Genre 6: Fantasy Series

Bibliography

Colfer, Eion. 2002. Artemis Fowl the Arctic Incident. ISBN 078680855-1

Book Information

In Eoin Colfer's sequel, Artemis Fowl the Arctic Incident, readers who are keeping up with the series get another look at Artemis Fowl. Artemis Fowl's main mission in this installment is to rescue his father who is being held captive. Artemis finds himself seeking the help of his nemesis in the first book, Captain Holly, a leprechaun. He needs this fairy's help, but first has to get her trust by convincing her and others that he isn't as heartless as he seems. This is an ironic point of the book because Colfer has built Artemis' character as that of a criminal genius who is normally not remorseful.

The characters that are brought back from the first book of the series help make this high fantasy book filled with sleek technology and weapons enjoyable. Artemis is a rich, smart kid; Foaly heads the Fairy technology; Holly Short is the Captain of the L.E.P.; and Butler is Artemis' very loyal bodyguard. The characters are unique and have their faults, but when Colfer describes them in ways such as "the broad grin disappeared like a fox down a hole," we still are drawn to them. The story blends high tech "stuff" and magic with the quick mind of Artemis, which makes for a good combination. Although Artemis' family is known for being clever thieves, he is unapologetic about getting what he wants by any means. This flaw in Artemis' character still makes him likeable to reading audiences, mainly because he does the opposite of what is expected.

The fairy like underworld setting makes the book one that joins many of the magical, adventurous tales that are enjoyed by many young readers today. Most would agree that this book ranks up there with other Fantasy series like Harry Potter.

Review Excerpts

Book Magazine Best Book of the Year, 2002

Best Seller List:
1. Amazon.com
2. Booksense
3. Los Angeles Times
4. Notachain.com
5. USA Today

*Starred Review in Kirkus Reviews: "Filled with puns, word plays, and inventive new concepts about the fairy realm, this mix of fantasy and science fiction will delight fans and make converts of new readers."
*Starred Review in Publisher's Weekly: "...Colfer's finger is firmly on the pulse of his target market, and along with extra helpings of sly humor he delivers a cracking good read."

Connections

This is a good read to introduce some readers to the world of Fantasy that is currently very popular and to reacquaint others with it.

*Gather other books related to Science Fiction and Fantasy:
Lowry, Lois. The Giver. ISBN 9780440237686
L Engle, Madeline. A Wrinkle in Time. ISBN 9780440498056
Chabon, Michael. Summerland. ISBN 9780786816156

*Gather other books by Eoin Colfer:
Artemis Fowl Series
The Supernaturalist. ISBN 0786851481
The Legend of the Worst Boy in the World. ISBN 0786855061

Genre 6: Fiction

Bibliography


Patron, Susan. 2006. The Higher Power of Lucky. Ill. by Matt Phelan. ISBN 978-1-4169-0194-5.


Book Information

In the book, The Higher Power of Lucky, Susan Patron gives the readers the heartwarming story of Lucky. Lucky is a 10 year old girl who lives in a small, poor town in California. She is in the care of her gaurdian Brigitte, her father's first wife, because of the death of her mother. Many people think of Susan Patron as naturally a warm, sympathetic person. This could be why she was able to warmly tell us about the life of the young grieving girl Lucky who hasn't yet found her place in life. This is a sad story of a little girl lost, but the humor Patron offers helps the reader get past Lucky's sad situation. Lucky escapes into a windstorm and consequently gets her "higher power."

The book wasn't long and drawn out, but offered short chapters that young readers could remain engrossed in. This book was easy to follow and it's incomplicated plot was how Lucky wanted her life: meaningful. The brief chapters may also keep the reader curious as to what is going to happen in Lucky's life next. Furthermore, the characters Lincoln and Short Sammy have likeable traits that have helped Lucky keep her wits about her. When Lincoln, often called a special child, "drew two neat perfect dots" that was simply the puncuation mark (colon) Lucky said "Wow...that is...presidential." Lincoln blushed at her remark about his attempt at making a road sign to caution drivers. Lucky is encouraging her friend when she needs a boost of courage herself. It is instances like this that Patron's character Lucky wins the hearts of readers.

