A Yoshiko Uchida Tale

(credit)

Title: Journey Home

Author: Yoshiko Uchida

Illustrator: Charles Robinson

Year Published: 1978

Publisher: Atheneum
Awards: N/A

What did you like/dislike about the book?

Yoshiko Uchida's book, Journey Home, is a tale of a young Japanese girl's experiences during World War II.  She and her family are forced into the camps, where they have few possessions.  Her only brother has joined the Army and they are constantly worried about his safety.  Finally, little Yuki's family is allowed to leave the camps and return to Berkeley.  However, not everyone is happy to see Japanese families reintegrating into the community.  Yuki's family opens a grocery store, but their lives are not without hardships in California.

My favorite detail of the book is Yuki's perspective.  In today's schools, lessons about the Japanese interment camps are told from the American point of view.  Using Yuki's thoughts and feelings brings a fresh angle to the story.  For example, on page 16, "...she'd left Yuki feeling somehow ashamed of being Japanese.  And Yuki hated that."  American students would likely be surprised to learn of Yuki's feelings.

I also enjoyed the story of Yuki's brother, Ken.  A soldier's perspective on war can be much different than civilians'.  Ken seemed to be the most realistic character in the book.

At times, I felt this story was a little too syrupy.  Things just seemed to work out or other topics were glossed over.  For example, when dealing with their neighbors' fallen son.  Nothing was ever mentioned about the Japanese atrocities against Americans.  However, this can be attributed to the story being told from the girl's perspective.

This book is appropriate for older readers, particularly middle school.  The subject matter is inappropriate for younger readers and they will not have the background knowledge to comprehend.  Students will be able to identify with Yuki's feelings of being left out.  It can be used to teach about Japanese-American relations in the mid-20th century, as well as to study families, memoirs, or Japanese culture.  Uchida uses her own life experiences to tell young Yuki's story.

What in your life would have influenced this reaction/response?

I did not know much about the life of Japanese-Americans during the mid-20th century before reading this book.  All I had learned was from a textbook's perspective.  It is eye-opening to hear the story from a Japanese-American child's point-of-view.  Much like with any conflict, there are two sides affected by the issues.  This book caused me to think about other situations in which children on the "other side" are affected, such as the Iraq war.

How does this book compare to similar books/author’s other books?

Uchida's other titles involve realistic portrayals of a Japanese-American.  Many of her stories are reflections of events in her life.  Laurence Yep is another author who writes upon this subject matter. 

What did I learn about children’s literature from this book?

Perspective is a powerful tool, especially regarding juvenile historical fiction.  As a teacher, it is important to provide a well-rounded version of events for readers.  This text would be able to showcase the plight of others.

Other titles by this author include:

A Jar of Dreams

The Best Bad Thing

The Magic Purse

International Literature Awards

As America's diverse racial profile continues to expand, children's literature reflects this new diversity.  An influx of multicultural, international titles can be seen in today's libraries.

The Carnegie Medal in Literature is an annual award given to authors from the United Kingdom.  A similar award, the Kate Greenaway Medal, is given to illustrators from the UK.  Its first award year was 1936.  Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish philanthropist who left most of his wealth to libraries, schools, and universities.  To be eligible for this award, the book must have been written in English and published in the UK.  Recent winning titles have been mainly Young Adult authors, including The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and Just in Case by Meg Rosoff.  

The Esther Glen Award is an annual award given to authors and illustrators from New Zealand.  Its first award year was 1945.  Esther Glen was a beloved children's author and illustrator from New Zealand.  To be eligible for this award, one must be from New Zealand and write children's or Young Adult books that contribute to New Zealand literary greatness.  Recent winning titles include Old Drumble by Jack Lasenby and Juno of Taris by Fleur Beale.

Other international children's literature awards include: the Pura Belpre Award (Latino authors/illustrators), CLA Book of the Year (Canada), and the Prix Sorcieres (France).  

(photo credits)

Kitten's First Full Moon (Caldecott #4)

(credit)

Title: Kitten's First Full Moon

Author: Kevin Henkes

Illustrator: Kevin Henkes

Year Published: 2004

Publisher: Greenwillow Books/Harper Collins
Awards: Caldecott Medal (2005), Bulletin Blue Ribbon, ALA Notable Book, Charlotte Zolotow Award, NYT Best Illustrated Book

What did you like/dislike about the book?

