Introduction

Grand Canyon by Jason Chin is an informational picture book that explains the formation of the Grand Canyon and provides information about the plants and animals that can be found there.  Chin takes the reader through history to show how the canyon was formed through the processes of weathering and erosion.

Evaluation

Chin’s writing is a mixture of providing facts and telling a story.  He includes extensive information about the history of the canyon in a manner that transports the reader to the past to experience it first hand.  Chin includes information about the animals and plants that live in the canyon that many people may not realize would be found there.  Chin thoroughly explains the different ecological levels of the canyon and the diverse plant and animal life.

The pictures that are included give the reader a great visual to support the text.  Each page is filled with color and detail to engage the reader.  The illustrations are entertaining on their own, and a younger reader would be interested in the book simply by the pictures.  Chin’s choice of colors and scale allow the pictures to adequately support the information and give the reader the opportunity to fully understand the facts presented.

Chin also includes ancillary pictures on the borders of each page.  While the primary illustrations correspond with the text, the smaller labeled pictures show a variety of animals that are found in the canyon.  Additionally Chin includes visual representations of the natural processes that contributed to the formation of the canyon.  Chine provides a great deal of detail in these supporting pictures.

Response

I find the Grand Canyon to be amazing land form, so I was interested in reading this book. I enjoyed the first few pages of Grand Canyon.  The writing and illustrations were initially engaging.  However, as I moved through the book, I found the immense amount of information to be overwhelming.  This is not necessarily a negative trait; this book may just need to be read over a span of time to be truly appreciated.  One negative element is the amount of information included on each page.  As mentioned before, Chin includes smaller illustrations on the borders of the pages.  I found this to be distracting as I was trying to read the main text.  My eyes kept wandering around the page and not focusing on the primary part.  Chin includes additional pages of facts at the end that seem to be out of place and simply too much.  Overall I thought this was a great book because of the subject matter and the information, but I think Chin should have filtered some of the facts to make it less dense.

Conclusion

Grand Canyon is an enjoyable nonfiction picture book that will give a nature enthusiast a great deal of information about this magnificent land form.  It is a book that can be read and examined to provide entertainment and facts.  Readers of all levels will enjoy this book.

Chin, J. (2017). Grand Canyon. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

Introduction

Bridge to Terabithia is an emotion novel by Katherine Paterson.  It follows the friendships between Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke.  The two begin as rivals because Jess is wanting to prove himself to be the fastest kid in fifth grade, only to be beat by the awkward new girl, Leslie.  They have very different lifestyles and family life, but they have a common struggle of fitting in at school.  They soon escape to their imaginary world, Terabithia, where they are the rulers and seize control of their lives.

Evaluation

Paterson uses expressive writing to create a nicely paced story.  She provides adequate background on the plot and characters without slowing down the story or losing the interest of the reader.  She moves from scene to scene in a seamless manner to push the story along.  She uses descriptive language to depict the struggles of the characters without overloading the reader.

Paterson manages to create two separate setting in the story: the kids’ real world and their imaginary world.  She has a subtle distinction between the harshness of loneliness and lack of acceptance in the Jess and Leslie’s real life and the leadership and control they have in Terabithia.  Her words depict the happiness and peace the characters have in the world they have created for their enjoyment.

Finally, Paterson develops rich, full characters with Jess and Leslie.  They are the main characters and every scene involves one or both of them.  Paterson depicts their great differences along with their strong bond to show that people from different backgrounds are capable of having common struggles that bring them together.  Paterson aptly describes Jess’s conflict with having a girl as a friend and Leslie’s desire to connect with others.  These are common issues with young people, and the story serves as a message that friendship can come in many forms.

Response

I have taught Bridge to Terabithia to my fifth graders for several years.  I love the themes of friendship, loyalty, and acceptance.  While the death of Leslie is a difficult part to read, it is important to include these types of situation in books for young people.  The way Jess reacts is normal, and readers need to understand that grief manifests in different ways.  I have two favorite parts: the scene in which Jess goes to the museum with his teacher is beautifully written to capture his awkwardness and appreciation for the experience.  And the final scene of the book is among the best of all the books I’ve read.

