The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt, read by Joel Johnstone

 Spotlight on Historical Fiction

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt, read by Joel Johnstone

Do you remember your first day of seventh grade?  On day one, Holling is convinced his seventh grade teacher, Mrs. Baker, doesn’t like him and plans to make this school year a difficult one.  But, it could be his best year yet!  Let’s shine the spotlight on this historical fiction audiobook:

Summary

Holling Hoodhood believes he is starting seventh grade with a target on his back.  He is convinced his teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates him.  Most of his classmates spend Wednesday afternoons at Hebrew School or Catechism, but not Holling.  He attends Prebyterian church and therefore, spends Wednesday’s alone with Mrs. Baker.  Holling begins his work on Wednesday’s by cleaning the classroom, straightening the books and pounding erasers.  But after a few weeks, Mrs. Baker let’s Holling know they will be shifting to reading Shakespeare together for the rest of the year.  Holling is even more convinced Mrs. Baker hates him.  They take turns reading parts of the plays and discuss what they read.  Holling soon realizes he enjoys the rhythm of the lines in Shakespeare and even quotes them.

Holling endures various incidents throughout seventh grade: ruining a fresh batch of cream puffs with chalkdust from the erasers he pounds, cleaning the cages of the class pets (rats) and accidentally letting them loose, earning a part in The Tempest for the Shakespeare Company’s Holiday Extravaganza and Mr. Goldman picks him to play Ariel…a fairy, racing to get to the Baker Sporting Emporium to get Mickey Mantle’s autograph only to be turned away for wearing his tights from his performance as Ariel, taking the New York State Standarized Achievement Test in the middle of a snowstorm and dropping all of the silverware packed for the year end camping trip while on a hike to the campsite. 

While Holling is focused on his life and the events of seventh grade, the world around him is enduring a difficult time.  The Vietnam War has impacted the lives of many families.  Walter Cronkite is on the news each night updating the details of the days fighting, bombings, missing soldiers and death counts.  Holling’s sister, Heather, is passionate against the war and turns her focus to the injustices around her.  Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. are rising up as leaders, while many criticize President Johnson.

Holling’s father owns an architecture firm, Hoodhood and Associates, which his father reminds him he could run one day.  His father also reminds him his interactions can affect the business.  Holling has many connections to the business and he feels the pressure to do right by his father.  Mrs. Baker’s brother-in-law owns a sporting good chain, which is being redesigned by his father’s firm.  Mr. Goldman’s bakery may expand one day and Holling’s performance as Ariel the fairy could make the difference.  Holling tries to keep his father’s business in mind when he interacts with others, but this is most difficult when it comes to his friend, Meryl Lee.  Meryl Lee and Holling are friends who are growing closer throughout the school year.  When Holling is talking about Meryl Lee with his father, they realize her father is the president of a rival architecture firm, Kowalski and Associates. 

Mrs. Baker slowly redeems herself in Holling’s eyes.  Holling begins to realize Mrs. Baker is not out to get him.  He realizes more and more that she is a real person, especially as he sees her emotions shift from devastation that her husband may be in trouble in the Vietnam War to joy that he is alive and coming home.  Mrs. Baker makes a strong effort to support Holling, too.  She helps him practice for his performance as Ariel.  After the incident with Mickey Mantle, she surprises Holling and his friend, Danny, with a visit from Joe Pepitone and Horace Clarke.  She coaches him up on his running form before his tryout for the track team.  And when his father is late picking him up to go to the New York Yankees baseball game, she drives him to the game. 

The evolution of their relationship will make readers smile!  This is truly a coming of age story, told through the months of the school year.  It shows how Holling opens himself up to the people (and the world) around him. 

Discussion

This work of historical fiction is an engaging audiobook.  Johnstone provides the narration and voices the characters within the book.  He enhances the listener’s engagement with the book through his use of voices and his attention to detail with his expression, use of pauses and the increase or decrease in his volume.  Listeners will find themselves hanging on his words throughout certain events in the story.  It is an easy audiobook to listen to in longer sessions or to stretch out over time into smaller segments.  The book is divided into chapters by the months of the school year from September to June.  Listeners will be able to keep pace with the book because of its linear structure.  Johnstone draws out emotions from the listener, much like Schmidt has done for the reader.  Listeners will feel a range of emotions throughout the book, with moments of excitement, to worry and empathy, as well as sadness.

Schmidt reveals his own childhood experiences through his book.  He grew up practicing atomic bomb drills, memorizing Shakespeare and pounding erasers for his teachers at school.  He grew up listening to passionate voices protesting the Vietnam War outside of school.  His true to life experiences add to the authenticity of the book. 

