Dance of the Animals: A Puerto Rican Folk Tale

Dance of the Animals: A Puerto Rican Folk Tale. Pura Belpré. Illus. by Paul Galdone. New York: Frederick Warne and Co., Inc., 1972. 32 pages. $4.50 (Reinforced Binding). ISBN 978-0723260394. Grades K- 3. English with some Spanish.

Size and strength do not equal brains. Señor Dog and Señor Goat prove this fact in the Puerto Rican folk tale Dance of the Animals by Pura Belpré. Times were tough for the animals in their jungle and everyone was hungry. Señor and Señora Lion felt entitled to meat since they were the biggest and strongest. In order to snag their favorite meat invited their animal neighbors to a dance; with a fire pit conveniently placed near the dance floor. They hoped that their goat would ‘accidentally’ dance their way in to it. Señors Dog and Goat get suspicious and smartly foil the plan. This fun story of underdogs and wit introduces Spanish language and the traditional folk tale form to its readers. The simple, sketched illustrations of Paul Galdone capture the action without taking away from the tale. Although the text is date, the story is timeless. Recommended.

Clatter Bash! A Day of the Dead Celebration

Clatter Bash! A Day of the Dead Celebration. Richard Keep. Illus. by Richard Keep. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 2004. 30 pages. $15.95 (Hardcover). ISBN 156145322-6. Grades PreK-2.  English with some Spanish. 

Clatter Bash! A Day of the Dead Celebration is a colorful introduction to the traditional Mexican holiday that celebrates death. Richard Keep’s cut paper illustrations tell the story, while the text shares the sound track to the pictures. Skeletons knock out of their coffins, creak open the lids and have a big fiesta. Happy, not scary, skeletons cover the pages and perform the traditional activities of the holiday, like telling stories, having dinner in the cemetery, and cleaning tombs. Audiences can spend time taking in all the details of the artwork down to the traditional dress and papel picados while coming up with their own stories. The last few pages of the book offer an overview of el Día de los Muertos in English with Spanish mixed in. Keep does a great job of describing the holiday in terms appropriate for younger readers, while still including relevant cultural details. Highly Recommended.

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale. Carmen Agra Deedy. Illus. by Michael Austin. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 2007. 32 pages. $16.95 (Hardcover). ISBN 1-56145-399-4. Grades K-5. English with some Spanish.

In this Cuban folktale of unsuitable suitors abuela knows best. Martina the Beautiful Cockroach is finally old enough to ‘give her leg in marriage’, but before she can choose her husband her grandmother gives her a tried and true trick to ensure future happiness. What readers will come to know as the Coffee Test does prevail in this charming story of happily ever after. Carmen Agra Deedy retells this folktale with an enthusiasm and humor that will have all readers smiling. The rhyming and rhythmic flow of the story makes it ideal for read-alouds and will ensure it will be told again and again. The colorful, acrylic illustrations of Michael Austin give the characters genuine emotion as well as set a beautiful landscape for the story. All library shelves should welcome the memorable characters of Martina, abuela, Pedro, and all the slimy suitors. Highly Recommended.

D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet

D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet. Nancy I. Sanders. Illus. by E.B. Lewis. Chelsea: Sleeping Bear Press, 2007. 38 pages. $17.95 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-1-58536-293-6. Grades PreK-3.

 My Thoughts...

Although a celebration in its own right, I felt the D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet, would be much better used in conjunction with other materials due to the very brief descriptions and explanations offered within its pages. This book is beautiful, don’t get me wrong, and it is very interesting, but I found myself thinking it could have been done differently. The illustrations for this book were gorgeous. The full page and often double page spreads really catch the eye, and the pride and culture and significance of each illustration make it a piece of art. I did love how each letter represented a word within a larger, rhyming idea. I think this makes readers think about what the letter represents. At the same time, however, I felt that some of the letter selections were too generic or reaching. It was situations like this, however, that the column of further information really made the letter significant and important to African American history and culture. I was slightly disappointed read the brief mention of only Rosa Parks as the catalyst for the Montgomery Bus Boycott, but then again, this is what is most often taught. I was also confused on the page about Buffalo Soldiers, where it said Native Americans gave them this honorable name, when the Buffalo Soldiers were actually there to “offer protection from [the attacks of various tribes] on wagons trains, settlers, stagecoaches, and trains.” I think this book is great and does offer a ton of information about African American history. I think it would be best used or introduced along with other more detailed books. For example, several of the following books go in to further depth about ideas/times/people mentioned in this alphabet book:

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M. Hoose

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford

Martin's big words: the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport

Visiting Langston by Willie Perdomo

Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold

Coming on Home Soon by Jacqueline Woodson

I think together these titles could paint a better picture for students.

