AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND: FOLK POETRY FROM EVERYONE

REVIEW

1.BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Schwartz, Alvin. 1992. AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND: FOLK POETRY FROM EVERYONE. Ill by Sue Truesdell. U.S.A.: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN: 0060227575.

2.PLOT SUMMARY

Older readers are most likely to remember some of the poetry, riddles, rhymes and taunts from familiar folklore, and written by topic in, AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND. The creative Alvin Schwartz organizes his work by topics ranging from People, Food, School, Wishes—and Warnings, Riddles, A Tree, and more. Older readers will remember many of the street rhymes from their own childhood like jump rope games, taunts, and songs. Most children in public schools probably do not know any of the items in this golden selection. The collection is also diverse in that it offers short poems and long poems such as “On top of spaghetti, All covered with cheese, I lost my poor meatball, When somebody sneezed.” The caricature like drawings pulls the collection together. In addition to organizing his work by topic, Alvin Schwartz, treats the readers to a section of useful resources, notes, and abbreviations.

3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS

While this collection will be known to some adults, the majority of children in public schools will not be familiar with these rhymes. Despite that, this great collection will appeal to most because of the variety of themes like, “Row, row, row your boat Gently down the stream, Throw your teacher overboard And you will year her scream.”) Children will definitely enjoy most of the silly rhymes and riddles because they are easy to remember due to the playful language. Alvin Schwartz and Sue Truesdell collection is impressive because of the text, jingles, and Shel Silverstein’s look alike illustrations that create a composition where everything is put together to elicit feelings of joy in the reader.

4.EXCERPTS

School Library Journal: “A marvelous book that is sure to become a classic.”

CONNECTIONS
An opportunity to explore and encourage poetry on an accessible and often hilarious level with younger children to develop language and reading.

Just in Case: A trickster Tale and Spanish alphabet book

REVIEW

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY: April 05, 2009: Morales, Y. (2008). Just in Case: A trickster Tale and Spanish alphabet book. New York: Roaring Brook Press. 1596433299

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Yuyi Morales work in the Spanish Alphabet book JUST IN CASE takes us into traditional folktale cultural literature for the celebrations of the “Day of the Dead.” The story begins in the Ghost Senor Calvera’s house. The ghost is meticulously getting ready by wearing a fedora hat and stripped tie to celebrate Grandma Beetle’s Birthday. As he is riding along in the night Senor Calvera is stopped by Zelmiro the Ghost who admonishes him for not taking a present to Grandma Beettle. But, instead of one gift, Senor Calvera wants to take a present that begins with each letter of the Spanish alphabet to make sure he gives something to Grandma that she will like. It is exhausting to see the illustrations of Senor Calvera trying to find the gifts to match with each letter of the alphabet. He begins with “Una Acordéon: An accordion for her to dance to. Bigotes: A mustache because she has none. Cosquillas: Tickles to make her laugh”. In the end, Grandma Beetle gets her best present, and that is to be surrounded by people she loves.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Yuyi Morales’ bright rich colors appeal to the eye because of the thin line drawn illustrations add space and balance to the pages in this trickster tale to grab the reader’s attention. This traditional folktale trickster Spanish alphabet story is cultural relevant with the lively and outgoing ghost characters to entertain children and adults on the “Day of the Dead” celebration. It also includes a dictionary with pictures on the first page as the as the reader opens the book and on the last page.

4. EXCERPTS

—Reforma “A perfect read aloud picture book for a birthday party celebration, grandmother’s day, el dia de los muertos or any time of the year. Highly recommended.”

CONNECTIONS
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Dave McKean

LS 5603 Traditional Folktale Genre Lidia Bissell- BUBBA THE COWBOY PRINCE: A FRACTURED TEXAS TALE

REVIEW

1. BIBLIOGROPHY: Ketteman, Helen. 1997. BUBBA THE COWBOY PRINCE: A FRACTURED TEXAS TALE. Ill. by James Warhola. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0590255061.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

This fractured Cinderella story featuring a cowboy prince in the hot and dried Texas ranch where he is bossed around and mistreated by his stepbrothers Milton and Dwayne. Warhola is so creative and magical to portray a cow as a “fairy godcow” to take Bubba to the ball given by a rich lady rancher with a full head of tall blonde hair, and fingers glowing with jewels. Miz Laurleen owns ``the biggest spread west of the Brazos'' and is lonely. She wants a true cowboy to help her tend to the ranch. This fractured Cinderella is hilarious and full of surprises; it has this funny Texas colloquial speech that keeps the reader laughing, especially, when Laurleen mentions that she is looking for a cowboy “…cute as a cow’s ear.” As the magic continues, blonde hair Miz Laurleen dressed in cowgirl attire chooses Bubba to dance with while the rest of the cowboys try to figure out who the cowboy is and the magic runs out, Bubba has to run away from the ball. As most Cinderella’s stories, Miz Laurleen tracks Bubba down and they take off riding in to the Texas sunset leaving the Step dad, Wayne and Milton behind.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The modern fractured Cinderella folktale is Texan, entertaining, with cartoon like characters dressed as cowboys, and a rich Texan female. The dry setting and ranch full of chores compliment the text that keeps the reader wondering about the next surprise. Keeteman and Warhola’s fractured tall tale brings out modern times to portray women as independent and in charge of their own affairs. This Cinderella story with a Texas flavor is a delight.