Conclusion

Bridge to Terabithia is a lovely book for upper elementary students to read to explore the ideas of friendship and grief.  Young readers can relate to the situations that Paterson illustrates and see the beauty of love and imagination.  I recommend this book for independent reading or as a novel study.

Paterson, K. (1977). Bridge to Terabithia. New York, NY: HarperCollins Childrens’ Books.

Introduction

Coming on Home Soon by Jacqueline Woodson is a picture book that tells the story of Ada Ruth whose mother has to leave to work in Chicago.  Ada Ruth’s grandmother cares for her and comforts Ada Ruth as she misses her mother.

Evaluation

Woodson uses descriptive language in her writing to give the reader a vivid visualization of the story.  She not only aptly describes physical characteristics, but emotions, as well.  The reader can sympathize with Ada Ruth’s sadness as she longs for her mother.  Woodson sprinkles in flashbacks of conversations of Ada Ruth with her mother to reinforce their loving relationship.  This effect allows the reader to truly understand the depth of her mother’s love.

Woodson also uses a rhythmic pattern in her writing.  The sentences and phrases are short, but not simplistic.  Woodson uses her brief statements to communicate the themes of love, compassion, and encouragement.  Woodson also creates a sense of warmth and comfort in her writing.  The setting is during the winter and the illustrations depict snow.  However she writes about the warm fire and comforting food they eat as they wait for Ada Ruth’s mother to return.  It gives the reader a sense of home.

E.B. Lewis’s illustrations are as much a part of the story as the words.  The full page paintings appear to be water color with soft lines and colors.  However, the emotions of the characters are clearly depicted.  The scenes move from showing the harsh, cold winter weather to the warmth of the home of Ada Ruth and her grandmother.  These illustrations support the theme that home is safe and full of love.

Response

I enjoyed Coming on Home Soon because of the sensory language and themes.  Each page is filled with phrases that evoke emotions of love and comfort.  The themes of family and patience are also important.  Also, the illustrations are rich and detailed and add to the descriptive writing.  I think many readers can relate to Ada Ruth’s sadness of missing her mother and can appreciate her emotions.

Conclusion

Coming on Home Soon is an entertaining picture book that beautifully conveys the feelings of a young girl who misses her mother.  The writing and illustrations are engaging and attractive. Readers will enjoy reading this story and it also serves as a great read aloud.

Woodson, J. (2004). Coming on home soon.  New York, NY: G.P Putnam’s Sons.

Introduction

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is a realistic fiction novel about a boy, Marty, who compromises his reputation to protect an abused dog.  Despite the guilt he feels for lying to his family and best friend, he is determined to save Shiloh from the abuse of his owner, Judd Travers.  His spirit is tested by Judd, but Marty perseveres to earn the dog

Evaluation

Naylor manages to keep the reader engaged through the story with a dramatic plot and quick pace.  She moves the events along in a smooth, yet efficient, manner.  Her writing is uncomplicated enough for middle elementary readers, however it is also appealing to the upper grades.  Young people can relate to the story line of wanting something so badly, you’ll do anything to get it.

Naylor gives great attention to the main character, Marty, and the antagonist, Judd Travers.  She provides a good foundation for the reader to understand the motives of both characters, and she manages to balance them both with positive and negative traits.  By allowing the reader to see the flaws in the protagonist, Naylor presents Marty as a realistic character that readers can understand.  She also provides background on Judd that add an element of empathy from the reader.

Finally, the themes of honesty and loyalty are strongly demonstrated throughout the book.  Marty regularly grapples with the conflict of lying about having the dog and readers can understand that he realizes that not all decisions are black and white.  Additionally, he is so determined to help Shiloh, he makes several sacrifices.  These are important ideas that young readers can understand and learn from.

Response

I have used Shiloh as a novel study for several years.  I love the story and the characters every time I read it.  My students truly enjoy the book and we have rich conversations about the tough choices the characters make.  I love how they are invested in the story, and they seek out the sequels on their own.  I choose to teach this every year because Marty is the same age as my students, and it shows them the dilemmas they may face and the consequences of certain choices.

