Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. Another Caldecott book this time, the winner for 1963. Like Make Way for Ducklings, this book made quite an impact. However, I'd argue that this book had a bigger one. This is Ezra Jack Keats' The Snowy Day.
Keats, E. J. (1962). The Snowy Day. Scholastic Press: New York.
Summary: One day, a boy named Peter gets out of bed to find that it's snowed. He gets his clothes on and treks out, discovering the fun things he can do with the snow. Finally, he heads home, bathes, and goes to sleep. The next day, though, the snow remains, so he finds a friend and goes off to see what the day has in store.
Thoughts: This is really just an innocuous story. Nothing really big happens in it: it's just a kid enjoying a snow day. The collage artwork makes it stand out, though: it's an odd artform, but it's colorful and perfectly spaced. Furthermore, Peter is just adorable as he goes about the day. The book's just a nice slice of life to show your kids.
Its historical impact, though, lies partially in the collage artwork, and more partially in fact that Peter is black. This was published in 1962, mind. Having a black main character was a rare idea back then. What makes this, in my opinion, a little bit better, is the fact that the black Peter was written very well by the white Ezra Jack Keats. In an age where white, male writers are still nervous about writing a person that is not white or male, it can be reassuring to show that it can be done really well. You don't even have to be political all the time, just show the audience a life. I'd argue this is part of The Snowy Day's charm: showing Peter doing things that cross racial boundaries without making an issue about it. Peter's not a black kid with a million social issues hanging over his head, he's just a black kid a white kid can relate to. Just as P.S. Be Eleven's education about political issues has it's place in the library, so to does this thoroughly apolitical romp. Feel free to give it a try.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Season III, Post 9: "Misty of Chincoteague"
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. This next book is actually based on real life events. It spawned a very drawn-out series of books that ended in 1992 with the fourth book, and has probably been mostly forgotten, but it has had a big impact. This, my dear readers, is Misty of Chincoteague.
Henry, M. (1947). Misty of Chincoteague. Scholastic Book Services: New York.
Summary: Centuries ago, a Spanish cargo vessel crashed off the coast of Virginia, stranding a herd of ponies on the island of Assateague. Centuries later, just after World War II, the neighboring island of Chincoteague holds yearly Pony Penning Days, catching and selling ponies in order to maintain population stability. The most famous of ponies in that day was Phantom, who cheated the herders for two years in a row. That year, however, a boy named Paul and his sister Maureen decide that they will capture Phantom, but they are surprised to find that Misty has a foal this year: Misty.
Thoughts: After years of having lived on a diet of fantasy and science fiction, it feels kind of strange going back to mundane fiction. I imagine that's also the case for many people, since fantasy is the 'in' genre right now. The story is really simple and the characters aren't too deep, but they're still quite relatable and even admirable. The book also has an environmental message, but it doesn't take up the entire plot, even though it does impose itself on the story every so often. My favorite part of the book is when the children think that the foals are being separated from their parents too soon and the fire chief explains that they're ready, even admitting that he had the same concerns they did when he was their age. It makes the adults into something other than the unthinking antagonists: these people know what they're doing and they understand where objections are coming from.
The most interesting part of the book, for me, is the fact that it's based so much on real life. There really is a Pony Penning Day in Chincoteague, Virginia and there really was a pony named Misty. In fact, this book helped put the Chincoteague breed of pony into the public consciousness as well as make Chincoteague itself a popular tourist destination. Yes, it is a Caldecott honor book, but that isn't a guarantee of anything. Personally, if you can find it and you're interested in this genre, I think it's worth a look.
Henry, M. (1947). Misty of Chincoteague. Scholastic Book Services: New York.
Summary: Centuries ago, a Spanish cargo vessel crashed off the coast of Virginia, stranding a herd of ponies on the island of Assateague. Centuries later, just after World War II, the neighboring island of Chincoteague holds yearly Pony Penning Days, catching and selling ponies in order to maintain population stability. The most famous of ponies in that day was Phantom, who cheated the herders for two years in a row. That year, however, a boy named Paul and his sister Maureen decide that they will capture Phantom, but they are surprised to find that Misty has a foal this year: Misty.
Thoughts: After years of having lived on a diet of fantasy and science fiction, it feels kind of strange going back to mundane fiction. I imagine that's also the case for many people, since fantasy is the 'in' genre right now. The story is really simple and the characters aren't too deep, but they're still quite relatable and even admirable. The book also has an environmental message, but it doesn't take up the entire plot, even though it does impose itself on the story every so often. My favorite part of the book is when the children think that the foals are being separated from their parents too soon and the fire chief explains that they're ready, even admitting that he had the same concerns they did when he was their age. It makes the adults into something other than the unthinking antagonists: these people know what they're doing and they understand where objections are coming from.
The most interesting part of the book, for me, is the fact that it's based so much on real life. There really is a Pony Penning Day in Chincoteague, Virginia and there really was a pony named Misty. In fact, this book helped put the Chincoteague breed of pony into the public consciousness as well as make Chincoteague itself a popular tourist destination. Yes, it is a Caldecott honor book, but that isn't a guarantee of anything. Personally, if you can find it and you're interested in this genre, I think it's worth a look.
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Season III, post 8: "Make Way for Ducklings"
Hello, I’m Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written
word. Well, I’ve done the Newbery, now
it’s time for the Caldecott. However,
this book has a greater honor to its name.
Rather dubious given its connection, but I can still roll with it. Ladies and gentleman, this is Robert
McCloskey’s Make Way for Ducklings,
the official children’s book of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
McCloskey, R.
(1941). Make Way for Ducklings. The
Viking Press: New York.
Summary: Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are travelling the country
searching for a place to raise their young.
Tired, they stop in Boston, where the promise of peanuts makes them
stay. Abandoning the attractive Common
Garden because of pedestrians, they settle on an island in the Charles River,
where they eventually hatch eight ducklings.
Mr. Mallard works his way upstream to explore one day, and soon after,
Mrs. Mallard decides that the ducklings are ready to brave the streets of
Boston.
Thoughts: This is a pretty good book. McCloskey’s illustrations are monochrome, but
they’re still appealing in their caricature and simplicity. The story itself is also good fun, relatable
and not too intense. I especially like when a police officer who has befriended the ducks calls in backup to serve as their crossing guard, to the confusion of the man on the other end of the line. That just amuses me. However, it’s not
the most gripping book in the world, and the landmarks of Boston are presented
without a whole lot to stick them together, relegating them to fantasy unless
you’ve been to Boston. I personally
think it’s above average, like a solid version of your average little kid’s
book with animals.
However, this book actually had a bigger impact than just
winning McCloskey his first Caldecott.
This book is extremely popular in Massachusetts, to the point that
statues of Mrs. Mallard and the ducklings were set up in Common Garden in
1987. In 1989, Massachusettsite by birth
George H. W. Bush was elected president.
Two years later, in 1991, the Soviet Union is about to collapse and the
two countries are coming closer together.
One of the signs of this was the construction of a matching set of
statues in Moscow’s Novodevichy Park, presented from First Lady Barbara Bush to
First Lady Raisa Gorbachev. Speaking as
a Texan, seeing a state treasure get adopted like that by another nation makes
me a little proud for them.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Season III, post 7: "Caddie Woodlawn"
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. Well, I suppose I should cover a Newbery Medal recipient somewhere in this season, and I want to do one that most people aren't familiar with. So, the Newbery Medals have just started to get handed out. Winners include Doctor Doolittle (which I think requires more detail), The Cat Who Went to Heaven (which I already covered), and... well, ever heard of Caddie Woodlawn?
Brink, C. R. (1947). Caddie Woodlawn. The Macmillan Company: New York.
Summary: Out in Wisconsin, near the end of the War Between the States, there lived the Woodlawns. In the course of one year, many things happened. Normal things like having to deal with bullies the teacher won't handle, but also having to suffer through the fear of war with the Natives. But through it all, Caddie Woodlawn carries on.
Thoughts: Personally, I wasn't overly fond of it, but everyone else probably might be. The characters are alright and the plots are rather engaging. However, there are some unflattering tropes about Native Americans in play, such as racial slurs and 'Indians they talk much broken syntax' speech. In addition, there is a passage that justifies girls being held to a higher standard than boys. However, those can be forgiven as products of their time. What bugs me is something that seems to have continued to this day.
This author is a seeming feminist (for at least most of the book) and a non-racist (for the time she wrote in). You can tell this by the way she writes. Her eleven-year-old main character is unsubtle about the extinction of the passenger pigeon, even though there are fifty years yet to go before that happens in-story. Native Americans are shown without any kind of blemish, even though the author tries to tell the audience that such blemishes exist. Furthermore, the main character, throughout most of the book, is a tomboy that shuns anything girly (something shared by the writer, who assigns such interests the most disdainful characters in the book), and rarely, if ever, fails at anything, and never fails hard.
My problem isn't children's books containing a political message. However, that message takes a far back seat to everything else. If the least-flawed characters in a work of fiction all fit into one social category (or if all the unforgivably flawed characters fit into one social category, save for a very small or not-fleshed-out minority), the author puts agenda before story. A character who can't fail is not dramatically satisfying, and the implication that some groups of humanity are all good or all bad except maybe a few members is garbage. Even with good intentions, it's simply bad storytelling.
I've seen this done multiple times, in TV shows, films, and books aimed at children, and when writers/producers try to tell 'girls can do anything guys can do' or 'racism is wrong' and do it poorly, the result often comes up 'only white men can be evil and/or stupid and they need different social groups to lead them by the nose'. This message sticks with children, and convinces them that their own race/sex is under unjust attack (remember, white men have a better life by average to use as a baseline, and many just have flat-out bad lives). Thus, any attempt to change their group's genuinely evil practices has to work all the harder to overcome their hostility. Many good ideas have been suggested to fix this, such as having more than one of a given minority or teaching children better messages about race, sex, and privilege, but the writing of stereotypes of any group is a practice that just can't be allowed to stand even if the good ideas don't get adopted right away. Children are blind to social categories, but even they will notice trends and take them down roads the artists couldn't have anticipated.
Again, this is probably something that most people won't mind. It is quite anti-racism and feminist for its time, the story is decent, and I rather like a scene where Caddie's father and the Native liaison to the white people are calmly talking while tensions are mounting, showing that there are moderates on both sides who don't want to fight. I just think that it would have benefited from a more even hand. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic does feminism better by letting female characters be free to do what they want, not just be men in women's bodies. Battle for Terra and, heck, the episode "Over a Barrel" from Friendship is Magic do Native versus Settler conflicts a little more interestingly by making both sides more complex and relatable. Yes, A Christmas Carol works in its unsubtlety, but Scrooge is a fleshed-out character whom the audience wants to see improve rather than yet another enemy to be beaten down. This book, though, reads like a repeat of so many stories that really could have been better.
Brink, C. R. (1947). Caddie Woodlawn. The Macmillan Company: New York.
Summary: Out in Wisconsin, near the end of the War Between the States, there lived the Woodlawns. In the course of one year, many things happened. Normal things like having to deal with bullies the teacher won't handle, but also having to suffer through the fear of war with the Natives. But through it all, Caddie Woodlawn carries on.
Thoughts: Personally, I wasn't overly fond of it, but everyone else probably might be. The characters are alright and the plots are rather engaging. However, there are some unflattering tropes about Native Americans in play, such as racial slurs and 'Indians they talk much broken syntax' speech. In addition, there is a passage that justifies girls being held to a higher standard than boys. However, those can be forgiven as products of their time. What bugs me is something that seems to have continued to this day.
This author is a seeming feminist (for at least most of the book) and a non-racist (for the time she wrote in). You can tell this by the way she writes. Her eleven-year-old main character is unsubtle about the extinction of the passenger pigeon, even though there are fifty years yet to go before that happens in-story. Native Americans are shown without any kind of blemish, even though the author tries to tell the audience that such blemishes exist. Furthermore, the main character, throughout most of the book, is a tomboy that shuns anything girly (something shared by the writer, who assigns such interests the most disdainful characters in the book), and rarely, if ever, fails at anything, and never fails hard.
My problem isn't children's books containing a political message. However, that message takes a far back seat to everything else. If the least-flawed characters in a work of fiction all fit into one social category (or if all the unforgivably flawed characters fit into one social category, save for a very small or not-fleshed-out minority), the author puts agenda before story. A character who can't fail is not dramatically satisfying, and the implication that some groups of humanity are all good or all bad except maybe a few members is garbage. Even with good intentions, it's simply bad storytelling.
I've seen this done multiple times, in TV shows, films, and books aimed at children, and when writers/producers try to tell 'girls can do anything guys can do' or 'racism is wrong' and do it poorly, the result often comes up 'only white men can be evil and/or stupid and they need different social groups to lead them by the nose'. This message sticks with children, and convinces them that their own race/sex is under unjust attack (remember, white men have a better life by average to use as a baseline, and many just have flat-out bad lives). Thus, any attempt to change their group's genuinely evil practices has to work all the harder to overcome their hostility. Many good ideas have been suggested to fix this, such as having more than one of a given minority or teaching children better messages about race, sex, and privilege, but the writing of stereotypes of any group is a practice that just can't be allowed to stand even if the good ideas don't get adopted right away. Children are blind to social categories, but even they will notice trends and take them down roads the artists couldn't have anticipated.
Again, this is probably something that most people won't mind. It is quite anti-racism and feminist for its time, the story is decent, and I rather like a scene where Caddie's father and the Native liaison to the white people are calmly talking while tensions are mounting, showing that there are moderates on both sides who don't want to fight. I just think that it would have benefited from a more even hand. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic does feminism better by letting female characters be free to do what they want, not just be men in women's bodies. Battle for Terra and, heck, the episode "Over a Barrel" from Friendship is Magic do Native versus Settler conflicts a little more interestingly by making both sides more complex and relatable. Yes, A Christmas Carol works in its unsubtlety, but Scrooge is a fleshed-out character whom the audience wants to see improve rather than yet another enemy to be beaten down. This book, though, reads like a repeat of so many stories that really could have been better.
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Season III, post 6: "Just So Stories"
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. It's a sad truism in library science that short stories and poetry don't circulate very well. If I were to guess at the problem based on my own experiences, it's because most readers aren't used to reading them, so they shy away.
Kipling, R. (2002). Just So Stories. New American Library: New York.
Summary: This is a collection of short stories describing how various things came into being. As follows:
"How the Whale Got His Throat": There once was a whale that ate everything in the sea. Finally, it came upon a suspenders-wearing sailor in a raft and ate him, too. But the sailor with suspenders has a plan to come out of this on top.
"How the Camel Got His Hump": In the beginning of the world, all of the animals were domesticated, save one. The camel just went off into the desert to humph instead of anything resembling an honest day's work. Thus, the Djinn of all Deserts is called upon to bring the camel back in line, and his solution is quite the creative one.
"How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin": Once, the rhinoceros had smooth skin. He was also a tremendous jerk, stealing a cake from a man right after he'd finished baking it. The man vowed revenge, and his vengeance would change his foe for all time.
"How the Leopard Got His Spots": Up on the steppe, the animals have grown tired of being hunted by the man and the leopard. Thus they decide one day to leave for the forests. Worried about finding food, the leopard and the man follow them, but the animals have discovered how to hide themselves in their new home. Will the quarry evade the hunt, or can the leopard change his spots?
"The Elephant's Child": Once, there was an elephant child whose curiosity was rewarded with spankings. Thus, when he wondered what a crocodile was, the child decided to venture out in the world to find one. Will his adventure lead to more than he bargained for?
"The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo": Long ago in Australia, the kangaroo wanted to be different. Thus, he pestered the spirits of the land until he found one that acquiesced to his demand. However, the kangaroo might not like the spirit's methods.
"The Beginning of the Armadillos": The jaguar has learned how to deal with any prey. However, the turtle and the hedgehog manage to trick him into sparing their lives. They know, though, that such a trick will not work again, so they try to find a way to overcome their weaknesses. Their solution, however, leads to something much more creative.
"How the First Letter Was Written": Long ago, at the dawn of man, a man and his daughter went out to fish. Unfortunately, the man's spear breaks, and his replacement is many miles away. When a man from another tribe wanders by, though, his daughter draws up a message. It might not be the clearest, though.
