Glad Monster, Sad Monster
Written by: Emberley, Ed and Miranda, Anne
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, 1997
Reviewed by: Samantha Twyman
This is an adorable book about feelings and colors. The book has some repetitive text and its illustrations are vibrant, colorful and appealing to the eye. This book's targeted audience may be Pre-K through First Grade; however, it would be wonderful for upper grades to help introduce action verbs. Grades Pre-K through 3.
The Owl and the Pussycat
Written by: Lear, Edward
Publisher: Michael di Capua Books, Harper Collins
Reviewed by: Diana Wallace
This is a fictional story about an owl and a pussycat and how they got married. They took some honey and plenty of money and went to sea for a year and a day. This book contains beautiful illustrations; it uses repetition and rhyming words. It also teaches children to distinguish between real and fictional stories. This book is a great resource for teachers to help students to increase their thinking study skills and vocabulary. Grades K-3.
Hello, Red Fox
Written by: Carle, Eric
Published by: Simon & Schuster, New York, 1998
Reviewed by: Soroor DaVani
Frog's birthday is coming up and Mom asks the little frog to invite all his friends to his birthday party. Frog decides to invite Red Fox, Purple Butterfly, Orange Cat, Green Snake, Yellow Bird, Blue Fish and White Dog with Black Spots. On little Frog's birthday, his friends begin to arrive. "Hello Red Fox", little Frog says, and Mom says "but this is not Red Fox, it is Green Fox." Frog responds "oh Mom, you have not looked at Fox for a long time."
The concept of the story is to teach the students that if they look at the colors for a few seconds, you will see the opposite color. The storybook can be of use in teaching colors. The story also has repeated sentences.
Women of the Silk: A Novel
Written by: Tsukiyama, Gail
Published by: St. Martin's Press, 1993
Reviewed by: Beth Moakley
This novel tells the story of Pei, from her youth in rural China through her adult journey to Hong Kong. It covers a time period of 19 years, from 1919 to 1938. During this time, Pei moves from the farm to a small city to become a silk worker. Many subjects are addressed, including feminism, families, relationships, war, and personal growth. The story creates a vivid picture of life in China during the 1920's and 1930's and points out many differences in culture between that time period in the United States and the same time period in China. But it also makes very clear the cultural similarities in relationships, especially between children and parents.
To Every Thing There is a Season
Written by: Dillon, Leo & Diane
Published by: The Blue Sky Press, New York, 1998
Reviewed by: Ana Salas-Ocampo
This book is taken from a familiar text of the beautiful Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 2, verses 1-8. For countless generations these words have been popularized in songs, books and movies, and have been a source of comfort, hope and inspiration to all. "To every thing there is a season"; these famous words present a celebration of the seasons of human existence and the mysterious ebb and flow of happiness and pain that is ultimately beyond our control. This book is a wonderful book and I fully recommend it to be read to children. Because these timeless words from Ecclesiastes are a reminder that, regardless of diverse beliefs, there are common threads that bind all people together. We are all connected together as a whole. Great book!
Day of the Dead
Written by: Johnston, Tony
Published by: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1997
Reviewed by: Gilda Forero
This book is about an annual celebration in Mexico. "El Dia de Los Muertos" is a very important holiday in Mexico. It actually spans three days, from October 31 to November 2, and is a time to remember loved ones now gone. The families begin the preparation as soon as the sun rises. At night they go to the graves with marigolds and scatter paths of petals to lead the spirits to the offerings. Buy this book and you will have a very interesting multicultural experience. It gives insight into Mexican culture and serves as an example for students of grades 1-12 because it teaches them about culture and customs.
A Gathering of Old Men
Written by: Gaines, Ernest J.
Published by: Vintage Books, 1992
Reviewed by: Debbie Adam
This book takes place in Louisiana on a sugarcane plantation in the 1970's. A sheriff is called out to investigate the shooting of a Cajun and when he arrives he finds 18 black men and one young white woman. Each of the men claim to have shot the Cajun and all of them are carrying shotguns. They all say they will cause a riot if the sheriff tries to take any of them to jail. The tension increases as they wait for the father of the dead man to come and get revenge.
This is a great story. It portrays the Black language as well as the Cajun and discusses many of the racial problems that occurred during that time period. You will have to read the book to find out what happened to the 18 black men and to find out if the Cajun father came to get revenge.