Conclusion

Shiloh is a well written story that evokes emotion and gives readers the understanding of difficult choices and weighing the consequences of decisions.  I enjoy this book every year and so do my students.

Reynolds Naylor, P. (2000). Shiloh. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks.

 

 

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is a mystery novel that combines the elements of a realistic novel with an eerie story of children with odd physical and supernatural traits stuck in a time warp.  While the premise seems ambitious, Riggs manages to weave the real with the unreal effectively.  The story follows Jacob, a young man who recently lost his grandfather, as he travels to an island in Wales to unravel a mystery that his grandfather left clues about before his death.  Jacob discovers the mysterious home of Miss Peregrine and the strange inhabitants.  Each resident has some sort of “peculiar” trait that sets them apart from normal people, and they live in a time loop in which the same day repeats in order to preserve their existence. He also learns that he, too, is peculiar and finds himself being chased, along with the other children, by a “wight,” a predator of peculiars.

Riggs’s writing style is not too complex for a young adult reader, yet mature enough for an adult reader to appreciate.  The vocabulary is natural and direct with rich descriptions of the setting and characters without being daunting to read.

The pace of the plot is quick, but thorough.  Riggs effectively develops each event to allow the reader to feel fully informed and maintains a level of engagement throughout.  He easily moves between the present and the time loop without confusing the reader and makes the transition in a natural manner.

Riggs successfully creates characters with whom the readers make a connection.  He illustrates realistic struggles for the protagonist, Jacob, who maintains a sense of determination to fulfill his grandfather’s legacy.  The supporting characters of the peculiar children are also well developed to gain support from the audience.  Riggs uses a unique method of including vintage photographs to support the description of the characters.  While many are startling and macabre, they add a vital element to understanding the peculiarities of the children in the story.

I have seen this book around quite a bit with my students, and I always thought it seemed intriguing.  I was impressed by the writing and how easily I became immersed in the book.  The transition to the time loop was natural and not jarring, which can be difficult to achieve.  I also appreciated the foreshadowing clue about Jacob’s antagonist.  I liked the themes of acceptance and loyalty that was included as Jacob appreciated the differences of the children and eventually became their protector.  I thought this book was well written with a great story.  The included pictures truly enhanced the plot and as a great addition by Riggs.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is an entertaining mystery/fantasy that has an engaging plot and well developed characters.  This book can easily be enjoyed by young adults and adults, as well.

Riggs, R. (2011). Miss Peregrine’s home for peculiar children. Philadelphia, PA: Quirk Books.

When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner and illustrated by David Catrow is a faith based picture book about understanding that people are made in the image of God.  The book explains to children that each unique trait was specifically and purposefully designed by God.

The writing has a rhyming pattern that falls into a rhythm as it is read aloud.  There are several repetitive lines to help young readers memorize the words and hear a pattern as the story is read.  Turner emphasizes the importance of the reader by addressing he or she as “you” throughout the story. This musical element is soothing and engaging.

Catrow uses vivid colors in his illustrations.  The main character is a young girl of color, which is important to the message and the visual interpretation of the book.  There are several diverse characters in the story to show how well they interact.

The lines are soft, which complements the story of the appreciation of unique characteristics.  The light feeling of the drawings maintain a light tone through the book, yet are aesthetically pleasing.  Towards the end of the story, the pictures enhance the whimsy of the writing, which begins to focus on the future and dreams.  Catrow creates an element of imagination with the colors and images.

When God Made You has a great message and the illustrations are beautiful.  While I enjoyed what Turner was communicating, the repetitive nature of the book became wearisome after a few pages.  It was essentially repeating the same message with different words.  I like the fact that the main character is an African American girl.  The emphasis on the idea that God made her exactly as planned makes her seem especially perfect and capable of anything.  However this same sentiment goes on for several pages.  The writing is easy to read, the illustrations are attractive, but the book is simply too long with the repetitious nature.

When God Made You is an uplifting book that tells children they are precious to God and He made them to do great things.  The rhyming pattern has a musical element to it and the illustrations are highly appealing.  While it is a little long and repetitive, the message is important for children to hear.