Kevin Henke's book, Kitten's First Full Moon, is a tale of a spunky kitten who believes the moon to be a bowl of milk.  The kitten futilely tries to get to the milk, engaging in misadventures along the way.  She is finally rewarded at the end.

My favorite detail of the book is the kitten's personality.  Henkes makes the kitten a lovable character whom many students could identify with, especially her curious nature and multiple attempts at completing something.  I also enjoy the illustrations of the kitten's mood throughout the book.  As she gets more frustrated, her expressions and body language change.

There was nothing about this book I did not like.

This book is appropriate for elementary classrooms.  It can be used to discuss objects in the sky, character, similes (the moon is like a bowl of milk), and perseverance.

What in your life would have influenced this reaction/response?

I have grown up having cats in the home, so I am predisposed to like stories about them.  Henkes illustrates a character so cute, it is difficult to not get engrossed in her story.  

How does this book compare to similar books/author’s other books?

Henkes' other titles are well-known.  He has a gift with developing endearing characters, such as Chrysanthemum, with whom children can easily identify.  

What did I learn about children’s literature from this book?

Character development can be done in a few short pages.  Children (and adults) can identify with characters who have failures in their lives.  Animals continue to be a popular topic of choice in children's literature.

Other titles by this author include:

Chrysanthemum

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse

Wemberly Worried

The House in the Night (Caldecott #3)

(credit)

Title: The House in the Night

Author: Susan Marie Swanson

Illustrator: Beth Krommes

Year Published: 2008

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Awards: Caldecott Medal (2009)

What did you like/dislike about the book?

Susan Marie Swanson's book, The House in the Night, is a progressive book that follows a bedtime routine and what is happening in the world at bedtime.  The illustrations are all black and white, with a few details filled in using yellow gold.  The book has a calming feeling about it and would be good as a bedtime story to settle children down.

My favorite detail of the book are the illustrations.  They are very detailed, yet simplistic.  It was interesting to see what the illustrator would highlight on each page and I can see students enjoying that, too.  I also enjoyed the calm voice of this book.  Much like First the Egg, the text did not get in the way of the reader.  

I did not like the sometimes confusing phrases used in the book.  While they were simple, some phrases often seemed too simple.  Complete sentences were not used in this book, which could confuse some readers.

This book is appropriate for early elementary classrooms.  It can be used to help learn the skill of sequencing.

What in your life would have influenced this reaction/response?

This book reminds me of being read to as a child before bedtime.  Books chosen during this time were often quiet and calming, much like this one.  I do not like prose, which may be a reason I did not enjoy the lack of complete sentences.

How does this book compare to similar books/author’s other books?

This book reminds me of Goodnight, Moon and other similar bedtime stories because of its quiet voice.  The author's other stories focus upon realistic themes involving nature and family.

What did I learn about children’s literature from this book?

Text does not have to be in complete sentences to tell a story.  Illustrations can be just as powerful in black and white as in full color, especially when certain aspects are highlighted against a stark backdrop.  Books can be utilized to convey certain moods, depending upon the situation.

Other titles by this author include:

Letter to the Lake

The First Thing My Mama Told Me

To Be Like the Sun

First the Egg (Caldecott #2)

(credit)

Title: First the Egg

Author: Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Illustrator: Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Year Published: 2007

Publisher: Boaring Brook Press
Awards: Caldecott Honor (2008), Geisel Honor Book (2008), NYT Best Illustrated Book of 2007, NYT Best Seller, Horn Book Fanfare Best Book of 2007, Oppenheim Platinum Award (2008), ALA Notable Book (2008)

What did you like/dislike about the book?

Laura Vaccaro Seeger's book, First the Egg, is a simple sequencing story that brings the reader through various scenarios.  The book follows an uncomplicated structure of "First...then."  It comes full circle at the end, when the chicken produces the egg.

My favorite detail of the book is the variety of scenarios Seeger introduces, including butterflies, writing stories, and plant growth.  This would allow for a classroom teacher to spin off into many various lessons.  I also enjoy the diecuts, as they add visual interest to the modern illustrations.

There was nothing about this book I did not like.

This book is appropriate for elementary classrooms.  It can be used in a study about sequencing, life cycles, or writing.

What in your life would have influenced this reaction/response?

This book is uncluttered, which is a plus in early elementary classrooms.  Sequencing can be a difficult skill for students to master and this book would help introduce the idea.  In today's time-crunched classrooms, any book that can serve dual content purposes is highly regarded.  