The authenticity of the book is also grounded in many United States history details to make this a rich example of historical fiction.  Holling refers to the historical events going on around him.  “We listened to Walter Cronkite report on the new casualty figures from Vietnam…” (Schmidt, 2007, p. 7).  He refers to Walter Cronkite’s news reports throughout the story.  Holling also discusses the struggles President Johnson is facing.  His sister describes the hope people have in Bobby Kennedy and the attention people are giving Martin Luther King, Jr.  Holling interacts with New York Yankees baseball players at a time when baseball is a welcomed distraction for many.  Schmidt easily adds historical elements to enrich the storylines.

Schmidt often uses Holling’s sister, Heather, as a voice for the historical events.  She is defined by her passion against the war.  She tells her father “A flower child is beautiful and doesn’t do anything to harm anyone,” (Schmidt, 2007, p. 36).  She struggles to do what is right by her father’s standards as she tries to stand firm in her beliefs.  She asserts her independence throughout the book.  She is often depicted listening to music in her room, but her choices in music also ground this book in its time.  She runs away from home to assert her independence, which is fitting of this character and of the time this book portrays.

Holling is a down-to-earth seventh grader concerned with his world and the interactions within his world.  He is searching for his identity and independence at home and at school.  He shares interesting stories and experiences from seventh grade, which many listeners will relate to.  The relationships Holling develops with those around him evolve over time. 

Holling’s relationship with Mrs. Baker is the hallmark of this book.   Their interactions will keep the listener coming back to hear more.  The plot of the story is driven by the historical events, as well as the meaningful events Holling experiences each month in seventh grade.  His classroom stories will leave listeners nodding in connection with what has occurred to shaking their head in disbelief.  Listeners will be surprised by many events in the story.

Overall, the strength of this audiobook is in the enhancement of the text.  Johnstone’s ability to carry Schmidt’s words from the text to the listener’s ears and still maintain the emotions elicited by Schmidt’s text is outstanding.  Listeners will not be disappointed in this selection as an audiobook!

Awards/Reviews

Gary Schmidt has received awards for his work.  His book Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy was named both a Printz and a Newbery Honor Book.  The Wednesday Wars was also a Newbery Honor Book.  The audio version of The Wednesday Wars was recognized by AudioFile as an Earphones Award Winner.  This award is given to outstanding audio presentations going above and beyond in the following areas: narrative voice, vocal characterizations, appropriateness for the audio format and enhancement of the text.

Here is a sample of a review of the audiobook:

“Johnstone brings to life one of the most endearing characters to come along in some time.  Holling Hoodhood is starting seventh grade in 1967.  It is a time of change, not just for Holling as he begins his journey into adolescence, but for the world around him as well.  The war in Vietnam is raging and the deaths of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy hang heavy on the American consciousness by the end of the school year.  And for Holling, the world of nascent relationships lies before him, not to mention, baseball, camping and the constant excitement, wonder and terror of being 11 at such a volatile time.  Johnstone's first-person narration perfectly captures Holling's progression from an angst-filled yet innocent boy, to a wiser, self-aware young man.  His reading is touching, funny and insightful; he manages to bring the listener back to a time—real or nostalgically re-imagined, at least—when the crack of a bat against a ball in Yankee Stadium or sharing a Coke with a girl at the Woolworth's counter was all any boy could want.  This is a lovely, heartfelt novel, read with as much care as the author used to create it.” – Publishers Weekly

Here are samples of a few reviews of the hardcover book:

“On Wednesday afternoons, while his Catholic and Jewish schoolmates attend religious instruction, Holling Hoodhood, the only Presbyterian in his seventh grade, is alone in the classroom with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, who Holling is convinced hates his guts.  He feels more certain after Mrs. Baker assigns Shakespeare's plays for Holling to discuss during their shared afternoons. Each month in Holling's tumultuous seventh-grade year is a chapter in this quietly powerful coming-of-age novel set in suburban Long Island during the late '60s. The slow start may deter some readers, and Mrs. Baker is too good to be true: she arranges a meeting between Holling and the New York Yankees, brokers a deal to save a student's father's architectural firm, and, after revealing her past as an Olympic runner, coaches Holling to the varsity cross-country team.  However, Schmidt, whose Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy (2005) was named both a Printz and a Newbery Honor Book, makes the implausible believable and the everyday momentous.  Seamlessly, he knits together the story's themes: the cultural uproar of the '60s, the internal uproar of early adolescence, and the timeless wisdom of Shakespeare's words.  Holling's unwavering, distinctive voice offers a gentle, hopeful, moving story of a boy who, with the right help, learns to stretch beyond the limitations of his family, his violent times, and his fear, as he leaps into his future with his eyes and his heart wide open.” – Booklist

