Arrow to the Sun: a Pueblo Indian tale

McDermott, Gerald, Arrow to the Sun: a Pueblo Indian tale, Puffin, 1977, 40 pgs.

Summary: The legend begins with the Sun sending the Spark of Life to the Earth many years ago. This spark landed in the hut of a maiden and became a boy and then a man. The boy grew into a fine man, but seeing how all the other young men had fathers, and he did not, he always wondered who his father was. So the young man began to search for his father. He asked many different people if they knew where his father was. Finally the arrow maker said he did and made the boy into an arrow and shot him to the sun. The boy landed on the Sun and asked the Sun Lord if he was his father. The Lord told the boy if passed four different trials then he was indeed his son. The boy endures the trials of lions, snakes, bees, and lightning. He survives and discovers he is indeed the son of the Lord and returns to Earth to bring the spirit to all.

Evaluation: The illustrations in this book really make this legend very visual. The vibrant colors used and the block designs really clearly show the Pueblo Indian art. The legend itself is a very simple legend that most if not all cultures have some version off, but the artwork really adds another element to this tale. I enjoyed this tale even if it has an older publication date. I think this is a good example of a book that is a classic.

Annotation: Could you endure trials of lions, snakes, bees, and lightning?

Significance of Book: Any tale of folklore about a culture that originated in North America is significant. The illustrations in this particular tale are very vibrant and unique.

Genre/subject: fiction, folklore, Native American Indian

Awards:

National:

• Caldecott Medal: 1975

Why I selected the book: I have noticed that a good number of early Caldecott winners were legends or mythical tales. I was interested in this particular tale because it was focused on an Indian tribe.

Price: $18.37

¡olé! Flamenco

Ancona, George, ¡olé! Flamenco, Lee & Low Books, 2010 46 pgs

Summary: The traditionally Spanish dance of the flamenco, is explained through the eyes of a young flamenco dancer in training. Featuring many full page color photos of young flamencos in training as well as traditional flamenco movements and outfits. The history of the flamenco dance and the different elements of the dance are explained thoroughly all the while drawing the reader back to Janira Cordova, a young dancer preparing to dance one of her first flamenco performances. The final dance by Janira Cordova, brings the whole history and story full circle for the reader.

Evaluation: The use of staged photos with candid celebrations of the flamenco helped me to see how textbook described movements would happen in a real flamenco dance. I enjoyed hearing the history of the flamenco and how it is continuing to be taught to keep the culture alive. The visual aspect of this book was necessary to make a complex aspect of a complex culture more understandable. This would be a great book to use to highlight different cultural practices.

Annotation: Learn about the flamenco and all the elements to a colorful tradition.

Significance of Book: This book does a really good job of explaining a cultural tradition in a simple manner.

Genre/subject: nonfiction, cultural traditions

Awards:

National:

• ALA Notable Children's Books: 2011
• Pura Belpre Author Honor: 2011

Why I selected the book: I know a little about the flamenco dance and was interested in learning a bit more. I am always interested in how books explain what can be complex topics in simple formats.

Price: $19.95

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

Cronin, Doreen, Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2006, 32 pgs.

Summary: It all started when the cows found a typewriter and started typing. Then they started demanding. First the cows left a note that they wanted electric blankets. When the farmer refused, the cows refused to give milk. Then the cows demanded more electric blankets for the chickens too, and the chickens refused to give eggs. Seeing as Duck was a neutral party, the farmer and the cows came to an agreement, Farmer would provide electric blankets IF the cows provided milk and the chickens provided eggs. ALSO the typewriter went to the ducks. What happens when the ducks learn to type?

Evaluation: This is a very cute and fun book to read. The rhythm can’t be beat and it is just plain fun to read aloud. The book illustrations are very fun and lively as well. Personifying animals can be tricky and the illustrator, Betsy Lewin, does a very good job of giving the animals human like qualities and keeping the animals authentic.

Annotation: Just imagine what happens when the farm animals boycott and leave ransom notes for the farmer.

Significance of Book: I feel that the rhythm in this book makes this book pretty special. Many other books of similar rhythm have stemmed from this book. This book is also in numerous other languages.

Genre/subject: fiction, farm animals

Awards:

National:

• ALA Notable Children's Books: 2001
• Caldecott Honor: 2001

State:

• Arizona: Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominees: 2002
• Arkansas: Diamond Primary Book Award Nominees: 2003
• California: Young Reader Medal Nominees: 2003
• Colorado: Children's Book Award Nominees: 2002
• Georgia: Picture Storybook Nominees: 2003
• Illinois: Monarch Award Nominees: 2005
• Indiana: Young Hoosier Award Nominees: 2003
• Kentucky: Bluegrass Award Nominees: 2003
• Maryland: Black-eyed Susan Award Nominees: 2002
• Maryland: Children's Book Award Honors: 2002
• Michigan: Great Lakes Great Books Award Nominees: 2002
• Missouri: Building Block Picture Book Award Nominees: 2001
• Missouri: Show Me Award Nominees: 2003
• Nebraska: Golden Sower Award Nominees: 2003
• New York: Charlotte Award Nominees: 2002
• North Carolina: Children's Book Award Nominees: 2002
• Ohio: Buckeye Award Nominees: 2003
• Pennsylvania: Young Reader's Choice Award Nominees: 2002
• South Dakota: Prairie Bud Award Nominees: 2003
• Texas: 2x2 Reading List: 2001
• Utah: Children's Book Award Nominees: 2002
• Vermont: Red Clover Picture Book Award Nominees: 2002
• Washington: Children's Choice Picture Book Award Nominees: 2002

Why I selected the book: I love books that personify animals. The rhythm in this book made me smile, so I thought I would read it.

