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- – Danielle

Genre: Realistic fiction/Picture book
Grades: K-3rd

When most people think of courage, many probably think of the kind policemen or firemen and how they can saves someone or run into a burning building without a second thought. But as the author describes there are many kinds of courage, like sending a love-you note to someone and signing your real name or being the first to apologize after an argument. In fact, much of life takes courage, even if it’s not as noble as the courage of a policeman or fireman.

Another amazing part of the story is all the different emotions centered around courage. For example, the little girl that is riding her bicycle without training wheels for the first time is smiling and feeling the excitement of being a “big girl.” Another girl has a very tough expression on because she has courage in defending her little brother. Still, a boy looks anxious while preparing to jump off the high dive at a swimming pool. What this shows is that as many types of courage exist, there are that many ways to react in the situation. For example, jumping off the diving board might be a piece of cake for an Olympic swimmer, but for a young boy this is one of the most terrifying experiences of his life. However, there is no wrong way to act in any situation and everyone may have a different definition of “courage.”

This story is very inspiring and would be perfect to have “in stock” to share at an appropriate moment, such as during a thunderstorm when the power goes out (oh no!). Young readers will appreciate their inner courage and feel like they too can handle whatever challenges they must face. Having courage is more than running into a burning building, it’s simply trying harder, apologizing, and even being yourself. However, the best line in the book is the last “Courage is what we give to each other.” This shows that sometimes we need each other to have true courage and be there for one another. Many people forget the power they can have to encourage each other and to help to support others when they are afraid.

Another strength of the book is the illustrations. The drawings represent the courage as described by each sentence and they really help to illustrate the different kinds of courage. Although the style is cartoonish, it is very effective in showing the emotions of the various characters. The style also helps to make some of the acts of courage seem humorous and less serious. For example, one of the illustrations is of a dog looking timidly at his dinner bowl with the text, “Courage is mealtime and desperately hoping it’s not Chunky Chunks in “real” gravy again.” Although the text is very good in describing each kind of courage, it would simply not be complete without the corresponding illustrations.

About the author and illustrator:

Bernard Waber did not always know that he wanted to be an artist. At first, he thought he enjoyed finance and studied at the University of Pennsylvania.  However, after only a year, Bernard Waber joined the army to serve in World War II. After the war ended, he attended the Philadelphia College of Art and found his passion for drawing and painting. After he graduated he married his wife, Ethel, and together they moved to New York City. Bernard Waber knew that he wanted to be an artist, but he had difficulty deciding on what medium or subject to pursue. However, one of his favorite subjects to draw was children. This interest also combined with the stories he read to his three children at night. Soon he was very much interested in children’s books and decided upon being a picture book illustrator. He also loves to write and claims he does better in motion, meaning on the subway, walking, or even in the elevator. Although he loves doing both, he would probably prefer writing over illustrating because as Bernard Waber says, “There is a freedom about writing that appeals to me. You can do it almost anywhere- and I have.” For more information visit: http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/authors/waber/.

Information gathered from:

http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/authors/waber/waberbio.shtml
http://biography.jrank.org/pages/1043/Waber-Bernard-1924.html
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/authors/waber/
http://book.consumerhelpweb.com/Images/authors/waber.jpg
http://contentcafe.btol.com/Jacket/Jacket.aspx?SysID=buymusic&CustID=bt0109&Key=%200618238557&Type=L&Return=1

Genre: Multicultural/Picture book
Grades: K-3rd

This is the story of Henry Chu and his life in Chinatown. Although he enjoys being with his friends in his neighborhood, his favorite activity is to help Grandfather Chin work on his kites. Time after time, Henry and Grandfather Chin make kites shaped like butterflies or caterpillars. They fly the kites only to have them ripped apart by stones thrown from the Little Italy boys. After having his kites destroyed many times, Henry is angry and decides to go into the park to confront Tony Guglione and his friends, an act no one has ever done before. However, rather than fight, both groups realize that it’s simply a misunderstanding and there is no need to be mean to each other. They settle on a compromise that meets everyone’s needs and even makes the two groups friends.