“This entertaining and nuanced novel limns Holling Hoodhood's seventh-grade year in his Long Island community, beginning in the fall of 1967.  His classmates, half of whom are Jewish, the other half Catholic, leave early on Wednesdays to attend religious training.  As the sole Presbyterian, he finds himself stranded with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, whom he's sure has it in for him. S he starts off creating mindless chores for him but then induces him to read Shakespeare-lots of Shakespeare.  Chapters titled by month initially seem overlong, relating such diverse elements as two terrifying escaped rats, cream puffs from a local bakery, his dad being a cheapskate/cutthroat architect, and Holling's tentative and sweet relationship with classmate Meryl Lee.  The scary Doug Swieteck, and his even more frightening brother, and the Vietnam War are recurring menaces.  A subplot involves a classmate who, as a recent Vietnamese refugee, is learning English and suffers taunts and prejudice.  Cross-country tryouts, rescuing his older runaway sister, and opening day at Yankee Stadium are highlights.  There are laugh-out-loud moments that leaven the many poignant ones as Schmidt explores many important themes, not the least of which is what makes a person a hero.  The tone may seem cloying at first and the plot occasionally goes over-the-top, but readers who stick with the story will be rewarded.  They will appreciate Holling's gentle, caring ways and will be sad to have the book end.” – School Library Journal

Teacher’s Tools

Students could listen to the audiobook and complete journal entries about Holling’s experiences as a junior high student.  Students could link comprehension strategies to their entries like: making connections, asking questions and predicting what will happen next.  The audiobook could also be used by struggling readers or ESL students to support their comprehension.

This book may remind some readers of the popular television show, The Wonder Years.  Episodes of the television show could be shown to students to compare and contrast with the book.  A double bubble map could be used to show students thinking.

Students could write about the relationship between Holling and Mrs. Baker and share how it changed over time.  Students could discuss the events in the book and how they led to shifts in their relationship.

Students could explore the pieces of Shakespeare read by Holling.  The quotes Holling repeats could be discussed within their context.  Students could select additional quotes to memorize like Holling. 

Students could engage in additional research about the history of the United States during the 1960’s.  A timeline of significant events could be developed.

Students could write journal entries from the perspective of other characters in the book.  Events from the book could be selected and students could write how other characters felt about those events using characters like: Mrs. Baker, Meryl Lee, Holling’s mom, dad or sister, Mrs. Sidman or Mr. Baker.

Bibliographic Information

Schmidt, Gary D. 2007. The Wednesday Wars. Read by Joel Johnstone. New York: Scholastic Audiobooks. Audiobook, 6 compact discs; 7.5 hrs. CD ISBN 978-0-4399-2501-3

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Spotlight on Historical Fiction

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Its summertime in Norvelt and Jack is grounded.  A neighbor, Miss Volker, calls Jack’s mom for his help…and it turns into a summer Jack will never forget!  Let’s shine the spotlight on this work of historical fiction:

Summary

Jack Gantos is grounded.  He accidently fires his Dad’s WWII rifle and gives his mom a scare.  He suffers from chronic nosebleeds.  When his mom hears the rifle and sees the blood, her thinking goes to the extreme scenario.  But, the rifle only fired into the air and the blood was from Jack’s over active nose.  Jack’s homebound status puts a damper on his summer.  He is missing time with his friend, Bunny, and their baseball team.  He is fascinated by history and spends a lot of time reading and thinking in his room.  Jack’s grounding gets even more severe when he mows down his mom’s cornfield (against her directions) in favor of his dad’s plan to build a runway for his J-3 warplane.  Jack follows his dad’s plan, hoping he can have a chance to go for a ride in the plane sometime soon.

Jack is only able to leave the house for two things: to help outside with any projects or yard work or to go to Miss Volker’s house.  Jack’s mom keeps her word with the neighbor, Miss Volker, and “loans” Jack to help her with a project.  He starts working with her after his first incident with the rifle and he’s pleased to find out he gets to continue helping her after his incident with the cornfield. 

Jack learns Miss Volker writes obituaries for the town of Norvelt.  She knows something about everyone in the community and uses her knowledge, along with Norvelt history, to write unique obituaries.  She even has a needlepoint map of the “original Norvelt” where she keeps track of the original homeowners in the community.  She feels pride in her town and wants to take care of it the way Eleanor Roosevelt, the town’s founder, would have.  She enlists Jack’s help with writing down her words for the obituaries because she has arthritis in her hands.  He also gets to deliver the columns to the newspaper.  Anytime Miss Volker finds out someone in the town has passed away, she calls Jack.

Miss Volker’s time spent with Jack draws the attention of Mr. Spizz, the town busybody.  Actually, everything in the town draws the attention of Mr. Spizz.  He is the self-proclaimed deputy of the volunteer police and fire deparments.  Mr. Spizz leaves Miss Volker notes with boxes of chocolates outside her door.  He has always believed he would be the last original Norvelt man living along side Miss Volker, the last original Norvelt woman, and is convinced they are destined to be together.