Hush! A Thai Lullaby

Hush! A Thai Lullaby. Minfong Ho. Illus. by Holly Meade. New York: Orchard Books, 1996. 30 pages. $15.95 (Hardcover). ISBN 0-531-09500-2. Preschool.

When you are surrounded by animals big and small, it is hard to guarantee quiet. This is a particular problem for one mother as she tried to put her baby to sleep. A mosquito weeps in the wind as a lizard peeps from the ceiling, and as soon as the mother gets them to be quiet she hears the noises of elephants, monkeys, even an old water buffalo. Once the jungle is finally quiet this mother can close her eyes, but her baby’s eyes are wide open. Minfong Ho shares a rhythmic and whimsical Thai lullaby that is sure to awaken the curiosity and silliness of small children everywhere. The rhythmic animal calls catch readers’ attention, but then the repetitive, flowing chastisement of the mother calms the nerves again.  Meade’s colorful, animated illustrations are almost dreamlike, but they transport readers in to a backyard that is livelier than a zoo. Every parent knows that challenges of putting a little one to bed, and this story both acknowledges and laughs that this struggle.  Recommended

Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest

Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest. Gerald McDermott. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1993. 32 pages. $14.95 (Hardcover). ISBN 0-15-265661-8. Grades PreK-3.

Reminds Me Of...

Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest is a very interesting story. The Trickster Tale in and of itself is an interesting style that is a great way to teach custom and tradition to younger readers. Having a central symbol or character who is ‘up to something’ also catches children’s attention and keeps them engages. McDermott was wise to include a note before the story teaching about Raven and his role in Native American culture, as well as describing his character. Not only does this note explain the cultural significance of the story, but it also gives readers something to look forward to: “shape-shifter imbued with magical powers, he is at once brave and cunning, greedy and gluttonous.” This story reminded me of other materials for children:

1)      Beaver Steals Fire: A Salish Coyote Story by Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

- This book also features a strong cast of animals who feel it is their duty to bring not light, but fire to the earth. While a Raven is not the trickster in this tale, another symbolic bird is present. This tale shed light on the beliefs of the Salish and Kootenai tribes.

2)      Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale by Gerald McDermott

-This story also teaches of the importance of the sun and light in the beliefs of Pueblo Indians in particular. While this is not a trickster tale and does not feature animals, it does highlight cultural beliefs. This book also shows the bright, symmetrical illustration style of McDermott that can be seen in Raven.

3)      Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book  and Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book by Yuyi Morales

- These two titles feature Señor Calavera, a skeleton and symbol for death in Latino culture. In these two trickster tales Morales teaches readers how to count to ten in Spanish and the Spanish alphabet, respectively. These are not simple concept books, however, rather Señora Calavera is up trying to accomplish his tasks of mischief, but instead is foiled by a very wise Grandma and Grandpa. These are great trickster tales for teaching concepts as well introducing Latino culture to children.

Visiting Langston

Visiting Langston. Willie Perdomo. Illus. by Bryan Collier. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2002. 32 pages. $16.95 (Hardcover). ISBN 0-8050-6744-2. Grades K-4.

Langston, Langston, Langston Hughes was more than a poet. He was an inspiration to many, a voice of the people, and someone worth learning about. InVisiting Langston a young poet gets the chance to visit the house where one of her heroes lived. She puts on her favorite blouse and begins her journey, while letting us know who Langston Hughes was and who she is. This rhythmic, sometime rhyming reflection on the life of Langston Hughes offers a great introduction for young people. Perdomo includes emotions that Hughes brought to life, and lists his famous works all while encouraging people to listen to their inner voice to find themselves. Through his award winning collages, Bryan Collier, both illustrates the rich, complicated world that Hughes immortalized in his poetry, as well as the rich culture and period in which he lived. The different textures, prints, shapes, colors, and media make each page of this book a world of its own. Together Perdomo and Collier open the door to a world of rhythm, blues, and beauty that was Langston Hughes. Highly Recommende

The Story of the Milky Way: A Cherokee Tale

The Story of the Milky Way: A Cherokee Tale. Joseph Bruchas and Gayle Ross. Illus. by Virginia A. Stroud. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1995. 32 pages. $14.99 (Hardcover). ISBN 0-8037-1737-7. Grades PreK-3.