Turner, M. (2017). When God made you. New York, NY: Waterbrook.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill is a fantasy about a young girl, Luna,  who was sacrificed as an infant to a mysterious witch in an effort to protect her parents’ village.  Unbeknownst to the parents who had given up children previously, the witch, Xan, does not kill them, as believed, but actually takes them to another village to be adopted by new families.  However, Luna is special because Xan accidentally feeds her with moonlight instead of starlight, which instills magic into the girl.  Xan decides to raise Luna to protect her from the potential danger from her magic.  Soon Luna is faced with the challenge of protecting Xan and her home.

The writing in The Girl Who Drank the Moon  is uncomplicated with shorter sentences to keep the attention of the younger reader.  The story progresses at a reasonable pace with no lag in the plot.   The plot is developed with enough background information to help the reader understand the events without weighing down the story.

Barnhill uses a large amount of dialogue to tell the story.  While the story is told from a third person point of view, the characters converse quite a bit throughout the book.  There are some parts where the dialogue is difficult to follow simply because the phrasing is brief.

The theme of the story is likely the strongest element.  The people of the Protecterate fear the witch based on the unknown.  They assume they must sacrifice a child in order to protect themselves with no real basis.  The also assume Xan kills the children even though there is no proof.  Fear of the unknown cripples the characters and causes them to judge others.  The lesson of the importance of basing your beliefs on what you know to be true is a good message for young readers.

Reading The Girl Who Drank the Moon was difficult for me simply because I do not particularly like the fantasy genre.  The short sentences is fine for young readers, but it seemed too choppy for me to be truly engaged.  The story was interesting and I enjoyed the beginning, but I lost interest in the middle.  I just was not invested enough in the characters.  I did appreciate Barnhill’s writing style.  She includes some rather good lines, including one I needed to re-read to truly understand.  Luna is struggling with her memory while talking to the dragon Fyrian.  When he asks what is bothering her, she replies, “Nothing at all.  I’m just thinking about how much I love my family.”  Barnhill follows up with, “It was the first lie she ever told. Even though her words were true.”  I enjoyed how Barnhill phrased that line.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a nicely written book that includes sympathetic characters and delivers a positive message of making fact-based decisions about people. The quick pace and element of whimsy with the dragon, Fyrian, will attract many readers.

Barnhill, K. (2016). The girl who drank the moon. New York, NY: Algonquin Young Readers.

 

 

The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket is the fourth book of A Series of Unfortunate Events.  The books follow the orphaned Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, who rely on each other to escape the villain and distant relative, Count Olaf, who is trying to get a hold of the fortune left behind by their parents.  Each book centers around a focused plot in which the children are faced with a great challenge but manage to outwit Count Olaf.

The books in this series are engaging because they are somewhat short, therefore the pace is quick.  They follow a pattern of the children finding themselves in a new living situation, fighting off Count Olaf, and off to search for a new adventure at the end.  This pattern allows the story to flow evenly and quickly without losing the interest of the reader.

The characters of the Baudelaire children are well developed in each book.  They are highly intelligent and quick thinkers.  They depend on each other for survival and that bond is evident in their words and actions.  They are written in a way that the reader wants them to overcome their challenges.

The dark mood and tone of The Miserable Mill is unlike many books, but it is not disturbing.  The description of the setting and the antagonists create a somber and danger tone, but avoids sounding depressing.  The serious tone is balanced by the positive energy of Klaus, Violet, and Sunny.  They do not feel defeated by their terrible situation and support each other.  In the end, the children overcome the evil forces and the author shows they will move onto another challenge but will likely manage to survive once again.

I’ve read a couple of the books from A Series of Unfortunate Events, and I enjoyed them all.  The Miserable Mill quickly moves the reader through the story with an engaging plot and descriptive text that helps me visualize the setting and characters.  I like the themes of family, loyalty, and good defeating evil that are present in each book.  I especially appreciate the high level vocabulary used throughout the book.  It coincides with the highly intelligent Baudelaire children and embeds an element of vocabulary development.

The Miserable Mill is an exciting addition to the books in A Series of Unfortunate Events.  The Baudelaire children successfully overcome the challenges they face with nefarious adults and ultimately outsmart the villains.  The fast pace and positive characters will entertain readers of all ages.