This book would be perfect for a discussion of different cultures and customs. The life Henry has at Chinatown is very accurate with descriptions of the environment and overall setting. Also, when he describes the process of making the kite, it highlights a major part of Chinese culture. For example, all of the Chinese children call the kite maker Grandfather Chin (even though they aren’t related) out of respect for his age. Also, the Little Italy boys have their own traditions, such as keeping carrier pigeons, which is also accurate. This book is therefore excellent for making a connection to the two cultures represented in the book and the need to coexist peacefully.

The book does a great job of modeling how to treat others. At first, Henry and his friends are livid when their beautiful kites are shot down. However, after their discussion with the Little Italy boys, they create a compromise and have a much better relationship. This book therefore highlights a nonviolent way to handle a dispute: verbal communication. Even though people may appear to be very different that does not mean you don’t have to try to understand each other and work together. Who knows, maybe your “enemy” could turn out to be your very best friend!

Another strong aspect of the book is the illustrations. The style used appears to be pastels on parchment paper with an added texture. This makes the story really come to life and gives meaning to Chinatown as described by Henry. Also, the use of texture helps the illustrations seem more 3-dimensional and real. The colors used to reflect the wonder of the kites are simply exquisite. It would be hard to make a kite any more beautiful. The art also does an amazing job of accurately showing the action, such as the butterfly kite violently ripped apart by flying rocks. The use of sunlight also helps to give more depth to the illustrations and sets a particular mood in each picture.

About the author:

Bruce Edward Hall was a fourth-generation Chinese American. He was born in Woodbury, New Jersey on April 14, 1954. Bruce Edward Hall graduated from the University of Syracuse. He wrote other books for children, such as Tea that burns: A family memoir of Chinatown. He also wrote articles that were published in The New York Times, New York magazine, and American Heritage. He was interested in puppetry and was the writer, actor, and head puppeteer on the hit television show Romper Room where he played Beth Bear and Masterson Rat. He was also a principal puppeteer in The Muppets Take Manhattan. He lived in New York City for most of his life. Sadly, Bruce Edward Hall passed away on October 31, 2003 due to cancer.  For more information visit: http://www.bruceedwardhall.com/.

About the illustrator:

William Low is a first-generation Chinese American. He was born in a taxicab in the Bronx in New York City! He has always loved art, especially painting. William Low was inspired to become an artist after seeing a painting on the cover of a phone book.  He has always been fascinated by cities and loves to paint city life, especially Chinatown. William Low also paints portraits, landscapes, and objects. He works in a basement studio, but incorporates the use of sunlight and shadows into his illustrations. To see more of his artwork, visit his website at: http://www.williamlow.com/books/index.html.

Information gathered from:

https://booksxyz.com/btcovers/full/03/99/23/0399237275.jpg
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-20040206_ITM
http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Bruce_Edward_Hall
http://www.bruceedwardhall.com/
http://www.tv.com/bruce-edward-hall/person/241259/summary.html
http://www.lifeinlegacy.com/2003/1108/HallBruceEdward.jpg
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/mtai/low.html
http://www.williamlow.com/books/index.html
http://us.macmillan.com/author/williamlow

Genre: Poetry
Grades: 3rd-5th

This book is an excellent collection of poems written about bugs from a bug’s perspective, such as using pronouns, such as “I,” “you,” and “we.” The poems are very clever in describing a particular element of a bug’s life, for example the way water striders balance on the surface of the water. Yet, the bugs are not glorified or given any abnormal abilities except for the gift of poetic thought. For example, a chrysalis describes surviving the winter and its transformation into a butterfly. Although young readers could easily open a nonfiction book and learn about the various stages of metamorphosis, none will have as strong a personal connection to the chrysalis as it describes being trapped inside and with “the flakes in their multitudes passing my window.”

Another strong element is that the poems are designed to be “for two voices.” This means that the poems are meant to be read aloud and presented to an audience. The parts correspond to each other. The two readers sometimes repeat what the other just said, read the same verse in unison, and other times have entirely different lines. Many of the lines overlap or continue where the other reader left off. This adds a very interactive element to the poetry and certainly engages the reader and audience. Young readers will enjoy being able to read about the life of a bug through the eyes of a bug and being able to perform the poetry in front of an audience. Ssssssh, they may not even realize they like poetry (especially the boys)!