Reminds Me Of…

The Story of the Milky Way: A Cherokee Tale reminded me of the other Native American tales I have read recently. These tales are not identical by any means, and the come from different tribes, but the style in which tales are retold, and the sense of history and tradition that come from these books are similar. For example, Beaver Steals Fire: A Salish Coyote Story tells of how fire came to the Earth from the land above. The similarity in this story comes in the form of a reason why something is the way it is, much like how the Milky Way was formed in this story. I was also reminded of Arrow to the Sun: a Pueblo Indian Tale. In this tale we learn of one aspect of Pueblo culture, how life comes from the solar power; similarly to the way there is a great respect for elders in The Story of the Milky Way. The importance of elders in this story also reminded me of the love of a grandson and respect for elders in the bookI, Doko: The Tale of a Basket by Ed Young. This story offers the reason why elders and younger generations get along in harmony now.

I was also reminded of another title based on the illustrations, since I recognized the style prior to even noticing the name on the front cover. I knew the second I saw those white-pink faces with pink blush circles Virginia Stroud was the illustrator. I recognized her work from the book A Walk to the Great Mystery which she wrote and illustrated.

Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China

Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China. Ed Young. Illus. by Ed Young. New York: Philomel Books, 1989. 32 pages. $14.95 (Hardcover). ISBN 0-399-21619-7. Grades K-3.

My Thoughts...

Thank GOD some children have good sense! I really liked red-riding hood story because the children in it seemed to have a brain. I loved that the three little girls were wise enough to out smart the wolf. This is a break from the traditional woodman coming to save granny that I was raised hearing. I think this version promotes independence and smarts rather than curiosity and then needing to be saved. I also found the wolf quicker on his feet than wolves in the little red riding hoods I’ve heard. I am so used to the uncreative better to see, hear, hug, etc. you with my dear. I also think it was very wise of him to blow out the candle. I am pretty sure it was always day light in the versions I’ve heard. Not to mention was every Red Riding Hood in my youth missing her glasses/contacts and miss the furry face? Yeah she saw the eyes, teeth, etc, but not the fur? Really?!  I digress. I guess the wolf wasn’t too wise since he met his demise, but I think his quick answers and candle extinguishing made for a better story. I also like that this version turned the gross/scare factor down by the girls tempting the wolf with the gingko nuts, letting him switch his fascination from their flesh. I think this is less scary, and definitely less gross, for smaller children. The illustrations in this story were also great. I loved the split panels. It definitely helped me move my eyes across the page and follow the action in the pictures. I also like how the images were blurry. I think this is a great decision here because it makes the whole story seem like dream, which it pretty much is since it is a fairy tale of sorts. I did find one bit of the translation off. I thought that “All the chicks are in the coop” seemed out of place in the midst of PoPo and the other Chinese names. I don’t think this took away from the story, but it definitely caught my attention. I guess when it comes to translating that was probably the best saying Young could find. Anyway, I will definitely remember this red riding hood story.

Oh, as an afterthought that really occurred before I read the story itself. I loved the dedication “To all the wolves of the world, for lending their good name as a tangible symbol for our darkness.” This reminded me of Joe Kukla’s Wolf’s Coming, a story where the we think the wolf must be a bad guy like usual but we find ourselves pleasantly surprised at the end.

Beaver Steals Fire: A Salish Coyote Story

Beaver Steals Fire: A Salish Coyote Story. Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes. Illus. by Sam Sandoval. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2005. 64 pages. $14.95 (Hardcover). ISBN 0-8032-4323-5. Grades K-4.

“A long, long time ago, the only animals who had fire lived in the land above, up in the sky.” The animals on the earth decided that they must venture in to the sky and smuggle some of the flames back home. Together the Beaver, the Coyote, the Eagle, the Bull Snake, and the Prairie Chicken devised and implemented a plan to accomplish this goal. Their plan, cunning and clever, placed fire at their fingertips, but Curlew, the guardian of fire, put up a great fight.  This easy to read Salish tale of teamwork and adventure is a great cultural tool as well as an interesting story. Readers are introduced to written Salish and traditional customs and beliefs. Part of a fire-education project sponsored by the Salish-Pen d’Oreille Culture Committee, Beaver Steals Fire: A Salish Coyote Story, introduces traditional beliefs of the Salish people as a method of emphasizing the importance of Native American fire use. While the tale itself shares the origin of fire for this culture, an extensive author’s note talks further about fire use and Salish history. Also included is a note about The Fire History Project and “A Brief Guide to Writing Salish and the International Phonetic Alphabet.” This unique tale will not only make a good story for children, but it is also a great cultural teaching tool. Recommended   

The Girl Who Spun Gold

The Girl Who Spun Gold. Virginia Hamilton. Illus. by Leo & Diane Dillon. New York: The Blue Sky Press, 2000. 30 pages. $16.95 (Hardcover). ISBN 0-590-47378-6. Grades PreK-3.