"How the Alphabet Was Made": After the last story, the daughter decides to mark out an alphabet to avoid any more misunderstandings. Inspired by what she sees around her, she begins creating letters. Her father joins in with her and together they create the alphabet.
"The Crab That Played with the Sea": In the beginning, the Creator assigned each animal a role to play. Before he could be assigned his role, though, the Crab ran away to do as he pleased. Not long later, the sea rose and fell, creating both drought and flood. Now the Creator must contend with the chaos the Crab has caused, but how can he undo it?
"The Cat That Walked by Himself": In the days of early man, the animals became curious as to what Man and his wife was doing. First, the dog left, then the horse, then the cow. None of them returned, all agreed to serve the humans. Finally, the cat, who knows no other master but himself, went to see what was going on. Will he be domesticated? Will the humans even want him?
"The Butterfly That Stamped": Solomon, though commanding the mighty djinn, was too humble even to calm his 999 tempestuous wives. One day, though, he agrees to help a butterfly who is arguing with his own wife. Soloman's one gentle wife, though, decides to help the butterfly's wife. Who will emerge victorious?
Thoughts: Quite entertaining, although values dissonance is in effect here. "The Butterfly That Stamped" has men needing to be over their wives. Some versions of "How the Leopard Got His Spots" have the words 'nigger' and 'Sambo' used in them. The alphabet the (African) girl creates in "How the Alphabet Was Made" is the Latin alphabet, which Kipling claims was the first alphabet rediscovered. In addition, some of the depictions of non-white persons are going to be offensive to said minorities, and the others probably will be as well.
However, if you look past that, the stories are gloriously creative. Each of these are creation stories in some way, and I don't want to give anything away. My personal favorite line in the book is the ending to the first story, wherein the suspenders' true purpose is revealed. In addition, while their depictions aren't the most flattering, they are relatively inoffensive and feel like your average myth protagonist (at least to my white perception; non-white people will find tropes and traits that they've grown sick of). In fact, they're almost the only kind of people there, and they always come out either on top or alright in the end without white assistance. This is the same man who wrote "The White Man's Burden", after all; not right, but ahead of his peers. Actually, it actually wouldn't surprise me if he had a goal to gain some form of respect for the people the British Empire was trying to force its ideals on while writing this book. He thought said people were backwards, yes, but also wanted to treat them with some form of dignity. If you're going to read this to kids, you should read through it yourself first and clean it up as you see fit. However, I do feel that kids should get to experience at least some version of this level of sheer, creative, crazy awesomeness. That part of this book, the part with is undeniably good for them.
Kipling, R. (2002). Just So Stories. New American Library: New York.
Summary: This is a collection of short stories describing how various things came into being. As follows:
"How the Whale Got His Throat": There once was a whale that ate everything in the sea. Finally, it came upon a suspenders-wearing sailor in a raft and ate him, too. But the sailor with suspenders has a plan to come out of this on top.
"How the Camel Got His Hump": In the beginning of the world, all of the animals were domesticated, save one. The camel just went off into the desert to humph instead of anything resembling an honest day's work. Thus, the Djinn of all Deserts is called upon to bring the camel back in line, and his solution is quite the creative one.
"How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin": Once, the rhinoceros had smooth skin. He was also a tremendous jerk, stealing a cake from a man right after he'd finished baking it. The man vowed revenge, and his vengeance would change his foe for all time.
"How the Leopard Got His Spots": Up on the steppe, the animals have grown tired of being hunted by the man and the leopard. Thus they decide one day to leave for the forests. Worried about finding food, the leopard and the man follow them, but the animals have discovered how to hide themselves in their new home. Will the quarry evade the hunt, or can the leopard change his spots?
"The Elephant's Child": Once, there was an elephant child whose curiosity was rewarded with spankings. Thus, when he wondered what a crocodile was, the child decided to venture out in the world to find one. Will his adventure lead to more than he bargained for?
"The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo": Long ago in Australia, the kangaroo wanted to be different. Thus, he pestered the spirits of the land until he found one that acquiesced to his demand. However, the kangaroo might not like the spirit's methods.
"The Beginning of the Armadillos": The jaguar has learned how to deal with any prey. However, the turtle and the hedgehog manage to trick him into sparing their lives. They know, though, that such a trick will not work again, so they try to find a way to overcome their weaknesses. Their solution, however, leads to something much more creative.
"How the First Letter Was Written": Long ago, at the dawn of man, a man and his daughter went out to fish. Unfortunately, the man's spear breaks, and his replacement is many miles away. When a man from another tribe wanders by, though, his daughter draws up a message. It might not be the clearest, though.
"How the Alphabet Was Made": After the last story, the daughter decides to mark out an alphabet to avoid any more misunderstandings. Inspired by what she sees around her, she begins creating letters. Her father joins in with her and together they create the alphabet.
"The Crab That Played with the Sea": In the beginning, the Creator assigned each animal a role to play. Before he could be assigned his role, though, the Crab ran away to do as he pleased. Not long later, the sea rose and fell, creating both drought and flood. Now the Creator must contend with the chaos the Crab has caused, but how can he undo it?
"The Cat That Walked by Himself": In the days of early man, the animals became curious as to what Man and his wife was doing. First, the dog left, then the horse, then the cow. None of them returned, all agreed to serve the humans. Finally, the cat, who knows no other master but himself, went to see what was going on. Will he be domesticated? Will the humans even want him?
"The Butterfly That Stamped": Solomon, though commanding the mighty djinn, was too humble even to calm his 999 tempestuous wives. One day, though, he agrees to help a butterfly who is arguing with his own wife. Soloman's one gentle wife, though, decides to help the butterfly's wife. Who will emerge victorious?
Thoughts: Quite entertaining, although values dissonance is in effect here. "The Butterfly That Stamped" has men needing to be over their wives. Some versions of "How the Leopard Got His Spots" have the words 'nigger' and 'Sambo' used in them. The alphabet the (African) girl creates in "How the Alphabet Was Made" is the Latin alphabet, which Kipling claims was the first alphabet rediscovered. In addition, some of the depictions of non-white persons are going to be offensive to said minorities, and the others probably will be as well.
However, if you look past that, the stories are gloriously creative. Each of these are creation stories in some way, and I don't want to give anything away. My personal favorite line in the book is the ending to the first story, wherein the suspenders' true purpose is revealed. In addition, while their depictions aren't the most flattering, they are relatively inoffensive and feel like your average myth protagonist (at least to my white perception; non-white people will find tropes and traits that they've grown sick of). In fact, they're almost the only kind of people there, and they always come out either on top or alright in the end without white assistance. This is the same man who wrote "The White Man's Burden", after all; not right, but ahead of his peers. Actually, it actually wouldn't surprise me if he had a goal to gain some form of respect for the people the British Empire was trying to force its ideals on while writing this book. He thought said people were backwards, yes, but also wanted to treat them with some form of dignity. If you're going to read this to kids, you should read through it yourself first and clean it up as you see fit. However, I do feel that kids should get to experience at least some version of this level of sheer, creative, crazy awesomeness. That part of this book, the part with is undeniably good for them.
Monday, August 3, 2015
Season III, Post 5: "The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle"
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. Beatrix Potter was an amazing woman. She wasn't just an author: she bred sheep, she fought for conservation, and her drawings and studies about plants and fungi are still examined by scientists today, not to mention her twenty-three books for children which constitute part of the Golden Age of Children's Literature. All of them called The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Thus, in the interest of broadening cultural awareness, this is The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle.
Potter, B. (2005). The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle. Retrieved from http://www.gutenberg.org/files/15137/15137-h/15137-h.htm
Summary: One day, a girl named Lucie looses three pocket handkerchiefs and her pinafore. In the process of looking for them, she stumbles on the home of a hedgehog named Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, a laundress and the finder of Lucie's missing items. Lucie decides to stay and help Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle with the washing, including items from several other characters from Mrs. Potter's stories. Finally, Lucie makes her way home, reunited with her pocket handkerchiefs and her pinafore, now all clean.
Thoughts: I'll admit, I mainly did this due to J.K. Rowling. In her expanded Harry Potter universe, there's a witch by the name of Beatrix Bloxam, author of the Toadstool Tales, a swipe at over-sanitized children's stories (a sample of which can be found in The Tales of Beedle the Bard). I'll be honest, I'm not really fond of when an author uses their podium to take a potshot at something, something I try to enforce even when it's my own side and in my own writing. However, this potshot at Beatrix Potter seems to have been unintentional, since Rowling recommends Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Two Bad Mice as one of ten kids should read (Higgins, 2006).
If I were to continue with this nonexistent association, I could argue that Beatrix Potter's stories are hardly sanitized with the tales of Peter Rabbit and Squirrel Nutkin. However, this story doesn't have anything that remotely looks like violence. It's just a girl who loses her handkerchiefs and stumbles on a friendly laundress who has them. It can be a little unengaging if you're not that interested. And yes, it can seem a little overly sweet at one or two points.
The illustrations, however, are gorgeous. They're bright, colorful, and adorable. This fits the book as a sweet little story about ultimately nothing, which feels like a nice counterpoint to entertainment getting darker and more didactic. What really interested me, though, is this sentence:
"And she hung up all sorts and sizes of clothes—small brown coats of mice; and one velvety black moleskin waist-coat; and a red tailcoat with no tail belonging to Squirrel Nutkin; and a very much shrunk blue jacket belonging to Peter Rabbit; and a petticoat, not marked, that had gone lost in the washing—and at last the basket was empty!"
I'm a nerd. I love continuity, especially in this age of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And I love the idea that all of Beatrix Potter's stories share a universe. Admittedly, if you're going to get started on her stories, you'll want to start with something like The Tailor of Gloucester. However, this is still a good story.
Sources:
Higgins, C. (2006, January 31). From Beatrix Potter to Ulysses: What the top writers say every child should read. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/jan/31/buildingachildrenslibrary.guardianchildrensfictionprize2005
Potter, B. (2005). The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle. Retrieved from http://www.gutenberg.org/files/15137/15137-h/15137-h.htm
Summary: One day, a girl named Lucie looses three pocket handkerchiefs and her pinafore. In the process of looking for them, she stumbles on the home of a hedgehog named Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, a laundress and the finder of Lucie's missing items. Lucie decides to stay and help Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle with the washing, including items from several other characters from Mrs. Potter's stories. Finally, Lucie makes her way home, reunited with her pocket handkerchiefs and her pinafore, now all clean.
Thoughts: I'll admit, I mainly did this due to J.K. Rowling. In her expanded Harry Potter universe, there's a witch by the name of Beatrix Bloxam, author of the Toadstool Tales, a swipe at over-sanitized children's stories (a sample of which can be found in The Tales of Beedle the Bard). I'll be honest, I'm not really fond of when an author uses their podium to take a potshot at something, something I try to enforce even when it's my own side and in my own writing. However, this potshot at Beatrix Potter seems to have been unintentional, since Rowling recommends Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Two Bad Mice as one of ten kids should read (Higgins, 2006).
If I were to continue with this nonexistent association, I could argue that Beatrix Potter's stories are hardly sanitized with the tales of Peter Rabbit and Squirrel Nutkin. However, this story doesn't have anything that remotely looks like violence. It's just a girl who loses her handkerchiefs and stumbles on a friendly laundress who has them. It can be a little unengaging if you're not that interested. And yes, it can seem a little overly sweet at one or two points.
The illustrations, however, are gorgeous. They're bright, colorful, and adorable. This fits the book as a sweet little story about ultimately nothing, which feels like a nice counterpoint to entertainment getting darker and more didactic. What really interested me, though, is this sentence:
"And she hung up all sorts and sizes of clothes—small brown coats of mice; and one velvety black moleskin waist-coat; and a red tailcoat with no tail belonging to Squirrel Nutkin; and a very much shrunk blue jacket belonging to Peter Rabbit; and a petticoat, not marked, that had gone lost in the washing—and at last the basket was empty!"
I'm a nerd. I love continuity, especially in this age of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And I love the idea that all of Beatrix Potter's stories share a universe. Admittedly, if you're going to get started on her stories, you'll want to start with something like The Tailor of Gloucester. However, this is still a good story.
Sources:
Higgins, C. (2006, January 31). From Beatrix Potter to Ulysses: What the top writers say every child should read. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/jan/31/buildingachildrenslibrary.guardianchildrensfictionprize2005
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Season III: Post 4: At the Back of the North Wind
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. Well, back to fiction again, and this one's another oldie, from an author named George MacDonald. MacDonald was a big fantasy author and in fact is the inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. You can really see this in today's book: At the Back of the North Wind
MacDonald, G. (2008). At the Back of the North Wind. Retrieved from: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/225/225-h/225-h.htm
Summary: In Victorian London lived a young boy named Diamond, the son of a poor cabbie. Then, one night, he is taken along by the North Wind, and finds a way to the land behind her back, which is simply perfect. He comes back, finding that he's been in a fever for a week. Regardless, he lives his life as an ideal lad, a help to his family and friends.
Thoughts: In a simple phrase, it reads like a Miyazaki movie. There isn't an over-arching story, just a series of events in a world with fantasy in it. Diamond as a main character is one of those saintly children with very few flaws, but such a character type was often used in that time. The main tension is in the situations of the characters around him, and I was interested in seeing how everything played out.
In addition, the poetry and fairy tale in the book are quite good. A lot of the prose is rather nice as well. In particular, I found one passage in chapter six, starting with "It's not like you" and continuing to the second-to-last paragraph in the chapter, quite interesting. It deals with the North Wind being so nice to Diamond, but about to sink a ship full of people, likely drowning most of them. It's an interesting passage about how people can be so full of apparent contradictions, but still be the same person due to their own reasons.
This book illustrates a change between the past and the future. Prior to this point in time, children's books were more-or-less treatises on how to live a life by Christian principals. However, at this point, message and religion took a back step to plot and character. In addition, fantasy became more popular. This book is sort of a crossing between the time of story-for-morals and story-for-story's-sake. And it's still pretty good today.
MacDonald, G. (2008). At the Back of the North Wind. Retrieved from: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/225/225-h/225-h.htm
Summary: In Victorian London lived a young boy named Diamond, the son of a poor cabbie. Then, one night, he is taken along by the North Wind, and finds a way to the land behind her back, which is simply perfect. He comes back, finding that he's been in a fever for a week. Regardless, he lives his life as an ideal lad, a help to his family and friends.
Thoughts: In a simple phrase, it reads like a Miyazaki movie. There isn't an over-arching story, just a series of events in a world with fantasy in it. Diamond as a main character is one of those saintly children with very few flaws, but such a character type was often used in that time. The main tension is in the situations of the characters around him, and I was interested in seeing how everything played out.
In addition, the poetry and fairy tale in the book are quite good. A lot of the prose is rather nice as well. In particular, I found one passage in chapter six, starting with "It's not like you" and continuing to the second-to-last paragraph in the chapter, quite interesting. It deals with the North Wind being so nice to Diamond, but about to sink a ship full of people, likely drowning most of them. It's an interesting passage about how people can be so full of apparent contradictions, but still be the same person due to their own reasons.
This book illustrates a change between the past and the future. Prior to this point in time, children's books were more-or-less treatises on how to live a life by Christian principals. However, at this point, message and religion took a back step to plot and character. In addition, fantasy became more popular. This book is sort of a crossing between the time of story-for-morals and story-for-story's-sake. And it's still pretty good today.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Season III, post 3: "The New England Primer"
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. Not long ago, I released my review of Goody Two Shoes and made clear my own religiosity. Now I want to talk about a related book, a nonfiction book. This was a primer written for children in Puritan New England, and through the years it became an example of changing attitudes in children's education. This is The New England Primer*.
*Pronounced prim-er, not prime-r. Older versions of English are weird like that.
The New England Primer. (1777). Retrieved from: http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/nep/1777/
Summary: It's a primer, focusing on reading and religion. The letters of the alphabet are given, along with syllables, several words of varying length, and sentences illustrating a word that begins with that letter. Most of the book, however, consists of verses of moral education, with a very Calvinist tone. The rest of the book contains various prayers, including the famous "Now I lay me down to sleep," prayer.