Price: $15.95

A Sick Day for Amos McGee

Stead, Philip C. and Stead, Erin E., A Sick Day for Amos McGee, Roaring Brook Press, 2010, 32 pgs.

Summary: Amos McGee is an animal keeper at the zoo. Amos is a typical animal keeper, he doesn’t just feed the animals, he also does things for each of the animals depending on what they need. He plays chess with the elephant, and runs races with the tortoise. He sits with the penguin and lends a hand to the rhinoceros, and never forgets to read stories to the owl. Then one day Amos is sick and can’t get out of bed. The animals wonder where Amos is! Who will sit with the penguin and read to owl? So the animals decide to go visit Amos and see if everything is ok. When they discover that Amos is sick, they do for him what he does for them every day. They take care of Amos until he feels better.

Evaluation: This book was the most wonderful picture book I have read recently. The illustrations add so much to this book and the detail down to the little mouse and Amos’s bunny slippers is hard to miss. The story is truly a sweet story that I can’t wait to read to my own child some day.

Annotation: What happens when you are sick? Who takes care of you?

Significance of Book: This book truly teaches caring. The little things that Amos does each day for the animals are not necessary, but they are what make his relationship with the animals so special.

Genre/subject: fiction, animals, kindness

Awards:

National:

· ALA Notable Children's Books: 2011,

· Caldecott Medal: 2011,

· Charlotte Zolotow Honor: 2011,

· NY Times Best Illustrated Books: 2010

Why I selected the book: I picked this book for the illustrations. The animals are so adorable and “warm”.

Price: $ 16.99

Holes

Sachar, Louis, Holes, Frances Foster Books, 1998, 233pgs.

Summary: Stanley Yelnats’ days are not looking good. Stanley’s days are full of digging holes at a juvenile detention camp in the middle of the desert. How did he get there? Well it all started when his father was trying to invent a potion to eliminate smell from smelly shoes. Well it really all started with Stanley’s no good lying cheating great-great-grandfather. Anyways when a pair of shoes fall on Stanley when he walks under an overpass and the police charge him with stealing them. That is how Stanley ended up at Camp Green Lake, digging holes. The fun really begins when Stanley and the rest of the teens at the camp find a lipstick that once belonged to Kissin’ Kate Barlow, a famous fugitive who was known to kiss the men right before she killed them. The warden of the camp is very interested in Kissin’ Kate Barlow because the legend claims that she had buried all of her stolen treasure where Camp Green Lake now is. Stanley builds a deep bond with one teen in particular nicknamed Zero. Stanley and the others at the camp dream of running away and not digging holes anymore, but after a number of failed attempts to escape, Zero finally just takes off, running into the dried lake bed/desert. Believing Zero is gone or dead, nobody goes looking for him, except Stanley, who one day takes off to find him. Will Stanley find Zero? With a little help from “Gods Thumb”, sweet onions, and spiced peaches, and even Stanley’s no good, cheating, lying great-great-grandfather, Stanley and Zero just might find that hidden treasure.

Evaluation: This is a great book, driven by some very interesting characters. The writing style moves from present time to the back story of Kissin’ Kate Barlow and addresses the issue of race in relationships. The story is very easy to follow and it is fun to read the complex relationships that develop between the teens. I would recommend this book to anyone as a must read and I think teachers should be using it in schools as well. For sure worthy of all the awards it has won.

Annotation: The first hole is always the toughest, until you have to dig the next hole.

Significance of Book: The character development in this book is very well done. Also this book weaves together two time periods which addresses relationship dynamics that are very historical.

Genre/subject: fiction, juvenile teenagers, relationships

Awards:

National:

• ALA Notable Children's Books: 1999
• ALA Popular Paperbacks: 2006
• Boston Globe-Horn Book award: 1999
• National Book Award for Young People's Literature: 1998
• Newbery Medal: 1999

State:

• Colorado: Blue Spruce Award Winners: 2000
• Florida: Sunshine State Young Reader Award Winners: 2003
• Illinois: Rebecca Caudill Award Nominees: 2002
• Kansas: William Allen White Award Nominees: 2001
• Kansas: William Allen White Award Winners: 2001
• Maine: Student Book Award Winners: 2000
• New Jersey: Garden State Children's Book Award Nominees: 2001
• New Jersey: Garden State Children's Book Award Winners: 2001
• New Mexico: Land of Enchantment Award Winners: 2001
• New York: 3 Apples Book Award Nominees: 2009
• New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age: 1999
• New York: Teen 3 Apples Book Award Nominees: 2009
• Oklahoma: Sequoyah Award Winners: 2001
• Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Award Winners: 2002
• Pennsylvania: Young Reader's Choice Award Winners: 2000
• Washington: Evergreen Young Adult Book Award Winners: 2001
• Wyoming: Indian Paintbrush Award Nominees: 2003

Why I selected the book: I have seen snippets of the movie and decided to give the book a try. I am so surprised at how the book is just as a good as the movie and vice verse.

Price: $17.51