The book also contains a little bit of art. This is done in pencil and pastels, but not in color. Each illustration relates to the action of the corresponding poem. However, the bugs are not portrayed as they would be in reality, but rather how they describe themselves. For example, in the honeybee poem, the queen bee describes herself as a queen and being pampered daily by royal attendants. The illustration is of her lying sideways on a couch throne with long eyelashes and her head propped dramatically on one arm. This may not be how normal queen bees act, however it helps to make a personal connection between the insects and the poetry. Having the art be more realistic would convey a more serious or academic mood, whereas the somewhat cartoonish style makes the poems more relaxed and entertaining. Also, since the illustrations are pretty small and are in black and white they do not detract from the “action” of the poems. Instead, the illustrations add a cuter and fun quality.

About the author:

Paul Fleischman was born in 1952 in Monterey, California. He studied at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of New Mexico. Before becoming a serious writer, Paula Fleischman was a carpenter, library assistant, proofreader, bookstore clerk, and even a bagel baker! He has lived in many places including Vermont, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, and France. He has written over 30 books, although they cover a broad range of genres and reading levels including picture books, poetry, novels for young adults, and short stories. Paul Fleischman enjoys learning about the past and even lived in a 200-year-old house in the New Hampshire woods. He also enjoys music and composes music as a hobby. He currently lives in California with his wife, Patty, and his two sons, Seth and Dana. Visit his website at: http://www.paulfleischman.net/index.htm.

About the illustrator:

Eric Beddows is the pen name for Ken Nutt. “Eric Beddows” is a combination of his middle name and his mother’s maiden name. He is Canadian and was born in a small town near Ontario, Canada. Ken Nutt was always interested in art and even drew the posters for school council candidates and decorated for the dances when he was in high school. He studied at Toronto’s York University for two years before illustrating a children’s book. Ken Nutt illustrates both children and adult books. He also likes painting and collecting fossils, especially invertebrates, but not dinosaurs. For more information about Ken Nutt visit: http://www.groundwoodbooks.com/gw_authors.cfm?author_id=280.

Information gathered from:

http://biography.jrank.org/pages/1066/Fleischman-Paul-1952.html
http://www.paulfleischman.net/newsletter.htm
http://www.paulfleischman.net/events.htm
http://www.paulfleischman.net/index.htm
http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~elbond/Paul.JPG
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/c1/c7529.jpg
http://www.answers.com/topic/ken-nutt
http://www.groundwoodbooks.com/gw_authors.cfm?author_id=280
http://www.imagecraft.com/assets/images/NoDinosaurs.gif

Genre: Realistic fiction/Picture book
Grades: K-3rd

It’s a nice day so Jack and his mom decide to go for a picnic at their favorite “spot.” While they are stepping onto their rowboat, they encounter a flock of ducks and both fall into the lake. When they get out, they are drenched from head to toe, but are still determined to enjoy their now soggy picnic. What follows is disaster after disaster that further interrupts and nearly ruins their fun. However, there is a surprise ending when Jack and his mom find “the most perfect Spot.”

This book would be great for a realistic interpretation of a bad day. Many children have experienced planning something with great expectation only to have it fall apart piece by piece. This book would also be perfect after a rainy day canceled recess or maybe having to reschedule a fun assembly. Life doesn’t always go the way we want it to, but sometimes it can bring unexpected, pleasant surprises, just like the end of the book…

Another fun aspect of the book is its unexpected ending. Young readers may believe they have the end figured out, but for many it will still be a surprise. This can also lead to an interesting discussion of context clues and other hints in the story. Additionally, the class can make predictions in various instances in the book and guess the final outcome.