The town of Norvelt is at a point of transition.  Many of the original homeowners in Norvelt are aging.  Some of the homes in the town are being moved to start a new community in West Virginia.  Then, many of the older women who were original homeowners begin passing away, one by one.  Their deaths seem to be due to natural causes, but as they add up, they become even more mysterious.  Some community members believe a Hells Angel cursed the town when he was hit by a truck and passed away.  Miss Volker is questioned for not performing proper medical autopsies.  Jack’s mom worries she may have poisoned the ladies with bad mushrooms in the meals she prepares and donates to the Community Center.  Jack worries it might have something to do with the 1080 poison being used to kill rats by the town dumpsters and mice in Miss Volker’s basement. 

Soon after Jack’s realization about the poison, Mr. Spizz informs him Miss Volker has been arrested for murder for killing the older women.  Mr. Spizz claims Miss Volker was poisoning the women with 1080 poison, since they found it at her house.  Eventually, its Mr. Spizz who admits to poisoning the older women.  He wanted to kill them in order to get closer to Miss Volker.  Jack rescues Miss Volker and finds out the whole story about Mr. Spizz.  Jack goes home and tells his mom everything.  He ends up ungrounded, makes it to his baseball game and meets his dad in the outfield…for a flight to Florida in the J-3! 

Discussion

This is a historical fiction book set in 1962.  The author weaves real stories from his childhood into his book, like growing up with nosebleeds.  The setting is the real town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania, where Gantos spent part of his childhood.  Miss Volker’s character is based on someone he knows from Norvelt and his dad had also had souvenirs from WWII.

Other historic events are added to the story through Jack’s love of reading.  He is interested in history and reads many books from the Landmark history series about historic events like: Captain Cortez Conquers Mexico, The California Gold Rush, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and John F. Kennedy and PT-109.  His thoughts about what he is reading reveal details about the historic events.  He also reads Miss Volker’s “This Day in History” column each day.  She details events from as far back as the 1400’s and 1500’s. The authenticity of this book is enriched through Jack and Miss Volker’s interactions around historic events, as well as through the autobiographical nature of some of the stories and details.

Gantos fills this book with interesting characters.  He uses Jack’s thoughts and actions as the driving force behind the narration.  Jack is written with a strong voice.  It is almost written in Jack’s stream of consciousness with him sharing his thoughts, taking readers off track with his mind deep in thought about history, then bringing readers back to the present situation.  Readers will have a deep understanding of Jack as a character through his thoughts and interactions with the other characters in the book.  Readers will relate to him as a main character.  His relationships with the other characters in the book are genuine and realistic.  The interactions with those around him seem typical for a teenage boy.  He is negotiating his relationship with his parents, friends and neighbors while trying to assert his independence. Throughout the book, readers will see an evolution in thinking and in his interactions. 

Miss Volker is developed as one of the most interesting characters.  Readers will be drawn into the book by Jack’s first encounter with Miss Volker where his imagination gets the best of him.  “You won’t be fine…you won’t ever be fine because you just melted your hands off!” (Gantos, 2011, p. 25)  and “Please don’t eat your own flesh” (Gantos, 2011, p. 25) are quotes from Jack after Miss Volker dips her hands in hot paraffin wax to help with her arthritis.  Miss Volker’s voice is written with a mix of nostalgia and sass in her ‘tell it like it is’ way.  Many other historical details come through Miss Volker and her obituaries.  She relates historic events to the lives of people in Norvelt in a unique way.  She and Jack lay the foundation for the historical details to be interwoven throughout the book.

The plot will keep readers interested as they follow many storylines at once.  The book shifts the readers focus from Jack interacting with one character, then another.  Readers will wonder what the other characters are up to and look for the book to circle back around to find out about those characters again. 

Gantos carries out the theme of the importance of history and knowing where we’ve been throughout the book.  Miss Volker shares, “If you don't know your history you won't know the difference between the truth and wishful thinking," (Gantos, 2011, p. 214) and Jack shares, “The reason you remind yourself of the stupid stuff you've done in the past is so you don't do it again” (Gantos, 2011, p. 340).  The passion Jack and Miss Volker have for history comes through in Gantos’ writing. 

Overall, the strength of this book is in Gantos’ writing style.  He provides vivid characters in Jack and Miss Volker.  He also pulled together stories from his childhood, historical events and fictional stories into an entertaining book.

Awards/Reviews

Jack Gantos has won many awards for his books written for all ages.  His memoir, Hole in My Life, won the Michael L. Printz and Robert F. Sibert Honors.  His book Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key was a National Book Award Finalist and Joey Pigza Loses Control was a Newbery Honor book.

Dead End in Norvelt was the winner of the 2012 Newbery Medal and the Scott O'Dell Award.