How does this book compare to similar books/author’s other books?

Seeger's other titles incorporate simple, bold graphics.  They are easy to understand and do not distract the reader with unnecessary text.  This book reminded me of easy reader Dr. Seuss books because they are straightforward.  Similar sequencing books can be used to further teach the topic.

What did I learn about children’s literature from this book?

Illustrations do not have to be complex and text does not have to be superfluous.  Oftentimes, the simplest of books can convey the most information.  Sequencing is a skill that can be introduced at early ages.

Other titles by this author include:

Dog and Bear

Lemons are Not Red

Walter Was Worried

Moses (Coretta Scott King Award Winner)

(credit)

Title: Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

Author: Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrator: Kadir Nelson

Year Published: 2006

Publisher: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion
Awards: Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award (2007), Caldecott Honor (2007)

What did you like/dislike about the book?

Carole Boston Weatherford's book, Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, is a retelling of Harriet Tubman's travels from slavery to freedom.  It follows her long journey north, showing her fears and troubles, as well as her decision to return to the South to help other slaves.  The book is told using three different voices, the narrator's, Harriet's, and God's.  

My favorite details of the book are the illustrations.  There is a realism in Harriet's form that looks almost like a photograph.  Kadir Nelson's skills are on full display.  I also enjoy the historical basis for the book's events.

I did not like the language flow of the book.  The book seems a little disjointed because it is hard to differentiate between speakers.  Provided teachers give enough background, the spiritual tones of the book shouldn't pose a problem.  However, the plot zigzags a bit too much after Harriet decides to return south.

This book is appropriate in upper elementary classrooms.  It can be used with a study of African-American history or folk heroes.  It would also lend itself well to a classroom performance, due to its various speakers.

What in your life would have influenced this reaction/response?

I tend to enjoy realistic art, especially surrounding American history.  Tubman's features in the swamp, especially, truly convey her fear.  After learning about Tubman for most of my schooling career, this book pictorially captures her story unlike any other book I have read.

How does this book address diversity?

This book addresses the issues of slavery and the Underground Railroad using a spiritual undertone.  Harriet Tubman is a hero for her work helping other slaves escape to the North.  The introduction and epilogue in the book detail events surrounding Tubman's life and the lives of other slaves at that time.  

What did I learn about children’s literature from this book?

From this book, I learned that one can incorporate different voices within the same story.  Although the author did this in a disjointed way in this book, I can understand what she was trying to accomplish.  The author used different fonts for each speaker.

Other titles by this author include:

Freedom on the Menu

Juneteenth Jamboree

The Sound that Jazz Makes

The Hello, Goodbye Window (Caldecott #1)

(credit)

Title: The Hello, Goodbye Window

Author: Norton Juster

Illustrator: Chris Raschka

Year Published: 2005

Publisher: Michael di Capua Books/Hyperion
Awards: Caldecott Medal (2006)

What did you like/dislike about the book?

Norton Juster's book, The Hello, Goodbye Window, is a whimsical memoir of a girl's day at her grandparents' house.  It is told using child-friendly language and from a child's point of view.  Many events center around the front window, out of which the characters can witness many things.

My favorite detail of the book is the voice.  I can hear a child telling all about their day and having someone transcribe it into this book.  Children will immediately identify with the main character, as many have special relationships with family or friends.  I also enjoy the fanciful illustrations.  They look childlike and in watercolor.

There is nothing about this book I did not like.

This book is appropriate in elementary classrooms.  It can be used as an example of memoir writing in the older grades.  However, the simplistic language may be too easy for older readers.

What in your life would have influenced this reaction/response?

I have a very positive reaction to this book because I have a strong relationship with my own grandparents.  In younger years, we would engage in many of the same activities as the book's characters.  

One notable detail is when the girl mentions how "nothing happens until I get up" from a nap.  This phrase is a perfect example of a child's self-centered world.

How does this book compare to similar books/author’s other books?

If memory serves me correctly, The Phantom Tollbooth is centered around a material object.  Characters in both books are able to be transported using the object.

Similar children's memoirs revolve around themes of family, love, acceptance, and a special item.

What did I learn about children’s literature from this book?

This book reminds me that oral language is the way an early writer begins to tell their stories.  In past classrooms, I have focused upon allowing students to write simplistic sentences.  The Hello, Goodbye Window shows me that students have large stories to tell.

Other titles by this author include:

Otter Nonsense

The Phantom Tollbooth