Thoughts: It's very interesting as an adult. I'm a born Roman Catholic Christian, and I didn't get much instruction in my late Grandmama's Presbyterian Church (which is a Calvinist/Reformed denomination). However, as an example of common religious practices from the American Revolution, it's very interesting. There is a lot of theology in this book, including Jewish Guilt, anti-Catholicism (the Whore of Rome analogy is used), and the idea that infants could be damned (which has long since been purged of many sects of Christianity, my own included). At the very end of the book is the story of a child who is delivered to death by Jesus because he would only grow up to sin more (the Calvinist views of unconditional election and limited atonement, maybe, but I don't know that).
However, this isn't just fire and brimstone. It may be my own Christian prejudices showing, but along with "Liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone", there is also "Come unto Christ all ye that labor and are heavy laden and he will give you rest". In the middle is a summation of Christianity (heck, Judaism and Islam, too, at the least) and my favorite line in the book: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivereth them out of them all."
There were many editions of this book, and according to Stephanie Schnorbus, they combined illustrate an interesting trend. The earliest editions were firmly Calvinist. The writers were afraid that telling the children too much might cause a contradiction that could lead an already sinful child into damnation (again, not a part of modern Catholic or many Christians' theology). As a result, pictures were an afterthought and there is a lot of focus on telling children what not to do. However, as time went on, the books borrowed from a school of thought called Lockean epistemology. This philosophy believed that children were a blank slate (a tabula rasa) that needed to have multiple senses stimulated in order to have one sense confirm what another was telling it. Thus, pictures became more important and more positive messages were written into the book (2010).
This book's usefulness as a primer seems to be ended. There are other ways of teaching reading and it certainly isn't for anyone who doesn't fit its theology. However, it's also a source of many good quotes that still apply to Christian life, and should be quite interesting to adult Christians who are ruminating on their faith. However, I'd recommend the Westminster Confession of Faith to people who want to know more about Calvinist faiths today, as well as a good interpreter.
References:
Schnorbus, S.(2010). Calvin and Locke: Dueling Epistemologies in The New-England Primer, 1720–1790. Early American Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal 8(2), 250-287. University of Pennsylvania Press. Retrieved July 31, 2015, from Project MUSE database.
*Pronounced prim-er, not prime-r. Older versions of English are weird like that.
The New England Primer. (1777). Retrieved from: http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/nep/1777/
Summary: It's a primer, focusing on reading and religion. The letters of the alphabet are given, along with syllables, several words of varying length, and sentences illustrating a word that begins with that letter. Most of the book, however, consists of verses of moral education, with a very Calvinist tone. The rest of the book contains various prayers, including the famous "Now I lay me down to sleep," prayer.
Thoughts: It's very interesting as an adult. I'm a born Roman Catholic Christian, and I didn't get much instruction in my late Grandmama's Presbyterian Church (which is a Calvinist/Reformed denomination). However, as an example of common religious practices from the American Revolution, it's very interesting. There is a lot of theology in this book, including Jewish Guilt, anti-Catholicism (the Whore of Rome analogy is used), and the idea that infants could be damned (which has long since been purged of many sects of Christianity, my own included). At the very end of the book is the story of a child who is delivered to death by Jesus because he would only grow up to sin more (the Calvinist views of unconditional election and limited atonement, maybe, but I don't know that).
However, this isn't just fire and brimstone. It may be my own Christian prejudices showing, but along with "Liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone", there is also "Come unto Christ all ye that labor and are heavy laden and he will give you rest". In the middle is a summation of Christianity (heck, Judaism and Islam, too, at the least) and my favorite line in the book: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivereth them out of them all."
There were many editions of this book, and according to Stephanie Schnorbus, they combined illustrate an interesting trend. The earliest editions were firmly Calvinist. The writers were afraid that telling the children too much might cause a contradiction that could lead an already sinful child into damnation (again, not a part of modern Catholic or many Christians' theology). As a result, pictures were an afterthought and there is a lot of focus on telling children what not to do. However, as time went on, the books borrowed from a school of thought called Lockean epistemology. This philosophy believed that children were a blank slate (a tabula rasa) that needed to have multiple senses stimulated in order to have one sense confirm what another was telling it. Thus, pictures became more important and more positive messages were written into the book (2010).
This book's usefulness as a primer seems to be ended. There are other ways of teaching reading and it certainly isn't for anyone who doesn't fit its theology. However, it's also a source of many good quotes that still apply to Christian life, and should be quite interesting to adult Christians who are ruminating on their faith. However, I'd recommend the Westminster Confession of Faith to people who want to know more about Calvinist faiths today, as well as a good interpreter.
References:
Schnorbus, S.(2010). Calvin and Locke: Dueling Epistemologies in The New-England Primer, 1720–1790. Early American Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal 8(2), 250-287. University of Pennsylvania Press. Retrieved July 31, 2015, from Project MUSE database.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Season III, post 2: "Grimm's Fairy Tales"
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. Now we move on to something I know everyone's heard of: Grimm's Fairy Tales. I'm rather excited to be talking about this, and not just because of my fine Prussian roots*. As I've said before, I have a great love of fantasy, which is part of why I love the Disney movies so much. Thus, the two linguists' collection of fairy tales from all over Germany and France that inspired several of their films would naturally interest me. And thus I talk about them now.
*Pomeranian. Yes, like the dog.
Grimm, J., Grimm, W., & Scharl, J. (ill.). (1972). The complete Grimm's fairy tales. New York: Pantheon.
Summary: There are 210 individual stories in this collection. To catalog them all with even a sentence would take the rest of this blog. Suffice it to say that kind-hearted fools are rewarded for their kindness and people who fail to do what they're told are punished. Also, odds are if you're read one, some of the others will seem similar to you.
Thoughts: By now, I think everyone knows that the original Grimm's Fairy Tales were darker, gorier, and lewder than the versions kids experience. The fact is, these stories were originally aimed at adults. However, because people were often reading them to their children, the Brothers Grimm decided to alter the stories to be more appropriate, more Christianized and less demonizing to mothers. The altered versions still have some undesirable content in them, though. Cinderella is the toe-chopping version seen in Into the Woods, The Jew in the Thorns is antisemitic, and unless you or your kids really love gore, avoid The Juniper Tree like the plague. In addition, these stories can get rather strange. A favorite passage of mine from The Bird, the Mouse, and the Sausage should illustrate this nicely:
"Not far off, however, [the bird] met a dog on the road who had fallen upon the poor sausage as lawful booty, and had seized and swallowed it. The bird charged the dog with an act of bare-faced robbery, but words were useless, for the dog said he had found forged letters on the sausage, on which account its life was forfeited to him."
Yes, that is from a story where a bird, a mouse, and a sausage live under one roof. And it isn't a comedy. Unless you find all of them dying funny because they should've stuck to their assigned chores, in which case the rest of this book should make perfect sense to you.
That being said, there are still a bunch of stories that both make sense and are G/PG-rated unaltered. Some of them include: King Thrushbeard, How Six Men Got on in the World, Godfather Death, The Fisherman and his Wife, The Elves (including the story of the Elves and the Shoemaker), The Six Swans, Little Briar-Rose (a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty), Maid Maleen, and The Golden Key. As a whole, though, if you're going to read these to kids, you'll probably want to read through each of these and tailor them to fit.
The main message of many of these stories, as I mentioned earlier, seems to be "do what's right and do what you're told or there'll be Hell to pay". Even within those parameters, there's Hell to pay, but things turn out well enough in the end. Regarding modern sensibilities, there's little in the tales that outright contradicts them (see The Jew in the Thorns and The Good Bargain for examples) except for the gender roles of the time. Professor Seth Lerer points out that in most of these stories, women and girls are often swept around by the tides of the story, whereas men and boys take the bull by the horns (2008). I concur with his point, but I also want to make a point of Doug Walker's Nostalgia Critic to soften it a bit. There are several stories where a female protagonist takes an active role in the story, such as Hansel and Gretel, the Hare's Bride, and the end of Little Red-Cap (a.k.a. Little Red Riding Hood). However, even where the heroine is passive, such as in Cinderella, she is displaying patience and fortitude, which are good virtues for anyone to have (Walt Disney supposedly identified with her most of all the characters in his films) (2013). There's even a story that has men go through this: The Three Apprentices (warning, they deal with the devil, but it's not quite what you think).
Obviously, these stories were collected from many different places, but something I find interesting is that several of them resemble stories from further afield than just Germany and France and the like. The Water Nixie resembles a story about the Russian hag Baba Yaga. The Spirit in the Bottle is similar to a story from the Thousand and One Nights. Even stranger, The Wedding of Mrs. Fox features a fox with nine tails, a spirit from East Asia. In today's multicultural world, finding out what also exists where can be quite intriguing.
Granted, these stories are incredibly short and underdeveloped, but even that can be fun. As a writer myself, I love sparing a moment to think about what some of these stories would look like as films. With the fantasy boom currently going on, these are good seeds for a deeper analysis and exploration of the story for writers to practice their craft on. Even just enjoyed on their own, these are good stories, imaginative, although a reflection of a slightly alien and more gore-happy culture.
Lerer, S. (2008). Children's literature: A reader's history from Aesop to Harry Potter. The University of Chicago Press: Chicago.
Walker, D. (2013, Mar. 26). Nostalgia Critic editorial: What's with all the princess hate? [video file]. Retrieved from: http://channelawesome.com/nostalgia-critic-editorial-whats-with-the-princess-hate/
*Pomeranian. Yes, like the dog.
Grimm, J., Grimm, W., & Scharl, J. (ill.). (1972). The complete Grimm's fairy tales. New York: Pantheon.
Summary: There are 210 individual stories in this collection. To catalog them all with even a sentence would take the rest of this blog. Suffice it to say that kind-hearted fools are rewarded for their kindness and people who fail to do what they're told are punished. Also, odds are if you're read one, some of the others will seem similar to you.
Thoughts: By now, I think everyone knows that the original Grimm's Fairy Tales were darker, gorier, and lewder than the versions kids experience. The fact is, these stories were originally aimed at adults. However, because people were often reading them to their children, the Brothers Grimm decided to alter the stories to be more appropriate, more Christianized and less demonizing to mothers. The altered versions still have some undesirable content in them, though. Cinderella is the toe-chopping version seen in Into the Woods, The Jew in the Thorns is antisemitic, and unless you or your kids really love gore, avoid The Juniper Tree like the plague. In addition, these stories can get rather strange. A favorite passage of mine from The Bird, the Mouse, and the Sausage should illustrate this nicely:
"Not far off, however, [the bird] met a dog on the road who had fallen upon the poor sausage as lawful booty, and had seized and swallowed it. The bird charged the dog with an act of bare-faced robbery, but words were useless, for the dog said he had found forged letters on the sausage, on which account its life was forfeited to him."
Yes, that is from a story where a bird, a mouse, and a sausage live under one roof. And it isn't a comedy. Unless you find all of them dying funny because they should've stuck to their assigned chores, in which case the rest of this book should make perfect sense to you.
That being said, there are still a bunch of stories that both make sense and are G/PG-rated unaltered. Some of them include: King Thrushbeard, How Six Men Got on in the World, Godfather Death, The Fisherman and his Wife, The Elves (including the story of the Elves and the Shoemaker), The Six Swans, Little Briar-Rose (a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty), Maid Maleen, and The Golden Key. As a whole, though, if you're going to read these to kids, you'll probably want to read through each of these and tailor them to fit.
The main message of many of these stories, as I mentioned earlier, seems to be "do what's right and do what you're told or there'll be Hell to pay". Even within those parameters, there's Hell to pay, but things turn out well enough in the end. Regarding modern sensibilities, there's little in the tales that outright contradicts them (see The Jew in the Thorns and The Good Bargain for examples) except for the gender roles of the time. Professor Seth Lerer points out that in most of these stories, women and girls are often swept around by the tides of the story, whereas men and boys take the bull by the horns (2008). I concur with his point, but I also want to make a point of Doug Walker's Nostalgia Critic to soften it a bit. There are several stories where a female protagonist takes an active role in the story, such as Hansel and Gretel, the Hare's Bride, and the end of Little Red-Cap (a.k.a. Little Red Riding Hood). However, even where the heroine is passive, such as in Cinderella, she is displaying patience and fortitude, which are good virtues for anyone to have (Walt Disney supposedly identified with her most of all the characters in his films) (2013). There's even a story that has men go through this: The Three Apprentices (warning, they deal with the devil, but it's not quite what you think).
Obviously, these stories were collected from many different places, but something I find interesting is that several of them resemble stories from further afield than just Germany and France and the like. The Water Nixie resembles a story about the Russian hag Baba Yaga. The Spirit in the Bottle is similar to a story from the Thousand and One Nights. Even stranger, The Wedding of Mrs. Fox features a fox with nine tails, a spirit from East Asia. In today's multicultural world, finding out what also exists where can be quite intriguing.
Granted, these stories are incredibly short and underdeveloped, but even that can be fun. As a writer myself, I love sparing a moment to think about what some of these stories would look like as films. With the fantasy boom currently going on, these are good seeds for a deeper analysis and exploration of the story for writers to practice their craft on. Even just enjoyed on their own, these are good stories, imaginative, although a reflection of a slightly alien and more gore-happy culture.
Lerer, S. (2008). Children's literature: A reader's history from Aesop to Harry Potter. The University of Chicago Press: Chicago.
Walker, D. (2013, Mar. 26). Nostalgia Critic editorial: What's with all the princess hate? [video file]. Retrieved from: http://channelawesome.com/nostalgia-critic-editorial-whats-with-the-princess-hate/
Season III, Post 1: "Goody Two Shoes"
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. This summer, I'm going to be doing things a little differently. This time, my blog posts are going to be focused on examples of how children's literature used to be, although I will still review the books I bring up (though I will not be posting another person's review). With that said, let's get started with Unknown Author's The History of Little Goody Two Shoes.
No, this book didn't invent the term, but it did popularize it (sans meaning). Stay sharp, it's not the only thing you might be surprised at during this review.
Source: Goody Two Shoes: A facsimile reproduction of the edition of 1766. (2004). Original work published 1766. Retrieved from: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/13675/13675-h/13675-h.htm
Plot: An honest farmer by the name of Meanwell is bankrupted by his vile landlord and driven to an early death. Shortly thereafter, his wife dies, leaving his two children, Tom and Margery, to fend for themselves. However, Tom is lost at sea, leaving Margery alone to find her own way. However, she finds a way to fend for herself, becoming a tutor, then a teacher, and by the grace of God, Mrs. Goody Two Shoes comes to a good end.
Summary: If you're looking to be entertained by this book, bear in mind it comes from a different time. The pacing moves like a Bugatti but is packed to the gills with detours with lessons to teach the impressionable children. The characters are all extremely shallow, and the book often comes off as overly idealistic. This is a product of the time, when children were seen as impressionable minds that had to be carefully instructed lest they turn to damnation, a viewpoint that persists to this day in some corners.
In its historical context, though, I love it. It's not hard to see that Christianity is on a lesser pedestal than previously, and though I'm fine with that, it's often accompanied by propaganda that's nothing short of venomous, characterizing it as the source of all evils in a modern society, complacency and superstition, among others (Doctor Who, I'm looking at you). This book goes far to dispel all of that. Yes, it comes from an earlier time where some of its values, like relentless preaching, are frowned upon now, but many of its values are timeless.
For example, after a house collapses, the author takes time out of the story to urge readers to make Parliament work to protect them. That's something a lot of adults still don't do in a more secularized world. In addition, when the main character is accused of being a witch, another character gives a very long speech about how a belief in witchcraft is superstition that disfavors elderly and impoverished women. Yes, a book preaching both Christianity and the evils of witch-hunts; it's not as odd an idea as you think. It's the source of possibly my favorite quote:
"Sir William Dove, who was on the Bench, asked [Margery's] Accusers, how they could be such Fools, as to think there was any such Thing as a Witch. It is true, continued he, many innocent and worthy People have been abused and even murdered on this absurd and foolish Supposition; which is a Scandal to our Religion, to our Laws, to our Nation, and to common Sense..."
