Shawn's comments (member since Jan 29, 2009)

Shawn's comments from the Spring 09 LLED, Altoona group.

Mr. T. DiTerlizzi,
P.O. Box 442
Amherst, MA, 01004-0442

Dear Mr. DiTerlizzi,
I am a Penn State University student at the Altoona Campus. I am currently enrolled in the Elementary Education major and am taking the Language and Literacy Education section. As part of a class project, we were to find a children’s book for each member of our class. We were doing this because the class is doing individual nominations of a book that best fits the criteria.
The criteria I have chose is one of unknown creatures that people have been trying to find for many years. I named the award “Is That Elvis” because for many years, even after his death, people still claim to see Elvis in the most unique places. I have focused on creature that people have claimed to see but still have no proof.
These creatures would include animals such as the “bigfoot”, “Loch Ness Monster” and the like. Your book Arthur Spickerwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You fits this criterion well and I have chosen it as the best example for the recipient of the “Is That Elvis” award. Fletcher says that “When a writer explores the terrain of the physical, we help readers enter more fully into the field of our characters.” (Fletcher, pg. 57). This is true for unknown creatures because the animals in this book show human qualities. These qualities help the reader relate more to the characters and become more engrossed in the book.
This book is particularly worthy because of the nature of the creatures involved and the wonderful explanations of each. I applaud your work and thank you for such an interesting and enjoyable book. I have witnessed many different people of all ages and races enjoying your book. My niece has her own copy and constantly asks me to take her for walks so she may search for tolls, goblins, and the like.

Respectfully,

Shawn M. Cunningham

I nominate "Seven Blind Mice" by Ed Young.

This is a retelling of the Indian tale where seven blind men argue over what an elephant is after they each feel a different part. In this story, the men are portrayed by blind mice. Each mouse has a different story of what it is by only feeling one part of the animal.

I think the moral in this book would be to make sure you make an informed decision. You should not be quick to judge or make an assumption based on only part of what you know.

I nominate “What the No-Good Baby is Good for” by Elise Broach.

This book is about an only child whose mother has recently had a baby. The older sibling tells his mother that the young addition must go and decides to pack a suitcase for the little child.
While packing, the boy realizes that he likes his new sister and decides she should stay.

I nominate “I knew two who said moo: a counting and rhyming book" by Judy Barrett.

Although this book does not invent its own funderful langauage. It gives young children a good basis to rhyme words from and how different words can rhyme, but not be spelled the same. For example: the book rhymes, tea, tree, and macaroni with the number three.

I feel this book would serve as an example to show children rhyming words can be in different spellings and would let them see the different ways to rhyme words.

I nominate “Hard Hit” by Ann Turner.

This book tells of the a high school athlete who is at the top of the world, as far as high school goes, but is devastated to find out his father has cancer.

This books helps deal with the emotional and physical strains of dealing with cancer. This book uses poetry to help deal with the loss of a loved one.

I nominate "There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly" by Pam Adams.

This book rhymes each animal the lady swallows with rhyming words. All throughout the story, the little old lady keeps swallowing larger and larger animals to catch the smaller allowing the children to keep the story humorous.

I nominate "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville.

In the book, the character Starbuck cannot find a room to sleep in one night. The innkeeper says to Starbuck that he may sleep in a room with a native of the Pacific Islands. During the middle of the night, Queequeg comes in and tries to argue with Starbuck whose room it is. And threatens to kill Starbuck. After the innkeeper explains Starbuck's position, Queequeg befriends Starbuck and helps him to get a better position on a whaling ship.

Although this book is more of a book about Captain Ahab's revenge, Queequeg and Starbuck form a friendship that helps to benefit each other.

I nominate “Planet Patrol: A Kids’ Action Guide to Earth Care” by Marybeth Loriecki with illustrations by Nancy Meyers.

This book tells of how the animals and the environment are all connected. The book is broken down into sections of “wildlife watch, eco challenges, and daily defense. It tells you the different varieties of animals in each ecosystem, what can be done with the animals and how we can help preserve the Earth. This book is also filled with “action tips” that help you to have a better understanding with nature and how you can do your part to keep the planet clean.

This book would be more towards a transitional reader. It des not use large words, but the pages are broken into heading with categories scattered throughout the pages.

I nominate FLIGHT: The Story of Virgil Richardson. A Tuskegee Airman In Mexico. By Ben Vinson III.

This book tells of Virgil, and how he struggled to be a pilot during a time that the armed forces were segregated. It tells of what he went through and how he trained to be a pilot in one of the most decorated fighter groups in WWII.

The book genre is for a fluent reader who enjoys reading biographical information about an interesting person and learning important facts at the same time.

I nominate Cooking Rocks! 30-Minute Meals for Kids by Rachael Ray. This is a traditional recipe book, with sections for different age groups and a special section that requires the help of gown-ups.

Some recipes include: Chicken Catch-a-tory Ravioli Stew, Thai Rice Bowl, Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna Roll-Ups.

Each recipe shows what you will need with easy instructions to follow. This book is useful for children just learning to start cooking or those who enjoy cooking short meals. The time limit is a good idea because it keeps a child's attention with the short time needed to prepare the recipe.

I would like to nominate “The Spider and the Fly” by Tony DiTerlizzi; based on the cautionary tale by Mary Howitt.

This book tells of how an innocent fly came visiting the spider one day and the spider used trickery and sly skills to get the fly into his house. Once there, the spider kept luring the innocent fly closer until the spider caught the fly and ate her for dinner.

This book has a great moral at the end. It says to beware of those who may try to trick and trap young people. Children should not trust strangers and always be aware of their surrounding. The abduction of a child is most certainly a news story and in issue that is still being dealt with today. I feel this book is a great book for younger children and they learn a very valuable lesson.

I nominate "The Way I Love You" by David Bedford and Ann James.

This book would be appropriate for early readers.

This book tells of the bond a little girl shares with her dog.

In this story, a little girl tells her pet dog how much she loves him. The illustrator shows how the little girl and the dog do all of these activities and play together by showing the kinds of activities along with the author giving a brief explanation of why the little girl loves her dog.

I nominate "Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden" by Jane Ray. This book is a retelling of the biblical story of Adam and Eve geared toward children grades K - 3. This book includes illustrations of the story so that the children can more easily follow.

This books tells of Even eating of the "forbidden fruit" and then gains the wisdom and knowledge that was hidden from them.

I nominate "Stuart Little" by E.B. White. For using personification by a mouse having human characteristics. Stuart is a member of the Little family and he is seen as a son and brother where he talks and shares in all other family activities.

Is that Elvis?! award: This award goes to the book that best shows the quality of a mythological or fictional creature. These qualities show or tell of a character that is seen or unseen.

Such creatures include, but are not limited to, unicorns, griffins, yeti, sasquatch, mummies, zombies, the loch ness monster and other characters that personify a creature that is seen or unseen.

About: This award is about the literary genre of books which include mythological creatures as the main character, protagonist or antagonist. Also, it may involve an idea that something is approaching and not seen.

For example: In the book Alia's Mission, the author talks of the war coming closer as if it is ready to devour the library. "Who am I kidding, the war is coming too fast! I don't have enough time!" This personifies a beast that is set on approaching and cannot be stopped. (like Godzilla!)

Requirements: This award has to include a mythological creature. This creature has to be one of the main focuses of the book and the central story must revolve around this character.

Recipients: The recipient of this award must have the book geared towards children who are transitional or fluent readers. The book must have a clear story line and must be easy to follow. The book should preferably include pictures which helps lead the story further and let's the children understand the book even if they do not read it.

*Post nominations by March 5.*