4. EXCERPTS

School Library Journal
This is a fun-filled story with more hyperbole than a Christmas turkey has stuffing.

CONNECTIONS:

Comparing and contrasting versions of Cinderella can be an informative excursion into literature and culture.

Traditional Folktale Fractured Cinderella

REVIEW

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Boston Weatherford, Carole. MOSES 2006. Ill. Nelson Kadir. New York, New York. ISBN: 0-7868-5175-9

2. PLOT SUMMARY
The children’s picture book MOSES won a distinguished Honor in the Caldecott for illustrations and the Coretta King Award for African American Literature. This historical fiction book appeals to young and adult readers to learn about slavery, survival theme of faith, resilience, and perseverance to help others.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The text and the illustrations in the book MOSES complement each other. Harriet is in an ongoing conversation with God and when God answers, the letters are all caps. Most of the illustrations here are darker when the character is in most danger alone and later going back to the south to rescue slaves. The illustrator’s picture of Harriet show a physically strong woman in body and the text complements her strong soul full of faith and commitment to help others.

4. EXCERPTS
From School Library JournalStarred Review.” Tubman's religious faith drives this handsome, poetic account of her escape to freedom”

5. CONNECTIONS
Coles, Robert. 1995. THE STORY OF RUBY Ill. Ford George. Scholastic Press. ISBN: 0590572814

Book Review

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Cummings, Pat. 1992. TALKING WITH ARTISTS. New York, NY: Bradbury Press. ISBN-10: 0027242455; ISBN-13: 978-0027242454.

PLOT SUMMARY

2.This is a book that sheds light on children books illustrators, illustrating techniques, usage of color, and types of paints they use ranging from pastel water colors to oil paints. A common element to be found in this book is that these illustrators began painting at a very young age about themes from their environment and now often placing people close to them as the characters in the story. This is an inspiring book that encourages children to young children who enjoy drawing to continue this to improve their drawing skills. This collection of artists sharing things about their life and their job is an eye opener to educators to be cognizant of children’s drawing abilities and the different types of illustrating or drawing artists they can become.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

3. This book brings the readers close to the illustrators by bringing them into their world and illustrating career. The readers feel engaged with each one of these artists who share about how they knew at a very young age before fifth grade that they wanted to become illustrators. Their environment played a great deal of influence in their career because most of them had the freedom to use everyday objects found at home to draw or make collages without anyone bothering their area. The illustrators share their daily routine and describe their open space environment with plenty of windows.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Boston Globe: Horn Book Award
BOOKLIST
“A special treat for budding artists and wonderful for teachers.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
“Full insight and inspiration, this is an entertaining resource that young people, teachers and librarians will enjoy.”

CONNECTIONS

Carle, Eric. 1981. THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR. Philomel. ISBN:- 0399208534

PICTURE BOOK

REVIEW

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Swanson, Susan Marie. 2009. THE HOUSE IN THE NIGHT. Ill. by Krommes Beth.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2008: ISBN-13:978 0 618 86244 3 ISBN-10: 0 618 86244 7

1. PLOT SUMMARY

THE HOUSE IN THE NIGHT rhyme and repetitive words is pleasant to the ear and mind by immersing the reader into this wonderful story. The plot is a sequential order that is a cyclical story beginning with how a child receives a key and goes through the process of getting ready for bed where a book is waiting to be read by the child and the bird in the book takes him through and adventure of flying and watching the night unfold including the moon as it reflects light from the sun to keep light at night until morning comes.

2. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

THE HOUSE IN THE NIGHT deals on how people relax and enjoy reading by having a powerful story that immerses the reader into the book’s pleasant journey. This Caldecott winner book has universal implications because it starts at home and connects it to passing of time at night.

The majority of this book is illustrated in black and white with some burnt yellow text that brings light to the setting in this cyclical story that begins at night showing the color of the sun burnt yellow and about half way set, working itself to night, and eventually back to morning till full sunlight appears.

Despite the darkness of night in the town, the scratched board illustrator’s method, adds texture, tapestry, and brings light to the pages.

3. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Children’s Literature
"This old-fashioned story structure is pictured in scratch board with touches of yellow watercolor to create light."
School Library Journal
"A journey both humble and epic begins with a key to a house."

CONNECTIONS
Wanda Gag, 2006 MILLIONS OF CATS. Puffin ISBN:10: 0142407089 ISBN-13: 978014240708