Here are examples of a few reviews:

“A bit of autobiography works its way into all of Gantos’s work, but he one-ups himself in this wildly entertaining meld of truth and fiction by naming the main character . . . Jackie Gantos.” — Publishers Weekly

“A fast-paced and witty read.” — School Library Journal

 “There’s more than laugh-out-loud gothic comedy here.  This is a richly layered semi-autobiographical tale, an ode to a time and place, to history and the power of reading.” — The Horn Book

“Gantos, as always, delivers bushels of food for thought and plenty of outright guffaws.” — Booklist

“An exhilarating summer marked by death, gore and fire sparks deep thoughts in a small-town lad not uncoincidentally named ‘Jack Gantos.’  The gore is all Jack’s, which to his continuing embarrassment ‘would spray out of my nose holes like dragon flames’ whenever anything exciting or upsetting happens.  And that would be on every other page, seemingly. . .Characteristically provocative gothic comedy, with sublime undertones.”  —Kirkus Review

Teacher’s Tools

Students can engage in further research about Eleanor Roosevelt’s impact during her husband’s presidency. 

The book references events in United States history occurring at the time of this book.  A time line of the significant events during the 1960’s could be created.

Students could research the events in history for the upcoming week to write a “This Week in History” column like Miss Volker.  The column could be shared in the class newsletter to parents or on a class website.

Students could work in small groups to discuss the relationship Jack shares with one of the characters in the book: Mom, Dad, Miss Volker, Bunny or Mr. Spizz.  Students could discuss how the relationships change throughout the book, then share their understandings with the class.

Bibliographic Information

Gantos, Jack. 2011. Dead End in Norvelt. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN: 978-0-374-37993-3.

House of Tailors by Patricia Reilly Giff

Spotlight on Historical Fiction

House of Tailors by Patricia Reilly Giff

Blanket stitches, brass buttons, buttonholes, sew, sew, sew and stitch, stitch, stitch.  Dina is growing tired of sewing.  When she emigrates from her home in Breisach, Germany to Brooklyn, New York, will she turn her back on sewing forever? Let’s shine the spotlight on this historically grounded book:

Summary

While the German soldiers take on the French near the Rhine River, thirteen-year old Dina is growing up in the sewing business.  Her papa passed away two years ago.  Now, she works along side her sister, Katharina, and her mama.  Her younger brothers, Franz and Friedrich, play around the house while they work. 

One day, a letter arrives from Mama’s brother.  He invites Katharina to move to Brooklyn to live with him and his family.  Dina wishes to go with her sister, but Mama has only saved enough money to send one of them.   Then, Dina makes a decision, which will change her life and the lives of those around her.  She sneaks out of the house to share a dress pattern with her friend, Elise, who lives on the French side of the river.  She is captured by a German soldier and mistaken for a French spy.  After a short interrogation from a group of soldiers, she escapes them and returns home safe.  But, the damage is already done.  The German soldiers know her face and will find her.  Without hesitation, Mama decides it is Dina who must be sent to Brooklyn to live with her brother before the soldiers come for her. 

As Dina travels to Brooklyn she imagines a new life in America, one without sewing.  But, when she arrives at her uncle’s house, she greets his wife, Barbara, their daughter, Maria, her mama and uncle’s sister, Ida and…a sewing machine.  She realizes her new life is not much different from her old life.  It may even be a little bit worse because her uncle and his family are poorer and she is terribly homesick.  She receives letters from Katherina and Mama to sustain her.

Dina bonds with Barbara, helping her around the house and caring for Maria.  She also finds out Barbara is expecting another child.  However, she struggles with her relationship with her uncle.  She knows she needs to work to support her stay with the family, but her uncle wants her to help with his tailoring business.  Dina reluctantly takes direction from her uncle and begins sewing again.  She even befriends a boy, Johann, from a tailor shop in the neighborhood.  They spend time walking and talking and grow closer throughout Dina’s time in Brooklyn.

Two significant events occur around Christmas: Dina helps Barbara and Maria avoid a Health Department scare by hiding their smallpox illness.  Dina’s uncle is grateful for her quick thinking and much needed care.  Then, Dina helps save the family from a fire in the apartment building.  The fire leaves the family with little left in the house.  It damages her uncle’s fabric and the money she had been saving to return home.  Dina is crushed.  But, her uncle comes through.  In the New Year, he reveals he has the money to send her home in the spring.  However, Dina insists this money be used to pay back a client, who had trousers burned in the fire.  Then, she thinks of a better idea.  She decides she can make two dresses for a client.  When the client pays her for the dresses, they can use the money for the ticket home and pay back the other client.  Her plan works, but Dina has a change of heart.  She has grown close to the family and closer to Johann.  She even finds an empty shop for her uncle to fulfill his dream of owning a sewing business.  She decides to stay to help him in his shop.  Her final letter from home shares even better news…Katherina will be joining her in Brooklyn after all!

Discussion

This book is based on the stories Patricia Reilly Giff’s mother and grandmother told about her great-grandmother, Dina.  It is historical fiction combining world history and United States history.  The story is set up in three sections, divided by setting and time.  It begins in Breisach, Germany in 1870, shifts to Brooklyn, New York in 1871 and ends in Brooklyn in 1872.

