Meh. I read this because many of the schools I service are using this for core curriculum. I honestly don’t know why. Most students will not enjoy reaMeh. I read this because many of the schools I service are using this for core curriculum. I honestly don’t know why. Most students will not enjoy reading the vernacular that Avi employs, even if it’s the language of the period. The plot is predictable, with no surprises. There are better gold rush stories out there that better reflect the entirety of the period. ...more
I Talk Like a River is an absolutely gorgeous picture book, with a touching, heartfelt, and important story about an experience in the author's youth,I Talk Like a River is an absolutely gorgeous picture book, with a touching, heartfelt, and important story about an experience in the author's youth, dealing with his stuttering. The illustrations by Sidney Smith are breathtaking, and Sidney, if you're reading this, I'd love to purchase some if they are for sale. The story opens with a young boy waking up and thinking of all the words around him that he can't say. "The P in pine tree grows roots inside my mouth and tangles my tongue." As he gets ready for school, he doesn't say a word. In his classroom, he tries to disappear, but the teacher asks him a question, and the class turns to look at him. Wrought with fear, getting out the words is particularly hard, and he just wants to go home. His father picks him up from school, and after hearing about his son's day, he decides to take him somewhere quiet, to the river. While being with his dad in a quiet place soothes him, he still thinks about his horrible day at school. As he wells up with tears, his father tells him "See how that water moves? That's how you speak." The river becomes a metaphor for all the words bubbling, churning and crashing in his mouth. The metaphor "I talk like a river." becomes a constant reminder, to keep himself from crying, too keep from not wanting to speak. The next time he goes to school, he stands in front of the class to talk about his favorite place; he talks about the river, and he talks like a river.
The illustrations are artworks in and of themselves. The deep blacks, the simple painterly strokes, the page composition, and the use of blurred images help to illustrate the emotion and pain the young boy feels. The interior gatefold is impressively impactful. Closed, it is very tight on the boys face, eyes closed, sad, with strong back light. Opened it is a gorgeous spread of him in the river with dappled light reflecting off the water's surface.
What touched me most was the boy's relationship with his father. An example of a father that was missing in my own life. An outstanding picture book full of empathy and compassion....more
This unique wordless picture book celebrates the life-cycle of a paper bag integrated with the life-cycle of a family. While the story conveyed is poiThis unique wordless picture book celebrates the life-cycle of a paper bag integrated with the life-cycle of a family. While the story conveyed is poignant and important, the illustrations that convey the story are what stand out. The pen and ink drawings are richly composed, textured and detailed, conveying the environmental message, along with the warmth and emotion of family. The use of brown spot color focuses on the paper bag, while a red heart focuses on the growth of the family.
The book immediately opens with a tree in a forest, which the following pages recount its harvest, manufacturing into a brown paper bag, and then utilized to contain the purchase of a flashlight by a little boy and his father. The title page is next, and so starts the story. The paper bag is used by the boy's father to pack his lunch, on which he places a red heart. The boy has a nightmare, so the father uses the bag to shade the flashlight to light his room so he can sleep. We see the boy grow, as the bag is used in his many life experiences. The father sends his son off to college, with bag in hand. The young man brings the bag and uses it to hold his sheets of guitar music, and sometimes to hold a snack. He meets a girl, with whom he falls in love with. A second red heart is added to the bag, as he uses the bag to hold an engagement ring. As he marries, the bag is used for petals of flowers, showered by a flower girl. As life continues, a third heart is added to the bag as a baby boy enters their life. When grandpa comes to live with them, the bag is utilized to hold snacks, valentines, and follows them on their adventures. A strong bond grows between grandson and grandpa, and the grandson adds a fourth heart to the bag. Suddenly, grandpa's chair is empty. The bag is used to hold pictures and mementoes of grandpa. In the final scene, the grandson is planting a new tree, with its' roots protected by the paper bag as it is placed in the ground.