The illustrations in the book are simply marvelous. The style appears to be a combination of watercolors and black pen. The characters are represented as cartoons and are wearing an old-fashioned style of clothing. This element adds a certain formality to having a picnic and better enhances the theme of disaster as their clothes become soaked, torn, and muddy. The art does an excellent job of conveying the mood of each picture. For example, when it begins to rain, the color palette becomes a little more dull and gray. When it downpours, the colors used are mostly gray with a few colors to reflect the shower of rain. Also, there is a special someone who follows Jack and his mom in every picture. Although readers may not notice the little follower, he or she is very important in the end of the story.

About the author and illustrator:

Diane Goode is a very talented author and illustrator. She was born in Brooklyn, New York and is French and Italian. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Queens College.  She also has a High School teaching degree from New York University. She went to École des Beaux Arts, Aix-en in Provence, France to learn more about art. She has taught book instruction at UCLA. She has illustrated over 47 picture books and even won a Caldecott Honor for Cynthia Rylant’s book When I Was Young in the Mountains. Diane Goode has had some of her art in exhibitions in museums, colleges, and libraries and as well as in the Metropolitan Museum of Art! Currently, she lives in Watchung, New Jersey with her husband, David, and her two dogs, Jack and Daisy. Visit her website at: http://web.mac.com/goodedog/Diane_Goode/dianegoode.com.html.

Information gathered from:

http://web.mac.com/goodedog/Diane_Goode/Diane_Goode_BIOGRAPHY.html
http://biography.jrank.org/pages/2279/Goode-Diane-1949.html
http://web.mac.com/goodedog/Diane_Goode/dianegoode.com.html
http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/harperchildrens/harperchildrensimages/isbn/large/0/9780060726980.jpg

Genre: Informational/Picture book
Grades:1st- 3rd

Shaky knees, sweaty palms, butterflies in the stomach. These are all examples of how the classmates in Miss Mingo’s class are feeling on the first day of school. Yet, the classmates are not children but animals, ranging from an alligator to a narwhal and even a flamingo as their teacher. However, the class acts just like any normal class would and the students are scared to share something different about themselves. After Miss Mingo shares she eats shrimp upside down and explains that she needs shrimp to stay the color pink, the class becomes more relaxed. Soon many other classmates volunteer something that is unique about themselves until eventually everyone in the class shares something special.

This book would be perfect to have in any classroom, especially to be read on the first day of school. Many children feel that their classmates won’t like them because they are “different” or even “weird.” This book encourages children to like who they are and be proud of what makes them special.

In addition to being a very sweet story, there are many true facts that correspond to each character. For example, young readers will learn that “an octopus has almost 2,000 suckers. With them, it can taste the difference between sweet, salty, and bitter foods.” As a result, children will be learning about the various animals in the story. Even though the information is not very in-depth, children might make a better connection to the information by associating the fact to the character and corresponding picture. For example, it’s hard to forget that centipedes can have over 354 feet after seeing the picture of the centipede with an endless body and row after row of feet wearing shoes ranging from cowboy boots to roller skates to high heels to scuba flippers. That’s a lot of shoes!

Also, because the facts are not overwhelming, the book would make a great transition to nonfiction books. When most children think of nonfiction, they may recall doing a report on a famous or historical person…BORING!!!!! However, this book can set the stage that nonfiction can be interesting and even fun. Who knows, maybe one reader will pick this book up, read it cover to cover, learn about the different animals along the way, be inspired to know more, and  maybe even choose a nonfiction book for pleasure  to read in the future -it could happen!

Another highlight of the book is its art. The illustrations are done in a combination of watercolor and ink . All of the animals have a cartoonish quality with googlie eyes, bright smiles, and thick, black outlines. Young readers will be drawn to the utter cuteness of the characters and sheer wackiness of the situation. Additionally, the animals are shown performing human activities, such as singing on stage, having a sword fight, taking a nap, and wearing clothing. This allows the reader to make a stronger comparison between the animal characters and themselves. Also, the actions that are depicted illustrate the facts about each animal and thereby ensure the reader will better remember the information.