My Thoughts...

Well, my initial thought was this sure seems a lot like “Rumpelstiltskin.” Thanks to a note at the end of the book I now know that the story of an evil man helping a young lady spin thread in to gold for a price is incredibly popular. I also know that The Girl Who Spun Gold is a version of that story from the West Indies. I think it would be a neat program to have many different versions of this story and read them out loud. Not only would the different names be fun, but the different dialects would be neat to hear. I loved reading this story in the West Indian dialect, but then again it could be very offensive if someone butchered or made a certain culture’s accent/dialect hokey. I don’t think the dialect in this book was hokey or inappropriate, but I know it could become so easily. I think children would absolutely adore this story and find Lit’mahn quite funny, especially because of his looks. I personally find his pictures scary, but the description of him wasn’t so terrifying. I loved the name Lit’mahn Bittyun. It made me smile to have a name match the physical description of the character. I also appreciated the way the story was written. It sounded like someone was telling it to you. I thought this was a very neat version of a familiar story, and I think it would be great to teach in classrooms or use in a library to bring in another culture and spice up traditional material

Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale

Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale. Gerald McDermott. Illus. by Gerald McDermott. New York: The Viking Press, 1974. 42 pages. $16.99 (Hardcover). ISBN 0-670-13369-8. Grades K-3.

Long ago a boy, the Boy, was given to a young maiden in the pueblo. As the Boy grew, he longed to search for his father. His quest took him high and low until he learned he must go higher, for his father was the Sun, the mighty Lord. Before he is accepted as such and fulfills his destiny he must complete four challenges. Gerald McDermott beautifully retells this Pueblo Indian tale, emphasizing the importance of the source of all life, the Solar Fire. The story jumps off the page as he draws on traditional Pueblo art through blending vibrant colors, unique shapes and symmetry in the illustrations. The rich black background makes each brightly colored image pop, ensuring the reader sees how each image is constructed through careful placement of geometric figures. The illustrations are crucial to making this eloquent, easy to tell tale come alive. The mystery, heritage, and tradition of the Pueblo Indians are vast, but McDermott does a great job of enlightening children with Arrow to the Sun.  Recommended

Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog

 

Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog. Pamela S. Turner. Illus. by Yan Nascimbene. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 28 pages. $15.00 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-0-618-14094-7. Grades 1-3.

“Today Hachiko is a place where friends and family long separated come together again,” but years before Hachiko was the most loyal dog in the world. Pamela S. Turner eternalizes the story of Hachiko that she learned while living in Japan so that readers every where can experiences the kind of love only a pet can have. Readers hear the story of Hachiko from a young man who met Hachiko when he was six years old. He quickly befriended the dog as they waited every evening for their father and master, respectively,  to return to Shibuya Station from Tokyo. One day Dr. Ueno does not return to the station with Kentaro’s father and Hachiko begins his incredible act of loyalty; making friends with an entire country. Pamela Turner tells the story in a way that readers won’t soon forget the devotion of Hachiko and will feel the emotion of everyone who met or visited him in Shibuya Station. Yan Nascimbene’s illustrations help to paint the image of Hachiko in our minds and allow readers to feel if they are waiting at the station with him. Recommended

My Thoughts…

Stories that end with a dog dying are always incredibly sad, but this one did have a very uplifting message.  A few of the thoughts I had while and after reading this story have to do with time passing and the story continuing on. I was thinking about how quickly the story moved and how suddenly Hachiko began to grow old. Then I realized, however, that 11 years had passed! It was amazing to me that time went by so quickly in the story, but I guess the consistency of Hachiko’s routine of going to the train station twice a day acted like a metronome and kept time going. I also think it is amazing that the story of a loyal dog could last so long. It is still celebrated in Tokyo, but now it is also eternalized in this book. I think it is great that Turner made the story her own by creating Kentaro, since a child learning to love this dog is so realistic. I had to laugh though when I saw his name because our wii made a mii with that name. I also thought this was a good story and could be appreciated by any culture, even though it is specifically Asian American. I did wonder before I started reading if the author was going to have some tie to the Japanese community and was glad to learn that she lived there. Anyway, it was a neat story, and I think it is a good one because it teaches about some aspects of Japanese culture/society (at leas the festival and the admiration of loyalty) as well as keeps a tradition alive

Potential Reaction…

I would not be surprised if someone let out a tear when they read or heard this book since Hachiko does die, but I think kids will be more impressed that there is an annual festival held because of someone’s pet dog. I know my dog is horribly behaved, and as a kid I would be shocked that one could be so well behaved that it followed and met me at the train station every day. While I know this story is more than just one about a dog, I think a lot of kids will read it that way. I think it will be the result of talking about their own pets and their tricks and how upset they would be if their pet passed away. I think though that the celebration and sculpture could inspire interest in the Japanese culture.  

