Genre 4 - Informational Books - Animals Nobody Loves

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Simon, Seymour. 2001. ANIMALS NOBODY LOVES. New York, NY: Sea Star Books. ISBN 1587171554

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Seymour Simon reveals the truth about nature’s most misunderstood animals and lets the reader decide what to really think about nature’s grossest, fiercest, and most fascinating survivors.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
ANIMALS NOBODY LOVES is an attractive and well designed book that will get readers’ attention by the title alone. There are definitely animals that are not loved by the general public. Simon reports on these animals in a factual manner. The book is organized by a helpful table of contents. Each animal’s page has similar information giving the reasons why it is not a favorite animal. Simon dispels rumors about animals, for example, bats. “People have many strange ideas about bats. Bats do not attack people. They do not get stuck in people’s hair.” This information might help young readers not be afraid of these types of animals.
The large color photographs contribute to the book’s overall appeal. Most of these are unattractive animals and these pictures will allow young reader to squeal with disgust. The vulture picture is especially appealing since it is picking on a dead carcass.
Simon asks the reader at the end of the book to question their opinions on certain animals. Most readers will probably feel differently after reading his book. These might not be animals you buy at pet stores, but they can be appreciated for their unique talents.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT

BOOKLIST: “Simon puts forward some interesting facts and dispels a few myths about these 20 unlovable subjects, but report writers won't find enough material here, nor are there notes to lead curious kids on to more information. There's no question this will look great on display, but it will serve kids best when it's presented with more fact-rich natural histories.”

5. CONNECTIONS
· Integrate this book into an animal studies unit.
· Discuss this book while studying predator vs. prey as scientific concepts.
· Before reading, make a classroom list of animals nobody loves and at the end of reading the book, see if opinions have changed.

Genre 4 - Informational Books - Actual Size

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jenkins, Steve. 2004. ACTUAL SIZE. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618375945

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Discusses and gives examples of the size and weight of various animals and parts of animals.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Using paper animals, Jenkins creates effective illustrations of the world around us. By allowing the reader to see the animal part up close and personal, the reader will view the animal in a new light. Facts like, “The giant squid lives deep in the ocean, where its enormous eyes help it see in the dim light” are written direct and to the point. The book’s style is definitely unique and eye catching. The pull-out pages of the saltwater crocodile and Goliath frog are especially fun. Children of all ages will enjoy putting their hands next to the gorillas for a real comparison.
Jenkins’ organization seemed a little haphazard. The animals were not listed in a table of contents, nor put into any categories. It would have helped to have all carnivores, etc. together. Readers would have to read the whole book to find information they were looking for.
More detailed information is given about each animal on the back pages. Here, Jenkins’ writing style is somewhat choppy. He just lists some facts about each animal but it is not written in a very compelling or organized way.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Starred review in BOOKLIST: “An unusual, unusually effective tool for connecting children to nature's astonishing variety."

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Mixing deceptive simplicity with absolute clarity, this beautiful book is an enticing way to introduce children to the glorious diversity of our natural world, or to illustrate to budding scientists the importance of comparison, measurement, observation, and record keeping. A thoroughly engaging read-aloud and a must-have for any collection.”

5. CONNECTIONS
· Integrate this book into an animal studies unit.
· Using statistics given, use rulers to measure out some of these animals.
· Read Jenkins’ other books, What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?, and compare.