The illustrations are delicate and fit well with the book. Susan Patron has told an enjoyable story and Matt Phelan has kept the drawings simple, which is reflective of Lucky's life. It seems that the pictures were drawn lightly as to not overpower the delicate character of Lucky.

There is a lot of modesty in this book. Lucky lives in a small town, that isn't rich in it's surroundings. The book has short, easy to read chapters. Lucky isn't surrounded by many unmeaningful people. The black and white pictures are simple and not overdrawn. The author's style, or mode of expression, in making things in Lucky's life uncomplicated makes this an enjoyable read and definitely deserving of the John Newbery Award it has won.

Review Excerpts

John Newbery Medal, 2007

Americal Library Association Notable Books for Children, 2007

Focal Award, 2007

Kirkus Editor's Choice

*Starred Review in School Library Journal: "The novel addresses difficult topics such as death, absent parents and addiction with realism, humor, and wonder, making the overall message one of hope and love."

*Starred Review in Publisher's Weekly: "Patrons poignant Newbery-winning story about a girl who fears being abandoned by her legal guardian- and her only semblance of a family-sails along with believable childlike rhythms and kid's eye view observations.

Connections

This book is a good one to share with children about remaining hopeful even when we feel like all hope is gone.

*Gather books similar to The Higher Power of Lucky:

Wiesner, David. Flotsam. ISBN 0618194576

Selznick, Brian. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. ISBN 0439813786

*Gather other books by Susan Patron:

Lucky Breaks. ISBN 1-4169-3998-9

Maybe Yes, Maybe No, Maybe Maybe. ISBN 1-4169-6176-3 (not yet released)

Genre 6: Young Adult Books

Bibliography

Myers, Walter Dean. 1999. Monster. Ill. by Christopher Myers. ISBN 0-06-028078-6

Overview

In Walter Myer's book, Monster, readers are reminded of the theme that's present in many of this author's Y. A. books: violence. A store owner is shot and killed and the main character Steve, among others are on trial for the murder. Myers presented a story that is all too familiar in many black neighborhoods. We hear the story through the point of view of Steve and many times may think if he is truly aware of what may be his fate. Many of the answers he gave while on trial were just simple "yes" or "no." Steve says "Its funny, but when I'm sitting in the courtroom, I don't feel like I'm involved in the case. Its like the lawyers and the judge and everybody are doing a job that involves me, but I don't have a role." Steve's subjective point of view keeps readers in suspense because even they may start to question if Steve was truly involved in the killing of the store owner.

Myers was able to tell the story of Monster so realistically because he has said in many interviews that the life of Steve is how life was for him and many blacks growing up in his community. The life of violence that Steve experienced is an example of how gender and culture are too often reflected among Black males today. The author also presents characters who we can both sympathize with and ones we have no pity for. Are the boys on trial victims of their society, are they boys who should be given another chance, or are they boys who committed horrible acts that should be punished severely?

The style in which Myers wrote Monster makes the book even more relatable. The story not only reminds us of the harsh realities some people face everyday, but the font type used made Steve's story reach out from the pages. The large script and font size made the story easy to follow. Most of the black and white photos were non-expressive and were merely honest depictions of prison life. The book jacket, although somewhat colorful, with the unsmiling, unapologetic mug shot on it, was the first indication that the reader may literally be reading about a "monster."

Monster is a book that has won several awards and recognitions and many will agree that this realistic story will be remembered by many who read it. especially young adult readers.

Review Excerpts

Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year, 1999
Michael L. Printz Award, 2000
Coretta Scott King Honor
Natioinal Book Award, Nominated in 2000

*Starred Review in Booklist: "The tense drama of the courtroom scenes will enthrall readers, but it is the thorny moral questions raised in Steve's journal that will endure in readers memories."
*Starred Review in School Library Journal: "Many elements of this story are familiar, but Myers keeps it fresh nd alive by telling it from an unusual perspective."

Connections

This is a good book to share with Y. A. readers because it is true to life. It's also a good choice for suspense and mystery lovers.

