Mara’s Comments (group member since Aug 21, 2024)

Mara’s comments from the 5183 Fall 2024 Information Resources and Services for Children group.

A Light in the Attic


1. Silverstein, S. (1981). Reflection. In A Light in the Attic. poem, Harper & Row.

2. This poem talks about someone's perspective looking down at a puddle of water.

3. I would recommend this poem for a social-emotional lesson to teach students about perspective. The poem tells us about someone looking down and noticing someone else upside down in the puddle. Then, the person reflects on the fact that in another world, he might be the one who is upside down. This is a simple way to convey the idea that we situations differently based on where we are standing. Overall, most of Silverstein's poems are funny and silly, but many of them have a secret poignant message that is worth exploring.

Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie


1. Sonnenblick, J. (2005). Drums, girls, & dangerous pie . Scholastic Press.

2. Steven Alper is a 13-year-old boy confronted with all of the usual struggles of entering young adulthood. When his younger brother's cancer diagnosis gets thrown into the mix, he is forced to confront the reality that not everything is under his control.

3. This book accurately portrays the awkward discomfort of coming into your teenage years. Steven loves to play the drums and has a crush on a girl. His life, for all intents and purposes, is normal. Everything changes, however, when his younger brother is diagnosed with cancer. While not every family experiences this specific hardship, all young people have experiences at home that challenge their identity in the world. We see Steven frequently confronted with his goals of being young and normal and his need to show up for his family. I believe this story is realistic to the hardships that many students will face throughout their childhood without over-dramatizing or graphically depicting any of the realities of cancer that would be harder for a child to stomach.

The Lion of Mars


(This book was already previously added to the bookshelf)

1. Holm, J. L. (2022). The Lion of Mars. Yearling Book.

2. Bell is a part of a group of children growing up in an American colony on Mars. When things start to go wrong, Bell and his friends have to break some rules to save the colony.

3. This book takes place in the future on the planet Mars. Both the setting and the timeframe are critical parts of the story structure. Without the distance from Earth or being far in the future, most of the story would not be possible. The American colony is made up of people biologically unrelated to each other, but they represent a blended family unit that is often seen in today's society. We also see divisions amongst nations playing a large role in the story's conflict. The adults are adamant about staying separated from the other colonies, but the children don't understand. This is a mirror to today's society in which so many children learn bias from a young age. Overall, this book does a great job of modeling some of the issues in contemporary society without exerting a heavy hand. Readers are led to the feeling that there is strength in unity.

The BFG

1. Dahl, R. (1982). The BFG. Puffin Books.

2. BFG stands for Big Friendly Giant. A young girl befriends a giant and is taken to a magical world.

3. The BFG teaches children a lesson about choosing your own path and standing up for what is right. The BFG is a giant and, for all intents and purposes, should eat children. In spite of who he has been told to be, the BFG chooses to be kind to children. He collects good dreams to send to children and eats snozzcumber instead of people. All of this points to the fact that The BFG works hard to choose his own identity rather than being who everyone expects him to be. In this way, although the story isn't real, it contains truth that is powerful for children. We do not have to be who people tell us to be. We can choose kindness when no one else does.

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark

1. Levy, D. (2016). I dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg makes her mark. Simon & Schuster.

2. This book explores the interesting life of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

3. I knew that Ruth Bader Ginsberg was a Supreme Court Justice who dedicated her life to protecting the rights of the American people. I also knew that her voice in the Supreme Court had a heavy impact on the rights of women in our country. I wanted to know more about Ruth Bader Ginsberg's life before she became a Supreme Court Justice. I also wanted to know what challenges she faced to get there. When reading the book, I learned about Ruth's childhood, her family life, including her life with her husband and children, her life as a judge, and her impactful career.

My Father's Arms Are a Boat

1. Lunde, S. E., & Torseter, Ø. (2014). My father’s arms are a boat (K. Dickson, Trans.). Enchanted Lion.

2. A child and their father process the grief of losing their mother/wife through a long night. They grow closer by interacting with nature and having candid discussions of grief.

3A. While this book is originally written in Norwegian, the concepts of death and grief cross cultural and linguistic boundaries. The story "My Father's Arms Are a Boat" centers around a child unable to sleep after the loss of their mother. The father offers tender support for the child although he is grieving as well. They talk about the stars, the red birds, and the foxes. They process their loss together and give each other comfort. This story does an excellent job of mapping out the complexities of loss through the eyes of a child. The concept comes across in a way that is heart-felt and simple, making this translation valuable in any language.