Josefina
Written by: Winter, Jeanette
Published by: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1996
Reviewed by: Maria T. Alvarez
This beautiful story is about a poor family in Ocotlan, Mexico. The family worked all of their lives with soft clay making and painting small figures. They have a baby called Josefina. When she was old enough, her tiny fingers worked the clay, too. The years passed and her parents died. Josefina married Jose and had nine children. Then, all of the family helped work with clay. One day Josefina decided to make a world. She made angels, a sun, houses, flowers, women, farmers, babies, mamas, and mariachis. All these things celebrating "El Dia de Los Muertos" made Josefina remember her parents, so she cried. Josefina laughed at her nine skeletons and she was not afraid. Jeanette Winter is the author and illustrator of many books for children; including Cowboy Charlie and Diego.
Grandfather's Journey
Written by: Say, Allen
Published by: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1993
Reviewed by: Eddie Williams
Have you ever been on a long journey? Have you ever wished to see an entire country, from the mountains to the valleys? From the forests to the deserts? This young Japanese man did. He wanted to travel to America and explore every part of it. He liked it a lot! In fact, he liked it so much that he decided to stay. But, like many of us who have left our home country, he misses his own. The sights and sounds are still alive in his heart. What a dilemma! What to do? Should he go back, or should he stay? You have to read this book to find out what he did. But, how many of us here have traveled from another country? And how many of us still have the sights and sounds alive in our hearts? We can go back or we can stay, right? "The funny thing is, the moment you are in the one country, you are homesick for the other."
Night on Neighborhood Street
Written by: Greenfield, Eloise
Published by: Puffin Books, 1991
Reviewed by: Fatma Mohamed
This book presents different aspects of African-American culture. It is written in poetic form and illustrated beautifully; each poem has beautiful illustrations and colorful, interesting pictures that, along with the poetry, show what the African-American culture shares with other cultures rather than the African-American culture exclusively. The characters are: the father, the mother, and Tonya, whose two friends come to visit. Children are shown playing outside in the neighborhood street after they finished their homework. Then they relax and play with their father. The book also shows the mother working late and the sister acting responsibly by tucking her little sister into bed. The father loses his job, and the mother becomes sick and must stay in bed. Later, friends come to spend the night with the family. The mother entertains them by playing a musical instrument. The "New Baby Poem" is an excellent example of the way the book flows. Its natural rhythm and the calming presence of the mother in the illustrations really create an atmosphere of new life and rejoicing. The baby sleeps longer hours.
I strongly recommend this book because it shows what every family faces in every day life. Everyone who reads this story can identify with one or more of the characters in one way or another. Even though the setting is in an African-American neighborhood, the contents pertain to anyone of any race, nationality, or ethnicity. The poems are very interesting, written especially for younger readers. I believe that children will enjoy reading this book because Night on Neighborhood Street's poetic form informs, and at the same time entertains.
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The River Beyond the World
Written by: Peery, Janet
Published by: Picador USA, New York, 1997
Reviewed by: Glenna Thomas
This is a story about the parallel lives of two women. Luisa is a Mexican woman who enters the United States illegally and goes to work on the farm of Thomas and Edwina, whom she calls Don Tomas and Madama. The two women's lives intersect throughout their child-rearing years and beyond, even after the death of Thomas. Luisa has always seemed the stronger of the two women, but ultimately, they both realize how much they need and depend on one another.
The Dancer Upstairs
Written by: Shakespeare, Nicholas
Published by: Anchor, 2002
Reviewed by: Janet Hasman
This work presents a vivid view of life in Peru. The story is based on the guerrilla organization, The Shining Path. The story takes the reader into a gruesome story of how life could have been like during the manhunt for a guerrilla leader named Ezequiel.
This story is retold by a police officer who was involved with the investigation in the capture of Ezequiel. By coincidence, the officer meets a foreign reporter who wants to write about the guerrilla leader. The officer opens up to the reporter, giving his accounts of the violence that occurred while he was working with the Peruvian police force. The reporter gets more than he bargains for, when he learns why the officer is opening up to him.
This story is an eye opener, which describes the terror that took place in Peru and the effects it had on its people, which changed their lives forever.