Yes, this could be said about any religious disagreement, but for the longest time, Christianity did not believe in witchcraft or any kind of supernatural idea bar the Holy Trinity. Malleus Maleficarum was immensely unpopular on its release in 1487 and was banned by the Roman Catholic Church three years later. Heck, thirty years before this book was published, the Witchcraft Act made it a crime to accuse someone of being a witch. Seeing that passage in this book lifts my spirits, not only as a Christian, but as someone who knows a bit about history. Though it's not as entertaining as it once may have been, a lot of what it stands for is still undeniable.
No, this book didn't invent the term, but it did popularize it (sans meaning). Stay sharp, it's not the only thing you might be surprised at during this review.
Source: Goody Two Shoes: A facsimile reproduction of the edition of 1766. (2004). Original work published 1766. Retrieved from: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/13675/13675-h/13675-h.htm
Plot: An honest farmer by the name of Meanwell is bankrupted by his vile landlord and driven to an early death. Shortly thereafter, his wife dies, leaving his two children, Tom and Margery, to fend for themselves. However, Tom is lost at sea, leaving Margery alone to find her own way. However, she finds a way to fend for herself, becoming a tutor, then a teacher, and by the grace of God, Mrs. Goody Two Shoes comes to a good end.
Summary: If you're looking to be entertained by this book, bear in mind it comes from a different time. The pacing moves like a Bugatti but is packed to the gills with detours with lessons to teach the impressionable children. The characters are all extremely shallow, and the book often comes off as overly idealistic. This is a product of the time, when children were seen as impressionable minds that had to be carefully instructed lest they turn to damnation, a viewpoint that persists to this day in some corners.
In its historical context, though, I love it. It's not hard to see that Christianity is on a lesser pedestal than previously, and though I'm fine with that, it's often accompanied by propaganda that's nothing short of venomous, characterizing it as the source of all evils in a modern society, complacency and superstition, among others (Doctor Who, I'm looking at you). This book goes far to dispel all of that. Yes, it comes from an earlier time where some of its values, like relentless preaching, are frowned upon now, but many of its values are timeless.
For example, after a house collapses, the author takes time out of the story to urge readers to make Parliament work to protect them. That's something a lot of adults still don't do in a more secularized world. In addition, when the main character is accused of being a witch, another character gives a very long speech about how a belief in witchcraft is superstition that disfavors elderly and impoverished women. Yes, a book preaching both Christianity and the evils of witch-hunts; it's not as odd an idea as you think. It's the source of possibly my favorite quote:
"Sir William Dove, who was on the Bench, asked [Margery's] Accusers, how they could be such Fools, as to think there was any such Thing as a Witch. It is true, continued he, many innocent and worthy People have been abused and even murdered on this absurd and foolish Supposition; which is a Scandal to our Religion, to our Laws, to our Nation, and to common Sense..."
Yes, this could be said about any religious disagreement, but for the longest time, Christianity did not believe in witchcraft or any kind of supernatural idea bar the Holy Trinity. Malleus Maleficarum was immensely unpopular on its release in 1487 and was banned by the Roman Catholic Church three years later. Heck, thirty years before this book was published, the Witchcraft Act made it a crime to accuse someone of being a witch. Seeing that passage in this book lifts my spirits, not only as a Christian, but as someone who knows a bit about history. Though it's not as entertaining as it once may have been, a lot of what it stands for is still undeniable.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Module 15, Season II: Athletic Shorts
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. Well, it's the end of the season, and that means it's time for another controversial book. This one's a two-fer; not only does it have adult material, it's also a short story anthology, which means that it gets checked out less often than the library's big dictionary. It's also based on other books by the same author, which could trigger alarms of continuity lockout. However, even if you haven't read his other books, you can still read this on your own. This is Athletic shorts.
Crutcher, C. (1991). Athletic shorts: Six short stories. New York: Greenwillow Books.
Summary: There are six stories in the collection, all about teenagers.
1. A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune: Ugly and awkward Angus Bethune who is the son of two gay couples (a man and woman who divorced and married other people) gets elected prom king and agonizes over meeting his crush on the dance floor.
2. The Pin: Sarcastic aspiring writer Johnny Rivers wrestles with his controlling and abusive father to try and prove himself.
3. The Other Pin: High school wrestler Petey Shropshire is picked to take on a girl whose prowess is legend. His fear controls him, but he drives himself to find out about her in order to control his fear.
4. Goin' Fishing: Lionel Serbousek's parents and little sister were killed in a boating accident a few years ago, and he's been in self-imposed homelessness ever since. The boy who caused it comes begging forgiveness, but Lionel is unwilling to give it.
5. Telephone Man: Jack Simpson is a mentally atypical child who's been raised to be racist. One day, however, he finds himself embarrassed at a special school for 'eccentric' children, and at the mercy of those he looks down on.
6. In the Time I Get: Louie Banks has stood up against racism, but there are other kinds of prejudice to deal with. For example, there's his gay coworker, who's also dying of AIDS, and whom no-one else will have anything to do with.
Impressions:
1. I wasn't really impressed. I hate characters with anger issues (such as the main character) and the main character's crush goes out with a jerk that makes me question what made her ever decide to go out with him. Yes, there are two gay couples and the word 'faggot' gets thrown around a bit. The main character has a 'no-kiss agreement' set in place between both parents, but he defends them. Make of that what you will.
2. Johnny didn't endear himself to me, but I can see where he comes from. His father is more restrained than your stereotypical abuser which kept my interest, since abusers come in all shapes and sizes that need to be recognized. I have mixed feelings about the ending, since I don't know if it was foreshadowed enough to come off as forced. Overall, I was OK with this story.
3. I liked this story up to a point. Johnny from the previous story shows up to be a jackwagon. The story is pretty predictable, but I liked seeing it develop. However, I'm debating whether or not it was a good idea to turn Petey and his opponent's feelings into a relationship.
4. This is a necessary story. I wound up despising Lionel for the way he reacted to his parents death. While his animosity towards his parents killer is understandable, I was still impatiently waiting for him to forgive the killer. I'm not sold on how he's convinced to offer his forgiveness, but it was nice to see him called on taking his hatred too far for too long.
5. Jack looks like he has autism, which is a personal subject for me. That and the highlighting that he got his racism from his father goes a long way towards making him tolerable for me, even though I know not everyone will bear with him. The progression of events is believable and actually pretty touching. This one's my favorite.
6. This story makes a lot of important points without being sappy. The characters are quite believable. Its point about how people are still nervous around someone with a disease they can't spread still rings true today, as does its point that prejudices can have to be overcome one at a time instead of all-at-once.
All-in-all, I think that this would be a good book to show teenagers regarding social issues. While the stories weren't the best I've seen, they mostly get the job done.
Second Opinion: "A winning collection of stories... These Athletic Shorts will speak to YAs, touch them deeply, and introduce them to characters they'll want to know better."
Source: Morning, T. (1991). Athletic shorts (Book Review) (Undetermined). School Library Journal, 37278.
Crutcher, C. (1991). Athletic shorts: Six short stories. New York: Greenwillow Books.
Summary: There are six stories in the collection, all about teenagers.
1. A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune: Ugly and awkward Angus Bethune who is the son of two gay couples (a man and woman who divorced and married other people) gets elected prom king and agonizes over meeting his crush on the dance floor.
2. The Pin: Sarcastic aspiring writer Johnny Rivers wrestles with his controlling and abusive father to try and prove himself.
3. The Other Pin: High school wrestler Petey Shropshire is picked to take on a girl whose prowess is legend. His fear controls him, but he drives himself to find out about her in order to control his fear.
4. Goin' Fishing: Lionel Serbousek's parents and little sister were killed in a boating accident a few years ago, and he's been in self-imposed homelessness ever since. The boy who caused it comes begging forgiveness, but Lionel is unwilling to give it.
5. Telephone Man: Jack Simpson is a mentally atypical child who's been raised to be racist. One day, however, he finds himself embarrassed at a special school for 'eccentric' children, and at the mercy of those he looks down on.
6. In the Time I Get: Louie Banks has stood up against racism, but there are other kinds of prejudice to deal with. For example, there's his gay coworker, who's also dying of AIDS, and whom no-one else will have anything to do with.
Impressions:
1. I wasn't really impressed. I hate characters with anger issues (such as the main character) and the main character's crush goes out with a jerk that makes me question what made her ever decide to go out with him. Yes, there are two gay couples and the word 'faggot' gets thrown around a bit. The main character has a 'no-kiss agreement' set in place between both parents, but he defends them. Make of that what you will.
2. Johnny didn't endear himself to me, but I can see where he comes from. His father is more restrained than your stereotypical abuser which kept my interest, since abusers come in all shapes and sizes that need to be recognized. I have mixed feelings about the ending, since I don't know if it was foreshadowed enough to come off as forced. Overall, I was OK with this story.
3. I liked this story up to a point. Johnny from the previous story shows up to be a jackwagon. The story is pretty predictable, but I liked seeing it develop. However, I'm debating whether or not it was a good idea to turn Petey and his opponent's feelings into a relationship.
4. This is a necessary story. I wound up despising Lionel for the way he reacted to his parents death. While his animosity towards his parents killer is understandable, I was still impatiently waiting for him to forgive the killer. I'm not sold on how he's convinced to offer his forgiveness, but it was nice to see him called on taking his hatred too far for too long.
5. Jack looks like he has autism, which is a personal subject for me. That and the highlighting that he got his racism from his father goes a long way towards making him tolerable for me, even though I know not everyone will bear with him. The progression of events is believable and actually pretty touching. This one's my favorite.
6. This story makes a lot of important points without being sappy. The characters are quite believable. Its point about how people are still nervous around someone with a disease they can't spread still rings true today, as does its point that prejudices can have to be overcome one at a time instead of all-at-once.
All-in-all, I think that this would be a good book to show teenagers regarding social issues. While the stories weren't the best I've seen, they mostly get the job done.
Second Opinion: "A winning collection of stories... These Athletic Shorts will speak to YAs, touch them deeply, and introduce them to characters they'll want to know better."
Source: Morning, T. (1991). Athletic shorts (Book Review) (Undetermined). School Library Journal, 37278.
Module 14, Season II: Dark Emperor
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. I don't think I'm far off the mark in calling poetry a bit of a niche market. While most stories have a plot readers can get engaged with, a lot of poetry does not, meaning that it has a reputation for being ephemeral. Also, while the effort a poet put into a poem can be easily recognized by a layman through rhyme, meter, and even music, many poems have none, which can make them just seem like sentences that were chopped into funny shapes. Finally, a popular and untrue reputation of poets as being overly vague elitist drama-llama snobs makes them seem undesirable. Poetry advocates have said that they need to teach children poetry while they're young, and to such people, I recommend Dark Emperor.
Citation: Allen, R. i., & Sidman, J. (2010). Dark emperor and other poems of the night. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcount.
Summary: When the sun goes down, the poets of the night come alive. One-by-one they introduce themselves, first in verse, than in prose. Many different styles are given as the creatures of the night come and go. Finally, with the break of day, the moon itself gives its final ubi sunt, and bows before the light.
Impressions: I actually want to buy this book for myself. It includes good poetry from a variety of genres, such as shape poems and free verse. In fact, this book contains the first free verse that I actually 'got'. Furthermore, after each poem comes interesting information about the subjects of the poems. My only regret is that it doesn't tell you what kinds of poems each poem is, but that wasn't the point of the book. Not only would this be useful in introducing children to poetry, but if the library ever decided to have a library night, this would be useful in introducing children to nature at night.
Second Opinion: " Each poem captures the unique voice of the flora and fauna of the woods through a nighttime lens using the perfect blend of poetic devices, description and imagery... The beautiful prose, informational facts, and glossary, coupled with Allen's detailed hand-colored linoleum cut prints, make this a must-have poetry collection for connecting science, art, and language arts."
Source: M., N. (2011). Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night. Journal Of Children's Literature, 37(2), 50-51.
Citation: Allen, R. i., & Sidman, J. (2010). Dark emperor and other poems of the night. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcount.
Summary: When the sun goes down, the poets of the night come alive. One-by-one they introduce themselves, first in verse, than in prose. Many different styles are given as the creatures of the night come and go. Finally, with the break of day, the moon itself gives its final ubi sunt, and bows before the light.
Impressions: I actually want to buy this book for myself. It includes good poetry from a variety of genres, such as shape poems and free verse. In fact, this book contains the first free verse that I actually 'got'. Furthermore, after each poem comes interesting information about the subjects of the poems. My only regret is that it doesn't tell you what kinds of poems each poem is, but that wasn't the point of the book. Not only would this be useful in introducing children to poetry, but if the library ever decided to have a library night, this would be useful in introducing children to nature at night.
Second Opinion: " Each poem captures the unique voice of the flora and fauna of the woods through a nighttime lens using the perfect blend of poetic devices, description and imagery... The beautiful prose, informational facts, and glossary, coupled with Allen's detailed hand-colored linoleum cut prints, make this a must-have poetry collection for connecting science, art, and language arts."
Source: M., N. (2011). Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night. Journal Of Children's Literature, 37(2), 50-51.
Module 13, Season II: Skeleton Key
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. I love comic books and I've been on a bender recently to read more superhero books, such as Batman: Year One, X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills, and Iron Man: War of the Iron Men. However, there are other graphic novels out there, like any artform, to varying degrees of quality, I just usually stick to superhero titles for reasons of escapism. On the one hand, you have good stories like Spider-Man: The Death of Jean DeWolff, which tells a story about mental illness and the justice system versus vigilanteism and Iron Man: War of the Iron Men, about ethnic tensions and the dangers of weapons made for defense falling into the wrong hands. On the other hand, you have this.
Citation: Horowitz, A., Johnston, A., Damerum, K. i., & Takasaki, Y. i. Skeleton Key. New York: Philomel Books.
Plot: After being made a target by the Tongs for uprooting a gambling operation at Wimbledon, teenaged superspy Alex Rider is sent on an assignment with Americans to investigate a former Soviet general planning something in Cuba. However, his American companions leave him behind to investigate on their own, leaving Alex in the dark as to their mission. Thus Alex conducts his own investigation, finding nuclear weapons and plots to overthrow the Russian government. Even worse, said general has his eye on Alex for some purpose of his own.
Impressions: I freaking hate this thing. The pacing is good, the artwork is good, and the mystery is actually pretty interesting, but there's just too much stupid in it. This has little to do with the premise: I'm a James Bond fan and I want to see a more lighthearted James Bond. Furthermore, I grew up on Pokemon and I could buy minors getting involved in saving the world if it was made to seem normal; I understand wish fulfillment. However, when the author says that only Great Britain has teenage superspies because Americans think that the idea is too dangerous, which it is, then suspension of disbelief no longer exists.
This leads me to another sore point: Anthony Horowitz seems to think that Americans couldn't find water if they jumped off the Titanic. Alex Rider's two (adult) CIA partners leave behind a proven secret agent, constantly don't involve him, and then get themselves killed off-panel. Their sole purpose is to make Alex Rider look good in comparison. I repeat, two American, adult, presumably more experienced secret agents, are unceremoniously killed off to make the British snot-nosed punk look intelligent in comparison. By contrast, the James Bond films had Felix Leiter, Jack Wade, and several American Bond girls to look respectable and balance out any anti-American stereotypes they used. Even when Felix Leiter was maimed by a sharks in License to Kill just to kick off the plot, his near-death had dramatic impact because James Bond and Felix Leiter were portrayed as equal partners and close friends, not as antagonists where one had to die for dignified comic relief. Even then, you had the CIA and Pam Bouvier. In a book that has the Americans make the most sense, this is a bit of a problem.
Finally, several characters take very... odd actions. One of which is a airport security guard whose superiors do not think their guard is dead even though the gunshot that killed him takes up a fifth of a panel even with a silencer and he had a wire on him! HOW DO YOU MISS THAT! The villain is alright, with a rather sad backstory, but his plot is kind of ridiculous for reasons I can't spoil. This line, however, you must see to believe:
General Orlov: Nobody will suspect the truth.