*Gather other books Y. A. readers may relate to after reading Monster:
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. ISBN 0060935464
Gaines, Ernest. A Lesson Before Dying. ISBN 185242723X

*Gather other Michael Dean Myers' books:
Slam. ISBN 0545055741
Scorpions. ISBN 0064406237
Somewhere in the Darkness. ISBN 0545055776

*Further Connections

Readers may find this interview with Michael Dean Myers interesting:

www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/myersw

Genre 5: Historical Novels

Bibliography

Kadohata, Cynthia. 2004. Kira-Kira. ISBN 0-689-85639-3

Chapter 1 Excerpt

“My sister, Lynn, taught me my first word: kira-kira. I pronounced it ka-a-ahhh, but she knew what I meant. Kira-kira means "glittering" in Japanese. Lynn told me that when I was a baby, she used to take me onto our empty road at night, where we would lie on our backs and look at the stars while she said over and over, "Katie, say 'kira-kira, kira-kira.'" I loved that word! When I grew older, I used kira-kira to describe everything I liked: the beautiful blue sky; puppies; kittens; butterflies; colored Kleenex.”


Plot Summary

Cynthia Kadohata's book, Kira-Kira, details the life of Japanese Americans Katie Takeshima, her sister Lynn, and their family. They originate in Iowa, but have to move to Georgia where there is more work for her parents to get so that they can better take care of the family. This move was not easy for the family and adjusting to their new life down South was even harder. Deep down they know that they are immigrants, but to have people openly express their prejudice against this family's Japanese heritage was very hard on everyone. Katie and Lynn share a very close bond, which ultimately helped them to cope with their new life. Lynn was the older of the 2 sisters and she had a vivid imagination. Her enthusiasmn and magical way of looking at the world was Katie's strength. Lynn taught Katie that even in the midst of hard times, she should look at every situation as "kira-kira," which means "glittering" in Japanese. While inspiring her younger sister Katie, Lynn develops lymphoma and subsequently dies. Of course this is heartbreaking to Katie and her family, but she must be of support to her remaining family. It is the "kira-kira" ideal that Katie holds onto that helps her to get through life with undieing hope.

Critical Analysis

Kira-Kira is Cynthia's Kadohata's first book written for middle school age and older readers. This story is told in first person and the reader can almost see through the eyes of Katie. The author allows the story to flow easily and the first person voice takes us on a sad, yet often times humorous journey with this family. From the first page of the book where Lynn teaches a young Katie that "kira-kira" was a Japanese word meaning "glittering" , which Katie pronounced incorrectly at first: "I pronounced it ka-a-ahhh" to the last page where Katie said "I could still hear her dead sister's voice in the waves: Kira-kira! Kira-kira!" Kadohata's deep sentiment for the characters are evident. She also made the simple things we take for granted seem important and necessary for our existence and happiness. In a school essay that Katie wrote after Lynn's death, she said that "Lynn could take a simple, everyday object like a box of Kleenex and use it to prove how amazing the world is." One can't help but smile when a sister tells her baby sister that tissue glitters "just to make it feel better!" "Kira-kira" definitely keeps us hopeful and reminds us of how we should enjoy life while we have the chance. This Newbery Award winning book will remain with readers for years to come.

Style

In the narration of Kira-kira, Japanese words appear throughout. These words are probably foreign to many readers, but the author included English translations. We got the meaning of Katie's brother middle name. His name is Samson Ichiro Takeshima. "His middle name means 'first son'." The dialect of the southerners was also prevelant in this book. People talked and sounded differently than what Katie and her family were use to. When describing how the people down South spoke, Katie said, "they talked like their mouths were full of rubber bands." As in Kadohata's books, examples of dialect are seen in many historical books. Moreover, this book probably appeals to many ethnic readers since it is sensitive to their cultures. But on the other hand, like in many of her other books, Kadohata writes about topics that may be of more interest to adult readers. For example, we learn about how workers are often times mistreated in factories and how they try to fight for better working conditions by joining unions. Katie mentioned that her "mother and father sometimes talked in low voices about the attempts to unionize the plant." Young readers may not be drawn to grown-up type talk in the books they are reading.

