Wonderstruck

Selznick, B. (2007). Wonderstruck. NY: Scholastic.

      Wonderstruck brilliantly combines two seemingly unrelated stories, both in time and place, to tell a touching story of family and hope. This 600 plus page novel tells of Ben and his journey to find his place in the world without his mom, who recently passed away. Ben’s story is interrupted by Rose’s story, set 50 years earlier and told exclusively in pictures. Selznick's trademark pencil sketches are as integral to the story as his words and carry the story along visually without distracting from the plot. It is a compelling story of family, friendship, and unlikely connections.

Textbook Assignment #6

Comparison - Wonderstruck is unique to all of the books on our list in its format and theme. It is the only mystery and I found it to be the most captivating. Its text is conventional, while Love that Dog and Brown Girl Dreaming are poetic and El Deafo is a graphic novel. It is also the only book told in third person narration.

Appeal - while its size might be intimidating, upper elementary students could find it quite manageable and would probably enjoy carrying around such an impressive looking novel. As a librarian, I would feel compelled to warn the reader, as I was warned, that it might seem confusing as the two stories are being told but that it is worth it to see this one to fruition.

Three other books by Selznick include:

• The Boy of a Thousand Faces features the same black and white pencil style sketches seen in Wonderstruck, including many close up drawings of faces. Its main character is close in age to Ben in Wonderstruck, but the spooky theme and mysterious plot set it apart. 

• The Houdini Box features another ten year old boy, but in this book the reader gets to see him grow up. Selznick’s style is set in this first novel with his pencil sketches telling just as much of the story as the text does. His illustrations are detailed, yet some only contain a hand waving or a foot climbing up stairs, just like in Wonderstruck. 

• The Invention of Hugo Cabret is very similar to Wonderstruck in both size and style. The drawings tell the story and create a visual sense of mystery and wonder. These two books seem to have a genre of their own, as they can’t be defined as a typical novel or as a picture book. Like the other Selznick books, the protagonist is a young boy who has to find his own way. 

Book Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBxghKUGkWk

Teaching Books link

https://www.google.com/?client=safari#q=wonderstruck+lesson+plan

Brown Girl Dreaming

Woodson, J. ( 2014). Brown Girl Dreaming. New York: Penguin.

     This beautifully written memoir tells of Jacqueline Woodson's childhood, her family's roots in both Ohio and South Carolina, and the family's progression that led them to New York. What a blessing to any family to have the stories and memories she recalls so eloquently. The collaboration of her aunts' memories and the perspectives of her brothers and sister takes the reader through this family's journey during a tumultuous time in our nation's history. Jacqueline was aware early on that her skin color made life different for her. Her poems tell of family, change, and life in the mid 1960’s and beautifully capture her memories in poetic verse.

Textbook Assignment #6

Comparison - Of the four books on our reading list, it is most similar to Love That Dog in its free verse poetry. Like in El Deafo, it similarly tells of the author’s childhood and touches on many serious subjects, like divorce, death, and racism. 

Appeal - Regardless of race, this book captures the genuine thoughts, feelings, and innocence of a child. Woodson’s description of her close bond with her grandfather is one that many children will connect with. Her uncertainty of her place in the family or her value as a student are relatable and add to the authenticity of the story. As a librarian, I would be tempted to recommend this to a shy girl who hasn’t fully realized her true potential in the hopes that it would develop a sense of confidence and drive. 

Three other books by Woodson include: 

•  If You Come Softly tells of an interracial relationship between two teenage prep school students, Jeremiah and Ellie. Woodson grapples with racism and a doomed relationship in this  novel aimed at older students. Jeremiah is from Brooklyn which is an integral part of the setting in Brown Girl Dreaming but that is where the similarities end as this is a much more mature theme and subject matter.

• Feathers is a Newbury Honor book that also seems to focus on race in its descriptions of characters and their conversations. Like Brown Girl Dreaming, it is told from the perspective of a young girl so the reader has access to her thoughts and feelings. Both books have undertones   of religion and make references to the historical events of the time.

• Peace, Locomotion shares the same lyrical language that Woodson is known for in this second novel about Lonnie, or Locomotion. He and his sister, Lili, live in separate foster homes after the death of their parents. Written as a series of letters from Lonnie to Lili who are dealing with their separation and their new families. It deals with a disconnected family like Woodson’s  own family, as documented in Brown Girl Dreaming.

Book Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHNXWSAsoyY

Teaching Books link

http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=39186&a=1

Love That Dog

Creech, S. (2001). Love that dog. NY: HarperCollins.

Love that Dog is one side of a poetic conversation between Jack and his teacher. Jack is a talented poet, even though he is a little unsure of himself. His teacher, Miss Stretchberry, introduces the class to many new poems and Jack shares his thoughts on each poem with her. Creech perfectly captures the voice of young Jack in his realistic take on poems and his witty dialogue with his teacher. When he hears a poem by Walter Dean Myers, he is inspired to write about his dog and even reaches out to Myers himself. Jack gains confidence in himself and his writing as this quick, delightful story progresses.