Genre 4 - Informational Books - Secrets of a Civil War Submarine

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Walker, Sally. 2005. Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H.L. Hunley. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books. ISBN 1575058308

2. PLOT SUMMARY

The background history and excavation of the Civil War Submarine, H.L. Hunley.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
A thoroughly researched book about a past era. The history of the H.L. Hunley deserves all the attention Ms. Walker has given it. Readers will be impressed with the personal details in the book. Many soldiers gave their life to H.L. Hunley and Walker treats the fallen soldiers with respect and dignity.
The information presented about the excavation of the ship is the strongest section. Walker discusses the technical details in a manner that’s easy to read and comprehend. “After cleaning and microscopic study, the next step was to stabilize each artifact to prevent further deterioration. Different materials require different methods of stabilization. For example, organic artifacts – a belt, a wallet, canteens – were stored in containers of water in a large walk-in refrigerated compartment.” By giving specific examples, the reader is able to understand exactly what the forensic scientists are doing. Overall, the science responsible for the excavation is extremely high-tech. An ordinary reader would be lost if it wasn’t for Ms. Walker’s easy-to-read style. The note from the author and the list of sources are further evidence of her comprehensive research.
The book’s design is attractive from the cover picture. A hazy, dim cover picture intrigues the reader and you can sense a mystery immediately. Children will like the magnified photographs of the retrieved objects. The pictures detailing the work of the scientists helps the reader understand some of the more complex tasks.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Starred review in BOOKLIST: “Thoroughly researched, nicely designed, and well illustrated with clear, color photos, the book will serve as an informative guide to anyone interested in the Hunley or intrigued by archaeology.”

Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Walker brings a little-known story of the Civil War to life in this fascinating book. The archaeological process is well documented in both words and pictures, and the conclusions are interesting and even surprising.”

5. CONNECTIONS
· Integrate book into unit of Civil War history.
· Browse book when discussing the scientific concepts of buoyancy and thrust.
· Visit H.L. Hunley website, http://www.hunley.org/, for more information.

Genre 3 - Poetry - The Frog Wore Red Suspenders

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Prelutsky, Jack. 2002. THE FROG WORE RED SUSPENDERS. Ill. by Petra Mathers. New York, NY: Harper Childrens. ISBN 0688167195

2. PLOT SUMMARY
A collection of rhyming poems, including “Red Horse, White Horse, Black Horse, Gray,” “I’m a Little Brown Toad,” and “Seven Snails and Seven Snakes.”

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jack Prelutsky is at his best with this collection of twenty eight fanciful humorous poems. The writing is fun and students will enjoy this collection for years to come. Prelutsky uses rhyme extensively, but still crafts passages that don’t sound forced. “In Tuscaloosa, after dark, the donkeys gathered in the park. The ducks and chickens came along, and an old-time band played an old-time song.”
Prelutsky also masters using onomatopoeia with pigs squealing, ducks quacking and donkeys braying in the poem “In Tuscaloosa”. Repetition is used effectively throughout the collection. For example, in “There Was a Tiny Baker,” the word tiny describes everything. Students will enjoy hearing the familiar word “tiny” used many times. Teachers could change their tone for even more drama.
Mathers’ illustrations will persuade young readers to pick up this book. Her pictures are big and bold. They complement the text but don’t overpower it.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

BOOKLIST: " The large-size book is spacious in design, great for reading aloud, and Mathers is at her best with double-page watercolors that combine farce and silliness with clear, precise characters and landscapes that range from one small hen's awe-inspiring view of the Grand Canyon to a tender close-up of an old owl in a silent forest.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The prolific poet is back with an illustrator who matches him in freshness and simplicity. The poems offer vivid glimpses of life; have a beginning, middle, and end; and have a clear underlying music and flow.”

5. CONNECTIONS
* Read other Prelutsky collections, like THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK and IT’S RAINING PIGS and NOODLES.
* Perform a line-around activity with “I Went to the Store.” Each student volunteer can take a line to read-aloud.