About the author and illustrator:

Before Jamie Harper was an author and illustrator, she was a pastry chef and accountant, but she always loved to do art. After taking some classes at Massachusetts College of Art she decided she wanted to illustrate picture books. Jamie Harper first worked for Click Magazine before getting published for her children’s books. When she was growing up, Jamie Harper loved the Amelia Bedelia series by Peggy Parish. Her inspiration for Miss Mingo and the First Day of School came from reading the Snapple tops and finding out lots of facts about animals. She loves to collect things, right now she is collecting magnets. She hopes to one day work for Pixar and help make an animated movie. Jamie Harper currently lives outside Boston with her husband and three daughters. Visit her website at: http://www.jamieharper.com/bio.htm#.

Information gathered from:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/0763641340/sr=8-1/qid=1241985454/ref=dp_image_z_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1241985454&sr=8-1
http://www.jamieharper.com/bio/moreaboutme.htm
http://www.jamieharper.com/bio.htm#

Genre: Fantasy/novel
Grades: 4th-8th

Many young adults have discovered the magic of Harry Potter, a boy who discovers he is a wizard and escapes to a world of magic only to be pursued by the evil Lord Voldemort. However, after readers have whizzed through the entire seven book Harry Potter series few believe they are going to find a book half as good as Harry Potter. The Lightning Thief is even better.

The main character in The Lightning Thief is Percy Jackson, a 12-year-old boy. Like Harry Potter, Percy believes he is not like his “normal” classmates. It’s official after he cuts his math teacher in half with a “pen” during a school trip. Soon after this discovery, Percy is whisked off to a special academy to live with other “half-blood” children. Although he lacks powers of his own, Percy Jackson is actually the forbidden son of the Greek god Poseidon. Unfortunately, Poseidon is deeply engaged in a fight with his brother, Zeus, which could spell d-e-a-t-h for the entire planet. It’s up to Percy and his two friends to go on a quest and resolve this conflict before it’s too late!!!

Quite obviously, The Lightning Thief is a very fantastical, but thrilling read. Young Percy must battle monster after monster and master difficult challenges. Like Harry Potter, The Lighting Thief is also a series that grips the reader to complete each book. However, The Lightning Thief takes place in the real world. Unlike Harry Potter’s fantastical Hogwarts, Platform 9 3/4, and Hogsmede, most of the locations in The Lightning Thief take place in the current United States. This is quite an advantage as young readers of Harry Potter must visualize and create an entirely new and different magical world. The Lightning Thief readers can jump right into the action!

Aside from being an intensely adventurous story, the book does an excellent job of incorporating ancient Greek characters, monsters, and gods. This book would make an excellent addition to a unit on Ancient Greece or even world religions. The gods are described accurately according to myths and may even inspire young readers to find out more about Hermes, Ares, Athena, and all the other Greek characters.

Additionally, Percy Jackson has ADHD and dyslexia, both disorders many children experience. In school with “normal” children Percy struggles and cannot complete his assignments as well as the others. Later, when he is with other half-bloods, he discovers that these disorders are actually normal. In fact, rather than being something that slows Percy down, dylexia and ADHD are actually quite an asset in battling monsters and reading ancient Greek (who knew?).  Young readers who have these disorders will be able to see how they could be useful, even though this is a fantastical situation and how the main character Percy struggles just like they do.

About the author:

Rick Riordan is a very popular writer for adult books, especially in the mystery genre. However, prior to being a writer, he taught history and English at middle schools in California and Texas for fifteen years. When he was younger, he did not like to read, even though his parents and grandparents were all teachers. Rick Riordan was inspired by Greek mythology by his 8th grade English teacher and the Lord of the Rings series, which also inspired him to be a writer. When he was younger he thought he was going to be a folk rockstar and wrote many songs before deciding he wanted to be an English teacher. He is best known by children for his Percy Jackson series that currently includes The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titan’s Curse, and very soon The Battle of the Labyrinth. Rick Riordan lives in San Antonio, Texas with his wife and two sons, Haley and Patrick. To visit Rick Riordan’s blog visit: http://rickriordan.blogspot.com/.