Theme

Kadohata doesn't shy away from talking about racial issues in her books. Actually, many of her books talk about the plight of Japanese Americans and how they are victims of racism. On their journey down South, Katie's family stops at a motel and they see first hand how ethnic people are treated. While they are waiting to check into a room, the motel clerk tells the family, "Indians stay in the back rooms." Katie responded, "We're not Indian." The clerk responded by saying, "Mexican's too." There are also examples of racism towards other races in this book and Katie's family sees this as well. While in some restaurants, people would stare at them as they stared at the "signs that said things like COLORED IN THE BACK." The author also weaves illness and loss into her story of Kira-kira. To Katie, Lynn symbolized strength because she was able to always see the good in everything and this seemed to help keep the family together. Even though Lynn's death was inevitable, Katie felt really bad because she was not by her side like her sister was always on hers. "That cut hard into me...I could not imagine what dying must have felt like for her. I had no idea whether it mattered or not to her that she had been alone at the exact moment she died. But I thought maybe it did matter."


Review Excerpts

John Newbery Medal, 2005
Asian Pacific American Award for Literature, 2005
ALA Top Ten Book
Booklist Editor's Choice
Childrens Literature Choice

Starred review in Booklist: "Kadohata stays true to the child's viewpoint in plain beautiful prose that can barely contain the passionate feelings...The quiet words will speak to the readers who have lost someone they love- or fear that they could."
Starred review in Publisher's Weekly: "The family's devotion to one another, and one sister's ability to teach her younger sister to appreciate the "kira-kira", or glittering, in everyday life make this novel shine."

Connections

This is an excellent book to teach children abouth the importance of family ties. It's also a good choice for further helping students understand the Japanese culture.

*Gather other books by Cynthia Kadohata:
Weedflower. ISBN 978-0-689-86574-9
The Floating World. ISBN 0345381629

*Further Reading
Garland, Sherry. Shadows of the Dragon. ISBN. 0152735321
Lee, Marie. Finding My Voice. ISBN 0606243577
Brown Diggs, Nancy. Steel Butterflies. ISBN 0791436241

*Activities/Assignments related to Kira-kira:

1. Students can keep a diary for a week chronicling their life by freely expressing their thoughts, ideas, and opinions about the people and things around them.

2. Students can research and compare different ethnic group's participation in unions during the 1950's. They can also give their personal feedback on whether or not they would join a union as Katie's mom did by explaining why or why not.

Genre 5: Historical Fiction

Bibliography

Fleischman, Sid. 1986. The Whipping Boy. Ill by Peter Sis. ISBN 0-688-06216-4

Plot Summary

Sid Fleischman's book, The Whipping Boy, is a tale of two boys, Jemmy and Prince Brat. Jemmy is a commoner who has been taken from the streets in order to take the whippings for Prince Brat. The bratty Prince is very mischevious and Jemmy finds himself constantly taking the punishment for Prince Brat because he is always in trouble. Another reason Jemmy has to take the whippings instead of the prince is because it is against customs that royalty is physically disciplined. Despite being adversaries, both boys realize that the other could be the key to them escaping the castle, even if Prince Brat presented the escape plan as an order to Jemmy. They runaway, however their journey isn't without danger. The boys quickly face two kidnappers who want a ransom for the return of the prince. Although the prince has been nothing but cruel to him, Jemmy tries to switch identities with the brat so that the prince would be able to safely return to the castle. Surprisingly, Prince Brat refuses to go back and Jemmy decides to try and escape the kidnappers. With no where else to go, the prince follows the whipping boy and they end up at a fair. Unfortunately, they are face to face with the kidnappers again. To get away from the kidnappers, Hold-Your Nose Billy and Cutwatter, the boys find refuge in the sewers that were once the dark, dirty place where Jemmy was a rat catcher. Because he is familiar with the infested sewers, Jemmy tricks the kidnappers into going in the tunnels that were filled with deadly rats. It is then that Jemmy and Prince are able to get away. When they return to the castle, their roles have changed. Yes the prince is still the prince, but he is no longer the bratty Prince and what's even better, Jemmy is no longer the whipping boy.