The Color of My Words
Written by: Joseph, Lynn
Published by: HarperCollins Publshers Inc., 2000
Reviewed by: Soroor DaVani
The story is about a young Ana Rosa who is blessed with a talent for writing. But, Ana is from the Dominican Republic where, because of poverty it is almost impossible for her to write. She grows up with much love and warmth from her family and especially from her older brother Guario, who was looking for better days in his future. To satisfy her thirst for writing she had to steal her brother's note pad, which ordinarily would cost the equivalent of two meals for the family. Though her father is a drinker, he is still a loving father and husband. He is a terrific dancer and handsome man who cares about his family in time of need. Her power of writing comes back to her after the death of her brother. She struggles and hides herself from the rest of the world. On her thirteenth birthday she received a typewriter, which was a suggested present by her late brother. It made her realize her god-given talent.
How Many Days to America?
Written by: Bunting, Eve
Published by: Clarion Books, New York, 1988
Reviewed by: Gloria E. Salas
This story is viewed as a symbolic tale of oppressed people seeking liberty. As many others, a family who was oppressed by government soldiers, embarks on a daring journey to freedom in America. The family had to leave behind everything they owned. They had to exchange their few pieces of jewelry for money; the family bought their way on an overcrowded boat. Under the cover of the dark night, the boat sets off to America. Within an hour the motor on the boat stops. With the motor broken, the passengers resort to making sails from their own shirts. All along, the two small children question, "How many days to America?" Throughout the journey they meet dangers, but the thought of freedom kept them going. Finally, they arrive on the American shore.They were welcomed. It was Thanksgiving Day!
Prairie Dogs
Written by: Bernhard, Emery & Durga
Published by: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1997
Reviewed by: Alda Jimenez
This book is about the life and death of prairie dogs. Prairie dogs have met the same fate as the bison: near extinction. Their habitat is in the open prairie where they live in colonies underground in borrows. Readers will learn about the different species of these animals: their characteristics, region where they in the U.S., food, family, and how they build their shelter. They have been reduced in numbers throughout the years; since 1800 when the settlers arrived in the plains east of the Rocky Mountains. The settlers made the Native Indians abandon their land and nearly exterminated the bison, replacing them with cattle. Then they noticed what appeared to be a problem, millions of prairie dogs; they became a pest competing with cattle for grazing land and also the cattle are injured when they step upon the prairie dog's habitat, a burrow.
The cattlemen and ranchers killed almost all of the prairie dogs, now there is a limited amount of them. Presently, the prairie dogs are protected in wildlife refuges and national parks by conservationists who defend the idea that the prairie dogs improve the environment. Most ranchers still believe that the prairie dogs negatively affect their business. A few ranchers agreed with government wildlife biologists to allow some prairie dogs on their lands, but it does not mean that the ranchers are satisfied with the prairie dogs living on their lands. The name prairie dog is a misnomer because they are not related to the dog, they belong to the rodent family. This is a good book for fourth and fifth graders.
Street Rhymes Around the World
Edited by: Yolen, Jane
Published by: Wordsong, Boyds Mills Press, Inc., 1992
Reviewed by: Leslie Alvarez
Jane Yolen is the author of Street Rhymes Around the World. She tries to incorporate the rhymes that she collected from books and friends from different countries around the world to help bring cultures together. This is a great book for teachers who have students with a second language. It helps the students be more comfortable in the classroom and share a part of their culture with the other students. This book tells one to three rhymes from Brazil, India, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Russia, the People's Republic of China, Mexico, England, Greece, Germany, the Republic of Armenia, the Netherlands, and the U.S.A. Each of these countries has its own pictures that were drawn by artists from each of the countries. This is great for visual aids. It is a great book for children in Pre-K to eighth grade and even for high school students.
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
Written by: Martin, Jr., Bill
Published by: Henry Holt and Company, LLC, 1991
Reviewed by: Ofelia Flores
In this book the author asks questions of various animals in a zoo. The zoo animals respond to the questions; for example, "Polar bear, polar bear, what do you hear?"
"I hear a lion roaring at me."