Textbook Assignment #6

• Comparison - Creech’s free verse is similar to Woodson’s Brown Girl Dreaming in both form and perspective. Although it’s structure is completely different than El Deafo, it is similar in its humor and voice. Both Jack and Cece are navigating relationships with teachers and classmates.
• Appeal - As a former Bluebonnet award winner, Love that Dog an easy sell in the library. A book of poems might not typically appeal to boys, but the main character Jack and his love for his dog can capture a larger audience. Given the fact that there is a sequel also adds to saleability of the book.
• Three other books by Creech include:

Hate That Cat involves the same character, Jack’s, written conversation with his teacher Miss Stretchberry. It’s a new school year and she has moved up with him to a new grade and they seem to pick up right where they left off. Jack and Miss Stretchberry have a good relationship and his entries to her are quite entertaining.

The Boy on the Porch is a story of a young couple who find a boy has been left on their porch and he doesn’t speak. This book is very different from the previous two as it is written in a narrative form and involves a family rather than a singular character.

The Unfinished Angel is a narrative about an angel who is awaiting her instructions and floats above an Italian town observing the crazy people below. This novel is a departure from the other Creech books mentioned with its flair for magic and fantasy but it shares the author’s sense of humor and charm.

Book Trailer

http://www.schooltube.com/video/fe84d972d6a3a2e2987c/Love-That-Dog-Book-Trailer

Discussion Guide

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/love-dog-discussion-guide

El Deafo

Bell, C. (2014). El Deafo. New York: Abrams.

El Deafo is a graphic novel that tells the story of Cece, a deaf girl who experiences life with the help of a magic phonic ear. This autobiographical retelling of Cece’s childhood captures the ups and downs of a girl who struggles to fit in and find a true friend. Cece loses her hearing at a young age due to illness and has to learn to adapt to life at home and school with her new limitations. Despite the serious subject matter, there is times when this book is laugh-out-loud funny as Cece shares her perspective on childhood in the mid 70's. Any reader would find enlightenment on the topic of hearing impairment and how the deaf manage to function in the hearing world.

Textbook Assignment #6

• Comparison - This book has similarities to Woodson’s Brown Girl Dreaming as it shares the author’s childhood experiences in a unique way. The mid 1970’s time period is set about a decade after Woodson, but is similar to Selznick’s story of Ben in Wonderstruck. Of the four books on our list, it is the only graphic novel and I found this one to be the most humorous. Bell’s descriptions of one of her classmates as “kinda pushee” and being able to overhear the teachers talk about their students in the teacher's’ lounge is hilarious.
• Appeal - El Deafo has wide appeal as a graphic novel. The charming illustrations and depiction of Cece and her friends as rabbits creates a fun reading experience, despite the serious, genuine feelings experienced by Cece as she struggles with her complete hearing loss. Any child who suffers hearing impairment will relate to Cece’s frustrations in dealing with the hearing world. I would recommend it to any family members, friends, or teachers of a hearing impaired student as it an eye-opening glimpse into their everyday challenges.  
• Three other books by Bell include:

Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover is ideal for a young audience with its simple dialogue and illustrations. It tells of the unlikely friendship between a rabbit and a robot and how the two manage to work through their differences. That is a similar problem in El Deafo as Cece tries to get her friends to understand her hearing loss and magic ear.  

Sock Monkey Series is a three book collection of the adventures of the sock monkey. These books, all picture books, share Bell’s quirky storytelling but in an entirely different format than El Deafo’s graphic novel.

Itty Bitty tells of a tiny dog who makes his home inside an enormous bone. Also a picture book, this story is aimed at the preschool audience and stands alone in the collection of Cece Bell’s books.

Book Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljJ0JbtQoEA

Teaching Books Link
http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=40736&a=1

Comics Squad: Recess!

Holm, J. ( 2014). Comics Squad: Recess! NY: Random House

     Recess, the part of the school day that students (and teachers) desperately need! This collection of eight stories capture the joy of recess time with an assortment of humorous tales, both realistic and fantasy. Kids will love the fun, bright cover, the silly stories, and the whimsical illustrations. Whether readers know the characters from the authors' other works or are being introduced to them for the first time, they'll enjoy the silly stories about a well-loved childhood pastime. 

    

Textbook Assignment #5 - Evaluation Criteria

Theme - If reaching a reluctant reader is the goal, then a graphic novel about recess would be a smart choice. These eight stories, all centered around recess, make many kids’ favorite part of school even more fun with the addition of super heroes, pizza monsters, magical acorn aliens, and talking vegetables. Some adventures happen at recess while others simply occur while trying to get outside to play. All of them center around a student’s timeless desire for the recess bell to ring and offer a reprieve from the long school day. In a time of emphasis on the importance of recess, it reminds us adults of the value students place on this daily physical and social exercise.

Style - If the theme of Comics Squad: Recess is fun, then the same could be said for its style. The ten authors have collaborated to form a humourous look at the experience of recess. Some take a realistic look but most of the stories have a flair for fantasy. Each of the eight stories have their own unique style, some are just plain silly while others have a more mature voice with sarcastic humor. They share a similar color theme yet they vary in their structure of the graphic novel styling. Each are also uniquely illustrated to represent the tone of the comic and the individual illustrators’ sense of humor comes through in their style and artistry. 

Teaching Books link

http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=39427&a=1

Book Trailer

http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2014/08/comic-squad-recess.html#axzz43ylpU6xC