Critical Analysis

Sid Fleischman makes this book a fun, suspenseful story. It is likely to keep the reader's attention because it is adventurous and humorous, 2 characteristics that readers appreciate in books today. When Jemmy says "Gaw! What's the prince done now?" many readers may think back to the days when they are summoned by their parents because of their wrongdoings. Some readers may also choose to live vicariously through Jemmy and Prince Brat. First, many children vividly imagine life away from home and doing only things that they want to do. Second, Jemmy may have been the whipping boy in the beginning of the book, but he saves Prince Brat and is looked up to in the end. "Prince Horace has caused enough mischief to wear out the hides of a dozen whipping boys. He tells me it's thanks to you that he's back, sound and safe. The king thanks you!" So children can live in the dream world of Jemmy and the prince and be a hero too. At this point, both Jemmy and the reader can have a sigh of relief. The author offered comic relief throughout the book and one of the most memorable example of his funny lines is when the king said, "One more thing! If you boys decided to run away again, take me with you!" The boy's escape, have a twisting and turning adventure, and return home seemed very appealing to the king and definitely to the readers of The Whipping Boy. This book clearly earned the Newbery Award in 1987.

Theme

People's position in society often defines who they are to the outside world. In The Whipping Boy, we read about the theme of power and the lack thereof. Jemmy is the son of a rat catcher who lives in poverty and endures beatings for Prince Brat and the prince lives in royalty and is never punished for his wrongdoings. However, Jemmy's social class does not stop him from exhibiting power even when Prince Brat tells him to "Yelp and bellow next time. Hear? Or I'll tell Papa to give you back your rags and kick you back into the streets." These words were spit at Jemmy because he did not cry after being whipped. This is an example of how the underprivileged is sometimes treated by the upper class. Jemmy endured this wrath for a year but the author describes Jemmy as being of better character because "The whipping boy learned to read, write, and do sums, and the prince learned nothing."

Characters

There were many notable characters in the book, but I think the 2 highway men were among the better ones. When describing the 2 villains, Hold Your Nose Billy and Cutwater, Fleischman's good use of simile lets the reader know that these two will literally be characters. He says that Billy is "big and raw as a skinned ox," and Cutwater's "cheek swelled out as if he had a monstrous toothache." The mental images of these 2 characters allow us to see the sillyness and outrageousness that are seen in many whimsical books such as this one. Furthermore, villains are usually portrayed as clever and capable of outsmarting their victims. However, in The Whipping Boy, the author shows us that reader's assumptions can prove to be ironic to what will truly occur. Billy told Jemmy to write in the ransom note that he and Cutwater were "shameful, mean and rough as a sackful of nails. Warn him we fear no gallows." This highway man was saying these supposedly scarey words not even realizing that he and his partner had been tricked into thinking that Jemmy was actually the prince. These bad guys turn out to be 2 dumb, empty headed "wanna-be" scoundrels.

The illustrations by Peter Sis offer the reader a black and white account of the happenings in the story. There aren't very many pictures in the book, but the ones presented give a good description of the characters and their surroundings. One may agree that the most vivid picture is the one of Hold Your Nose Billy and Cutwater running through the sewer while rats are eating them alive. This gross depiction is enough to make the reader's skin crawl! Both Hold Your Nose Billy and Cutwater went flying through the tunnel yelling, "I'm bit! I'm bit!...Help!" The prince also found this funny and said that, "They look like they're wearing fur coats."

Review Excerpts

John Newbery Award, 1987
Notable Book, Americal Library Association
Best Books, School Library Journal

Starred review in Publisher's Weekly: "With his flair for persuading the reader to believe in the ridiculous, Fleischman scores a hit with his new creation."
Starred review in School Library Journal: "Full page black-and-white illustrations somewhat grotesque but always complementary add attractiveness to the story."

Connections

This book is good to share with students who enjoy whimisical tales. It is also a good example to encourage students to use their imaginations.