Reminds Me Of…

Ugh, I hate when I can’t think of anything that this book reminds me of. I guess I was reminded of Shiloh while I was reading just because of the love of Hachiko that Kentaro had. The connection of a loved pet, however, is a weak one I think. I am certain I have heard stories about other symbolic animals in our culture or another, but none are coming up now. So as I went to find the graphic for the post I realized there was a movie made! How about that?!

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring. Jan Greenburg and Sandra Jordan. Illus. by Brian Floca. New York: Roaring Book Press, 2010. 48 pages. $17.99 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-1-59643-338-0. Grades 2-4.

“Sometimes art is made by one artist, working alone, but sometimes it is the result of artists working together—collaborating—to forge something new.” In Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring award winning author duo Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan do just that to tell the story of how three trailblazing artists blend their unique expertise to create an American masterpiece. Martha Graham, a cutting edge choreographer; Aaron Copland, a distinguished composer; and Isamu Noguchi, an artist, sculptor, and craftsman worked together for over a year, creating, editing, melding and molding ideas to create a ballet, Appalachian Spring, that debuted on October 30, 1944. The lyrical poetic text of the story shares the passion behind the project, the movements of the dance, and places the readers in one of the seats at that first performance. Brian Floca’s watercolor illustrations really bring the performance and its preparation to life before readers’ eyes. In addition to sharing the beauty and creativity of Appalachian Spring this book epitomizes and teaches the importance of working together. Full biographies, a bibliography and notes and sources round out this inspiring story, creating a teaching and learning tool as well. Recommended    

 My Thoughts…

Before reading this story I had only ever heard of Aaron Copland, and even then I couldn’t really remember anything significant about him. Now that I’ve read this story, however, I feel quite a bit smarter. In addition to the obvious knowledge gain from reading about Appalachian Spring in the story and about its three different creators in their biographies, I appreciate other aspects of the book.  I love the introduction to the book. It is just a brief paragraph about collaboration, but it is so beautifully written I was excited to get to the story and see how it happened. I was also intrigued by the format of the story; poetry. I thought that the lyrical style writing was a perfect choice to complement the subject of the book. I also liked how direct quotations from each of the key players were seamlessly incorporated in to the flow. I also enjoyed reading how the creators felt, how they were perceived by the public and each other, and how all of these things blended and resulted in the finished ballet and the story. The illustrations were not only beautiful, but they made me want to see the ballet performed. I feel like they were snap shots of what I would be seeing. I found it interesting that some of the illustrations were more defined by others, but ultimately determined that it matched with the constantly changing preparations and decision in the story. I loved how there were details that could have been boring and insignificant, like the instruments in the orchestra, displayed and described in a way that made them seem crucial. I really liked how involved this story was and how it told a story of a story being told.

Potential Reaction…

I think this story will be inspiring to readers. They get to see three different styles of art come together to make something great while also seeing the three individuals shine. This is a great message for younger youth who may be wondering what to do with their lives or those wanting to realize their dreams. The message of collaboration may also open readers’ eyes to the gifts that their friends have to offer and make them want to work together to create things. I think that the subject of the ballet may be lost on young readers because it seems like a dated concept, but I also think it would be interesting for them to see how American pride and patriotism was shown that long ago. I do think that girls will enjoy this book more than boys due to the subject of ballet, but I think it would be a great example for boys who are interested in art.

I think the poetic form of this book could be a winning point for some readers and a let down for others. I think that the story flows really well in free verse, and it makes it easy to read. I think other readers may get distracted by this style, however. I do think that this book would be a great one to use in a program or a classroom due to the heavy informative angle. I do not know if youth would pick it up and enjoy it on their own.

Reminds Me Of…

This is now the second book I have read by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, with the first being Action Jackson, and I think they work very well together. Like Action Jackson this book incorporates facts and real life with the teensiest bit of imaginative fiction. While Action Jackson is a biography and Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring is a nonfiction title, they both share the same high level of research and detail that will engage readers. Both books do a great job of telling story and offering fascinating back information and supplements. Also, like their other title this book reminds me of Frida ¡Viva la vida! Long Live Life! and  Diego Bigger Than Life due to the subject and style. This book also reminded me Peter Sís’s The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain due to its nonfiction, informative style.