James Bond, Jr.: Yes, they will! The CIA knows you bought uranium! They'll find out their agents are dead-
Here it comes...
General Orlov: Nobody will believe the CIA. Nobody ever does.
...I have no words. I don't know if this is true, but it just sounds too mind-numbingly stupid. And this is coming out of the bad guy's mouth. The man plotting this whole thing. Actually, his plot kind of makes sense now.
Not all of the book is bad. The artwork is nice and colorful (Skyfall, take note), the comic has great pacing, and I was actually interested in seeing what comes next. If I stocked this, I could easily include this as part of an event showing the impact the James Bond movies have had. Of course, that's if I stocked it, and I think I'd rather look for other books with less jarring breeds of stupid in them.
Second opinion: "This is an immensely entertaining romp, hitting all the thrill-buttons for an ideal summer blockbluster, even though it’s told – and very convincingly – from the viewpoint of an uncertain boy rather than a suave, sophisticated adult... These books and their comic counterparts are a fine addition to [Great Britain's] fiction tradition."
Source: Wiacek, W. (2010). [Review of Skeleton Key: the Graphic Novel - an Alex Rider Adventure, by A. Horowitz and A. Johnson]. Now Read This!. Retrieved from http://www.comicsreview.co.uk/nowreadthis/2010/05/14/skeleton-key-the-graphic-novel-an-alex-rider-adventure/
Citation: Horowitz, A., Johnston, A., Damerum, K. i., & Takasaki, Y. i. Skeleton Key. New York: Philomel Books.
Plot: After being made a target by the Tongs for uprooting a gambling operation at Wimbledon, teenaged superspy Alex Rider is sent on an assignment with Americans to investigate a former Soviet general planning something in Cuba. However, his American companions leave him behind to investigate on their own, leaving Alex in the dark as to their mission. Thus Alex conducts his own investigation, finding nuclear weapons and plots to overthrow the Russian government. Even worse, said general has his eye on Alex for some purpose of his own.
Impressions: I freaking hate this thing. The pacing is good, the artwork is good, and the mystery is actually pretty interesting, but there's just too much stupid in it. This has little to do with the premise: I'm a James Bond fan and I want to see a more lighthearted James Bond. Furthermore, I grew up on Pokemon and I could buy minors getting involved in saving the world if it was made to seem normal; I understand wish fulfillment. However, when the author says that only Great Britain has teenage superspies because Americans think that the idea is too dangerous, which it is, then suspension of disbelief no longer exists.
This leads me to another sore point: Anthony Horowitz seems to think that Americans couldn't find water if they jumped off the Titanic. Alex Rider's two (adult) CIA partners leave behind a proven secret agent, constantly don't involve him, and then get themselves killed off-panel. Their sole purpose is to make Alex Rider look good in comparison. I repeat, two American, adult, presumably more experienced secret agents, are unceremoniously killed off to make the British snot-nosed punk look intelligent in comparison. By contrast, the James Bond films had Felix Leiter, Jack Wade, and several American Bond girls to look respectable and balance out any anti-American stereotypes they used. Even when Felix Leiter was maimed by a sharks in License to Kill just to kick off the plot, his near-death had dramatic impact because James Bond and Felix Leiter were portrayed as equal partners and close friends, not as antagonists where one had to die for dignified comic relief. Even then, you had the CIA and Pam Bouvier. In a book that has the Americans make the most sense, this is a bit of a problem.
Finally, several characters take very... odd actions. One of which is a airport security guard whose superiors do not think their guard is dead even though the gunshot that killed him takes up a fifth of a panel even with a silencer and he had a wire on him! HOW DO YOU MISS THAT! The villain is alright, with a rather sad backstory, but his plot is kind of ridiculous for reasons I can't spoil. This line, however, you must see to believe:
General Orlov: Nobody will suspect the truth.
James Bond, Jr.: Yes, they will! The CIA knows you bought uranium! They'll find out their agents are dead-
Here it comes...
General Orlov: Nobody will believe the CIA. Nobody ever does.
...I have no words. I don't know if this is true, but it just sounds too mind-numbingly stupid. And this is coming out of the bad guy's mouth. The man plotting this whole thing. Actually, his plot kind of makes sense now.
Not all of the book is bad. The artwork is nice and colorful (Skyfall, take note), the comic has great pacing, and I was actually interested in seeing what comes next. If I stocked this, I could easily include this as part of an event showing the impact the James Bond movies have had. Of course, that's if I stocked it, and I think I'd rather look for other books with less jarring breeds of stupid in them.
Second opinion: "This is an immensely entertaining romp, hitting all the thrill-buttons for an ideal summer blockbluster, even though it’s told – and very convincingly – from the viewpoint of an uncertain boy rather than a suave, sophisticated adult... These books and their comic counterparts are a fine addition to [Great Britain's] fiction tradition."
Source: Wiacek, W. (2010). [Review of Skeleton Key: the Graphic Novel - an Alex Rider Adventure, by A. Horowitz and A. Johnson]. Now Read This!. Retrieved from http://www.comicsreview.co.uk/nowreadthis/2010/05/14/skeleton-key-the-graphic-novel-an-alex-rider-adventure/
Module 12, Season II: The Great and Only Barnum
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. Biographies are like the more thorough and (hopefully) more respectable version of the tabloids. They dredge up intimate details from a person's life to indulge peoples' hero worship or bile fascination about said person. When done poorly, it's just as sensationalist and dubiously true as the tabloids. When done well, it can create a life-like picture that helps people understand humanity, and even, in the my case with The Great and Only Barnum, can even inspire new role models.
Citation: Fenwick, R. i., & Fleming, C. (2009). The great and only Barnum: the tremendous, stupendous life of showman P.T. Barnum. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books.
Summary: In a small town in Connecticut, a boy who hated doing a hard day's work found out that his vaunted inheritance was actually a snake-infested swamp. Instead of being turned from his daydreams, he spent his life pursuing them. Over the course of his life, he went from making a humbug of an old black woman to respectfully portraying 'ambassadors of the wonderful', from an alcoholic to a champion of temperance, from a man with nothing to the organizer of what would become America's greatest circus.
Impressions: Even despite my admiration for the subject of this autobiography, this is a great book. It's a very thorough account of his life, even including context for his life to make some of his actions make sense. While it doesn't pull any punches about the less admirable aspects of his life, it also shows his moving beyond his flaws. I'd include this in a display on how to write a biography, but because of the numerous side-notes I could also use it as part of a career day display to encourage children to go into zoology.
Second opinion: As in a real circus, the largeformat pages include plenty to grab readers' attention: white-on-black sidebars that put the entrepreneur's feats in context... Audiences will step right up co this illuminating and thorough portrait of an entertainment legend.
Source: The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P.T. Barnum. (2009). Publishers Weekly, 256(35), 60.
Citation: Fenwick, R. i., & Fleming, C. (2009). The great and only Barnum: the tremendous, stupendous life of showman P.T. Barnum. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books.
Summary: In a small town in Connecticut, a boy who hated doing a hard day's work found out that his vaunted inheritance was actually a snake-infested swamp. Instead of being turned from his daydreams, he spent his life pursuing them. Over the course of his life, he went from making a humbug of an old black woman to respectfully portraying 'ambassadors of the wonderful', from an alcoholic to a champion of temperance, from a man with nothing to the organizer of what would become America's greatest circus.
Impressions: Even despite my admiration for the subject of this autobiography, this is a great book. It's a very thorough account of his life, even including context for his life to make some of his actions make sense. While it doesn't pull any punches about the less admirable aspects of his life, it also shows his moving beyond his flaws. I'd include this in a display on how to write a biography, but because of the numerous side-notes I could also use it as part of a career day display to encourage children to go into zoology.
Second opinion: As in a real circus, the largeformat pages include plenty to grab readers' attention: white-on-black sidebars that put the entrepreneur's feats in context... Audiences will step right up co this illuminating and thorough portrait of an entertainment legend.
Source: The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P.T. Barnum. (2009). Publishers Weekly, 256(35), 60.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Module 11, Season II: Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. My last name is German, from a Polish idiom for 'German-speaker'. I'm proud of my German (Pomeranian & we-don't-know-what) roots, even though I don't know much about Germany, mainly because it's a part of me and I might as well be proud of it. And yes, I am aware of Nazis and the Holocaust, and I am well aware that, no matter how well Germany is doing in this day and age, with the swastika, Nazism and Nazi sympathy outright banned, that Adolf Hitler is the only thing that gets brought up about Germany, and I'm getting sick of it. It's not the biggest of problems, but it can be fixed. Naturally, I wasn't too enthused about reading a book about anything Nazi, but I decided to give this a try. I am pleased to say Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's shadow pleasantly surprised me.
Citation: Bartoletti, S. (2005). Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's shadow. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction.
Summary: The Hitler Youth existed since the earliest days of the National Socialists, fighting street wars with the Communists. Then, when Hitler ascended to power, they became a fact of life. Stool pidgons for the Nazis and soldiers-in-training. Some children became their victims, others fought out against them, often paying with their lives. Whether as survivors, victims, rebels, or enforcers these children shaped German history.
Impressions: I wasn't going into this expecting a 'feel good' read. However, I came out of this with a sense that the land of my distant cousins was treated quite fairly. While the Germans were still blamed for not doing enough (which is a well-defended accusation, and I believe it), the book also delved into the good things Germans did, such as the White Rose and the condemnations from the Catholics (in the world of Hitler's Pope, I find that very satisfying). Moreover, I got this sense of tragedy, not only for the lives lost, but also that it didn't have to be this way: that many of the kids' phenomenal abilities were put to bad use. This doesn't just belong as part of a display for Nazi Germany, to ensure a sense of fairness towards Germany, this should be part of a well-advertised reading list for all kids of this age, to show them what they can do, for good and for ill.
Second opinion: "The real strength of Susan Campbell Bartoletti's handsome book, which is illustrated with documentary photographs, lies in its interviews with former members, as well as with Jews and Mischling (half-Jews) who were forbidden to join the ranks. For high school students studying the Nazi regime, Bartoletti's book should be essential reading."
Citation: Hiller, S. (2005, August 15). CHILDREN'S BOOKS. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E3DF113CF937A2575BC0A9639C8B63
Citation: Bartoletti, S. (2005). Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's shadow. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction.
Summary: The Hitler Youth existed since the earliest days of the National Socialists, fighting street wars with the Communists. Then, when Hitler ascended to power, they became a fact of life. Stool pidgons for the Nazis and soldiers-in-training. Some children became their victims, others fought out against them, often paying with their lives. Whether as survivors, victims, rebels, or enforcers these children shaped German history.
Impressions: I wasn't going into this expecting a 'feel good' read. However, I came out of this with a sense that the land of my distant cousins was treated quite fairly. While the Germans were still blamed for not doing enough (which is a well-defended accusation, and I believe it), the book also delved into the good things Germans did, such as the White Rose and the condemnations from the Catholics (in the world of Hitler's Pope, I find that very satisfying). Moreover, I got this sense of tragedy, not only for the lives lost, but also that it didn't have to be this way: that many of the kids' phenomenal abilities were put to bad use. This doesn't just belong as part of a display for Nazi Germany, to ensure a sense of fairness towards Germany, this should be part of a well-advertised reading list for all kids of this age, to show them what they can do, for good and for ill.
Second opinion: "The real strength of Susan Campbell Bartoletti's handsome book, which is illustrated with documentary photographs, lies in its interviews with former members, as well as with Jews and Mischling (half-Jews) who were forbidden to join the ranks. For high school students studying the Nazi regime, Bartoletti's book should be essential reading."
Citation: Hiller, S. (2005, August 15). CHILDREN'S BOOKS. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E3DF113CF937A2575BC0A9639C8B63
Module 10, Season II: Tomas and the library lady
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. I've heard about history being relateable to modern audiences, but this book takes the cake. While you can guess it from the pictures, there are literally no other clues that this book takes place in the past, and I think it's pretty good for it. This is Tomas and the library lady.
Citation: Colón, R. i., & Mora, P. (1997). Tomas and the library lady. New York: Knopf.
Plot: Tomas is the son of Hispanic itinerant farmworkers, who latches onto his grandfather's stories. One day, however, Tomas is declared old enough to go to the library while his parents are out working in the fields. There, he bonds with the librarian and discovers that there are even more stories in the books of her library. Through them, he becomes the storyteller of his family.
Impressions: The only problem I can think of is that this is supposed to be a story about astronaut Tomas Rivera, who is not mentioned until the epilogue. However, despite the outdated clothes, this could conceivably take place in the present day, which could make any fears of 'boring history' and makes it a lot more relateable. The illustrations are very good and the story is nice, too. I'd actually be perfectly comfortable including it in a display about modern poverty, how libraries help those people, and what they can become.
Second opinion: "Colón's sensitive scratchboard illustrations beautifully capture Tomás's apprehensions as he stands in front of the library doors, as well as his fantasies from the world of books. So many of us from Hispanic America, including this reviewer, who did not enjoy the luxuries of school or public libraries in our countries of origin but had wonderfully loving grandparents, will identify with Tomás's story about librarians' kindnesses and a grandfather's stories."
Citation: Schon, I. (1998). Tomás and the library lady (Book Review) (Undetermined). Multicultural Review, 7(2), 62.
Citation: Colón, R. i., & Mora, P. (1997). Tomas and the library lady. New York: Knopf.
Plot: Tomas is the son of Hispanic itinerant farmworkers, who latches onto his grandfather's stories. One day, however, Tomas is declared old enough to go to the library while his parents are out working in the fields. There, he bonds with the librarian and discovers that there are even more stories in the books of her library. Through them, he becomes the storyteller of his family.
Impressions: The only problem I can think of is that this is supposed to be a story about astronaut Tomas Rivera, who is not mentioned until the epilogue. However, despite the outdated clothes, this could conceivably take place in the present day, which could make any fears of 'boring history' and makes it a lot more relateable. The illustrations are very good and the story is nice, too. I'd actually be perfectly comfortable including it in a display about modern poverty, how libraries help those people, and what they can become.
Second opinion: "Colón's sensitive scratchboard illustrations beautifully capture Tomás's apprehensions as he stands in front of the library doors, as well as his fantasies from the world of books. So many of us from Hispanic America, including this reviewer, who did not enjoy the luxuries of school or public libraries in our countries of origin but had wonderfully loving grandparents, will identify with Tomás's story about librarians' kindnesses and a grandfather's stories."
Citation: Schon, I. (1998). Tomás and the library lady (Book Review) (Undetermined). Multicultural Review, 7(2), 62.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Module 9, Season II: Chet Gecko: The Mystery of Mr. Nice
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. I'm not a big mystery fan. I don't hate them, I just prefer straight-up fantasy/action. That being said, I've encountered a great many mysteries that I've enjoyed. Case in point, The Mystery of Mr. Nice.
Citation: Hale, B. (2000). The mystery of Mr. Nice: from the tattered casebook of Chet Gecko, private eye.
Plot: The name's Gecko, Chet Gecko. I'm a private eye. My specialty: the crimes that slip through the cracks of Emerson Hicky Elementary School. Case in point: One day I'm busted for my constitutional rights to artistic expression and redress of academia and sent to Principal Nero's office. Once I'm there, however, the principal complements me on my work. Something is wrong, deeply wrong. Our principal has obviously been replaced by an imposter. With the help of my assistant Natalie Attired, we're going to get to the bottom of this, no matter to what depths of conspiracy and corruption we have to descend.
Impression: This wasn't bad, but I imagine kids would like it better. The whole book is a parody of hard-boiled detective fiction, which was pretty stock for my tastes. The plot, however, is amazingly fun and you can tell you're not supposed to take it seriously. I wish I could enjoy it more, but I, as an adult, just laughed too little at it. It's no Tracer Bullet, but it's my tastes that keep me from enjoying it, and it works well at what it does.