Giff includes an Afterward at the end of the book.  She shares details about how this story ties in the life of her great-grandmother.  Much of the book is fiction, but Giff’s great-grandmother lives on through this story.  Giff’s wish is to keep her great-grandmother’s memory alive for her family.  There is an alignment between the real stories told about her great-grandmother and the stories in her text like her great-grandmother, Dina, taking a journey to American to escape sewing, only to arrive at her uncle’s house of tailors.  Dina also fell in love with a man named Johann and they later married.  The house her great-grandmother lived in still exists in Heidelberg, Germany.  These alignments add to the authenticity of the book.

Readers will be able to relate to Dina’s character.  Her struggles with finding her voice and her identity will resonate with many readers.  Dina goes from negotiating her place in her family to negotiating her place in her uncle’s family.  She often acts without thinking through the consequences and is driven by action, which makes her feel like a more realistic character.  Her emotions are transparent and acknowledged through the internal conversation Giff lets the reader in on.  Dina makes the emotions behind immigrating to the United States come to life for the reader.  The patterns within Dina’s daily life are timely for the 1900’s, but relatable to current times, like her sacrifice for her family and extended family, as well as the support her family provides for one another. 

The relationship Dina shares with Johann is developed delicately and is fitting for young teenagers.  Giff stays true to the light and fun times children at this age would have in the company of one another.

The hardships and joys Dina experiences would match the historical time.  The themes within the plot, like the tensions between the German and French, emigration, sacrificing for the ones you love, economic strife, unconditional love of family and the impact of choices are realistic to the time period of the late 1900’s.  There is historical grounding in the setting, which provides a foundation for the plot.  Giff’s detailed writing allows the reader to picture Breisach and Brooklyn.   Her writing style takes historical and fictional details and weaves them together seamlessly. 

Overall, the strength in this book is Giff’s ability to bring together her own family history, U.S. and world history and additional fictional details into an engaging story.

Awards/Reviews

Patricia Reilly Giff has received many honors.  She received the Newbery Honor for Pictures of Hollis Woods and Lily’s Crossing.  Lily’s Crossing also received the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor.  Nory Ryan’s Song was named an ALA Best Book and an ALA Notable Book.

Here are samples of a few reviews for House of Tailors:

“This novel is rich with believable, endearing characters as well as excitement and emotion.  Readers get a glimpse into life in Brooklyn in the 1870s, especially the dreaded Health Department inspections during the epidemic.  Sprinkled with letters from home, the story captures the universal immigrant dilemma, ‘we would always have a longing to go back and a longing to stay.’"– School Library Journal

“There are many books about immigrants in the U.S; the strengths of this one are its profuse details and its cranky heroine.  And a heroine Dina is, sometimes exaggeratedly so, as when she saves both Barbara and Marie from a fire.  Yet, Dina is not a stock character; she's a real child, who works hard, literally and figuratively, to find her way.  When she realizes that designing dresses is something she loves, readers will cheer her perseverance, and the happy ending seems well deserved.” – Booklist

“The plot is swept along by dramatic truths of Brooklyn life in the 1870s: economic struggle, epidemic, and fire, as well as a hint of romance.  Giff’s fans will be pleased.”—Kirkus Reviews

Teacher’s Tools

A guest speaker who immigrated to the United States from Germany could be invited to share their experiences. 

Students could engage in further research to make links from the book to historical facts about immigration.

Students could participate in a Reader’s Theater using one of the chapters from the book.

Dina received letters from her family, but she did not write letters back.  Students could write letters from Dina to her family detailing the events and her emotions during her stay in Brooklyn.  Students could evidence how her emotions towards the family, Johann and Brooklyn shift throughout the book.

After reading this book, students could participate in literature circles.  The small groups could engage in further book study about the theme of sacrifice, the theme of emigration or the setting of the early 1900’s. 

Bibliographic Information

Giff, Patricia Reilly. 2004. House of Tailors. New York: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN-0-385-73066-7.

Tropical Rainforests by Seymour Simon

Spotlight on Non-Fiction

Tropical Rainforests by Seymour Simon

Do you know where an arapaima lives?  Or where to find a flying frog?  How about a pangolin?  If you read this book about rainforests, you’ll find out!  Let’s shine the spotlight on this informational book:

Summary

Simon’s book, Tropical Rainforests, is a beautiful photo essay packed with facts about rainforests.  He takes readers on a journey to the rainforest through his words and photographs.  He engages the readers’ senses from the very first page and maintains this all the way to the last page.  He shares general information about rainforests like their normal temperatures and where they are located.  He then breaks down the layers, or neighborhoods, of the rainforest.  He discusses the plants and animals native to each specific layer. 