It Could Always Be Worse: A Yiddish Folk Tale (Caldecott Honor Book)

1. Zemach, M. (1979). It could always be worse. Miller-Brody Productions.

2. This book centers around a man living in a small hut with his wife, his mother, and six children. He visits the rabbi many times to voice his frustrations and the rabbi gives him a lesson in the power of perspective.

3. "It Could Always Be Worse" would fall into category three for its source note. The source note is limited to a fine-print line on the title page stating "A Yiddish Folk Tale". Beyond that, no additional background is provided. The text stayed true to the source material in keeping the Rabbi as the wise figure, but that alone does not make the source blatant for children and families. It would be interesting for children to have the opportunity to know more about the origins of this story to develop their sense of understanding regarding folktales across cultures.

(I also read "The Egyptian Cinderella" and "Jouanah: The Hmong Cinderella" this week.)

Arthur Turns Green

1. Brown, M. (2011). Arthur Turns Green. Little, Brown.

2. Arthur works on a school project about protecting the planet. His little sister DW learns the true meaning of "going green".

3. The story “Arthur Turns Green” is a simple story meant to engage readers with the concept of environmentalism. The story is valuable to beginning readers because each page contains limited text and the pictures support the story to help with reading comprehension. It is also valuable because it is a part of a series with recognizable characters, making it easier for beginning readers to form connections between characters and traits. This story is funny and simple. The print is smaller than in a picture storybook, indicating that it is meant for children to read alone rather than having it read to them. Overall, this book meets the criteria for an easy-to-reading beginning reader book.

(I also read "Waiting is Not Easy!" by Mo Willems.)

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers

1. Gerstein, M. (2003). The man who walked between the Towers. Roaring Brook Press.

2. This Caldecott Award-winning book tells the story of Philippe Petit, a tightrope walker who snuck to the top of the Twin Towers in New York City and walked between them in 1974. This book honors the legacy of the World Trade Center that was later destroyed in an act of terrorism.

3. "The Man Who Walked Between The Towers" is an age-appropriate text to honor the remembrance of September 11th, 2001 without going into graphic detail. This story is written in simple but engaging language and contains pictures that capture the movement and emotion of the situation. Instead of focusing on the lives lost, this story honors the existence of the buildings themselves, discussing their beauty and the way they inspired Philippe. This playful anecdote is a story of bringing joy to the community and remembering the good in bad situations. I feel that this story reaches its intended goal because it can act as a meaningful conversation starter in classrooms about remembering the World Trade Center without spending a great deal of time on topics such as terrorism or death, which may be sensitive to young audiences. The art ties directly to this effort by capturing the beauty of the Towers and the intensity of both Philippe's walk and the change in the skyline after the Towers fell.

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga

1. Sorell, T., & Lessac, F. (2021). We are Grateful: Otsaliheliga. Charlesbridge.

2. We Are Grateful won the Odyssey Award in 2020, The American Indian Youth Literature Award (2020), and the Orbis Pictus Award in 2019.

3. The Cherokee People show gratitude for the world around them using the word Otsaliheliga. They show gratitude in every season for their successes, struggles, family, and the changing world around them.

4. I would recommend We Are Grateful- Otsaliheliga to students and families with an interest in Native American experiences and traditions. This story is deserving of its acclaim for its ability to draw all readers into a cultural experience that may or may not be their own. The story illustrates the importance of gratitude throughout the changes that happen around us. It includes words in the Cherokee language to help students build a bridge between the ideas of gratitude for what they understand and gratitude for what they do not yet understand. This book is a powerful social studies trade book to teach students about Native American culture and traditions. The colorful illustrations are captivating to young readers.

Holes

1, Sachar, L. (1998). Holes. Random House.

2. Holes won the John Newberry Medal (1999), The National Book Award for Young People's Literature (1998), and the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (2000).

3. Stanley Yelnats, a teenage boy with perpetual bad luck, finds himself wrongfully accused of a crime and sentenced to eighteen months at Camp Green Lake, a desert wasteland where young boys dig holes to build character. As Stanley digs, he learns about friendship, strength, and how to change his own story for the better.

4. Holes absolutely deserves the acclaim it received when it was written. This novel captures the power of rising above one's circumstances. It exemplifies the importance of self-motivation, friendship, and overcoming adversity. Sachar's youthful humor and descriptive storytelling create a clear picture for readers of Stanley's internal kindness and external struggle to fit the mould of a tough young boy. This story allows readers to see their own struggles mirrored in the life of Stanley Yelnats and empowers them to approach hardship with kindness. I would absolutely recommend this book to upper elementary students and adults. The story content is accessible to many groups of people and has withstood the test of time in its 26 years on shelves. This book is a great read-aloud for families and classroom teachers.