Second opinion: "The swift plot, clever wisecracking, and hardboiled style make this chapter book a terrific read." - Cadance Fletcher, Booklist
Citation: Fletcher, C. (n.a.). The mystery of Mr. Nice : from the tattered casebook of Chet... Retrieved: May 6, 2015, from: http://esl.opac.marmot.org/GroupedWork/236c0569-7cd9-22a9-3dcb-f5f8867d6f86/Home
Citation: Hale, B. (2000). The mystery of Mr. Nice: from the tattered casebook of Chet Gecko, private eye.
Plot: The name's Gecko, Chet Gecko. I'm a private eye. My specialty: the crimes that slip through the cracks of Emerson Hicky Elementary School. Case in point: One day I'm busted for my constitutional rights to artistic expression and redress of academia and sent to Principal Nero's office. Once I'm there, however, the principal complements me on my work. Something is wrong, deeply wrong. Our principal has obviously been replaced by an imposter. With the help of my assistant Natalie Attired, we're going to get to the bottom of this, no matter to what depths of conspiracy and corruption we have to descend.
Impression: This wasn't bad, but I imagine kids would like it better. The whole book is a parody of hard-boiled detective fiction, which was pretty stock for my tastes. The plot, however, is amazingly fun and you can tell you're not supposed to take it seriously. I wish I could enjoy it more, but I, as an adult, just laughed too little at it. It's no Tracer Bullet, but it's my tastes that keep me from enjoying it, and it works well at what it does.
Second opinion: "The swift plot, clever wisecracking, and hardboiled style make this chapter book a terrific read." - Cadance Fletcher, Booklist
Citation: Fletcher, C. (n.a.). The mystery of Mr. Nice : from the tattered casebook of Chet... Retrieved: May 6, 2015, from: http://esl.opac.marmot.org/GroupedWork/236c0569-7cd9-22a9-3dcb-f5f8867d6f86/Home
Module 8, Season II: Thomas and the Dragon Queen
Module 8: Thomas and the Dragon Queen
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. Well, after my last post, it's time for something more lighthearted, and, to my delight, something fantastical. I've always liked fantasy, from cyborg heroes who can control the elements, to strange monsters that fight alongside humans to save the digital world, to elves, dwarves, wizards, goblins, dragons, hobbits, unicorns, pegasi, earth ponies, and alicorns. Too many people dismiss the genre as lacking in drama, but I call foul on that. There are plenty of good stories that feature fantasy: JLA/Titans: The Technis Imperative, The Sea of Trolls, the Sorahb trilogy, the Dragon Wars tetralogy, the entire works of Garth Nix, and today's book: Thomas and the Dragon Queen.
Citation: Crum, S. & Wildish, L. i. (2010). Thomas and the dragon queen. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Plot: Thomas is a short child for his age, but is hardworking and devoted. Thus, when his father helps a knight with his horse's shoe, he is able to give Thomas the chance to become a knight. He trains his hardest and eventually, the princess is kidnapped by a dragon. Because the kingdom is short of knights, Thomas is knighted and sent after the dragon. On the way, Thomas will find out that being a knight is not quite what he thought it was, nor is his quarry what he thought he was.
Impressions: This book fits together very well. It might be from personal experience regarding high expectations of myself, but I liked one of this book's themes: 'you're doing better than you think'. Also, this book does the 'other people are not what you think' theme well by not demonising the other side: most of the characters are perfectly likeable, just wrong. The book has good illustrations, simple but appealing. Finally, this book mentions a lot about how knights actually worked, including prayer, to my delight. Thus, this book would be good for medieval history day at the library, it has a lot of good information contained within a good story.
Second Opinion: "Amusing black-and-white drawings jibe well with the rollicking tone of the tale, especially later in the book when our hero, shirtless and unarmed, faces the enormous dragon mother. A sure-fire hit as a read-aloud, this is an engaging book featuring a hero filled with bravery, quick wits, and heart."
Citation: Smith, R. L. (2010). [Thomas and the Dragon Queen]. Horn Book Magazine, 86(4), 104.
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. Well, after my last post, it's time for something more lighthearted, and, to my delight, something fantastical. I've always liked fantasy, from cyborg heroes who can control the elements, to strange monsters that fight alongside humans to save the digital world, to elves, dwarves, wizards, goblins, dragons, hobbits, unicorns, pegasi, earth ponies, and alicorns. Too many people dismiss the genre as lacking in drama, but I call foul on that. There are plenty of good stories that feature fantasy: JLA/Titans: The Technis Imperative, The Sea of Trolls, the Sorahb trilogy, the Dragon Wars tetralogy, the entire works of Garth Nix, and today's book: Thomas and the Dragon Queen.
Citation: Crum, S. & Wildish, L. i. (2010). Thomas and the dragon queen. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Plot: Thomas is a short child for his age, but is hardworking and devoted. Thus, when his father helps a knight with his horse's shoe, he is able to give Thomas the chance to become a knight. He trains his hardest and eventually, the princess is kidnapped by a dragon. Because the kingdom is short of knights, Thomas is knighted and sent after the dragon. On the way, Thomas will find out that being a knight is not quite what he thought it was, nor is his quarry what he thought he was.
Impressions: This book fits together very well. It might be from personal experience regarding high expectations of myself, but I liked one of this book's themes: 'you're doing better than you think'. Also, this book does the 'other people are not what you think' theme well by not demonising the other side: most of the characters are perfectly likeable, just wrong. The book has good illustrations, simple but appealing. Finally, this book mentions a lot about how knights actually worked, including prayer, to my delight. Thus, this book would be good for medieval history day at the library, it has a lot of good information contained within a good story.
Second Opinion: "Amusing black-and-white drawings jibe well with the rollicking tone of the tale, especially later in the book when our hero, shirtless and unarmed, faces the enormous dragon mother. A sure-fire hit as a read-aloud, this is an engaging book featuring a hero filled with bravery, quick wits, and heart."
Citation: Smith, R. L. (2010). [Thomas and the Dragon Queen]. Horn Book Magazine, 86(4), 104.
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Module 7, Season II: After Ever After
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. Misery poker is a terrible idea. Big problems may need more attention, but their existance does not make little problems go away. Likewise, people who suffer greatly may need help or patience, but they are still responsible for their own actions to some degree. Today's book addresses this problem, as well as one other. This is After Ever After.
Citation: Sonnenblick, J. (2010). After ever after. New York: Scholastic Press.
Plot: When he was five, Jeffery Alper managed to live through cancer, but at a price. He has mobility problems and he has additional problems with math, problems that are about to lead to his being held back a grade. As the date of the state test gets closer, he tries his darndest to pass, as well as navigate a world in which he is something almost no-one knows what to do with. Furthermore, Tad, a friend of his and fellow young cancer survivor, has something that he isn't telling.
Impressions: It's useful for displays about cancer, and very heartbreakingly insightful, but it can be hard to read. These characters are people, and they can be jerks at times. Tad can be a royal *#%!, even given everything wrong with his life, although it's the kind that other people might find entertaining (I'm not really able to tell), and he does get called on it in the course of the book. However, the book is excellent at conveying its theme with the right mix of sympathy and condemnation, even if I felt like it took a long time before the book made the flip. In short, it has its flaws, but bear with it.
Second opinion: "Sonnenblick’s writing style is vivid, humorous, and authentically reflects the conversations and thoughts of most teens... Both entertaining and thought-provoking, After Ever After is a must-read for both early teens and adults."
Source: Kennedy, M. (2010). [After Ever After]. Journal Of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 54(4), 299-301.
Citation: Sonnenblick, J. (2010). After ever after. New York: Scholastic Press.
Plot: When he was five, Jeffery Alper managed to live through cancer, but at a price. He has mobility problems and he has additional problems with math, problems that are about to lead to his being held back a grade. As the date of the state test gets closer, he tries his darndest to pass, as well as navigate a world in which he is something almost no-one knows what to do with. Furthermore, Tad, a friend of his and fellow young cancer survivor, has something that he isn't telling.
Impressions: It's useful for displays about cancer, and very heartbreakingly insightful, but it can be hard to read. These characters are people, and they can be jerks at times. Tad can be a royal *#%!, even given everything wrong with his life, although it's the kind that other people might find entertaining (I'm not really able to tell), and he does get called on it in the course of the book. However, the book is excellent at conveying its theme with the right mix of sympathy and condemnation, even if I felt like it took a long time before the book made the flip. In short, it has its flaws, but bear with it.
Second opinion: "Sonnenblick’s writing style is vivid, humorous, and authentically reflects the conversations and thoughts of most teens... Both entertaining and thought-provoking, After Ever After is a must-read for both early teens and adults."
Source: Kennedy, M. (2010). [After Ever After]. Journal Of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 54(4), 299-301.
Module 7, Season II: 13 Little Blue Envelopes
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. As a kid, I don't think I would've ever read this book. Not only because it's 'chick lit', but also because for the longest time, I just got bored with realistic fiction. Compared to the worlds of Pokémon (pronounced PO-kay-mon), Digimon, and BIONICLE, the ordinary world just seemed downright dull. However, my tastes have grown up, and thus, I gave this book a try. This is 13 Little Blue Envelopes.
Citation: Johnson, M. (2005). 13 little blue envelopes. New York: Harpercollins.
Plot: On getting a letter saying that her free-spirited aunt has died, teenage girl Ginny Blackstone gets a bank card and thirteen envelopes with instructions on what to do. This takes her all across Europe, from London, to Rome, to Paris, Amsterdam, and Greece. Along the way, she steps far out of her comfort zone, meeting new people and rediscovering two people she thought she knew: her aunt and herself.
Inpressions: I'm not really a big fan of the 'let go of your safe life to really live' kind of story (my form of Autism doesn't lend itself well to it). However, this story is done rather well. Everything adds up and I did find the main character's journey to be intriguing. However, it may not be for everyone. There is an Italian guy whom I thought was going to be a second possible romantic lead who just turned into a jerk and distraction from the first, British guy. Also, I imagine Romani (Gypsies) aren't going to be thrilled with their children being called thieves in the book (then again, given what I've read about antiziganism in Italy, it could be in-character by the person who said it). It could be useful for Travel Day at the library and people who like this kind of story might like this book. I'm just not sure what to make of it.
Second opinion: "The story is perforce rather traveloguish, but in a pleasing way... Johnson's style is comradely and ruefully humorous, inviting both strictly armchair travelers and wannabe world voyagers to accompany Ginny on her life-changing journey."
Citation: Stevenson, D. (2005). [13 Little Blue Envelopes]. Bulletin Of The Center For Children's Books, 59(2), 99-100.
Citation: Johnson, M. (2005). 13 little blue envelopes. New York: Harpercollins.
Plot: On getting a letter saying that her free-spirited aunt has died, teenage girl Ginny Blackstone gets a bank card and thirteen envelopes with instructions on what to do. This takes her all across Europe, from London, to Rome, to Paris, Amsterdam, and Greece. Along the way, she steps far out of her comfort zone, meeting new people and rediscovering two people she thought she knew: her aunt and herself.
Inpressions: I'm not really a big fan of the 'let go of your safe life to really live' kind of story (my form of Autism doesn't lend itself well to it). However, this story is done rather well. Everything adds up and I did find the main character's journey to be intriguing. However, it may not be for everyone. There is an Italian guy whom I thought was going to be a second possible romantic lead who just turned into a jerk and distraction from the first, British guy. Also, I imagine Romani (Gypsies) aren't going to be thrilled with their children being called thieves in the book (then again, given what I've read about antiziganism in Italy, it could be in-character by the person who said it). It could be useful for Travel Day at the library and people who like this kind of story might like this book. I'm just not sure what to make of it.
Second opinion: "The story is perforce rather traveloguish, but in a pleasing way... Johnson's style is comradely and ruefully humorous, inviting both strictly armchair travelers and wannabe world voyagers to accompany Ginny on her life-changing journey."
Citation: Stevenson, D. (2005). [13 Little Blue Envelopes]. Bulletin Of The Center For Children's Books, 59(2), 99-100.
Module 6, Season II: E-Mergency!
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. Something a lot of writers don't understand is that picture books aren't only written for children. Yes, children are their intended audience, but they're often read aloud by adults, who can easily get tired of reading substandard books. Thankfully, however, there are picture books that adults can appreciate. Case in point, today's book: E-Mergency.
Citation: Licthenheld, T. & Feilds-Meyer, E. (2011). E-Mergency. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC.
Plot: All the letters of the alphabet live together in one big house. One day, however, one of the letters, the most used letter of all, 'E', is badly injured after a fall down the stairs. She's taken to the hospital, but the doctors warn everyone that she needs rest, and if everyone does not stop using the letter 'E', she will never recover. Thoroforo, tho woll-roundod 'O' is choson to pick up tho slack, but dospito thoro bost offorts, sho romains unwoll, and thoy can't find out why.
Improssions: I am romindod of Rogor Obort's positivo roviow- OK, I'm not doing this. Anyways, said film critic had an uncommon good opinion of Pixar's famous critical bomb 'Cars 2', saying that it was a kid's film that had an adult-worthy plot. That is this book. It has a 'kids' plot, and kids can onjoy it, but it has adult-worthy humor about graphology, too. It's also a smart book, with a smart twist at its conclusion. In short, if you worry that kids don't have smart books, find this book, although I warn you to look at pagina uno y dos if you plan to show it to your kids (nothing too bad, just a bit gaudy). I think that a library that wants to instruct kids in graphology and vocabulary should try working this book into its curriculum. Librarians would not go amiss in doing so.
Socond Opinion: "The g[o]n[o]rous trim siz[o] and luxuriously thick, cr[o]am-colored pap[o]r furth[o]r showcas[o] th[o] artwork, whil[o] an [o]ndnot[o] illuminat[o]s th[o] book-making proc[o]ss. Childr[o]n (and adults) will por[o] ov[o]r the minut[o] d[o]tails, whil[o] simultan[o]ously admiring th[o] grand maj[o]sty of [o]ach spr[o]ad in this [o]xquisit[o] offering.
Citation (sorry!): Sawyer, L. (2011). E-mergency!. Booklist, 108(7), 51.
Citation: Licthenheld, T. & Feilds-Meyer, E. (2011). E-Mergency. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC.
Plot: All the letters of the alphabet live together in one big house. One day, however, one of the letters, the most used letter of all, 'E', is badly injured after a fall down the stairs. She's taken to the hospital, but the doctors warn everyone that she needs rest, and if everyone does not stop using the letter 'E', she will never recover. Thoroforo, tho woll-roundod 'O' is choson to pick up tho slack, but dospito thoro bost offorts, sho romains unwoll, and thoy can't find out why.
Improssions: I am romindod of Rogor Obort's positivo roviow- OK, I'm not doing this. Anyways, said film critic had an uncommon good opinion of Pixar's famous critical bomb 'Cars 2', saying that it was a kid's film that had an adult-worthy plot. That is this book. It has a 'kids' plot, and kids can onjoy it, but it has adult-worthy humor about graphology, too. It's also a smart book, with a smart twist at its conclusion. In short, if you worry that kids don't have smart books, find this book, although I warn you to look at pagina uno y dos if you plan to show it to your kids (nothing too bad, just a bit gaudy). I think that a library that wants to instruct kids in graphology and vocabulary should try working this book into its curriculum. Librarians would not go amiss in doing so.
Socond Opinion: "The g[o]n[o]rous trim siz[o] and luxuriously thick, cr[o]am-colored pap[o]r furth[o]r showcas[o] th[o] artwork, whil[o] an [o]ndnot[o] illuminat[o]s th[o] book-making proc[o]ss. Childr[o]n (and adults) will por[o] ov[o]r the minut[o] d[o]tails, whil[o] simultan[o]ously admiring th[o] grand maj[o]sty of [o]ach spr[o]ad in this [o]xquisit[o] offering.
Citation (sorry!): Sawyer, L. (2011). E-mergency!. Booklist, 108(7), 51.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Module 5, Season II: Midwinterblood
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. I've also talked about the Michael Printz award, supposedly for general excellence in fiction for youth. Last year I reviewed Walter Dean Myers' Monster, and I could believe that book was worthy of at least a shot at the title. This book, however, I'm not quite sure of. It's not bad, but I don't know if I'd call it the best youth fiction of a year where Rick Riordan released The Kane Chronicles: The Throne of Fire and Brandon Mull released Beyonders: A World Without Heroes (although I'll admit this book is more unique, I enjoyed those more). This is Midwinterblood.