Many of the animals featured in the book may be unfamiliar to the reader, like the arapaima (the largest freshwater fish in the world), the flying frog (with skin between its toes) and the pangolin (which looks like a pinecone when rolled up in a ball).  He closes the book with a reminder to the reader about the importance of rainforests and their threatened status.  Young children, adolescents and adults will enjoy the way the text is written.  The facts he presents on each page are easy to understand.  The photographs provide strong support for understanding the text. 

Discussion

Simon collaborated with the Smithsonian Institution to create this book.  Photo researchers provided the photographs included within the book.  A Science Interpreter from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute also contributed to the book.   A mission statement from the Smithsonian follows the title page and symbolizes a stamp of approval from this well-known institution.  They are a trusted source for accuracy.  The accuracy of the facts in the book is confirmed through the photographs as they capture the truth.  Simon includes websites on the last page to encourage readers to engage in further study about rainforests or other books he has written.

As discussed earlier, the book begins with general facts then expands in detail with facts about the layers of the rainforest.  Simon organizes his introduction of the features within the layers of the rainforest from the top to the bottom starting with the emergent layer, then the canopy and understory and concluding with the forest floor. 

Simon includes a Glossary of terms and an Index.  The Index includes page numbers in bold print, which signals the reader to a page with an illustration.  A Table of Contents may have aided his book.  The addition of captions may have helped signal the reader to what was in the photographs, although the text usually provided clarity.  Readers may also prefer for the Glossary terms to appear in italics or bold print within the text.  However, these nonfiction text features may have taken away from the photo essay style of the book.

The strength of this book is its highly visual quality.  The photographs draw the reader in and the easy to read style will keep them reading.   Readers may be so engaged in the book, they will leave wanting to read more from Simon.

Awards/Reviews

Seymour Simon has received many awards for his informational books like: American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award, New York State Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature, Hope S. Dean Memorial Award from the Boston Public Library, The Washington Post/Children’s Book Guild Award, Jeremiah Ludington Award, Empire State Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Forum on Children’s Science Books.

Here are samples of a few reviews:

“Simon's short overview has a familiar format: large pages of oversize text facing sharp color photos of trees, animals, and plants provide an inviting overview of the biome that is populated by the largest variety of plant and animal species on the planet, with many of them yet to be discovered.  Photo sources are identified, but there are no captions.  Simon's careful descriptions hold a great deal of appeal for young people.  He describes each of the rainforest's layers, along with some unusual plants, animals, and insects (e.g., bromeliads, sloths, pangolins, army ants) and explains that many medicines, oils, spices, fruits, and nuts are products of rainforest trees and plants.  He also notes that areas of rainforest are being lost as they are cleared for farming or mining.  This book is more focused and offers better descriptions than Darlene R. Stille's Tropical Rain Forests (Children's Press, 2000).  Nancy Smiler Levinson's Rain Forests (Holiday House, 2008) and Gail Gibbons's Nature's Green Umbrella (HarperCollins, 1994) are suitable for younger children, and Philip Johansson's The Tropical Rain Forest: A Web of Life (Enslow, 2004) is the choice for reports.” – School Library Journal

“Using Simon’s signature square format, large-print text, and excellent color photographs, this volume presents tropical rain forests.  Clear and beautifully reproduced, the photos are the book’s most striking feature.  The text provides a sound, basic introduction to tropical rain forests, their climate, their layered structure, and their vital importance to the world’s environment while stopping to look more closely at a few plants and many animals that live in there, such as army ants, piranhas, anacondas, frogs, parrots, bats, and sloths.  Although it would sometimes be helpful to have captions that would identify the animals and plants pictured or give a better sense of their size, the book’s clean design is attractive, and the photos are often eye-catching.  A glossary is appended. From a fine science writer, here’s an informative and visually rich introduction.” - Booklist

Teacher’s Tools

Students could engage in an author’s study and read other books from Seymour Simon.  

Students could present the facts learned within the book on a Tree Map.

Students could draw a diagram of a tropical rainforest, labeling the layers and noting the plants and animals found within each layer.  Students could also use butcher paper to create a tropical rainforest to be displayed within the classroom or in the hall.   They could draw the plants and animals native to each layer and label their work.

Students could engage in further research about a plant or animal native to the tropical rainforest.  Students could present their research to their classmates.

Students could discuss which nonfiction features they would add to the text to aid their reading.  Students could engage in a discussion about why these would be helpful and why Simon may have chosen not to include them.

Bibliographic Information

Simon, Seymour. 2010. Tropical Rainforests. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 978-0-06-114254-3.

What to do about Alice? by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

Spotlight on Non-Fiction

What to do about Alice?  by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

Theodore Roosevelt was a memorable and respected president…and his daughter Alice definitely kept him on his toes!  Let’s shine the spotlight on this picture book biography:

Summary

Alice was born to Theodore and Alice Roosevelt in 1884.  Two days after she was born, her mother died.  Her father remarried and had more children, but Alice was by far the go-getter.  Theodore said Alice was “running riot”(Kerley, 2008, p.7), but Alice said she was “eating up the world” (Kerley, 2008, p. 7).  The family moved between New York and Washington D.C. to follow her father’s work schedule.  Alice took in everything she could while in both cities from rowing across Oyster Bay, to playing in the parks to eating rolls and drinking tea.  For a short time, she was slowed by the addition of leg braces, but once they came off she was free…and she took full advantage.  She joined an all-boys club and was seen as a tomboy.  She was also home schooled and eventually taught herself by reading the books in her father’s library.  