Through the use of this book, classroom educators can track many reading/language skills:
Interrogative sentences, (every page has a question/answer),
Jabuti the Tortoise, A Trickster Tale from the Amazon
Written by: McDermott, Gerald
Published by: Harcourt, Inc., 2001
Reviewed by: Susie Popplewell
This folktale about a colorful prankster called Jabuti is filled with visual clues and basic language, making it an excellent choice for language learners. It can be presented on many different levels, making it appealing to many age groups and maturity levels. The illustrations are colorful and entertaining, keeping the interest of young readers. Older readers would quickly recognize the plot, sequence, and characterizations of different human personality traits. The book opens many opportunities for related core content instruction, as well as a segue for conversations about cultural folklore and story telling.
Shota and the Star Quilt
Written by: Bateson-Hill, Margaret
Published by: Zero to Ten Ltd., 2001
Reviewed by: Heather Rybak
This book tells the classic story of the rich, big-time developer who is planning to tear down homes to build towering high rises. The story is told from the point of view of Shota, a young Native American girl, who has lived in the apartment building to be torn down her whole life. The story incorporates many aspects of Native American culture including honoring nature and family over wealth and even a bit of magic. The Native American spin revitalizes this over-used story line into a beautifully woven tale. Will Shota be able to come up with a way to save her family's home? Perhaps a visit with her grandmother at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation will help, but you will have to read the book to find out. Grades K-4.
Kat Kong
Written by: Pilkey, Dav
Published by: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1993
Reviewed by: Carell Falsarella
"One dark and perilous night ..." So begins this parody of King Kong starring wonderful alliterations such as Rosie Rodent, Vincent Varmint and "the most frightful creature ever known to mousekind," the towering tomcat, Kat Kong. This story is also full of funny idiomatic expressions, but in Mouseopolis they literally mean "Don't let the cat out of the bag." And curiosity does indeed kill the cat. With its movie-like format (rated TS for terribly silly by the director/writer) this book is sure to be enjoyed by all ages and has enough interesting vocabulary to make it a great book for upper elementary and even middle school students. In fact, students may want to create their own movie/story. Dogzilla is another favorite by this author.
The Inner World of the Immigrant Child
Written by: Igoa, Cristina
Published by: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1995
Reviewed by: Jenny Jordan
A couple of key phrases summarize the essence of the writings. "Help them learn to succeed", and "Open up to the New - retain their Old". The author describes her research of finding the thinking, feelings and evolution of being uprooted from one culture to another. The children's upheaval to communicate and adapt to a new environment, understanding their struggle, cultural shock and different reactions based on prior home environment and circumstances of a life-changing move. She describes the stages of uprooting, integrating the CAP, Cultural, Academic and Psychological interventions; as well as vivid descriptions of the children themselves, as they evolve and become willing and active participants of the research itself.
Starry Messenger
Written by: Sis, Peter
Published by: Frances Foster Books, 1996
Reviewed by: Anita Pickett
This book is both informative and insightful. I read it twice, once to find out about Galileo's life, discoveries, and inventions. (the text is almost written like a fairy tale style.) In my second reading I looked at the illustrations and read quotes from Galileo's own writing, and read brief explanations of history. This book does a wonderful job combining history and expounding on Galileo's character. Grades 1-5.
Three Muslim Festivals
Written by: Ali, Aminah Ibrahim
Published by: IQRA' International Educational Foundation, 1998
Reviewed by: Martha Fraire
This book explains three important Muslim celebrations that take place starting the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It educates Muslims and non-Muslims on the values and traditions of Islam. It broadens the minds of non-Muslims from around the world, especially in the United States, where the Muslim population continues to grow. There are three children who are the main characters and each one introduces a celebration together along with its family. Rabiah talks about Ramadan, a thirty-day celebration. Rabiah is excited because Ramadan had begun; she knew this because of the new moon. Muslims fast from dawn to sunset for an entire month, gather with family members, provide food for the community (especially the poor), and attend the mosque every night and listen to the Qari recite the whole Qur'an.
The end of Ramadan marks the beginning of Id-al-Fitr, which Musa talks about. Id was a day of feast and celebrations. They all go to the masjid (mosque) and pray and ask Allah (God) for forgiveness. After praying, the families go out and celebrate by going to the amusement park; they give and receive gifts, and feed the hungry.