Citation: Sedgwick, M. (2013). Midwinterblood. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
(For those who've noticed the discrepency with the release dates of the above books, this book won the 2014 Printz award for its first American release the year prior [competing with Rick Riordan's The House of Hades and Ruta Sepetys' Out of the Easy, in my humble opinion]. It was first released in the UK in 2011 by Odion Indigo.)
Plot: One day, far in the future, a reporter goes to a small island that seems to have stayed in the medieval days. Once on the island, he finds a woman he can't help but fall in love with as well as the leader of the island, whom he can't help but be suspicious of. He investigates the island, but he can't be prepared for just how much of a mystery he finds. This is a mystery that had gone on for thousands of years, and for many, many lives, all involving the same names.
Impressions: The mystery was quite intriguing and I thought that all of the revelations made sense. While the author cuts away from the first section at the most annoying part to do so and doesn't get back to the hanging plotline until the very end of the book, the other stories are mostly good. However, the author's use of overt symbolism can get annoying, some parts of the story might not add up, some parts of the story might add up in a slightly disturbing way, and the ending might not be satisfying. I could get involved with the mystery aspect of this story, but everything else can be iffy. Thus, I'd use this as part of a display for writers, showing how to do a mystery well, since that's where this book really shines, with its use of foreshadowing. This is an impressive book, but I just didn't enjoy it that much. You might.
Second opinion: "[A] story that's simultaneously romantic, tragic, horrifying, and transcendental is more than enough to hold readers' attention, no matter their age."
Citation: Midwinterblood. (2013). Publishers Weekly, 124.
Citation: Sedgwick, M. (2013). Midwinterblood. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
(For those who've noticed the discrepency with the release dates of the above books, this book won the 2014 Printz award for its first American release the year prior [competing with Rick Riordan's The House of Hades and Ruta Sepetys' Out of the Easy, in my humble opinion]. It was first released in the UK in 2011 by Odion Indigo.)
Plot: One day, far in the future, a reporter goes to a small island that seems to have stayed in the medieval days. Once on the island, he finds a woman he can't help but fall in love with as well as the leader of the island, whom he can't help but be suspicious of. He investigates the island, but he can't be prepared for just how much of a mystery he finds. This is a mystery that had gone on for thousands of years, and for many, many lives, all involving the same names.
Impressions: The mystery was quite intriguing and I thought that all of the revelations made sense. While the author cuts away from the first section at the most annoying part to do so and doesn't get back to the hanging plotline until the very end of the book, the other stories are mostly good. However, the author's use of overt symbolism can get annoying, some parts of the story might not add up, some parts of the story might add up in a slightly disturbing way, and the ending might not be satisfying. I could get involved with the mystery aspect of this story, but everything else can be iffy. Thus, I'd use this as part of a display for writers, showing how to do a mystery well, since that's where this book really shines, with its use of foreshadowing. This is an impressive book, but I just didn't enjoy it that much. You might.
Second opinion: "[A] story that's simultaneously romantic, tragic, horrifying, and transcendental is more than enough to hold readers' attention, no matter their age."
Citation: Midwinterblood. (2013). Publishers Weekly, 124.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Module 5, Season II: P.S. Be Eleven
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. I've covered the Coretta Scott King awards last year, the awards for fiction that represent black people in a positive light. While that is a noble goal, the problem is that people are still reluctant to read stories about black people, even they could relate to the characters, mostly because they think that these books aren't for them. This year, I'm not going to talk about a book that won that award. I'm going to talk about its sequel: P.S. Be Eleven.
Citation: Williams-Garcia, R. (2013). P.S. Be Eleven. New York, NY: Amistad.
Plot: In the previous book, One Crazy Summer, three black girls spent time in San Francisco at a summer camp for Black Panthers (stay with me). In this book, they come home and try to live their lives in New York City. Their uncle comes home from the Vietnam War, but it's obvious he's not the same man he once was. Their father is getting remarried to another woman on a very quick time scale. The three girls are saving up to get into a Jackson 5 concert, but they might not have enough. And the three girls keep seeing politics in the world around them.
Impressions: I'll be honest, when I got this book, I expected to hate it. Stories about racism/sexism/homophobia/general bigotry too often tend to rely less on characterization and plot and more on the message 'white, straight men are stupid/evil and need (insert minority here) to be able to be good/smart' (see Avatar and almost any TV episode that deals with the issue). Now, writing for a message can be done well (in my opinion, see Quantum Leap season 4's "Justice" for an example), but if everyone has heard the message, you're doing nothing except pandering. However, since a book I read called Dear White People wasn't nearly as condescending as I thought it would be, I decided to give this a try.
I'm glad I did, because this was surprisingly good. Instead of cardboard cutouts whose flaws I was expected to adore or excuse, I saw characters that seemed very human. The main character is a kid, and her father and grandmothers' objections to her behavior do actually make sense and are treated as such. Even when they're in the wrong, they're not portrayed as demons given human shape, just people who can be good or bad. So many people refrain from watching stories about minorities, even non-racist people who say they can relate to the protagonists, just because they don't think those stories are for them. Therefore, I want to create a display of exempliary and fair (good and evil) stories about members of various minorities with the title 'This Is For Everyone', and I'd put this book on it. This book shows how to write minorities, as people with one influence of several informing their character.
Second opinion: "[Rita Garcia-Williams] brilliantly gets to the very heart of Delphine and each of her family members and friends... to create complex, engaging, and nuanced characters. Funny, wise, poignant, and thought-provoking..."
Citation: LEMPKE, S. D. (2013). P.S. Be Eleven. Horn Book Magazine, 89(3), 99.
Citation: Williams-Garcia, R. (2013). P.S. Be Eleven. New York, NY: Amistad.
Plot: In the previous book, One Crazy Summer, three black girls spent time in San Francisco at a summer camp for Black Panthers (stay with me). In this book, they come home and try to live their lives in New York City. Their uncle comes home from the Vietnam War, but it's obvious he's not the same man he once was. Their father is getting remarried to another woman on a very quick time scale. The three girls are saving up to get into a Jackson 5 concert, but they might not have enough. And the three girls keep seeing politics in the world around them.
Impressions: I'll be honest, when I got this book, I expected to hate it. Stories about racism/sexism/homophobia/general bigotry too often tend to rely less on characterization and plot and more on the message 'white, straight men are stupid/evil and need (insert minority here) to be able to be good/smart' (see Avatar and almost any TV episode that deals with the issue). Now, writing for a message can be done well (in my opinion, see Quantum Leap season 4's "Justice" for an example), but if everyone has heard the message, you're doing nothing except pandering. However, since a book I read called Dear White People wasn't nearly as condescending as I thought it would be, I decided to give this a try.
I'm glad I did, because this was surprisingly good. Instead of cardboard cutouts whose flaws I was expected to adore or excuse, I saw characters that seemed very human. The main character is a kid, and her father and grandmothers' objections to her behavior do actually make sense and are treated as such. Even when they're in the wrong, they're not portrayed as demons given human shape, just people who can be good or bad. So many people refrain from watching stories about minorities, even non-racist people who say they can relate to the protagonists, just because they don't think those stories are for them. Therefore, I want to create a display of exempliary and fair (good and evil) stories about members of various minorities with the title 'This Is For Everyone', and I'd put this book on it. This book shows how to write minorities, as people with one influence of several informing their character.
Second opinion: "[Rita Garcia-Williams] brilliantly gets to the very heart of Delphine and each of her family members and friends... to create complex, engaging, and nuanced characters. Funny, wise, poignant, and thought-provoking..."
Citation: LEMPKE, S. D. (2013). P.S. Be Eleven. Horn Book Magazine, 89(3), 99.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Module 4, Season II: A Single Shard
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. Now it's time for the other end of the Newberys. As I said last time, the Newberys are like the Oscars; once well respected awards of excellence, but now ridiculed as being out-of-touch with the rest of the world. Although awards always have differences of opinions, the Newberys had a heyday in the nineties with books like Holes and Maniac Magee, both of which I read in elementary school. Case in point, 2002 award winner A Single Shard.
Citation: Park, L. S. (2001). A single shard. New York: Clarion Books.
Plot: A long time ago, in ancient Korea, there was an orphan named Tree-Ear who lived under a bridge with an old man. One day, he accidentally damages a piece of pottery and proposes to work for the potter in order to pay him back. Thus, over the months, Tree-Ear learns the process of pottery from a master, from scooping the clay to refining it to firing a pot in the kiln. He also grows closer to the potter and his wife, who loves him like the son they lost, although Tree-Ear must come to terms with the fact that, under the law, he may never be allowed to become his apprentice.
Impressions: It is criminal how underrepresented Korea is, and this book is a great way to get children interested. It goes into great detail on what Korea used to be like and the art of pottery, and the afterward explains even more. I was really quite engaged. Furthermore, it's just a good story about a homeless boy who manages to grow out of his situation. If there was an end to the days when the Newberys were relevant, then it wasn't before this year. If you see it, read it, at least for the setting.
Second opinion: "This quiet story is rich in the details of life in Korea during this period. In addition it gives a full picture of the painstaking process needed to produce celadon pottery. However, what truly stands out are the characters... [T]his book not only gives readers insight into an unfamiliar time and place, but it is also a great story."
Citation: Scotto, B. (2001). A single shard (Book Review) (Undetermined). School Library Journal, 158.
Citation: Park, L. S. (2001). A single shard. New York: Clarion Books.
Plot: A long time ago, in ancient Korea, there was an orphan named Tree-Ear who lived under a bridge with an old man. One day, he accidentally damages a piece of pottery and proposes to work for the potter in order to pay him back. Thus, over the months, Tree-Ear learns the process of pottery from a master, from scooping the clay to refining it to firing a pot in the kiln. He also grows closer to the potter and his wife, who loves him like the son they lost, although Tree-Ear must come to terms with the fact that, under the law, he may never be allowed to become his apprentice.
Impressions: It is criminal how underrepresented Korea is, and this book is a great way to get children interested. It goes into great detail on what Korea used to be like and the art of pottery, and the afterward explains even more. I was really quite engaged. Furthermore, it's just a good story about a homeless boy who manages to grow out of his situation. If there was an end to the days when the Newberys were relevant, then it wasn't before this year. If you see it, read it, at least for the setting.
Second opinion: "This quiet story is rich in the details of life in Korea during this period. In addition it gives a full picture of the painstaking process needed to produce celadon pottery. However, what truly stands out are the characters... [T]his book not only gives readers insight into an unfamiliar time and place, but it is also a great story."
Citation: Scotto, B. (2001). A single shard (Book Review) (Undetermined). School Library Journal, 158.
Module 4, Season II: The Cat who went to Heaven
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. Well, with the Caldecotts out of the way, now it's time to move on to the Newbery awards. Think of them as the Academy Awards for childrens' literature, supposedly for the best of the best of the year, but of dubious credibility nowadays. Last year, I reviewed books that were pretty close together. This year, however, I'm going to have a larger range, starting with one of the first honorees ever named: The Cat who went to Heaven, winner from 1931.
Citation: Coatsworth, E. J. & Ward, L. i. (1930). The cat who went to Heaven. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Plot: One day in ancient Japan, a starving artist's maid brings home a cat. Despite the artist's disapproval over bringing an 'evil' animal home, he lets her stay, and is surprised by her good behavior. Then, one day, a Buddhist temple commissions him to paint a scene from the life of the Buddha, which all of the animals bid the Buddha farewell before he dies. The artist gives his all into painting the portrait, and the cat takes a very keen interest in his work.
Impressions: I liked it, but it's popularity will probably not be that widespread. Most of the story is spent around telling various stories about the Buddha in his previous lives as various animals, and my own research has confirmed that at least some of these stories existed. However, several other important details about Buddhism are forgotten, such as the fact that Buddhists do not pray to the Buddha. In addition, the focus on the stories gets in the way of the main plot. On the other hand, these stories are good, and they focus on a theme of being willing to sacrifice yourself for others, which I think is a good message (but then again, I'm a Christian myself). In addition, if you can get past the inaccuracies, the story of the cat is actually very sad and heartwarming at the same time, although I'm reluctant to give away how. If it's in your library, feel free to check it out. If your library owns this book, I recommend using it to talk about Buddhism, particularly about misconceptions of Buddhism.
Second Opinion: "The Cat who went to Heaven is a simple parable that allows its reader to reflect and reconsider the true meaning of love, compassion, and mercy. It is reminiscent of the Christian story of the woman and her two last coins."
Citation: Buddhism and a cat: The cat who went to Heaven (2012, September 23). Gathering Books. Retrieved from http://gatheringbooks.org/2012/09/23/17220/
Citation: Coatsworth, E. J. & Ward, L. i. (1930). The cat who went to Heaven. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Plot: One day in ancient Japan, a starving artist's maid brings home a cat. Despite the artist's disapproval over bringing an 'evil' animal home, he lets her stay, and is surprised by her good behavior. Then, one day, a Buddhist temple commissions him to paint a scene from the life of the Buddha, which all of the animals bid the Buddha farewell before he dies. The artist gives his all into painting the portrait, and the cat takes a very keen interest in his work.
Impressions: I liked it, but it's popularity will probably not be that widespread. Most of the story is spent around telling various stories about the Buddha in his previous lives as various animals, and my own research has confirmed that at least some of these stories existed. However, several other important details about Buddhism are forgotten, such as the fact that Buddhists do not pray to the Buddha. In addition, the focus on the stories gets in the way of the main plot. On the other hand, these stories are good, and they focus on a theme of being willing to sacrifice yourself for others, which I think is a good message (but then again, I'm a Christian myself). In addition, if you can get past the inaccuracies, the story of the cat is actually very sad and heartwarming at the same time, although I'm reluctant to give away how. If it's in your library, feel free to check it out. If your library owns this book, I recommend using it to talk about Buddhism, particularly about misconceptions of Buddhism.
Second Opinion: "The Cat who went to Heaven is a simple parable that allows its reader to reflect and reconsider the true meaning of love, compassion, and mercy. It is reminiscent of the Christian story of the woman and her two last coins."
Citation: Buddhism and a cat: The cat who went to Heaven (2012, September 23). Gathering Books. Retrieved from http://gatheringbooks.org/2012/09/23/17220/
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Module 3, Season II: Three Little Pigs
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. Time for a more modern Caldecott winner, I think, and compared to the previous book, this really helps demonstrate how diverse the winners have been over the years. Whereas Cinderella was stylized and flat, this is a more realistic and three-dimensional style. This is David Wiesner's Three Little Pigs.
Citation: Wiesner, D. (2001). The Three Pigs. New York: Clarion Books.
Plot: The book starts out with the Big Bad Wolf about to blow down the Straw Pig's house. However, the wolf blows so hard that he blows the pig out of the story. That pig then takes his brothers out of the story, and the three go off to explore other books, including the nursery rhyme of the Cat and the Fiddle, and a story about a dragon, a knight, and a golden rose. In those stories, they find friends, friends who might be able to help them with their own story.
Impressions: I'm very impressed by the artwork. David Wiesner's mainly known for a very realistic style, so seeing him work with other styles as well is very interesting. The story also is very interesting, and the pages where the pigs explore the void between stories are very interesting in their silence. One small issue I have is that the dragon brings a golden rose with him, which he stole. Other than the pigs possibly being arrested as accessories to theft in the future, though, this is a great book, which can be very useful in getting kids to try different art styles, possibly even merging them together.
Second Opinion: "David Wiesner’s postmodern interpretation of this tale plays imaginatively with traditional picture book and story conventions and with readers’ expectations of both... Wiesner may not be the first to thumb his nose at picture-book design rules and storytelling techniques, but he puts his own distinct print on this ambitious endeavor."
Citation: Flynn, K. (May, 2001). David Wiesner reviews. The Horn Book Guide. Retrived from http://archive.hbook.com/magazine/reviews/group/wiesner.asp
Citation: Wiesner, D. (2001). The Three Pigs. New York: Clarion Books.