When she was 17 years old, her father became president.  The family moved to the White House.  This did not change Alice.  She took charge of her younger brothers and sister and may have gotten them into mischief along the way.  She was well known for greeting White House visitors with her pet snake.  
 
She became a goodwill ambassador for her father and travelled around the world.  Her father had to remind her to be on her best behavior and never to talk to reporters.  But, everyone loved her and called her Princess Alice.  She was seen out and about in interesting places doing interesting things like dancing, gambling and driving fast.  

During her father’s 2^nd term as president, Alice was asked to travel to Asia with the American delegation.  When she returned, she married a congressman she met on the trip.  She made the perfect wife of a congressman because of her political background.  She also became a trusted advisor for her father.  Theodore left a legacy as president and Alice left a legacy as his fun and vibrant daughter!

Discussion

Kerley drew quotes and information from other biographical pieces about Alice Roosevelt in order to write her picture book.  She references her sources on the back cover.  She also enlisted someone to do the fact checking with her text, as well as Fotheringham’s artwork.  

The organization of the book is sequential.   The book describes a timeline of Alice’s life.  An Author’s Note is included at the end of the book.  Kerley shares three additional stories about Teddy and Alice called: Sister, Princess Alice and The Other Washington.  A full letter from Teddy to Alice is included in one of the stories.  A line from this letter was quoted in the text.  The stories serve to fill in more details about the relationship between Teddy and Alice, Alice’s lively behavior, her political actions and her life with her husband.  The pages at the end of the book confirm it is grounded in careful research and maintains accuracy.

The illustrations are inviting as they depict Teddy, Alice and the other children drawn in bright, bold colors.  Facial expressions are a key detail.  A page early on in the book shows a close up of an exasperated Teddy.  Fotheringham also gave special attention to the fashion of the times and included Alice’s regal clothing, hats and accessories.  A part towards the end of the book shows Alice and her fiancé looking dapper on one page and her high society White House wedding on the other.  Most of the backgrounds in the illustrations are understated with lighter colors.   The illustrations cover one or two pages.  Some pages include multiple illustrations.  The illustrations compliment the text and enhance the appeal for readers.  The biographical information seems like the added bonus in this artful picture book.

They layout of the book adds to its interesting style.  Some pages feature words in bold print and all capital letters or different fonts.  Other pages include words going up or down the page.  Kerley and Fotheringham included newspaper pages, articles and headlines drawn as backgrounds, as well.  The headlines serve to tell part of the story.  A two page spread in the middle of the book has a handful of newspaper pages surrounding Alice.  The newspaper pages address her lively behavior.

The title of the book serves as a theme and Kerley circles back to it at the end of the story.  Alice begins and ends the story carrying a spoon to show her “eating up the world” (Kerley, 2008, p. 7).  

Overall, the strength of this book is in its design as a picture book biography.  The beautiful illustrations help tell the interesting story behind the scenes of the White House.  It is a story many readers may be unfamiliar with and it is told in an unforgettable way.  The reader will be able to tell how Alice inspired Kerley in writing this book. 

Awards/Reviews

Barbara Kerley is an award winning author of several picture books like: The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins, a Caldecott Honor, an ALA Notable Book and a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year and Walt Whitman: Words for America, a Sibert Honor Book.

This book also received many honors like: Sibert Honor Book, Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, Irma Black Award Honor Book, Parents Choice Award, Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year and ALA Notable Book.

Here are examples of a few reviews:

“Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was...Kerley's text has the same rambunctious spirit as its subject, grabbing readers from the first line...The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art." - Booklist

"Kerley's text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject's antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp her style, dives fully clothed into a ship's swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father's trusted advisers…Fascinating."        - School Library Review

"It's hard to imagine a picture book biography that could better suit its subject than this high-energy volume serves young Alice Roosevelt." - Publishers Weekly

"What to do about Alice?  Enjoy!" - Horn Book

Teacher’s Tools

Students could develop a timeline of Alice’s actions and accomplishments throughout her life.  Resources referenced by Kerley at the end of this book could be used to gather more information about Alice.

Students could engage in further research about Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency.  A flow map of his major accomplishments could be developed by students.

Students could discuss what it means to “eat up the world” and describe how Alice did this.

Bibliographic Information

Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What to to about Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt broke the rules, charmed the world, and drove her father Teddy crazy! Ill. By Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic. ISBN-13: 978-0-439-92231-9.