Genre 3 - Poetry - Shoe Magic

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Grimes, Nikki. 2000. SHOE MAGIC. Ill. by Terry Widener. New York, NY: Orchard Books. ISBN 0531302865

2. PLOT SUMMARY
A collection of poems all describing different shoes children wear and the dreams that go with them.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Grimes’ collection of poetry is ambitious but she succeeds in making the reader feel personally connected to an inanimate object, shoes. She is challenging to readers to be inspired by their choices. “…what you do, where you go, who you grow up to be, depends on the steps you take.” The distinctive message can be discussed in a poetry sharetime to include a conversation about making choices.
Distinctive language is also used in “When Devin and Dina Go Hiking.” “Before it’s dark, we’ll scale the peak, Ring God’s doorbell, and stay a week.” Quite a majestic way to describe a hike. Rhyme is also used effectively. “But wait till we are on our own. We’ll climb a mountain. We’ll go alone.”
Grimes’ verses also challenges gender stereotyping nicely. The football cleat poem has a female heroine and the nurse is a male. Students will hopefully appreciate these differences.
Widener’s illustrations use exaggerated shoes to keep the theme alive. The bright acrylic paintings of multicultural characters capture the action and emotion of the scene. The children depicted seem happy and confident.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

BOOKLIST: "The poetry is uneven, mixing tightly rhymed couplets and loosened rhythm and rhyme with occasionally forced results; many poems work better out loud. But the voices convey a joyful purpose as they describe the hard work of the present and dreams about the future.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Using their footwear as points of departure, Grimes presents a cycle of poems about kids' everyday lives and dreams for the future.”

5. CONNECTIONS
* Put out a variety of shoes and have students share their wishes and dreams.
* Kids can write their own poem using their shoes for inspiration.

Genre 3 - Poetry - Out of the Dust

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hesse, Karen. 1997. OUT OF THE DUST. New York, NY: Scholastic. ISBN 0590360809

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In free verse poetry, fifteen-year-old Billie Jo narrates her family’s hardships during the dust bowl years in Oklahoma.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Hesse does a magnificent job telling the tale of Billie Jo. The story is narrated by Billie Jo and exposes the reader to the hardships of the Depression and dust bowl. Like the title says, Billie Jo longs to get out of the dust and leave Oklahoma behind. Sadly, leaving the past behind is harder than Billie Jo realizes. Readers will feel Billie’s pain when a tragic accident takes her mother's life. Hesse creates a distinctive voice in Billie Joe to describe the pain her mother is experiencing. “She can’t open her eyes, she cries out when the baby moves inside her, otherwise she moans, day and night. I wish the dust would plug my ears so I couldn’t hear her.” The words are simple, but the pain is real.
Hesse uses sense imagery to allow the reader to experience some of the dust bowl. When Billie Jo grits the sand in her teeth and blows brown mucus, every reader can feel the dust too.
The relationship between Billie Jo and her father is awkward and strained. Young adult readers will have no problem relating to this because many of them have tense relationships with their parents.
As realistic as the black and white picture on the front cover is of depicting conditions during the Depression, it will not entice students to pick up this book. Librarians are going to have to sell this book on its literary merit. Fortunately, the book will give readers a personal glimpse inside the Depression. Hesse makes references to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which add authenticity to the book. It could also make an excellent tie-in with an earth science lesson on overgrazing and the use of pesticides and chemicals.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

1998 Newberry Award Winner

Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "This intimate novel, written in stanza form, poetically conveys the heat, dust and wind of Oklahoma. With each meticulously arranged entry Hesse paints a vivid picture of her heroine's emotions."

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “After facing loss after loss during the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, Billie Jo begins to reconstruct her life. A triumphant story, eloquently told through prose-poetry.”

5. CONNECTIONS
* Show Great Depression photographs by Dorothea Lange, like MIGRANT MOTHER. Do the words in Hesse’s book look and feel like these photos?
* Read BUD, NOT BUDDY and discuss how Bud survived the Great Depression. Even though Bud is African American and Billie Jo is Caucasian, there are similarities in their struggles.
* Research Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Project Administration. Find out if there are any projects in your community that were built by these groups.
* Have students write their own free verse poetry. They should try to convey emotions and develop characters in the simple framework.
* Research the science behind what created the Oklahoma dust bowl. Could the dust bowl happen again?