Plot: The book starts out with the Big Bad Wolf about to blow down the Straw Pig's house. However, the wolf blows so hard that he blows the pig out of the story. That pig then takes his brothers out of the story, and the three go off to explore other books, including the nursery rhyme of the Cat and the Fiddle, and a story about a dragon, a knight, and a golden rose. In those stories, they find friends, friends who might be able to help them with their own story.
Impressions: I'm very impressed by the artwork. David Wiesner's mainly known for a very realistic style, so seeing him work with other styles as well is very interesting. The story also is very interesting, and the pages where the pigs explore the void between stories are very interesting in their silence. One small issue I have is that the dragon brings a golden rose with him, which he stole. Other than the pigs possibly being arrested as accessories to theft in the future, though, this is a great book, which can be very useful in getting kids to try different art styles, possibly even merging them together.
Second Opinion: "David Wiesner’s postmodern interpretation of this tale plays imaginatively with traditional picture book and story conventions and with readers’ expectations of both... Wiesner may not be the first to thumb his nose at picture-book design rules and storytelling techniques, but he puts his own distinct print on this ambitious endeavor."
Citation: Flynn, K. (May, 2001). David Wiesner reviews. The Horn Book Guide. Retrived from http://archive.hbook.com/magazine/reviews/group/wiesner.asp
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Module 3, Season II: Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. Well, it's time for the Caldecott winners again, the past award winners for excellence in illustration. As time's gone on, it's interesting to see past trends in illustration, and one good example is today's offering, Marcia Brown's adaptation of Cinderella.
Citation: Perrault, C., & Brown, M. (1954). Cinderella, or, The little glass slipper. New York, NY: Charles Scribner's Sons.
Summary: This is an adaptation of Perrault's version of the Cinderella story, and there really isn't any deviation. A man dies, leaving his daughter at the mercy of his stepdaughters and second wife. However, one day, a three-day ball is announced and the stepmother and daughters go, leaving Cinderella behind. With the help of a fairy godmother, Cinderella gets to go to all three nights, leaving a slipper behind on the third. The prince uses this slipper to track down Cinderella, she forgives her sisters' ill treatment of her and they all live happily ever after.
Thoughts: A bit mixed, and I feel like this would've been better if it had been a slightly longer book. I'm not a big fan of the style, watercolors and slightly exaggerated pencil drawings that purposefully don't quite contain the colors, but I imagine that there are people who do. This is a translation of the original French fairy tale, and it includes the original ending, with Cinderella just forgiving her stepsisters instead of punishing them, and the morals that a good heart makes everything possible and that material advantages may lose out to simple fate in the end. These are good messages. I really adore how Brown shows Cinderella talking to her stepsisters at the ball when they can't recognize her and I imagine such a scene would help show why she forgives them at the end (since 'purely out of the goodness of her heart' probably won't fly). Sadly, nothing is shown. However, the end result is good, and I can see this being useful introducing Charles Perrault and his fairy-tales. Seriously, those things need more exposure.
Second opinion: "This... has the smoothness of a good translation and a unique charm to her feathery light pictures."
(1954, June 15th). CINDERELLA. Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/marcia-brown/cinderella-10/
Citation: Perrault, C., & Brown, M. (1954). Cinderella, or, The little glass slipper. New York, NY: Charles Scribner's Sons.
Summary: This is an adaptation of Perrault's version of the Cinderella story, and there really isn't any deviation. A man dies, leaving his daughter at the mercy of his stepdaughters and second wife. However, one day, a three-day ball is announced and the stepmother and daughters go, leaving Cinderella behind. With the help of a fairy godmother, Cinderella gets to go to all three nights, leaving a slipper behind on the third. The prince uses this slipper to track down Cinderella, she forgives her sisters' ill treatment of her and they all live happily ever after.
Thoughts: A bit mixed, and I feel like this would've been better if it had been a slightly longer book. I'm not a big fan of the style, watercolors and slightly exaggerated pencil drawings that purposefully don't quite contain the colors, but I imagine that there are people who do. This is a translation of the original French fairy tale, and it includes the original ending, with Cinderella just forgiving her stepsisters instead of punishing them, and the morals that a good heart makes everything possible and that material advantages may lose out to simple fate in the end. These are good messages. I really adore how Brown shows Cinderella talking to her stepsisters at the ball when they can't recognize her and I imagine such a scene would help show why she forgives them at the end (since 'purely out of the goodness of her heart' probably won't fly). Sadly, nothing is shown. However, the end result is good, and I can see this being useful introducing Charles Perrault and his fairy-tales. Seriously, those things need more exposure.
Second opinion: "This... has the smoothness of a good translation and a unique charm to her feathery light pictures."
(1954, June 15th). CINDERELLA. Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/marcia-brown/cinderella-10/
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Module 2, Season II: The Story of Ferdinand
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word, and now it's time for a classic picture book. This is another of the books everyone's heard of, and it's more likely they've read it or at least knows the story. I knew the story of this book even before I read it because I remembered the Disney adaptation I'd seen as a kid. This is The Story of Ferdinand.
Leaf, M. (1936). The story of Ferdinand. New York, NY: Puffin Books
Summary: Long ago in a city in Spain, young bulls fight each other to eventually make their way into the famous Spanish bullfights. However, one of them, Ferdinand, is more peaceful (and possibly aware of what happens to bulls that participate in a bullfight), only interested in sitting under a cork tree and smelling the flowers. However, he grows up to be the strongest of all of them, and when an ill-timed bee sting paints him as the roughest of bulls to the bullfighters, he quickly gets sent off to fight in the ring. However, the truth comes out in the end, and Ferdinand is sent home to live a peaceful life.
Impressions: This is a good read, but it might rankle a few people with how it sanitizes bullfighting. Then again, the bullfighters are as close to antagonists as the story gets. I sort of wish that the author had spelled out that the bull dies at the end of the fight, because this reads sort of like the stories of martyrs belonging to my own Catholic faith, who died rather than break their moral code (although this story has a less fatal ending). Then again, that would ruin the lighthearted mood. The prose is good and the illustrations, while black-and-white, have a slightly stylized look that is charming to look at. In short, I think it's worthy of the #17 spot on Elizabeth Bird's top 100 picture books.
Use: Again, I first heard about this story because of the Disney cartoon. Thus, an easy use of this book is as part of an event related to Disney's adaptations of various stories. This could represent one of the more faithful adaptations while The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker and Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio could represent looser adaptations. There could be an event where people could write out what they would change in the story. Another possible idea could be the theme of applicability, since I connected this story with the stories of Catholic martyrs. Maybe kids could see deeper meanings in various stories and movies than the author intended.
Source: Bird, E. (2012, Jun. 14). Top 100 Picture Books #17: The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson -- @fuseeight A Fuse #8 Production. Retrieved from http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/06/14/top-100-picture-books-17-the-story-of-ferdinand-by-munro-leaf-illustrated-by-robert-lawson/#_
Leaf, M. (1936). The story of Ferdinand. New York, NY: Puffin Books
Summary: Long ago in a city in Spain, young bulls fight each other to eventually make their way into the famous Spanish bullfights. However, one of them, Ferdinand, is more peaceful (and possibly aware of what happens to bulls that participate in a bullfight), only interested in sitting under a cork tree and smelling the flowers. However, he grows up to be the strongest of all of them, and when an ill-timed bee sting paints him as the roughest of bulls to the bullfighters, he quickly gets sent off to fight in the ring. However, the truth comes out in the end, and Ferdinand is sent home to live a peaceful life.
Impressions: This is a good read, but it might rankle a few people with how it sanitizes bullfighting. Then again, the bullfighters are as close to antagonists as the story gets. I sort of wish that the author had spelled out that the bull dies at the end of the fight, because this reads sort of like the stories of martyrs belonging to my own Catholic faith, who died rather than break their moral code (although this story has a less fatal ending). Then again, that would ruin the lighthearted mood. The prose is good and the illustrations, while black-and-white, have a slightly stylized look that is charming to look at. In short, I think it's worthy of the #17 spot on Elizabeth Bird's top 100 picture books.
Use: Again, I first heard about this story because of the Disney cartoon. Thus, an easy use of this book is as part of an event related to Disney's adaptations of various stories. This could represent one of the more faithful adaptations while The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker and Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio could represent looser adaptations. There could be an event where people could write out what they would change in the story. Another possible idea could be the theme of applicability, since I connected this story with the stories of Catholic martyrs. Maybe kids could see deeper meanings in various stories and movies than the author intended.
Source: Bird, E. (2012, Jun. 14). Top 100 Picture Books #17: The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson -- @fuseeight A Fuse #8 Production. Retrieved from http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/06/14/top-100-picture-books-17-the-story-of-ferdinand-by-munro-leaf-illustrated-by-robert-lawson/#_
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Module 2, Season II: The Secret Garden
Hello, I'm Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word. This is easily the oldest book on my blog, and it's an easy example of how tastes have changed over a hundred years. It's one everyone's probably heard of, but probably never read. It's The Secret Garden.
Citation: Burnett, F. H. (1971). The Secret Garden. New York: Dell Publishing Co.
Yes, my copy's older than I am. Library copy of Anastasia Krupnik, you have been beaten.
Summary: Mary Lennox is an insufferable brat whose parents ignore her and whose servants fear her. After her parents die of a cholera outbreak, though, she's sent from India to live with her uncle Archibald Craven at a manor in Yorkshire. There, spurred on by new friends among the staff and the story of a secret garden that's been sealed up for ten years, she begins to become more pleasant, and becomes the key to helping another brat improve.
Impressions: I first saw this story many years ago as a movie, the Hallmark Hall of Fame version from 1987. I don't even remember the last time I saw the movie. As it stands, I've got mixed feelings about this book. Times have changed since this book was written, mainly in the tone of the story. A lot of the book can feel sappily sweet and it expounds the story's central message on the power of positive thinking and going outside a lot. The characters who live five miles away out in the country are viewed as perfect and wise, and that's going to grate on some people. However, this book is still pretty good, in part because it can be very dark at times. The book opens with Mary being abandoned during the cholera outbreak that kills her parents. The brat at the Yorkshire manor likewise has a very sympathetic backstory. With both of them, you want them to have a happy ending. Also, I can't fault the message it's trying to present, although I do acknowledge that positive thinking has its limits, something the book doesn't really delve into. In all, however, it is as Patricia Austin describes it: "This orphan story with a touch of mystery and a bit of magic has charmed readers since its 1911 publication." (2011).
Uses: Due to its extreme age, it could easily be used as part of an exhibit on how to appreciate old, classic books. Due to its focus on gardening, it could also be used to introduce children to the hobby.
Auxiliary Source: Austin, P. (2011, December 15). The Secret Garden. Booklist, 108(8), 64. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA275850925&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w&asid=b01f6414857ff095a9e0527d9718b7ca
Citation: Burnett, F. H. (1971). The Secret Garden. New York: Dell Publishing Co.
Yes, my copy's older than I am. Library copy of Anastasia Krupnik, you have been beaten.
Summary: Mary Lennox is an insufferable brat whose parents ignore her and whose servants fear her. After her parents die of a cholera outbreak, though, she's sent from India to live with her uncle Archibald Craven at a manor in Yorkshire. There, spurred on by new friends among the staff and the story of a secret garden that's been sealed up for ten years, she begins to become more pleasant, and becomes the key to helping another brat improve.
Impressions: I first saw this story many years ago as a movie, the Hallmark Hall of Fame version from 1987. I don't even remember the last time I saw the movie. As it stands, I've got mixed feelings about this book. Times have changed since this book was written, mainly in the tone of the story. A lot of the book can feel sappily sweet and it expounds the story's central message on the power of positive thinking and going outside a lot. The characters who live five miles away out in the country are viewed as perfect and wise, and that's going to grate on some people. However, this book is still pretty good, in part because it can be very dark at times. The book opens with Mary being abandoned during the cholera outbreak that kills her parents. The brat at the Yorkshire manor likewise has a very sympathetic backstory. With both of them, you want them to have a happy ending. Also, I can't fault the message it's trying to present, although I do acknowledge that positive thinking has its limits, something the book doesn't really delve into. In all, however, it is as Patricia Austin describes it: "This orphan story with a touch of mystery and a bit of magic has charmed readers since its 1911 publication." (2011).
Uses: Due to its extreme age, it could easily be used as part of an exhibit on how to appreciate old, classic books. Due to its focus on gardening, it could also be used to introduce children to the hobby.
Auxiliary Source: Austin, P. (2011, December 15). The Secret Garden. Booklist, 108(8), 64. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA275850925&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w&asid=b01f6414857ff095a9e0527d9718b7ca
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Module 1, Season II: Open This Little Book
Greetings, all! I, Richard Nicholas Nimz, prospector of the written word, have returned! Yes, I am taking this class again because I have a problem with my memory and several assignments were not turned in on time. Yeah, I'm kind of an idiot like that. However, this gives me an opportunity to give this blog a second season, which I'm glad for. Thus, I bring another book about reading, Open This Little Book.
Citation: Klausemeier, J. & Lee, S. i. (2013). Open This Little Book. Chronicle Books: San Francisco.
Plot: You'd be forgiven for wondering if there is one. Half of the book revolves around various animals opening differently-colored books. Then they come to a giant, whose fingers are too big to open her book. All of the other animals come forward, open her book, read about themselves, and then close their books and go about their merry ways, exhorting the reader to close this book and pick up another one.
Impressions: There's not much of an emphasis on why you should read. Rather, this book is about reading itself, and it's really cute. The artwork is nice, but there's something a little weird about an artist who pencils in curves but colors in watercolor 'blocks'. The big draw of the book is the fact that it's made up of a bunch of little pages that shrink in size as they get closer to the middle of the book. For example, the first two pages are a little red book, which the reader opens to reveal a smaller green book, which the reader opens to reveal a little orange book and so on down the line. It's very inventive, and given that the children who would have this book read to them have not yet developed a proper attention span, that gimmick really helps. The anonymous reviewer from Kirkus Reviews agrees with me: "The sleek text and endlessly inventive design register strongly by showing rather than just telling. A delightful and timely homage to reading and, more, to books themselves."(2013). An obvious use for this book would be to teach children about the colors of the rainbow, since all of those colors are represented here. Another would be to use it to kick off a scavenger hunt where the kids have to hunt down the books from this book, which are hidden in other books. Of course, there is always the option of simply showing it off and having children make their own little books with unique page shapes, with adult help on the scissors.
Bottom line, if it isn't a classic, it will be memorable. Well worth a try.
Sources:
Open This Little Book. (2013). Kirkus Reviews, 81(2), 224.
Citation: Klausemeier, J. & Lee, S. i. (2013). Open This Little Book. Chronicle Books: San Francisco.
Plot: You'd be forgiven for wondering if there is one. Half of the book revolves around various animals opening differently-colored books. Then they come to a giant, whose fingers are too big to open her book. All of the other animals come forward, open her book, read about themselves, and then close their books and go about their merry ways, exhorting the reader to close this book and pick up another one.
Impressions: There's not much of an emphasis on why you should read. Rather, this book is about reading itself, and it's really cute. The artwork is nice, but there's something a little weird about an artist who pencils in curves but colors in watercolor 'blocks'. The big draw of the book is the fact that it's made up of a bunch of little pages that shrink in size as they get closer to the middle of the book. For example, the first two pages are a little red book, which the reader opens to reveal a smaller green book, which the reader opens to reveal a little orange book and so on down the line. It's very inventive, and given that the children who would have this book read to them have not yet developed a proper attention span, that gimmick really helps. The anonymous reviewer from Kirkus Reviews agrees with me: "The sleek text and endlessly inventive design register strongly by showing rather than just telling. A delightful and timely homage to reading and, more, to books themselves."(2013). An obvious use for this book would be to teach children about the colors of the rainbow, since all of those colors are represented here. Another would be to use it to kick off a scavenger hunt where the kids have to hunt down the books from this book, which are hidden in other books. Of course, there is always the option of simply showing it off and having children make their own little books with unique page shapes, with adult help on the scissors.
Bottom line, if it isn't a classic, it will be memorable. Well worth a try.
Sources:
Open This Little Book. (2013). Kirkus Reviews, 81(2), 224.
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