*Gather other whimsical stories:
Brittain, Bill. The Wish Giver. ISBN 9780064401685
Fleischman, Sid. The Midnight Horse. ISBN 9780440406143

*Further Reading:
Twain, Mark. The Prince and the Pauper. ISBN

*Additional activities/assignments for students in reference to The Whipping Boy:

1. Compare Jemmy back then to that of what a run-away boy would be like on the streets today.

2. Give examples of humor in this story. Why do you think these lines are humorous?

3. After reading this book, what do you think the author's opinion of "social class" is?

Genre 5: Scott O'Dell Award Winning Book

Bibliography

Taylor, Mildred D. 1986. The Land. ISBN 0-8037-1950-7

Plot Summary

In Mildred Taylor's book, The Land, the reader learns about the life of Paul Edward Logan. Paul Edward is a mixed race child of a Black and Native American slave woman and a White landowner. Set during Reconstruction, this story occurs amid widespread racial disparity. Paul really doesn't know how to identify himself and he struggles with this throughout his life. He is called a white man's "colored son" and blacks accuse him of "thinking that he is better than they are." Despite this personal conflict, Paul Edward is somewhat comforted because he is taken in by his white father and half brother Robert. Paul's father teaches him to read and makes certain that he knows a trade which will help him to someday be a landowner. He is closer to his father than he is to Robert because, when it suits him, Robert shows prejudice toward Paul. His father does too, especially when company is over or when in front of other whites, but to the elder it's not blatant mistreatment because other blacks are treated far worse than Paul is. Another important character in the book is Mitchell, who becomes Paul's friend although the bond wasn't immediate. Mitchell bullys Paul relentlessly about his white appearance, but the boys eventually form a friendship that carried them from childhood to adulthood. Even though their start was rocky, Paul and Mitchell grew to depend on each other in order to survive. Moreover, it is Paul's experience as being apart of a mixed heritage that helped him to survive the brutal times of racism and the loss of his dear friend Mitchell. Paul endured many hard times and disappointments along the way, but he beat the odds for blacks during his time and became a
landowner.

Critical Analysis

The Land starts off very slowly, but Paul's narration of his life soon picks up the pace. By the book starting slowly, perhpas the author intends for the reader to get a good feel of the way of life for Blacks after the Civil War. Taylor's use of dialect and Paul's passiveness to racial prejudices are 2 excellent examples of how things were during this time. For the most part, Paul accepts life as it is and rarely puts up a fight even when he is bullied by Mitchell in the beginning of the story. Paul said "I was reading beside a creek on my daddy's land, and Mitchell came up from behind and just whopped me on the head. For no reason...What ya do that for?" Mitchell' simple rejoinder was " Felt like it...Ya wanna do somethin' bout it?" The protagonist Paul Edward is faced with inner struggles and his determination to overcome racial biases and to someday own his own land are the main conflicts in the story. Although he was treated better than most Blacks, Paul's father constantly reminded him that other Whites didn't care who he was or who he belonged to, and that owning land would not be easy for a Black man. It was a long journey for Paul Edward to get to the point where he would be able to buy 200 acres of land. Before this was possible, he had to lose his best friend Mitchell, who was killed by a White man, and he had to be reacqainted with his half brother Robert. Robert is the one who brought him the remaining money he needed to make the land purchase, something he would not have been able to do since Mitchell died. It was ironic that the money didn't come from Paul Edward's White family, but from his Black family who he became estranged from growing up. In this situation, the author describes how many times the one's we try to stay away from are the ones we have to eventually go back to for help.

Stlye

Many of Taylor's books are reminiscent of how life was in the South. Since many of her books are about racism, many people feel that she focuses too much of her literary worth on racial issues. She has been questioned about this and her choice of always using the "n" word in her books and Taylor, "staunchly stands by her stories and her choice of language. She simply affirms that the incidents she describes are based on fact and that the painful language she uses reflects a painful and shameful part of American history that should not be glossed over." This book isn't a good choice for anyone who is sensitive to the "n" word.