Snicket, L., & Helquist, B. (2000). The miserable mill. New York, N.Y.: HarperCollins

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe is a picture book of an African folktale.  As with traditional folktales, there is a protagonist, Nyasha, and an antagonist, her sister Manyara.  Nyasha is kind and patient, while Manyara is selfish and demanding.  They are invited to meet the king as his potential bride.  While Manyara shows contempt toward people in need, Nyasha is courteous and giving.  In the end Manyara’s true colors are revealed and the good hearted Nyasha wins the heart of the king.

Steptoe presents this story in an engaging manner with descriptive writing and an interesting plot.  He presents both daughters in a way the reader can make a clear distinction of who is the hero and who is the villain.  Both characters are well developed through the words of the narrator and through their dialogue.  Also, while this is not an original tale, Steptoe maintains the pattern of folktales by allowing Nyasha to be rewarded for her good deeds.

The illustrations match the story line in their beauty.  The colors are rich and the drawings take up much of each page.  The details of the characters are drawn with care to allow the personalities to shine through.

Each drawing adds to the plot by establishing the setting and mood.  As the girls travel to the king, their dark journey is captured in the pictures.  When Nyasha sees the city for the first time, the corresponding illustration supports the description she gives in the story.  The emotion of the story is also depicted in the drawings.

I enjoyed this story primarily because of the message.  While beauty may exist on the outside, it is the words and actions of a person that shows their true beauty.   This is a great message for young people to understand and this could be easily used as a read aloud in a classroom for reading comprehension instruction as well as social emotional learning.  The story was enjoyable and the illustrations added a positive element to the story.

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters is a wonderful folktale with a valuable lesson.  Readers will enjoy the story and the appealing artwork.

Steptoe, J. (1987). Mufaro’s beautiful daughters. New York, NY: Lothrop, Lee, & Shepard Books.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is a romance novel for young adults that also attracted a large adult audience.  The love story at the center of the book was appealing to readers as a “Romeo and Juliet” type of plot.  The story is told from the point of view of Bella, a high school student who is attracted to the mysterious Edward.  When they start spending time together, she soon learns the secret of the Cullen family: they are vampires.  To complicate issues, Bella’s friend, Jacob, shows jealousy towards Bella’s relationship with Edward.  Since this love triangle involves vampires, there is no lack of drama in Twilight.

Meyer’s writing is easy to read with language and description that romance fans enjoy.  The words she uses to describe Edward’s physique and the way he and Bella interact are entertaining and engaging.  Meyer aptly describes scenes without tedious details.

The plot is interesting with mythical creatures interacting with humans in a seemingly normal manner.  The fact that the Cullens are vampires is written in a natural, logical manner.  The pacing is easy to follow with no gaps in the story.  Meyer effectively leads the reader through a story that makes sense and is easy to follow.

Finally, Meyer creates good characters in Twilight.  She provides a background on the major characters without slowing down the pace of the book or losing the attention of the reader.  The back stories of each Cullen family member is interesting and helps the reader understand their behaviors and motivations more.  Bella’s strained relationship with her parents explains why she is drawn to the Cullen family, and Jacob is depicted as a protector of Bella who has her best interest at heart.  By creating a full profile for each character, Meyer allows the reader to become invested in their stories.

I read Twilight when it was first released and the subsequent novels.  I was immediately engaged in the story and finished all the books in a short amount of time.  While Meyer’s writing could be described as below the level of the adult reader, it was not too simplistic to be distracting.  I appreciated the themes about family and loyalty that are in the book with the Cullen family showing love and acceptance of Bella when she needed it.  Even, Rose, the one family member who was not as open to Bella, followed the lead of the other family members to protect her when it was necessary.  Even after all the frenzy has subsided from this series, I still think it is an enjoyable book for young adults and adults alike.

Twilight is a mix of romance and fantasy that Meyer has balanced well.  The story of a human and a vampire falling in love is written in a believable manner with an interesting plot line that entertains the readers.

Meyer, S. (2005). Twilight. New York, NY: Little Brown and Company.