Id al-Adha is celebrated on the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Ahmad introduces the celebration of Id al-Adha. This festival commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham) sacrifice of his son, Isma'il (Ishmael). A sacrifice of an animal, lamb, goat, camel or cow takes place and the meat is distributed among the needy, relatives and friends, and one's own family. Prayers and gatherings at the jasjid also take place during this celebration. Grades 3-5.
A Child’s Garden of Verses
Written by: Stevenson, Robert, Louis
Published by: Chronicle Books, San Francisco, CA,
Copyright 1989 by Blue Lantern Studio
Reviewed by:Tammy Tran
A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson is a collection of poems evoking the world and feelings of childhood. It is illustrated with antique pictures by well-known children’s book illustrators. This is a picture book with words and poems designed to charm and teach children of all ages. It is a very colorful book with all kinds of lively pictures. Sensually rich, it opens students’ minds to ideas through sounds and pictures.
Ghost Fever
Written by: Hayes, Joe
Published by: Cinco Puentes Press – El Paso, Texas
Reviewed by: Theresa Salazar
In 1950’s, fourteen-year-old Elena Padilla and her father move into a house that is haunted. Elena is the only one who can see the ghost and she is the only one with the ability to communicate with it. A quick and fun read.
Brown, The Last Discovery of America
Written by: Rodriguez, Richard
Published by: New York, NY, 2002
Reviewed by: Patricia Wiley
Rich in poetic and descriptive language, this memoir by Richard Rodriguez is a topic for deep reflection and debate. Rodriguez uses the color brown as a metaphor to describe people of mixed race and color. For the author, brown symbolizes impurity, eroticism, and paradox. Brown is also the color “most people in the United States associate with Latin America”. With this book, Rodriguez’s wants to change, and even undermine, the traditional way Americans - white, black and brown – think and act about race. As he describes and examines his own life from a “brown” point of view, he also looks at the issue of race in America through significant historical events – from the country’s beginnings, to the Civil Rights era, to the present, and towards a future when the brown “shall overrun the earth”.
This provocative book deals with complex topics and adult issues; therefore, I would recommend it for teachers rather than for students.
Mi Primer Libro de Dichos (My First Book of Proverbs)
Written by: Gonzalez, Ralfka and Ruiz, Ana
Reviewed by: Dana Lineback
Perching the reader at the very crossroads of language and culture, this book presents a number of traditional proverbs in both Spanish and English. The bilingual approach allows the book to be used as a direct comparison of the vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure of the two languages. The colorful folk art illustrating each proverb beckons the reader to compare the cultures from which these sayings sprang. At first glance, this book may appear to be directed at a younger audience; however, it successfully captivated the interest of junior high students. Mi Primer Libro de Dichos could be used to inspire spirited classroom discussions and activities in students of all ages. Its true value can only be realized by readers willing to pause at the crossroads.
Celebrate America in Poetry and Art
Written by: National Museum of American Art
Published by: Smithsonian Institute, New York, 1999
Reviewed by: Cathleen Williams
This remarkable book of poetry and art is a testament to the American Spirit. Older children and adults will enjoy the culturally diverse poetry and illustrations by sculptures, paintings, drawings and photographs recounting a panorama of the American condition and cultural scenes. The positive and the negative of American history is captured, and thus the book is an ideal teaching tool of American culture. But don’t read it on a rainy day, because sometimes the truth of our history is difficult to face. Readers will find themselves drawn into this beautifully illustrated book as time unfolds and art enlightens readers about “American Dreams” … and nightmares.
And Still the Waters Run
Written by: Debo, Angie
Published by: Princeton, New Jersey, 1991
Reviewed by: Aaron Mittelstet
This book recounts the hardships and trickeries the Native Americans endured in the Oklahoma Territory, a land that was promised to them as long as the grass grows, the water runs, and the sun shines. This is detailed account of the plight of the Indians in a land destined to be owned by the white man.
Estrellita de oro, Little Gold Star
Written by: Hayes, Joe
Published by: El Paso, TX, 2000
Reviewed by: Dawana Coldwell
This story puts a humorous twist on the classic story of Cinderella. It is a bilingual book, having both the English and Spanish side by side. The illustrations are colorful and will catch the attention of children; while the story itself is as entertaining to adults as to the audience it is aimed at. This book would also work well in an ESL classroom. (Grades 3-5 or older ESL students)
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