The message is clear. Excellent to use as an introduction to Earth Day, or a unit on the environment and recycling. Could also be used as a warm look at family, and how a family deals with the loss of a loved one. The diversity label comes from the multi-racial family in the story....more
Efrén Nava, a seventh grader, lives in a studio apartment with his Amá (mother), Apá (father) and twin five year old sister and brother Mia and Max. WEfrén Nava, a seventh grader, lives in a studio apartment with his Amá (mother), Apá (father) and twin five year old sister and brother Mia and Max. While they have little, Efrén is thankful for what they do have, and a family that is tight knit and supportive. Efrén does well in school accompanied by his best friend David who is far more outgoing and gregarious than Efrén. Coming home from school, Efrén is surprised to find the house empty. His mother always keeps to a tight schedule, and is very protective of Efrén and his siblings. Worried, Efrén starts looking, but soon finds out his mother has been deported, captured by ICE when interviewing for a job. Efrén and his family's lives are turned upside down. Efrén is now tasked with household duties, caring for his brother and sister, while his father working three jobs, is trying to get his mother back.
Efrén has been taught to not burden others with his problems, and to not trust outsiders, so he doesn't share his problems with his friends, neighbors or teachers. Efrén starts to suffer in school, especially when one of his teachers come down hard on him for his tardiness and missing assignments. He will not reach out to his best friend, David, as he doesn't want his pity. But he does share with Jennifer Huerta, one of the smartest in his class. His relationship with Jennifer comes in conflict with his friend David, as Jennifer and David are running against each other for student body president. In the midst of middle school drama, Efrén just wants his mother back, and is willing to put himself in grave danger to help his father with her return.
This is an important book to be shared. As a middle school teacher, Efrén Divided was painful to read. I was, at one time, one of those unforgiving teachers that didn't accept excuses. Fortunately I change midway through my career, but the book made clear to me my lack of compassion and understanding. Middle school life, as portrayed by Cisneros (a middle school teacher himself), is accurate. More important, is how the current status of immigrants in America, and the unconscionable way families are being ripped apart is brought to the forefront with a story that is carefully drawn to show the emotional toll, and the price our communities pay for governmental policy that is heartless. What happened to "Give me your tired, your poor...?"...more
Gene Luen Yang, author of American Born Chinese, has created a unique graphic novel; part memoir, part high school tournament basketball action, and pGene Luen Yang, author of American Born Chinese, has created a unique graphic novel; part memoir, part high school tournament basketball action, and part sport and religion history, with some experiences of racism and prejudice thrown in. The theme that ties it all together is right on the cover, "From Small Steps to Great Leaps."
Yang teaches math and computer science at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, California. As a comic artist and graphic novel author, he has difficulty balancing family (he has four kids), teaching and comics. Just coming off his last graphic novel, Yang lacks inspiration for a new graphic novel. His wife assures him that life is full of new stories. While walking down the school hall, he overhears students talking about their excitement for the new basketball season at school. POP! Inspiration has been found! He will write a graphic novel chronicling the school's basketball season. The only issue is that Yang is a total nerd, has never been interested in sports, and has no knowledge of basketball. As uncomfortable as it was, he steps into the physical education building to talk to the school's basketball coach, Coach Lou. Welcomed by the coach, they talk for an hour, and Yang knows he has his story. From his conversation he learns that you need to take that step, the step to play, not knowing if you'll win or lose. This becomes the overarching thread throughout the book, not only in sport, but in life.
What follows is background on the coaches and players, giving their history and when they made that first "step". Interspersed is the history of basketball, and how racism gave way to integrating the sport. You'll get some religious and cultural history based on the many cultures and ethnicities of the students. Each of the games the school plays is accounted, with illustrations that create the action and excitement right up to the school's final game in the California State Championship. The story comes full circle with Yang, who learns a lot about people and basketball, but more about a decision he has to make, to take a step, not knowing if he'll win or lose. ...more
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