place where he needed a great deal of help from others and her son blossoming into an independent child. This “change of roles”, especially her father, was very difficult for her. It later became the seed for a beautiful picture book that others, who were dealing with loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s, could find comfort within. I was not able to find information on why she chose a Mexican family to share this powerful story. Perhaps it came from the culture that surrounded her when she lived in Southern California. Cruise received the Charlotte Zolotow, 2006 Booklist Editor’s Choice, 2007 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade book for young people and 2007 Cooperative Children’s Book Choice awards for this book. All of the reviews that I read spoke very highly of the portrayal of the Mexican culture in this book.
Tracey Dressen-McQueen is a white American illustrator. The illustrations in Little Momma Forgets were inspired by her relationship with her grandmother and her knowledge of Mexican textiles, music and culture. She captured the closeness of the family in her illustrations as she showed Little Mama kissing Lucy’s head, dancing in beautiful skirts and sitting around with her extended family enjoying a meal. The bold colors and exquisite details showed the happiness that still existed in the family during a time when their grandmother was coping with Alzheimer’s. Library Journal said, “Dressen-McQueen’s folk-style illustrations are enhanced by her use of bold colors. They capture the feel of Hispanic culture but never overwhelm the story or the characters.” Dispite the richness of the illustrations, I did not find evidence of Dreseen-McQeen doing extensive research on Mexican culture or working closely with Cruise to illustrate this book.
It appears as though Cruise and Dreseen-McQueen worked very hard to accurately portray the Mexican culture in this book. The importance of family togetherness was portrayed in the illustrations and in the dialogue with Little Mama. In addition, Cruise worked hard to embed Spanish vocabulary into the story and showed the family making tortillas, a food that is popular in their culture. On the other hand, Cruise showed themes of kindness and helpfulness in the interactions between Lucy and Little Mama. I feel as though these themes could be illustrated with characters from any culture. This book is an opportunity to see some aspects of the Mexican culture, but could also be read with more of a focus on a family struggling and coping with a member who has Alzheimer’s.
Big Mama Forgets is another book that has an endless list of uses in the classroom. Spanish teachers could use this book to teach some basic Spanish vocabulary words. It could also we used to help a student and his family cope with a loved one who is suffering from Alzheimer’s or another disease. On the other hand, this book could be used to teach connections and themes to elementary students in grades Kindergarten through fifth grade. When Little Mama and Lucy were in the kitchen making tortillas and preparing a large meal for the extended family I immediately smiled as I though about making chocolate chip cookies with my grandmother and helping her in the kitchen as she prepared to have all of my aunts, uncles and cousins over for dinner. The strong and well-developed characters exhibit strong character traits and convey themes of kindness and working together to which students can easily connect.
ReplyDeleteWebsites:
http://robincruise.com/
http://us.macmillan.com/littlemamaforgets
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
Cruise, R. (2006). Little Mama Forgets. New York: Melanie Kroupa Books.
Latino Book Review by Nancy Powell
ReplyDeleteBook Title: Clatter Bash! A Day of the Dead Celebration
Author and Illustrator: Richard Keep
Copyright Date: 2004
Publisher: Peachtree Publishers; Atlanta, GA
Genre: Fantasy, Mexican American literature, Holiday Celebrations
Awards and Honors: IRA Children's Choice of 2005; Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People 2005 - CBC and NCSS 2005; Starred Review: School Library Journal
Richard Keep lives much of the year with his wife in San Miguel de Allende, known for its fiestas and celebrations. It is in this Mexican town where Keep was inspired to write his first solo children’s book. Keep was eager to use his years of cut-paper and art design to illustrate one of his favorite Mexican holidays-The Day of the Dead. This story, which has received much praise and critical acclaim, is told predominantly though traditional Mexican art forms using cut-paper collages and simple accents with paint and markers. In this lively and playful rendition of the Day of the Dead celebration, Keep brings to life skeletons donning top hats, sombreros, boas and serapes. The story begins with a family leaving flowers, food and gifts at the gravesite of their loved ones. Once the family has left, the party begins. The skeletons immerge from underground to celebrate the lives they once lived. Singing, dancing, game playing and storytelling are some of the evening’s activities. It is in the joy on the skeletons faces that shows the true meaning of this holiday. Keen’s vivid pictures tell the story while a mixture of cheerful and rhythmic Spanish and English words capture the essence of each page. The story ends with the skeletons holding each other’s hands and saying Grasias! as they descend back down to their graves to await the next year’s Day of the Dead celebration. Keep includes a full history of the day and its customs at the end of the book. These pages include a rich description of masks and toys which poke fun at death as well as festive food, flowers and fancy dress. These pages contain a detailed account of the rich Mexican traditions of the Day of the Dead.
Although most reviews of Richard Keep’s Clatter Bash speak positively about the entertaining way he has chosen to capture the essence of this Mexican holiday, a few critics felt that the skeletons do not represent the holiday well because the spirit is the focus of the holiday, not the body. Although I agree that skeletons in general make us think more of the body, I think the clever way these skeletons dance, sing and kick up their heels suggest much more of a lively spirit than just a bag of bones. I think Richard Keep did a fabulous job capturing the spirit of the holiday through the use of comical skeletons participating in authentic Mexican traditions.
Although this picture book is presumably intended to be read to younger children, I think it can be used with older students as well. I think this book would make a great read aloud to introduce this festive holiday and to share a part of this honored Mexican tradition. This story commemorates the Mexican tradition of sharing stories of loved ones who have past in a loving and celebratory way. Keep presents a story which celebrates family and life. Although the Day of the Dead is not a holiday that would likely be celebrated by families in our community, I think students who have lost love ones will take comfort in the idea that the afterlife can be full of laughter and delight. Learning about this honored tradition through the use of frolicking skeletons, may bring both enjoyment and comfort to students of all ages.
http://biography.jrank.org/pages/2290/Keep-Richard-1949.html
http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/book-review-clatter-bash-day-of-dead.html
http://www.lindalowery.com/content/blogcategory/5/4/
http://www.powells.com/biblio/73-9781561453221-0
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6488428.html
http://www.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=1561453226/PWREVIEW.html&client=anarp
An addendum to my book in APA style:
ReplyDeleteBertrand, Diane Gonzales. (2005). Family, Familia. Ill. Pauline Rodriguez Howard. Pinata Books: University of Houston. ISBN: 1-55885-270-0