Information gathered from:

http://www.rickriordan.com/author.htm
http://www.adlit.org/articles/authors/riordan
http://rickriordan.blogspot.com/
http://www.rickriordan.com/biographical_information_about_r.htm
http://www.rickriordan.com/Riordan_LightningThief.jpg

Genre: Special-needs/Picture book
Grades: K-3rd

This delightful story is about Ben, a young boy who has a secret. He describes himself as being just like other kids, such as loving to swing, to play in the swimming pool, and to sing along to tapes. Yet, he describes himself as “special” because he has Down syndrome. He explains that he needs extra help getting dressed, has a hard time talking and how his physical appearance is different. However, he wants to be described as a “friend.”

This book is great for helping children to relate to another person who may be different.  Often, people categorize others who are “different” to be completely unlike themselves and do not have anything in common, however this is rarely the case. Through the use of common experiences, young readers will feel that Ben is just like them and see they actually have a lot in common. As a result, young readers will be able to relate to people who are “different” from themselves and not assume that they cannot be friends too!

Furthermore, the story is very realistic in describing Down syndrome and is a very positive representation of it. Ben has a very loving family that celebrates his birthday and loves him very much. He sometimes fights with his brother, but they are always friends! Down syndrome itself is represented accurately, such as the almond-shaped eyes and “cognitive delays.” Yet, most importantly, Ben is described as being just like any other child and who just wants to be a “friend.”

The artwork does a wonderful job in adding to Ben’s story. There is a combination of photographs that show Ben doing normal activities and smiling. These help the reader make a much more personal connection to Ben. The photography also helps to accurately show Down syndrome and makes the story come to life. The illustrations are of a bear that is acting out Ben’s activities too and adds a childlike quality to the work. The bear adds a parallel to Ben and makes the book more fun!

About the author:

Julie A. Bouwkamp is the mother of two children. One of her children has Down syndrome, which inspired Hi, I’m Ben! This is actually her very first book. She currently does not have any other books. To order Hi, I’m Ben!, visit: http://www.amazon.com/Hi-Ben-Ive-Got-Secret/dp/1930868111/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240193016&sr=8-1.

About the illustrator:

David Tesnar has illustrated a few other books about children with disabilities. These include Hi, I’m Ben!, My baby can, and Life with Down syndrome. In many of the books, he uses animals to show what the main character is feeling or a particular aspect related to the main character. For example, in My baby can, frogs represent gross motor skills and penguins for social skills.

Information gathered from:

http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54:down-syndrome-fact-sheet&catid=35:about-down-syndrome&Itemid=74

http://www.amazon.com/Hi-Ben-Ive-Got-Secret/dp/1930868111
http://www.amazon.com/My-Baby-Can-Girl-Cover/dp/193086812X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240180178&sr=1-2
http://mommylife.net/hi%20i%27m%20ben.jpg
http://www.barkinggorillas.com/images/my_mommy-icon.gif
http://www.artistgifts.com/images/gifts-for-art/artist_gift_teddy_bear_lg.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/Hi-Ben-Ive-Got-Secret/dp/1930868111/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240193016&sr=8-1

Genre: Horror/ Novel
Grades: 4th-6th

Kenny moves from the sunshine in Los Angeles, California to a new home in Providence, Rhode Island. From the moment he first steps foot into his new home, Kenny feels the house is “not empty.” His parents want to reward him for having to move and give him the biggest bedroom in the house, the one in the attic. That night, he is awoken by the sound of scratching coming from one of the smaller rooms in the attic and observes two ghostly hands pushing out of a stain on the floor. The ghostly hands are followed by two arms, a head, and eventually the entire ghostly body. Kenny is terrified but curious and talks to Caleb, the ghost, and discovers that he was a slave and was mysteriously murdered. Kenny is transported to the days of the slave trade and promises to help find Caleb’s murderer. However, he must make a choice whether to save Caleb or become a prisoner of Caleb’s time and unable to return to his own time. What will he choose?

This book is pretty suspenseful from cover to cover. As a result, the story is very compelling to read. Young readers will be drawn to the topic of ghosts and horror, yet they will be hooked by the mystery of the murder and the transportation to the past. There are many twists and turns and the reader discovers more and more about Caleb’s past and what evil really is.