Other Literary Elements at a glance:

Symbol: Land- In this book, there is constant talk about owning land. To Paul, this symbolizes strength. He figures that if he becomes a landowner, he will be treated as an equal in society.

Motif: Loyalty- Even when mistreated, Paul remains loyal to those around him. For example, Paul takes Mitchell's punishment when he rode Ghost Wind. Furthermore, Mitchell shows his loyalty to Paul toward the end of the book when he helps to work land that Paul wants ownership of.

Review Excerpts

Coretta Scott King Award, 2002
William Allen White Children's Book Award, Nominated in 2004

Starred Review in Publisher's Weekly: "Taylor's gift for combining history and storytelling is as evident here as is in her other stories about the Logan family."
Starred Review in Voice of Youth Advocates: "Although this book will be a welcome addition to many middle and junior high school libraries, the fascinating, free-flowing tale will be received warmly by readers of all ages."

Connections

This book can be shared with children to help them better understand the Reconstruction era and to help them understand the Black experience of mixed raced children during this time.

*Gather another book about father/son relationships:
Curtis, Christopher P. Bud, Not Buddy. ISBN 0553494104

*Gather other books by Mildred Taylor that discuss racial injustice:
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. ISBN 9780140384512
Mississippi Bridge. ISBN 9780553159929

*Critical Thinking exercises for students based on The Land:

1. Do you think land ownership is as important now as it was during Paul's time? Give details of why or why not.

2. Compare the settings of the plantation Paul lived on as a boy and the land that he later purchased in Mississippi.

3. What aspect(s) of the book would change if it wasn't set during Reconstruction in the South?

Genre 4: Nonfiction Books

Bibliography

Jenkins, Steve. 1997. What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You? Ill. by Steve Jenkins. ISBN 0-395-82514-8

Plot Summary

Just as humans want to be protected from danger, nature allows animals to defend themselves against harm too. In Steven Jenkin's book, What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You?, we learn about the skillfull and sometimes unusual ways animals protect themselves from harm. Whether it's spitting poisonous venom at the would be predator or rolling up into a ball to act as if dead, the anti-attack methods described by Jenkins gives us ensight on some creatures that may be unfamiliar to us.

Critical Analysis

Although some of the animals in this book are unheard of by most readers, Jenkins keeps the reader interested with his simple, yet detailed descriptions. When we get particulars of the "Jesus Christ lizard," we can't help but want to keep turning the page. The author describes this heavenly creature by saying "it can escape its enemies by running accross the surface of ponds and streams, using it's large feet and great speed to keep from sinking into the water." This example of anthropomorphism helps us to remain captivated about the animals that live among us, be it near or far. Furthermore, the animals may seem mammoth in size or dangerous, but Jenkins' diction throughout the book is child-friendly. Even the puffer-fish who "takes in water and swells up like a prickly balloon..." seems harmless.

Jenkins' illustrations are like few others seen in children's books. The pictures that we see of animals are actually of cut paper that has been shaped into animal forms. The details are very involved and the colors are placed on the animals in just the right places. What's even more interesting is that the pictures seem to be raised off of the pages. One may even have to convince themself that the pictures aren't by actually running their fingers across these realistic looking figures. The life like pictures will probably attract exotic animal lovers.

Review Excerpts

Booklists Editor's Choice 1998

The Best Children's Book of the Year 1998

Outstanding Science Trade Book for 1998

Starred Review in Kirkus Reviews: "Jenkins cleverly conceals a factual compendium of 14 animal and insect defenses as a colorful picture book."

Starred Review in Booklists: "Even as kids shudder at the bared teeth of the predator, they will identify with the trickster who gets away."

Connections

This book is a good choice to introduce children to many of the animals they may not be familiar with. A good contribution to a science class as well.

*Gather other books illustrated by Steve Jenkins:

Dogs and Cats. ISBN 978-0618507672

Almost Gone. ISBN 0060535989

*Gather other children books about animal defenses:

Lovett, Sarah. Extremely Weird Animal Defenses. ISBN 1562613588

Kaner, Etta. Animal Defenses: How Animals Protect Themselves. ISBN 1550744194