However, the real “horror” in the story is the true way the slaves were treated. Other than being an exciting read, Something upstairs delivers a powerful message about slavery. Throughout the story, Kenny discovers the horrors of slavery and the very true history of Rhode Island’s past. This book would definitely serve as an appropriate segway into the discussion of slavery. Young readers will certainly enjoy reading the novel, but will be questioning the unethical and unjust treatment of Caleb and all the slaves. This will make for important discussions on racism, inequality, and what it truly means to be free.

About the author:

Avi was born in New York City on December 23, 1937, five minutes before his twin sister, Emily. He also has an older brother. He was originally named Edward Irving Wortis, but was called Avi by his sister, but she doesn’t know why. His father was a doctor and his mother was a social worker.  He always loved reading and got at least one book for every birthday. Avi originally wanted to be an airplane designer, but did not enjoy science. He then started working on his writing and started by writing plays. When his son, Shaun, was born he started writing for kids and hasn’t written any other genre since.  He also worked as a librarian at both the New York Public Library and Trenton State College in New Jersey. Avi has published over 30 books. Visit Avi’s website at: http://www.avi-writer.com/.

Information gathered from:

http://www.avdistrict.org/library/something.jpg
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=3262
http://www.infoplease.com/biography/var/avi.html
http://yalitauthors.wikispaces.com/file/view/avi.jpg
http://www.avi-writer.com/

Genre: Historical fiction/novel
Grades: 4th-8th

This is the miraculous story of Karana who survives alone on an island for many years. She is not only left behind, but witnesses many deaths of those she loves including her mother, father, and brother. However, Karana’s personal growth throughout the story is tremendous. In the beginning, she is fearful of a wild dog pack and considers killing animals for clothing as part of her culture. However, she overcomes her fears and actually befriends one of the wild dogs and later his son. She looks after some of the other animals on the island, such as an otter family and a pair of birds. Yet after doing so, she decides it is wrong to wear her “friends” and no longer makes her traditional clothing. She also is resistant to making tools because of the superstitions of her tribe that restricted women to raising the children and cooking. She later does make tools and builds her home, despite the possibility that she will be cursed because the gods are angry that she disobeyed them.

This book is great for providing an accurate portrayal of the events that occurred at the Island of the Blue Dolphins during 1835 to 1853. Apparently, there was a real woman who was left behind when the Ghalas-at tribe left for another location. She, just like Karana, jumped from a ship to swim back to shore to rescue her brother. The brother later was killed by wild dogs. She was found 18 years later with a dog by Capitan Nidever, however they were only able to communicate through signs. The Indians of Ghalas-at had “long since disappeared.”

Although the events of the novel are usually not uplifting, the reader is compelled to feel compassion for the tragedies of Karana. Many children experience a life filled with luxury and have never felt the pain of losing someone they love, except maybe a close pet. However, although she is saddened by the deaths of her family and friends, Karana is not burdened by her grief, but remembers them and is able to continue with her life. This encourages the reader to continue reading the book and maybe even put their own life in perspective.

About the author:

Scott O’ Dell was born on May 23, 1898 in  Los Angeles, California and although he moved a lot with his family, he never left California.  As a result, many of his novels “contain the sound of the sea and the feel of the frontier.” When he was 20, he joined the army to fight in WWI. During WWII, he joined the air force and served at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. He attended many colleges such as from Occidental College, to the University of Wisconsin, to the University of Rome, to Stanford. He was originally named Odell Gabriel Scott, but he changed his name to Scott O’ Dell after a typewriter’s mistake. He also had a flower and vegetable garden, but he claimed he had little success protecting them from hungry critters, such as deer, rabbits, and otter. He included a lot of research into his stories and enjoyed discovering more information. Scott O’ Dell died in 1989 and when his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean, a pod of dolphins burst from the water and accompanied the mourner’s boat back to shore. To find out more about Scott O’ Dell visit:http://www.scottodell.com/lifebks.html.

Here’s three young readers giving their own opinions of Island of the blue dolphins!

Information gathered from:

http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/bestsellers-2007/1018-1.jpg
http://www.scottodell.com/lifebks.html
http://www.scottodell.com/moreabt.html
http://www.lookingglassreview.com/assets/images/Scott_O_Dell.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYEzOSkKUFE